From our archives:

85 years ago

In its fight against diphtheria York Corporation had announced that it was to reduce the cost of its inoculation scheme by one-tenth. According to the British Medical Association, by utilising the services of the public vaccinators, who were already doing the work of protection against smallpox, making this small cut would only cost the city £250 a year. In 1932, 22 children had died of diphtheria with a further 253 cases of the disease reported. The black and white drama “Red Dust” starring Clark Gable and Jean Harlow was still one of the main attractions at Easingwold Cinema. The film which centred around a rubber plantation in Indochina, had soon become a box office hit, netting around £1.2 million. And surgical history had been observed at Leeds General Infirmary with the demonstration of a new medical appliance for the transfusion of blood, which would prevent the exposure of blood to the air maintaining its temperature.

50 years ago

The RAF moved in with six giant fan heaters, to help York dry out after the floods. Three were used to dry out property in Lincoln Street, off Leeman Road, and three more were operating in the Bean Street, Hetherton Street and Clayton Street area of Marygate. “We shall do our best to deal with every request for help,” said a corporation official. “We are hoping to have the heaters for two or three days.” Footing the bill for the petrol-driven heaters was York Corporation. And York’s civic Rolls-Royce had been sold for £1,561 to a retired American Air Force colonel now working in a civilian capacity at the US Army base at Menwith Hill, near Harrogate. The sale was reported during a meeting of York City Council, after Alderman R Scruton had announced that the council would be investing in a new eight-seater Daimler limousine costing £4,274.

20 years ago

Young hooligans had caused havoc for emergency services as Mischief Night arson and vandalism swept across York. Police were called to deal with dozens of reports of fireworks and eggs thrown by gangs of youths, whilst the fire fighters of York attended burning bins, hedges, skips and cars. In Fossway, a children’s bouncy castle had also been doused in petrol and set alight. And Oxfam York had put out an appeal for cash to help the charity’s rescue efforts in the aftermath of Hurricane Mitch, which had claimed up to 9,000 lives, with still more than 13,000 missing.