Leeds nostalgia: 30 years ago today... Leeds pals catch record pike and shop runs '˜microwave demonstration'

Widdington, Linton on Ouse, 1st December 1986

Used YEP letters page

Angler David Birkby, a cashier with a Leeds furnishing store, has broken the River Ouse record for a pike for the second time in six years.

David, 49, created a new record for the river when he captured a giant 31lb specimen from Widdington on Ouse, raising the river's best by 5lb.

A keen pike angler during the winter months, David, of Holt Farm Close, Leeds, first smashed the Ouse record with a pike he captured in 1981 and his recent record fish was just one in a remarkable series.

On the day that hehooked and landed "Jaws", David also caught yet another massive fish which pushed the scales round to 25lb. just 30 minutes later. — Widdington, Linton on Ouse, 1st December 1986 Used YEP letters page Angler David Birkby, a cashier with a Leeds furnishing store, has broken the River Ouse record for a pike for the second time in six years. David, 49, created a new record for the river when he captured a giant 31lb specimen from Widdington on Ouse, raising the river's best by 5lb. A keen pike angler during the winter months, David, of Holt Farm Close, Leeds, first smashed the Ouse record with a pike he captured in 1981 and his recent record fish was just one in a remarkable series. On the day that hehooked and landed "Jaws", David also caught yet another massive fish which pushed the scales round to 25lb. just 30 minutes later.

Thirty years ago today, these two chaps (top picture) had something of a fishy tale to tell their friends.

The location was Widdington, Linton on Ouse, the date December 1, 1986. Angler David Birkby, a cashier with a Leeds furnishing store, broke the River Ouse record for a pike for the second time in six years.

David, 49, created a new record for the river when he captured a giant 31lb specimen from Widdington on Ouse, raising the river’s best by 5lb.

A keen pike angler during the winter months, David, of Holt Farm Close, Leeds, first smashed the Ouse record with a pike he captured in 1981 and his recent record fish was just one in a remarkable series. On the day that he hooked and landed the fish he ended up calling “Jaws”, David also caught another massive fish, which pushed the scales round to 25lb, just 30 minutes later.

Leeds, Harehills, 9th December 1986

Amrik's Electronic Company.

Harehills Lane. — Leeds, Harehills, 9th December 1986 Amrik's Electronic Company. Harehills Lane.

However, it wasn’t the largest pike caught that year. In October the same year, at Lake Grefeern, Germany, a 55lb pike was landed. In the UK in January this year, at Wykeham Lakes in North Yorkshire, a 46lb pike was landed.

The second picture was taken on December 9, 1986.

It shows Amrik’s Electronic Company on Harehills Lane. It sold hi-fis, TVs, video recorders and microwaves - there was even a sign in the window advertising ‘microwave demonstrations’.

The first microwave ovens to be sold stood about six feet tall and weighed more than your average person. The patent for microwaves was granted in 1945, with the first ‘Radaranges’ being sold in 1946, although it would be another two decades before they were small enough to be used in people’s kitchens.

VCRs meanwhile were invented in 1955 but it was 1967 before they began to take off in people’s homes.