From our archives:

85 years ago

The HMS Warspite, which was due to arrive in Whitby the day before, had finally reached the bay somewhat earlier than was anticipated. The unplanned visit which had been arranged at the request of the Admiral did not need any formal entertainments, although the usual exchange of courtesies did take place once the warship had entered the Bay after being delayed by unfavourable weather conditions. Rugby players in York hung their heads with relief after struggling to win a league match with Dewsbury at Clarence Street. An early lead had proved invaluable as did their second score after the visitors had drawn level. And the Archbishop of York held an ordination in York Minster. Newly ordained priests sang, “Come Holy Ghost, Ye watchers and ye Holy ones,” before listening to the Bishop’s speech on power and virtues.

50 years ago

Detectives in York were investigating a fire at Crompton Farm, York Road, Haxby, in which a man had died and two Dutch barns containing more than 150 tons of hay and straw were destroyed. Firemen from York and Easingwold tackled the blaze after receiving more than 10 emergency calls just after 3am from people in the Haxby area. Boys from the Archbishop Holgate’s Grammar School, York, had gone head to head with boys from Hull Grammar School during a BBC radio quiz, Top Of The Form. The result of the clash was being kept a secret until its broadcast in October. And Redman Ltd, had opened a new supermarket in Davygate. With over 70 shops in the northern half of England since 1910, the supermarket with a floor area of 2,200 square feet, had been designed to meet the most modern and up-to-date thinking in food servicing and retailing.

20 years ago

Dannii Minogue’s Unleashed ‘98 show at York’s Barbican Centre had been called off at short notice. No official reason had been given at the time of going to press but poor ticket sales were under stood to be the root of the cause. And the skies may have been cloudy but the radiant smile of Heartbeat bride Kazia Pelka brightened up an otherwise quiet day in the village of Clifford, near Wetherby, when she tied the knot with actor-writer Brian Jordon. Kazia, who played district nurse Maggie Bolton delighted crowds of villagers when she stopped to speak to them before making her way into the St Edward the Confessor Church.