IN these long weeks of lockdown, I have passed the same road sign while out walking, pictured, what seems like several times a day. After a while, I noticed it was actually quite dirty, and after a few more times passing it, it started to annoy - so, and following the relaxing of coronavirus restrictions, I took a bucket of water, with a cup of vinegar - the best way to clean a dirty sign, so I am told, and with my extendable mop gave it a good clean, see below. My efforts have gone down well in the West Craven village where I live; and several passers by shouted ‘well done’ out of their car windows while driving past while I was doing it. Bizarrely, even a county highways officer paused on his way past and commended me on a job well done. I am now looking at other signs in the area to clean up, and perhaps others might like to follow my example - just take care to keep off the roads, now traffic is back to almost normal levels.

SKIPTON Gala was one of the first big annual events to be cancelled this year due to the coronavirus pandemic, and a great shame too - hopefully, it will be back next year when we can all enjoy the spectacle.

Meanwhile, I am grateful for this rather lovely picture, sent in by a reader, who would like to know if anyone knows anything about it. He tells me the picture was taken from a glass negative, which explains why it is so pin sharp, but apart from that, he knows nothing about it - including the date. All we can see from the picture is that it was indeed Skipton Gala, and it appears to be of the gala queen and her retinue, including a page boy. If anyone recognises anyone in the picture, please email news@cravenherald.co.uk and I will pass the information on to the owner.

A LOT of people seem to have spent part of the coronavirus lockdown sorting out drawers and coming across all sorts of long forgotten photographs - indeed, a relative keeps sending me pictures of the pair of us as teenagers, in the late 70s and early 80s, very amusing. I have however, been very pleased to receive a cutting from the Craven Herald sent in by reader, AM Crossley, from Skipton, entitled ‘Vanishing inns of Skipton: One licence to every 100 inhabitants’. Its not the first time I have seen it, in fact it often reappears, it being such an interesting subject, but it is certainly well worth another look. Written by local historian Dr Geoffrey Rowley, whose collection of fascinating photographs can be seen online, and who wrote many articles for the Craven Herald in the 1950s and 1960s, the article lists all the pubs still remaining at the time, and those that had been lost -either demolished or converted for another use.

Worth remembering again was the Ship Hotel in Sheep Street, which went in July, 1924. It had been set back and rebuilt in 1889-90 when Ship Corner was widened from 23 feet to 42 feet at its narrowest point. The Ship had been known by that name as early as 1772, but there was an inn here in the previous century said Mr Rowley.

DO you have a burning desire to transform your garden or back yard? Have you money aside, but not sure how to go about it - you may perhaps need some inspiration to take a bold step. If so, you might well be what the makers of television’s Your Home Made Perfect are looking for.

Remarkable TV, part of the Endemol Shine group, say they are now branching out to people’s gardens and are casting in Craven, with plans to start filming later in the year - with whatever coronavirus restrictions are in place.

The programme makers say competing designers will immerse the lucky garden owners in cutting edge technology to show awe-inspiring designs for your new garden. And then you get to choose the one you want to build in real-life.

Filming is being planned for summer and autumn. Programme makers and those working on the garden will need access to participant’s houses and gardens, for filming and ‘renovation’ purposes; discussions will take place how best to achieve this, within government guidelines.

Still interested? register your interest by emailing garden@remarkable.tv Applicants must be at least 18 years old.

ANYONE keen to get their fix of sheep watching now all the agricultural shows, and of course the Skipton Sheep Show, have been cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic, might want to check out a national virtual sheep show.

The third Online Sheep Show took place on May 23, and attracted entries of about 1,800 in 67 classes and judged by 15 judges, from across the country.

Competition, say organisers, was fierce across the classes with some breeds such as Texels having more than 150 entries. Exhibitors competed for a range of prizes donated by the shows’ sponsors, and included £150 in cash prizes from Greenlands Insurance, a painting from Steph Burch, ear tags from Allflex, Animac sheep show rugs and shearing course vouchers donated by British Wool.

There were two winning entries - taking top honours from judge Roland Williams, was a Texel ewe lamb from Ben Vernon, Staffordshire.

Ben said “I thought the online sheep show was a very well put together and organised way of showcasing our sheep under the current climate we are all experiencing due to Covid 19, it was easy to enter and I’m over the moon to have won interbreed. A special mention must go to all the organisers and sponsors for making it happen.”

Stu Gamble, of Shropshire, who came up with the idea, said: “The show season is such an important part of the farming community year, showcasing agriculture and rural life. Shows provide opportunity to showcase your stock and most importantly socialise after a long winter. The shows are irreplaceable, but this goes a little way to replicate the vital role they play in the agricultural community.”

The show can be view at: www.facebook.com/TheOnlineSheepShow/

IT was 50 years ago, on June 5, 1970, the at the Craven Herald reported on the last Diocesan Conference to take place. The conference took place in Skipton Town Hall, where it had been for 50 years, and was to be replaced with the Diocesan Synod, which would be closely linked to the Deanery Synod and a General Synod. Addressing the conference in Skipton for the last time, the Bishop of Bradford, the Rt Rev Michael Parker said one of the weaknesses of the present system was the absence of a link between the Church Assembly and the Diocesan Conference and also at a local level there was no link between the Conference and the local Deanery Synod - all three bodies needed to be closely related to one another, he stressed.

SKIPTON Charities Gala, in June, 1970, was to see one of the biggest caravan rallies ever seen in the area. Through the co-operation of the gala committee and the North Lancs Caravan Club, over 100 caravans were to descend on Skipton and join in the gala activities. Two were also to take part in the gala procession.

EMBSAY Methodist Chapel in June, 1970, reopened after a facelift. Erected in 1839, the original pews of the chapel had been taken out and the building re-floored and tiled. New light oak pews were installed and the former side aisles replaced by one centre aisle with blue carpeting. The Methodist Society at Embsay was confident that when the full cost was known, any sum outstanding would be covered by direct giving. The chapel was full for the Sunday School anniversary.