100 years ago

A vicar attacked the evil concept of socialism while addressing the rather sinister-sounding Earby Brotherhood. The Herald noted how, during the Rev R Tallantire's lecture on "the Battle of Socialism and How to Win It", "the disciples of socialism were conspicuous by their absence". The report read: "Mr Tallantire prefaced his address by asking, Where are the socialists? And he then proceeded to attack them for their intolerance."

A labourer caught begging in Giggleswick was branded a "rogue and a vagabond" - but escaped the more serious classification of "incorrigible vagabond". Settle Petty Sessions heard an undercover policeman had seen the man stopping people and asking for assistance. The labourer told the officer he "did not care for 20 policemen" and his language was "something disgraceful" as he violently struggled on the way to the station. The policeman said the prisoner had been classed as a rogue and a vagabond earlier in the year and, if he came to the police's attention again, he would be classed an incorrigible vagabond. He got three months.

A furious correspondent to the Herald claimed Skipton's spiritualists were "in league with the Devil" and that Lucifer was "deceiving them by assuming the likenesses of departed friends or relatives". "It is impossible," he reasoned, "for children of the light and children of the darkness to hold sweet communion with God in closed meetings or in private devotion, therefore it is nothing but presumption for them to call themselves Christians."

50 years ago

Craven folk enjoyed the Christmas break despite neither "pleasant nor seasonable" weather. The Herald noted traffic had been fairly heavy, which was a marked contrast to the previous year when petrol restrictions had been in place. And the article continued: "Nowhere was the spirit of Christmas better exemplified than in the hospitals, where staff and officials put forth tremendous efforts to make the season memorable for patients."

A lower molar tooth of a pre-historic ox was found in calcite in a Horton-in-Ribblesdale cave. The tooth - thought to be between 7,000 and 10,000 years old -- was discovered by Yeadon man Jack Sinclair in Harrison's Passage at Browgill Cave. It was taken to be displayed at Cartwright Hall, in Bradford.

Primary school managers rejected a request to hold a dance in the hall of the newly-opened Greatwood School. They said the floor had been treated with a non-slip polish, unsuitable for dancing; if another polish was used it would render the hall unsuitable for its normal use.

25 years ago

An Embsay father and son escaped death when they plunged 500 feet down a Lakeland fell. Trevor Stork, 47, and his 21-year-old son, Malcolm, were walking across Swirral Edge, near the summit of Helvellyn, when Malcolm slipped on a patch of ice and went over the Red Tarn edge, sustaining serious bruising. As his father went to help, he plunged off the other side, suffering head injuries, a suspected broken hip and a fractured elbow. Both were flown by helicopter to hospital. "I am lucky to be alive," Malcolm told the Herald.

The Angel Inn at Hetton had a new owner. Denis Watkins, manager of the Dragonara Hotel in Bristol, had bought the pub to run as a family business. He said he had fallen in love with it and it had lots of potential. Since then, it has won a whole host of awards.

Craven Herald printer Harry Cockshott completed half a century of service at the paper. He joined the company as an apprentice, earning the princely wage of 10 shillings.

10 years ago

Skipton boy Stephen Davenport, aged 10, was celebrating after being awarded all 55 Cub badges. He had joined the 5th Skipton Cubs two-and-a-half years before and was planning to move up to Scouts, where there were 120 badges on offer.

A man who had devoted 20 years to helping people in the Dales received an award. Jim Robinson, who had recently retired as an ambulance technician in Settle, was presented with the Queen's Medal.

Jack and Renee Benn celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary. The former licensees came to Craven in 1950 to run the Cross Streets at Austwick and years later retired to Hellifield. Asked the secret of a long and happy marriage, Mr Benn replied: "Moderation in everything and a sense of humour."

9:28am Friday 28th December 2007

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