February 24

The electric light cable which passed under the bridge over a canal short-circuited, and the whole of the bridge became electrified.

The passengers on the bridge received shocks that kept them dancing, and although this was very unpleasant to the victims, the scene was most comical from a spectator's point of view.

Even the horses were affected, and from a walk dashed off at a gallop.

50 years ago

One might, with obvious and misplaced humour, have called it a grave problem. If a person wanted to be buried in York, the relatives would soon conceivably have difficulty in carrying out that wish.

The York branch of the National Association of Funeral Directors foresaw difficulties, and had written to the City authorities about it.

A spokesman for the City Parks Department doubted whether there were or would be difficulties.

But whatever the truth of it, the situation seemed to be that York Cemetery was full except for re-opening family graves; that Dringhouses Cemetery, within its current boundaries, was nearly full; that churchyards within the city boundary were full, and that only at Water Fulford Cemetery and in parish churchyards outside the city were new grave spaces available in any number.

York Cemetery, which was run by a private company, had been in operation for 125 years.

Re-opening of family graves would continue for very many years, said Mr RW Boulton, superintendent of the cemetery, but with the population of the cemetery - 118,500 - greater than the living population of York, the boundaries had been reached on all sides.

York's new crematorium at Bishopthorpe was on the way to completion but only about 50 per cent of the public had a wish to be cremated or were allowed by their religion to be cremated.

25 years ago

Sunshine breaks were just the doctor's ordering in York in the fight against stress, heart disease and strokes.

But a controversial suggestion that the health service should foot the bill for the breaks failed to get backing in the city.

York's district medical officer Dr Wilson McIntosh said holidays were one of the best ways of relieving stress. And people who boasted of never taking a holiday should realise it was unwise not to take a break, he said.

But a Harley Street doctor's suggestion that they should come on the NHS did not win Dr McIntosh's favour.

Dr Malcolm Carruthers said sunshine NHS breaks could help reduce heart attacks and nervous breakdowns.

Far from costing the taxpayer a fortune, the idea could actually save millions of pounds in hospital bills by prevention of illness, he claimed.