Saturday, January 22, 2005

100 years ago: The case of an 81-year-old man, who resided alone at Barton-le-Street, and who was in receipt of poor law relief, was brought up at the Malton Out-Relief Union. The relieving officer stated that the old man had lived at Barton all his life and he was desirous of spending the remainder of his days there. It was, however, somewhat dangerous for him to reside alone, and he asked for the Board's instructions on the matter. One member asked that an order be given to send the old man to the workhouse, where it was easiest to look after him. However, another member protested that the man was quite entitled to remain at Barton if he chose to do so. The Board ultimately decided to continue the relief and so the old man stayed in his own home.

50 years ago: A lucky person at the York Press Ball, which was being held in the Assembly Rooms shortly, and was organised by local newspapers in aid of newspaper charities, was going to win a free week's holiday a Butlin holiday camp. Another novel prize was, Mr Nobody was told, free haircuts for a man for the rest of the year. Top marks for ingenuity, however, the columnist thought, must go to whoever thought of offering fish and chip suppers for two people at a York restaurant "as many times as they like" during February. Mr Nobody asked what would happen if a bald man won the free haircuts prize, to which the organisers replied, with tongues firmly in cheeks: "Ah, we'll give him all the hair restorative he can carry away from the dance floor!" This the columnist thought was a reasonable offer.

25 years ago: Scarborough councillors vetoed plans to export sheep from Scarborough Harbour, because they feared it would upset holidaymakers. A Hornsea company had wanted to ship 1,500 sheep a week from the town to the Continent, with the sheep arriving either late at night or early in the morning. As well as the distress the sight may cause to small children, the Harbour Committee were also against the idea because of concerns over what would happen to the sheep if a ship's arrival was delayed, the noise and smell of distressed sheep, and an extra burden that would be added to an already acute traffic congestion problem.

Updated: 16:50 Friday, January 21, 2005