Thursday, June 23, 2005

100 years ago

The chicory industry in Yorkshire had been declining owing to the unfair incidence of excise and customs duty, whereby chicory imported from abroad by reason of its dryness had an advantage over Yorkshire-grown chicory, which, when submitted for excise, contained more moisture than the imported commodity. The difference in the duty between high-dried and roasted chicory was the difference between 13s 3d and £1. In the recently printed Revenue Bill, which the Chancellor of the Exchequer would introduce, the following clause appeared: "From 1905 high-dried chicory shall be subject to the same Customs duty as roasted or ground chicory, and, accordingly, 'low dried or white dried' shall be substituted for 'kiln dried', as respects the Customs duty on chicory in the Customs Tariff Act, 1876, and as respects the excise duty on chicory in Section 5 of the Customs and Inland Revenue Act, 1872."

50 years ago

The hardy annual problem of how to take away all one's favourite holiday clothes and yet travel light was in the minds of many women. However, the fashion columnist advised us that if you could concentrate on dual-purpose articles a lot of weight would be saved. For example there were some very smart rainproof outfits, coat and hat, which could be bought in York at prices ranging from three to 14 guineas. The new Terrylene coat, though rather expensive for some, was well worth the price, being light, and having the advantage of looking like an ordinary coat when it was not wet. The neat little matching hat was round, with a small brim. One nylon dress packed easily, did not crease, washed and dried in a night, and could be worn for a special afternoon occasion, or for an informal dance.

25 years ago

Ninety men, women and children took to the streets of York in a walking race to raise money for the York scanner appeal. Sponsorship fees and collection boxes along the route raised more than £100. The walk was the idea of Dick Jewell, president of York's CIU and a member of the York Festival board. The men who took part were members of working men's clubs in York. The route taken was from the Guildhall, Lendal, the Minster, Blake Street, Parliament Street, High Ousegate, Spurriergate and Coney Street. Each member of the three-strong team went round the course twice. The winners were South Bank WMC, who were presented with plaques by the Lord Mayor of York, Councillor Clive Kay.

Updated: 15:37 Wednesday, June 22, 2005