125 Years Ago — 1890

AT THE West Riding police court Margaret Fallen was summoned for having assaulted her husband. Edward Fallen, fish hawker, said on the 7th inst. he left Leeds for Horsforth and his wife travelled by the same train.

Before they left Leeds she tried to push his basket off his head. On reaching Horsforth he took the road to Cookridge Hospital and his wife passed him on the road and hurried on to the hospital. When he reached the place he found her inside the hall, using very dirty and filthy language respecting himself.

She followed him and took a haddock from his basket and gave him a slap in the face with it. She was fined 5s.

Henry Darwood, commercial traveller, of Horsforth, was fined 10s, for having allowed his dog to be at large, unmuzzled, at Horsforth on the 4th inst.

100 Years Ago — 1915

Lady Duncan, of Otley, on Wednesday paid a visit to the Bingley women’s Liberal Association.

In an address to members she said politics, as a whole, were at a standstill in the face of the great national crisis, but she thought it was right that they should still keep together. Their hearts sank when they contemplated what might be in store, but there was the consolation Britain was engaged in a righteous war.

It would have been impossible for Britain to stand aside and allow a small and entirely innocent country to be trampled under the heels of an arrogant horde of barbarians. We should always have been a dishonoured nation had we not upheld Belgium’s rights.

A vivid story is told in a letter received this week from Private Edward Collins, of Otley, who is in the 1st Scots Guards.

He says: “When we were on the Aisne we were shelled from morning till night and sometimes it was like being in hell. Hundreds came at us every day. We got no peace. I think the Germans do not care what they fire at — churches, houses etc; in fact I was looking in a cemetery this morning, and it was disgraceful to see it. All the tombstones were broken and great holes had been made.”

75 Years Ago — 1940

The resumption of Parliament this week is a reminder that in times of crisis we become more conscious of the things that really matter.

Since this war began we have assuredly realised the supreme value of our free institutions which we took for granted in time of peace. In contrast to the autocratic secrecy in which the German people is befogged and befooled by its Nazi rulers we see that at Westminster the truth cannot be hid. In the two Houses of Parliament every member is free, in war as in peace, to speak his mind.

The death occurred on Tuesday of Otley’s oldest man, Mr Barrett Pickles, of Whiteley Croft, who was 96 years of age. He was born in Burras Lane, Otley, on November 15, 1843.

50 Years — 1965

The question as to whether pre-fabricated or industrialised buildings should be allowed on the site set aside at Otley for “do-it-yourself” housing projects was raised at the meeting of the Finance Committee of Otley Council.

Cllr Hughes said before any of the applicants went to any expense they would be made aware the houses should not be pre-fabricated ones.

It will be a case of parents going back to school to learn how their own children will be taught — a unique situation, surely! — at the Otley Further Education Centre this month. The eight-week course which will explain the new developments in education and teaching methods since the parents were themselves at school.

The pre-war and wartime school experience of most of today’s parents, with its formal “three R’s”, desks and discipline, is vastly different from today’s enterprising and progressive methods.

25 Years Ago — 1990

Walter the goat is back safe and sound with his owner Sarah Hunter this week after his mini adventure ended up with him being taken to Ilkley Police Station. Fed up with his routine lifestyle in the pens near the Wharfedale Gate public house, Walter waited for the right moment before making his escape for adventure.

Ingeniously he managed to open the gate of his pen and before he knew it, he was free.

The latest in education technology has been introduced to Ilkley Middle School with a new computer network.

Following a combined effort of staff, pupils, parents, local industry and the Local Education Authority, the school now has use of Information Technology equipment worth £16,000.