125 Years Ago - 1890 Messrs Wm Oddy (landlord of the White Cross Inn) and Benj Grange, attended the Guiseley Local Board meeting and complained that Tranmire Beck, the water from which was used by them for domestic and drinking purposes, was made unfit to use for such purpose by the ducks, kept by a person named Adam Chadwick, getting into the stream. The clerk was instructed to write to Chadwick requesting him to either give up keeping ducks or prevent them from getting into the beck.

Mr Michael Palliser, postmaster, completed the fiftieth year of his married life on Monday, and it is worthy of note that his was the second marriage celebrated in Rawdon Church after it had been licensed for the purpose.

100 Years Ago - 1915 Among the men who have joined the reserve unit of the Wharfedale Howitzer Brigade, billeted at Otley, is gunner Edward Thirwell, an old army veteran who fought through the Afghan campaign of 35 years ago, and was with Roberts when he made his famous march to Kandahar. Thirwell is the proud possessor of the Afghanistan medal. It is a fine tribute to his patriotism that after all these years this old warrior should again don uniform and be ready to do his “little bit” for his country in her hour of need. It is a splendid example to the young manhood of the district. And Gunner Thirwell is as full of enthusiasm today as any recruit on service. “If they were to ask for volunteers for the front tomorrow,” he declared to a Wharfedale Observer reporter, “my hand would be the first to go up. You’ve only got to die once. I was proud to fight for the Queen, and I should be just as proud to fight for King George.”

Mr Dan Rolyat, the well-known comedian, was married in London on Saturday to Miss Constance Emsley Wadsworth, eldest daughter of the late Mr Thomas Wadsworth, for many years designer at Green Lane Mills, and afterwards a licence holder at Yeadon and Horsforth.

75 Years Ago - 1940 The importance of the general public being able to deal with the effects of incendiary bombs in the event of an air raid, was emphasised by Mr Gilbert Hunt, head warden of the Ilkley Air Raid Wardens, when he addressed Ilkley Rotary Club. Dealing in particular with incendiary bombs, he said these were of several types, but the one of which they knew most was known as the Kilo electron bomb. Filled with thermite composition with an outside casting of aluminium, falling from a height of about 5,000 feet, it attained a velocity of 350 feet a second.

Ilkley firemen will act as a guard of honour and the coffin will be carried on the fire engine at the funeral at Ilkley Cemetery tomorrow afternoon of Mr Walter Thomas Hodgson, who died at his home in Woods Place, Ilkley, on Wednesday, aged 74. Mr Hodgson was born at East Keswick and came to Ilkley at six years of age when his father was appointed gamekeeper on Ilkley Moor. He was a member of the fire brigade as a young man.

50 Years Ago - 1965 A unique collection of Valentines, some 170 years old and in perfect condition, was shown to members of Wharfedale Hard of Hearing Club last Thursday by Mr E Garnett of Bradford. One is believed to be the smallest in the world. He also gave a talk on Welsh love spoons, with examples made from cherry wood and apple wood, with intricate hand carving.

Members of Otley Aged People’s Club sacrificed their own annual tea and used the money to provide a treat for other old people in the town, who are unable to share the club’s activities because of old age and infirmity. They sent out 120 invitations, and despite a number of late backwards, about 90 people turned up at the Station Road Schoolroom for a tea consisting of sandwiches, cakes and trifle.

25 Years Ago - 1990 Sir Giles Shaw, MP for Pudsey, has expressed concern at the proposed development on allotments at Newlaithes, Horsforth. Constituents drew Sir Giles’ attention to a proposal to develop the allotments gardens in Horsforth, which would mean infilling a portion of land.

Leeds Euro MP Michael McGowan, says he welcomes the decision of the European Parliament to set up a Second Committee of Enquiry into Facism and Racism in Europe. “It is vital that the committee is brought fully up to date with the current situation concerning the continued rise of facist activity and spread of racism within the European community at large,” he said.