100 Years Ago – 1918

The sixty eighth annual meeting of the Bradford City Mission had been held at the Westgate Baptist School, Carlisle Road, followed by a reception provided by the President of the Bradford Free Church Council. The work of the missioners, was very arduous and the staff had been thanked for their sacrifice and continued support in helping others. A paraffin shortage was on the horizon for the folks of Bradford, following an increased demand for coal. Taking steps to control the situation the Petroleum Pool Board had announced a restriction on the use of oil for heating purposes and prohibited any hoarding. Meanwhile, a complication had arisen during a wage dispute by Bradford’s cabinet makers. Guided by the salaries of aircraft woodworkers the cabinet-makers who had originally demanded an additional 3d per hour, had now requested that the increased rate, should also apply to domestic trade. The rather unexpected move by the employees was considered as entirely unreasonable.

85 Years Ago – 1933

A notable advance in the progress of Unionism in the Bradford South Division, had been made after the opening of the Listerhills Women’s Unionist and Conservative Association Club new rooms in Shearbridge Road. Kicking off the celebrations was former member of the City Council for the Listerhills Ward, Dr. Herbert Shackleton, whose late wife Mrs. Shackleton had founded the association. To commemorate her unselfish work a photograph of Mrs. Shackleton had been hung in a prominent position in one of the rooms. Eric Walker Johnson, a 17-year-old pupil at Grange High School for Boys had been crowned a year of scholastic success by winning the Isaac Holden Scholarship which was worth £70 a year for three years and was tenable at Oxford or Cambridge. Meanwhile, Bradford Northern Rugby League Club had announced the capture of a centre three-quarter of ‘considerable ability’ named Halton, from Rochdale Hornets.

50 Years Ago - 1968

A struggling Bradford Park Avenue AFC, now faced a new problem after manager Jack Rowley had agreed to take over as manager of Third Division Oldham Athletic. The shocking news which was reported in the Telegraph & Argus September 27, 1968, also stated that the club was struggling to find any new directors. Faced with one of the biggest financial crises of its history, Bradford Park Avenue had reached out to Sports Minister Denis Howell.

Laying the foundation stone for the Provincial Building Society’s new £1m headquarters, was the Lord Mayor of Bradford, Alderman Arthur Walton, who was joined by the society’s president, Mr. E. A. Gadie. The new 10-storey headquarters only a short distance from the Provincial Building Society’s present building, pre-cast and covered in mosaic, would soon become the home for a two-storey banking hall and computer centre.

60 Years Ago – 1958

St. John the Evangelist in Great Horton had finally re-opened after a fire in 1956. Celebrating the rebuild was several firemen who had been dispatched on that fateful Sunday afternoon in February. With an insurance pay out of £21,525 and generous donations from the public, the spirit of the church had prevailed. Mademoiselle Adrienne le Gain, leading saleswoman from the House of Dior, was back in Bradford after spending six months touring the British Isles, Sweden and Italy. Showing a collection of the season’s new designs at an undisclosed location, she remarked that black seemed to be more predominant than ever. And a family of four from Eccleshill, narrowly escaped after stonework from the gable-end of their home crashed to the ground during high winds and heavy rain.

35 Years Ago – 1983

Devil-worshippers may have been at work in Baildon for the second time in two weeks, after a witches’ symbol, almost identical to one scorched into the earth on Baildon golf course, had been discovered on Tong Park Cricket Club’s pitch. Bradford City Executive Club Chairman Graham Hartley had spent the day counting the cost of a trip to Port Vale after his car had been savagely attacked by football hooligans. And thanks to the T&A publicly putting pressure on City Hall, Bingley’s famous Five Rise Locks would now finally be sign-posted, for its visitors.