125 Years Ago - 1891

Trade at Greenholme Mills, Burley, continues stationary. The sorters and wool-combers are compelled to work short-time owing to the other departments of the mill being unable to cope with the work they produce.

Last night the Rector of Richmond preached at St Margaret's, Ilkley, in aid of the building fund of a new church, called St Margaret's, in Queensland, at a place which has been named Ilkley by Mr. Joseph Kitson, who formerly resided at Ilkley and was connected with St Margaret's Church here. At the conclusion of the sermon a collection was made. This resulted in the very respectable sum of £9 11s 7d.

100 Years Ago - 1916

In a letter to his wife who resides at 10, Cambridge Terrace, Otley, Pte. Edward Moxon, of the Motor Ambulance Corps, gives some brief details of his work in connection with the operations against the scattered German forces in East Africa. "The country," he says, "is very treacherous; you have to watch so many things - fevers of all kinds, snipers, jigger fleas( which are very bad if you don't catch them in time). We get right up to the firing line on many occasions. In this part of the country where we are now there is plenty of fruit - bananas, coconuts, oranges, sugar cane and other kinds. We have captured nearly all there is to get, and I think another few weeks will finish the job here. How is the war going on in France? We don't get much news about that part of the world.

Official intimation has been received that Pte. James Nason, of Burley, has been killed in action. He has four brothers still serving with the Colours. His Captain writes: "I am very sorry to tell you that your son, who was under my command, was killed in the trenches on the night of the 22nd. He was on sentry duty when a trench mortar shell burst near him, killing him instantly. It should be some comfort to you to know that he suffered no pain.

75 Years Ago - 1941

Horsforth Warship Week starts tomorrow. It is the first warship week in this neighbourhood and adjoining districts will be interested to see what kind of lead Horsforth will give her neighbours. The "target" is £120,000 for a corvette, and already nearly half of that amount has been promised. Horsforth people are confident they can reach the necessary amount. Horsforth is to adopt HMS "Aubretia."

Milk supplies have been reduced to consumers this week in accordance with the Milk Supply Scheme, children receiving a pint a day and adults 4 pints per week. Mr J. H. Holmes, the Food Executive Officer for Otley and Rural Wharfedale, states that his attention has been drawn to the fact that milk is being sold by retailers in Otley to other than their registered customers. It is pointed out that under the Milk Supply Scheme, which came into operation on October 12, this practice is irregular and anyone contravening is liable to prosecution for an infringement of the Defence (General) Regulations.

50 Years Ago - 1966

The importance of co-operation between parents and teachers was stressed on the first evening of the Ilkley Methodist Circuit's annual festival, "Focus on Education" by a panel of guests. Mrs J Bolton, of Guiseley, an expert on visual aids for primary children said: "Many children watch too much television. this is not the children's fault. It is the parents who cannot tear themselves away to put the children to bed. I am appalled at the violent programmes children of under seven are allowed to watch. They are constantly going to bed with violence in their minds."

A crowd estimated at 6,000 waving Bonfire Night revellers extended an enthusiastic welcome to Mr Edward Heath, leader of the Conservative Party, when he visited the November Fifth celebrations at Creskeld Hall, the home of Colonel Sir Malcolm and Lady Stoddart-Scott on Saturday. The first of around 2,000 cars began arriving at Creskeld Hall at 6.30pm , and continued in an almost continuous convoy until 9pm.

25 Years Ago - 1991

A controversial plan to build a £1m motel in Addingham has been given the go-ahead by council planners. The decision ends a long running saga that divided the village. And it means that the way is clear for the proposed 30-bedroom motel to go up on the site of a disused garage.

Multi-talented television and film actor Brian Glover is to open the Christmas Exhibition of the British Watercolour Society in Ilkley. The visit to the King's Hall Winter Gardens will be a welcome break for this busy actor, who will arrive in the town after filming Alien III in London.