125 Years Ago - 1891

Mr James Smith, of Addingham, who for the past five years has acted as secretary to the Ashton Unity Loyal Order of Ancient Shepherds Friendly Society at Addingham, suddenly disappeared on Monday night. It is alleged that, having obtained possession of the society's bank book, he has within the past year obtained by means of forged signatures, sums of money from the bank amounting to about £200. It is suggested in Addingham that Smith may have thrown himself into the river. Smith had been looked upon as an honest, respectable man. It is however stated that he had lately taken to betting.

The Sacred Concert in the Town Hall, Yeadon, intended for the benefit of the Leeds and Bradford Infirmaries will not now take place, the idea having been abandoned in consequence of an intervention by the "Lord's Day Observance Society."

100 Years Ago - 1916

A romantic claim by a workhouse inmate to be heir to some thousands of pounds has arisen in connection with the estate left by Mr Martin Hawksworth, of Wood Rhydding, Ilkley. Mr Hawksworth recently died suddenly without leaving a will. The estate, which is said to be worth some thousands of pounds, is now claimed by a man named George Anderson, an inmate of Skipton Workhouse. The claimant is 56 years of age , and his father, the late Mr Wm. Anderson, was a cousin of the late Mr Martin Hawksworth. George Anderson has been an inmate of the Skipton Workhouse on and off for about three years.

Mrs Bradford, of Pool Bank, has received news that her only son, Frank, has been killed in France while on active service. Official news has been received by Mr. and Mrs. Clapham, Springfield, Guiseley, that their son, Pte. Arthur C. Clapham, was killed in action, in France, on the 3rd inst.

75 Years Ago - 1941

The gas test at Otley on Saturday proved to many that their gas masks are efficient, and settled doubts which have been present for a long time. The gas was effective. I know because I tested it and shed a few tears in acknowledgement. Many others shared my passing discomfort, but they were for the most part experimenting like myself or careless in adjusting their gas masks. the main purpose of the tests was to give the public an opportunity of experiencing gas attack conditions.

A Tank in the Pantry - A Wharfedale couple, Mr and Mrs Tim O'Sullivan had an unexpected caller on Friday night when a tank crashed through the rear of their house. Fortunately Mr and Mrs O'Sullivan were not at home to receive the "guest" which entered by the back door and took about three yards of the surrounding wall with it. The tank apparently failed to negotiate an acute right-hand bend at the top of a steep gradient above a housing estate.

50 Years Ago - 1966

A considerable amount of work in respect of the preservation of the west wall of the Roman Fort at Ilkley has now been completed by Ilkley Urban Council. An offer of a grant of up to £20 by the Olicana Museum Society in respect of these works has been accepted with thanks by the Council.

Some residents in Moor Lane were complaining about cows fouling the footpaths said Cr Cresswell. Cr Watson said this problems had been discussed before and he thought there was very little the Council could do about it. Never before had he seen roads fouled so much as Moor Lane, said Cr Wynn. "Judging by the quantity of 'muck' there must surely be something wrong with the cows," he said.

25 Years Ago - 1991

The choir at Otley Parish Church will never be the same again - the traditional all male preserve has been brought into the 20th century. Generation after generation of of choirboys at All Saints Church have sung their praises to the Lord and ne'er a female voice was heard. But no more. Girls are now allowed to sing in the single-sex choir.

A link with the days shortly before the 1914-1918 war, when a home for orphaned children was opened in a Bramhope farmhouse, will be broken when Hilton Grange School closes its doors in December. The school, which grew out of that farmhouse, is now an imposing complex of stone buildings, with an extensive agricultural holding. But headmaster Mr David Freeman said that in recent years the number of children at the school had dropped dramatically, and it was now the policy of local education authorities to place youngsters with special needs as near to their own homes as possible.