A group of children from Skipton Workhouse were gathered together for a picture in the Craven Herald of October, 1913. The group, including babies, from the workhouse nursery were pictured with their attendant, a Miss Haynes, as she prepared to leave Skipton to take up a similar position at a workhouse in Tunbridge Wells. The Herald reported that the group was a “lively one” and that the children were attached to Miss Haynes, who was “particularly kind” to them.

* Staff at South Craven School were startled to encounter one of their former pupils visiting their school as an auditor! Ben Binks was a student at the Cross Hills school from 2003 to 2010. A spokesman for the school explained: “It’s not unusual for former students to turn up in the staff room as teachers a few years after leaving, but it must be a first for South Craven to have a former student working as an auditor at school. Fresh from obtaining a first class honours degree from Hull University in accounting, Ben landed a job with Baker Tilly, a national firm of accountants. He found to his surprise that his first assignment was to help audit South Craven’s accounts as part of his training. Having left only three years ago, Ben was surprised at how the school has changed in this short time, with new buildings and the reorganisation of existing rooms. He enjoyed the surprise on the faces of former teachers when they learnt that he was in school to audit them!”

* Last week, we reported on how The Folly, Settle, had acquired a highly detailed and intriguing drawing of the town done by 15-year-old Geoffrey Jenkinson in October 1940. Now a second watercolour drawing from the young artist has emerged. The latest one – believed to have been done at about the same time – shows an unknown farmstead. “It would be wonderful if any Herald readers could identify the location,” said museum curator Anne Read, “A possible giveaway is the advert for TEAS on the gable end of the small building in the right of the picture.” Geoffrey was born in Leeds, but eventually travelled to America to follow his artistic dreams. However, homesick for England, he moved back to Pudsey after retiring and died in 2005 aged 80. Anyone who can identify the farmstead should contact the Craven Herald newsdesk on 01756 794117 or e-mail news@cravenherald.co.uk

* Since the refurbishment of the bell tower at St James’, Clapham, when the bells were augmented from three to six, the church has welcomed hundreds of visiting bell ringers. I am told that keen ringers like to ring in as many different towers as possible and organise tours where they visit three or four different churches in a day. So far, this year St James’ has had 127 visiting ringers, including 19 from the Guild of Clerical Ringers, a group of vicars from across the UK and one enthusiast from Kansas, USA, where there are no bells!

* It’s a blockbuster ... a video highlighting the amazing road cycle routes in the Yorkshire Dales National Park topped 1,300 YouTube views in the first week of its launch. The four-minute-long film, which features world-renowned cycling commentator Phil Liggett, was made for the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority to showcase the huge choice of routes on offer in some of England’s most spectacular scenery. And it has been watched by people across the globe, from South Africa to Canada. “The video has captured the attention of audiences world wide,” said Nick Thwaite, a keen cyclist and the authority’s member champion for recreational management. “The fact that it has attracted so many views in such a short space of time emphasises just how much interest there is in cycling in this beautiful part of the country.” The area is due to host part of the Tour de France’s Grand Depart next July. Meanwhile the video can be viewed by going to cyclethedales.org.uk/film .

* A dyed-in-the-wool Yorkshireman is appealing for help in making sure he can hold his head high at his wedding. Tree surgeon Jonathan Strange is set to marry Lincolnshire lass Victoria Lunn later this month, but the bride is insisting in taking him out of his beloved county for the ceremony. “She escaped the flat lands for North Yorkshire about 10 years ago but wanted to get married in her childhood church,” says Jonathan. “I am therefore having to grit my teeth, pack my passport and go South for the wedding at the end of the month.” So, while he has given in to his love, he is insisting on the pair of them being pictured underneath an umbrella made for two – complete with the white rose of Yorkshire. Sadly and despite much searching, he has drawn a blank in coming up with such an umbrella. “It would seem it is near impossible to buy such an umbrella displaying the white rose and or a Yorkshire emblem,” he tells me. “I have already approached Welcome to Yorkshire who were very helpful, but could not supply a Yorkshire umbrella. “I have also approached various umbrella suppliers who could not supply these, worryingly though, they did have red rose umbrella's – a sad oversight.” Anyone able to help can e-mail the frantic groom at jonathan@treetopsforestry.fsbusiness.co.uk

* A Skipton pub is flushed with success after achieving a national accolade for the standard of its toilets. The Devonshire in Newmarket Street has been given a gold star rating in the Loo of the Year awards announced this week. And it’s clearly no flash in the pan as last year toilets at the Wetherspoons pub were awarded the highest Platinum award, while in 2011 was given a five star rating, in the old system. Paul Dickinson, who recently took over as manager, said he was delighted with the award.