Front page from the Telegraph & Argus September 5, 1968.

Fifty years ago, rumours had been circulating that a discotheque in Cheapside, was to close after six young people were taken unconscious from an “All-Nite Rave” at the String O’Beads nightspot. The club’s manageress had however dismissed the news as “nonsense.”

In September of 1933, St George’s Hall, in conjunction with Century Pictures was showing a special exclusive of “Mrs. Dane’s Defence,” an adaption of Henry Arthur Jones’ most wonderful and enthralling society dramas. Directed by A. V. Bramble and starring the American film actress Pauline Frederick the film promised to be a hit among cinema lovers.

100 Years Ago – 1918

The second annual vegetable show promoted by the Bradford Tramway Employees’ Horticultural Society was held in the tramway rooms, Leeds Road. Formally opened by the chairman of the Tramways Committee, Alderman Enoch Priestley, there was an excellent display of garden produce with special trophies provided by MP Sir James Hill. Bradford Telegraph’s specimen fish coupons would be available from September 11, and Corporal Edwin Burton, 32, Addison Street, Hall Lane, Bradford, who had recently been awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal, had now won the Military Medal for an act of great gallantry during recent heavy fighting.

85 Years Ago – 1933

Viscount Grey of Fallodon, better known as Sir Edward Grey, had passed at the age of 71. The British Liberal statesman the main force behind British foreign policy during the First World War, had only one request as he drew his last breath, to hear the song birds from his bedroom window. Grey, a great lover of nature, had constantly longed to be back at his beloved family estate, set in the wild border of Northumbria, instead of the hustle and bustle of city life. Statistics had shown that the number of employed men and women in Bradford had risen by more than 8,000. And 600 children, many of whom had never previously seen the sea, had set off on a trip to Morecambe for the day courtesy of funds raised by flag day.

60 Years Ago – 1958

Dressed in green overalls and studying a large green grinding machine at the apprentices’ school of Hepworth and Grandage was 16-year-old Jean Barraclough, the city’s first girl apprentice engineer. An odd job for a young female? Jean did not think so, and neither did the 11 other apprentices who had already accepted her as “one of them.” With the introduction of a new five-year television rental scheme, Brown Muff’s, had added yet another customer service to an already impressive list of shopping facilities. The rental plan allowed the customer to choose one of three standard model table sets with 17-inch screens. And the Queensbury Dance Formation Team, trained by Jack and Joyce Briggs had won the Butlin Old time novice formation team competition in Filey.

35 Years Ago – 1983

Olympic hockey star Jill Atkins packed her bags and set off on a journey which she hoped would lead to a gold medal in Seoul. The 26-year-old school teacher from Thackley, a member of the Great British women’s hockey team had been classed as a good bet for Olympic honours. Bradford’s post service was once again plunged into chaos after staff at the city’s main sorting office walked out when they were asked to handle mail brought in from Leeds, by private contractors. Head postmaster Colin Charlesworth immediately condemned the walk-out and promised that any postal workers who went into work in defiance of the strike, would be given extra jobs to do. Shakespearian actor Timothy West re-traced his comedic roots by returning to Bradford, this time with the rubber-faced funny man Rowan Atkinson.