Wednesday, February 9, 2005

100 years ago: The vicar and his churchwardens had taken a very decided stand with regard to the non-removal of the organ chamber of All Saints' Church, Pavement, York. It was built a few years previously on to the south side of the church, and it was said that it "somewhat interferes" with the improvement of Coppergate. The Streets and Buildings Committee instructed the Town Clerk to write to the vicar asking him to meet with aldermen to see if some arrangement could not be come to. The reply of the reverend was to the effect that it would be useless to confer on the subject as there was no possibility of an arrangement being come to, to place the chamber in another position.

50 years ago: During his last year at Winchester, before being appointed Archbishop of York, Dr Cyril Garbett learned to drive his car. He was then 66 years of age and, as he pointed out when he told this story recently, at this age it was sensible to drive very carefully. On a trip up to York Dr Garbett offered a young soldier a lift in his car. "I was well wrapped up and he did not recognise me," he added. "We became very friendly but it was obvious that he did not admire my driving. As a Yorkshireman, he did not conceal his feelings." Gradually the conversation turned round to York and the soldier asked if Dr Garbett had been there. When he learned that Dr Garbett's visits had been fleeting, he commented: "York is a wonderful place, you ought to have a good look round." Eventually, the soldier asked why Dr Garbett was going to York. "I've got a job up there," he replied. "What kind of job?" said his passenger."I'm going to be the Archbishop of York." "What!" said the surprised soldier. "YOU, Archbishop of York?" Dr Garbett, who at the time had little experience of the north "had nightmares, picturing rows and rows of Yorkshiremen looking at me and exclaiming: 'YOU - Archbishop of York?' "

25 years ago: After eight years of research and walking the North York Moors, a lecturer had produced a unique survey report on standing stones erected centuries ago. He had traced and listed 1,450 stones, ranging from late Neolithic and medieval crosses to estate boundary stones, wearing out four pairs of boots in the process. The lecturer was now urging local authorities in North Yorkshire to preserve the stones, because some had already disappeared.

Updated: 16:50 Tuesday, February 08, 2005