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A look through the archives of the Wharfedale & Airedale Observer.

Hawker in Otley court after her pedlar's licence expired

Skoda cars were the butt of many a popular joke when this vehicle carried its driver to some success on the racetrack in 1979. Guiseley company Wendy Wools, of Netherfield Road, sponsored a Special Saloon Car Championship on which this 2 Litre Skoda - in

12:25pm Thursday 4th February 2010

Stories from the archives of the Wharfedale Observer.

Notorious woman dies in the workhouse

BEAUTY PARADE: This group of young women were competing for the coveted title of Miss Otley back in 1976. The competition took place at the Donkey Derby, another tradition which seems to have been lost from the town’s calendar.

8:49am Thursday 28th January 2010

Stories from the archives of the Wharfedale Observer

Man dies after accident at Yeadon mill

BURNS NIGHT: Keeping up the age-old tradition, and presumably waiting for the haggis to arrive, Otley people toast Robert Burns at their Burns Night celebration. This undated photograph from our archive shows members of Otley Caledonian Society.

2:34pm Thursday 21st January 2010

Stories from the archives of the Wharfedale & Airedale Observer.

Skating and curling on Yeadon Dam

This interestingly dressed group was Bolton Estate Veterans entry in a comedy pram race in Yeadon in a damp-looking June 1977. Complete with their own baby in the pram, the team hoped to be a hit with their Top of The Pops theme, one of Legs and Co

12:13pm Thursday 14th January 2010

Stories from the archives of the Wharfedale Observer.

Poor of Otley receive a delivery of free coal

The Lord Mator of Leeds, Coun William Hudson of Guiseley, gave a send off to the 15th Airedale Scouts as they pulled a hand cart 75 miles from Guiseley to Scarborough.

11:42am Thursday 7th January 2010

Stories from the archives of the Wharfedale Observer

Christmas treat for workhouse inmates

A very grand looking Yeadon Town Hall packed people in for a performance of Handel's Messiah in 1959.

10:30am Thursday 31st December 2009

Stories from the archives of the Wharfedale Observer

Woman sues Burley grocer

TALLY HO: A crisp and hazy January morning marked the beginning of a day's sport for the Bramham Moor hunt back in 1956. The hunt, still going strong as the Badsworth and Bramham Moor Hunt today, are pictured here meeting at Creskeld Hall in Arthington.

10:00pm Wednesday 23rd December 2009

Stories from the archives of the Wharfedale Observer

£25,000 to build a railway

Crowds packed into Otley Market to do their Christmas food shopping in this picture from the old days. Despite the abundance of 'tempting' mistletoe, it was, apparently, an expensive luxury, according to our archives.

11:00am Friday 18th December 2009

Stories from the archives of the Wharfedale & Airedale Observer

Fined for riding without reins

In the run-up to Christmas 1981, these Aireborough Grammar School girls collected tinned food and other groceries at Morrisons supermarket, ready to distribute to the elderly.

9:40am Friday 11th December 2009

Stories from the archives of the Wharfedale & Airedale Observer.

Guiseley girl seriously injured after fall during game

Cowboys and cowgirls rode into Horsforth in 1964 as Round Table members raised money for good causes. Members of Horsforth Round Table got into the spirit of the Old West by dressing up as cowboys and cowgirls for a Western barbecue.

5:15pm Thursday 3rd December 2009

A selection of stories from the archives of the Wharfedale Observer.

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