100 years ago

THE 21st West Yorkshire Regiment, stationed at the Raikes camp in Skipton, was endeavouring to form a band, and through the generosity of the management of the Premier Picture Palace, a concert was held. Proceeds were £10.

The 29th annual meeting of the Craven Naturalists and Scientific Association was held. It was reported that during 1915, the association followed the policy of having evening excursions during the summer months and lectures and demonstrations in the winter.

The editors of the two newspapers published in Skipton, the West Yorkshire Pioneer and the Craven Herald, came to the conclusion that there would be a curtailment of "free privileges" given to many organisations as a result of the war. It was agreed to make a charge for all appeals from then on.

50 years ago

WILD mink, appearing in increasing numbers in Yorkshire, were causing the Ministry of Agriculture some concern. The animals were wanton killers and could create havoc on poultry farms. Where they came from was unknown, but some originated from Lancashire mink farms in the 1950s. They spread towards Settle in 1963.

Schemes in Skipton to encourage vehicles to use side roads instead of causing congestion in the High Street had an adverse effect. A fire officer explained that heavy lorries were using Coach Street far more than they used to and it could have an adverse effect on the bridge, which was never meant for heavy traffic.

Bradford Corporation was to be permitted to build a covered service reservoir on land to be compulsorily purchased at Addingham. At a public inquiry, the owners of the land at Hart House Farm, Moor Lane, objected to the plans.

25 years ago

EMBSAY'S Simon Wallbank was named Mr Yorkshire Young Farmer 1991. Simon, 25, took the title after winning through a district eliminator and then being interviewed by three judges. Simon had been a member of Skipton Young Farmers for 15 years and was chairman of the group. "It the cheapest form of entertainment I know," he said.

A major expansion scheme, that could have created between 50 and 60 new jobs, was in jeopardy after it was announced that plans for an £8.3 million dual carriageway between Skipton and Kildwick had been shelved. But the Department of Transport said it would be looking again at ways of linking Skipton bypass to the new Aire Valley road and would put forward new proposals as soon as possible. Tim Wilson, who owned Aireside Mill at Cononley, said the decision would mean more potential deaths at the junction of Cononley Lane.

It was last orders for popular Addingham landlord David Harrison. He was retiring after running the Fleece pub for 14 years. "We inherited a good atmosphere and a good clientele when we took over and I would like to think we have kept it," said David, who was planning to stand as a Conservative candidate in the Bradford Council elections.

10 years ago

JENNENE Stubbs was appointed new tourism, events and support development officer for the community-led partnership of West Craven Together. Her full-time role involved working with residents, traders and businesses to put the area on the map and encourage visitors and investment. "I hope to further establish Barnoldswick as a town which is proud to celebrate its uniqueness and surrounding countryside and to ensure West Craven is a prime place to live in, work and enjoy," she said.

Preparation work started on one of the biggest projects to be carried out by the National Grid in Craven. Pipes which would be used to create a new £110 million high pressure gas pipeline appeared in a field on the Broughton Estate. Eventually the pipeline would be capable of carrying 20 per cent of the country's gas requirements and would cross 58 roads, six railway lines, nine rivers and two canals.

The A682 linking Long Preston to the M65 at Nelson was named as the UK's most dangerous road in research carried out by weekly car magazine Auto Express. And the 14-mile route also made it into the top ten of the world's most dangerous roads, behind routes in Bolivia, Iraq, India, Paris, Portugal, Kenya, Brazil and Tibet. The magazine claimed the A682 had seen 22 serious accidents in the past three years.