From our archives:

80 years ago

The present month (May) marked the 128th anniversary of the birth and the 62nd anniversary of the death of Thomas Earle, the Yorkshireman who became a celebrated sculptor, and one whose works were reported to be one of the most perfect of its kind. The statue in question could be found in the Hull Guildhall and portrayed Edward I, bestowing the charter of Incorporation upon civic authorities of the town, while another example of his work was held in the London Mansion House. Born in Osborne Street in Hull in 1810, Thomas Earle began his career as a sculptor at the early age of 12, although even before he had reached that age he had shown a great ability in modelling. Castle Howard School, near Malton, had featured a story about the adventures of two fox cubs in its school magazine and the Bacon Development Board had announced that as part of its new Bill they would be running litter testing stations.

50 years ago

Snaith Police were investigating a fire at Drax power station, near Selby, after a store hut had been burnt out and a cement lorry badly damaged. The fire which was discovered by a security officer was quickly attended to by Selby and Snaith Firemen resulting in just the loss of the hut’s contents, which included oil drums, gas cylinders and shovels. Cher, female part of the Sonny and Cher song team, announced that she wasn’t really “hip” and did not “dig” things. Cher, whose real name was Cherilyn, made her first major television appearance without her husband Sonny Bono in a television special Where The Girls Are. And despite rain showers, the crowds turned up for York Athletic Club’s first fete and gala at New Earswick, which aimed to raise funds for a visit of German athletes from Munster.

20 years ago

MPs from across the North were being urged to rally behind the battle to save York’s army headquarters from closure. The Imphal Barracks built in Fulford as part of the British response to the threat of the French Revolution were completed in 1795, before becoming the home of the Northern Command in 1958. And Body Shop announced that its founder Anita Roddick was stepping down as chief executive of the company after 22 years at the helm.