Flags were paraded through the streets for the Horsforth Civic Service in 1963.

125 years ago

During the temporary absence of one of the operatives at the Otley Paper Mills, Mr H W T Garnett, had occasion to attend to one of the machines. In doing so, his right hand got into the working part, and before he could withdraw it, the ends of three fingers were taken off.

Early on Sunday morning Mr David Myers, of the George Inn, Otley, succumbed to a somewhat protracted illness, and his remains were interred int he Otley Cemetery with military honours, the deceased having been a Corporal and an active member in the Otley Company of Volunteer Engineers.

A steam fire engine made by the well-known firm of Shand, Mason and Co, has recently been purchased by Captain Dawson, of Weston Hall, who has also formed a fire brigade of his own at Weston. Mr Dawson and his men gave a public trial in Manor Square, Otley, which was crowded with spectators. The first attempt was not satisfactory owing to the water then running in the trough being insufficient.

100 years ago

The inhabitants of Otley and district have been horrified since Tuesday evening by news of a crime which is unparalleled in local history. For a parallel to such a crime as that - of robbing, stripping and then mutilating a woman on a public highway in broad daylight - one has to go back nearly a score of years to recall the terrible outrages perpetrated by Jack the Ripper'. Between four and five o'clock on Tuesday Mrs Elizabeth Todd of Pool Bank was coming down the new Leeds Road with the intention of visiting her mother when she was attacked by a youth of the casual' type and murdered. The ghastly occurrence was first discovered by Arthur Coates Hellewell, grocer, of Otley. He stated that at about 4.20 he was driving from Bramhope to Otley in his trap and, on reaching the spot noticed what at first gaze looked like two men struggling on the grass bordered footpath. When he arrived opposite the truth at once revealed itself: a man was hacking at a woman in a dark coloured dress and was using a knife which was covered with blood. The unwilling observer saw that the head was almost severed from the body.

Perhaps the most harrowing tragedy in the previous history of Otley occurred in May, 1887. Supt Birkell, a highly respected officer in the Eastern Division, was endeavouring to arrest a man named Taylor who had murdered his wife and child, when with a gun from the bedroom window the murderer deliberately shot the officer dead in the street.

In celebration of their victory at the recent Urban District Council election, the Yeadon Independent Labour party held a tea and social gathering in the Labour Club, which was well attended. Coun. H Lockwood said the result of recent elections showed that Labour and Socialism, principles for which they stood, were gaining ground all over the country, including Yeadon

75 years ago

Rawdon cricketer Hedley Verity, who won fame with bat and ball in the Australian Tests, was welcomed home at a civic reception at Micklefield Park, Rawdon this week. Sun-burned and weather beaten, he ran the gauntlet of a private reception in Micklefield House itself. . A crowd of nearly 2,000 people stood in a ceaseless downpour to honour the greatest cricketer Rawdon has yet produced. They were there to recognise his success with the English team during the Australian and New Zealand tour 1932-33.

A shocking accident occurred this week at the sharp corner where Bondgate turns into Gay Lane. A girl cyclist, aged 15, came into collision with a bus and received injuries from which she later died.

A list of 42 new magistrates for the West Riding were announced this week, including four from Yeadon, Guiseley and Baildon who will sit on the Otley bench. These are Joseph Denby of Tong Park, Baildon, Margaret Frankland, of King Street, Yeadon, James Francis of Guiseley Rectory and Frederick Jackson of Hawthorne Avenue, Yeadon.

50 years ago

The new extended visiting arrangements at Otley General Hospital are in the modern trend in these matters and will certainly be greatly to the liking of patients and visitors. From this week there is daily visiting - four evenings and three afternoons in the adult ward, every afternoon in the children's wards, and every evening (for husbands only) in the maternity wards. .

A Canadian clergyman who studied for the priesthood in Canada was instituted into the benefices of Stainburn and Weeton in the picturesque village church of St Barnabas, Weeton. The new vicar is the Rev John Stanley Dodd, and the service of institution was performed by the Bishop of Ripon, Dr George A Chase.

Four teams of scouts from troops in Otley raced up the rocky slopes of the Chevin on Friday evening in the annual relay race for the Sam Ives memorial torch. They were started at the Jubilee Clock by the chairman of Otley Council, and then sped up Station Road, across the railway bridge and into the wooded lower slopes. By the time the later runners in the teams neared the top, Otley Trinity had a clear lead, and reached the finishing point near Surprise View in just over eight minutes.

25 years ago

Low lying areas of Otley were swamped in up to two feet of water when a freak storm burst above the town this week. Manhole covers were forced open by the sheer pressure of water in the drainage system, several premises including a public house, the hospital and a funeral parlour were flooded and in the fierce lightning which accompanied the storm two adjoining houses in Wrenbeck were struck and damaged.

The new Town Mayor of Otley, Coun. James Spencer, offered his services to local organisations to help to raise money for charity when he was unanimously elected to office at the annual meeting of Otley Town Council.

Four local scrabble players have qualified for the grand final of the 13th national scrabble championship in London. They are Joyce Cansfield of Otley, Bessie Little of Guiseley and Ian and Vivienne Penny of Burley. They were among the top ten players in the regional final at Leeds.

11:28am Thursday 8th May 2008

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