125 Years Ago - 1891

This week's "Local Worthy", Mr Jos. Salter, of The Oaks, Horsforth, is a gentleman who is greatly esteemed and respected by all who know him, not only for his excellent business qualities, courteous, sociable and kind disposition, but also for his willingness to assist and help forward all objects, having in view the amelioration and bettering of the condition of his fellow men.

"What a poor feast!" Such was the expression we heard on all hands on making our annual visit to Yeadon feast, and the collection of "goods and chattels" located on Penny Fool Hill was really about the smallest and poorest we ever saw at this popular event. Of course someone must be blamed for this state of things, and we found that the delinquent in this case was alleged to be the Local Board.

100 Years Ago - 1916

Mr and Mrs George Cook, of 9 Wesley Street, Otley, on Tuesday morning received news that their son, Pte. George Wm. Cook had been killed in action. Young Cook, who only reached his nineteenth year last November, joined up shortly after the start of the war, and had been at the front for twenty months, having taken part in many important engagements. The news of young Cook's death was sent to the parents by the Commanding Officer of his company who wrote: - "I myself am most sorry to lose him as he was an excellent little soldier and a splendid worker, and that his comrades mourn his loss I know only too well. We buried him with all due honour in the little graveyard here."

Private Edgar Hand, son of Mr A Hand, Gordon Street, Ilkley, is officially reported as wounded and missing. Private Hand was last seen wounded at the bottom of a German trench, from which the British had to retire. When they retook the trench all the wounded had been removed.

75 Years Ago - 1941

The treatment of scabies was again discussed by the Wharfedale Joint Isolation Hospital Board at a meeting at the Menston Hospital on Wednesday. At the last meeting the Board was asked by Dr T. M. Potts, the County Medical Officer, to consider the possibility of providing facilities for treatment and transport of persons suffering from scabies. The question was referred to the constituent authorities. It was also stated that the treatment of scabies at the hospital was causing unrest among the nurses.

A civil defence exercise provided thrills, entertainment and a good deal of solid satisfaction to the many onlookers at Horsforth Hall Park on Saturday. "Incidents" were arranged, and exercises prepared, to give excellent practice to the personnel taking part and at the same time provide a practical object lesson for the public. Realism was effectively introduced to give first hand experience of "blitz" conditions. There was, for instance, a real fire. The trunk of a tree, a century old probably, long since dead, was soaked with inflammable spirit, and set alight by the explosion of an incendiary bomb. Fixed at the top of the trunk was an effigy of Hitler and as the flames darted upwards and enveloped the dummy there was a cheer from the crowd.

50 Years Ago - 1966

A decision by Ilkley Urban Council's General Purposes Committee to make a stand against applications for the introduction of gambling machines to buildings where young people have access awaits confirmation for another month. Although the applicant, a Church Street cafe proprietor had been given the opportunity of appearing before the committee on Monday night to give reasons why the application should not be refused, she did not appear, not was she represented.

Restoration work on the old Puritan Chapel at Bramhope, in the grounds adjoining Bramhope Hall, is now almost complete. The chapel will be re-opened formally at a ceremony on September 14. The chapel was built in 1649, and has been restored as nearly as possible to its original state by the Wharfedale Rural Council, with the co-operation of the Historic Buildings Council of England and the Ministry of Public Buildings and Works.

25 Years Ago - 1991

Bank holiday visitors to Otley came across a situation that has been causing problems for several months and about which there have been many complaints. They were unable to find a town centre toilet! Otley Town Mayor Coun Norman Hindle said this week that the shortage of weekend and holiday toilet facilities in the town was a matter that required urgent attention.

Two Otley women have sent home news of their adventures in Nicaragua where they are doing voluntary environmental work. Sarah Dean, 26, of Garnett Street, and Melanie Prentice, 25, of North Avenue, have spent a month tree-planting on Mancarron Island.