100 years ago

THE Skipton Board of Guardians were criticised for recommending a miserly £7 a year wage increase for their medical officer. A Herald columnist hit out at their lack of generosity, saying Dr Readman put in more hours at the workhouse than his modest salary of £45 a year compensated him for. Many of the inmates had chronic ailments and Dr Readman was liable to be called out any hour of the night. His request for a pay rise was not met with enthusiasm, however, and their recommendation of an extra £7 a year would be put to a future meeting.

A group of 50 quarry workers and lime burners met in Ingleton to hear a talk from union official Walter Wood on "Why working men are so weak and discouraged". After his talk it was agreed to form a branch of the National Union of Gasworkers and General Labourers and 36 workers enrolled.

Some 600 employees from a firm in Manchester descended on Bolton Abbey for their annual outing. The visitors enjoyed meals in a specially erected marquee before visiting local attractions and enjoying various sports.

50 years ago

CONTROVERSY was raging in Grassington over the parish council's decision to introduce a 6d weekend parking charge on the square. Disgruntled traders complained it was affecting business and called for the charge to be dropped. A special meeting of the parish council was called and the chairman explained they had introduced the charges temporarily to try and ease the "parking chaos" during the summer. People were parking their cars in the square and going to the river, at times blocking in the ambulance, doctor and other cars.

An RAF jet became the second aircraft to crash in North Craven within three weeks. A jet meteor plane from an RAF station near Darlington crashed on Burn Moor between Keasden and Slaidburn, exploding on impact. The previous aircraft, from the same RAF station, had crashed on the foothills of Ingleborough.

Barnoldswick boxer Frank Bell was celebrating victory against Eddie Vann, who held the world record for a quick knock-out. The 15st 4lb Vann was knocked out by Bell in the second round of a scheduled eight round contest after four minutes five seconds. Bell trained at Barnoldswick's Rolls-Royce gym with sparring partner and ex-northern middleweight champion Jimmie Bray.

25 years ago

PUPILS at Arncliffe stepped back in time to celebrate their school's centenary. The youngsters starred in a Victorian play depicting what life would have been like at the school 100 years before. As part of the celebrations, every pupil was given a piece of hand-made pottery made by Mrs Walker, of Litton.

A 24-feet boat made by boys at Aireville School finally left the woodwork room. It was to remain on dry land, however, as part of an adventure playground at the Gill House Centre for handicapped children in Skipton. The pupils had designed the boat themselves and it was to form the centrepiece of the playground. Skipton Round Table had come up with the idea and would be paying for the equipment.

At another school in Skipton, tributes were paid to the retiring head of Water Street, Mr TC Booth. He had been at the school for 27 years and was praised for having faith in the staff and pupils and for his coolness in moments of crisis.

10 years ago

AFTER years of struggling to survive with a congregation of just three, Howgill Chapel, near Appletreewick, was to close. The listed building had been constructed in the 1830s and seated up to 100 people. Services had been reduced to one a month but attendance was still minimal.

Pupils at Skipton Girls' High School became stars of the small screen when they were filmed for TV-AM as part of a series on good state schools. During their five-hour visit the camera crew filmed a variety of lessons, sports and work completed as part of the Duke of Edinburgh scheme.

Skipton Rotary Club welcomed a group of young visitors on the 12th Tour of Yorkshire. The visitors came from nine different countries including, for the first time, Hungary. They had each been sponsored by their local Rotary club and enjoyed a variety of cultural and leisure activities.