From our archives:

85 years ago

Four hundred of the city’s freemen had joined forces to distribute the Bootham Ward’s annual income, derived from the land which was invested in by the Pasture Masters, and from agistments on stock on Bootham Stray. Happy to dish out the tidy sum of 15s, was Mr W Richardson. Over three thousand excited dog lovers followed with rapt interest a display of canine intelligence and shepherding skills during the opening of the International Sheep Dog Trials on Ayr racecourse. Founded in 1886, the show had broken the record for total attendance for the first day, of any annual contest, ever held, in any of the three countries, England, Scotland and Wales. And in Bridlington, controversy continued to surround the Royal Victoria Rooms and Fisherman’s Shelter fire after several of the towns folk and visitors regarded the fire as an attempt to remove one of the most serious obstructions on the sea front.

50 years ago

Sir Matt Busby, manager of Manchester United, was very happy with his team’s performance, although they were beaten 1-0 by Estudiantes, in the first leg of the World Soccer Club Championship final. Speaking to the teams only goal scorer, Marcos Conigliaro, Manchester forward George Best told him in Spanish: “We will win in England.”

And in Fulford, twenty-six people had unanimously decided that the annual Fulford Show should go ahead next year, without fail, after all promised to lend their help and support. According to the committee chairman, Mr E Goulding, “the trouble was that for the past ten years the number of people had dwindled. Every year, someone has moved away or resigned for other reasons.”

20 years ago

Selby’s war Memorial Hospital would now continue to play a major role in the community, thanks to a £50,000 major new revamp. The hospital’s original Abbey Ward, first opened in 1927, was a clear sign that the hospital would continue to be as important to the district in the next century, as it had been in this. Hurricane Georges, had now moved deep into the Gulf of Mexico taking aim at the Gulf Coast, leaving a trail of sunken houseboats, twisted trees and tangled power lines. After killing more than 300 people in the Caribbean, the hurricane was unfortunately getting stronger as it passed over an open area.