Way we were

100 years ago

A correspondent signing himself "Gillygate" wrote: "One often hears of the natural beauties of various towns. Can you tell me of a finer view than the trees on Lord Mayor's Walk at present, approaching from Goodramgate end?" The Evening Press suggested the vista of trees along the riverside at St George's Fields as exceedingly fine. The vicinity of the railway station was also particularly attractive at the time, owing to the variety and freshness of the foliage. In fact all round York there was a beautiful display of foliage on trees and shrubs. The double line of trees in Terry Avenue on the riverbank was showing rare delicacy and beauty of leafage, and the curving avenue formed a splendid vista.

50 years ago

Every hat shop window had them - bonnets and boaters with meringue toppings of tulle. So, if you were saving for a holiday and reduced to wearing last year's hat, a yard of tulle and half-an-hour's labour would give you a topper that looked "good enough to eat." It was best to choose one of the nylon tulles or voiles, for preference, and to follow the line of the hat wherever possible - only a stitch or two was needed to anchor the trimming to the brim.

25 years ago

Rain failed to dampen enthusiasm at a medieval fair in the quadrangle of the College of Ripon and York St John, Lord Mayor's Walk, York. The colourful event with, literally, all the fun of the fair, was the start of a five-day workshop organised by York History Teachers' Association. The workshop, an extension of the first Week of History held by the association in 1977, involved more than 50 teachers and children from 20 schools. Lecturers and staff of the College of Ripon and York St John arranged the medieval fair, which attracted not only local people but visiting American tourists as well. Cameras clicked as students in Medieval-type dress strolled around the quadrangle, carrying huge swords (later used on demonstrations of sword-fighting), picked out merry tunes on penny whistles and generally joined in the fun of the village green. It was a photographer's paradise in the stately setting of noble stone walls, bright green grass and the happy laughter of children dancing around the maypole. A mobile videotape unit from the college's TV studio recorded the festivities as the Acorn Morris Dancers entertained. As well as cake stalls, basket stalls and general produce stalls, there was a pillory, fruit stall and a demonstration of pot-throwing on a foot-powered wheel.

Updated: 16:17 Wednesday, May 17, 2006