From our archives:

85 years ago

In York, various police teams from around the region had demonstrated their accident skills in Rowntree’s dining hall as part of the Palmer Police Ambulance Challenge. Taking first place was the London and North Eastern Railway police, with York’s City Police coming in a close second. A fine of 10 shillings had been imposed on a woman from Micklegate, after she had been summonsed for unlawfully selling one pint of milk which was deficient in milk fat to the extent of 16.6 per cent. In her defence she told the court that the only possible reason she could give for the milk fat deficiency was that her son might not have stirred up the milk when serving the first customer. Not allowing their natural anxiety for their daughters up and coming appendicitis operation to interfere with their previous engagement the King and Queen continued to open the London’s University Library.

50 years ago

York Rowntree Players opened their new season with the Brian Rix farce, Chase Me Comrade. Staged at the Rowntree Theatre, the three-act romp by Ray Cooney was set in the country house of a high-ranking naval intelligence officer. The play which ran for three nights managed to keep the medium-sized audience highly amused. A form, placed in a Post Office in Cawood, near Selby, asking how many people had been affected by the heavy flooding, had been signed by 56 people and Bruce Reynolds, aged 37, wanted for questioning in connection with the Great Train Robbery for the past five years, had finally been arrested in Torquay.

20 years ago

Actor Ewan McGregor had arrived in a donkey jacket and trainers for the world premiere of his latest movie Little Voice while other guests arrived in dinner suits. Rushing in late after rehearsals for a new stage play, the star also sported a tatty beard for the gala screening in London’s Leicester Square. The film, directed by York-based Mark Herman of Brassed Off fame, was the opening movie of the 42nd London Film Festival. And in Acomb, the police had launched a zero-tolerance style crackdown after residents complained of mob rule by gangs of up to 60 youths. Operation Gunpowder, aimed at tackling the tension between residents and gangs of teenagers, involved regular police joining force with special constables.