100 years ago

THE Leader of the Opposition in the Commons and future Prime Minister, Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman, came to open Skipton's Liberal Club's bazaar. He was accompanied by several of the leading lights of the Liberal Party and they visited the local leader JB Dewhurst who had been confined for several months due to illness.

Part of an ancient roadway at Threshfield was revealed. A trench was in the process of being cut across the Threshfield road terminating at the south end of Grassington stone bridge to a depth of more than two feet. A paved roadway was exposed which showed signs of being an ancient packhorse road, dating back to the 17th century, when the first old portion of the bridge was built.

50 years ago

Willie Smith, ex-world billiards champion, gave a masterly exhibition of billiards and snooker at Skipton Working Men's Club, including playing several exhibition matches with local players.

Children and friends of employees at Belle Vue Mills, Skipton, were treated to a party and fancy dress carnival in Welfare Hall. There was a fancy dress parade from the children, after which they all received a present from Santa, hats and balloons. Fred Hudson and his band played for the singing of carols and games.

A Clapham girl was awarded first place in England in the London City and Guilds examination in embroidery. D Margaret Scott, was formerly a student of Skipton Art School and went on to the Leeds College of Art.

Stainforth elected its first parish council. There were 10 candidates for five seats and Miss W Rowe headed the poll with 71 votes.

25 years ago

BAR takings at Skipton Cricket Club had plummeted and chairman John Pearson told the annual meeting that he knew why - people were taking drinks and not paying for them. There could be no other explanation for bar profits falling from £1,400 to just £440 and the club was going to tighten up on payment. Former captain G Fairhurst said it was deplorable and totally incomprehensible.

Richard Meredith, head at Giggleswick School announced he was leaving to take up an appointment as headmaster of Monkton Combe, a public school near Bath.

An inquest blamed poor street lighting at Coniston Cold for a road accident which killed the village post office holder as he stepped off a bus at night. It was the fifth death on the road at Coniston Cold in two months and locals were calling for speed limits and a bypass.

10 years ago

NORTH Ribblesdale Rugby Club was split in two by the vote to accept an £800,000 offer to buy the club's second team pitch and build a supermarket on it. A special meeting rejected a counter-offer of a £100,000 "no strings attached" sponsorship deal from Yorkshire Co-op providing they did not sell the pitch. As the vote was announced chairman Trevor Graveson immediately resigned and a number of members walked out in disgust. Later they said they would seek to overturn the vote on a legal technicality. Meanwhile traders in the town condemned the rugby club and said a supermarket could cripple the town.

Market traders packed a meeting of Craven District Council and warned they were taking the council to the High Court over its new regulations for Skipton market. Specifically the traders did not like the rule which said vans could only be parked on the High Street on market days for loading and unloading only, and could only be left for "a reasonable time". The council voted to keep its regulations and seek legal advice.

Nora Smith unveiled the plaque outside Skipton Town Hall to her late husband Herbert. He had been designer of famous World War One aeroplanes such as the Camel and built by the Sopwith firm. After the war he had taken a job in Japan, then Britain's ally, and designed Mitsubishi warplanes which were later used against the Americans at Pearl Harbour. But this resulted in him being ostracised at home and he died in obscurity until Skipton came to recognise the genius of one of its sons.

Skipton Golf Club celebrated its centenary with a dinner at the golf club. The club was praised for having foresight and the courage to improve its facilities and was now the best in the locality said the Yorkshire Golf Union.

Bernard Barraclough closed down the jewellers' shop he had run in Church Street, Settle for 28 years. However, he was not going into full retirement as he intended to continue repairing watches and clocks in the town.