100 years ago

WITH the view to giving the citizens of York an opportunity of seeing for themselves the good work which the York Maternity Home in Ogleforth was doing, the Home had been thrown open for inspection.

No more useful work could be carried on than that which was being done in the Institution in Ogleforth, and it was felt that by allowing the public to see for themselves what was being done greater interest would be taken in the Home by the citizens.

 

50 years ago

Colour television came to Yorkshire today — but it was not seen by the general public. Several representatives of York firms which used television in their advertising campaigns saw it at a demonstration arranged by ABC Television, which had been prominent with experiments in colour television, using the Secam system.

The demonstration, at a Leeds hotel, was on the Secam 825 line system and replayed from a mobile video tape-recorder, part of ABC Television’s Outside Broadcast fleet. The invited audience saw entertainment film material, a studio sequence showing the adaptability of the Secam system, simple advertising-pack shots using a colour camera, and a selection of film commercials.

 

25 years ago

Work was due to start on £350,000 repairs to Cawood swing bridge today. But as yet there had been no workmen on the bridge, which would remain open until the middle of May.

Orders were being placed and sub-contracts arranged, said the site agent Mr Andy Stakes, of the main contractor Kier North-East. “Nobody will be actually working on the bridge this week. We will just be setting up our site. Work may possibly start next week but in no shape or form will it affect usage of the bridge.

The major changes will take place in about six weeks’ time, though we shall have a presence from later this week.” North Yorkshire engineer Mr Peter Welch said though their main contractor was Kier North-East, work on the swing mechanism would be carried out by Oil Gear Towler, of Leeds, which specialised in hydraulic engineering. Repairs to the bridge, which was a listed structure, were needed because it was in danger of seizing. The whole bridge was to be refurbished, structural members would be repaired, it would be repainted, there would be a new control cabin, and the opening mechanism would be modernised.

Cawood Parish Council chairman Councillor Gordon Pool said: “We are relieved work has actually started.” The Parish would be monitoring the impact on the community in terms of the 7am-to-10pm working allowed and the effect on small businesses.