From the archives (From Craven Herald)

From the archives

10:00am Saturday 20th March 2010 in

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100 years ago

St Aidan’s Church, Hellifield, was crowded for the dedication service of the new organ and to listen to a recital given by Sydney Harrison, organist of Manchester Cathedral. The organ was first erected in the Victoria Hall, Settle, and belonged to Mr JG Robinson, of Cragdale, Settle. Not having enough use for it, Mr Robinson offered it to Hellifield Church if the authorities would take it down and re-erect it.

To celebrate the return of Mr Clough as MP for the Skipton division, the Gargrave Liberal Association organised a tea party and concert in the Wesleyan schoolroom. Carleton Brass Band was engaged and Mr Clough was met on the Skipton Road by a crowd of people, some of whom hitched ropes to his carriage and drew him round the village.

A cyclist was descending the Bailey Road, Skipton, when he lost control and crashed into a lady who was wheeling a perambulator. The lady was knocked down and became unconscious. The cyclist, Mr Pivirotto, who flew over the handlebars, was also knocked unconscious.

50 years ago

Skipton Rural Council granted a licence for the extension of the caravan park at Long Ashes, Threshfield, which would increase accommodation from 230 to 300 caravans. A condition was that the existing private water supply to the site should be supplemented by a connection to the public supply as soon as it became possible. Conditional planning consent for a site in Eshton Road, Gargrave, for a maximum of 20 caravans was also given.

All eyes would be on an attractive lady who was rather temperamental, enjoyed a change of surroundings, a varied diet and a bottle of stout last thing at night to help her sleep, said the Herald. She was Pendle Lady, owned and trained at West Marton, who would be running in the Grand National at Aintree in March. Owner Mr A Watson had high hopes for the mare, which he bought for 28 guineas at the Dublin Horse Show in 1953.

The minister of housing and local government told Barnoldswick Urban Council he would be prepared to grant loan sanction for the purchase and development of Rainhall Rock as a tip.

25 years ago

Settle Drama Festival was cancelled at the 11th hour because only three entries had been received.

A Cowling youth became a hero when he saved the home of an elderly neighbour from being gutted by fire. Michael Winstanley, 15, ran to get a fire extinguisher from his father’s garage after hearing Connie Ideson’s kitchen was ablaze. Mrs Ideson had gone to answer the door when a chip pan caught fire. Michael rushed to her house and had put out the blaze before firefighters arrived.

Skipton dentist Ken Ellwood was to retire at the end of the month after working in the town for 32 years. Mr Ellwood was a pilot in the RAF from 1942 to 1946 and then went to the Leeds Dental School. He qualified in 1953 and moved to Skipton to join the School Dental Service. In 1959, he joined Bryan Hargreaves and took over the practice when his colleague retired. Mr Ellwood was also known for his interest in the town’s heritage and as president of Skipton Band.

10 years ago

Grassington church minister Keith Hopper was getting withdrawal symptoms. Since moving to the Dales, he had been unable to pursue his fencing hobby because there was no one with whom he could parry, lunge and counter. Undeterred, he set out to gain his instructor qualifications and then launched clubs in Skipton and Cross Hills.

The Lottery Sports Fund approved in principle a grant of more than £2 million to develop Skipton’s Aireville Pool. But lottery bosses said they wanted further information about the scheme before making a final decision. In order to get the information, Craven District Council agreed to appoint an architect-led team at a cost of £186,000 and a planning adviser and clerk at a further cost of £16,000.

Town councillors were doing battle to save Settle Town Hall from being sold off by owners Craven District Council. The district authority was about to commission a report on future alternatives for the town hall – which needed repairs costing thousands of pounds.