Monday, March 29, 2004

100 years ago: The Tercentenary of the Incorporation of Ripon was likely to prove an interesting event. Ripon had a reputation for historic pageantry, such as the Historic Festival of 1896. The Marquis of Ripon promised support to the Incorporation celebration, His Lordship having been Mayor during the Festival of 1896.

The chief magistrate of Ripon was known as the Wakeman until 1604, when King James I granted a new charter, giving the chief magistrate the title of Mayor. There had been regret at the change, as Wakeman would have been unique. In 1886 Ripon adopted as the City motto "Except ye Lord keep ye cittie ye Wakeman waketh in vain," and these words appeared across the front of the Town Hall.

50 years ago: The heavy old oak door is back on its hinges at the entrance of York's Guildhall, and the last of the temporary offices has been removed from the site.

Mr Nobody recalled the memories within the shell of this building: lavish banquets, Assize openings, the conferring of the honorary freedom of the city on world-famous people and history-making events that would fill his column many times over. Now the site was cleared, but against one seemingly fragile wall stands a reminder of the event in history which took away its glory - the case of a bomb.

10 years ago: One of the big talking points in York was a load of rubbish. As the city council prepared to bring wheelie bins to some areas, the Evening Press found out the pros and cons of the new system from those who have them and from those who soon may.

Residents in Dunnington, covered by Selby District Council, already had wheelie bins and gave them a big "thumbs-up," one resident calling them "the best thing since cream cheese." There were some worries amongst those next to receive the bins that they would be too heavy for older people to push out for collection, but most people were looking forward to them, especially as it meant not having to use bin liners, and being able to put garden rubbish out.

Updated: 08:37 Monday, March 29, 2004