From our archives:

80 years ago

Doncaster made a heroic effort to beat the York figures for the Great Yorkshire Show but, encountering adverse weather on the second and third days, the attendance fell appreciably, and so the gold cup remained in the possession of the Lord Mayor of York at the Mansion House until the figures for the Centenary Show in Knavesmire could be beaten. After a “close” season for re-decoration and cleaning the Empire Theatre, York, was already to open with its new attractive variety programme headed by Kitty Masters, “Radio’s Queen of Song.” While the theatre had been closed the management had installed an up-to-date and fully licensed bar, which was due to opened before first house performance by Miss Masters. And the Princess Royal had attended two functions in York, the laying of the foundation of the new mission church and the opening of the new playing fields and pavilion provided for the Blue Coat and Grey Coat schools.

50 years ago

An Israeli Boeing-707 airliner, carrying 38 passengers and 10 crew from Rome to Tel Aviv, was hijacked over the Mediterranean and forced to land at Algiers Airport. According to Italian sources in Algiers, the hijack was the work of two Palestinian passengers armed with hand grenades. Clifton Cycling Club, York, was honoured with news that three of its members had been chosen to represent Britain at the Mexico City Olympics. Selected to take part in the 100 kilometres team trial event was Roy Cromack, John Watson and Peter Smith, along with another cyclist, still to be named. It was the first time any member of the Clifton club had been chosen for the Olympics.

20 years ago

The terraced house that was home to Sir Paul McCartney during the early days of The Beatles had been unveiled as a tourist attraction after the National Trust had bought the three-bedroom terraced property at 20, Forthlin Road, Allerton, Liverpool, in November 1995. Using photographs taken by Sir Paul’s brother Mike, the trust had restored the house to its original state, with the help of a £47,000 lottery grant. And legendary racehorse Desert Orchid was hot favourite to steal the show at the fourth Malton Staples open day. A total of 18 stables would be open to the public thanks to a sponsorship by John Smith’s Tadcaster Brewery and the Racing Channel.