Way we were

100 years ago

The Channel Fleet was to pay a visit to Scarborough the next Thursday, and would remain in the bay until the following Monday. There would be eleven vessels, including the flagship of the Vice-Admiral and the flagship of the Rear-Admiral. This was the largest fleet of warships that had ever visited Scarborough.

The Mayor of Scarborough had summoned a public meeting at the Town Hall, at which he hoped there would be a large attendance and that although the notice was so short, all would do their utmost to ensure a hearty welcome to the officers and men of the fleet.

The ships of the Fleet due to arrive off Scarborough were, HMS Caesar, Flagship of Vice-Admiral, HMS Albemarle, Flagship of Rear-Admiral, HMS Prince George, HMS Goliath, HMS Ocean, HMS Glory, HMS Devonshire, HMS Roxburgh, HMS Dido, HMS Juno, and HMS Topaze.

50 years ago

Highly-coloured postcards, on sale at holiday resorts, and depicting "red-nosed drunks, fat, red-nosed women, gormless honeymoon couples, thin frustrated spinsters and the rest, who were the subject of crude jokes printed on the cards," were attacked by Rev J D Harvey in Knaresborough Congregationalist Church magazine.

"Though it takes all kinds to make a world, there are a lot of things in it we could well do without. Snigger cards' are among those unnecessary articles," he declared. Mr Harvey said that those who sold the cards said they were harmless and that any evil had to be in the minds of those who looked at them, and anyway, that they were what the public wanted.

"They produce an unwholesome snigger and are purchased by people who wish to send them, for instance, to the friend at the office, so that he can snigger, too. I have no doubt that this friend shows them to other members of staff, and there arises a cacophony of sniggers."

25 years ago

Those who chose not to watch the Royal wedding on television on July 29 should have been able to find something else to do in York. Though most of the shops would be closed, all the city's museums were open as normal and several historical monuments and buildings in the surrounding area were open for at least part of the day.

Meanwhile, at the Castle Museum the main event would not be the Royal Wedding at all but Queen Elizabeth II's Coronation. For the museum was opening the latest in its series of period rooms on that day, and a room was set out as for the Coronation.

An old television made its first appearance in the museum in this room. The set on display was originally bought by someone who wanted to watch the Coronation.