Picture:

A deputation of 11 councillors and two officials from the Northallerton and Dales Water Board at the Home Office in 1969 to discuss the safety of the 113m-gallon Cod Beck reservoir at Osmotherley. Commissioned in 1953, ten years later, it was found that dirt was seeping into the reservoir. The Home Office wanted repairs to be carried out, but the water board considered there was no danger.

From this newspaper 150 years ago. – The North-Eastern Railway.

– On Friday week, a special meeting of this company was held at the Board Room, York. G H Seymour Esq was in the chair. The chairman stated that the bill for the amalgamation of the Stockton and Darlington Company with his company, had been passed with very little opposition. It was opposed by gentlemen from Hull, and also the shareholders of the Malton and Driffield Company, but the committee determined that those parties had no ground of opposition, and the bill was passed.

From this newspaper 100 years ago. – Aviator drops at Welbury.

Shortly after 5pm on Thursday, an aeroplane was seen to pass over the country a little to the east of Northallerton. This was the Army Biplane 205, carrying Major Burke, who left York at 4.30pm.

There was a strong wind prevailing, and as the machine was rocking in a rather dangerous manner, the aviator thought wise to descend, and he did so in a grass field belonging to Mr Wearmouth, at Welbury at 5.20pm. Mr G E Hamilton, of Northallerton, happened to be shooting at Welbury at the time and observed the decent of the large unwanted bird. Major Burke at about 7.30pm entered his aeroplane and rose gracefully up into the air, and flew northwards.

From this newspaper 50 years ago. – Damage to the extent of several thousands of pounds was caused by fire at the Elite Cinema at Leyburn in the early hours of Wednesday morning. The fire was discovered by Mr R Walker, Postmaster at Leyburn, whose premises adjoin the cinema and were endangered.

He heard windows being smashed by the heat. The fire was thought to have started in the boiler house. It set alight wooden steps to the cinemascope screen, which it destroyed and reached the roof of the cinema.

Fortunately Leyburn Fire Service, meeting a terrific blaze, were able to keep it to the roof and the south end of the cinema, where on the previous evening the chief picture was “The Thief Of Baghdad”. Firemen and police removed cases of film.

The blaze was so fierce that it was deemed wise to remove goods from a shoe shop, but business was resumed as usual on Wednesday morning. In front of the cinema is a chocolate, sweet and cigarette shop. Its contents were ruined, but fire was prevented from reaching the north side of the premises. Fortunately, the seating for upwards of 200 remained intact, but part of the roof had fallen in east of the screen.

The owners, Mr L Y Dobson of Penarth, Leyburn, and his brother, Mr G Eric Dobson, of Bedale, are among the pioneers of cinema houses. There was praise for the local firefighters who did a first-class job.