'I am a serious actor, you know." Peter Byrne's words ring hollow as he pulls his gold lam Alderman's cloak on to his shoulders. He turns to his dresser: "Have you seen my socks?" His small tizzy is for theatrical effect only. The twinkle in his eye suggests
With the Millenn-ium Bug panic now (hopefully) out of the way, it hasn't taken long for the scaremongers to find something else to cause us sleepless nights. This week it's been asteroids: great lumps of rock hurtling about the solar system just waiting
IAN HOLMES was made to work hard for victory in the Auld Lang Syne fell race at Penistione Hill, Haworth, on New Year's Eve. After his baby son, Louis, was brought in as 'celebrity starter' of the bumper field of 570 runners he was pushed all the way
from the distant past "The man who corked this probably died years ago and it has been untouched ever since...." In Pool-in-Wharfedale's Half Moon pub a handful of friends gathered to toast the 21st century with a bottle of beer from the 19th. For decades
INVESTIGATIONS are under way after thousands of litres of diesel escaped into a Guiseley beck from a wallpaper factory. Johnsons Wallcoverings faces a large cleaning bill after up to 5,000 litres of fuel flowed from the Springfield Road factory into Ghyll
A REGULAR visitor to Menston Station must be a 'paw' traveller because he never puts a whisker beyond the ticket office, writes Vivienne Francis. Felix the cat is only 'feline' happy when he is sitting behind the counter of the ticket office watching
Keighley Albion 1, Stanley Rangers 14 - A BUMPER New Year crowd over 600 packed Albion's Crossflatts ground hoping to see the Keighley side power their way into a Challenge cup place among the professional clubs -- but they went down in an heroic battle
Wild and problem horses from across Bradford are being given a second chance by a horse whisperer and an Argentinian polo-pony trainer. Carole Taylor, who learnt the art of communicating with horses from the godfather of whispering - American Monty Roberts
THE future of a project which provides furniture for people struggling on low incomes has been secured thanks to grants totalling £26,000. Craven Voluntary Action's furniture store collects unwanted furniture and electrical goods and passes them on to
A SERIES of meetings is being planned by North Yorkshire County Council to discuss issues which are vital to communities across the county. The county council has to consult with the public about the budget for 2000-2001 and how it can best provide the
ON Sunday morning Ben Rhydding Golf Club captain Peter Atkinson held his millennium drive in. The competition, a pairs foursome Stableford, was won by the in-form Trevor Lockwood, partnered by Gerald Hardaker, with 37 points. The captain presented the
Long Lee Juniors football club has hit the net with its own Web site -- which is open to fans around the world. The forward thinking club, which is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year, has taken the step forward to keep players and their parents
A scheme which guarantees safe door-to-door transport for teenage girls and women is urging people to get in contact. Safe Rider issued the plea yesterday and simultaneously Cllr Barry Thorne said the council would be stepping-up park ranger patrols in
Customers at Bradford's newest hairdressing salon are washing down their haircuts with a free glass of beer or wine. And Gabby Hefti believes her Baildon salon, gh Hairdressing, is the only one in the district offering a complimentary alcoholic alternative
Keighley builders may have stumbled on a major historical find. MB Housing, based on North Queen Street, is working on a development for flats at Hillworth Lodge, off Oakworth Road. As builders dug to install sewage pipes, they came across something strange
AFTER 15 years presiding over a string of major changes at Barnoldswick's Park Road Surgery, practice manager Mary Cowgill is facing one last big change - retirement. Over those years, Mary has seen the practice change, expand and evolve from an old-fashioned
THE last race of 1999 was the Auld Lang Syne Fell Race at Penistone Country Park, Haworth, and over 500 runners participated in what turned out to be six miles of very heavy going. Four of these were representing Otley AC and their first runner to finish
runners THE foremost entrepreneurs of fell race organisation are Dave Woodhead, whose races focus on Haworth Moor, and Alan Greenwood, who organises races in the South Pennines. Symmetry therefore determined that on New Year's Eve Dave mounted what was
THE annual Chevin Chase promoted by Airecentre Pacers proved as popular as ever with well over 800 runners taking the course from Guiseley out over Otley Chevin and back. Leeds City's Greg Hull, as reported in last week's issue, was in the lead until
DOUGIE Lampkin, as predicted a few weeks ago in this column, signed for the mighty Montesa-Honda organisation for the next two years. They have massive backing from world-wide industrial radiator producers Radson, whose Dutch-based company will underwrite
OTLEY Cricket Club moves into the new millenniuum sadly as the only cricket club in town following the December demise of Otley Town and the earlier losses of clubs such as D P and E and Otley Wesley. Otley Cricket Club's hope for the new millennium is
OTLEY RUFC have been out of action over the festive period but it has given some of their players more time to recover from injury as they preparee to maintain their position as Jewson One leaders. The Cross Green men travel to Nottingham on Saturday
GUISELEY 2 BLYTH SPARTANS 1 GUISELEY looked a little laboured in this win over basement strugglers Blyth Spartans but it was no wonder when it was revealed that five of the players were struggling to overcome the flu bug and niggling injuries. Some may
SIR - Your article in the KN of December 30 about Keighley Tarn brought back many memories for me. I was born and lived in Cartmel Road, until the war, and a short time afterwards, and a lot of my youth was spent at the tarn. In the summers I would sail
January 1st, 2000 has heralded another great change and this time you can certainly blame the EU. It's got nothing to do with straight bananas, the Euro or even the French and German Beef ban. January 1st, 2000 sounded the death knell of the entire British
As the Millennium celebrations fade into the past, people must now turn to face the harsh realities of an uncertain future. The New Year will bring the culmination of various concerns facing the residents of the area. Each is enough of a worry on its
WORLD TRIALS champion Dougie Lampkin has has switched machines -- and signed to ride Montesa bikes. The Montesa company, which is based in Spain, but owned by the Japanese motorcycle giant Honda, snapped up the signature of the Silsden-based rider, from
THREE local people have been rewarded in the New Year's honours list. Margaret Platts, deputy head-teacher at Greenhead Grammar School for 12 years and chairman of the Sangat Community Association, in Keighley, has received an MBE for services to education
Shipley MP Chris Leslie has slammed a property developer over its tactics in trying to turn Bingley's former Auction Mart site into a £7million supermarket. Leeds-based Thornfield has twice been due to appear before public inquiries but on each occasion
Local firms are being urged to look at making trade links with Iceland. Companies are being invited to take part in a trade mission there later this year, organised by Business Link Bradford & District. Helen Downer of Business Link says: "Iceland
THE decision to reject Skipton Rugby Club's bid for National Lottery funding to develop their home at Sandylands is difficult to understand and even harder to take phlegmatically. To claim that the plan is, in effect, not needed is a major surprise and
IT was a proud moment for Carleton villager Eric Neal when the ribbon was cut to officially open the community's recently refurbished ancient village hall. His hard work over the past year or more had secured sufficient grants to cover the £60,000 needed
Smallholdings on the St Ives estate could come together to sell their wares to supermarket chains and other big food stores. The 100-acre estate near Harden may be used for a pilot project as part of ambitious moves to improve the rural economy. Bradford
A fingertip search took on new meaning for police in Bradford when they recovered a a human finger during a chase. Officers from Toller Lane were pursuing a stolen car along Walker Drive, Girlington, Bradford when it crashed into a lamppost. One of the
A HOODED attacker, who stalks women before smashing them over the head, is being hunted . Police yesterday confirmed he had claimed three victims in Keighley and a senior detective warned women to be on their guard. As Det Chief Supt Brian Taylor spoke
THE foundations for a new village green in Oxenhope have been laid down thanks to a massive cash boost. Oxenhope Millennium Green Trust was awarded £35,000 from the Countryside Agency this week towards the development of a new £70,000 millennium village
A couple have been struck by a second family tragedy with the death of their 30-year-old son from suspected meningitis. Paul and Hazel Crowther today spoke of their shock and grief at the loss of their son Matthew who died in hospital after suddenly falling
ILKLEY AFC make the short trip to neighbours Otley Town Reserves this Saturday for a Harrogate League Premier Division clash. Both these sides sit in a mid-table position and Town will be hoping to avenge the 3-0 defeat suffered earlier in the season
Cougars 32, York Wasps 13 MARTIN WOOD shone as the star of Cougars first match of the new century -- and gave a bumper crowd a day to remember. Wood played a vital part in four tries, scored one and defended heroically, and even turned goal kicker. Despite
Bobby 'The Viper' Vanzie was full of venom today when he discovered he had been placed at number four in the latest Brtish rankings. Bradford's British and Commonwealth lightweight champion is rated behind Billy Schwer, IBO world champion Michael Ayers
Skipton kept hopes of a league and cup double in their 125th season alive with one of the giant-killing acts of the round, a 20-12 victory over Heath in the Yorkshire Silver Trophy. On a perfect afternoon for rugby the two sides produced a match which
Vandals have hit the fundraising efforts of Keighley Scout Band. Hundreds of pounds worth of damage was caused to the band's transport as members played Christmas carols in a town centre pub. Four vehicles parked in Lawkholme Lane were attacked while
VILLAGERS in Hetton had a rather unusual gift blown into the area at Christmas. Birdie, the bedraggled peacock, arrived in Hetton two days before Christmas and seems to have taken up residence, but nobody has a garden big enough to keep him properly.
"Ring out, wild bells, to the wild sky, The flying cloud, the frosty light: The year is dying in the night; Ring out, wild bells, and let him die" Tennyson's Wild Bells greeted the new Millennium. Most of them were real bells. Dr Ramsay, a former Archbishop
VIVIENNE Francis has been to meet a pensioner who has spent the best part of her life campaigning for nuclear disarmament - even going to prison to support her beliefs. FOR most people New Year's Eve was a cosy celebration with loved ones or - if you
Ilkley 2nd 5, Crusaders 2nd XV 34 - Crusaders second string recorded their second win of the holiday period having beaten North Ribblesdale by19-14 on Christmas Monday. The teams for both games had more than a smattering of youth with players on holiday
100 years ago FLY-TIPPING was rife in Craven at the turn of the century, particularly in Giggleswick. An inspector for Settle Rural District Council had been asked to look at a piece of ground at Mill Hill and found that all kinds of refuse was being
THE sudden death of Keith Lewis at the age of 55 has stunned Wharfedale Rugby Club and his many friends both inside and outside rugby circles. Mr Lewis collapsed and died at his Cross Hills home on New Year's Eve. The club's press officer and correspondent
It is good that a healthy debate has begun in the wake of the statements made by various councillors concerning the openness of the new look Bradford Council. Most encouraging are the public comments by members of the local planning sub-committee. For
A city councillor has played Santa Claus and donated a special Christmas and millennium gift to the children of Horsforth. Coun Brian Cleasby (Lib Dem, Horsforth) has donated a Pentium computer to Horsforth Museum for children to use as a way of learning
OTLEY health campaigners and MP Harold Best have met to discuss growing concerns about the future of services at Wharfedale General Hospital - despite the fears being dismissed by the hospital trust. Mr Best received a delegation led by Councillor Phil
WATCHED by a crowd of nearly 2,000 people, a seven-year-old girl lit a beacon of hope in Guiseley. Kerry Firm, who turned eight on January 1, lit the millennium beacon at Aireborough Leisure Centre after a flaming torch had been carried through the community
T&A journalist Mike Priestley reports on his nostalgic trip to London who found some new landmarks among his old haunts... There is a way to get around London fast: by Underground, shoving your way up and down escalators, crushing into overcrowded
A large number of Harriers, too many to mention, concluded their year's racing by competing in the festive Chevin Chase, a seven-mile race over mixed terrain. One or two others chose to delay a return to running until the following day at the John Holly
A special ship is being rigged out with high-tech equipment - including a deep sea exploration vehicle - in a bid to identify one of the most historic wrecks off the British coast. Keighley-born deep sea diving expert Graham Jessop has been commissioned
Only one in ten West Yorkshire firefighters are younger than 30 according to new figures out today. The brigade has just 161 full-time frontline firefighters aged between 20 and 30, and no teenagers on its books out of a total of 1,733. Fire chiefs say
Police are renewing an appeal for help in tracing a Keighley man who has not been seen since just after Christmas. Terrence Moor, 39, went missing from his Victoria Road home before breakfast on Monday, December 27 and has not been seen since. Since the
SKIPTON Building Society is aiming to outflank "carpetbaggers" hoping to force it into conversion into a bank. The society has said it will support a proposal calling on the board to consider converting into a bank. But the board has made its clear that
KELBROOK looks set to get its long awaited children's playground to mark the new millennium. Welcome news of a £5,000 cash grant from the Pendle Community Safety Partnership means that the £28,000 scheme is likely to go ahead in the coming year. Although
"MY hope is that we shall see people from all different backgrounds, races, faiths and cultures learn to live together in a positive and productive way, working for the good of the community. I hope people will see that the future will be shaped by the
The loss of traditional community spirit, where people rally together for the common good, is one of the 20th centuries most regrettable developments. Politicians of all persuasions and those who remember better days all lament its passing. Yet in Burley-in-Wharfedale
in our lifetime' Those 11 words, in the headline above, were spoken at midnight on New Year's Eve by a man in a crowd of hundreds on top of Otley Chevin. And they perhaps sum up best the awe-inspiring sight that met the masses who had made the muscle
PARENTS fighting to save a Rawdon playgroup from closure appear to have won a temporary reprieve from the trustees who threatened to evict them, writes John Baron. At a crisis meeting between parents and staff from Greenacre Pre School and two of the
A BURLEY-in-Wharfedale couple have endured a miserable start to the New Year after their business was ram-raided. In the early hours of Sunday morning, a car was driven through the front window of Walk Wright in Main Street. A quantity of fleeces were
AT the time of the first Millennium, Wharfedale was recovering from the destruction caused by the invading Viking hordes. Thankfully, one thousand years on, Wharfedale saw in the new millennium in more peaceful fashion. Throughout the area, thousands
Florence Jeffrey celebrated the start of the new millennium with her 100th birthday party. The birthday date meant that Florence, who lives at the Herncliffe Nursing Home on Spring Gardens Lane, has lived in three centuries. Florence Sailes was born in
Keith Jessop, Keighley's deep-sea salvage diver, will next week give local people an insight into his colourful career. The world's most successful treasure hunter will give an illustrated talk at the Crescent Hotel in Ilkley. And he will take along a
ADDINGHAM'S Alice Dixon can claim to be the oldest churchgoer in the Bradford Diocese at the age of 101. Now a resident of Homecroft Residential Home, Ilkley, she regularly attended church for 95 years until a leg injury forced her to give up. Now she
OTLEY Sailing Club's trophy first race of the millennium, the Hangover Trophy, was won by Norman Stephens after some very close racing on a bright, sunny New Year's Day. The solos dominated the first race but the lasers came through when the wind picked
against Old Boys AFTER a longer than anticipated break Otley Town AFC now look to the New Year and a derby game to start off proceedings when they entertain Rawdon Old Boys on Saturday kicking-off at 2.15pm. On paper this would appear to be no contest
THE new millennium has sprouted an MBE for Ilkley's most famous green-fingered former resident. Alan Titchmarsh became a Member of the British Empire in the New Year's honours list. The 50 year-old received the honour for services to horticulture and
Chief Executive Ian Stewart plans to slash Bradford Council's top management by a third, abolishing all its current directorates. Three new assistant chief executives are set to be appointed, with 17 directors on a lower tier. The radical plan was put
TRAFFIC calming measures proposed for North Craven have been released for consultation. Settle town councillors have already given their response to the preliminary traffic calming measures proposed by North Yorkshire County Council for the B6479 and
The second victim of the attacker, Elaine Marsh has broken her silence. Elaine, a 33 year old mother of four, said: "I decided to speak out because I am worried that he might strike again and to warn other woman to be on the alert. "It was a terrible
CRAVEN has fared very well this year with no less than four members of the community receiving MBEs in the Queen's New Year Honours. Amongst them is retired hill farmer, John Sayer, who received the MBE for his service to hill farming and conservation
AN Addingham man has thrown his weight behind a truly oar-some challenge to raise funds for charity. James Parker, the former British rowing record holder, has given his backing to Marie Curie's energetic attempt to fund its new £5.2 million hospice.
Eight-year-old twins James and Ryan Tiler are helping to change the image of bowling as an old mans' sport. They are the youngest members of Lund Park Bowling Club in Keighley which also boasts the area's oldest players who are in their '90s. James and
Two all-Alliance clashes feature in the third round of the West Riding Sunday Cup tomorow - with the weather having played havoc with the fixture list. This Sunday should have seen fourth round action - but there are several outstanding third round matches
Almost a thousand years after the first ever recorded fell race at Braemar in 1058, Skipton staged the last one of the Millennium. The End of the Century Fell Race was run from Shortbank Road up and down the old Roman road to the summit stone of Rombalds
A GIGGLESWICK man who helps make the lives of disabled people easier is calling for others with similar skills to join him. John Rose, of The Mains, is looking for like-minded research and development engineers or craftspeople who can design and make
THE television cameras may have concentrated on the big city spectaculars, but Wharfedale also entered the new millennium in style. Hundreds of people turned out for a special multi-media presentation at All Saints Parish Church in Ilkley, followed by
Bradford Festival will be a massive six-week jamboree this year. Organisers have revealed that the 2000 event will be by far the biggest staged in the city. They are negotiating with the BBC to stage part of a national live music event in Centenary Square
SKIPTON'S oldest sports club has unexpectedly had its bid for lottery cash turned down for a second time. Members of Skipton Rugby Club had this time anticipated success in their application for money to improve facilities at the 125-year-old club. Club
CONGESTION in traffic-choked Glusburn and Cross Hills is to be put under the spotlight next week when villagers meet with highways chiefs to thrash out a solution. For years people living in the two connected villagers have been complaining about traffic
Crusader Colts 15, Huddersfield 12 - CRUSADER Colts started the new Millennium in fine style with some entertaining rugby in the opening stages against a well drilled Huddersfield side. Tyrone Adams opened the scoring for the home side aft3r some forceful
Millennium Eve celebrations turned soured for one group of charitable party-goers in Keighley when a charity box was stolen. Leslie Jackson, a resident who helped organise the estate's celebrations, says the theft was a shocking way to start the new Millennium
The Villa Fiore has always looked warm, inviting and classy from the outside and this was a chance to see if it lived up to its promise on the inside. We entered into the bar, which is separated from the main dining area by stairs and disguised as some
Welcome to the first issue of the new millennium. I have to begin with an apology concerning the last issue of the 20th century. For some reason, and I genuinely don't know why, we printed the incorrect page 3. Instead of the page planned we managed to
A WIDE circle of friends in the Wharfedale area were saddened by the death in December of William Michael (Bill) Barnes. Mr Barnes had been ill for a short illness. Having grown up in Burley-in-Wharfedale Bill, 52, was living in Kirby Muxloe, Leicestershire
WHETHER from the comfort of their own homes, in a pub or out on a hillside, the people of Keighley welcomed the dawning of the new millennium in spectacular style. At Crag Delph Nook, at Sutton, a millennium beacon was lit at the stroke of midnight to
Dishonest landlords and tenants are being taken to court for alleged benefit fraud in a crackdown by Bradford Council. The clampdown has resulted in the conviction of two people, and ten others are awaiting court hearings. Another five are being considered
BENTHAM'S Looking Well Centre is to receive a £25,000 award in recognition of the impact it makes on the community. Only 10 organisations across the country have been granted a SmithKline Beecham (SB) Community Health Impact Award, which are designed
IN the future there will be a machine that plants knowledge in your brain so you know the information but you don't have to have it explained to you. The school will have a virtual reality simulator where you can go into the past, so instead of just reading
KEIGHLEY 12 ILKLEY 14 ILKLEY notched a fine win at Keighley on Monday as they bridged the three division gap. Ilkley were always ahead scoring two converted tries to Keighley's two tries and a conversion. The Yorkshire Division One club's first score
KARL HARRISON heaped praise on flu-battered side after they shrugged off illness to beat York Wasps in their first home game of the season. "They were absolutely marvellous, no coach could hope for anything more from his team. A bug had swept through
Bradford Bulls' major close season capture Brad Mackay arrived at Odsal yesterday and immediately looked ahead to forming a fruitful partnership with the Paul brothers. The 30-year-old former Aust-ralian tourist has looked on admiringly from afar as the
Sharn Richardson hopes to make Prime Movers of young people in Keighley. She is spearheading attempts to set up a network of young volunteers helping other people around the town. Sharn is working with many community groups and agencies across Keighley
Ground-breaking research into blood disorders in pregnancy could provide the key to preventing baby deaths in Bradford's Asian community. The project, to start at Bradford Royal Infirmary in April, will be the first in the country to explore the effects
AN Addingham man will begin the New Year helping thousands of refugees sheltering in cellars to escape Russian bombardment. Chris Hunter, a former Ilkley Grammar School pupil, is spearheading a humanitarian effort to help those who have spent the festive
A flagpole to commemorate the new millennium will be unveiled in Cullingworth this weekend. The Union Flag will be raised on the eight metre high flagstaff during a ceremony at noon on Sunday. After a service at St John's Parish Church, a procession led
Sheep dog enthusiasts rose early after the New Year's Eve festivities for an annual sheep dog trial in Oakworth. The event at Moor Lodge Farm has become a New Year's Day tradition as organisers, Albert and Carol Mellin, have held the trial at their farm
A major thrust in the new Millennium must be the growing together of the different churches and communities and a growing understanding and co-operation between the world's religions. All Christians need to be penitent about their own mistakes, and the
TO the roar of rockets and fireworks across the night sky, Craven saw in a new millennium in style. For 19-year-old Gill Fozard, the dawn of the new millennium will be something to remember. Not only because it was the start of the year 2000, but because
PRO-YORKSHIRE campaigners are planning to mark the new millennium by restoring - in name at least - the historic county boundaries which held sway for a thousand years. Some dyed-in-the-wool Yorkshire Tykes have never fully recovered from the hammer blow
MORE people than ever before threw aside New Year hangovers to see brave swimmers dive into the River Wharfe at Otley. And there was no shortage of hardy souls at Ilkley where many residents took the icy plunge into the White Wells spa bath. At Otley,
THE future of Burley-in-Wharfedale's youth centre will be reviewed at a special meeting later this month. Representatives from Bradford Council's Youth Service will meet with Burley Community Council members and members of the Burley Youth Forum to discuss
PASSENGERS have been left out in the cold at Menston Station after vandals stole the handle of the waiting room. The handle disappeared more than two weeks ago leaving travellers to Leeds and Bradford no option but to brave the freezing temperatures on
