100 years ago

CRAVEN was in the thick of general election campaiging, with the Herald unashamedly backing Conservative candidate Walter Morrison. The burning issue was Home Rule for Ireland, with the Liberals backing devolution and Conservatives taking a Unionist stand.

The editorial of 100 years ago stated: "Mr Morrison is one of ourselves, living amongst us and knowing our wants; a man of wide experience, great knowledge of the world, of education and culture yet withal a practical man."

Radical candidate, Frederick Whitley-Thomson, was dismissed as a "colourless character" whose views seemed almost beyond criticism. The editorial continued: "From what we can gather from his speeches, he is one of those theoretical and unpractical individuals who are out of place in Skipton. He admits he knows nothing about agriculture, he is a perfect stranger to the wants and requirements of the division and we can only sum up our opinion in the words of an old Quaker who thus referred to his opponent: 'He may be a good husband and a kind father but we know nothing of him and he knows nothing of us and therefore we do not want him'."

A mountaineering feat by five teenagers would ever remain on record as a matter of local history, reported the Herald. The youths, aged from 13 to 17, tackled the Three Peaks, setting off from Clapham at 8.10am. They reached the summit of Ingleborough at 9.55, then descended the valley before climbing to the summit of Whernside. By this stage a thick mist had descended, hiding the peak of Penyghent. Undeterred, the teenagers used their compass to make for Horton and ascended the brunt side of Penyghent, reaching the summit at 6.18pm. They then returned to Horton and finally arrived at home at 9pm. A "substantial" supper was to be organised in honour of their achievement.

Three motorists had a lucky escape after a car being driven from London to Kendal crashed near Devil's Bridge, Kirkby Lonsdale. The driver, a Dr Heath, lost control of the vehicle due to a brake defect and it crashed into iron railings, smashed to pieces and then blew up. Dr Heath was stretchered off to the Royal Hotel while his two passengers escaped with a "severe shaking".

50 years ago

Barnoldswick residents were worried about the safety of catapults being used by local children. Both youngsters and adults had been injured by catapult missiles and, of course, windows were never safe.

Skipton Division MP, Burnaby Drayson, was given the honour of being the Conservative Party spokesman at Conservative Central Office in London for an important press delegation from Yugoslavia. According to the Herald, Mr Drayson knew Yugoslavia well having motored extensively in the country when he paid several visits to the World Trade Fair.

A postman on his daily round discovered an exceptionally large mushroom. The giant fungus measured 11 inches across, with a 34 inch circumference and weighed one-and-a-half pounds.

25 years ago

ELAINE Whinkup, of Earby, won her second accolade of the year when she took the Bamber Award, presented to an outstanding young person in West Craven. Earlier in the year, Elaine had won the Shaw-Greening Award for outstanding achievement by a young person in Earby. She received the accolades for her numerous successes, which included becoming a Queen's Guide and taking a keen interest in the Guiding movement. She also represented Skipton Girls' High School at swimming, gymnastics and hockey, and was vice-captain of her house games teams. In addition she led a voluntary service group at the school, which put on a party for 100 elderly people. She was also a Sunday School teacher and a part-time babysitter.

Cheeky motorists in Barnoldswick were driving their cars to the local car park and then travelling on the free Council of Social Service minibus to visit people in hospital. Apparently they did so to save money, as the price of petrol was very high. However, it was pointed out that the bus service was launched for people who were forced to use public transport, with its high costs and inconvenience, and not people who could afford to run cars.

10 years ago

BRADLEY Parish Council certainly took to heart the message of a National Savings advert encouraging "all savers great and small". They billed the film crew £100 for using the village playing fields in the advert without their permission.

Bolton Abbey rejoiced as television gardener Geoffrey Smith presented the parish council chairman John Sheard with a trophy for the "Best Kept Village in the Dales".

A wagon, complete with its crane attachment became stuck under the railway bridge in Hellifield, and it was some time before it was freed. Structural engineers later had to be called out to ensure the bridge was safe.

Work started on a £150,000 extension at Sandylands Sports Centre in Skipton. The project would create two championship-standard, glass-backed squash courts and two multi-purpose rooms for aerobics.