100 years ago

Skiptonians were naturally proud that their rugby team had, for the third time, entered the final stage of the Yorkshire Challenge Cup, with its trophy known as "t'owd tin pot". They were due to meet Castleford at Otley.

Around 3,000 people assembled in Gisburn to take part in steeplechases promoted by the recently-established Ribblesdale Hunt. Unfortunately, the day was marred by a bad accident in which a horse was killed and the rider had his leg broken.

Burnsall was linked up to the rest of the world by means of the telephone. The Herald said this would be of great convenience to the many visitors who visited this charming Dale. Through the enterprise of Mr Chapman, of Grassington, Burnsall would next enjoy an excellent service of buses to and from Grassington and Bolton Abbey stations.

50 years ago

Five silver pennies from the reign of Edward I, which had been found earlier in the month in a bolt hole in the wine cellar of Skipton Castle, were deemed to be treasure trove by an inquest jury. After hearing evidence, the jury returned a verdict that the coins were silver from the late 13th century and were hidden in ancient time. The original owner could not be ascertained so the coroner formally seized and handed the coins to Wilfred Fattorini, who intended to put them on display at the Castle.

Skipton Rural District Council was informed that the Ministry of Housing and Local Government was not disposed to make an Exchequer contribution towards the cost of its £48,750 scheme for the improvement of water supplies. The Ministry informed the council that, as the majority of properties to be served were already receiving a piped supply, the Minister did not feel able to make a contribution.

There were 174 broken panes of glass in 11 houses on Springfield Avenue, Earby, the Housing and Town Planning Committee of Earby Urban Council was told. The surveyor, Mr G Walker, said it was his opinion that not one of the breakages was the responsibility of the tenants. For a time the cracks had not been serious, but some were reaching the stage where the tenant could not clean the windows.

25 years ago

Barnoldswick man Michael Rowlay became the UXB hero of London when he defused a bomb which threatened the city centre. Twenty-six-year-old Michael, a bomb disposal expert, was called in when the 112lb bomb was dragged up from the Thames. Even after 40 years, the bomb was in a dangerous condition and threatened to blow up large parts of the city centre.

For teacher Julia Unwin, it would be a revolutionary happening when she could switch on an electric light. For paraffin lamps had played a major part of her yesteryear existence in a house without gas or electricity. Mains services had not reached her home, Ing Close, which was the last house up the Keasden Valley. Since moving in she had lived without the aid of modern appliances, such as a vacuum cleaner or a washing machine.

A Craven councillor spoke out against the "abysmal failure" of North Yorkshire County Council to cater for the needs of the old and elderly. Coun Harold Gresswell's attack followed sight of the council's community services sub-committee's first report, which stated that the authority's provision of home helps could be "dangerously slight" in future years.

10 years ago

An all-girl choir was introduced at Skipton's Holy Trinity Church for the first time in its 800-year history. Music at the church was undergoing major changes after a survey of the congregation. The most significant change at the beginning of the five-year development plan was the formation of the female choir.

Concerns were raised over the use of potentially dangerous mercury in the mechanism of a public clock in Skipton. Coun Paul Whitaker asked for the mechanism of the clock at the Holy Trinity Church to be replaced with an electric one when clock makers William Pott said the mercury mechanism would need replacing.Coun Whitaker said mercury could be very poisonous and it would be dangerous if children got near it.

9:34am Friday 11th April 2008

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