Friday, September 2, 2005

100 years ago

Shopkeepers and tradesmen in York were advised to take the utmost care in fastening their tills and safes at night, it being evident from facts which had come to hand lately, that a gang of expert and daring burglars were at work in the city. It was stated that a well-known place of amusement in the city had just been visited, out of the usual performance hours, and instead of paying to enter the person concerned was reported to have helped himself to a large sum of money - £47 in all from the two tills. In a well-known York hotel a few nights before a few men entered and scattered a quantity of cayenne pepper on the floor. Soon the whole company were half-blinded and sneezing, and the barmaid had to be taken outside. A gentleman, however, had the presence of mind to stand beside the till, and though all was confusion, the schemers were thwarted.

50 years ago

The mock naval battle staged on Scarborough's Peasholm Park Lake during the summer formed the setting for the third BBC Children's Television film of "Sooty on Holiday," which was to be shown shortly. In "Sooty to the Rescue," Harry Corbett and his two sons, David (12) and Peter (7), were watching the battle when Sweep crept away and sailed off in a miniature liner. Suddenly, a submarine surfaced and attacked the ship, but Sooty quickly sized up the situation, assumed command of the destroyer Ajax and sped to the rescue. This would be the last film in this "Sooty" series, but Harry Corbett and Sooty would return "live" to Children's Television in the autumn.

25 years ago

About 200 jobs -- one in five of the workforce -- were to go at the York factory of Redfearn National Glass. The figure followed the previous week's announcement that a total of 500 jobs would have to be phased out at the York and Barnsley factories. This was to safeguard the future of the company. The cuts were necessary, said the firm, because of a drop in orders and intense competition from imports. Redfearn employed about 1,000 in York and a further 1,200 at Barnsley. Asked to confirm the York figure of 200 jobs, Mr Peter Redfearn, commercial director, said: "That is about right. The cuts will affect all departments." About 12 unions were involved at Redfearn. "Most of them have shown a great deal of understanding and everyone realises we have a problem," added Mr Redfearn. Talks were continuing between management and unions on a redundancy programme, options including early retirement in some cases. "It is very early days yet," stressed the commercial director.

Updated: 16:25 Thursday, September 01, 2005