125 Years Ago - 1891

On Sunday morning last a novelty was introduced into the service at Henshaw Church. The day being the anniversary of the Queen's birthday, the service was commenced with the singing of the National Anthem.

We regret to record the death, at the early age of 30, of Mrs Ethel Parkinson, wife of Mr Felix Parkinson, which took place at her residence, Summerhill, Ilkley, on Sunday morning last, after a somewhat brief illness due to an attack of influenza, inducing premature confinement and pneumonia. Mrs Parkinson was the daughter of Mrs Georgina Maude, of Ilkley, and her death is deplored by a wide circle of friends.

100 Years Ago - 1916

Pte. E Holmes, an Otley boy serving with the East Yorkshires in the Salonika Army, writes on the subject of the conscientious objector. He says: "Owing to the kindness of my people at home I have been well supplied with different newspapers, including your valuable paper, the "Wharfedale Observer," and at the request of some of the boys out here I am writing to say that it is our earnest desire to express contempt at so many of the loopholes the young men are trying to create to evade their share of individual responsibility for the overthrow of Prussian militarism. I also wish to impress on the minds of all such shirkers of military age that there are still great battles to be won.

Second-Lieut. George Edward Elliott, Royal Sussex regiment, who is officially reported as having died of wounds on May 20th on the Western Front, was the youngest son of the late Rev. W. H. Elliott, sometime vicar of Bramhope, Leeds, and brother of the Rev. W. T. Elliott vicar of All Saint's, Bradford, and of the Rev. Spencer H. Elliott, vicar of St Paul's, Sheffield. He was educated at St Edmund's School, Canterbury, where he gained distinction in scholarship and athletics. In December 1914 he won the Godrell Scholarship of £100 a year at Queen's College, Oxford and soon afterwards accepted a commission.

75 Years Ago - 1941

One result of the extra hour of daylight is that people are not being as careful as they ought to be about the black-out regulations. Every week there is a batch of offenders before the Otley magistrates, and on Friday the Chairman gave another warning with an intimation that a further increase in penalties can be expected. This was after the court had imposed several fines ranging from 40s to 50s.

There is news of several of the new airgraph letters having been received in the Wharfedale district. These were mostly among the second batch of 80,000 to arrive from the Middle East. One from the first batch of 50,000 was received by Mr C. F. Hodgson, Surveyor to the Otley Urban Council, from his son Harry, who is serving in the Royal Corps of Signals.He has also got one of the air letter cards which can now be sent for 3d. Harry is one of Mr and Mrs Hodgsons triplets, and has been overseas since last November.

50 Years Ago - 1966

When Keith Jowsey, Yarnbury Rugby Union Club's hooker emigrates to New Zealand in the near future he will take with him many happy memories of the club, of which he is a former captain and fixture secretary. He is probably the most consistent hooker Yarnbury has ever had, and has been a regular first team player for no less than 13 years.

A recipe which appeared in the "Wharfedale" some time ago has found its way into the columns of a newspaper in Australia. The copy of the "Wharfedale" containing the recipe was sent by Mrs R. Johnson, of Langford Road, Burley, to her married daughter , Mrs Valerie Ormerod, who lives in Croydon, Victoria. It was passed to the Croydon Mail.

25 Years Ago - 1991

As part of an on-going programme of improvements on Ilkley Moor by Bradford Council the car-parking area below the famous Cow and Calf rocks has been given a facelift. Formerly a rough piece of wasteland the area has been extended and surfaced. Visitors will also have noticed improvements to the shelter at the Tarn and the whole landscape is taking on a new look as many trees have been planted by the council and local organisations.

Shopkeepers and residents in Ilkley are this week speaking out on the town's long battle for holiday resort status. They are being consulted in a survey which will help Bradford Council decide whether Ilkley should become the district's second tourist town.