100 Years Ago

STRENUOUS and seemingly successful attempts have been made to reintroduce the otter to Wharfedale. Back in 1905 the Wharfedale Otter Hounds were doing their best to wipe the animal off the face of the earth. It had made 17 kills in 1904 and the new season had started, led by Captain Thompson, a Skipton JP and son of the late rector of Addingham. However the Herald noted that eels were the otters' favourite dishes and some angling clubs on the Wharfe, not convinced that otters took too many trout, were taking steps to preserve the animal, which would provide more sport for the hounds.

An education committee report showed that there were 324 children of school age in Skipton's Broughton Road area but the nearest school was at least three quarters of a mile away, causing hardship in winter. The committee resolved to treat a new school in the area as a necessity.

The main pipeline from Embsay to Skipton was practically completed and by the end of May a new source of water from Embsay spring would actually be coupled up to Skipton's existing and deficient supply and all fear of shortage would then be over. The next step was completion of the reservoir.

50 Years Ago

ELECTION fever was mounting in Skipton and the Conservative candidate Burnaby Drayson announced 54 public meetings in 16 days. Meanwhile Labour candidate Vincent Richardson had attracted former Chancellor of the Exchequer and future Labour leader Hugh Gaitskell to a meeting in Skipton on May 21. Both sides tried to book an eve of election rally in the Town Hall and it was decided to toss a coin. The Labour agent called incorrectly and so their rally was switched to Brougham Street School.

Upper Wharfedale Secondary School was nearing completion and would be ready for occupation by August. A head teacher had been appointed and the first six teachers. The head was CW Atkinson and the first teachers were named as a Mr Lawrence, J Claughton, Colin Gledhill, Donald Robinson, Miss Diana Dunford and Miss Margaret Hewitt.

In response to an urgent telephone call to the Ministry of Housing and Local Government, authorisation had come through for the immediate installation of a booster station with electrical pumping equipment to augment Grassington's water supply. The village and its neighbours Threshfield and Linton had trebled in size in the last 50 years and the water supply had not kept pace but the booster station would ensure that there would be no shortages during the summer.

Barden Bridge was to be closed for repairs for three months and the bus service to Appletreewick was suspended. The bus company said it could run one bus a week, on a day to be chosen by the villages, but the council thought a diversion from Burnsall could be made.

25 Years Ago

WORLD famous soprano Elizabeth Harwood, a regular at La Scala, Milan, Glyndebourne and Covent Garden, returned to her roots. The ex-Skipton Girls High School pupil gave a performance of Haydn's oratorio Creation in Skipton Town Hall with the Skipton Choral Society. The Craven Herald criticised the state of backstage facilities and her dressing rooms. Mirrors were coated in dust which people had written on, matches and cigarette ends were strewn all over and chairs were coated in dust which would ruin evening dresses. The Herald said the condition of the hall was inexcusable given the status of the performer.

New fire regulations meant that Skipton Little Theatre lost its licence for public performances. It could only operate as a private club, admitting members who produced a membership card. A large amount of time and money would be needed to implement the alterations required to admit the public said the players.

Settle Pool was to start a Friends of the Pool scheme after North Yorkshire County Council pulled the plug on its funding as an "economy measure". A list of electricians, plumbers, builders and general willing hands was to be compiled to cut costs.

Two top sportsmen were in town. Darts player Alan Evans was at the Rolls-Royce club in Barnoldswick where he was beaten by Gargrave's Stuart Smith (a result rather uncharitably described in the paper as "a fluke"). Meanwhile at Settle Social Club snooker star Dennis Taylor beat 20 local players despite giving them all a big start.

10 Years Ago

THE Tories suffered their worst trouncing in living memory in elections to Craven District Council. They won just one of the 12 seats up for grabs - and that was perhaps due to Shelagh Marshall being unopposed. Labour won two seats and the Liberal Democrats three seats from them.

New traffic calming measures in Settle were frowned upon by English Nature. It said the red tarmac on Duke Street was "bizarre" and had an "aggressive impact" upon the local environment.