100 years ago

The Master Cutler of Sheffield, speaking at the annual meeting of the Sheffield Children’s Day Nursery, remarked that one class of person who sometimes had harder work to live than widows were charwomen, and other married women who would be infinitely better off without husbands.

Mothers who had to go charring or work in factories and works at the same time shouldered all the responsibilities of their homes. Something was due to parents of large families, who deserved more consideration from the State and the rating authorities than they currently received.

 

50 years ago

The infant Prince born at Buckingham Palace the previous night weighed 5lb7oz at birth, it was announced from the Palace.

The Queen, who would be 38 the following month, and her baby were both well. The official bulletin, signed by three of the Queen’s doctors, read: “The Queen has had a comfortable night. Her Majesty and the baby are both well.” At birth, the Queen’s other children weighed: Prince Charles, 7lb 6oz; Princess Anne, 6lb; Prince Andrew 7lb 3oz. A medical spokesman said that although the baby’s weight was lighter than the average (which was about 7lb)— there was “ no special significance “ about this.

The later children in a family were inclined to be lighter at birth. After the birth, the baby was placed in the cradle which was originally made for the birth of the Queen, and which had been used for all her four children. The cream-painted iron cradle, trimmed with peach satin under a deep cream spotted net, had an eiderdown of peach satin.

 

25 years ago

York City Council was formulating a radical feet-first strategy to build on the success of footstreets. Mr John Rigby, the Head of City Development, said the move put York at the forefront of city centres hitting back against out-of-town shopping.

Measures in the Feet First Campaign would be set in a framework involving not only pedestrians but also cyclists and use of park-and-ride and local bus services. The ultimate aim was to restrain forecast growth in traffic and put pedestrians and walking first above all other means of transport.

Work was programmed for 1989-90 to redesign and repave Parliament Street to provide a central focus for pedestrians in an attractive and lively open space. In a report to York Traffic and Transport Committee, Mr Rigby suggested that the council should consider closing Piccadilly and Pavement to through traffic, apart from buses, taxis and cyclists.