FROM OUR ARCHIVE: This picture dating from July, 1995, is a bit of a mystery. It was taken at Bolton-on-Swale CE Primary School and the splendid cake appears to mark an occasion. The two pupils either side of the cake are Michael Ingram and Amelia Horn. The woman in the middle is Chris Redman, of Bettys. What was the celebration for? Let From Our Archive know at dst@nne.co.uk

From this newspaper 150 years ago. – Richmond Town Council. Election of Mayor. – The quarterly meeting of the Council was held on the 9th inst. On the motion of Mr Councillor Croft, seconded by Mr James Ward, it was unanimously resolved "That Mr Henry Pearson Bruno be elected Mayor of this Borough for the ensuing year." Mr Bruno then signed the usual declaration of office, and took the chair. – The Town-Clerk produced the engrossment of the mortgage deed for securing £1,000, borrowed of Mr Procter for drainage purposes, and a lease and counterpart of same of certain mines in the lands of the Corporation to Messrs Milners. It was ordered that the Mayor be requested to affix the common seal to the same. – The Town-Clerk produced his account of expenses incurred in carrying into effect the provisions of the statute for the year 1864, amounting to £5. It was ordered that the same apportioned and paid by the respective parishes and townships within the parliamentary borough. – An account of the expenses for the maintenance of prisoners for the half-year, ending, and found correct, and ordered to be certified by the Mayor and forwarded to the Lords of the Treasury. – A memorial having been presented to the Council, numerously signed by the inhabitants, praying that the use of the Town Hall be granted free of charge, for holding meets for intellectual, moral, and religious purposes, to the inhabitants of Richmond – it was moved by Mr Councillor Croft, and seconded by Mr Councillor Hills, that the prayer of the memorialist be granted as to the use of the Hall free of charge, except the cost of lighting, attendance, and cleaning. It was moved by Ald. Croft, and seconded by Mr Councillor J Robinson, and unanimously resolved, that the bye-laws (which have been warmly discussed at former meetings of the Council) to enable the Council with the aid of the Nuisances Removal Act, to abate and remove nuisances from private premises when the owners or occupiers of them are unwilling to remove them, be adopted and passed, and that the Town-Clerk publish them and forward them to the Secretary of State. – The usual orders for payment of salaries, tradesmen's accounts, and for draining the borough, were examined and ordered to be paid, amounting to £1,212 13s 11d.

From this newspaper 100 years ago. – In many ways have the inhabitants of Stockton shown their solicitude for the soldiers quartered in the town, and the latest permanent addition to the comfort of the men has been the opening of a social club in the rooms of the Parish Hall in King-street. A reading, smoking and games room and a dry canteen have been provided, and will be open each day from 5pm until 9.45pm. There was a short opening ceremony on Saturday night, when Lord Londonderry was present. The Mayor (Ald E Stephenson, JP), who was accompanied by the Mayoress and Miss Stephenson, presided, and there were also present Canon and Mrs Martin, the Rev R F Drury (Vicar of Holy Trinity), Mr Leonard Ropner, JP and Col W I Johnson and other officers of the 5th DLI. His Lordship expressed his appreciation of the efforts made jointly by the workers of St Thomas and Holy Trinity parishes to provide for the comfort of the troops in their midst. Proceeding, Lord Londonderry said that while he was happy to think that such facilities had been given to the men during the time they were in Stockton, they must not forget that they had also other duties to perform, and that was to encourage their fellow-men to join the army. There was no doubt that at the present moment we were in want of men. Our little army in France had done magnificently. (Applause.) It saved Paris at a most critical time, and although they were at present almost on the top of the tide in France they wanted a vast number of men to push their attack home and drive the Germans back to their own country. It was not for men to remain at home in ease and say, "It is all right, we shall beat them." There was no man young and able who ought not to say, "I will be there." (Applause.) Personally, if he had been a younger man than 62 he would have been. Lord Durham had lost a brother, nephew and cousin on the battlefield, yet was full of courage and was doing all he could to assist recruiting in the County of Durham, which had responded nobly to the call. He hoped from Stockton, as well other parts of Durham, there would go further large numbers of recruits, so that after the war it could be said Durham was one of the chief counties to assist in bringing about the victory which must eventually be theirs. (Applause.)

From this newspaper 50 years ago. – Can Sandy the Shetland collie found thin, leg weary and lost near Northallerton in September have trudged 200 miles North from Berkshire? Special colour photographs taken of Sandy this week may provide the answer. The story of Sandy first broke in late September when Mr Bill Chard found the dog slumped outside his house in The Square, Langton, near Northallerton. Mr Chard took the dog in and fed and cleaned it and treated an injured leg. Police inquiries locally failed to trace any lost dog answering the dog's description. And there it seemed was the end of the trail for the dog who had become adopted by the Chard family who called it Sandy because of its colour. Then last week a description of a missing dog given to Berkshire police 200 miles away early in September was spotted in North Riding police files. The missing dog was called – Sandy. It's type – Shetland collie. In early September a Mrs Fyfe of Lathbury Road, Oxford, went abroad leaving her Shetland collie Sandy at some Berkshire boarding kennels. While she was away the dog went missing and police were told and a description issued. No dogs answering the collie's description were found in or near Oxford and Mrs Fyfe gave up hope – until news of the dog found by Mr Chard was given to the police. She wrote to Mr Chard and a series of colour photographs of Sandy were arranged to be taken. They are being sent to Mrs Fyfe and if she is reasonably sure of his identity she will travel to Mr Chard's home to see if "his Sandy" is really "her Sandy."