100 years ago

A terrific thunderstorm accompanied by a whirlwind had occurred at Northallerton.

At about 4.45 a strange phenomenon was seen in the sky. Two huge banks of clouds seemed almost to meet. Suddenly at about the point they would have joined, a funnel of vapour was formed, and those that saw it described it as like a huge volume of smoke that wreaths away from a factory chimney.

The clouds appeared to boil and formed a funnel shape. This was above the centre of the town, where the full force of the whirlwind was felt. What dust there was about the street was lifted direct into the air and the houses in the vicinity had rooms filled with dirt. Trees in the affected area had their foliage and branches literally stripped. The roof of a shed at the rear of the Durham Ox Inn was lifted bodily and deposited in a garden over a wall five yards away.

Slates of several of the roofs of houses were wrenched off, the residence of Mr Wilson, dentist, suffering the most. The noise at the time was very similar to the buzzing of the propellers of an aeroplane in the air, and lasted for ten minutes. The whirlwind was followed by a heavy downpour of rain and hail stones, some of which were the size of marbles, and lightning.

50 years ago

The first cross-Channel bingo steamer was already sold out. A capacity shipload of 1200 members of Top Rank bingo and social clubs would sail from Folkestone to Calais aboard the British Railways steamer SS Canterbury on June 24.

There were so many more enthusiasts who wanted a bingo-playing day trip to the Continent that the Rank Organisation were chartering a British Railway steamer to run a second trip the following Sunday, July 1, said a Rank spokesman. The bingo “invasion” of France would travel by special trains to Folkestone.

25 years ago

Tributes to Clive Kay the sportsman, solicitor and politician were made as he was made an Honorary Alderman of the City of York.

Mr Kay, a former Lord Mayor and councillor for more than 20 years, was described as a gentleman both in defence and attack by councillors of all parties at a special council meeting. Mr Kay said he was overwhelmed by the honour.

Mr Kay paid tribute to the professionals, the council officers with whom he had worked and current councillors. “People wonder why you enjoy it. You get brickbats and not bouquets but it is those of you out there who are still councillors who really matter. You are serving the city, whatever your political views, on behalf of everybody,” he said.