100 years ago

Though much remained to be done to the battleship cruiser, Queen Mary, at Palmer’s Shipyard, Jarrow, before March 20, work was being rapidly pushed forward both night and day, and, if nothing unforeseen intervened, the huge hull would be placed in the water on the day mentioned.

In view of what had transpired recently on HMS Lion, when the bridge and fire control platform were practically rendered untenable owing to the great heat from the powerful engines when the vessel was steaming at full speed, it had been found necessary to alter the plans of the Queen Mary, the forward funnel being shifted further aft.

The launching ropes to be used when the Queen Mary was placed in the water had been completed by Messrs Hood, Haggie, and Son at their Willington Quay works.

They were made of special galvanised steel, and they had a breaking strain on each rope, under test, of 190 tons.

50 years ago

It was suggested that the mobile ice-cream salesman who travelled around York using musical chimes to help sell their strawberry vanilla and chocolate flavours, might get a raspberry!

Their activities were mentioned at the meeting of York City Council when a question was asked about the law on the use of such chimes.

Alderman W Ward said the use of the chimes was governed by Section 2 of the Noise Abatement Act 1960, and by a city bylaw made in 1921.

Certain provisions were made he said, but the chimes must not cause annoyance. Action had been taken in some cases on the grounds of annoyance and some people had been prosecuted.

Recently, many drivers of the vehicles had been warned on the spot by policemen. Firms operating the vehicles had received warnings in writing from the Chief Constable, and drivers had been reminded about the law.

25 years ago

A move by city councillors to delay the closure of Deangate was greeted with widespread criticism in York.

York Traffic and Transportation Committee recommended a 12-month monitoring period after completion of the outer ring road before the historic thoroughfare was closed in the Autumn of 1988.

The final decision was up to the county council’s Greater York Travel Study Working Group. “I think the 12-month delay is remiss to say the least,” said Canon Ralph Mayland, treasurer of York Minster.

“Statistics prove that more than 50 per cent of traffic going through Deangate are using it as a convenience and not bringing commerce or money to York.”

Canon Mayland said he feared that the delay would make people think again, if the ring road as well as Deangate proved to carry a heavy traffic load.