125 Years Ago - 1893

The distress in Horsforth is still very great, despite the fact that since the return of the mild weather outdoor work has, to a large extent, been resumed. A large number of the work people, who have been engaged at the various mills and works around Horsforth, are out of work, and a great many more are working short-time. To add to the general distress a dispute has arisen with the puddlers at Kirkstall Forge, the reason being, we understand, that their employers want them to turn out one beat more in a day than they have been wont to do. A large number of men are out of work on account of it.

The annual olds folks treat has come and gone, and once more those residents of Guiseley who have reached the required age (sixty years) - rich or poor alike - met together and enjoyed themselves.

100 Years Ago - 1918

Sir J. Hasting Duncan, M.P., for the Otley Division, at a meeting of the Otley Women’s Liberal Association, remarked that as most of them were aware he had not been a very enthusiastic supporter of woman suffrage in the past, but now that they had got the vote he wished them all the joy in the use of it. He hoped that they would not regard the franchise as an opportunity for exercising a little pleasant civic duty, but that they would realise that it carried a great responsibility with it. It had to be remembered that six millions of women voters would be quite able to turn the elections throughout the country.

The death has occurred from wounds of Private William Vaughan, who resided at 22, Ash Grove, Ilkley. He was 36 years of age, and before joining the army in November, 1916, was employed at the Marlborough House Hydro in Ilkley. Private Vaughan’s younger brother, Sergeant Arthur Vaughan, was killed on July 22nd, 1916.

75 Years Ago - 1943

An interesting letter from North Africa has been received by Mr. J.C. Dacre, secretary of the Otley Comforts Fund. The writer is Cpl. T. A. Holroyd (R.A.S.C.) , whose home is at 7, Waite’s Terrace, Otley. He writes: “This is indeed a strange land; where ancient and modern are jumbled together; where every kind of transport from diminutive donkeys to high-powered cars is used. It is a land of strange sights too, where mourners ride inside the hearse and bicycles are pedalled backwards.”

The Law And Your Dustbin - When you drop some refuse absent-mindedly into the dustbin, you may be unconsciously breaking the law. It is forbidden to - (a) Destroy or burn waste paper except for the purposes of preventing the spread of infectious or contagious disease; (b) Throw away waste paper otherwise than by making it available for collection; (c) Put away any waste paper in a refuse bin, or mix with refuse.

50 Years Ago - 1968

Twenty-first birthday when aged 88 - Celebrating her birthday yesterday (Thursday) for only the 21st time since she was born on 29 February, 1880, a Leap Year, was Mrs. Betsie Graham, of Fernlea, Manley Grove, Ben Rhydding. Said Mrs Graham: “It tickles my fancy having a 21st birthday after such a long time.”

With a few exceptions between 250 and 300 people who attended a meeting called by “old Ilkley families” in the Ilkley Winter Garden on Tuesday night indicated their objection to the Town Centre proposals recently published by the Ilkley Urabn Council. There were shouts of “NO, NO” when it was asked if anyone in the audience thought the plan was in a good idea. Mr J. W. Williamson said he thought the meeting should adopt a resolution to tell the Council to drop the proposals for the central re-development. It was a rural area and not a city with six storey concrete flats.

25 Years Ago - 1993

A housing charity has forged links with councillors in an attempt to stop young couples being driven away from their home villages. First time buyers with strong ties in Addingham are often left with no option but to move out of the area because of the lack of affordable housing.

Now a joint initiative aims to stem the tide of reluctant departures by creating a special low cost scheme.

There was a good turnout for the first meeting of the Ilkley Homemakers, formerly the Women’s Gas Federation with 40 members attending and four new members.