Latest articles from Vera Chandler

A Craven Diary: Beer cheese, circus skills and a very tired reporter manages to catch up with paddle-boarder Jo

BACK in the day, there were just two or three varieties of gin, but now, there seems to be literally hundreds of them, and those with a penchant for the spirit, will be able to indulge their tastes during a 17 day gin festival at Wetherspoon’s The Devonshire Inn in Skipton, from Friday, August 16 to September 1. The pub in Devonshire Mews says it will be serving gins from Sweden, USA and Moldova as well as gins produced in England, Scotland and Northern Ireland. There will be flavoured gins, c

A Craven Diary: Onion rings help school enjoy theatre trip

PUPILS at Kirkby-in-Malhamdale Primary School will soon be off to the theatre - and its all down to onion rings. The Lister Arms in the village donated 25p to the school for every portion of onion rings sold - and with a massive 2,708 orders placed throughout last year, that worked out at an impressive total of £677. It has meant the whole school, both pupils and teachers, will be off to see the Fantastic Mr Fox at The Alhambra Theatre, Bradford. It’s the second year the inn has organised the donation – last year the whole school went to the Plaza Cinema to enjoy a Christmas film. Darren Dunn, the inn's general manager- pictured here with, from left: Rhiannon, Hallam, Jessie, Carys and Fraiser from the school, said: “Malham is very much a community village and it’s important to us to support the area wherever we can. Making an annual donation to the local school is an easy way we can do this and it allows them to do something a bit special for their pupils – who after all will be our customers of the future."

A Craven Diary by Vera Chandler

A COLLEAGUE out walking in Chapel-le-Dale came across this fantastic-looking sculpture on a bridlepath heading up to Ellerbeck. The work of sculptor and artist Charles l’Anson, it was ripped up and thrown down the nearby Hurtle Pot in August, 1983. It was then recovered by divers in 30feet of water and put back in its spot, where it remains today - and what an interesting, if somewhat spooky, sight it makes.

Dales diary by Vera Chandler

WELL done to Lothersdale Primary School pupils who have been busy over the last couple of weeks decorating and filling shoeboxes to support the Christmas Shoebox Appeal organised by the charity, Samaritan’s Purse. The shoeboxes will be sent abroad to be given to children who have been caught up in conflict and the children are very proud to have contributed to this worthwhile cause, says the school.

Dales diary October 6

ON one of those recent hot Sundays we've had of late, Cowling was the centre of a hotly contested charity rounders tournament. Nine teams from across Yorkshire took part in the annual Jo's Trophy tournament which was turned into a wonderful family day out with a barbecue, bar and bouncy castle, and a face painter. The Cowling team did splendidly, winning all their games, but in the final, lost to Skipton Springboks, who founded the tournament in 2006 in memory of one of their players, Jo Fletcher, who died suddenly. As winners, Springboks will host next year's tournament. The event raised a magnificent more than £1,100 for Manorlands Hospice.