SIGNIFICANT mementos from Skipton's past have been presented to Craven Museum by one of the area's most renowned families.

Katherine Farey donated two ornate keys that unlocked important places in Skipton's history.

They are so meaningful because Katherine's father was the first mayor of Skipton and she was mayor twice.

The first key was presented to her father William Richard Gibbs Farey at the opening of Embsay reservoir on June 21 1910 by GH Hill and Sons Engineers.

The second was presented to him at the opening of the electricity supply in 1923 by Skipton Urban District Council.

Mr Farey had been instrumental in the struggle to set up Embsay reservoir which became vitally important to the Skipton people.

At a ceremony at the Dales Nursing Home in Draughton, Miss Farey, now 89, gave the keys to mayor Richard Colley who received them on behalf of Skipton and presented them to museum officer Siobhan Kirrane for safe keeping.

She said: "I am glad to take these for the Craven Museum, we will look after them I promise for the future generations. They stand for the Farey family and how hard that one family fought for public service."

Former councillor Claire Brooks spoke of the Farey family's contribution to public life.

She said: "Kay has been involved in local affairs in Skipton all through her life. For many years she was on the urban district council, Craven District Council, and Skipton Town Council. Skipton Town Council has been very successful and a large part of that success was caused by Kay. All the way through her life.

"Kay has provided service to the public and taken her duties very seriously. I feel very, very proud to have known her and I am so glad so many of her friends have come here on this special occasion for her."

Thanks were extended to staff at the nursing home for setting up the event and to Miss Farey's business partner and executor Megan Fluck for organising the hand over.

Miss Fluck said: "I wondered whether the ceremony was the right thing to do but I think the keys are worthy of all the fuss."

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