100 Years Ago

Skipton Locomotive Ambulance met at the Old George Hotel in Skipton to present certificates and make a special presentation to Dr Waugh, the instructor. The great work which the railway ambulance did was shown a few weeks previously when Captain Yorke, of Halton Place, Hellifield, was travelling towards Skipton and had the misfortune to cut an artery in his wrist through the breaking of a carriage window. The train was stopped to locate a doctor but the fireman, a member of the Locomotive Ambulance, was able to put his first aid skills to use. Captain Yorke was so grateful that he sent two guineas on to the firemen as a token of his gratitude.

Trade in Skipton was "miserably slack" as the populace headed off for its holidays. Morecambe was "besieged" by Skiptonians said the Herald. Returns from the Midland Railway Company showed that more than 3,000 Skipton people had taken a train to the seaside in a three day period.

The Skipton Volunteers had been on exercise in Castleton for the weekend. Upon their return they were marched along Broughton Road and drew up outside the Town Hall before being dismissed.

50 Years Ago

GRAVE concern was expressed at a meeting of Skipton Rural District Council at an unnamed quarrying firm's proposal to start a quarry at Butterhaw, near Thorpe. A petition had been drawn up against the proposal and the district council expressed a very firm 'no'. The decision would be made by West Riding County Council. Under the proposal the whole of Butterhaw Hill would be removed.

A second Methodist minister was back in Skipton for the summer retracing his old roots. David Simpson had left the town 48 years previously for Alberta, Canada. His thoughts on the town were that he did not like the stalls on the setts and thought they would be better accommodated in a covered market behind the setts. "He also thinks that something should be done about the parking problem in the town. He considers the cobbled frontages are not used economically," reported the Herald, as if it was only yesterday and not 50 years ago!

Remember when obtaining a mortgage for a house required a great deal of forelock tugging? Skipton Urban Council set up a scheme for those who did not have the necessary deposit for a mortgage to build or buy their own house. It would charge four per cent interest. The council was also offering grants to put bathrooms and hot water systems into houses.

Naturalists were wondering what had happened to the corncrakes in the district. They were now rare in Craven, but half a century ago they could be found in virtually every meadow. Kingfishers were also deemed to be scarce compared to their previous numbers.

25 Years Ago

A COMEDIAN who lived in Airton, Ian Sands, was to appear on Radio 2's Frankie Howerd. Mr Sands, of Garris Cottage, was to have eight minutes air time on the programme which also featured guests George Melly and Diane Solomon.

More than 1,200 turned up to Wharfedale Rugby Club's annual gala, the centrepiece of which was a "Superstars" event, won by the club's own John Metcalfe. He beat off opposition from Burnley footballers Paul Fletcher and Alan Stevenson, David McNiven from Bradford City, boxer Gary Felvus, fell runner Fred Reeves and all rounder Roger Ingham.

A public inquiry was held into a planning application to build houses on Skipton's Devonshire bowling green. Solicitors acting for the would-be developers, Skibeden Securities, said the council had only turned down the planning application because it feared adverse publicity. Estate agent Geoffrey Lodge said there was a serious shortage of small houses in Skipton and building houses on the bowling green would redress the balance. But the council argued that the bowling green had been serving the people of Skipton for 103 years and was an important local amenity which had just installed floodlights. Housing would also create serious traffic problems in the area argued the council.

10 Years Ago

BARNOLDSWICK'S Gala is no more, but it was a huge thing in its time. In 1994 Cannon and Ball were the main guests and the gala field was heaving with visitors.

Bentham entered the modern era as the first 'hole in the wall' cash machine came into operation in the village.

Campaigners for the Settle-Carlisle railway line were called to arms again after Regional Railways announced it was to axe early morning through trains to Leeds and Carlisle. But a report said the decision was "perverse" given the investment in the line and regional regeneration plans.