125 Years Ago - 1892

An inquest was held at the Sun Inn, Norwood, touching the death of Margaret Alice Dove, the illegitimate child of Emma Dove. The mother of the child identified the body, and Dr. Malcolm gave evidence as to the cause of death. The jury returned a verdict of "Death from natural causes."

An effort is being made in Burley-in-Wharfedale to form a class in "First aid to the injured." A branch of the St. John's Ambulance Association will be formed and twenty names of prospective members have been handed in.

100 Years Ago - 1917

Mrs Bryant, 17, Trafalgar Road, Ilkley, has received the following letter about the death of her son Gunner Jack Harold Bryant, aged 19: - "It is with the deepest regret I write to tell you that your son was seriously wounded yesterday. He and another telephonist were out mending wire, when a shell burst, killing the man who was with him and wounding your son. He was taken to the dressing station. The poor boy was wonderfully brave, and bore his suffering so well, and gave us a cheery farewell when he was carried away.I can't tell you how we admired his pluck."

Gunner Norman Glover, R.F.A., son of Mr. and Mrs. E. Glover of Nile Road, has died as a result of wounds and severe burns. He was only 18 years of age, and had joined the Royal Field Artillery when only 16. His mother has received the following letter: - "It is with great regret that I am writing to tell you the sad news of your son. As you know he was seriously injured, being wounded by a shell which burst in the gunpit while he was doing his duty. Unfortunately, the Bosche shell set fire to a lot of charges, with the result that your son was badly burnt."

75 Years Ago - 1942

A concert held in Burras Lane School, Otley, raised £3 4s for Mrs Churchill's Aid-to-Russia Fund. Considering this was an entirely unaided effort by the girls the results were most satisfactory.

Signaller Stanley Shaw, of the Royal Corps of Signals, whose wife and family live in Ings Lane, Guiseley, was home on leave after 19 weeks in Iceland. He said his chief recollections were of the desolate character of the country and the indescribable gales. He brought home with him snaps of the damage caused by the wind, among them pictures of heavy Nissan huts overturned and stone buildings destroyed.

50 Years Ago - 1967

Sir Malcolm Stoddart Scott was chairman of a symposium on Vietnam held in the Winter Garden on Friday. The meeting was organised by the Ilkley Branch of the United Nations Association. Mr. George Scott, lecturer at Bradford University, said the United States of America was violating the Geneva agreement by making war in Vietnam. The bombing and chemical warfare developed by the Americans was barbarous and inhuman, especially as the main victims were civilians, including women and children. Mr. J. Belak said genocide was what the Communists were doing in Tibet. Should the Communists win in Vietnam the war would be continued in neighbouring countries.

In the next few weeks millions of people will receive a 'Certificate of Pay and Tax Deducted' from their employers. Miss. A. Cowley, manager of the Otley Office of the Ministry of Social Security, said that the certificates - known as "Form P60" - are used to calculate the earnings-related supplements to sickness and unemployment benefit.

25 Years Ago - 1992

The late Alwyn Ashley, a founder member of Otley Twinning Association, is to be honoured by Montereau. During the visit to the French town by 40 Otley residents it was announced that a room in the Salle de Fete would be called the Alwyn Ashley Room.

As a little girl Gillian Baverstock was the envy of thousands of children throughout the world. She lived with her well-to-do parents in a charming thatched-roof cottage on the banks of the Thames. But the ingredient which made her contemporaries think she was lucky was that her mother was children's author, Enid Blyton. Mrs Baverstock now lives in a16th century hall set in more than three acres of grounds on the hillside above Ilkley.