‘Fugitive visits’ of infectious visitors is key danger in the spread of disease (From Wharfedale Observer)

Looking back with the Ilkley Gazette and the Wharfedale Observer

4:19pm Thursday 2nd August 2012 in Across the Years

125 Years Ago – 1887

Grouse Prospects – The Prospects on Ilkley and Myddelton Moors are very favourable. The birds have wintered and nested well, and there has been almost an entire absence of disease. Food is plentiful, and as the moors are well watered, there has been no suffering from drought.

Unhealthy Visitors – In his latest annual report, Dr Scott, the medical officer of health for Ilkley, observes that in that district the propagation of infectious diseases has been found dependant more on its surreptitious importation by unscrupulous visitors than on defective drainage. It is a matter of extreme difficulty to concert measures for the prevention of such dangers in as much as the casual and fugitive visits of convalescents in an infective condition is no unfrequent occurrence.

100 Years Ago – 1912

Royal Visit – In all probability Wharfedale is to be honoured once more by a visit of His Majesty King George V, who is expected this month at Bolton Abbey, as the guest of the Duke of Devonshire. On these visits the loyal people of Wharfedale see His Majesty as an English gentleman, free from the pomp and panoply of the usual Royal visit, and if anything they prefer it so.

German Test – “This is the kind of school that sets the Germans thinking,” was the high compliment which Professor Michael Sadler, Vice-Chancellor of Leeds University, paid to the Ilkley Grammar School at the speech day and prize distribution on Wednesday. Professor Sadler is one who speaks with authority, as he drew his comparisons between English and German educational systems, and outlined those advantages which English Secondary Schools possess, and towards which the German educationalists look with admiration and envy.

75 Years Ago – 1937

Anthrax Honour – The retirement of Dr F W Eurich, of Ilkley, the noted Bradford specialist, whose work in combating the deadly anthrax germ saved the lives of thousands of textile workers, is to be marked by a testimonial from the medical profession. The almost complete immunity from this deadly disease today is largely due to Dr Eurich’s efforts and research many years ago.

Bakery Memories – The days of the public bakehouse are recalled by the death on Tuesday of Mary Hannah Harper, widow of Abe Harper. Mrs Harper was 78 and she and her husband will be remembered by Otley people of the older generation as the owners of a bakehouse in Mercury Row, which was the last of the public bakeries, an old-time institution which saved overworked housewives the trouble of baking their own bread after kneading it.

50 Years Ago – 1962

Car Wash – Opening today at Yeadon is a new five-minute drive-through car wash, established at the premises of Swires of Yeadon, Henshaw Garage. Ronald Austin, founder of the company, says that thousands of cars are washed weekly by this method. He estimates that a car can be power washed, shampooed, power rinsed, infra-red dried, leathered and checked by a supervisor, all within five minutes. “Dirty cars go in at one end and clean ones come out at the other, every 8.5 seconds,” he said.

Norwegian Telegram – A telegram from the King of Norway was among the messages of congratulation, received by a Bramhope bride, Helena May Hill, younger daughter of Mr and Mrs Norman Hill, Greenbanks, Creskeld Lane, Bramhope, and her Norwegian bridegroom Trygvie Wettre, after their wedding at St Peter’s Church, Arthington. The bridegroom is the son of the late Mr Haakon Wettre and Mrs G Andresen, of Oslo, and his stepfather is the former Norwegian consul in Mexico.

25 Years Ago – 1987

Danish Order – Rawdon-based air conditioning equipment manufacturers Airedale International have reported increasing orders from Denmark thanks to aggressive marketing by their Danish distributors, Uniclima of Aarhus, Jutland. At the time of their appointment, Uniclima chief Karsten Skodt was greatly impressed by the quality and service of the Airedale products.

Landmark Danger – The spire on St Margaret’s Parish Church, Horsforth, which can be seen from miles around, could be in danger if cash cannot be found for urgent repairs. The 86-year-old spire, which cost £1,722 to build in 1901, needs to have repairs to the stonework which is corroding, and a great deal of pointing work carried out.