Wednesday, May 12, 2004

100 years ago: A friend of columnist TT, who possessed five medals, including the Crimean and Turkish, belonging to his father, and the Peninsula with bars, belonging to his grandfather, was discussing with him the question of military bands. He told a story involving a commanding officer who was a stickler for precision, and whose great aim was to see the trombone players of the band with their elbows at the same angle. He could not understand how it came about that whilst one "tromboner" was at full stretch another was at half elbow, and a third close up. On once occasion, whilst on the march, he noticed that all the trombone slides were in the same position. He commanded a sudden halt, drew attention to the fact, and said: "Now that is just what I want, uniformity, uniformity. Let me see you always move like that."

50 years ago: A photograph had appeared in the Evening Press of the old windmill in Windmill Rise, and the statement was made that in 1939 the York Corporation bought the mill in order to preserve it as an object of beauty. A letter appeared from "Citizen," pointing out that before the war the mill was kept in order, being painted cream with a well-kept grass surround, a structure to be admired by both the citizens of York and the many visitors to this city. However, it was a different story now, it was "black, ugly, dilapidated and completely neglected by those who sought to preserve its beauty. A hulking, decaying mass which, seen from one of the main roads leading into the city centre, does little to advertise the beauty of York architecture to the visitor." If the mill was to be retained as an historical feature then the writer called for it to be renovated and given its pre-war glory. Alternatively, if York Corporation would not "shoulder its responsibility" for this ancient structure, then the mill should be demolished as an eyesore.

10 years ago: There were plans to consign Guy Fawkes, York's most infamous son, to the education dustbin, if a proposed new history syllabus was introduced. The Gunpowder Plot was one of many British historical events that would become optional in changes proposed by the Government advisory body, the School Curriculum and Assessment Authority, who were making proposals that would relegate much of Britain's history to the sidelines in favour of non-European history, such as that of the Indus Valley and Islamic civilisations. Their history advisory group, set up to slim down the curriculum, was due to publish a review soon, but the new syllabus had already been slammed as "trendy" by another member of the authority, who had taught history for 20 years.

Updated: 09:17 Wednesday, May 12, 2004