100 years ago

Mr W Clough, Liberal MP for Skipton, presented to the House of Commons a petition from 484 inhabitants of Skipton protesting against the practice of allowing children to be present in drinking bars of public houses. They said it was detrimental to their health and morals and to the wellbeing of the community. The petition called for the House to include a clause to exclude children under 14 from drinking in bars in the forthcoming Licensing Bill.

Skipton Town Hall was occupied by the Edisonium Animated Picture Company, which gave a series of entertainment. It was described as "an excellent collection of interesting pictures, both instructive and humorous".

Though the subject gave rise to considerable controversy, there was unquestionable evidence that the sale of refreshments at Skipton Conservative Club had not brought in its wake any of the evils that the pessimists had predicted. Indeed, said the Herald, the sale of refreshments had made a wonderful difference to the club's finances.

50 years ago

Superintendent T Denvir, of Skipton Police Station, asked the Craven Herald to announce new motoring regulations to its readers. His plea followed a number of people pleading ignorance when pulled over by police. The rules stated that passenger vehicles should be "equipped with at least two mirrors. One must be fitted externally on the off-side of the vehicle and the other fitted internally. The mirrors shall be constructed and fitted to the motor vehicle to assist him if he so desires, to become aware of traffic to the rear and on both sides rearwards".

A student pleaded guilty to failing to stop at a "halt" sign and driving a motorcycle without a licence. The youngster told the court he had been driving quickly because he had been summoned to help in the rescue of six stranded potholers in Dow Cave, Kettlewell. He claimed he had borrowed the motorcycle as that was the only way he could get to Kettlewell. He added that he had never seen the "halt" sign as he was blinded by streetlights. He was fined £1 for ignoring a traffic sign, and 10s for driving without a licence.

25 years ago

The Post Office took to the River Wharfe in Bolton Abbey to promote its latest special edition stamp with the help of model Allison Roberts. Allison, wearing a swimming costume, posed in the river next to a giant replica of the stamp. The stamp illustrated a salmon swimming upstream and it was hoped the new design, and possibly Allison, would catch the customer's eye!

Skipton's last bus conductress, Anne Williamson, retired after 20 years with the West Yorkshire Road Car Company. Mrs Williamson first started on the buses during the Second World War, but only stayed three years. She then went to work for Redman's in Skipton as a check-out assistant before rejoining the buses in 1966. She said one of the biggest changes she had seen was the introduction of one-man buses.

10 years ago

The Craven Herald proudly announced the success of its new internet site - www.cravenherald.co.uk. It declared that around 70 people per day were calling up news pages. Among those logging on were ex-pats in Canada.

A professional stuntman from Addingham put his health and career at risk by diving out of a window in Brown's Restaurant, Ilkley. Following an altercation with his ex-fiancé he headed for the exit, only instead of choosing the door, he jumped onto a table and launched himself out of the window. He told the court he had invested his £75,000 life savings in training to be a stuntman and had recently appeared in a James Bond movie.

9:24am Friday 1st February 2008

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