125 Years Ago – 1889

Shocking Accident at Horsforth – A young man named Frederick Jackson, employed at Springfield Twine Works, Horsforth, while engaged on Thursday morning in putting a belt on a pulley in motion, was caught by the machinery and whirled round the shaft. His right arm was torn off and his feet were terribly injured by being hurled against the roof of the shed. He was taken to the Leeds Infirmary, but is not expected to recover.

Sir Charles Legard’s otter hounds, who during the past week have been hunting in the River Wharfe, commenced their second day’s sport at Pool on Saturday. The weather was beautifully fine and consequently there was a very numerous field of spectators.

100 Years Ago – 1914

A young man, stated to belong to Armley, was attempting to jump across the Strid at Bolton Abbey on Saturday when he slipped and fell into the swift-running river. Fortunately a number of people were near-by when the accident occurred, and the lifebuoy which is kept at the Strid, was flung to the man. A pair of reins were also procured, and by means of these he was hauled out of the water. The man was then in a very exhausted state, and after being attend to by a doctor he was taken to a neighbouring house. Later he was able to return home. Two ladies also fell off the stepping stones, but the water here was very low.

The main body of the Northumberland Hussars (Imperial Yeomanry) reached Otley on Tuesday afternoon for a fortnight’s training under canvas. Four special trains were necessary to convey the 480 men and 400 horses. A squadron of about 120 Scotch Greys arrive today from York, and will encamp on the same ground

75 Years Ago – 1939

For the people of Wharfedale, as well as those of Horsforth and Aireborough, Empire Day on Saturday was summed up in the display at Yeadon Aerodrome. And they might have travelled a great distance to one of the other aerodromes and fared far worse. Estimates of the attendance varied from 8,000 to 12,000, but both figures were on the low side if hundreds of lookers-on from outside vantage points were included.

The headquarters of the B.D.A. in Bradford, approached by the “Wharfedale Observer” yesterday, refused to comment on a report that Greenbottom Dyeworks, Guiseley, were to be closed. The answer to the “Observer” inquiry was – “No official statement has been issued.” Invited to make a statement the reply was – “Definitely not.”

50 Years Ago – 1964

Though many thousands of visitors came into Ilkley over the Whit holiday there was nothing in the way of disorder, and despite the great number of cars coming into the town and going out of it there was not a single serious accident. There were the usual bluebell pickers, the unauthorised campers, and the customary examples of bad manners from some of the more loutish types, but taken all round Ilkley had nothing to grumble about.

The selection of wallpaper is not easy, Mr Gordon Barlow told the Rotary Club of Ilkley last week, but there are certain rules of the game which do help. The factors must be considered in the order of: 1, Personal likes and dislikes; 2, Physical characteristics of the room and house; 3, Use of colour.

25 Years Ago – 1989

A 50-year-old Addingham telephone box has been granted listed status by the Environment Secretary because it is “part and parcel of the village setting.” The K6 telephone box, in Church Street, designed by Sir Gilbert Scott in 1935, takes its place among 19 other listed call boxes throughout the Bradford District, with more expected to gain protection in the future.

There can’t be a mum living who doesn’t sometimes wish she had some means of keeping the toddlers quiet and happy whilst she gets on with the washing up, cleaning and general household chores. Now she can get help – at least four hours of it – in the form of a quartet of new video releases issued by the BBC. Under the collective heading of Jackanory the videos cover a range of fascinating short stories.