125 Years Ago - 1892

On Saturday last a lady, who was visiting Ilkley, with her friend from London, was injured in the leg by a stray shot as she was walking near Myddelton on her way from Bolton to Ilkley. The lady heard a report, and immediately felt a sharp pain in her leg, the shot having ricochetted from the ground and penetrated a vein. The lady's friend applied an improvised tourniquet, and had her driven to Dr. Bampton's, where she was attended and was able to return to London.

At the fortnightly meeting of the Wharfedale Board of Guardians it was decided that the board should pay £12 per year to the York School for the Blind for the maintaining and teaching of a trade to a boy named Tom Binns Clarkson, who resides with his parents at 33, Beanlands Parade, Ilkley. The lad, who is 15 years old, has been blind since he was eight years of age.

100 Years Ago - 1917

Coun Goblet d'Alviella, Belgian Minister and Vice-President of the Belgian Senate, visited Ilkley yesterday.He is touring the country on behalf of his Government in order to visit the Belgian communities and to thank the various committees who have ministered to their welfare, and he has already been to about 100 cities and towns. The Count arrived at Ilkley yesterday by the 12.40pm North Eastern train.

On Wednesday afternoon no little excitement and alarm was occasioned in the vicinity of the Stepping Stones through an accident to two visitors. A young woman in crossing the stones fell into the river, and another in rendering assistance shared a similar fate. They were got out by a man who happened to hear their cries, and beyond the fright and discomfort of wet clothing were none the worse for their unpleasant experience.

75 Years Ago - 1942

The Menston section of the Ilkley Home Food Production Corps held its first show in the Menston Council School and had reason to be proud of its success. The show, in aid of the Red Cross, attracted 286 entries from 73 exhibitors and a very high standard was reached in the 27 classes.

There has been an unexpected drop in the total of small savings in the seventh week of the Tanks for Attack campaign in the Otley and Wharfedale area. The figure was £3,858, a decrease of £1,079 on the sixth week. The total now stands at £34,288 towards the £50,000 which is the new objective, and a big spurt will have to be made during the next few days to reach this achievement. The ten weeks campaign closes on September 26.

50 Years Ago - 1967

A view that quarrying operations on Otley Chevin will leave a permanent scar, 800ft long on the skyline of the hill which would be visible from the centre of the town, was put forward at a public meeting in the Mechanic's Institute on Friday. It was decided that a public enquiry should be asked for. The quarrying operations have reached the top of the Chevin. In accordance with planning permission , granted by the County Council in 1949, the workings are to be extended over the summit and downhill on the Otley side of the ridge.

A proposal to introduce water skiing on the lagoon at the sand and gravel works to the west of Otley Bridge came before the Highways Committee of Otley Council. The application came from the Bradford Water Skiing Club.

25 Years Ago - 1992

Just 50 years ago in the dark depths of the 1939-45 war, a small group of people interested in singing met in what is now Otley Civic Centre. As a result, Otley Choral Society was born, and its increasing success over the years has ensured its continuance and the celebration of its Golden Jubilee next year.

Property developers are pulling out all the stops in a bid to get businesses into Otley town centre. Following last week's special report on the number of empty shops in Otley's main shopping centre, Trafalgar House Developments, owners of Orchard Gate, have entered into the debate about what can be done to stimulate trade in the town.