A Craven Diary

NOW that Skipton Town Council has moved into its spiritual home in the town hall, it has sparked off some memories for the current deputy mayor. Cllr Martin Emmerson, who is due to become mayor next month, tells me that back in the 1970s, when he was in his late teens, he used to travel over to Skipton from his home in Keighley to see bands of the day performing in the town hall. On one occasion, when he was around 15, he and some friends followed some girls over who had tickets to see the then up-and-coming boy band, The Bay City Rollers. Martin tells me, having arrived in Skipton, they were amazed by the number of young girls desperate to get into the hall to see their heroes, sadly, he was unable to get in, as there were no tickets left. He did, however, manage to see Mud, another hugely popular band of the 1970s, but was disappointed again in his efforts to see Phil Lynott - another sold-out gig. Meanwhile, moving into the town hall, and having meetings in the council chamber, is going down well - despite, on one occasion, the sounds of a practising band coming up through the floor, so Martin tells me. On another occasion, one councillor turned up ten minutes late - he had apparently, been waiting patiently outside the old offices, above Barclays Bank in the High Street, waiting to be let in.

A FASCINATING story emerged in the Craven Herald of 50 years ago about the founder of the Salvation Army. Towards the end of his life, General William Booth told a German reporter the secret of his stamina was down to a 'careful Vegetarian diet' but some years earlier, his dietary requirements ahead of a visit to Skipton were described by the Craven Herald as 'faddy'. The daughter of a former council chairman was recounting in 1966 the visit some 54 years earlier to Skipton of General Booth. He stayed some days in Skipton and became great friends with the then chairman, Cllr Farey. Ahead of his first visit, an aide sent strict instructions. They included the ingredients needed and step-by-step method for preparing his daily midday meal. The savoury dish included potatoes and onions, placed in layers, covered with boiling milk, knobs of butter, covered with a lid and baked in the oven for 40 minutes. After 40 minutes, the dish was be left for a further ten minutes, uncovered, before being served to the general. It would be accompanied by in-season vegetables, a salad, and a new-laid egg, either boiled for three minutes or lightly poached. Immediately after his midday meal, the general would retire to his room with a cup of tea with thinly sliced lemon, instead of milk or sugar. If soda was served, it must be in a syphon and the general required a 'quiet and darkened room' because his sleep was 'easily broken'. Lastly, he preferred a soft bed, but not a feather one, which 'should be avoided'.

A PLAN is afoot to map the entire length of the Pennine Way national trail. Google is teaming up with Walk Unlimited to capture some of the most scenic trails in England and Wales - and the Pennine Way is poised to become one of them. Starting with the North Downs Way, it is the intention for all national trails to feature on Google Street View. But before that can happen, trail rangers and volunteers will have to walk every mile of the trails carrying the cumbersome filming equipment. The Yorkshire Dales National Park has not yet been contacted by the project organisers, but it can only be a matter of time. So, if you are out walking in the Dales, and happen across someone walking very upright with a camera on their back, that is what they are doing.

AS if by divine intervention in the 400th year since the great Bard's death, another copy of the First Folio of his work has emerged. And coincidentally, its uncovering mirrors that of the "discovery" of Craven's own edition which has been on display at the Craven Museum for about five years. The latest volume, published by Will Shakespeare's acting mates Henry Condell and John Heminges in 1623, was unearthed in the library of Mount Stuart House on the Isle of Bute. It had languished there for about 100 years. Craven's own edition, which is minus the comedies, also emerged from the bowels of Craven Museum where it had languished since 1973 having been transferred from Skipton Library. It had been donated in the 1930s by the daughter of mill baron John Wilkinson who had established Primrose Mill in Embsay and is understood to have bought the folio in the latter years of the 19th century. Mr Wilkinson was something of an entrepreneur and as well as owning a cotton mill he blended tobacco and marketed his own brand as Skipton Shag. The Folio can be seen Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday between 10am and 4pm. It is on display behind glass in a special exhibition room where pages are turned regularly. The story of the First Folio and Craven's copy is told in a recorded commentary by Shakespearian actor Sir Patrick Stewart, who has a home in Craven.

A RECORD number of e-books and e-audio books were taken out from North Yorkshire libraries last month. Throughout March, 5,190 e-books were checked out, compared to the previous high of 4,808 in January, and 990 e-audio books were issued, compared to a previous high of 430, also in January. An average of 213 e-books and e-audio books were issued each day and between April last year, and March there were 1,699 new borrowers. Of the council's 9,800 e-book titles and 3,500 e-audio books, the most popular author is thriller writer Lee Child, whose e-books have been borrowed 4,572 times since the service was launched in autumn 2010. The most popular e-book has been family drama The Pact by Jodi Picoult, with 171 loans, followed by romantic suspense title Brazen Virtue by Nora Roberts, with 149 checkouts. When it comes to digital audiobooks, the Harry Potter titles lead the field. The library service has three audio copies of each of the seven titles in the series and between them they have been borrowed 1,557 times – an average of 74 times per copy.

WHILE out walking around Grimwith Reservoir, near Hebden, a colleague was fascinated by stone plaques set in the dry stone walls. She tells me there are about six of the plaques along the five-mile walk, and each of a slightly different shape, and each bearing some thought-provoking words, including 'storms brush the waters surface swift like her anger and tears'. They were created by artist, writer and creative education enthusiast Alice Maddicott during workshops at the reservoir to mark the 60th anniversary in 2014 of the Yorkshire Dales becoming a national park authority.

IT seems that the Dales was the top Easter getaway destination for Bradford families. Other popular places were Blackpool, the Lake District, York and London. A study of 2,000 parents by hotel chain Travelodge revealed holidaying families in Bradford spent an average of £371.91 on travel and accommodation, £222.02 on activities and entertainment, and £166.92 on food and drink. The report also revealed 88 per cent of people surveyed felt holidaying in the north was a lot cheaper than the south and good value for money. Meanwhile, 70 per cent of adults stated that there was a lot more to do in northern England. Shakila Ahmed, Travelodge spokesman, said: "We have become a nation of savvy shoppers and getting value for money has become a key part of our lifestyles."