FROM this newspaper 100 years ago. - A pigeon shooting match came off on New Year's Day in Mr Fenny's field, on the Norton road, between Mr J Williamson, gun maker, of Stockton and Mr J Bamlet, of Billingham, for £100, 20 double rises, 11/4oz of shot, 19 yards rise, which was won by Mr Williamson, killing 24 birds, and Mr Bamlet 22, after which a sweepstake was shot for 10s each, and won by Mr A Shepard, of Bradford; Mr H Finley, of Sunderland, second. A very large number were assembled to witness the shooting; a select company retiring after the sport to Mr Sedgewick's Green Dragon Inn, where an excellent dinner was provided.

From this newspaper 50 years ago. - An Aysgarth doctor addressed the recently formed College of General Practitioners this week. Dr W N Pickles, who has been in practice for more than 40 years and is president of the organisation, says he has known the grand-parents of many of his present-day patients and cannot help knowing much about the details of their relatively simple existence. "I know what markets the farmers frequent, the schools the children attend, without being too inquisitive the young people's love affairs, the festivities which take place in every village in the dale, the shopping visits to large towns, the yearly expedition to the pantomime and the summer trip to the seaside. "On so many occasions, these expeditions have brought infectious diseases into our midst and one is rarely at loss as to the origin of the epidemic." He explains that his custom in studying epidemics is to carry a pocket diary in which each patient is written up at the bedside under the date on which the illness began. At interval the notes are entered on the charts by his wife whose share in the investigations he acknowledges with gratitude.

From this newspaper 25 years ago. - To meet the Government's spending target Cleveland County Council Education Committee is to abolish the free milk scheme at the county's 276 primary schools from next September and at the same time the school meal charge will go up to 40p from 30p.

These measures will save the council £1.376m by the end of March next year and another £76,000 will come from the abolition of free bus travel for pupils living over three miles from school.

From September those under 16 will pay 10p a day and for those over 16, the daily charge will be 20p.

Free travel is retained for children whose parents get supplementary benefit or family income supplement and for those at special schools.

Maintenance cuts last year have not been fully restored and only essential redecorations - mostly outside work - will be carried out.