125 years ago

A woman who lived in Ash Grove, Ilkley, was charged with stealing a bag of coals from the coal crops on Railway Road. The defendent, having expressed her sincere contrition, the Bench at the Otley Police Court, dismissed the case.

On or after July 1, the price of gas will be reduced an additional 5d per thousand. The will be a concession which cannot but be heartily appreciated by the consumers, and we would hope that it is only a step to a still further reduction.

The 21st annual meeting of the subscribers to the Ilkley Hospital was held. The committee tendered its thanks for the following donations to the hospital: old linen, tracts, magazines, the Child's Illustrated Bible, fruit, plum cake, two dozen pots of jam, Illustrated Australian Papers, two baskets of flowers, toys, two dishes of water cress, two cart loads of manure, two iron gate posts and a pair of crutches.

The Ilkley Medical Officer reported that during the past season 730 persons were admitted to the hospital. Of these 617, or 90 per cent, were discharged cured or visibly improved, 64 unrelieved, five worse and three dead. The first death was that of a woman who left the hospital after her admission for general debility and was later found drowned in the River Wharfe.

100 years ago

Much to people's disgust the district council decided to place a horse trough adjoining the lamp-post at the top of Brook Street, a very serviceable article certainly, but not one at all calculated to add to the improvement the street is undergoing.

On Saturday afternoon, H Sparks, a painter employed by Messrs H W Pease and Co, and lodging in Nelson Road, Ilkley, went for a walk on the moor, and during his outing climbed the Calf, but in coming down he lost his footing and fell, spraining his left ankle badly.

A very interesting meeting was held on Saturday evening last at the residence of Miss Lund, Kings Road, Ilkley, when Miss Adela Pankhurst addressed about 40 people on the subject of Votes for Women'. At the close a vote was taken in favour of granting the franchise to women, which only three opposed.

75 years ago

A collision on the main road near Addingham cricket ground yesterday resulted in the death of Joseph Laycock Throupe, of 9 Aire View, Silsden. A native of Addingham and working at Middleton, Ilkley, he left home at 7.45am on his motor cycle. When passing through Addingham he came into collision with the back of a motor lorry owned by the Craven Haulage Co., Addingham, and received fatal injuries. He was carried to the house of his mother, which was near the scene of the accident.

A new optional tariff of payment for gas was decided upon at the meeting of the Ilkley Urban District Council. It is limited to consumers within the Ilkley Urban District. If consumers desire they may continue on the present basis, but under the new basis, which they may choose if they so wish, gas can be supplied at 6d per therm (as compared with the present 9 d), less a discount of 5 per cent for prompt payment and plus a fixed quarterly charge based on the rateable value of the consumer's premises in accordance with a carefully detailed scale.

In the presence of members of the staff, the entire school and a number of old boys, presentations were made at the Ilkley Grammar School on Friday to Mr N L Frazer on his retirement, after 17 years, as headmaster of the school, and to Mrs Frazer. Immediately after the presentations three rousing cheers were given for the recipients.

50 years ago

Some 200 people saw Mr Clifford Harrison, of Keighley, in his role as Yorkshire's member of the National Savings Committee, press the button which triggered off by remote control in Lythan St Anne's 'Ernie', the robot Premium Bond selector, from the foot of the Cow and Calf Rocks on Tuesday morning. A film was made of the ceremony for television purposes. Tuesday's ceremony took place in a biting east wind.

Dangers to motorists emerging from Ben Rhydding Sports Club's ground between parked cars into speeding traffic on the main road may be extended to Ilkley Grammar and Ilkley Secondary Schools children when they go to their new playing fields, it was said at Ilkley Road Safety Committee's meeting. "I think one day there will be a real messy pile-up there," said Councillor H V Haddrill.

The Dean of Ripon, The Very Rev FL Hughes, re-dedicated the peal of bells at a service held in St Peter's Church, Addingham. During the service, the bells, which have been re-installed in the belfry, were rung by the Addingham ringers, and afterwards, by the Rothwell ringers. Other clergy who took part in the service were the Archdeacon of Craven, the Rector of Guiseley and former Rector of Addingham.

25 years ago

How often do we hear these days that the age of the craftsman is dead and gone? Well, it is not, and an exhibition of six British blacksmiths at the Manor House is demonstrating the fact. What comes across most clearly is the sheer delight of working in iron and participating in what amounts to a renaissance in the craft of blacksmithing.

An Ilkley woman's daughter-in-law was one of those lucky enough to speak to Princess Diana when she was on one of her walkabouts recently during a Royal tour of Australia. Mrs Robyn Woodrup - whose mother-in-law is Mrs Laura Woodrup of Nelson Road, Ilkley - lives in Adelaide and went with her nine-month-old daughter Sarah to see the Princess when she visited the town.

Interesting facts about the price of petrol - more than half the price the motorist pays for a gallon of four-star petrol now goes straight to the Government in taxes. If you are paying 168 pence a gallon for your petrol the government 'take' in taxes amount to around 93p or over half the price you pay.

10:21am Thursday 3rd April 2008

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