March 16

The more practical person said - “The housewife’s thoughts turned to spring cleaning”; but all our thoughts turned to the question of holidays, and on this question opinions were as divergent as the poles.

Some preferred the seaside, some the moorland, and some the country. Scarborough, by its unique position, offered a wide scope, and combined all three, sea, moors, and country.

The district round Scarborough, too, was the happy hunting ground for geologist, naturalist, botanist, etc.

The cliffs and woods, within easy walking distance, contained many rare and choice specimens. The managing committee of the Spa had also turned their thoughts to the question of holidays, and had laid themselves out to provide attractions which would appeal to all.

It was a matter for congratulation that English watering places were waking up to the fact of their equality, and in many cases superiority, to the foreign spas.

50 years ago

Sparks were flying in London. They flew when you touched a doorknob, pressed lift buttons, or even fingered guilt decorations on vases.

One businessman kissed his wife goodbye this morning, and a spark leaped across their lips. He was standing on a metal door tread and she was on a nylon carpet.

The reason: static electricity, which, said experts, could well be due to very dry conditions, particularly in carpeted premises and from central heating.

So concerned was the manager of one West End hotel, after a visitor had received a shock when pressing the lift button, that he called in engineers to make urgent checks on the electricity supply.

Advice from Mr V D Freedland, secretary of the Technical Advisory Committee of the Federation of British Carpet Manufacturers, was: “Open the windows to get a bit of moist air into the place.”

25 years ago

Could you quench the thirst of some of York’s chocolate makers? That was the question being posed after a situations vacant appeal had been received from Rowntree Mackintosh.

For worried members of the engineering design office were more than perturbed at the impending retirement of one of their number.

Their tea club consisted of five people and produced tea, in rota, twice a day.

The job description stated: “The new member will be directly responsible for the manufacture of tea, on rota, for one day a week. This includes producing the ingredients, working to agreed budgets and specified product and quality standards, as well as dealing with personal issues including discipline (ie late tea will not be tolerated). Applicants should ideally be educated to degree level or equivalent but a candidate with considerable experience of infusion techniques may be considered.”