From our archives:

85 years ago

Prime Minister Mr MacDonald was celebrating his 67th birthday hard at work at No 10 Downing Street. The oldest Prime Minister since Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman, who become Premier in 1905, Mr MacDonald had time for a brisk walk round St James’ Park before attending a meeting on the disarmament crisis. In Withernsea, the Ramblers Rest Club, Halsham, had been struck off for 12 months, and its secretary fined £48 16s 6d, including costs, for supplying intoxicating liquor during non-permitted hours. And martial law had been proclaimed in Bangkok, the capital of Siam, after a mutiny had ended with two regiments seizing the Don Mueang Aerodrome, the headquarters of the Royal Aeronautical Service. No casualties had been reported and the capital was unusually quiet.

50 years ago

Joe Sime had been severely bruised after falling off Crimson Velvet at York. Announcing that he may not ride again this season, his wife commented, that Joe had been bruised all down his left side and could not put his foot down. “He was lucky that the horse was winded, and he was able to get clear before it rolled on him.” This was however not the first time that Joe had fallen on the York race course, in fact it was his third. Sixth-form girls at St Andrew’s School, Malton, had been given a common room of their own, a room which not even the headmistress, Miss Margaret Hughes could enter without invitation. And Mrs Ruby Bunyan, from Acomb, had been crowned Armstrong Patents Sports Social Club’s ‘Glamorous Grannie’.

20 years ago

Video stores across the county had been swamped with advance requests for copies of the blockbuster film, Titanic. The video which was due to officially go on sale at midnight on Sunday was predicated to break all sales records with many planning special midnight openings. Choices Video in Malton, had already taken pre-orders of more than 178 copies. Comedienne Sandi Toksvig presented Britain’s Best Railway Station Awards during a glittering ceremony at York’s National Railway Museum. Although none of the winning stations had come from the York area, Grantham had won the prestigious honour of 1998 Station of the year. And two bay trees about 5ft high in full foliage had been stolen from the front of the Bramwood guest house in Hallgarth, Pickering.