125 Years Ago - 1891

Football matches on the Netherfield ground, Guiseley, are generally favoured by the presence of a well-known female resident, who takes great interest in the game, the various points of which she watches with keen anxiety, often expressing her approval in a vigorous manner when the Guiseley lads are having the best of the play.

The members of the Newlay Cycling Club held a special meeting in the art classroom of the Mechanics Institute, Horsforth, on Wednesday night. There was a good attendance of the members, and the evening was spent in a most enjoyable manner.The programme included songs and recitations, and in the course of the evening the members were regaled with coffee, &c.

100 Years Ago - 1916

Sugar is a stable article of food for all the people, rich and poor alike. Many medical men tell us that, to some extent, it is necessary to the proper maintenance of health, and without it certainly much of the dietary we now indulge in would not be so palatable as it is. But with its appealing sweetness there is apt to be a prodigality in its use which may become a menace to a continuance of the regular supplies. Here, therefore, is another department of life in which the oft-preached doctrine of "economy, economy, economy" has to be practised. The deliveries of sugar during the month of October fell some 30,000 tons below the same month for of 1915.

A further batch of wounded soldiers arrived at the Ilkley Military Hospital on Friday afternoon, and although there was only one stretcher case, several of the men were obviously maimed for life. Many of these, and many of those already in the hospital, were in happy prosperous circumstances, enjoying the comforts of home and family life when war broke out, but when their help was most sorely needed, with thousands upon thousands of others, they answered the call.

75 Years Ago - 1941

Horsforth Warship Week, on Wednesday, overtook the objective of £120,000 for a Corvette, and immediately a new "drive" was started for a revised target of £240,000. Horsforth was asked to "adopt" H.M.S. Aubretia, and yesterday Mr. C. H. Willcock, the President of Warship Week, sent the following breezy telegram to Mr A. V. Alexander, the First Lord of the Admiralty. "H.M. Corvette Aubretia bowt and paid for, lad. What's ta want next?" The per capita figure of £120,000 is approximately £10.

News was received this week by his aunt, Mrs T. Rawnsley, 2, Hawthorn Avenue, Yeadon, that her nephew Able Seaman Frederick B. Roberts, a survivor of the Ark Royal, was safe and well. The telegram containing the good news said: "Not a scratch, thank God. Do not worry." He had been on the Ark Royal seven weeks. He is 27 years of age, and is an old scholar of Aireborough Grammar School.

50 Years Ago - 1966

A view that Otley Council should take steps to prevent the use of air riffles on the Ings tip was expressed at a meeting of the Health Committee on Monday. The matter was raised by a letter from the Superintendant of Otley Police Division, commenting on an investigation of a complaint that a man had been hit on the leg by a pellet from an air gun fired from the tip.

A 1,500 mile journey began at 10.30 this morning for Mrs Mary Scott, of Bramhope Kennels, Old Lane, Bramhope. She will be taking part tomorrow and Sunday in judging spaniels and retrievers at the International Championship Dog Show in Helsinki, Finland. Mrs Scott says that so far as she knows, this is the first time that a judge from Yorkshire has been invited to officiate in Finland.

25 Years Ago - 1991

A rampaging heifer stunned motorists during rush hour traffic on Tuesday morning after escaping from Ilkley abattoir. The clever big brown cow used the back of another cow to leap over the wall of the slaughter-house in Little Lane before running amok through Brook Street. Eight staff from the abattoir gave chase through a chaotic town centre as commuters heading for work looked on in amazement. Two police officers from Ilkley joined the chase. "It was like a mad scene out of a Fred Carno Circus!" said a police spokesman.

It was smiles all round when the Princess Royal made a special visit to the Acrecliffe riding School at Ellar Ghyll, Otley. Eager youngsters waved Union Jack flags at the Princess Royal, and helpers, organisers and riders were united in their appreciation of the Princess who took time to show she cares. The Princess, who is renowned for her own horse-riding skills, was patron of the Riding for the Disabled Association 1971 to 1986.