From our archives:

85 years ago

Motor experts and traders returning from Coventry to London were given an extra special treat by returning on one of two Humber-Hillman-Commer special trains, believed to be the fastest express run ever made by the LMS Railway. The train of seven coaches was hauled by the Royal Scot class engine, Comet, which could cover the 94 miles from Coventry to Euston in 75 minutes at an average speed of 74.8 miles an hour. In Richmond, a reference had been made to the construction of some new housing, which had been referred to as belonging to the Dark Ages. According to Dr J Williams, Medical Officer of the Richmond Rural Council, “the accommodation was acute, and would probably end with a result of overcrowding.” On the bright side the death rate in the region had been much lower than the previous year, by 7.8% per 1,000. And 11 donations, amounting in all to £221, had been received by the Court of Governors of Bootham Park, York.

50 years ago

Mr Edward Heath, Leader of the Opposition, had breezed into York, expressing a ‘sympathetic’ interest in conserving the city’s historic centre. Talking to the press, he also stated, that his three-day tour of the East Riding area had been very successful. There was however just one little hitch during his visit, the blue doors belonging to the Mansion House, which were normally open to receive distinguished visitors, had not yet been unlocked, due to Mr Heath had arriving five minutes early. Dringhouses Football Club, one of the oldest in York, which for years had been using obsolete railway box containers to change in and store equipment at their Hob Moor ground, had announced that they would be staying after all thanks to a change of heart by York City Council. And there was no shortage of homes for seven Alsatian puppies that had been advertised in the Evening Press after York’s RSPCA had received more than 200 applications.

20 years ago

The Eagle had landed in York to help raise more than £20,000 for charity after bungling ski-jumper Eddie ‘The Eagle’ Edwards, had clipped his wings in favour of wheels for a marathon effort in aid of the children’s charity SPARKS. And a new anti-obesity drug had been launched at the headquarters of the Royal Society of Medicine. The new pill Xenical was just the latest in a long line of controversial treatments.