100 years ago

The Princess Shakhovskoy, a well-known sportswoman, who held a flying certificate from Johannisthal, had been permitted to join General Ruzsky’s staff as a military airwoman.

This appeared to be the sole instance of a woman officially recognised in the Army service. The Czar refused permission for the formation of a regiment of Amazons, which 300 society women were desirous to join.

His Majesty recommended the promoters to devote their attention to their households.


50 years ago

Dr Reginald Arthur Dench, of Askham Grove, York, had died at the age of 67.

Dr Dench, who had retired 18 months before after being in practice in York since 1932, was a prominent Freemason and was actively interested in the amateur theatre. He had taken part in the Mystery Plays during each of the first four York Festivals and for many years had been a member of the York Settlement Players.

Among his other leisure-time interests was painting, and he was a member of York Arts Society. He was an enthusiastic Freemason. He had a distinguished record in the 1914-18 war and, as a result of service in France, had been awarded the Military Cross and Bar.

He left a widow, two sons and a daughter. One son, Dr Peter Dench, practised in York and the other, Mr Jeffery Dench, was a member of the Royal Shakespeare Company and was formerly with York Repertory Company. His daughter was the actress, Miss Judi Dench, who had taken part in the first and second performances of the Mystery Plays.
 

25 years ago

New Earswick had become one of the few places in the country where no one could watch satellite television. The Joseph Rowntree Memorial Trust, which ran the village, had cracked down on satellite dishes.

The four which had already been installed had to come down, and new ones would be banned. New Earswick was established 85 years before by Joseph Rowntree, a Quaker, and until a few years before no alcohol could be sold there. But this latest decision had nothing to do with religious or moral beliefs.

“The elected representatives of the village decided they don’t like these unsightly things stuck on the side of the houses,” said the memorial trust’s director of housing and property, Mr Cedric Dennis.

“Most of the buildings are listed and there are controls on development in New Earswick. It is not because we don’t like television. We hope that technology will soon make it possible to put them inside.”