100 years ago

THE arrival of a motor tricycle was creating a great deal of interest in Gargrave. Mr R Towler Wilkinson had taken delivery of the vehicle from Paris. It was of the very latest type and believed to be the first in the district. If desired, a speed of 20mph could be obtained easily, reported the Herald, and at night the tricycle carried a new type of gas lamp which gave off a very powerful white light.

Moving on to a more traditional form of transport, the Herald reported the case of a local labourer who was summoned before the Court for being drunk in charge of a horse. The defendant's excuse was that he was drowsy and had fallen asleep on the horse's back. He was fined five shillings.

Also in the courts, an Earby woman was summoned for the irregular attendance of her son at school. He had only attended 57 times out of a possible 255, but the defendant said she was unable to send him because he had no boots. There were six children to keep and she only earned 12 shillings a week, four of which went on rent.

50 years ago

THE biggest salvage drive to date was about to take place in the Skipton district, with the emphasis on waste paper. The council had entered a competition being promoted by the Waste Paper Recovery Service which was offering prizes totalling £2,000 to those areas which collected the most. A drought in Scandinavia had led to a reduction in exports of wood pulp to Britain, resulting in a shortage of paper. Bottles and glass containers were also in short supply, holding up the distribution of bottled foods to shops.

Burnsall Sports was to be revived in August after a break of nine years. The famous sports meeting had been due for a revival the previous year, but the organisers decided to cancel it following an outbreak of infantile paralysis in the district. "These sports are a relic of an old Dales Feast and the fell race itself is believed to have originated nearly 100 years ago," said the Herald. "The steep and craggy fell up and down which the race is run under Amateur Athletic Association rules is a severe treat for the finest athletes."

Skipton Secondary Modern School took advantage of a restitution of excursion rates by British Railways, with 80 pupils and staff enjoying a trip to London. After the "thrill" of their first experience on the Underground, the pupils visited the city's famous landmarks, including the Houses of Parliament where Skipton division MP, Burnaby Drayson, had arranged a tour. One of the highlights came when the children ascended the clock tower and had explained to them the mechanism that rung Big Ben.

25 Years Ago

A JUDGE ruled against an Arncliffe farmer but expressed sympathy with his cause. Judge Suddards, sitting at Skipton County Court, said that Arnold Fell had to pay Yorkshire Rivers Authority £20 for a licence to abstract water from a spring on his own land. The farmer protested that before the authority was set up, he never had to pay. The Judge said that the law was quite specific but he felt the fee could only cause ill feeling. He refused to order Mr Fell to pay the authority's costs.

Twenty-two doctors signed a letter calling for a maternity unit to be established in Skipton General Hospital if the proposed closure of Cawder Ghyll maternity unit went ahead. The doctors, from Skipton, Settle, Earby and Barnoldswick, said that a small unit could be absorbed into the hospital.

One of the worst moor fires for many years broke out on a mile long front of Farnhill Moor, forcing the closure of the road south of Bradley.

How's this for long service? The death was reported of a man whose working life lasted for 83 years. William James Spence started working as a farm labourer at the age of 10 in Carlton-in-Coverdale after leaving the village school. He came to Skipton at the age of 14 to work in the mills. Various other jobs followed until, at the age of 20, he joined Skipton solicitors Charlesworth, Wood and Brown as a clerk. He retired from there as managing clerk 73 years later at the age of 93 in 1968.

10 Years Ago

Prince Charles visited Craven to see the way it was being regenerated. His visit took in High Corn Mill, Craven Court and Skipton Castle before moving on to Gargrave's Dales Enterprise Agency and the Broughton Hall estate. It was the first visit by a member of the Royal Family since the Second World War. There were many opportunities for locals to meet the future king as he stopped frequently to chat with locals.

Grassington newsagents Eric and Ruby Musgrove retired after almost 23 years of running the newsagency in the village. They had come to Grassington from Harrogate and their shop was unusual in that it did not sell sweets and confectionery. They said their biggest problem was finding people to deliver newspapers.

Wharfedale rugby club's surge up rugby union's rankings started when they secured promotion from the North East Division One League with a battling 4-3 win over Rotherham. John Stockton ploughed over for the all important try and they had to survive a rousing last few minutes, including a missed Rotherham penalty from near the posts, to finish top and go up into the North Division Two league.

Gargrave man Will Mitton had carved exact models of Skipton Castle and Gargrave church which were featured in the paper. Mr Mitton had grown tired of just carving sticks and his superb replicas were drawing many admiring comments.

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