Children at the Ilkley Nursery School in 1955 wrapped up warm to enjoy the festive season. Picture by Annings,

125 years ago

AT Skipton Petty Sessions two men from Ilkley were charged with unlawfully taking fish in Captain Beck. It appears that the two men were taking fish for scientific purposes and had obtained permission but had unwittingly trespassed in a field belonging to the Reverend T W Nowell, of Luton and London. After hearing evidence on both sides the chairman dismissed the summons.

ON the invitation of the clergy, superintendents and teachers of the Ilkley Parish Church Sunday School, tea and entertainment was given to the parents of the school children in the National Schoolroom. About 250 sat down to a sumptuous tea in the large room. Entertainment was afterwards given.

At the West Riding Christmas quarter Sessions the chairman moved a report of the committee of justices appointed to provide an additional pauper lunatic asylum at Menston said a sum of £445 was provided for the purposes of providing an additional piece of land for a reservoir without which the Lunacy Commissioners would not approve the site.

100 years ago

The grip of winter is upon us, and although we have not had anything so rigorous in the way of frost as in some districts, the Tarn is now frozen over, and yesterday skating was possible over a considerable area, though the strong wind that has blown across the moors has not rendered the ice as smooth as desirable, and in some places it is yet very thin.

The New Year had a seasonable entry, the air being cold and frosty, the sky clear, and the moors mantled in snow. The Brass Band went out to play on New Year's Eve and the youngsters, arrayed in all sorts of fantastic garbs, were "mumming" while well-attended night-watch services were held at the Parish and the Wesleyan churches. The Parish Church bell-ringers rang a muffled peel to signalise the passing of the Old year and a joyous clangour welcomed the birth of the New.

Our district council have established many records in their time, but one that will take some beating was accomplished on Wednesday evening when the whole of the business on the agenda was transacted in 20 minutes. One would have thought that this extra alacrity in the discharge of business on the first day of the year was an effort on their part to "turn over a new leaf."

75 years ago

A 17-year-old printer's apprentice of Harehills, Leeds, was charged at Otley Police Court with stealing 7s 3d cash from a collecting box in Ilkley on December 30. Supt Hodgson said the youth was charged with stealing the money from a National Institute for the Blind collecting box which was kept in a café in Church Street. At first he denied taking the money but later admitted it and produced an instrument with which he had opened the box. Mr Nelson, on behalf of the youth, pointed out that the box, which was made of cardboard, was a temptation. The Chairman said anything for the blind should not be a temptation. The youth was bound over for 12 months, ordered to refund the money and also to pay 15s costs.

The fact the New Year entered with a Sunday morning somewhat subdued the revelry with which that change in the calendar is welcomed, but there was no doubt as to the merriment with which the guests at the Ilkley hotels and hydros speeded the parting year. Fancy dress balls, or masked balls, were the programme at most of the larger establishments and those present entered into the spirit of the evening with the utmost zest.

As a result of the economy campaign on the part of the Government Ilkley's prospects of securing a public swimming bath have been once again postponed to the indefinite future. A sub-committee which has been at work on the scheme since last August was informed by officials of the Ministry of Health that no scheme of this kind involving a charge upon the rates would be sanctioned at present.

50 years ago

Not for many years did a single fall of snow cause so much havoc to telephone communications in the Ilkley district as the one on New Year's Eve. This was the news from the telephone staff at the Ilkley Post Office. It was reported that more than 600 subscribers, 500 in Ilkley and 100 in Addingham, were cut off when their telephone wires sagged and snapped under the weight of the snow.

Some 170 old folks sat down to a tea in the Winter Garden, Ilkley, when they held their Christmas Party on Friday afternoon. During the afternoon entertainment was given by an Optimist Concert Party and tricks conjured by Mr George Henry mystified the audience. Before the arrival of the concert party Christmas carols and choruses were sung by the Renham Choir.

Following a complaint by an allotment holder about damage caused by hens from an adjoining allotment, the council has considered generally the condition of allotments under their control. As a result, the clerk has been instructed to arrange an inspection with 'a view to the submission of a report upon the improvement of the condition of the allotments and the administration thereof'.

25 years ago

Plans to replace the canteen and kitchen at Bolling Road first school, Ben Rhydding, with a modern cook and chill' unit have been received for consideration by Bradford Metropolitan Council. If the plans are approved the canteen building which was opened in 1948, will be demolished and replaced by a more modern building. Similar plans have been submitted for Burley Church of England First School.

More than a dozen unemployed from Ilkley and District have applied for vacancies at Bradford Metropolitan Council's "operation eyesore" scheme with the hope of being involved in an employment project at Ilkley.

With the start of a new year and a new college term, the Ilkley branch of the Workers Education Association, hopes to encourage students old and new to take part in a new venture by being on two courses of a very different nature, each of which would promise to make the future more positive and enjoyable for its students. A ten-week ornithology course aims to enable relative beginners to identify many of the common birds.

9:33am Thursday 3rd January 2008

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