Yeadon woman has narrow escape from being suffocated by gas

On Sunday morning last an old woman 80 years of age, named Mrs. Myers, residing in Queen Street, Yeadon,had a narrow escape from being suffocated by gas. Mrs. Myers lives with her son, who went away on Saturday last and stopped all night, and it is thought that when Mrs. Myers went to bed in putting out the gas she turned the tap too far, and that, consequently, the gas was escaping all the night. A person of the name of Brown, who has been brought up by Mrs. Myers, went down to the house to see her on Sunday morning, but could not get in, and as he could not rouse her, entrance was then effected by one of the windows. Mrs. Myers was discovered in bed in an unconscious state. Dr. McLean was sent for. He brought the old lady round, and she is now, we are glad to say, going on well.

Distribution of dole in Burley - Dr. Black, assisted by one of the overseers, distributed the sum of £17 10s (accruing from six different charities left by pious residents in ancient days) to about seventy people - of whom a majority were widows.

100 Years Ago - 1917

Information has been received that Private Albert Featherstone, eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. George Featherstone, Moor view, Leeds Road, Ilkley, was killed in action on December 23rd, 1916. He leaves a widow and one child. This is the second son Mr. and Mrs. Featherstone have had killed in action; Able Seaman George H. Featherstone, who was 19 years of age, being killed on November 13th, 1916.

Mr. F. S. Eckersley, hon. secretary of the Ilkley and Ben Rhydding Soldiers' and Sailors' Christmas Gifts Committee, has received many letters of thanks for parcels. One writer says: "It is nice of our friends at home to think so kindly towards those of us who are 'doing our bit' for the motherland," and an N.C.O. writes : "A better or more suitable selection of 'good things' could not have been made." A Bombadier, who was reported killed last August, sends a letter of thanks and goes on to say "I am very pleased to be able to tell you that the report of my death is not true. I am quite well at present and hope to see this job through."

75 Years Ago - 1942

Secretaries of war savings groups in Ilkley, Burley and Menston met to hear Major Walter Morris, the Savings Commissioner for the N.E. area speak on the effort Ilkley is making during Warship Week. Mr. Percy Dalton, who took the chair, referred to the suggested target for the week of £70,000. He believes it is possible to reach the target if the 7,000 group members invest an average of £10 per head.

The developments in Ilkley to care for evacuees from the bombed cities and towns were objects of special interest to Russian Trade Union delegates and to Mr. Alex Moore, a representative of the American Red Cross. The Russian visitors were deeply interested in all they saw. They are visiting the country in exchange for a visit made by British T.U.C. delegates .

50 Years Ago - 1967

Mr Percival (Percy) Myers, one of the early pioneers of the Labour movement and Labour candidate in three general elections for the old Pudsey and Otley division, died at his home in Otley Road, Menston, on Thursday, at the age of 79. His active interest in politics dated back more than half a century. He became actively associated with the trade union movement in 1908.

Skating continued on Ilkley Tarn at the weekend but sport was restricted owing to the rough surface. A rise in temperature on Tuesday morning brought waterlogged conditions and by Wednesday the temperature reading was 11 degrees above freezing point.

25 Years Ago - 1992

Otley's Jack Raftery, one of the men who carried the official torch at the 1948 Olympic Games in London, has died. Mr Raftery, who lived in Mount Pisgah, was 79. Because of his success running with the Royal Armoured Corps in 1947, Trooper Raftery was was chosen to run with the torch during the Olympics.

Otley could soon be hearing a variety of tunes played on the only carillon in the Leeds area. Members of the Parish Church bellringers are to start repair work on the carillon, which is in effect a giant music box, in the Spring. It is assumed that the carillon was put in the tower at the same times as the clock because they are connected to the same mechanism. There is a wooden plaque on the clock which states that it was installed in 1793.