125 Years Ago - 1893

Mr. Duggans, an unmarried man, residing with Mr. Smailes, Town Street, Horsforth, died very suddenly in bed, on Sunday morning. The deceased, who had been out of work for some times, had suffered from low spirits, but he had only complained of being ill the morning previously.

Outbreak of Small-Pox. A case of this fearful disease has occurred at Rawdon, in a house in Micklefield Lane. As soon as it was discovered steps were immediately taken to have the patient isolated in his own house, the Board having no hospital to which the case could be sent.

100 Years Ago - 1918

We have received a letter from Private E. M. Ingle, field Bakery, A.S.C., Mesopotamia, in which he states: - “This is Bible land, and although not a Bible student, it is a wonderfully interesting country on account of its connection with the Bible. We have occupied many of the places and districts mentioned in Scripture, which do not seem as if they can have altered much during the intervening Centuries.”

The Ilkley Council have the pig styes at Marshfield ready. Those at Bridge Lane will be fixed shortly. All applications should be made at once to the Surveyor.

75 Years Ago - 1943

There is a family which today is the proudest in the world. Its sons and daughters fight in all the Services. They were in at the kill in Tunisia. They sailed with the Navy at Narvik and Matapan. They broke up the Heinkels in the Battle of Britain. All have left hearth and home to defend their heritage. So the names on their shoulder flashes as they as you pass them in the street - Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Africa, India ... They are the British family of nations.

Although as many cups with handles as possible will continue to come on the market, it seems likely that, as time goes on, a large proportion of the supply of cups in the shops will be unhandled. The reason for this is largely one of labour difficulty. The person who puts on the handle of a cup is not the same person who makes the cup. Clearly, while the cup maker is doing work of scarcely less vital importance than the cow who produces the milk to go in the cup, the putter-on-of-handles can be spared to go on to more important war work.

50 Years Ago - 1968

The Albert Medal has been posthumously awarded to Mrs. Nanette Hanson, the 26-year-old Ilkley schoolteacher who was murdered at a Dundee school last year. She faced an insane gunman who burst into her needlework class, and died from a shot from his shotgun. Announcing the award, only the 12th of its kind since 1949, in the “London Gazette” on Tuesday, it is stated that despite danger to herself, Mrs. Hanson persuaded rescuers gathered outside the door to leave her to handle the situation. The “London Gazette” described the “complete calm” of Mrs. Hanson.

Ilkley’s weather station is to be re-sited in due course at the Council’s nursery in Little Lane, Ilkley. The Surveyor had reported to the Moor and Parks Committee the wilful damage which had taken place at the weather station in Spence’s Gardens.

25 Years Ago - 1993

History repeated itself this week when an antique chair was presented to the Isle of Man - thanks to a Burley-in-Wharfedale resident. Brian Firth crossed the Irish Sea to deliver the restored chair to the bishop of the island - more than a century after it was first presented. Mr Firth is a trustee of the Bardsley-Powell Estate which is run by the Bardsleys. It was in 1887 that the chair was given to the Rt Rev John Bardsley when he was the Bishop of the Isle of Man. When he died the chair came back to Yorkshire. Now the only two remaining members of the family have decided to return it to its rightful place.

American president Bill Clinton has been invited to a Wharfe Valley charity event on his country’s Independence Day. Ardenlea Marie Curie cancer centre’s annual summer fayre takes place on July 4. Fundraiser Brian Curran explained: “It seemed obvious to contact the president to get his support as we are using America as our theme. Although he hasn’t replied we are hopeful he will respond.”