100 years ago

The corncrake was heard in Ingleton. This was a very early date for the arrival of the migratory bird, as it was not usually heard until the beginning of June. It was a month since the cuckoo was first heard at Ingleton and the swallows had been in evidence since the start of May.

A sketch of the new Skipton Public Library was revealed after Mr Carnegie offered £3,000. The main entrance would be from High Street and on the ground floor there was a newspaper and magazine room and a ladies' room. From the entrance hall rose a staircase six-feet-wide to the first floor. On this floor would be the library, which would accommodate 15,000 books and ample space for borrowers. The second floor would contain a lecture room intended to be available for reading circles and meetings of a literary nature.

Mr Clough, Liberal MP for the Skipton division, speaking in Cross Hills, said that as a "moderate progressive" he supported the Government's licensing bill. But, as a "red-hot radical", it did not go as far as he would like, for it did not go to the root of a single evil connected with the liquor trade. Instead of reducing licensed houses by 32,000 in 15 years, he would rather the bill would shut all the 90,000 in five years.

50 years ago

Representatives of local authorities in the Craven district examined the plans for the new £136,000 extension to Skipton General Hospital at a meeting called in Harrogate. They returned from the meeting with a feeling of satisfaction at what they had seen. The members also gained the impression that in the not so distant future, final steps would be taken to enable building operations on the extension to commence.

The interests of the traders were paramount in the question of whether or not "no waiting" signs should have been erected in Sheep Street, Skipton, said Mr JP Mewies at a public hearing at Skipton Town Hall. He said he represented 34 of the 37 traders in the street and they were emphatically against such signs being erected permanently.

25 years ago

Local councils were to be asked to appoint an independent representative to look at ways of saving the scenic Settle-to-Carlisle railway line.

According to a group of self-appointed connoisseurs of good beer and food, Peter Whitaker was the sausage supremo of Craven. Three Skipton men, who the year before ran a competition to find the most succulent local meat pie, had turned their attention to sausages three months earlier. Each week since, a batch of sausages from a different source had been taken to Stirton's Tarn House for judging and those made by Peter for his grocer's shop, GE Thorntons in Cross Hills, were voted the best. The fact that his sausages had been entered into the competition was as much of a surprise to Peter as the news that he had won.

10 years ago

It was goodbye to the Skipton Girls' High School's familiar gold and navy tie for the next school year after the uniform underwent a style change. From September, the tie would disappear altogether to keep up with the times.

A young Skipton model won a dream contract in Japan thanks to a portfolio shot by a fellow Cravener enjoying success in the fashion world. Laura Madeley, 15, was bracing herself for a whirlwind test among modelling's highest echelon during two months in the bright lights of down town Tokyo. She was helped on the road to success by young fashion photographer Susannah Wilson, who was based at Skipton's Maple Leaf Studios.

There was a new kid on the block on Craven's political scene in 23-year-old Rebecca Heseltine. Rebecca was elected in the Skipton east ward as Craven's youngest ever councillor. On election night, Rebecca said: "I did not expect this and I'm in a state of shock. I can't believe I am probably the youngest councillor ever in Craven."

12:08pm Friday 16th May 2008

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