25 Years ago – 1987

Digger Drama – Playtime at Yeadon South View Infants School nearly ended in disaster when a JCB digger careered downhill, ploughed through a hedge and fence and then continued across the playing fields before smashing into a prefabricated classroom. The classroom, which accommodated 26 children aged between four and six years, was empty at the time.

Mill’s End – Demolition work has begun at Peate’s Mill at Guiseley, which closed down early in February. The Nunroyd Mill, in Leeds Road, was owned by Mr John Murgatroyd Ltd, worsted manufacturers. Seventy jobs vanished with its closure and production was transferred to Nelson, in Lancashire, where the company has invested heavily in new plant.

50 years ago – 1962

Hospital Protest – Local authorities and hospital management committees in Wharfedale and Airedale have been invited by Ilkley Council to join in a big campaign of protest against Ministry proposals that would close the Otley General Hospital and several smaller local ones, and eventually leave the area with no hospital service other than two mental hospitals and a long-stay children’s hospital.

Long Wait – Although Otley’s first central “no waiting” area came into force on Sunday, it did not become a practical proposition until yesterday. The difficulty was that although the black and yellow posts were in position, the signs that would tell motorists that there is no waiting between 8am and 6pm did not arrive. Nor had they arrived on Monday. Otley’s no waiting area is at last in force, even if it is four days late.

75 years ago – 1937

Royal Memorial – A very interesting ceremony took place at the Ilkley Parish Church on Sunday, when the vicar, Canon J G Garland, dedicated a new vestibule and doors in panelled oak, the gift of Mr and Mrs A A Matthews, in memory of King George V. The new doors make a handsome addition to the entrance to the church. A neat plate bears the inscription, “Giving praise to God. In grateful memory of King George V, 1865-1936.”

Scout Award – Middleton Sanatorium was the scene of an interesting scout ceremony. Scout Harry Turner, a 14-year-old patient there, still lying on his bed of sickness, was presented with the Cornwell Scout Badge and Certificate – the highest honour awarded to a boy scout. For the past two years he has undergone operation after operation, which he has borne with such cheerfulness and fortitude as to win him this award for courage.

100 years ago – 1912

Billiards Match – Mr G Nelson, the famous billiards player, writing in a contemporary on Tuesday says – “This reminds me – I took young Harry Taylor to play an exhibition game at Menston Asylum recently. Here they have a dozen or more tables, and some of the inmates play wonderfully well. There was a big crowd of them to see us play, and I have never seen a more appreciative audience who so readily applauded the fine points of the game.”

Gas Supply – Still more severely is the effect of the coal strike being felt at Ilkley. The gas supply is diminishing to such a rapid extent that on Tuesday the council were compelled to circularise their gas consumers saying they were very reluctantly compelled to reserve their rapidly diminishing stocks of coal for lighting purposes and that the supply of gas would therefore only be available from 6pm to midnight.

125 years ago – 1887

Flowers and the sick – It is supposed that many flowers should be carefully kept away from sick people, that they exhaust the air or communicate to it some harmful quality. This may in a degree be true of such strong fragrant blossoms as lilacs or garden lilies, but of the more delicately scented ones no such effect need be apprehended. A well-aired room will never be made close or unwholesome by a nosegay of roses, mignonnette, or violets, and the subtle cheer they bring to them is infinitely reviving to weary eyes and depressed spirits.

Pleasant Evening – On Friday evening last the closing meeting of the popular gatherings, known as “Pleasant Evenings for the People” was held in the Congregational Lecture Hall, Ilkley. The spacious hall was literally packed with people, every inch of space being utilised.