125 Years Ago - 1891

On Saturday afternoon last a little girl named Nelly Birch, aged about five years, and daughter of William Birch, was run over by a carriage and pair conveying Major Middleton, of Ilkley. It appears that the little girl was playing in front of its home in Burley Road, when for some reason the child walked across the road, just as the carriage and pair was passing.

About midnight on Friday last a barn situate on the Harewood Road, Arthington, occupied by Mr Robert Mawson, farmer (in which was stored about two tons of straw, an old thrashing machine and other farm implements) was discovered to be on fire by Isaac Mawson, son of the occupier.

100 Years Ago - 1916

A local "touch" was imparted to the adventure of three German soldiers, who have been before the Bingley magistrates by the fact that one of the men, who had all "escaped from custody" gave himself up at Otley in the early morning. The full story was unfolded when the two men who had posed as Dutchmen, were brought before Mr. J. H. Robinson under the Alien Act. The man who gave himself up at Otley is a corporal in the German Army, and according to his statement, he walked quietly away when he saw the officer questioning his companions in Crossflatts. But the unfortunate circumstance - as far as he was concerned - was that one of the arrested men was the only member of the party who could speak English and the other carried the compass. Left without the compass and with no knowledge of English he wandered over the hills, presumably by way of Menston, until he reach Otley, where he gave himself up in a state of exhaustion.

Councillor S. Hudson, of St Margaret's Road, Horsforth, has been officially informed that his son Lance-Corpl. James H. Hudson, is missing. He is 37 years of age, was in the Army for seven years, saw service in India, went to America some five years ago, and returned from that country to rejoin his old regiment.

75 Years Ago - 1941

Electricians carrying out the customary overhaul of sirens in the Ilkley Urban District yesterday (Thursday) morning, inadvertently caused some of them to begin the "alert" warning. In order to clear up any misunderstanding, the "all clear" was sounded immediately afterwards. Quite a number of schoolchildren were being conducted to their shelters, even though the "alert"had lasted only a few seconds. The occurrence at least provided useful practice for some sections of the community.

The Rev. G. M. Young, the senior curate at Guiseley, at present on active service as a chaplain in H.M. Forces, writes to say:

"Malta is a very sparse and rocky island though very interesting historically. The buildings are Italian in style. It is terrifically

hot, but this is not so bad as we wear tropical kit (shorts, open shirt and sun helmet) and take things easily after lunch. The bathing from the rocks is the most wonderful I have known. The water is very warm and clear down to a considerable depth.

50 Years Ago - 1966

Once upon a time there was a bogey-man who used to strike terror into the hearts of little boys and girls as he strode down the street. "Here comes the school board man" would be the cry, and feet would scurry into doorways until he had passed and the All Clear could be sounded. His was the task to chase to school the truants who went playing in the park when parents thought they were at school, or whose parents sent them out to work to supplement the family income instead of ensuring that they had a proper education. Much of this has changed. Most children now like school.

Otley televiewers are now able to receive BBC-2 on the local "piped" network of the British Relay organisation. When the BBC transmitter at Emley Moor started broadcasting full-power transmissions of the new programme last June, it was found that any reception on normal individual aerials in Otley was blocked by The Chevin.

25 Years Ago - 1981

Councillors are demanding action over the 'disgusting' state of public toilets in Ilkley Town Centre. The block of toilets in the central car park were described as a 'hotbed of disease lying in ferment' by one angry resident who has lobbied Ilkley Parish Council.

Green belt land could be swallowed up as planners try to cope with a major population growth. That is the fear of Ilkley parish councillor Barbara Cussons who spoke out in response to the unveiling of the Unitary Development Plan - a ten year planning strategy to shape the future of the Bradford district.