100 years ago

The usual weekly dance promoted by the 5th Battalion PWO West Yorkshire Regiment, had been held at the Drill Hall, St Andrewgate, York.

The members and friends turned up in record numbers, and the programme supplied by bandsman Tom W Taylor, was greatly appreciated, encores being repeatedly called for. The most popular item was the tango dance, which had been introduced in both sections of the programme by special request. Several officers of the corps were present during the evening, and were interested spectators of the proceedings.

Thanks to the efforts of Colour-Sergeant A Eccles and Sergeant Andy, who had carried out the arrangements, this dance proved the success of the season.

 

50 years ago

York health authorities were awaiting with interest the outcome of a pending High Court action, which could help to settle at least part of the great fluoride controversy.

High Court proceedings had been instituted “in respect of the fluoridation of water supplies in the Watford area”. Local authorities all over the country, some favouring fluoridation and others opposing it, regarded this action as a test case – and it seemed certain that some definition of the legal position concerning the wholesale fluoridation of public water supplies would emerge.

York Corporation had recently agreed to put off its decision on the fluoridation of the city’s water supplies for a year. the West Riding County Council had agreed to go ahead in its area – and other local authorities had asked the County Councils Association to press for a uniform national policy.

 

25 years ago

The most comprehensive book about the structure and contents of York Minster was nearing completion.

A small team of architectural experts from the York office of the Royal Commission on the Historical Monuments of England was busy finishing the volume. It would be full of details about the history of the cathedral’s structure. The volume, likely to run to around 400 pages, would also have sections about the stained glass, fittings and monuments.

The Minster fire, the rebuilding and the reopening of the South Transept would be featured. According to the commission’s 1987/8 report, the volume, likely to be simply called York Minster, “would provide the most complete and best illustrated account of the cathedral ever made available”.

Ian Pattison, one of those compiling the volume, said it would go further than the “only real rival” – a two-volume Minster study published in 1841. “We now have the opportunity of including photographs, which show many details the public has not been aware of before.”