100 years ago

THE Herald took issue with an article in the Yorkshire Observer which complained about the proposed tramway line from limestone quarries to be opened by John Delaney on Threshfield Moor to Threshfield's new railway station. It raised concerns about the impact of the development on the landscape.

However, the Herald correspondent commented: "It seems very romantic to say you live so many miles from a railway, but it's extremely inconvenient and moreover expensive. The farmers and residents of Wharfedale found this out many years ago and were thankful enough to have railway facilities provided for them."

A tramp was sentenced to one month's hard labour by Skipton magistrates after he refused to break stones at the town's workhouse.

50 years ago

SETTLE was intending to push the boat out for the Queen's Coronation. The programme of events announced included on the day itself children's sports, communal tea, a procession to the Market Place to hear the Queen's speech relayed on loudspeakers. Later in the week would be a tea for the elderly, adult sports, a talent spotting competition, combined production by the town's amateur actors, an Elizabethan fayre and fireworks on Castleberg. Also going on were competitions in the town for photography, best decorated arches, best shop window, best allotment, best vegetable garden and best decorative garden. Settle certainly knew how to celebrate!

St Mary's parish rooms in Ingleton were overflowing for a special film show. Resident Reg Hainsworth had acquired a cine camera and was staging a show of the past year in Ingleton which proved so popular that all chairs were taken long before the film started.

25 years ago

SKIPTON Parish Church sold off Millfields, in Coach Street, now occupied by Coffee Care, for £12,000 and was to proceed with a plan to build new rooms at the back of Holy Trinity at a cost of £24,000. The scheme was popular in the town as pledges sufficient to make up the shortfall had been received.

A public meeting in Elslack vowed to fight plans to close the village school, saving the county council £12,000 a year. Henry Tempest said that it cost twice as much to keep a child at borstal as at Elslack school, but there was never a shortage of money for delinquents.

Ribble Valley Protection Association met to discuss a planned reservoir between Long Preston and Hellifield. Surveying of the site, over 2,400 acres, was taking place and the association was promised that there would be full consultation before the final decision was taken later in the year.

Boxer Frank Bell suffered a massive stroke and died. Frank had been a top British heavyweight in his day who had fought champion Tommy Farr in the latter's first fight after challenging Joe Louis for the world title. Farr went the distance with Joe Louis, but was knocked out by Bell, who ran a greengrocer's on Rainhall Road, Barnoldswick. Bell fought and beat the best, but just failed to win the really important bouts which would have guaranteed a shot at the title and he later moved to Morecambe, where he died.

Phyllis Coultherd retired after 28 years as a teacher at Clapham School, which she had joined when she was Miss Sangwin.

10 years ago

A COCKATIEL was credited with saving the life of two women in Carleton. Its shrieking woke them up and they came downstairs to find an open fire had set light to an armchair and they fled the house. The fate of the cockatiel was not recorded.

Barnoldswick Town Council shelved plans to stage an outdoor market in the town. It was felt that a market would only duplicate existing shops, do nothing for the local economy but lead to price wars, ill feeling and difficulties for existing shops.