Break-up of meteor seen over Otley (From Wharfedale Observer)

Break-up of meteor seen over Otley

10:37am Friday 7th September 2007 in Across the Years By Newsdesk

125 years ago

A meteor of remarkable power and brilliancy was observed in the western sky over Otley. During the lapse of a few seconds the starlit heavens were illuminated still further by this meteoric phenomena, breaking up as it did after the manner of a huge pyrotechnic display.

We regret to announce the demise of Miss Exley, daughter of our esteemed townsman, Mr James Exley, Boroughgate, Otley. For a few years past Miss Exley kept a private school and being a kind and painstaking teacher, she had a good number of scholars with whom she was a general favourite.

The Salvationists were to have held 'high jinks' on Saturday last. According to the placards, there was to be a great muster for rations at the Barracks, after which ammunition was to be served out, guns mounted troops paraded and marched to attack the kingdom of sin. But the heavy rain which prevailed considerably curtailed the programme.

100 years ago

The method of dealing with the tramping fraternity by keeping them two nights has proved very effective in such places as it has been found possible to put it into operation, but there are some places where it is not expedient to do so. In such cases the treatment meted out at the Wharfedale Union Workhouse is a successful preventative of the won't works' in this locality. Judging from the complaints of two specimens from the ranks of the 'regular casuals' to Otley Magistrates on Friday, it would appear the Wharfedale Workhouse is not considered quite a featherbed calling place.

The question of a park or recreation ground for Otley was raised by Coun Brogan at Otley District Council. He bemoaned the fact that out of the rich gentlemen in the town, manufacturers etc, no-one would come forward and give them some land and thereby leave a name after them. People wanted something else besides work, and became despondent if they could not get a change. He strongly appealed for the enthusiastic support of the council. Coun Kay said he should not support a park. He thought that in this district we lived in a park where the beauties of nature could at any time be enjoyed.

The most recent of Otley Friendly Societies' demonstrations last Saturday was an unqualified success from a spectacular point of view and it is expected the financial result will exceed that of any previous year.

75 years ago

An Otley old age pensioner succeeded in a plucky attempt to rescue his seven-year-old grand-son from drowning in the River Wharfe. John Jackson, 75, of North Street, Otley, had taken his grandson Eric for a walk when Eric slipped off the edge of the riverbank and fell into the water. His grandfather immediately waded in and sank twice before he could reach the boy. He held him above water and eventually made it back to the bank. Both recovered well from the incident.

A Pool-in-Wharfedale mother and daughter were knocked down by a motor car which got out of control when a back tyre burst and ran on to the footpath at the corner of Wes-ton Lane and Billan's Hill, Otley. The women knocked down were Mrs Mary Wrigglesworth, 64, a widow, and her daughter Miss Annie Wrigglesworth, 23. The daughter escaped with a bruised ankle, but the mother received a compound fracture of the left leg below the knee. She was taken to Leeds Infirmary where she was said to be stable.

A new school to cater for more than 200 pupils is shortly to be built at the National Children's Home and Orphanage at Bramhope. It will be staffed and run by the West Riding Education Committee and it is expected that at least two new houses will be added to the Orphanage to accommodate the children.

50 years ago

The new school for severely handicapped children at Hawksworth Hall is to be opened on Monday by the Countess of Harewood. The hall, which will accommodate 35 children, is the first assessment school where the work of the children will be closely studied so that they are given the best chance of developing various abilities.

A total of 491 entries at the annual show of Otley and District Allotment Holders' and Cottage Gardeners' Association, held in the Mechanics' Hall on Saturday, surprised officials and made a much better show than anticipated, after the gales and heavy rain of the previous weekend. The show had the distinction of being the first to be held in the Mechanics' hall since the premises had been redecorated.

A man pleaded guilty to driving a tricar without due care and attention at Pool, before Otley Magistrates' Court. The prosecu-tion said the case was the result of an accident in Harrogate Road, when the defendant's tricar col-lided with the rear of a stationary shooting brake. The defence said there had been a momentary lack of attention by the defendant which may have been due to turning to speak to his girlfriend. The defendant was fined £10.

25 years ago

An Otley man had a lucky escape when he was trapped by tons of fallen masonry. The stonework collapsed on Mr Leslie Wilkinson, 33, as he was helping a neighbour to demolish an old block of toilets at the rear of his home in Albion Street and firemen struggled on their hands and knees for half an hour before managing to release him. He escaped with only minor cuts and bruises.

Shunting back to an earlier age is The Station, Guiseley, where cus-tomers were able to sample a beer brewed at the pub by licensee Peter Young. The beer, known as Guiseley Gyle, is a strong bitter and early reports confirm that it has a distinctive individual flavour which Peter hopes will go down well with drinkers.

Although many members of the Otley Building Society are con-cerned that the name will disappear, they have voted overwhelmingly in favour of a merger with the Skipton Building Society. About 50 members turned out to vote.