1885

Harvest Thanksgiving services were held in the Parish Church, Otley, on Sunday last, and were well attended. Especially was this the case at night, when every foot of available space was called into requisition to accommodate the large congregation. The interior of the edifice was tastefully decorated with corn, flowers, fruit and vegetables, but taken as a whole the effect was not so pleasing as we have seen it previous years.

At Otley Police Court, James Hollings, David Law, and William Spence were charged with game trespass on land at Arthington in the occupation of Robert Newsome, on Saturday, the 26th ult, Wm Child, gamekeeper to WL Jackson Esq, MP, said that about 4pm he saw the defendants, accompanied by dogs, ranging alongside the fences. He asked them for their authority for being there, and finding they had none, he charged them with the offence. He knew them very well as professional “ratters” and they were constantly giving keepers trouble. For the defence it was stated that they were on the land by permission of Mr Newsome.

1910

On Tuesday evening a motor car belonging to Mr J England of Bingley was proceeding from the direction of Harrogate when it ran into a flock of over 30 sheep about 100 yards on the north side of Pool Bridge, killing two and injuring three others. The sheep were the property of Mr Holmes Rathmell, of Rigton, who with his brother was driving the sheep to his farm.

On Friday night last a special service was held in the Parish Church at Rawdon for the purpose of dedicating a new font which has been placed therein in memoriam of the late Mrs Mose Bottomley, of Woodleigh Hall and Woodlawn, a lady who took a generous interest in the church and parish affairs of Rawdon. The font, the gift of the Bottomley family, has been supplied by Messrs Jones and Willis of London and Birmingham, the firm which recently furnished the new pulpit and lectern. It is of Caen stone with beautifully carved marble pillars and is a distinct acquisition to the church.

1935

A verdict of misadventure was returned at the inquest at Leeds on Monday on an Otley man who died in the General Infirmary, Leeds, on Friday. The cause of death was said to be heart failure during anaesthesia, due to an anaesthetic. He had gone in the early hours of Friday morning to a field in Pool Road, about a mile from his home, to gather mushrooms, when he returned and complained of an injury to his arm. He explained he had fallen from a fence, and a doctor was called. The doctor diagnosed a fracture to the arm and he was taken to the general infirmary at Leeds.

Fifty delegates from Co-operative educational organisations in Yorkshire and the northern districts of Lincolnshire , Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire attended a week-end school held at Chevin Hall, Otley, under the auspices of the north-eastern section of the Co-operative Educational Committees’ Association. The subject discussed was The 10-Year Plan for Co-operative Education, which aims to increase the membership to 10,000,000, to mark the centenary of the Co-operative movement in 1944. The present membership is 7,000,000.

1960

The Minister of Housing and Local Government has dismissed an appeal by George Wimpey & Co against the refusal of Wharfedale Rural Council to give planning permission for erection of houses on about 18 acres of land north of Old Lane, Bramhope. The decision follows a public inquiry held at Otley on September 8, at which the appeal was opposed by the planning authority, by Leeds Corporation, by Bramhope Parish Council, and by many residents.

HMS Forest Moor, the Royal Navy radio station on the moors beyond Blubberhouses, was commissioned at a special service on Monday. It was conducted by the Rev JF Walmsley, RN Chaplain, in the presence of Lieutenant-Commander JA Shittleworth, commanding officer of the station, with its complement of eight officers and 50 other ranks. The ship’s company will receive signals from radio stations throughout the world.

1985

Twelve months after the horrific television reports in Ethiopia, the people of the Otley area are once again coming together to show their concern for the plight of the world’s hungry. On Tuesday, October 22, a coach will travel to London to join supporters of the main British development agencies and churches at a national mass lobby in the House of Commons. The lobby of MPs will demonstrate public concern for the lack of Government action on long term solutions to world poverty. A member of Otley Hungry for Change said: “The success of Otley Action for Africa, and the national response to the Live Aid appeal reflects the extent of individual feeling in Britain for the world’s hungry. In contrast the Government’s contribution to the aid programme in Africa has come from its existing budget – thus diverting money away from long-term development projects.

Residents in Aireborough are to be asked if they would like a parish council in their area. Their views will be canvassed at meetings to be held in the area on Wednesday, November 27, organised by Leeds City Council’s parish review working party. Venues have still to be fixed but the meetings will take place in Rawdon, Guiseley, Yeadon and Tranmere/Hawksworth, starting at 7.30pm. Councillor Arthur Vollans, who chairs the working party, said they had decided to sample opinion in the area following a similar meeting at Yeadon, attended by about 100 people.