Monday, June 28, 2004

100 years ago: A man from Bootham Crescent, York, was walking along the Esplanade when he was told there was a child in the river at Marygate landing. He immediately ran down and at a second effort succeeded in pulling the child to land. With the aid of bystanders the child was brought round, then taken home to Swinegate. On the same afternoon a seven-year-old boy from Speculation Street was playing at the end of Navigation Road when he fell into the river. Another youth witnessed the accident and went to the rescue. The boy had already gone under twice, but the pint sized hero succeeded in rescuing him. A columnist gloomily observed that York's "drowning season" was certainly in full swing, even if these two had had lucky escapes.

50 years ago: York did not intend to lag behind if an intercity helicopter service was started. At least one political party on the City Council swanted to explore the advantages such a service could bring to York. The problem municipal authorities had to consider was where the machines would land. A ground site in a city centre had a few disadvantages, for instance a pilot has to judge obstructions in the neighbourhood when coming in to land. Wind eddies caused by obstructions, and noise, which residents generally object to as a nuisance, were points for local discussion.

25 years ago: The landlord of the Charles XII pub in Heslington, York, was encouraging graffiti by putting up a chalk board in his gents' toilet. There wasn't a lot of crudity on the board, which was wiped clean every day, and which had proved very popular amongst university students and staff. The most outrageous comment so far was the reply to someone writing "Save the Seals". Added below it was: "And Cull All The Students".

Updated: 10:58 Monday, June 28, 2004