125 Years Ago - 1891

On Monday evening an entertainment organised to to raise funds for the purpose of establishing a soup kitchen, took place in St Margaret's New Parish Rooms, Ilkley. The chair was occupied by the Rev. Irton Smith, who stated that, owing to the hasty way in which the entertainment had been got up it had been impossible to to thoroughly advertise it.

A conversazione in aid of the funds of the Mechanic's Institute, Otley, was was opened on Wednesday night last. The attendance was not very large, but the proceedings were very enjoyable.

100 Years Ago - 1916

Mr William Stones, of Mount View, Eaton Road, Ilkley, has three sons who are in the Army, and a daughter who is a nurse. His youngest son, Trooper William Stones, who is in the 10th Hussars, which he joined in the very early days of the war, has unfortunately been wounded. He has been out in France for about three months, where he has been engaged chiefly in digging trenches, but on Sunday week, he was struck by a piece of shrapnel in the back, and also in the head. At the time he was wearing a steel body shield sent to him by an Ilkley lady. He was badly wounded in the head, and the shrapnel cut through his clothes and leather waistband, but did not pierce the shield.

Edward Whetzel, newsagent, Burley, was summoned for employing a child, nine years of age, for street trading at Burley on January 11. P.S Cunliffe said that at 6.20pm, in Station Road, he saw the boy loaded with papers, which he was selling and taking from door to door. Witnesses asked him how long he had been selling them, and the boy replied: " I have been selling them ever since you last told me I had not to do so." The boy added that his grandfather was lame, and he had to do his best for him. The defendant had persisted in employing the boy in spite of the fact that he had been previously prosecuted for a similar offence.

75 Years Ago - 1941

A correspondent calls to mind more Otley characters of 60 years ago. Among those he recalls are Finny Bagley, who brought the evening paper into the town at the time when Charlie Peace and Lefray were hung; and Sand Nellie's Bob, or Sam Nellie Bob, who was "washerwoman" for the late Mr John Deighton.

In a letter to a meeting organised by the Aireborough Committee of the Ministry of Information Professor John Hilton said the country was still beset by peril, and during the next six months Hitler would spare nothing of savage brutality and bloody horror to destroy us, but if we played our part according to the best that was in us, we should endure and triumph. He said: "As the material aid of the civilised world, outside these islands, pours in on our side, we shall strike the blow that will hurl Hitler and his foul gang to their doom, just as surely as Mussolini n is even now tottering from his pedestal and falling into the mud he has made of Italy."

50 Years Ago - 1966

The West Riding Education Committee has again drawn attention to its concern over the damage caused by stiletto heels on school floors and asked controlling and governing bodies to do something about it. It is recognised that school children themselves are not responsible and and that visiting teenagers or adults are the primary culprits.

Three Ilkley sisters, Stroma, Rosemary and Jane Ambler, of Curley Hill, arrived in Entebbe on Tuesday on the second East Africa Safari organised by Animals Magazine. They are in a party of 18 people who are taking part in the safari. During the 17 day safari the party will pass through Uganda, Tanzania and Kenya.

25 Years Ago - 1991

Plans being drawn up to treat possible casualties in the event of an outbreak of war in the Gulf involve the use of the Leeds Bradford airport at Yeadon being used to receive wounded servicemen airlifted to this region. From Yeadon and from RAF Leaming, personnel requiring medical treatment will then be directed to various hospitals depending on the nature of their injuries.

With the escalation towards war in the Gulf , Otley Peace Action Group members have been involved in many demonstrations at Menwith Hill US Spy Base. They have received a friendly and supportive response from Americans entering and leaving the base. Last Saturday members joined the March in London calling for 'No War in the Gulf,' and others attended a two hour vigil in Leeds.