FROM this newspaper 100 years ago. - When it comes to the use of "bobbies on bikes" in the London suburbs, our capital city, as with many other things, is behind the country. In Thirsk, every member of the force has his machine, as many a wanted man has discovered to his cost. When, for instance, a gentleman now doing time was missed last week, Inspector Pickering at once scoured all the main routes with his cyclist corps.

Sergeant Timms was dispatched via Easingwold to York, with instructions to enquire at those places and search the roads en route; PC Fox was sent on a similar errand to Ripon, and PC Biggins enjoyed a run through Northallerton and Stockton to Middlesbrough, returning from the latter place with his man.

Many of the country constables use bicycles on their beats, regularly patrolling the long lengths of the road by this means. The conditions as to pay, however, are not as generous as their Metropolitan brethren.

From this newspaper 50 years ago. - Thirty thousand feet above the heads of more than 6,000 waiting, watching, listening people, hidden from them by cloud and still inaudible to them, the anonymous pilot of a Sabre jet fighter put his machine into an almost vertical power dive.

Faster and faster he raced towards the smooth green turf of Dishforth RAF Station. Then, at 700 mph, his plane crashed through the sound barrier and to the expectant ears below came the giant crack-boom of the sonic bang. An appreciable moment afterwards, there reached the ears of the silent crowds the first distant whine of the single jet, building up in a rapid crescendo of sound until the familiar silhouette of the machine, with the exaggerated sweep back of the wings, black against the cloud, hurtled screaming across the airfield, climbed again practically vertically, looped once, twice, three times in rapid succession and then rolled to one side.

The demonstration was perhaps the spot of the Battle of Britain open day at Dishforth last Saturday. This was the first occasion when a sonic bang has been made during one of these open days there.

From this newspaper 25 years ago. - Schoolchildren in some parts of Richmondshire have been arriving soaking wet. They have to wait for school buses in the rain because there is no money to build shelters on some bus routes. Some have to sit all day in wet and damp clothes, says a county council chairman.

On Tuesday, Richmondshire councillors decided to take no action until cash was available. "We can live without bus shelters," said Coun Cliff Watson. "I used to walk miles in the rain and I am still here."

Coun Tom Watte wanted different shelters to be used. "The shelters we are building in stone with seats all round are only being used by courting couples at night," he said.