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 of people celebrated at a wide variety of events, from church services to bonfire

displays.

And the new millennium also brought new life to one couple,

Julie and Andrew O'Brien returned home to Yeadon this week clutching one of the first Scottish babies of the millennium - Jamie Andrew.

Mrs O'Brien, 31, gave birth a month

prematurely at 12.15am on January 1 at Edinburgh Royal Infirmary after the couple had travelled to Scotland to see in the new year with Mrs O'Brien's school chums.

Mr O'Brien, who said he was flabbergasted at the birth, added: "We did have tickets for the events in Princes Street and have still got them here unopened."

In Otley, hundreds of people made the muscle-burning climb up Otley Chevin where a bonfire was lit as midnight approached and the crowds enjoyed a grandstand view of hundreds of different firework displays to every point of the compass.

In Guiseley a crowd of more than 2,000 gathered at Aireborough Leisure Centre to see a Millennium beacon lit on the stroke of midnight and a fantastic firework display.

In Horsforth, church-goers attended two ecumenical services while in a Pool-in-Wharfedale pub, a group of friends toasted the 21st century with a drop of ale from the 19th.

In Burley, years of work to organise a special millennium night party at the cricket club paid off in spectacular fashion when more than 2,000 people turned up to celebrate the event.

And despite fears of unrest, fuelled by extended pub opening hours, police reported a remarkably quiet night, with the number of arrests being the same as any other Friday night.

At Wharfedale Hospital staff at the Injuries Unit were on stand-by but also reported a quiet night.

Leeds City Council has announced every primary, secondary, high and special school pupil in Wharfedale and Aireborough is to receive a special

commemorative Millennium mug as a special present from Leeds City Council.

l For full details and pictures of the celebrations, see pages 3,4,5 and 14.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.