100 years ago

THE Leeds and Yorkshire Architectural Society visited Giggleswick School to see the new chapel being built at the expense of Walter Morrison. Members were given a detailed description of the chapel by the clerk of works.

Giggleswick School had also held its annual prizegiving. According to the report the governors, in harmony with the scheme of the Endowed Schools Commission, provided liberal education for boys who intended to proceed to universities, to compete for appointments in the Civil Service, to pass entrance examinations to Woolwich, Sandhurst or Coopers Hill or enter the legal or medical professions.

The feat of driving from Lands End to John O'Groats had been completed in a "remarkably short time" by motorist John Stirling Hamilton. The 900-mile trip took 59 hours and 15 minutes, with Mr Hamilton doing an average speed of 15mph. The car consumed 28 gallons of petrol.

50 years ago

KIRKBY Malham had an unusual claim to fame, as a village with no children. For over three months, said the Herald, there had been no youngsters to brighten up village life. Previously Kirkby Malham School had 70 names on the register, mostly children from the village itself. Now, there were just 20 pupils, all of whom came from neighbouring Malham and Hanlith. The change was blamed on the fact that families were nothing like as large as they used to be and the modern trend of people leaving the countryside for the towns and villages.

The Association of Women with Large Feet, founded by Airton woman Phyllis Crone, now had contacts with all the English speaking nations, it was reported. Mrs Crone had recently been visited at her home by two Australians seeking information about the group. She originally formed the association to persuade boot and shoe manufacturers to produce attractive footwear for women with big feet. However, her latest triumph was to persuade one of the country's largest firms of women's outfitters to make ladies suits and coats catering for tall women. There were now branches of the association all over the country. There had been talk of changing the name of the group to the Association of Tall Women but its founder preferred the original title for sentimental reasons.

Additional facilities for mixed bathing were to be introduced at the open air baths at Moor View, Skipton, during the school holidays. During June the baths had attracted 5,647 bathers.

25 years ago

THE Flying Scotsman made a whistle-stop visit to Skipton Railway Station to pick up the town's mayor, Coun Jack Robinson, and his wife. The engine was hauling the "Pioneer Express", an exhibition train touring the country advertising the hi-fi products of Shriro UK Ltd. The mayor and his wife enjoyed a champagne trip to Leeds.

Concern was expressed over the future of Skipton High Street, which was becoming "chock-a-block" with banks, estate agents and building societies. The comments were made as Skipton Town Council considered plans to change the use of the former Hole in the Wall pub to offices. Councillors said retail shops were being forced out to the fringes, making the main street "dead" from a shopping point of view. Craven District Council was urged to look at the long-term future of the High Street.

A crowd numbering 7,000 flocked to Bolton Abbey for the village's second country fair. The event was held to raise money to build a new village hall.

An incidence of vandalism was deemed so serious that it warranted a picture and report in the Herald. A car parked at Skipton's LMS Club had been scratched all around the sides and over the roof, leaving the owner facing a bill of over £100. An everyday occurrence these days, sadly.

A textile firm based at Earby's Albion Mill had gone into liquidation. The closure of Booth and Speak would lead to the loss of 70 jobs.

10 years ago

STAINFORTH'S James Caton broke the record for the number of sheep sheared in a day. He gave 531 Swaledales a short back and sides - amply beating the previous record of 457, achieved by a Derbyshire shearer. James worked for over 11 hours, completing an average of 48 sheep per hour.

Any hope that Skipton's Raikeswood Hospital would be given a last minute reprieve from closure were dashed, as the last of the equipment was removed. The closure had been bitterly opposed by local people - despite the promise that money from the sale of the building would finance an extension at Skipton General Hospital.