Tuesday, November 16, 2004

100 years ago: One of York's "grand old ladies," who was in remarkably good health if somewhat hard of hearing, was celebrating her 101st birthday. She resided in Walmgate, within a stone's throw of the famous old Bar, in the gate house where she was born.

She had a lively recollection of the return of the Scottish troops northward after the Battle of Waterloo and the peace which followed, and likewise the cholera visitation at York, when many lives were lost, and great distress prevailed.

50 years ago: Which way does a caf sail? That problem, crazy as it may sound, occupied many customers while they drank in a Selby caf. The caf, in Gowthorpe, had a green starboard and red port light placed in the windows facing the street, but, asked the coffee sippers, were the lights in the right windows for they appeared to "sail" into a crowded part of the town out of the back door. It would seem less dangerous for the boat to go out into Gowthorpe. The staff believed the lights to be in the right position and pointed out the mast head light facing the bow and so promising strange results if "she" ever sets sail. Others said the lamps are wrong as they make the "galley" right up in the bows. But as this unusual craft was never likely to leave port the question should never become anything more than "a storm over a teacup."

25 years ago: Under a North Yorkshire County Council No Tipping sign the council had left a snow-plough on the grass verge. It was one of the fleet of 600 such ploughs owned by the county, some of which were contracted out to private hauliers and farmers who augmented the North Yorkshire highways team's campaign against winter drifts. Others spent summer in county depots and the rest were dispersed on suitable hard-standing or verges, in strategic places. They were expected to rumble into action soon if the weather forecasters were right, as snow had been predicted soon.

Updated: 09:39 Tuesday, November 16, 2004