100 years ago

The Martinmas hirings had opened at York today in dismal weather. There was a good attendance of farmers, but they found a difficulty in securing lads.

The diminution in the supply of labour was in a large measure due to the number of likely lads who had already joined the Forces, and too many who were thinking of enlisting refusing to re-engage. As a result rates were high. First-year men received £9 to £10; good men with experience of horses, £26 to £30; and beastmen, £25 to £26.

 

50 years ago

A vicar had told agricultural workers in York that if only they could “knock off producing for about six months” they would bring the country to its senses.

The Rev SF Linsley, Vicar of Thwing, East Yorkshire, was speaking at the annual dinner of the North Yorkshire District of the National Union of Agricultural Workers. “If you can’t live without eating, then priority number one is food,” said the vicar. But there were still people who looked upon the agricultural worker as “next door to a clod-hopper.”

The dignity of the agricultural worker had to be raised in time of wrong priorities. Agriculture was priority number one.

 

25 years ago

The murder of 11 young Royal Marine bandsmen by the IRA in the Deal barracks bombing was “unjust, merciless, brutal and cowardly”, the Archbishop of Canterbury said at a memorial service in Canterbury Cathedral.

“By murdering 11 men and injuring many more, these people have polluted yet more the very cause which they claim to be serving,” said Dr Runcie in his sermon. Speaking to a congregation which included the Duke of Edinburgh and the Prime Minister, Dr Runcie recalled the emotional moments when he visited local hospitals tafter the tragedy. Meanwhile, the appeal fund for victims of the bombing had topped £650,000.