100 years ago

When two horses attached to an Army Service wagon took fright and bolted from the Goods Yard in Leeman Road York, the plucky and prompt action of a clerk employed in the North-Eastern Railway offices deserved full acknowledgement.

The young man, who refused his name at the time, was the first to notice the horses dashing along Leeman Road and, at once giving chase, he succeeded in clutching hold of the bridle of the near side animal. The horses, however, were going too quickly for him, and he partially ran and was partially dragged along until the foot of Lendal Bridge was reached. Here the scared animals were met by Mr Rudgard, stud groom to Messrs Walker, of the Horse Repository, Tanner's Moat, who was armed, fortunately, with a rake which he was using at the time.

At great risk to himself he held the implement directly in front of the charging horses who, taken so completely by surprise, pulled up at once. The young railway clerk was, by this time completely exhausted and it was some moments before he got his breath, to answer Mr Rudgard's remark, “Well, you are a good un, whoever you are.” In Mr Rudgard's opinion had the horses not been stopped he would have met certain death by being knocked down and trampled upon by the excited animals.

50 years ago

Tenants of a Council estate at Boston Spa couldn't see television for leaves! Earlier in the year Wetherby Rural Council banned outdoor television aerials on its West End estate at Boston Spa, and ruled that indoor aerials should be installed instead.

Everything was fine until spring foliage burst from the trees. According to the Council's housing manager, Mr GHF Buckley, one could see the television picture fading “as the foliage was blown about by the wind.” Tests with other types of aerials were to be carried out.

25 years ago

The Queen was paying a very special tribute to her daughter by giving her the title “Princess Royal”.

Princess Anne would be only the seventh Princess in history to hold the rank. The new title was bestowed as a warm personal decision by a proud mother. Solely in the gift of the Sovereign, the honorary title was announced in the official London Gazette.

No one had held the title for the previous 22 years, but now the Queen had acted to say “thank you” to her daughter for her tireless work for children in need. The previous Princess Royal was Princess Mary, George V's only daughter, who had died in March 1965.