125 Years Ago - 1891

Strange freak of nature - Recently, Mr S. Wood, of the Emmott's Arms Inn, had a cow which gave birth to a strangely formed calf. It had two complete heads, two necks, two tails, and six legs. The calf, which died shortly after birth, has since been stuffed.

The following extract from a letter lately received from Joseph Kitson, who left Ilkley about five years ago for Australia, will interest many of our readers. He writes: " I am glad to say I have done very well so far, although it was hard at first. I think this is the land for a working man, if he is only steady and does his best. When I landed here I got a land grant, having paid our passage out, and after a time I left Brisbane and came and settled down on the land I had got from the Government. Only two families were here, and the place being so far away in the bush had no name. Since then the land has been taken up and now there are forty families in the settlement. The place seemed getting on so quickly we thought it ought to have a name, so I said we would call it Ilkley.

100 Years Ago - 1916

No apology is needed for referring once again to the appeals which are being made in various townships for contribution towards the funds that are being raised in order to provide local soldiers and sailors with Christmas gifts. Today the appeal to support such funds comes as a personal one, for there is not a household but has someone who will benefit as a result of the effort which is being made. In the years to come when the story of this great war has receded into history and become only a sad but proud memory, we shall then begin to understand what a great work the men of our own time and breed have done in shaping the destinies of civilisation.

"The Battle of the Somme," which was exhibited at the picture house in Guiseley on the first three days of this week, proved, as it has elsewhere, an extremely strong attraction. A large number of seats had been booked in advance and there was a crowded audience present.

75 Years Ago -1941

"There is, I should judge, a remarkable consensus of opinion amongst most Christian people as to what should be the Christian attitude towards this stupendous world war," writes the Rev. H. A Wareham ( vicar of St Margaret's, Horsforth). "We have often rightly been reminded of our national share in the general European guilt, and we have also been reminded of our own national wrongdoings in the past and our shortcomings in the present. But the recognition of our own past failures need not, and should not, blind us to the diabolical evil of that against which we are fighting, nor should it in any way weaken our prayer for victory over that evil thing.

Wednesday was the date for bonfire night, but there was little recognition of the anniversary. In the two previous war years a few fireworks of the indoor variety have been available, but I saw none of these this year, nor was there any treacle toffee or parkin pigs. The war has made a bit difference in regard to The Fifth."

50 Years Ago - 1966

The Otley firm of William Sinclair and Sons (Stationers) Ltd, was one of seven West riding firms whose staff and workpeople agreed to be vaccinated against influenza. They lined up at work on Tuesday while a medical team applied the vaccine with a hypospray gun, claimed to be painless in use and leaving no mark. With this gun, it is stated, injections can be given at the rate of 500 an hour.

Only three hours after finishing her her day's flying as an air hostess, 23-year-old Rosemary Conlon, of London Square, Rawdon, was elected "Miss Leeds-Bradford Airport 1966" at the airport's end of season dance at the Yorkshire Aero Club on Monday.

25 Years Ago - 1991

Rail services on the Wharfedale line are to be withdrawn for four weeks next year to leaving thousands of passengers without trains. The line will be closed down to enable contractors to make major alterations for the electrification of services between Ilkley, Leeds and Bradford by 1994. Thousands of passengers who use the railway daily will be affected.

Smoking has been banned on many Yorkshire trains - including those running between Ilkley, Leeds and Bradford on the Wharfedale Line. Making the announcement this week, Regional Railways says the decision "is in the interests of customer comfort and cleaner trains."