And the Wall came tumbling down

May 22 2007 By The Journal

Saturday November 11, 1989 - East Germans, some in their night clothes and others cheering, watched in amazement last night as building workers joined border troops to tear down a section of the Berlin Wall.

Only a few hours later the area of the hated Wall blocking Eberswalder Street became a new, open crossing point to the West.

As the bulldozers, heavy lifting gear and dumper trucks moved in to crack away at the misery of the barrier dividing a city, the East German Communist Party leader Mr Egon Krenz was telling a huge outdoor rally that the leadership had learned "a major lesson we won't forget".

Violence as Mandela says struggle to go on

Monday February 12, 1990

Nelson Mandela walked through a prison gate to freedom yesterday, setting off joyous celebrations and violent clashes as blacks nationwide welcomed their leader back from 27 years in jail.

"Comrades and fellow South Africans, I greet you all in the name of peace, democracy and freedom for all," Mr Mandela told tens of thousands of cheering supporters outside Cape Town City Hall later.

In a firm, strong voice Mr Mandela emphatically reaffirmed his commitment to the ANC's guerrilla campaign and called for an escalation of pressure to end white minority domination.

"Today, the majority of South Africans, black and white, recognise that apartheid has no future.

"It has to be ended by our decisive mass action," he said.

"We have waited too long for our freedom."

Queen's corgis named in will

Friday November 17, 1989

The Queen's corgis have been left about £20,000 in the will of Mrs Rosemary Ambler, 86, of The Crescent, Filey, who died in March.

But her stepson Mr William Ambler, 50, a musician from Harrogate, gets nothing and has issued a High Court writ contesting the bequest.

Filey solicitor Mr Thomas Cathcart said it was unlikely that the money would go to the Royal kennels but it would go to a corgi charity if he was successful in the case.