Leeds nostalgia: What made the news in the YEP on the week the Battle of the Somme began?

However, back home, the horrors of the Battle of the Somme were still unknown. This week in Times Past we look at what other stories were making the headlines at the time.

Mother Shipton’s Cave on the Market

An announcement was made that some of Yorkshire’s most historic spots were to put up for public auction in August. They included the Dropping Well, Mother Shipton’s Cave, St Robert’s Cave and St Robert’s Chapel.

Credit Ross Parry Agency
The big freeze continies in North Yorkshire.
Icicles hang from the frozen Petrifying Well at Mother Shipton's Cave in Knaresborough. The icicles are hanging from the waterfall of the well, the rock from which the water falls is a huge huge mineral deposit formed the same way as a stalactite. Objects are hung from the waterfall, which within months mineral deposits turn into stone.
(Jonathan Pow/Ross Parry Agency) — Credit Ross Parry Agency The big freeze continies in North Yorkshire. Icicles hang from the frozen Petrifying Well at Mother Shipton's Cave in Knaresborough. The icicles are hanging from the waterfall of the well, the rock from which the water falls is a huge huge mineral deposit formed the same way as a stalactite. Objects are hung from the waterfall, which within months mineral deposits turn into stone. (Jonathan Pow/Ross Parry Agency)

Leeds Boxing Champion’s Reply to Jimmy Wilde

The prospects of a match between Jimmy Wilde, the fly-weight champion, and Joe Fox, of Leeds. the British bantam-weight champion, were said to be “very doubtful”.

Fox was willing to sign articles for a contest at 8st. 6lb for a level £500 a side, but Wilde stated the offer could only be accepted provided Fox made 8st.

Russian in Trouble at Hull

Michael Zaharoff, a Russian, was charged at Hull with changing his residence three times without giving notice to the police. The prisoner pleaded guilty, and being of military age, he was asked why was not serving with the Russian Army. He was told by the inspector in the Aliens’ Department that he could if he liked, join the British Army, but he said he would have nothing to do with it.

Animals as Germ Carriers

The Keighley Coroner has warned parents about the dangers of allowing dogs to lick children’s faces. The warning was the outcome of evidence given at an inquest on a youth who had died from the effects of a large cyst on the liver.

The cyst, it was explained, was due to the ovum of a parasite whose entry to the human body usually comes about through a dog licking them.

Seats for Female Conductors

The local branch of the National Union of Women Workers asked the Leeds Tramways Committee to provide seats for the female conductors and to appoint some women as inspectors.

A Bottle of Beer

The Chesham Fire Brigade was busily engaged when the firemen, who were short-handed, called for some slight assistance from one of the onlookers - a stranger, wearing a blue suit and cap stepped forth.

He obligingly lent a hand, and not only handed round cigarettes to the firemen, but even fetched a bottle of beer for each. When all was over the obliging stranger was discovered to be Herbert Samuel, the Home-Secretary.

Filey Congregation as Church Cleaners

Preaching at York Minster yesterday, the Rev Canon Cooper, Vicar of Filey, said that on the previous Sunday he had had to tell his congregation that, if they wished the church to have its annual cleaning, they must do it themselves. A dutiful congregation spent a full week up ladders and on their hands and knees making the place spotless.