125 Years Ago - 1894

There have late been numerous complaints regarding the furious riding of bicycles , and at the Otley Police Court yesterday a case was heard in which Herbert Fairburn, tailor, of Burley, was charged with having ridden a bicycle at a furious pace at 8.45p.m. in Church Street, Ilkley, on the 29th. ult.The case was proved by Inspector Senior and P.C. Wakefield, prisoner being fined 5s. and 6s. 6d. cost. We hope this will be a warning to many who seem to take a delight in beating records through public streets.

100 Years Ago - 1919

Under the auspices of the St. Margaret’s Branch of the Church of England Men’s Society, Wells Road, on Tuesday night a lecture was given by the Rev. G. Longridge, B.A. on “Spiritualism.” There was a good attendance. The lecturer in his introductory remarks explained that Spiritualism was by no means a new creed. Forms of sprirualism were used in China and the empires of the East centuries ago, but its teachings had never met with the approval of early Christian teachers. Christianity admitted that communication with the dead was possible, but it took place unconsciously. The methods used included the medium, automatic writing, and table tilting, and in many cases they have been successful, though dangers both moral and spiritual were to be faced by the unwary.

75 Years Ago - 1944

Major Christopher Carr, son of Mr. and Mrs. George Carr, of Low Wood, Ben Rhydding, arrived home on Wednesday on leave from India. Major Carr has had an adventurous career in the five years he has been in the Forces. First he was in France and took part in the evacuation of Dunkirk. Four years ago he went out to the Middle East, and for the last three years he has been serving in the East with the forces of the Maharajah of Bikaner.

Two local men are know to have taken part in the drive into France by the 5th Royal Tank Regiment, the story of which has this week been released for publication. They are Trooper A. Fairburn, 29, Lawn Avenue, Burley, and Trooper J. H. Stead, “Tarmoola”, Greenway, Tranmere Park, Guiseley. The 5th Royal Tank Regiment fought their way into France during the “D” day landings, and have a brilliant battle record.

50 Years Ago - 1969

When the Royal Ballet’s “Ballet for all” arrives in Ilkley for a performance at the King’s Hall, it will be meeting a challenge no other ballet company has yet faced - that is performing on a stage steeper than any in Europe. The Sao Carlos Opera House in Lisbon is known to have the steepest “rake” of any stage in Europe and most ballet companies are wary of appearing there - both sets and dancers are liable to fall down. But, when the Royal Ballet sent a stage manager to check on the stage at the King’s Hall, he found it even steeper.

When germs have entered the body, our lines of defence are still not exhausted. There remains a rather vague but very real factor, known as the resistance of the body to disease. This is a fighting force in the blood, of a chemical nature. In two people inoculated say, with the germs of influenza, the disease will not be of an equal virulence in both, because in no two people is the resistance the same.

25 Years Ago - 1994

A derelict mill could be demolished and transformed into a new housing estate. Footwear and fashion giant Peter Black is again attempting to win permission to build homes at Low Mill, Addingham. The Keighley-based company has already failed with a previous bid for 40 homes at the site while a multi-million pound scheme for a hotel and timeshare complex has also been thwarted.

British Midland, the UK’s second largest schedules service airline has introduced special Christmas Shopper fares for day trips to London. Passengers from Leeds-Bradford can now travel to London on a Saturday for just £65 return. During the 55-minute journey passengers will be able to take advantage of British Midland’s award winning Diamond Service which offers in-flight cuisine, plus complimentary wines and drinks.