100 years ago

Skipton was deserted as, for the first time in its history, a general holiday was declared for the majority of workers. The holiday had come about as a result of a ballot of the workers in the most of the workshops and factories in the town. Special excursion trains took millworkers to the seaside for a week.

Alarming rumours were circulating Skipton about a bear on the loose, devouring children and hugging its attendant to death. The real story came out in a court case when Skipton Magistrates' heard that a Frenchman had come into the town with his performing bear. The traveller made money by "terrifying timid women and children" with his fierce bear, which had been beaten to the point of exhaustion. Magistrates wanted to jail the cruel owner, but had to settle with a fine when they realised there was no-one to look after the bear in his absence.

At the annual shareholders meeting of the English Sewing Cotton Company, made up of mill-owners in Skipton, it was proposed that the company and its buildings be sold to American businessmen, J and P Coats. The transfer did not go ahead.

The Prince of Wales (the future King George V) visited Bolton Abbey as guests of the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire for grouse shooting. The Prince travelled to the estate by train, by way of London, Leicester, Leeds, Guiseley and finally Bolton Abbey station, where he was greeted by hundreds of well-wishers.

50 years ago

A POTHOLER from Oldham took the new world record for spending 14 days underground, in the depths of Gaping Gill, Ingleborough.

Greatwood School in Skipton was due to open on the following Monday, two weeks behind schedule. Meanwhile the Government agreed to fund a new Glusburn County Secondary School, which would afford relief to existing secondary and primary schools in Glusburn and Silsden. The new facility would have a five-form entry and was scheduled to be built in 1954-5.

A Skipton prisoner-of-war held in Korea was released. Private Ralph Austin, aged 29, of Brookside, Skipton had been a POW since April 1951. Pte Austin, a reservist who joined the 1st Battalion Gloucester Regiment, was captured after eight weeks of the war. A huge celebration was planned with family and friends.

Children in Addingham were causing a nuisance in Memorial Close and adjoining buildings, including the Methodist Church in Main Street. They were breaking windows, throwing things and shouting abuse when told off.

25 years ago

TWO campers found themselves at the centre of a midnight rescue drama at Ingleton after one slipped on the notorious waterfalls footpath in the early hours of the morning. Twenty-one-year- old Alan Duncan fell 15 feet towards the waterfalls after a night out at the local pub, but managed to grab hold of a bush on the way down. He was rescued by members of the Cave Rescue Organisation.

"Earby people belittle their own town" were the parting words of the vicar of All Saints' Church, Rev Donald Carpenter, as he left for a new role at Christ Church, Skipton. He declared that Earby was "a fair land, a good place to be" and said privately he had hoped to stay in the town forever.

Three Barnoldswick darts players were awaiting confirmation from the Guinness Book of Records that they had cracked a darts endurance record. They played 52 hours non-stop at the Rolls-Royce Club.

10 years ago

SILSDEN motorcycle trials rider Dougie Lampkin created history when he became one of the youngest winners of the British solo trials championship qualifiers. The 17-year-old had to pass his driving test earlier that year to enable him to compete in adult trials and international events. Dougie is the son of British world champion Martin Lampkin, who was awarded an MBE in January last year.

A 21-year-old cystic fibrosis sufferer completed a 130-mile walk to aid charities concerned with the disorder. Alison Alcock from Skipton fared better than her highland terrier, Monty, who developed an abscess on his paw during the walk from Liverpool to Leeds via the canal bank.

Skipton supermarket Morrisons sent a huge inflatable dinosaur to Nigeria after a customer saw it advertising PG Tips. The store manager was more than happy to allow the inflatable tyrannosaurus rex to leave the store and travel to a school in Benin City, near Lagos, to amaze the children.

The first ever job club in Craven opened its doors in Skipton. The job club was run by Craven Training Association Limited and was open to all those who had been unemployed for more than six months.