Looking Back with the Ilkley Gazette and the Wharfedale Observer

 

125 Years Ago - 1890
It is with feeling of deep regret that we have to announce the death of Mr James Whitaker, of Bolton Abbey, which took place on Sunday last. Deceased, who was fisherman to His Grace the Duke of Devonshire, was known by almost every person in the district, especially among the anglers who visited Bolton Abbey, both by his genial and social disposition.
On Saturday, a consignment of very fine trout, varying from five to eight inches in length, were placed in Yeadon Dam by a member of the Yeadon, Rawdon and District Angling Association. The introduction of trout into the water is quite a new idea, and as the fish are strong and vigorous, it is hoped they will be enabled to escape the voracity of the pike.
100 Years Ago - 1915
Pte. J Burns, of the 1-6th West Riding Regiment, writing to his mother who lives in St Clair Street, Otley, says: “I arrived here safe and sound and had a good journey across. I cannot mention the name of any place, but we are near the firing line and can hear the constant boom of guns. Aircraft are continually flying over and we witnessed a rather exciting affair between the guns. I was in strange company last night – French, Indians and British – but we get on fine with them and they are very good to us. They must have suffered. The Germans were here in October and we can see from the window, houses that have been laid flat with shells and fire. The village church, most beautiful inside, is all shattered with bullets and shells. There is a grave just outside the window, where one officer and three men, of the French Dragoons are buried. It is a pathetic sight to see the rude wooden crosses, and it helps to bring home the grim realities of war.”
Mr F Keighley, formerly a journalist on the staff of this paper, has received a commission in the 3rd City of London Regiment (Royal Fusiliers).
75 Years Ago - 1940
Since the evacuation of children in the early days of the war, the subject of head pests has been treated as if it were a social disgrace, whereas all children are liable to pick up Pediculus humanus capitis, despite the utmost cleanliness and other precautions. The subject has been considered taboo with the result that distressed mothers and guardians have not known what to do when the trouble has arisen. All sorts of expedients have been tried, including paraffin and petrol, both of which irritate the scalp and are risky on account of their high inflammability.
For the moment there is a breathing space in the great wartime effort of the Fourth Arm of Defence; and that lull can profitably be spent in reviewing what has been accomplished by agriculture, as well as in planning for yet more effort in the future.
50 Years Ago - 1965
Ilkley and Burley-in-Wharfedale residents are reluctant to accept the offer of council houses at Menston. This was said at the April meeting of Ilkley Urban Council when the Housing Chairman, Cr H Bell, a Menston representative, expressed the view that saturation point had been reached in the demand for council houses at Menston.
The half-yearly test of air attack warning sirens will take place in the North-Eastern Civil Defence Region, which includes the whole of the West Riding at 11am on Wednesday, May 5. The test, which is organised by the police, will cover 600 sirens and these will sound simultaneously for one minute.
25 Years Ago - 1990
Some 240 seats from the former Library theatre at Bradford are to be found a new home at Yeadon Town Hall. The seats, which have been obtained by Rawdon Amateur Operatic Society as their contribution towards the refurbishing of Yeadon Town Hall, are to be installed in the balcony in the near future.
Mrs Patricia Freeman, wife of a former chairman of Aireborough Council, received a surprise present to mark her 70th birthday. She arrived at the Yorkshire Flying Services at Leeds and Bradford Airport where she was met by her family and friends before being taken for a half hour trial flying lesson.