125 Years Ago - 1892

William Parkinson, eleven years of age, son of Robert Parkinson, of Sugar Street, Otley, met with an accident on Monday evening in Cross Green. A number of children were in the road at the time of the accident engaged in picking up coppers that were being thrown from waggonettes. A horse that was attached to a dog cart got its foot on Parkinson's head and severely cut it. Medical assistance was procured and the lad's injuries were attended to.

In connection with the cookery class which has been held at the Town Hall for several weeks past, a tea and conversazione was held on Friday evening last, and was fairly well attended. The tea was of a sumptuous character, the various edibles, including fowl, being cooked in the manner taught by Miss Sharpe.

100 Years Ago – 1917

News has been received of the death of Bombardier George Ernest Bucknall, R.F.A. aged 21, elder son of Mr and Mrs George Bucknall, 7, Wells Walk, Ilkley, as the result of an explosion in a gun pit caused by a German shell. On May 26th the Germans dropped a shell into a British gun pit resulting in an outbreak of fire, and a party of two officers and 13 men made an effort to extinguish the flames before they reached the ammunition dump. The effort was a very dangerous one, and ended fatally for nearly all the party, Bombardier Bucknall amongst them.

Corporal Charles Jackson, R.G.A., has been killed by a German shell, and his brother Lce-Cpl. Henry Stead Jackson, West Yorkshires, is missing. Both belong to Burley. Another Burley man, Private Frank Johnson, Scots Guards, who was in the retreat from Mons, and was taken prisoner in the fighting on the Marne, has met his death whilst working in a stone quarry in Germany.

75 Years Ago – 1942

The advisability of opening a British Restaurant at Guiseley is being considered by the Aireborough Communal Feeding Committee. An official stated that before embarking upon the scheme it was desirable that there should be some indication as to the strength of public opinion in Guiseley in favour of the restaurant. Meanwhile British Restaurants in Yeadon Town Hall and Woodside, Horsforth, have proved extremely popular.

The name of Horsforth man, Chief Radio Officer Ernest Halton, MM, appeared in the King’s birthday honours list. He received the OBE. He won a Military Medal in the last war, in which he served in the Royal field Artillery, and was now serving in the merchant service.

50 Years Ago - 1967

In spite of the wet weather May was a successful month for Yeadon airport, with traffic figures breaking records, a most satisfactory first Spring Bank Holiday period, and a new jet executive aircraft making its first appearance at Yeadon. The Spring Bank Holiday period of four days from Friday to Monday showed a traffic increase of nearly 1,000 passengers over the comparable Whitsuntide period of last year. A total of 5,750 passengers were recorded.

Approval has been given by Ilkley Urban council for the change of use of the former wine store in Church Street to a parish hall and meeting room for the Ilkley Parish Church Parochial Council.

25 Years Ago – 1992

A group of walkers will set out from Otley on Sunday on a six-mile trek as part of Greenpeace’s campaign to save the whales. So far between 20 and 30 people are expected to take part, but anyone wanting to join in can do so on the day.

West End is famous as the village that was drowned but refused to be forgotten. In the sixties it attracted national attention when it was learned that its buildings were to disappear under a massive new reservoir. But in 1989 and again the following year, the severe drought reduced the water levels of Thruscross reservoir so much that the ghostly remains of West End reappeared, once more drawing sightseers curious to find out what was left of the village after nearly a quarter of a century under water. Otley author and historian Alastair Laurence decided to write a book about the village and the surrounding area.