125 Years Ago - 1892

A Steam Fire Engine for Otley - If the Local Board decide to buy the engine which gave a public exhibition of its powers on Saturday last, they will act wisely. We understand that its cost is £200, payable in three annual instalments, and the price is reasonable, the terms not onerous. It threw three jets upwards of 120 feet high, and one jet over 140 feet, requires no manual labour with its attendant costs to the property owner, and can be worked by a smaller staff of men than is required by the present “manual”. In point of fact it would be highly economical for the Board and for all who are unfortunate enough to suffer loss by fire.

Spite of the small-pox scare, the “Statute” distractions and other events, the Church Bazaar reached the desired goal, and one very pleasant fact was that the sum total was attained partly by the liberal support of other congregations. This is as it should be.

100 Years Ago - 1917

Mr. F. S. Eckersley, Barrister-at-Law, and Clerk of the Ilkley District Council, is announced to give another address on the Housing Problem. Mr. Eckersley intends to deal with the economic aspect of this question. In all matters of social reform the economic side should never be lost site of. There are so many theorists and idealists whose plan for bringing about reforms seem alluring, but it is not always possible to translate them into practical politics. The Housing Problem is considered by the Government to be one of the most pressing of the present day, and the economic aspect of this important question will appeal strongly to most thinking men who are anxious to discover a practical solution of it.

Captain F. M. Twistleton, eldest son of the late Mr. Thomas Twistleton, of Menston, has died of wounds. He fought through the Boer War, and for many years was resident in New Zealand.

75 Years Ago - 1942

Miss Joyce Beake, the 11-year-old daughter of Mrs Bailey, Main Street, Addingham, arranged a sale of work at her home consisting of small items she had made and augmented by a few gifts from friends which raised £4 7s 6d for the Red Cross Prisoner of War Fund.

Mrs Sylvia Parkinson, of Johnson’s Cafe Royal, Brook Street, who was instrumental in raising over £137 for the people of Stalingrad by holding a bring and buy sale at the shop received a letter of thanks from M Maiskey, the Russian Ambassador.

50 Years Ago - 1967

The place of the modern woman in the field of employment has been the subject of a close study, from both a personal and professional angle, by Miss L. M. Raynes, of Pool Road, Otley, who retired in August after 25 years with the Ministry of Labour. Miss Raynes started in the Otley office of the Ministry in 1942, dealing mainly with the employment of women and the disabled. She passed the Civil Service Examination shortly after the war.

Members of the Electrical Association for Women were hostesses at the Ilkley Old Folks Club on Tuesday afternoon when 144 members were present. A welcome was extended to two new members, Mr. Belfall and Mr. Dinsdale. Mr. C. Daniels was the entertainer.

25 Years Ago - 1992

Campaigners are launching immediate action against the planned closure of Ilkley’s Grove Hospital. The protest follows last week’s shock announcement by Airedale National Health Service (NHS) Trust that it wants to shut down the convalescent and general practitioner (GP) unit on March 31 next year. About 40 jobs will be lost if the 54-bed hospital is axed as part of a £1.5 million cost-cutting package.

Most people can only dream of flying in by helicopter for a drink at the pub. But not army pilots Corporal Jim Termini and Captain Hatchard.The Wharfedale pair returned to their roots by dropping in at the Cow and Calf Hotel on Ilkley Moor for a Diet Coke with relatives. They decided to head from Middle Wallop in Hampshire as part of a map reading exercise.