100 years ago: The Skipton Temperance Society held a public meeting to advocate the closure of public houses on a Sunday. The chairman told the gathering that the curse of drink was destroying the morality of hundreds and thousands of their fellow citizens - including children. During one year in Liverpool, more than 2,000 children had been convicted of drunkeness, 313 of whom were under 10 years of of age! While the closure of public houses on a Sunday would not help the private drinker, he said it would save the man who stopped at the pub and got drunk for the want of nothing better to do. The gathering unanimously agreed to a resolution that: "This meeting deplores the delay of a reform so necessary, so urgent and so loudly demanded as the suppression of the sale of intoxicating liquors on the Lord's Day."

Plans for an infectious diseases hospital in Barnoldswick were accepted by the appropriate committee and sent off to the Local Government Board for approval. The plans provided for the separate treatment of both scarlet and typhoid fever, as well as accommodation for nurses and servants. There would also be a room for disinfecting clothing, washing, ironing and drying rooms, an ambulance shed and a mortuary.

50 years ago: An ambition of many years was realised by the 9th Skipton (Christ Church) scout troop when they opened their new headquarters off Shortbank Road. Never in its 20 year history had the troop had its own HQ, and it was the initiative of district commissioner Mr W Hardacre and a small group of parents that was responsible for the purchase of the former army hut. Money was raised through whist drives, dances and jumble sales and the scouts, helped by their parents, decorated the premises to make it an "ideal den".

Carleton man Mr F G Ashworth was elected chairman of the Skipton branch of the National Union of Teachers. In his address, Mr Ashworth spoke on a "united profession as a hope for the future": "Never was there a time like the present when there was a great need for teachers to realise that they are colleagues working together as a profession on behalf of the nation's youth," he declared.

Refuse collectors were hoping for a financial incentive from items they salvaged on their rounds. The proposal was that the workers would receive 25 per cent of the income received during the year, over and above the sum of £550, to be divided equally among all the binmen. It was hoped the incentive would increase the amount of salvage collected.

During December, six tons of baled paper and 63 dozen bottles and jars had been collected, providing a total income of £45.

25 years ago: An inquest jury expressed concern about the increasing number of heavy lorries travelling on the Skipton to Grassington road.

Two heavy goods vehicles were involved in a crash which killed two motorists. "This is not an isolated case, there have been a lot of deaths principally through lorries," said the jury foreman.

Kettlewell finally got its own automatic telephone exchange at a cost of £12,500. The new exchange could cater for up to 200 calls at a time.

Despite repeated calls from the residents of Ingleton, the Department of the Environment was still refusing to 'signpost' the Yorkshire Dales or Ingleton on the M6. The D of E said it was important to keep place name signing on the motorway down to a minimum.

Part of Broughton Road in Skipton was declared a General Improvement Area which meant people living there could get special grants to carry out work on their homes.

10 years ago: A referendum was taken in Silsden on whether or not to make an application to the Boundary Commission for transfer from Bradford Metropolitan Council to Craven District Council.

There was a 36 per cent higher turn out than in many local government elections, and the final result was a majority of 372 votes in favour of the transfer.

Meanwhile, a Skipton company, Hollings and Co, prided itself on saving the life of a young dog. The Jack Russell terrier, called Sally, had given birth to three puppies only months after nearly losing her life after being trapped down a rabbit hole on Ilkley Moor. The company said Sally had been fed on Tyke dog food, a product they made since she was a pup and therefore they were responsible for her recovery.

The company was so taken by Sally that they offered her owners a lifetime supply of the dog food after the incident.

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