Leeds nostalgia: Giant leap in technology as YEP receives its first '˜telephotoed' picture... and the Leeds triplets born in 1948

However, on this day in 1948 (February 12), the first ever “telephotoed” picture was sent to the offices of the YEP in Leeds. It was an image of Sir Laurence Olivier and his wife Vivien Leigh, as they left London for Australia.

The picture was said to have reached the YEP’s London office (yes, we used to have one of those too) at 11.13 in the morning. It was received in the Leeds office at 11.20.

The paper proudly reported: “This was possible because the Evening Post and Yorkshire Post completed the installation of their first telephoto machine.”

It went on: “Because the Evening Post and Yorkshire Post are fully alive to keeping in step with the latest technological inventions, picture s from the world’s capitals will now be available for reproduction in Leeds within seven minutes of reaching our London office.

“Every day the Evening Post will be able to bring the news in pictures to your tea table.”

News a little closer to home came in the form of the Simpson triplets, born three weeks ago in St James’s Hospital and pictured above with their mother, who received a year’s free dried milk from one of the country’s leading manufacturers.

Left to right were Victor (5lb 9oz), Valerie (under 6lb 14oz) and Clive (5lb 13oz).

The paper noted, dryly: “Father, of Amberton Close, Gipton, who now has 10 children, is unemployed. Mother has received many gifts, including 30 bundles of baby clothes.”

If you knew the Simpson triplets or are related to them, please get in touch.