Looking Back with the Ilkley Gazette and the Wharfedale Observer

 

125 Years Ago – 1890
Pool – On Monday last, a very amusing entertainment was given in the school room by Professor Lenton, of London, consisting of ventriloquism and conjuring. There was only a moderate attendance, but we are sure that if it had been known that such an excellent entertainment was in store, the room would have been well filled.
We are sorry to record the death of another old Otley townsman, Mr Joseph Maston, whose demise will be lamented by a very wide circle of friends who knew his sterling worth, and the unflinching integrity which invariably ruled even the very smallest actions of his long and useful life.

100 Years Ago – 1915
For King, Country and Conscience – The clergy and ministers of the district of Guiseley, Yeadon and Rawdon, who are urging their people to follow the King’s noble example by becoming abstainers from alcoholic liquors until the end of the war. Apart altogether from the moral and physical points of view, the “drinking habit” is asserted by responsible men to be the direct cause of a deplorable loss of time by workmen.
Private John T Barker, writing to his mother at Otley, says that he came out of the trenches on Easter Sunday and was going to a place called “the mound of death”, and he adds: “I hope with the Lord’s help that I will go through it the same as I have been through the other places. You keep saying that you hope to see me soon, but I think it will be a long time yet.” In a later letter, Pte Barker says he is suffering from influenza and expects to be in hospital at Rouen for a fortnight. “You must not worry about me,” he adds, “As I am well looked after. I do not think I shall have the luck to come home just yet, but all I want is luck in the trenches.” Private Barker adds: “I have got seven in the bag and if they get me I can say that I have had my share. I hope to get some more Germans yet.” Pte Barker is 24 years of age today.

75 Years Ago – 1940
The Newspaper Control Order which came into force at midnight on Saturday reduces the amount of paper to be supplied by the mills to one-third of the normal supply. An obvious and immediate result will be that all British newspapers – already hard hit by the paper shortage – will have further to reduce their size. This week the Ilkley Gazette is down to eight pages, and how long we can keep it to this size is very doubtful indeed. 
The new colony of B.E.F. casualties who made their temporary home at Menston at the weekend is now comfortably settled. A Wharfedale Observer reporter who visited the hospital on Wednesday found the men “all merry and bright” and full of praise for the arrangements made for their reception and comfort. The emergency hospital is situated on the Menston village side of the grounds of the West Riding Hospital. 
50 Years Ago – 1965
So far there has been a “pretty poor response” to the Churchill Memorial appeal, in Otley, it was stated by the chairman of Otley Council, Cllr F W M Newbould, at Monday’s council meeting.
The total of the appeal stands at £219 15s 6d. The chairman had said that Ilkley had achieved more than their target, without a door-to-door collection. 
What use is an empty milk bottle? According to a survey carried out by Associated Dairies Ltd, some people use them as flower vases, paint containers, home perm solution holders, or even skittles.  
25 Years Ago – 1990
The daughter of one of Yorkshire’s pioneering bus operators, Mrs Frances Mather, of The Lawn, Burley, has celebrated her 90th birthday. Born in 1900, Mrs Mather was the second eldest daughter of Samuel Ledgard’s 11 children. During the first part of the century, Samuel Ledgard operated one of the North of England’s biggest private coach and bus businesses.
The Ilkley Anti Poll Tax Group aims to oppose the poll tax, support any individual’s chosen method of peaceful protest to provide information on all aspects of the Poll Tax/Community Charge, and to encourage appropriate campaigning at a local level.