100 Years Ago

THE new Craven Association Football League was "being licked into shape" and due to begin its league fixtures in October. Meanwhile Skipton Association had played Skipton United at football and the paper had words of advice for players and spectators. The players, said the Herald, would "show better sportsmanship if they accept referee's decisions without audible and occasionally ill-mannered comment. The official has plenty on his mind without being perturbed by a few of the players' ill-concealed hostility". Meanwhile spectators had the effrontery to make insulting remarks and threats. "This so conduct must be suppressed or the association game will not be accorded that share of the public patronage it deserves," was the paper's verdict.

Aireville, home of the Dewhurst family, was up for sale. The head of the family, John Bonny Dewhurst, had died the previous year.

Drought caused the council to shut down Skipton's water supply from 10pm at night until 5am until further notice. Whinnygill Reservoir was unusually low but the Infectious Diseases hospital at Cawder Ghyll had to be supplied by a water cart after its source, Campbell's Well on Rombald's Moor, had run dry. If work continued through a mild winter, a pipe line from Embsay Moor could be laid into the High Street, which would act as an auxiliary supply.

50 years ago

LANDOWNERS and farmers in Settle were said to be impressed by a demonstration of rabbit gassing in the Cleatop and Buckhaw Brow area. The West Riding Agricultural Executive Committee had introduced a new mechanical gas impeller machine which pumped cyanide into burrows. The snows of 1947 had virtually wiped the rabbit population out, but they were back with a vengeance. It was estimated that around 200 would have been exterminated during the demonstration.

Parents at Horse Close had received letters from the Skipton Road Safety Committee asking them to stop allowing under fives to play on the roads. An increasing number of children were doing so and the committee was fearful for their safety.

Earby Urban District Council meetings were unlikely to be concluded much faster despite a recommendation by chairman JW Greenwood for them to finish at 10.15am. He was told that meetings usually went on to 10.30pm and that sacrifices had to be made by councillors who were representing the people.

25 years ago

UPPER Wharfedale residents were still unable to get a decent television reception and were getting fed up of the national park authority's "dithering". The Independent Broadcasting Authority had been waiting for more than two months for a response from the national park regarding the siting of a booster station at Wassa Hill, Conistone. The delay was over the building of a stone relay station.

In the end Kilnsey Limes office worker Charles Naylor was so fed up of a poor TV picture that he arranged for the company to provide the stone and labour to build the station. The national park, however, still said the IBA should continue with their application in the normal way and would look at it at a future meeting.

Skipton was branded "filthy" in a letter to the town council by resident B Thomas of Raikeswood Drive. She said she was outraged and dismayed as a resident and ratepayer at the state of the High Street. The council said it was due in the main to the stallholders who allowed litter to spread along the street. It was also pointed out that vomit in Providence Place remained there until the rain washed it away.

Members of Craven Pot Hole Club swapped wet suite for lounge suits when they celebrated the organisation's 50th anniversary at the Victoria Hall, in Keighley. The club began modestly with few members and virtually no tackle to explore any but the easiest of caves. Fifty years on and membership was 200 with a headquarters at Horton-in-Ribblesdale, a library and plenty of equipment.

10 years ago

THE 11th Cross Hills and District Allotment Association show held at Glusburn Institute was used to impressive exhibits gracing its stands. But everyone was open mouthed when Gillian Webster and her son Howard placed an 8.35kg (16lb) cabbage on the table. The monster veg was the largest they had ever seen and was duly awarded first prize.

The Herald's trusty old printing press which had lain idle since its retirement in 1988 was being offered free to anyone who could give it a good home. The press had been acquired in 1930 and used weekly until Westminster Press took over the company and printing was transferred to the Telegraph and Argus, in Bradford. Even though there was interest in the machine by the Museum of Science and Industry, in London, which described it as "a most important object", no one came forward and it had to be scrapped.