Floating down the ’seventies

The first ones we came across were taken during the Lord Mayor's Parade in 1971. It is quite possible that some readers may recognise themselves here – if so, we would love to hear from you.

One of the photographs shows the British Legion float – one of more than 60 that took part in the parade. The theme for this float was Roman Legion – but who is the Roman legionary in the picture? And who are the two young women dressed as native Britons who stand on either side of him?

The police float for that year carried the masked figure of Dick Turpin braced by three smiling bobbies and a police dog. On the side of the float is a poster with the words: “Watch Out!” Anyone who lived through the ’seventies will know that those words were accompanied by the tag: “there's a thief about!”

Other floats taking part in the parade included one from the Yorkshire Evening Press.

In the same year, the Queen made one of her several visits to York. We will no doubt be revisiting some of them later this year to celebrate the 60th anniversary of her Coronation.

But for now, we couldn't resist the photo we have included today of her 1971 visit, because of the smiling little boy pictured in the foreground. Who is he? And if he still lives in York, does he remember the day more than 40 years ago when he met the Queen?

The 1970s saw numerous archaeological discoveries in York.

Probably the most famous of these resulted from the Coppergate Dig, but there were others including the 1972 discovery of a Roman sewer at the corner of Church Street and Swinegate, and the uncovering, in 1974, of a section of Roman road behind what was to become WH Smith in Coney Street. We have pictures of both today.

And finally, a couple of photographs showing construction work in progress on the new A64 bridge over the River Ouse at Middlethorpe Ings.

The bridge was part of work on York’s new southern bypass which, once it was completed, enabled traffic travelling from Leeds and the west to get past York and head on towards the coast and East Yorkshire without having to go through the city centre.

Our photographs show an aerial view taken in 1974 of ground being prepared on either side of the river; and a picture taken in 1975 of construction under way on the bridge itself.

The Yorkshire Evening Press’s then chief photographer, the late Jimmy Brownhill, climbed to the top of a gantry crane to get the photograph. Now there’s dedication.

This picture was taken in May 1974 and shows work beginning on the new  bridge for A64 outer ringroad being constructed over the River Ouse at Middlethorpe Ings

The late Jimmy Brownhill, chief photographer at the Yorkshire Evening Press, climbed to the top of a gantry crane to take this picture of the bridge over the River Ouse being built at Bishopthorpe.

The bridge on the new bypass at Grimston Bar nears completion in 1975

• We welcome contributions from readers to Yesterday Once More. However, we would ask you not to send in original old photographs, as we cannot guarantee that these will be returned. If you have old photographs or documents you would like to share with us, either send copies, or contact Stephen Lewis on 01904 567263 email stephen.lewis@nqyne.co.uk