100 years ago

THE chairman of the Skipton bench of magistrates expressed his displeasure at parents who gave their offspring unusual names. When a witness by the name of Doctor Grimshaw, of Barnoldswick, was called to the stand, onlookers looked on in anticipation to discover the identity of the town's new medic. But when a boy of 12 entered the box and said he was the "Doctor" in question, their curiosity gave way to laughter. The chairman remarked that it was a shameful thing to give children such Christian names.

Answers to questions posed by school examiners were causing amusement. One candidate explained "shoddy" as a kind of drink used much in Ireland, while a shed for keeping water in was the natural definition for "watershed". The three highest peaks in Great Britain were said to be Ben Nevis, Ben Lomand and Ben Jonson, while one English Literature student informed examiners that the earliest newspaper was the Anglo Saxon Chronicle!

The Addingham Cow Club held its annual meeting. The group was described as a "useful institution" which, for a trifling yearly fee, indemnified members against the death of their cattle. Over in Barnoldswick the Teetotal Club wasn't faring quite so well. The group was said to be in a bad way, being £40 in debt. There had been dissatisfaction with the current committee and at the half yearly meeting a clean-sweep was made of its members.

50 years ago

AN Airton woman who founded the Association of Women with Large Feet was now crusading on behalf of tall women. Phyllis Crone asked 500 members to contact any tall ladies who required large sizes in clothing and footwear, and to forward their particulars. The information would be submitted to the clothing trade as a guide to producing new, larger sizes in attractive styles.

Hubberholme's ancient parish church was facing a £3,000 repair bill. Cracks were appearing in the building as a result of damage by the River Wharfe which flowed past its door. While £3,000 was a "formidable" amount for a parish with only 200 souls, friends of the church from far and wide had already donated £836.

The future development of Skipton was under debate, with the urban district council saying the town should expand and the county council saying it shouldn't. The county estimated the population would expand by only 660, to 14,006, between 1948 and 1971. But the urban council said this did not take into account Skipton's importance in the production of high quality textiles, or that "it formed an unusually well balanced and prosperous community". The local councillors noted the population had increased by 1,300 since 1923 and saw no reason why that expansion should not continue for those reasons alone. The town as it was could be home to 25,000 people, although any more than that and it was felt it would become irregular in shape with various consequent disadvantages.

25 years ago

PENNINE Motor Services held a dinner dance for employees to celebrate the firm's 50th anniversary. The Craven bus company had been established by brothers Arthur and Victor Simpson and brother-in-law Jim Windle, and was described as one of the few independent operators in the country. Twenty-five years on and the firm is still independent and still on the road.

Hellifield's "village bobby" PC Ronald James Mobbs retired after 29 years in the force. Mr Mobbs had started in Hellifield 10 years previously when he covered the 7,000-acre beat by bicycle. A decade on and the beat also took in Halton West, Swinden and Nappa and was patrolled mostly by car. "With the advent of the car the village bobby as such is dying out," said Mr Mobbs.

Villagers in Ingleton flew the flag to leave a Department of the Environment inspector with little doubt over their loyalties. Almost 200 Union flags were displayed on buildings and shops, while children sported them on their bikes. The inspector was conducting an inquiry into the Yorkshire Dales National Park refusal to grant consent to display a flag at White Scar Caves.

10 years ago

A TEAM of bailiffs was ready to knock on the doors of Craven folk who had not paid their poll tax. The final instalment was due by February 1, but during the year 2,353 people had been summonsed for non-payment.

Skipton's new Morrison's supermarket was halfway to completion. The store, being built on the site of the former auction mart on Broughton Road, was due to be finished by June.

Earby cricketing star Glen Chapple jetted off to New Zealand as the youngest member of the England Under 19s tour side. At just 16, his selection for the squad had come as a pleasant surprise. Glen, who had played for Earby since the age of seven, believed it was his fast bowling skills which won him a place on the New Zealand tour.

North Craven residents were voicing strong opposition to plans for an official gypsy site in Ingleton. Some 140 protestors packed into a meeting of Craven District Council, which had to provide a site by law. Five possible sites in Ingleton and one in Skipton had been suggested, but councillors agreed to look at further possible sites before reaching a decision.