100 Years Ago

THE Herald came out a day early as Skipton was going to the polls on the Friday and it wished to address the electors. In the 1906 General Election, voting took place over a three week period, with Skipton among the last constituencies to vote. The national result was known - a landslide for the Liberals, who had 326 seats so far compared to 116 for the Conservatives, 33 for the Labour Party and 82 for Irish Nationalists but the Herald was pulling out all the stops to persuade voters to back the Conservative candidate, Captain Roundell. He had proved to be the "best speaker, neighbour, friend and politician" while his opponent, the Liberal William Clough, was "one of the most intolerant men who had ever stood on a political platform".

Clough and the Herald were bitter enemies. He refused to send copies of his speeches to the Herald, sending them only to the paper's Liberal-supporting rival, the Craven Pioneer, while Roundell sent all his literature to both. But among Mr Clough's aims was the "total suppression" of alcohol and he had referred to the town's magistrates as "drink-soaked".

Despite the grim news for the Conservatives nationally, the Herald was optimistic that Captain Roundell would be the victor based on packed meetings. In Barnoldswick, where "not many years ago it had been impossible to get anything approaching a hearing for a Conservative candidate", Captain Roundell had been listened to in silence and warmly applauded afterwards. The Craven Tenant Farmers Association had urged its members to vote unanimously for Captain Roundell as he had supplied written answers to their questions on a number of issues while Mr Clough had not furnished them with a response. The tenant farmers had numerous supporters of the Liberal cause who were dismayed at Mr Clough's bad manners said the Herald.

While the election dominated the paper, an item in the "London News" catches the eye. There an Indian restaurant had been opened in a thoroughfare off Old Bond Street selling curries and using chefs and waiters from India itself. It was doing plenty of business and curries could catch on was our prescient comment.

50 Years Ago

THERE were second thoughts about building an extension at the Skipton General Hospital. The development, costing £200,000, had been approved in 1955 but a letter to the local hospital board said that the Minister for Health "was not yet satisfied that the proposed development should be at Skipton rather than Keighley."

New headquarters were provided for the Castleberg Scout group. As the hut was opened, North Ribblesdale Rugby Club was thanked for allowing the building to stand on a plot of land owned by the club for a small rental.

These days every encouragement is given to otters returning to the rivers of Craven. Fifty years ago they were looked on as less than cute little creatures which are a sign of a healthy environment. Our angling column reported on an otter on the Aire which had dared to make a meal of a fish. The verdict of the correspondent was that it would be much better if the otter left the district.

25 Years Ago

CAR parking charges came a step closer as Craven's policy and resources committee agreed a scheme which would charge motorists 10p for an hour in the Skipton High Street and Coach Street in Skipton and Whitefriars and Ashfield in Settle. For up to three hours the charge would be 20p and for all day just 50p. Our generous council agreed not to make a charge between 9pm at night and 7am in the morning.

Ghyll Golf Club members agreed to a levy of £45 on top of their annual fees to do up the clubhouse. The club council was considering whether to use stone rather than the current timber cladding.

Bradley decided to enter the 'Best Kept Village' competition. Thirty trees had been planted, 28 of them at the amenity area by the swing bridge.

10 Years Ago

PUBLICANS Tom and Maureen Corrigan were retiring after 24 years in the licensed trade in Skipton. They had run the Brick Hall (now Woolly Sheep) for 17 years and then moved to the Cross Keys. Tom reckoned there would be all day opening for pubs in 10 years time - which makes him just a couple of months out in his forecast.

Wheelie bins were being delivered on an experimental basis to some Craven households. Council officer John Crane reckoned the public would soon begin to like the bins and pointed out that they were not only cheaper to operate but safer for refuse collectors.

The owners of Settle Creamery, MD Foods were to invest £6.5 million in the plant. Capacity would be increased and extra storage facilities introduced.