100 years ago

The following paragraph relating to the status of soldier football players on purchasing their discharge and becoming professional players had appeared in the Northern Command Orders just issued:

“Soldier football players who obtained their discharge by purchase with a view to subsequently becoming professional football players, are warned that the rule of the English Football Association which prevents a professional club from registering players whose discharge has been purchased from the Army within twelve months of date of discharge has recently been amended; it now further provides that such players are ineligible to play even as amateurs during that period until they have made application to the Association and proved that their amateur status has not been affected.”

50 years ago

The BBC was to be given the television 'third channel' announced the Government. It would be on 625 lines from the start, and include some colour transmissions.

Tests would start this year for the service for London by mid-1964. It would be extended gradually to the rest of the country. The Government's decision was announced in a White Paper, which said there would be scope later for a second Independent Television programme.

This had to await decisions - in the autumn - on the future set-up of ITV, which was recently strongly criticised by the Pilkington Committee on Broadcasting. The White Paper said current services on 405 lines would continue “for some considerable time to come.”

The BBC's new service would be transmitted in ultra-high-frequency. Because current services were in very high-frequency, new receivers and aerials would be necessary for the new service.

“The radio industry will, therefore, need to produce sets capable of receiving the existing programmes on 405 lines in VHS, and new programmes on 625 lines in UHF,” the White Paper said.

25 years ago

York lost its heart to the Duchess of York as Fergie fever gripped thousands in a carnival of welcome.

With her Duke beside her, she stepped into blistering sunshine to honour the city that shared her name. Their first Royal visit brought joyful crowds on to the ancient streets of York and an excited congregation to York Minster for the historic granting of the Freedom of the City.

The Duchess, her hair shining like burnished copper, was wearing a white and blue wide-brimmed hat with a blue ribbon and a Yorkshire rose at the back.

Her shoulder-length hair hung free though the famous Fergie fringe was tucked under her hat.

She gave a personal message for Yorkshire Evening Press readers: “York is a wonderful city, I'm having a marvellous time, and this is a great welcome.”