From this newspaper 150 years ago

A cricket match was played between Darlington and Cleveland on the Park Street ground in Darlington, near the Cricketers pub.

"The day was beautifully fine, and a refreshing breeze swept the green award, which was in admirable condition," reported the D&ST. "The Cleveland eleven were a set of strong, active looking men, while their opponents were mere youths, most of them scarcely out of their teens.

"The latter, having won the toss, went to the wicket first, with a determination to defend the stumps and do honour to their club to the utmost of their ability."

So Darlington batted first, Armitage and Ellis being the only players to reach double figures, as they both scored 15. All the batters, said the D&ST, were "very unlucky, and the innings was concluded with a total of only 70 runs.

"The odds were now decidedly in favour of Cleveland, who deputed France and Pattison to begin the hitting."

But France fell for just ten, and was replaced at the crease by Hall. "After scoring 14, he was put out, having placed his leg in front of the wicket and thus prevented the further progress of the ball," said the D&ST, explaining the leg-before-wicket rule.

In came Smith, whom the Darlington contingent knew well. "Among the Cleveland men were some admirable players and when the stumps of Smith, who was until the close of last season, a crack player of the Darlington club, were shivered by a fine ball from Webster, great disappointment was evinced," said the paper.

Cleveland then crumbled. "By dint of close bowling and very fine fielding, they were disposed of for a score of 64," said the D&ST, which meant Darlington won by six runs. "Towards the close of the innings, the game became of a very excited character, every ball being watched by the large number of spectators present with the greatest interest, and the result was received with loud cheers."

Pattison, the Cleveland opener, carried his bat with Boycottesque slowness throughout the innings. He "came out, bat in hand, at the close of the innings, though only gaining a single notch during the whole time!" said the paper.

Darlington's cricketers had played at Park Street since 1839. The following year – 1866 – they transplanted 80 square feet of turf from the ground into a pasture beside the Skerne at Feethams, which is still their home today.

From this newspaper 100 years ago

"Excessive drinking at Richmond", said a headline, and the story began: "There has been a good deal of complaining at Richmond about the excessive drinking amongst the workers at the camp in course of construction near Richmond."

This, of course, was the beginnings of what we today know as Catterick Camp, although back then it was called Richmond Camp which confused the Post Office into sending letters to Richmond-upon-Thames in Surrey, and the name was changed.

"Yesterday, Supt Haw informed the borough magistrates that the military were going to take a firm hand in the matter, and in future anyone convicted of drunkenness would not be taken on at the works again," reported the D&ST. "The magistrates were asked to assist and to send men brought before them to prison. A strong note had been received from the War Office on the subject, and the names of those convicted would be left at the War Office headquarters in the town for reference."

Work had started on the "semi-permanent" camp in September 1914, and much of the construction was done by East Anglian fishermen who had been shipped in after their usual line of work in the North Sea had been stopped by enemy action. Perhaps these sailors' drunken antics were causing the bother in Richmond.

"The chairman of the magistrates, Alderman Sidney Robinson, expressed the hope that the War Office would stick to their word," said the report. "They ought to have taken action six months ago."

From this newspaper 50 years ago

"Head infestation in North Riding schools", said the headline. "Put away the hair lacquer and get out the hairbrush was the advice given to mothers and teenagers on Tuesday by Alderman Mrs Irene B Shaw speaking at the North Riding education committee at Northallerton," said the D&ST.

Mrs Shaw gave details of a report which showed that four times as many North Riding children in 1965 were suffering from head infestation as were in 1941.

"Thirty years ago there might have been a excuse for this sort of uncleanliness – but there should be none today," she said. "It is a sad story and I am ashamed to have to stand and reveal it."

She blamed the children's mothers and the Swinging Sixties' fashion for fancy hairstyles. She said: "It will be a great day for women and young girls when they and their mothers realise that clean and brushed hair is better than having it stuck together with lacquer."

Chris Lloyd