Looking Back

This was the morning newspaper passenger train, which left Darlington at 6.57, and after being weather-bound at Barnard Castle for nearly nine hours, reached Kirkby Stephen at 5.15pm, instead of 8.35am. Two east-bound trains forced a passage through to Darlington at irregular intervals but owing to the severity of the weather along the Pennine slopes, others were detained at Kirkby Stephen with the prospect that a number of passengers would have to spend the night there.

Short special trains were run partially to maintain the connection with the south at Tebay. Snow ploughs patrolled the line on the Middleton in Teesdale branch. Hundreds of sheep were over-blown in the Fells and serious loss is inevitable.

From this newspaper 50 years ago. - Success after three narrow defeats greeted Mrs E Hird in the standard bearing competition at the Women's British Legion conference held at Saltburn on Monday.

At the last two conferences in Middlesbrough and Northallerton, Mrs Hird, who lives at 2 Alverton Lane, Northallerton, had been second to the Pickering standard, once by just half a point.

But on Monday, her fourth attempt in the last five years, she gained revenge and the Pickering entrant was second, followed by the other seven competitors.

Mrs Hird has been standard bearer for Northallerton Women's British Legion for six years. She had no experience before then, but "just picked it up by watching others." She joined the branch ten years ago and is a committee member.

From this newspaper 25 years ago. - An energy conservation symposium was in full flow at North Yorkshire County Hall last Friday when chief executive Mr John Evans took the opportunity at a questions break to inform delegates that a car parked outside had been left with lights on.

When the number was given, Chairman of the Symposium, Coun Col Maurice Burnett announced that it was his car and added: "I did the same thing yesterday before somebody told me.