100 years ago: Just about every public place in every town and village was full to bursting with festive frolics. Live music was the main crowd-puller, as bands promised to play all night and Craveners strived to shed a few calories before the Yuletide tuck-in.

No effort was spared at a party given for the inmates of the Skipton Workhouse. The strict dietary table was relaxed for the day and "good and appetising" meals were served together with extra allowances of tobacco, snuff, tea and sugar. The inmates tucked into roast beef and plum pudding, and gifts of tobacco, fruit and knitwear were received. However, the rule that no beer or other types of alcohol be given was observed. Entertainment in the form of Skipton Harmonic Union was also enjoyed in the dining room.

In the rest of Craven, church services were held and reported good attendances - appropriately Christmas day was on a Sunday 100 years ago. In Settle, a large crowd gathered in the market place and sang carols to the accompaniment of Settle band. At midnight the bells of Ascension church were rung.

At Skipton's Conservative Club, the serious affair of the Christmas billiards contest was brought to a conclusion, with W Spencer emerging as overall victor. All 65 competitors received a prize.

50 years ago: For those who had already been out to several functions and had danced till they'd dropped, Skipton Regal and Plaza cinemas were offering some quiet, seated entertainment. Edward G Robinson was appearing in I am the Law, and Oliver Twist was being screened starring Alec Guinness, Kay Walsh, Robert Newton and Francis L Sullivan. At the Plaza, heart-throbs Clark Gable, Spencer Tracy and Claudette Colbert were drawing the crowds with Boom Town. Not to be outdone, Gregory Peck, Dorothy McGuire and John Garfield were appearing in the award winning Gentleman's Agreement. Tempting the crowds to the cinema the following week were bill-heads advertising Sandy Powell in Cup-tie Honeymoon. This was to be followed by the aptly named The Bride Goes Wild starring Van Johnson and June Allyson.

For Craveners who had a penchant for panto, Cinderella was being staged at Skipton Town Hall.

Because Craven was still doing its best to recover from the war, notices of encouragement had been posted in the Herald by the Skipton Joint Production Committee for Textiles. It read: "Campaigning - in all Skipton weaving mills from Monday Jan 3 to Good Friday, April 15 1949. Target - to increase production by 10 per cent. Britain's recovery depends on more exports of textile piece goods". Clearly, the economic situation was still dire in all parts of the country.

25 years ago: Panic had ensued at Steeton's Airedale hospital after TV star Leslie Crowther failed to turn up when he was due at 9.30am. He was visiting the hospital to record "A Merry Morning" for Christmas Day television, but due to the thick fog his plane was unable to land at Yeadon airport and was instead diverted to Manchester. However, things were no better at Manchester as they too were experiencing a pea-souper. He finally touched down on Teeside. Then it was a mad dash down the motorway by taxi with a driver who didn't know his way. He got to Airedale at 3pm. After filming, autographs were signed and the children of Ward 18 were presented with a colour television. Also taking part in the show was ventriloquist Ward Allen.

Two hitch-hikers, Andrew Wilson and his Finnish fiance Kaija Kettunen, were grateful for a lift from a man in a big yellow Ford - but the festive spirit soon turned sour. The man picked them up in Huntington, as they were on their way to Craven to spend Christmas with Mr Wilson's parents at Glusburn. However, during the journey they stopped at a service station on the A1 for a cup of tea. Whilst they were drinking it the man with the big yellow Ford drove off taking their bags, clothes and Christmas presents with him.

10 years ago: North Ribblesdale Rugby Club had gone potty - at least three of its players, Henry Morphet, Martin Sharp and Aubrey Knights had when they each broke a leg in separate incidents. Not only did the club have a record season on the field, it also broke records with its number of mishaps resulting in plaster casts being applied. Well, they do say things come in threes!

Teams from Craven's rescue organisations had been assisting in the search for bodies and debris from the ill-fated Pan-Am jumbo jet which exploded and crashed at Lockerbie. Teams from Upper Wharfedale Fell Rescue Association and Craven Rescue Organisation had been at the scene with local dog handlers, including Andrew and Alison Colau, of Horton-in-Ribblesdale.

A police marksman had to shoot a cow that had gone berserk and was heading for Skipton town centre. It had been taken to Kingsway veterinary centre for treatment and had been put in an area to the rear of the establishment. It suddenly changed from being a quiet, docile beast into a mad and aggressive animal and had broken through a rail fence onto Otley Road before running off down the road. A firearms officer from Skipton was brought in to shoot the animal, which had become a danger to the public.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.