From our archives:

85 years ago

One thousand five hundred Conservatives from all parts of the Richmond Parliamentary Division, the largest Division in England, had flocked to the grounds of Bolton Hall. The occasion, a demonstration promoted by the Conservative Association of which Lord Bolton, a one-time member was chairman. Entertainment for the event was provided by the Northallerton Town Band after which guests were treated to a display of Maypole dancing by the children of the Wensley school. And according to the Yorkshire Herald’s fashion column, “materials had never been so lovely nor so varied.” As autumn drew near, a coat made from tweed, would be the perfect outdoor accessory. Not too heavy, but weighty enough to hang well, its weave, a two-colour scheme of orange and brown would also give the impression it was made of soft angora hairs.

50 years ago

Disc Jockey Jimmy Young had locked himself in his London home. Calling the police, Jimmy said: “I’ve got one of those fancy new burglar-proof locks on my front door and it jammed solid.” Thanks, to three fireman and one police officer, Jimmy was finally released in time to get to Broadcasting House in readiness for his two-hour record programme. And top York pop group The Smoke, whose controversial hit record My Friend Jack had been banned by the BBC because of alleged drug implications, had announced that it was the end of the road for the band. After a year of personal appearance tours, television shows and disc sessions The Smoke had decided to make a fresh start. Three of the group, Mal Luker, Geoff Gill and Zeke Lund had come back to Britain, to work in London, on sessions, composing and arranging and singer Mick Rowley had stayed behind in Germany.

20 years ago

Emmerdale actress Claire King believed she was on to a racing certainty after launching her own racehorse ownership syndicate. Claire who played the sultry and scheming Kim Marchant in Yorkshire Television’s Emmerdale, had teamed up with North Yorkshire trainer Les Eyre for her new venture. And York’s open-top tour bus company, Viking Tours, had found themselves in court following reports that 17 defects had been found on four buses. The inquiry in Leeds, heard that one of the buses had bald tyres, three had broken speedometers and none had had their brakes checked for quite some time.