From our archives:

85 years ago

Many fires had occurred throughout the country during a spell of hot weather. One serious outbreak on the moorlands near Whitby, had engaged the attention of gamekeepers and employees of the Mulgrave Estate, which belonged to the Marquis of Normanby. Notwithstanding the strenuous efforts made for many hours, the prospects of completely extinguishing the outbreak, was somewhat uncertain. The prolonged spell of hot weather had rendered grass and heather very liable to ignition. And according to “Feminine Reflections” writer, Mollie Little, not only will the new lingerie fit even more perfectly than it had done before, but certain garments would be cut specially for wear under various versions of the autumn dresses in order to follow a similar line. Artificial stockinets were also quite cheap and could be often made up into well designed garments which would fit like the “proverbial glove”.

50 years ago

A garden party arranged by three Norton schoolgirls had raised £5 for Dr Barnardo’s homes. Linda Shaw, aged 11, and Elaine Blenkin, nine, two policemen’s daughters living in St Peter’s Crescent had joined with a neighbour Judith Hicks, aged 11, to organise a party in Linda’s garden. About 40 adults and children had attended and enjoyed an hour-long puppet show, staged by the three girls, and games and competitions. And Dringhouses Football Club, one of York’s oldest soccer clubs faced closure if an order to remove their clubhouse was carried out. The club which also had an ex-railway container installed to be used as store room/changing room, on Hob Moor, had now been sent a letter from the City Engineer to remove the hut by September 1. The City Engineer classed it as a cattle truck but gave no reasons for wanting it moved.

20 years ago

Children in York could have been in danger because of incorrect labelling on paracetamol packets which were on sale at Tesco stores in the city. Half a million faulty packs which give the wrong dosage instructions for children, had already been taken off the shelves nationally. But 250,000 had already been sold. And Nestle Rowntree’s new miniaturised, super-strength Polo mints were selling like hot mints! The baby mint with the hole in the middle, sold in a giant Polo-shaped plastic dispenser was now outselling Nestle’s traditional Polo mint.