100 years ago

A NOVEL entertainment made its way to Skipton in the form of Carl Mysto, who claimed to be the world's greatest Handcuff King. Mysto challenged the town's locksmith Mr TH Lee, who fastened him with old fashioned manacles. The crowd then watched in amazement as he freed himself in six and a half minutes. The event was accompanied by a show of animated pictures from St George's Hall, Bradford.

The Herald recounted a tale from the Skipton and District Tenant Farmers' Association's annual dinner at the Black Horse in Skipton. The Herald was pleased to note that members had put aside the agricultural depression for the evening and did "justice to the good things provided". So much so, one elderly gentleman dispensed with his collar, tie and 'dicky' and unbuttoned his waistcoat to ensure he got his full share.

A draft agreement to purchase land for a proposed new reservoir for Settle was drawn up by the rural district council.

The first annual meeting of the newly-formed Addingham brass band was held. The purchase of instruments had cost the group £48 and they were to be donated to the parish afterwards.

50 years ago

MORE than 500 parents from Upper Wharfedale signed a petition to the Minister of Education expressing concern over the long delay building a secondary modern school at Grassington. The MP Burnaby Drayson gave his support saying the school was desperately needed as some children travelled more than 30 miles to get to schools in Skipton.

A former Glusburn man had been drafted in to sort out traffic problems in Rio de Janeiro. Dr George Charlesworth, educated at Glusburn Council School, had been largely responsible for the introduction of zebra crossings in England.

Workers at Rolls Royce held an unofficial strike in support of 56 engineering apprentices who had been suspended. The apprentices had observed the trade custom of taking a half-day holiday on Shrove Tuesday. The custom was practised locally but not recognised by the company but some of the apprentices said they had been unaware of this. They had been suspended for two days. Around 150 skilled men joined the apprentices in protest.

An estimated £40,500 was to be spent on the purchase of new equipment and carrying out extensions and improvements at the Long Ing Foundry of the Ouzledale Foundry Company Limited, Barnoldswick.

25 years ago

SKIPTON'S mayor, Brian Short, accused that the local police of harassment. At a meeting of Skipton Town Council he said that there was more interference in minor pub matters but no protection for major incidents. The mayor, who was managing director of Thackeray Inns, which owned the Yorkshireman pub on Skipton High Street (now Stead and Simpson's shoe shop), said police came into the town's pubs three or four times a week but when a coachload of football supporters stopped off, they always preferred to keep a low profile.

The village of Lothersdale held a vote about whether or not to switch to a mains water supply or to continue with its supply from natural resources. Despite warnings from the environmental health department about above standard levels of lead, bacteria and animal pollutants in the village's supply, including chief officer Harry Crabtree's assertion that he wouldn't let his children drink it, the village overwhelmingly rejected a mains supply. The vote was 167 to 26 in favour of the existing supply but some of those in the minority threatened legal action, saying there was no contract or anything in writing about the supplies from the local source.

The bell from the old Catholic church in Upper Settle was removed in a tricky operation involving a crane and taken to the new church in Tillman Close. The bell was found to bear an inscription dated 1871.

10 years ago

ISLE of Man based Bride Brick Company, the owners of Linton Camp, said it would appeal to the High Court in its bid to develop the derelict Linton Camp. They had lost several planning applications and two inquiries. Linton Parish Council wanted the land to be returned to agricultural use.

Yellow lines were removed from Barnoldswick Town Square after complaints from locals who said they had been put in with no thought given to what the local people wanted. Shopkeeper Jenny Purcell collected 1,300 signatures on the petition and Pendle council backed down.

Settle GP Barry Brewster was at Buckingham Palace where he received the MBE after spending 30 years as the community's doctor. While waiting to meet the Queen he said he had had a lengthy talk with Olympic gold medal winning cyclist Chris Boardman.