100 years ago

Proposals to build a slaughter house in Skipton came before the Local Government Board this week in 1900. A barn on Newmarket Street was proposed as a suitable site.

Doctors were puzzling on how to relieve a six-year-old boy of a toy whistle lodged in his stomach. The boy had swallowed the whistle while taking a long inward breath and it had become stuck. Every time the boy cried, he whistled and when he laughed the same shrill noise could be heard.

A French doctor had discovered a new process for embalming bodies - with a metal coating as was done for forks and spoons. In this manner, it was claimed, the body was preserved indefinitely and in such perfection that the most imperceptible wrinkles and lines were reproduced and the embalmed body had the appearance of a metal statue.

50 years ago

THERE was good news for drinkers in Craven. A cheerful advertisement featuring a father helping his son build a sand castle in blistering sunshine told readers that after war rationing, beer was now stronger, and cost no more.

Barnoldswick-born diver Raymond Cann was selected as an Olympic Games trialist at the tender age of just 12. The prodigy had recently been awarded second place in the men's springboard championship for the northern counties and was now preparing himself for the 1952 Olympic Games.

Five men were arrested after a dance at the Literary Institute in Ingleton got out of hand. Two of the men were arrested for being drunk and disorderly, and all for obstructing a policeman in the course of his duty. They had encountered the young constable outside the door of the dance, and a fight had ensued. The constable arrested them despite being in 'civvy' clothes and not being on duty.

25 years ago

"EMMERDALE Farm" stars Ronald Magill (Amos) and Frederick Pyne (Matt) opened Arncliffe Fete. The village had close links with the television soap as it was used as the original location of the mythical village of Beckindale.

The Upper Wharfedale Museum at Garrs Lane, Grassington, was officially opened this week, after months of hard work. The opening was followed with a film on the history of Grassington's lead mines which proved so popular, it was repeated twice on successive evenings so no-one missed out.

Following the previous week's discovery of a styca coin, an even rarer coin was unearthed by a pupil at Skipton's Ermysted's Grammar School. The 'sceatt' coin was only the twelfth to be found in Britain and was taken to the British Museum where it was declared priceless. The tiny copper coin was minted during the reign of Eadbert as King of Northumbria 737-758 AD and showed a picture of a stylised animal representation of a horse or dragon known as a "fantastic quadruped".

The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester announced their plans to visit Skipton, Long Preston, Settle and Giggleswick to mark North Craven's participation in European Architectural Heritage year.

10 years ago

THE first ever wedding took place at Airedale General Hospital, Steeton - in the day room of ward one. Alan Woodcock, who was recovering from a severe stroke, married his bride and a reception was also held in the hospital.

A ban was imposed by Yorkshire Water on the use of hosepipes, with fines of up to £400 for offenders. The ban was necessary due to the unprecedented hot weather and lack of rainfall which meant reservoirs were only 55 per cent full. Other water-saving measures were also recommended.

The Angel Inn in Hetton received second prize in the Guinness Pub Food Awards. After a fiercely contested competition held in London, the prizes were presented by Chris Kelly, presenter of BBC2's Food and Drink Programme. The pub won an all-expenses paid holiday.