From the archives (From Craven Herald)

From the archives

10:20am Saturday 16th January 2010 in

• Skip social links
• Print
• Email
• Comments(0)

100 years ago

There probably was never an issue fraught with so much importance as the one in which the present election was being fought, stated the Herald. It continued: “Thinking people are beginning to realise it and though preferring the quietness and peace of their own fireside, are realising that they owe a duty to their country. Accordingly, they are bestirring themselves to deflect the revolutionary tendencies of the Lloyd George and Winston Churchill government.”

Election candidate Mr RF Roundell visited Earby and met with an “encouraging” reception from a packed Albion Hall. Mr Randell dealt with tariff reform as affecting the cotton trade, in which the bulk of Earby people were employed. In 1843, Lancashire consumed three fifths of the cotton crop of the United States, but in 1909, it consumed only one fifth. The remaining four fifths were being consumed by protected countries.

Three Earby lads were summoned for sliding in Aspen Lane. They were warned against the practice by police officers, but recommenced it. Supt Colley said he had brought the case because of many complaints of the dangers of sliding. The defendants were fined 2s 6d.

50 years ago

Arthur Angus, of Silsden, had carved two magnificent totem poles for the Wolf Cub packs of Silsden St James and Keighley St Michael’s. Five feet in height, the totems featured a wolf seated on its haunches. The cross pieces were carved in relief with the Wolf Cub badges and signs. The poles themselves were of English oak, but the wolf figures had been carved with a shoemaker’s knife from a special wood – a Cedar of Lebanon which had blown down in the grounds of Fountains Abbey.

The first Golden Age Party for the elderly of Horton-in-Ribbledale was held in the school. More than 60 guests were present to enjoy a tea and entertainment. The vicar welcomed the guests and said the object was to bring together those who might not have met for a chat. The oldest guest, Mrs Jonathan Morphet, whose 83rd birthday was the following day, was given the privilege of cutting the cake.

Cononley Parish Council proposed bringing back a resident lengthman for road maintenance instead of the present gang system.

25 years ago

A new project was launched in Malham which would provide 10 to 12 jobs in the area. The proposed Cove Centre would provide a base for six craft workshops under one roof. It would be used in adjoining buildings which, until recently, had been used for weaving and processing wool.

Earby garage owner Gordon Wilkinson burst out laughing when he was confronted by an axe-wielding robber. Mr Wilkinson thought it was a prank being carried out by someone he knew. “Even the robber was forced to smile, but he still said: ‘Look, I am deadly serious. Hand over the money,” Mr Wilkinson told the Herald. The robber escaped with £50 from the till.

Two Craven anti-smoking campaigners were left gasping after using imported fuel to heat their pub. John Showers, 80, claimed he had never had a cough before he started burning petrocoke in his Aga at the New Inn, Appletreewick, which he ran with his 68-year-old partner Eve Braithwaite. Now the couple had sore throats and coughs and all the pub’s silver had gone black. The couple shot to fame after introducing a smoking ban at the pub in the early 1970s.

10 years ago

Oxfam singled out three of its long-serving volunteers. Badges and certificates were awarded to Jean Coldwell, Val Rowley and Edna Schofield, who, between them, had given 112 hours of service.

Grassington man Mel Wynn enjoyed VIP treatment when he attended the opening of the Millennium Dome in London. He was invited through his work with the village’s millennium project to refurbish the Devonshire Institute.

Up and coming Barnoldswick athlete Lee McCash was about to make his cross-country debut in the Great Britain team. Lee, 18, was to compete in a championship event in Lisbon with the GB under 20s squad.