100 years ago

GOLF a century ago was proving to be dangerous to both man and beast. Many birdies had been killed by flying balls and an Ilkley player had tripped over a dog, rendering himself disabled for quite some time. Meanwhile a caddie was attacked by a swarm of bees and landed himself in more bother when he tried to fend them off. He apparently kicked his team's ball and their opponents won the round at the last hole.

At a meeting of Skipton Urban Council, members voted to take over the duties of the burial board. A few objections had been received, however, as some members felt the council had enough to do, what with the erection of new slaughterhouses and the taking over of the gasworks. Councillors Smith and Mason said they could see no reason to take the duties away from gentlemen who had taken pleasure in doing it.

After 20 years of idleness, Ingleton cotton mill was again a hive of activity in the manufacture of acetyline gas, though an engineers' strike had held up production for several months. A 33ft diameter wheel powered by water from the river provided 160 horse power of energy.

50 years

Skipton heroine, 26-year-old dance teacher Peggy Knapton, had been awarded the parchment of the Royal Humane Society after rescuing three-year-old Donald Bell, of Highfield Terrace, from the Leeds to Liverpoool canal. At the same time one of her pupils, Patricia Fox, of Westmoreland Street (who had been crowned gala queen the previous week) was awarded the society's resuscitation certificate for her administrations on the towpath.

Crooning to cows was said to improve milk flow. Craven farmers were reported to be singing to their cows prior to milking to help them relax (the cows, not the farmers!)

Meanwhile, a woman was said to have marched up to a teacher at a Dales school brandishing a large hammer. When nervously asked what she wanted she said she was looking for the bench at which her son sat. It turned out that there was a nail regularly tearing his trousers and she had gone to knock it in!

A ballot held at Skipton town hall put a stop to the idea of Sunday cinema showings. A vote of two to one put paid to the motion, but Captain RCM Frost, who was in favour of Sunday openings, said the matter was by no means over. He was sorry that advocates for the Sunday cinemas had not been present in larger numbers. However, Mr W Hardacre, district commissioner of the Boy Scout Movement, said they tried to teach hobbies and other worthwhile interests and the cinema was helping to destroy home life.

25 years

A "LIVE" bomb was found by Derek Garforth, of Russell Street, Skipton, as he used a metal detector near a footpath through Aireville Park. The area was cordoned off and the army called in. The bomb, lying about 15 inches below the surface, was a highly explosive mortar bomb and had probably been left behind by army personnel who had been billeted there during the war. The bomb was taken away for disposal.

A debate was going on as to the ownership of a hill in Threshfield known as Round Hill. Threshfield parish council had registered it as common land, claiming that for years villagers had been collecting pea sticks, rockery and walling stones from the land. Local farmer Charles Kitching was disputing four acres of the claim and was claiming what were, in effect, squatter's rights. Mr Kitching said he had been using the land since 1928 and no-one had queried his right or asked for rent. According to Mr R Harland, representing the council, the land belonged to Lord of the Manor, Sir Martin Wilson. He had written to the parish council saying the land was his and he wanted the parish of Threshfield to have full use.

10 years

Rumours that Skipton's £3 million Randell's hotel project (now Hanover International) was experiencing serious financial difficulties were denied as "malicious" by Thomas Randell. He said there had been some set-backs but these had been resolved and that more men had been taken on only the week before.

Just a fortnight previously, Coun Claire Brooks had laid a foundation stone on the canal-side site where the 60 bedroomed hotel was being built.

Showing his might and muscle in Settle was the then world's strongest man, Jon Pall Sigmarson. He had been invited to open the new health and leisure centre at the Sidings Industrial Estate on Cammock Lane, the brainchild of Les Doughty of Main Street, Bentham.

Proud dad, John Bilsborough of Wensleydale Avenue, Skipton, had been chosen as Woolworth's "Top Dad". He beat hundreds of other nominees. His daughters, Claire and Alison had put his name forward and his win brought him an Olympus AF10 camera and film worth £100.

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