125 Years Ago - 1888

River Aire Pollution - At a conference of Sanitary Authorities, convened by the Mayor of Leeds, and held at Leeds on Thursday for the purpose of ‘discussing the means of reducing the lamentable pollution of the River Aire. The Mayor of Leeds, in opening the proceedings, said they were called together on a very important question, to see what further steps were needed for the purification of the water. For many years a controversy had been on going about he dirtiness of the water, and the filth that was channelled through to the sea.

Ilkley water supply - From observations taken recently at the Ilkley reservoirs, it appears that the daily supply in winter is 340,000 gallons, and out of that 32,000 gallons are being used, which is nearly 65 gallons per head of a population of 5,000. As 25 gallons is considered an ample and luxurious supply, there must be carelessness or a wilful waste on the part of the consumers, and unless this is remedied we shall have to suffer for the want of water in the summer.

100 Years Ago - 1913

Fancy dress ball - The annual fancy dress ball promoted by Mr J Goodwin, of the Lister Arms Dancing Academy, took place in the Kings Hall on Wednesday evening, and like the whole of its predecessors was a brilliant success. There was a whist drive associated, and also veleta and waltz competitions, with a number of different prizes for different classes of costumes. Altogether about 300 attended. Many were present in ordinary evening dress, but the good sprinkling of fancy dress made for a pretty picture.

Ilkley Shops Act - In connection with the effort to secure exemption from the weekly half-day closing of shops in Ilkley during the months of June, July, August and September, a well attended meeting of shop assistants took place at the Kiosk Cafe on Friday evening. Three weeks ago an official of the County Council waited upon a number of shop assistants to ascertain their views in respect to closing, but Mr F Fawkes, did not find this method representative. The assistants were unanimously in favour of the shops being open during the four months named.

75 Years Ago - 1938

Unemployment increase - An increase in the number of unemployed in Otley, Ilkley and Guiseley was reported at a meeting of Otley and District employment Committee. Mr A Sully, manager, said the Live Register, at Otley, recorded a definite increase due mainly to the slackness of the textile industry, but an improvement was expected during the next month. At Guiseley it was due to additional short time in the textile and dyeing industries, and at Ilkley the cause was the termination of building contracts.

Otley Farmers Ball - Farmers from a wide area, along with their wives and families, tuned up in large numbers for the annual ball and whist drive of the Wharfedale and District Farmers’ Union, in Otley Mechanics’ Institute on Tuesday. This was the second event of its kind and was even more successful than its predecessor. There were nearly 200 people playing whist, and the attendance grew to between 400 and 500 for dancing. The popularity of the event can be put down to the fact it provides one of the few opportunities for members of the rural community to meet in a social way.

50 Years Ago - 1963

Plight of swans - We are hearing a good deal just now about the plight of the swans on the Wharfe. Some animal lovers say they are starving. Others, equally authoritatively, say they are in reasonably good condition. Some say they are frozen into the ice. Some people make long and faithful treks to the river bank to feed them. Others say it is a lot of fuss about nothing in particular. One way or another these swans have been a talking point far beyond Otley.

Otley rents rise - The rents of Otley’s 1,250 council houses are to be increased by one sixteenth as from March 31, but there will be no change in the rents of elderly people’s bungalows and prefabs. Old-age pensioners who are tenants of council houses will also be exempt from the increase, which range between 9d and 1s . 8d a week. The Housing Committee’s recommendation was that rents should be increased ‘for all dwellings provided by the council. It was also recommended that the clerk should obtain details of differential rent schemes for a later meeting of the committee.

25 Years Ago- 1988

Chemical leak - An investigation was launched this week after a second leak of chemicals from an Addingham factory in 18 months forced the evacuation of between 30 and 40 houses on Friday night. The evacuation was ordered as a precaution after householders complained of toxic fumes coming into their homes from the sewers. Fordhams Plastics, of St Paul’s Rise, promised an investigation in conjunction with the Health and Safety executive and environmental health officers after the leakage of 15 gallons of polyester resin from a storage drum into the drainage system.

Cat’s life - An Ilkley woman’s three cats will be living in style for the rest of their lives after she left them £1,000 in her will. Alice Mackinlay, of Chantry House, Chantry Drive died in July. A number of church, artistic and animal welfare bodies are also to benefit. The Bronte Museum at Haworth has been left two photographs and an envelope written by Charlotte Brotne. Miss Mackanlay left £50 and books by Rabindrath Tagore to the Theosophical Society of England for use by Asian students.