Wednesday, May 24, 2006

100 years ago

Today, May 24th was the anniversary of the birthday of our late beloved Queen Victoria, and the day that we had come to recognise as Empire Day. The Empire Day movement, for which Lord Meath was to a large degree responsible, was only in the third year of its existence, but so great had been the progress, and such was the enthusiasm now displayed in the celebration, that the twenty-fourth of May promised to become the true festival day of the great British Empire, the red letter day, if we could call it so, of the whole year. It instilled in the minds of all British subjects, the honourable obligation which rested upon them of preparing themselves, each in his or her own sphere, for the due fulfilment of the duties and responsibilities attaching to the high privilege of being subjects of the greatest Empire the world had ever known, and could be productive of nothing but good.

50 years ago

Concern over the future of hunting was expressed by the Duke of Beaufort, at the annual puppy walk of the Middleton and Middleton East Hunt, at Birdsall Kennels, near Malton. The Duke said there were a great many people in this country who were doing their utmost to harm fox hunting. One found more letters in the paper than ever before against hunting. Foxhunters had a society, which had recently met to discuss the matter, and they knew there was a strong campaign against it. If any of those present had a chance of doing anything in support of foxhunting he hoped they would do it. They had all got to work very hard to keep it going.

25 years ago

Trays featuring pictures of Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer had been selling like hot cakes and raising money for the disabled in the York area. They were among items at a sale of handicrafts made by disabled people at the Handicraft and Social Centre in Huntington Road. The sale at St Michael-le-Belfrey Church Hall in Stonegate was one of a number being organised by North Yorkshire Social Services Department to mark the International Year of Disabled People. Mrs Anne Phillips, officer in charge, said the Prince Charles and Lady Di tray had proved a popular item for the disabled people to make as well as a good buy. Other items on sale included soft toys, stools, and gloves. "The handicraft sessions are much enjoyed by many disabled people," said Mrs Phillips. "For a lot of them it is their only chance to get out of their own homes for a change." All money from the sale would go back into the Centre's funds.

Updated: 16:44 Tuesday, May 23, 2006