125 Years Ago - 1895

On Wednesday P. C. Fenwick received information that a member of the canine tribe was was behaving in a strange manner and frightening persons in the vicinity of Wells Promenade. Upon the officer arriving at the place named, he found the animal which was acting in a somewhat uncommon manner. No owner being forthcoming the animal was destroyed, but upon an examination being made, not the slightest signs of rabies were discovered.

100 Years Ago – 1920

So quarrying is to be resumed on the Ilkley Moor. The war has seen radical changes in the conduct of both private and public affairs throughout the country, and this change of policy on the part of the Ilkley Council is directly due to the effects of the war – or rather of its after-effects. The shortage of housing accommodation and the imperative need for building at the earliest possible date have been the principal factors in inducing the Council to decide upon the course of using the stone immediately available rather than encounter upon all the difficulties of transport from quarries in other parts of the country.

The high quality of the violins manufactured by Mr James Lister, of Ilkley, has been recognised locally for many years, and on the occasion of the last visit to Ilkley of the famous violinist Miss Marie Hall, Mr. Lister took advantage of the opportunity to hand to her two of the violins he had recently made. At that time she expressed herself as delighted with their quality and she has now written to him from expressing her high appreciation.

75 Years Ago - 1945

This very unusual story told by Corporal L. C. A. Shaw, of Green Lane, Yeadon, serving with the British Liberation Army, will take some beating. Writing from a hospital in Belgium to thank the people of Aireborough for their Christmas gifts, he says: “The funny part of it is that the parcel was given to me by a German I had caught in. I don’t know what happened, and how he got it, but I got it just at the right time, when my bren gunner’s cigs had run out. Afterwards when we asked him how he got it, he said they caught one of our mail trucks a few weeks back.”

Flt/Lt. H. A. Shaw, of “Hillgarth”, Canada Crescent, Rawdon, recently took part in a heavy air attack on the Japanese communications centre of Korat, in Central Siam.He was in charge of a force of Liberators which had to fly all day to reaxch the little town nestling deep in the hills and forests 140 miles north-east of Bangkok.

50 Years Ago - 1970

It is estimated that in four years time the newly-enlarged Otley Prince Henry’s Grammar School, now occupying the original school buildings and most of the adjoining playing fields, will not be big enough to cater for the number of pupils requiring places. At a meeting of the governors, it was decided to ask the county education authority to plan further extensions.

One of the most unlikely reasons for spending a holiday in Ilkley - and a honeymoon at that - was revealed by a young couple as they boarded a train at Leeds Station on Saturday. Both are keen supporters of Leeds United and they had been married earlier that day. In the afternoon they went to watch the Leeds match with Crystal Palace, and agreed to add up the number of goals scored and catch the first train from the corresponding platform at the station. Leeds won 2-0, and so after the game the honeymooners caught the train standing on platform 2. It proved to be the Ilkley train.

25 Years Ago - 1995

Plans submitted for a new supermarket on Ilkley’s gas works site in Leeds Road have sparked a barrage of criticism, with estimates there are currently 44 empty shops in the town. There are fears a major new food store will add further strain to what is already a dire situation.

Wharfe Valley schools have arranged an urgent meeting with MPs Gary Waller and Sir Marcus Fox to discuss a funding crisis. All face the threat of potentially crippling cuts imposed by Bradford Council. The council, in turn, claims an £18m cut in central government funding has forced it into a catch-22 situation.