125 Years Ago - 1891

On Tuesday about 6pm an accident occurred to a party of men, women and children who had been for a drive in a wagonette from Rawdon to Harrogate. They left Harrogate about 6pm and drove along the Harrogate Road. When near Pool Bridge the driver, a man named George Lawson, of Rawdon, was observed to flog and drive the horses at a furious rate. On turning the corner opposite Pool School the conveyance was thrown over onto its side and the occupants (13 in number) were precipitated onto the road. When the driver got the horses up he drove away leaving his fares behind. Three of the occupants were very seriously hurt.

On Tuesday at the Otley Police Court - before Messrs Jer. Garnett(chairman) and Thos. Duncan, John Thackray, an inmate of the Wharfedale Union workhouse at Newall was charged with refractory conduct by the workhouse manager George Mellor.

100 Years Ago - 1916

Otley is amongst the first towns in the British Isles to train lady bellringers. A quartet of young ladies have been training for the past few weeks and through the energies of Mr J A Phillips, ably assisted by Mr Clarke, and a few of the company, have attained a remarkable degree of efficiency. The ladies are now ringing regularly each week.

We regret to have to record the death of another Addingham soldier from wounds received in action. He is private Fred Fisher, of the Duke of Wellington's West Riding Regiment. His parents received a telegram on Friday last from the Infantry Record Office, informing them that their son had been seriously wounded by gunshot in the head and could not be visited. On Tuesday morning they received a letter from the sister in charge of Ward VI, General Hospital, Boulogne, saying: "I am sorry to have to send you very sad news about your son. He is badly wounded and in a very critical condition. He is conscious and sends his love to you." In the same post official information was received that Pte Fisher had succumbed to his wounds on May 5th.

75 Years Ago - 1941

News was received this week that Leading Aircraftman William Thomas Innes, youngest son of Mrs Margaret Innes and the late Mr Albert Innes, has been killed in action in the Middle East. Aged 24 he was an old boy of Ilkley Grammar School where he was junior athletic champion in 1930. He was a keen cyclist and rode with the Otley Cycling Club. He was born in Ilkley and joined the RAF as a volunteer just over a year ago.

A friend who is not satisfied that as many Otley men have joined the Home Guard as should do, put forward a point of view this week that seemed to me very sound. "What would happen here in Otley if we had an invasion?" he asked, and replied to the question by saying that every man in the town, mechanic, shopkeeper or whoever he might be, would be racing along to the Drill Hall for a rifle to put up the best sort of fight he could. "And we should not be able to supply him," added my friend. "Rifles can only be issued according to the strength of the home guard. If we want more rifles in Otley we shall have to have more men in the home guard.

50 Years Ago - 1966

A lively and engaging personality of radio fame, Miss Gwen Berryman, better known as Mrs Doris Archer of Ambridge, was guest speaker at this month's Ilkley Ladies' Lifeboat Guild Luncheon Club. She delighted her audience with stories of her experiences since she became Mrs Archer 16 years ago. "The Archers" was first put on the air at Whitsuntide 1950. The 4,000th episode has recently been broadcast.

Far reaching proposals which may herald the introduction of Comprehensive Education into Wharfedale have been discussed by two of the town's principle educational bodies - the governors of Prince Henry's Grammar School and the governors of the Secondary School. They have been told that a scheme is in the 1966-67 building programme for the extension of Prince Henry's to fit the Comprehensive School pattern.

25 Years Ago - 1991

An Ilkley coffee centre celebrated its fifth anniversary with a special buffet supper attended by over 60 helpers. The evening at Christchurch coffee centre, in The Grove, Ilkley, was organised by the centre's committee as a special thank you for the efforts of its many volunteers.

Members of a thousand-strong walking team crossing the Pennine Way will arrive in Ilkley on Wednesday. Twenty walkers from the ecumenically organised "Walk of 1,000 men" will be spreading their message in pubs, clubs and schools in the town and through door-to-door visits.