125 Years Ago

A MOVEMENT was afloat in Ilkley in 1876 to provide a pack of beagles to hunt the district. The group of people who were anxious to establish a pack said the inhabitants of the district had no opportunity of indulging in this favourite sport, the nearest existing pack being the Bradford and Airedale Harriers which only very occasionally met in the Ilkley district. They believed that an efficient pack would enable hunting men to gratify their inclinations, and would prove a source of healthy recreation to all who participated in the sport, and a welcome relief to the monotony experienced in Ilkley throughout the dull period of the year.

DURING a stiff gale, one of the old fashioned thatched cottages near the Lister's Arms Hotel, in Skipton Road, Ilkley, was blown down. It had not been occupied for some time but those on either side of it were tenanted and the Ilkley Free Press expected they would be allowed to stand until a similar gale brought their tottering walls to the earth.

100 years ago

A MARRIAGE in Ilkley in 1901 was greatly delayed and much annoyance caused to the parties by the non-appearance of the parson who had forgotten all about the engagement, said the Ilkley Gazette. This was not the end of the tale for the bride and bridegroom for they were considerably put out by an announcement of the event in the church magazine coupling the bridegroom and the bridesmaid together instead of the bridegroom and the bride. What next? asked the Ilkley Gazette.

SOME 1,520 parishioners of Ilkley Parish Church signed a memorial pressing that the Rev J H Kempson should be appointed to succeed his father as Vicar of Ilkley. "What the outcome of the memorial will be we cannot say, but such an array of names should carry a great weight at any rate and in all probability will result in Mr Kempson's selection unless the trustees have already a successor in view," said the Ilkley Gazette.

A NUMBER of Ilkley young fellows attached to the Lee's Troop of Yorkshire Hussars were endeavouring to establish a corps in Ilkley. A total of 40 names of those willing to join had been submitted.

75 years ago

A REMARKABLE display of the Northern Lights was witnessed in the Ilkley district in March, 1926. They were first noticed in the west as a 'beautiful golden glow, shining from behind a mass of clouds and gradually spreading towards the North'. When the sky was clear the Aurora Borealis appeared as a steady glow. However, when the clouds came between the spectators and the light, the golden rays appeared to give a brilliant radiating effect of streamers of light of a varying intensity giving the impression that there was a huge fire beyond the horizon. The effect continued for about an hour.

'ON Ilkla Moor Baht 'At' has been sung in many circumstances in many different countries, said the Ilkley Gazette which reported that it had now been sung by Yorkshire Rotarians in the depths of a Rand gold mine in South Africa whilst they were touring that country.

A PRESENTATION was made to Mrs Milford, headmistress of the Addingham High Council School (infants' department), to mark her retirement after about 30 years service with the school.

50 years ago

PREPARATIONS for Ilkley's celebrations of the Festival of Britain were well on the way according to the chairman of the organising committee, Mr F Atkinson, at a meeting in March, 1951. Proposals were in hand for entertainment and a United Service in the King's Hall on the last Sunday in May. The Halle orchestra had submitted a programme to be played at a concert in June. Mr Gillie Potter had agreed to act as chairman of the quiz to be held in June and a series of drama and concerts had been arranged.

A SEVEN-YEAR scheme to modernise and decorate Menston Hospital was going steadily ahead despite difficulties of over-crowding and under-staffing. The hospital was built to house 1,800 patients more than 60 years previously and in 1951 2,500 cases were treated with a long waiting list. A shop, caf and beauty parlour were very welcome additions to the women patients.

FOLLOWING four years of reconstruction, rebuilding and struggling to raise the necessary finances, Ilkley Lawn Tennis Club had shown during the last season a well equipped pavilion, an improved approach road to the grounds and had put their equipment in good order.

AT a special meeting of the Ilkley Urban District Council, it was agreed to make a rate of 19s 6d in the pound for the coming year.

25 years ago

A PLAN to re-sewer the

western part of Ilkley at a cost of £456,000 was approved by the Yorkshire Water Authority in 1976. The scheme was planned to cut down the very heavy maintenance costs of the

present sewer and also to stop the River Wharfe from being polluted by untreated sewage..

PAUL Chapman, of Wharfedale Grange Farm, The Drive, Ben Rhydding, was surprised to find the unusual occurrence of a set of quadruple lambs all alive and healthy.

THOUSANDS of gallons of milk spilled over the road when a large Milk Marketing Board articulated tanker overturned onto the pavement at Burley-in-Wharfedale's notorious Malt Shovel corner.

ILKLEY Middle School Choirs and Orchestra, as part of the Bradford Schools Drama Festival, were invited to give two lunchtime concerts in the Bradford Theatre Library.