125 Years Ago - 1892

Yeadon School Board - Mr Cliffe, the headmaster of the boys’ school, attended and made a personal statement in respect to his proposition as to the establishment of a Saturday morning class in drawing and in science for the pupil-teachers, and also in respect to the remarks made at the last meeting, in reading which he felt a little hurt. He thought they must have been made from misconception. The classes would be no advantage or benefit to him personally, because the renumeration would be so small that it would not pay him for his trouble, but he simply suggested the classes for the benefit of the pupil-teachers, who would be better equipped for gaining their scholarships. Other boards were forming such classes and he did not want Yeadon to be left behind in the race. After what had been said however he should not take the class this year; in fact, it was now too late, as the time had expired for appointing the committee.

It is stated that the Midland Railway Company have paid a sum of £350 as compensation to the relatives of the late Mr. Thomas Petty, who was killed in the recent collision at Esholt - £300 to the widow and £50 to the mother of the deceased.

100 Years Ago - 1917

Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Dibb, of Gallows Hill, Otley, have been informed that their son, Private Clarence Dibb, of the King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry, has been killed in action. He was one of four sons who joined the Army, three of whom have been killed.

The death is announced in action of Captain J. F. Myers, son of Mr T. Myers, of Guy Croft, Otley. Captain Myers, who was 40 years of age, served for nineteen years in the Yorkshire Regiment. The great proportion of this was spent in India and South Africa. At the outbreak of the present war he re-enlisted in his old regiment and went to France as colour-sergeant. His soldierly qualities soon asserted themselves and he became company sergeant-major. For gallantry he was was awarded the Croix de Guerre by the French Government, being decorated on the field by General Foch.

75 Years Ago - 1942

A service on behalf of prisoners of war took place in Otley Parish Church. Attending were members of Wharfedale Prisoners of War Relatives’ Club. The service was conducted by the vicar, Canon T. J. Williams and the preacher was the Rev L. W. Harland,vicar of Menston.

The Y.M.C.A. Hut in the garden of the Blue Bird Restaurant, The Grove, Ilkley, has been officially opened by Lady Swinton, Senior Vice-President of the Yorkshire Y.M.C.A. Women’s Auxiliary and Assistant Administrative Officer. Col. T. H. Sebag-Montefiore presided, and the Rev. E. C. Cook, Vicar of Ilkley, opened the meeting with prayers.

50 Years Ago - 1967

There is no disease which worries so much in its manifestation as the “flu”. To this fact it owes much of its importance as as one of the dangers threatening our health particularly in winter. Treatment or general management must be individual since we cannot know beforehand how any particular case is going to turn out. The reason for this lies in individual susceptibility, as well as in the large number of different bacteria which prevail in any given epidemic.

Two children Stephen Hancock, of Burley Junior School, and Ann Bowles, of Ilkley Secondary School, obtained 100 per cent in the National Cycle Proficiency Test. They were presented with books at the meeting of the Ilkley Road Safety Committee.

25 Years Ago - 1992

Elderly people will be the victims of the closure of the Menston and Burley-in-Wharfedale branches of Barclays Bank, it was claimed this week. Barclays is to close sub-branches in Cleasby Road, Menston, and Main Street, Burley-in-Wharfedale because it cannot afford to keep them open.

Computerised records are expected to be introduced into Otley Library in the not too distant future. A new scheme is being pioneered at Guiseley branch library, which will close for a week early next month, and will then be introduced into all branch libraries in the Leeds area.