We have had a big response to our photos in last week’s Yesterday Once More of the 1971 Lord Mayor’s Parade.
Alan Smith, from Acaster Malbis, called to say he was the policeman in the smart peaked cap with the police dog on the police float.
Back then, he was PC Smith, and with fellow officer John Poole, he had, at the request of York’s chief constable, Cyril TG Carter, set up the city’s first police dog-handling unit.
The dog pictured in the photograph was called Shane, said Alan, now aged 79. “He was brilliant. He was a good street dog. He could search buildings and follow trails, he could track for several hours. And he was good on a Saturday night as well. He could put the fear up people when they were misbehaving.”
Angela Wakefield also called, about the British Legion float we carried a photograph of. It had a Roman Legion theme and the Roman legionary who took centre place on the float was her dad, Peter Atkin.
Angela says she remembers watching the float go by. She was just nine at the time and her dad was 41 and a blacksmith at Rowntrees. He had done his national service in the RAF and was a member of the British Legion.
He and his brother, Angela’s uncle, were regulars on Legion floats. She remembers her uncle once being dressed as the Pope.
Her dad was a good-looking man, Angela said. “I was very proud of him. He died in 2009, sadly, but it was lovely to see the photo.”
Reader Stewart Gray also emailed in about the same photo. He remembered Angela’s father, and was also able to identify a couple of other people.
“The poppy sellers are Pauline Simpson on the left and Christine Griffiths on the right,” he wrote. “The two Britons were two girls from York University who offered to help. My dad was driving the Land Rover that was pulling the float, and I was in the passenger seat.”
And finally, in describing one photograph last week, we inadvertently referred to former Evening Press chief photographer, the late Jimmy Brownhill. We meant, of course, Jimmy Brownbill. Apologies, Jimmy.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here