100 Years Ago

THE Herald was leading a campaign to make all Skipton schools take the same weeks off for holidays. Doubt was cast over the schoolmasters' willingness to bring the holidays forward to the summer months. At that time some holidays started at the end of August or even the beginning of September to fit in with local manufacturers' requirements.

The Second Active Service Section of the Third Duke of Wellington's (West Riding) Regiment who had lately returned home from South Africa enjoyed a "smoking concert" at the Devonshire Hotel, Skipton. Colonel Robinson, on behalf of the officers and men of the head quarter companies, presented gifts of watches, chains, medals and cuff links which would serve as mementoes to the soldiers who had fought in one of the "severest struggles in its history".

The postponed celebrations for the King Edward VII's Coronation were finally fixed for Saturday, August 9. The events had been postponed due to the King's sudden illness, although events in some other villages had still gone ahead in late June and early July.

50 Years Ago

TWO Craven agricultural shows, Gargrave and Hellifield, decided to cancel their cloven hoof classes, following outbreaks of foot and mouth in the country. To compensate, trotting had been re-introduced at Gargrave to extend the programme and motorcycling was due to be held for the first time at the show. A 50 class dog show was to be introduced at Hellifield.

Mr C W Packer, lecturer in religious education at the University of Leeds was guest speaker at the annual open day of Ingleton County Secondary Modern School. Chairman of the Governors, Mr W W Thornber outlined the importance of such schools in teaching both the minds and hands of pupils. It was also stressed that the school was overcrowded, with pupils coming from 16 different areas and desperately needed more room.

A Skipton schoolboy took a starring role in the first of a new series of BBC plays by Margaret Potter called "The Adventures of Samuel Poppleton". The plays featured Robert Kayley, a member of Ermysted's Grammar School Dramatic Society, and were to be broadcast on BBC Northern Children's Hour programme.

25 Years Ago

THREE long-standing teachers at local schools retired as the summer term came to an end. Edgar Shillito had been head at Embsay for 26 years, Trevor Edwards had been head of geography at Ermysted's for 37 years and Rita Lee had been a maths teacher at South Craven for more than 20 years.

A poll of Kildwick residents revealed that 99 per cent of them wanted to leave Bradford Met and join Craven District Council. The final straw had been cuts in Bradford's grass cutting service in outlying villages, leaving Kildwick's recreation ground in a sorry state.

Jack Heald, former editor of the Craven Herald resigned from his post of press officer for the Ribblesdale Cricket League when they criticised him for "allowing his enthusiasm as a journalist to override his responsibilities to the league". His crime was to report that Settle's captain was to submit an adverse report about the standard of umpiring in their latest match. Mr Heald said the league wanted to act as censor.

Two big names were around for galas. Helen Worth, who played Gail Potter (now Gail Platt) in Coronation Street opened the event at Ingleton but an even bigger name was at Barnoldswick - legendary comedian Les Dawson.

10 Years Ago

A SORRY stretch of water in Cononley, Dead Eye Pond, was restored for educational and recreational use by pupils at the Primary School and adult helpers. Over 100 years worth of debris was cleared from the pond, including a complete car, with the aim of restoring it to its natural state and encouraging pond and bird life.

England rugby captain Will Carling presented two Craven girls with their Gold Duke of Edinburgh awards. The former captain of the England team made the presentation to Joanne Lewis of Cross Hills and Suzanne Lynch of Skipton.

Kenneth Pearson, a dairy farmer from West Marton swapped his fields for the high seas to take part in a gruelling 28,000 mile yacht race around the world, racing against nine others.

Cars were banned from parking on Skipton setts until 6.45pm on market days to give council staff time to clean up. The rules are still in force today - but widely ignored.