From our archives:

85 years ago

In view of the number of private aeroplane owners in Yorkshire, the fact that there were four flying clubs in the county and no fewer than eight licensed aerodromes, a publication entitled “Air Sense,” had been issued by the National Safety First Association. According to “Yorkshire Herald” as the advice given in the booklet was of a “particularly valuable character” and “so sensibly complied” the paper would therefore publish day to day extracts from the booklet, under the heading “Hints for Private Aviators.” In London, as Grouse shooting got off to a good start on Teesdale Moors, several West End restaurants had announced that Grouse would now be available on the lunch menu. And the mystery of a white painted canvas canoe floating in the sea off Flamborough Head was causing some concern on the East Coast. Scarborough Customs Authorities were very anxious to trace the ownership of the craft as no vessel had been reported as missing.

50 years ago

The York branch of the Provincial Building Society had moved from Castlegate into its new handsome offices in Low Ousegate. The main frontage of the new block, which was five storeys high, the Provincial having the ground floor, was facing the river with a pedestrian walkway in front, which was hoped to eventually extend all the way to Lendal Bridge. The mystery of murky water from taps at Naburn and Stillingfleet had been solved thanks to the York Waterworks Company. The problem was harmless rust sediments which had been flushed away by company workmen and got into the tap water. And a new Beatles single Hey Jude and Revolution was due to be released at the end of the month, the first since Lady Madonna hit the charts five months ago.

20 years ago

The best game in Britain had apparently made by a toy firm based in Harrogate according to judges. Introduced in 1996, Brain Warp made by Tiger Electronics announced that it had won the gold award for best game in the BBC and Toybox magazine. Heartbeat TV crews were causing pulses to race in York by asking people to move their cars to make way for the cameras.