100 years ago

The moment the carriage conveying the King and Queen from Buckingham Palace to Crewe Hall rolled out of the main entrance a small army of domestics descended upon their Majesties’ private apartments and stripped them of their contents.

The whole of these rooms were to be thoroughly spring-cleaned and everything replaced by the time that the King and Queen returned in a few days.

This would practically involve working night and day.

For some days past, those entrusted with the work had been carefully maturing their plans, and the result promised to be one of the most expeditious pieces of work ever carried out in the Royal residence.


50 years ago

Plans for the use of a former bomber airfield, near Pocklington, as a private aerodrome meant that businessmen travelling to and from York and the East Riding might have a faster and more efficient means of communication.

The application to re-open the airfield had been made by Mr R B Massey of Market Weighton, and had the full backing of Pocklington Rural Council.

The East Riding County Council which proposed to grant the necessary planning approval had given public notice to any objectors to the scheme, which was a departure from the Development Plan for the East Riding.

The plan meant the airfield would have to be re-adapted for full-time use. This would include the provision and equipping of a control tower. People living in the immediate vicinity of the old bomber airfield near Pocklington had reacted favourably to the plans to reopen the airfield.

They suggested the plan would do much to solve the local unemployment problem. Any noise nuisance they claimed would be insignificant in comparison with that caused by the heavy Halifax bombers of the war years.


25 years ago

York’s Castle Museum was celebrating its 50th anniversary and a new sign pointed to a successful future.

For the first time since it was opened in 1938, the tourist centre would bear a large metal sign at the entrance showing visitors where it was. “I can now cycle around the Eye of York and actually know where I am going to work,” said director Dr Andrew Hodges.

“I think this will be very important for visitors as well. It’s extraordinary that we have not had one before.”

He hoped the new sign would help top the previous year’s 630,000 tourist figure for the coming season.

Although he had originally predicted a cash crisis for the 50th birthday celebrations, Dr Hodges now said there would be no shortage and they would go ahead as planned, after an official opening by Lord Mayor Councillor Malcolm Heppell the following day.