THE BIG STORY

Revolution was in the air as a series of student protests were staged across the world, but mainly in France, where, together with a general strike, they were said to be responsible for bringing down the De Gaulle government.

Most of those protesting were of the political left and wanted to move away from the establishment.

When De Gaulle attempted to put down the uprising with force, it only made things worse and led to running street battles in several cities. A general strike was thought to have included 10 million people – roughly two-thirds of the French workforce.

Although the protests ultimately failed, they left a legacy on society in general – in retrospect it was seen as a watershed moment and move from conservatism to liberal values and morality.

The Beatles released a song called Revolution, inspired by the events of May, in August – it was the B-side to their hit Hey Jude.


HEADLINES

The Flying Scotsman, the world's most famous train, thundered through Yorkshire on her way from London to Edinburgh. Crowds of excited schoolchildren gathered at railway bridges along the route and at Great Heck, Selby, where it was watched by Michael Parker, then 12, and Andrew Parker, then two. It was the locomotive's last non-stop 393-mile journey from the capital to Scotland, which she first completed 40 years previous.

Jack Straw (future Labour Government minister], then president of Leeds University's Student Union, had to apologise after students heckled Tory MP for Haltemprice Patrick Wall and assaulted his wife, Sheila Wall, who they later locked in a room "for her own safety." Students heckled Mr Wall and called him a fascist after he made comments about immigrants coming to Britain from the former colonies.

Weapons handed in at Pocklington police station under a gun amnesty included a single-shot pistol of the kind used by highwayman Dick Turpin.

It was announced the amalgamation of East Riding, North Riding and York police was set to take place on July 1 1969.

Yorkshireman R B Fawcett, of St Mary's Mount, Leyburn, a machine-gunner of the Kings Own Yorkshire Light Infantry, claimed he was responsible for killing the infamous First World War fighter ace the Red Baron, Manfred von Richthofen, who was responsible for 80 air combat victories. Leyburn claimed, contrary to British war records, he was standing shoulder-to-shoulder with machine gunner Ernest Boore, in a forward trench as the vividly coloured planes flew low on April 21, 1918. He claimed he ordered Boore to shoot because the Baron was "a sitter". Several people claimed to have shot the Baron but none seem to have been verified beyond doubt.

The Earl of Scarborough opened a new terminal at Yeadon Airport, marking the end of a 40-year battle to get the airport onto some kind of national footing. It had originally approved as an airstrip in 1929 after Leeds and Bradford local authorities petitioned the Government.

Gypsy King Benjamin Smith, also known as Gypsy Benny, died aged 82 in Castleford. The East Ardsley-born traveller was known throughout the country and was given a grand send-off at Ackworth Cemetery.

THE GOSSIP

Actress Julie Andrews was granted a divorce by a court in California from husband and childhood sweetheart Tony Walton after nine years. The 32-year-old was awarded custody of their five-year-old daughter Emma Katherine. She rushed to the court from the set of the film, Darling Lili, and gave evidence or three minutes and waived alimony.

Peter O'Toole visited the Leeds street where he grew up – Purton Street, off Dewsbury Road – which was in the process of being demolished. He was in town to support the Leeds Theatre Campaign.

THE WORLD

Britain's first heart transplant was carried out and the team included a former Leeds surgeon – John Robert Pelham Gibbons – who qualified at LEeds Medical School in 1954. Patient Frederick West, 45, of Leighton-on-Sea, Essex, made a steady recovery.

AND FINALLY

Batley woman May Sykes, 47, opted to live in a tent outside her house on Back North Street, Cross Bank, after she discovered rising damp.