We've been looking in the Guardian archives to see what was making the news in 1960.

Like today, it was a mix of hard news stories, community events and people taking part in all sorts of quirky activities.

Our first story follows the fortunes of a group of lads from Heckmondwike who came third in the Boy Scouts National Soap Box Derby held in New Brighton.

The driver was Stephen Thornton, a 10-year-old member of the 2nd Heckmondwike Wolf Cub pack, who was at the wheel of "Ar Jack 7".
Pictured with him are mechanic John Mills and fellow Heckmondwike Scouts Ian and Geoffrey White.

The previous year the group had won the Cub championship of the British Isles when David Ives reached a speed of 18.59mph.

However in the 1960 event, despite a valiant effort, Stephen came in third, partly due to the fact that he was drawn on the outside lane and lost time on a bend.

Although only a year old, Ar Jack 7, was then deemed too heavy and the Heckmondwike Scouts decided to start work on a new lighter model which they hoped would bring them greater success the following year.

Our second story highlighted the dangers of playing in derelict buildings.

There were fears that children might be buried under rubble after an empty building in Old Popplewell Lane, Scholes, collapsed. Firemen toiled for an hour removing bricks and masonry from Old Kiln Farm - which was a magnet for children, but thankfully the fears proved unfounded.

Our third picture shows the crowning of the Rose Queen at St John's Methodist Church, Hightown. Thirteen-year-old Ann Woodock, of Second Avenue, and a pupil at Liversedge County Secondary School, was crowned in a ceremony in the Sunday school, following a tour of the district along with her attendants in a decorated lorry.

She was attended by Susan Nicholl, Eileen Barker, Kathleen Greaves, Helen and Susan Middleton and Sheila Barton. The pageboy was Timothy Cowburn.

A fair was held afterwards in a local field with activities, sideshows and children's sports. The competition for the knobbliest knees was won by Mr M Kirk, and the ankle competition was won by Mrs Glover.

The last photograph shows the children of Our Lady and St Paul's Church, Cleckheaton, having just made their First Holy Communion. They are pictured outside the church with parish priest Father K Kehoe.