From our archives:

85 years ago

By a great majority, the registered pig producers of England, Scotland and Wales had voted in favour of the pig marketing scheme. According to the Bacon Marketing Board, the initial poll to determine whether the bacon marketing scheme shall remain in force had resulted in favour of the continuance of the scheme. And on arrival from Hull, a female French football team had been met by officials from Joseph Terry and Sons, in preparation for a match against some of the company’s staff. Taken to the State Room at the Mansion House the Lord Mayor and the Sheriff extended a cordial welcome to the French girls before showing them round the historic Minster.

50 years ago

Bows and arrows, and other archery equipment, had been stolen from the White Cross Archery Club at Imphal Barracks, York, police had reported. One bow, contained in a green box, was a 36 lb Merlin, made of black steel and a second bow was made of glass fibre, and was stolen along with a further 12 arrows. Cameras had also been stolen from a display window at John Saville’s camera shop in Goodramgate, during a series of raids in the city. And during an unusual church service in Billy Smart’s circus big top at Burniston Road, Scarborough, the Vicar of St Mark’s, the Rev Allan Branagan, blessed animals belonging to the circus and also local children’s pets. The ceremony which took place once a year was a colourful service which lasted for about half an hour. In the ring was an elephant, two camels, horses, ponies and two llamas, all decorated in their circus finery. One Scarborough woman also took her horse to be blessed.

20 years ago

York Minster was second only to Westminster Abbey in a league of top historic tourist attractions in England. The Minster which attracted about two million visitors was beaten by Westminster Abbey, which drew 2.5 million visitors. Third in the league was Chester Cathedral, with one million visitors. Manchester United were today announcing the start of the world’s first television channel dedicated to one football club MUTV, which would be broadcasting six hours a day, seven days a week, from a studio at the club’s Old Trafford ground. And England’s Darren Gough had celebrated the last South African wicket to fall at Headingley completing England’s first major series victory on home soil for 13 years.