Tuesday, May 24, 2005

100 years ago

It was Empire Day, and in common with their kindred throughout the world, the event would be duly recognised in York. York publishers issued an appropriate picture postcard, and after a morning of instruction bearing on the tremendous extent of the Empire of Great Britain, children in all elementary schools in the city were granted a half-day holiday. The Union Jack was hoisted over the Mansion House and the war office, soldiers at both barracks were granted a holiday, and a special service was held at the Minster following the ringing of the bells during the morning. What day could have been more appropriate to celebrate this than the birthday of the Great Queen Victoria, under whose long and splendid reign so much had been done to consolidate and extend the Empire over which her son Edward VII, now reigned and the Union Jack flew? The vast domain now had an area of nearly eleven and a half million square miles, and a population of more than a fifth of the people of the globe.

50 years ago

WASHING DAY was now child's play. There were "4 REASONS WHY YOU SHOULD CHOOSE THE WONDERFUL "ENGLISH ELECTRIC" WASHING MACHINE WITH ITS EXTRA BIG TUB."

The advertisement stated: "AUTO-WASHING". "All your wash comes out of this ENGLISH ELECTRIC extra BIG capacity tub spotlessly clean and fresh. And it's all done in no time - expertly, gently, thoroughly. What a blessing! No more rubbing, scrubbing, pummelling and pushing. No more slopping around with heavy pails. Here is the easy, labour-saving washday you've always wanted!" "AUTO-WRINGING". "No hassle to turn. The wringer with its flexible rubber rollers is electrically driven and swings effortlessly into 8 different positions. You can wring direct into the rinsing water and back on to the draining board while another load is being washed." "AUTO-EMPTYING". "It takes only 3 or 4 minutes for the automatic pump to empty the water into the sink. Filling the machine is just as simple - by flexi-hose connected to your tap. What could be easier?" "AUTO-HEATING". "There is a special Immersion Heater model also available. Heats water from cold - keeps it hot - boils if required. You can safely wash whites, coloureds, sheets, shirts and nappies in water as hot as you want it."

25 years ago

John Shannon, chairman of York Civic Trust, again urged the closure of York's Deangate to traffic for an experimental period, even though North Yorkshire County Council had refused to ban heavy lorries from the city. He renewed his plea as a measure to protect York Minster - "one of the great shrines of Christendom, the spiritual home of a great county". It was nonsense to allow traffic in Deangate, which in running past the Minster, in places came only a few feet away from its foundations. He stated that it should be remembered that in 1976 a study group recommended closure and suggested alternative routes for the traffic, highlighting the marked improvement which such a closure would have on St Leonard's corner.

Updated: 16:36 Monday, May 23, 2005