Wednesday, May 25, 2005

100 years ago

A kettle designed on scientific principles was the invention of Mr W H Webster, ironmonger, of 7 and 8 Jubbergate, York. The kettle had neither lid nor spout, but an orifice, which acted for both, and was infinitely better behaved than any existing vessels of the same kind. One important feature of this new "one orifice" kettle was that while the boiling contents flowed from the kettle quite easily and freely when required, this condition was reversed should the kettle be suddenly inverted, as when accidentally thrown off the fire, thus making it much safer to use than the old variety, which had had a second opening in one form or another.

50 years ago

Among solutions to the parking problem put forward at the York Chamber of Trade's monthly meeting held in the Creamery Restaurant, was an idea from Mr R Cussins, who, looking forward about 50 years, suggested all cars should be banned from the city centre. He proposed that the power should be granted for several sites outside the city to be purchased, and an automatic tramway or railway run to the centre from each. Then all cars could be parked there, and the city streets cleared. He pointed out that it was a matter of either moving the cars or the shops, as was being done in America, but the first suggestion seemed to be the most popular at the meeting. Mr Cussins also had definite views on the expense of building and ventilating underground parks, a solution supported by Mr H L B Pawson.

25 years ago

David Gower, accepted as England's brightest prospect for a decade, had suddenly discovered what it was like to be under pressure. A disappointing winter tour in Australia was followed by an indifferent start to the domestic season, and inevitably a seed of doubt had been sown in the public mind. Ray Illingworth commented: "My close contact with him as Leicestershire's captain, starting when he was 17, leads me to spring to his defence. Nothing shakes my belief that he will be a successful England player for a long time to come, for a fledging he has flown high and he will soon be stretching his wings again. I am sure he will play a vital part in England's side for the foreseeable future."

Updated: 16:51 Tuesday, May 24, 2005