100 years ago

THE North Ribblesdale Show held at Settle was "disastrous" due to the heavy rain, continuing the trend of washouts. The show field was saturated and it was an unpleasant task for the judges to wade through the mud and rain. The show had enough in hand to stay solvent, unlike many other shows which would be in financial trouble because of the terrible weather.

The education committee heard that absenteeism in schools was running high as parents whose own holiday week did not coincide with the school break kept their children away. In the Skipton area 240 children were absent in the first week of the return, with Embsay particularly badly affected as the village mill closed on the same week as the school reopened.

The death was reported of Mrs Ackernley, the well-known owner of the Ship Hotel. In recent years she had provided hot meals for poor children in Skipton, the only source of regular hot food for many of them.

Five Skipton "passive resisters" appeared in court. These were Nonconformists who refused to pay a portion of their rates because the money was used to support Church of England Schools. Among them was Rev Charles Higgins, the Primitive Methodist minister in the town. Warrants allowing bailiffs to seize goods were issued and the passive resisters said they understood the courts had no option but to follow the law.

50 years ago

The drought in west Craven was getting worse not better. Barnoldswick Council reported that appeals for economising water usage had produced a disappointing response. In fact consumption in August was as high as it had been in May, when there had been no shortage, and demand had actually risen in September so far. But the local people were being forced into making cuts - a loud speaker van was to tour the town announcing that, unless there was heavy and prolonged rain, Barnoldswick's water supply would be cut off from 6pm to 6am.

In Earby residents were already almost a week into a 6pm to 6am cut in supply and this had produced considerable savings. However, the council was considering extending the cut from 3pm to 8am.

The drought was also discussed by a meeting of Craven Tenant Farmers in Malhamdale, where the supply had dried up completely. Ironically as the meeting was opened, heavy rain began to fall. Farmers in Malhamdale were losing vast supplies of milk because they could not cool it using water and it soon went sour in the heat. RL Wright, of Airton, said he had had no water for seven weeks. Water for livestock to drink had to be carted daily from the river Aire. A major scheme to take water into the dale was under consideration by Settle Rural District Council but farmers grumbled that there seemed to be a lot of "messing about".

The rugby season kicked off with a 9-9 draw between Skipton and Upper Wharfedale at Sandylands. The paper's correspondent pulled no punches: it was "easily the poorest display of rugby seen on the ground for a long, long time". For Skipton H Crook scored a try and RW Lambert kicked two penalties, RD Barker replied with three penalties for Wharfedale.

The big attraction at Bertram Mills Circus in Skipton would be the flying elephant. Gosta Kruse, elephant trainer, said "if the weather is right, our elephant will fly" adding that it had not been taught to take off in rough conditions. The circus was setting up in Aireville Park where a mini town, with its own water and electricity supply and telephone links would be set up.

25 years ago

SPOT the sheepdog belonging to Lister Walmsley of New House Farm, Grassington Moor, was off work after he was attacked by a wild mink in the farmyard. His leg was broken by a bite. Several mink had been spotted in the area and 12 months previously Joe Smith of Linton Falls had trapped several in the vicinity of Burnsall Fish Farm.

The landlord of the Blue Bell in Kettlewell, Danny Bell, was celebrating the pub's 300th year. It had been built as a hostelry in 1680.

Sutton-in-Craven was going to the polls in the first parish poll in the history of Craven District. Although in North Yorkshire and Craven district, it was attached to the Keighley Parliamentary constituency and its electors were being asked if they wanted to join the Skipton constituency. Parish council chairman Tommy Carter said a vote for Skipton would diminish any threat of Sutton becoming part of the Bradford Met District.

10 years ago

SKIPTON'S taxi drivers wanted a harder test, with more local knowledge, for a licence to operate. They claimed too many drivers from Leeds, Bradford and Keighley, some of whom could barely speak English, were getting licences. Their claims were denied by the council.

Posters were put up in Giggleswick seeking information on the death of Gertrude, a popular duck, run down by a speeding driver. Postmaster Tony Barclay said around 50 ducks gathered around Tems Beck and drivers should take care.

The first woman chief executive of Craven District Council, Gillian Taylor, was announced. She had fond memories of the district - she met her husband at a field centre at Hebden while staying as a geography student.