Lido scheme hailed town’s best asset as it converts critics into supporters (From Wharfedale Observer)

Looking back with the Ilkley Gazette and the Wharfedale Observer

7:10am Thursday 31st May 2012 in Across the Years

125 Years Ago – 1887

Waggonettes Collision – During the holidays a waggonette belonging to a man named Heap, of Bradford, and another from the Devonshire Hotel, Bolton, came into collision near Bar Hill on the Addingham Road.

Station Accident – On Monday morning, Lizzie Poulden, an Ilkley girl, who was returning from Leeds, where she was in service, happened upon an accident. It is about six months since the girl last visited home, and she was naturally very much eleated. On seeing her sister on the platform she opened the carriage door before the train stopped, and was thrown heavily onto the platform. Dr Carter was soon in attendance and the girl is considered to be progressing favourably.

100 Years Ago – 1912

Defective Housing – The Guiseley District Council seems to be moving energetically in a line which will perhaps come as a big surprise to some of the owners of the poorer class of houses. At last week’s meeting notices were issued to the landlords of 25 houses that a month hence the council will consider the question of making closing orders against them.

Tram Ride – Although nearly three years have now elapsed since the completion of the Leeds tramways to Yeadon and Guiseley, the line still retains the great hold which it at once gained on the Leeds inhabitants on being opened. The Guiseley route is one of the finest, if not actually the finest, in the North of England, as after leaving Kirkstall Abbey, the view opens out all the way in a wonderfully lovely and fascinating manner.

75 Years Ago – 1937

Pool Success – Ilkley has known that for a year or two that in its Bathing Pool it has acquired something which has proved a greater financial attraction than any other municipal possession which the Council’s enterprise has yet achieved. But a note in the Bradford Telegraph and Argus this week helps to confirm the high opinion. This says that a Bradford man who had been a critic of the proposed ‘lido’ in Lister Park spent an afternoon at the Ilkley ‘lido’ and came back an enthusiastic supporter of the local scheme.

Ilkley Rovers – It is not the job of an Editor, even of Scout Notes, to thrust forward his own personal views, but the writer asks that he be forgiven for mentioning the following. After the very successful Wharfedale Empire Day Parade, there was bitter disappointment at the tragically sparse attendance of Rovers from Ilkley.

50 Years Ago – 1962

Freak Daisy – An unusual flower has come into the hands of Mrs E Page, of the Craven Institute, Bramhope. It is a deep red double daisy, which figured among the decorations for the 21st anniversary of the Bramhope Women’s Institute. From under the petals of the daisy sprang six more slender stems at the ends of which burst single white and pink daisies – seven flowers on one daisy stem.

Royal Oak Day – Tuesday went by very much the same as any other day in Wharfedale. There will have been few people who knew, or remembered, that it was Royal Oak Day – May 29. An Occasion that not so long ago was carefully and affectionately observed. By tradition the wearing of oak leaves marked the anniversary of the Battle of Worcester when Charles II hid from the Roundheads in an oak tree, but history contradicts the legend. The battle was fought on September 3, 1651. May 29 was when Charles II entered London on his return from exile nine years later.

25 Years Ago – 1987

Canada Flight – Wardair’s weekly summer service from Leeds/Bradford to Toronto is now under way, with an onward connection to Vancouver. Wardair is renowned for its excellent award-winning in-flight service – including meals served on Royal Doulton china.

Peace Group – Last week’s meeting of Otley peace action group had a real local flavour to it as Mr Ron Wigglesworth described what it was like to be a conscientious objector during the Second World War. Mr Wigglesworth gave a moving account of his Christian witness against all war and the horrors of killing.