125 Years Ago – 1891

Early on Saturday morning last, a three-month-old infant, the son of a man named Beale, residing at Yeadon, died very suddenly. The mother of the child died at its birth, and since then the little one, which has not had the best of health, has been put out to nurse. During the morning of Saturday last the woman who had charge of the child was attempting to feed it, when it fell back in her arms and and died shortly afterwards.The facts of the case were reported to Mr Barstow, the coroner for the district, but that gentleman did not think an inquest was necessary.

On Friday last while a girl named Annie Robinson, 18 years of age, residing in Back Lane, Horsforth, was working her loom at Troy Mill, Woodside, the shuttle from the next loom suddenly flew out and caught her a most terrible blow just above the temples. She bled most profusely, and Dr Heptonstall was soon in attendance,who, finding a very deep wound, bandaged the head, and ordered the girl’s removal home, whither she was shortly afterwards taken in a cab, in a fainting condition.We are glad to learn that after what might have been a fatal blow, the girl is making satisfactory progress towards recovery, and will shortly be able to resume work.

100 Years Ago – 1916

From a Canadian newspaper comes the story of a desperate battle between a man and a five-year-old black bear which is of local interest insomuch as the man engaged in conflict with “Bruin” is a native of Guiseley, by name Mr. Arthur Hird, of Guiseley, who went out to Canada about five years ago. The fight ended in a victory for Mr Hird, although he was badly mauled by the bear before he succeeded in killing the animal. Since his recovery from his thrilling experience, Mr Hird has joined the Canadian Field Engineers, and is now on his way to France.

Mr Ridsdale Park, formerly of Hadfield Farm, Ilkley, who went out to Australia in July 1910, and now occupies Hadfield Farm, The Rocket, N. S. Wales, in a letter to Mr R. P. Craggs, Ilkley, says; “We are about 350 miles from Sydney by boat. The chief industry is dairying and timber getting. The country and the ways of doing things are different from at home. The talk of the day now is “War”, and Australia has responded well to the call. There is really no compulsion as yet, but every Britisher is expected to enlist."

75 Years Ago – 1941

Recently the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Food announced that arrangements had been made for properly organised parties to pick blackberries and to take them to local Preservation Centres for making into jam.Pickers were warned that they must first obtain the permission of the owner or occupier of the land on which they wished to go.

The sad side of the war has been brought home to us again this week by the news of the deaths of three Otley men – two in the Air Force and one in the Army Medical Corps in the Middle East. They are Sergeant Eric George Paul (25), Aircraftman Harry Armitage (32), and Private William Murrell (25). An increase in the number of casualties is inevitable with the greater activities now in operation, particularly in the air, but it is not until out kith and kin are concerned that we are able to realise the full poignancy of grief. The sympathy of the townspeople goers out to those local families who have suffered these sad losses, and to those other brave lads who are facing the dangers of battle we send our best wishes.

50 Years Ago – 1966

Nineteen-year-old Elaine Bailey, of Weston Drive, Otley, waved goodbye to her parents, Mr and Mrs Arthur Bailey, at Manchester Airport on Saturday, and set out on a 3,000 miles flight across the Atlantic to the town of Wayne, in New Jersey. Elaine has always wanted to see something of the world. Her opportunity came when she spotted an agency advertisement inviting girls to serve as nannies with American families. She applied for a post and accepted.

25 Years Ago – 1991

Just over a year ago, 18 pensioners each donated a 50p piece to start a fund designed to take old folk on a day out to the coast. That was the start of Guiseley Senior Citizens Association and also the start of a dream for founder chairman Mrs Marion Ealham, of Yeadon.

Farnley village school is to be provided with extra accommodation in the form of a portable room and toilets. Work on the classroom has been recommended for approval by Harrogate Council’s Panning Sub-committee.