100 years ago

GAMEKEEPERS cornered a badger at White Cragg, Silsden, and after three days trying to get it out with dogs, shot it. It was found to be a male, weighing 20Ibs. Attempts to have it cured failed because of the gunshot wounds.

Dr Wales, who had for some months been doing his bit with the forces in the RAMC in Egypt, returned to Gargrave by train. Shortly after his arrival the members of the Gargrave Male Voice Choir serenaded him outside his house, singing When Evening's Twilight Gathers Round.

A ewe belonging to a farmer of Ingleton Hall gave birth to a lamb which had seven legs, four hind legs and three fore legs. Both ewe and lamb died.

50 years ago

MANY useful gifts flooded in as a result of an appeal by the Cave Rescue Organisation. They included two gas burners and a regulator, nine first aid boxes, two large pans, 23 chisels and drills and 1,200 yards of wire rope.

For close on 40 years, Dr JW Pickard, Barnoldswick, as a doctor in the town, faced broken sleep to tend the sick and aged. Like all in his profession, he was forced to turn out in all weather, leaving his wife and family behind while he gave succour to his fellow man.

Mr GB Drayson's lap of honour following his success in the general election had to be curtailed because of appalling weather conditions. He had planned to visit the Conservative clubs at Cross Hills, Earby, Barnoldswick and Settle, but had to cut out the last one completely because of treacherous road conditions.

25 years ago

THE verger at St Mary's Church, Embsay, was taken for a ride - but it was all in a good cause. Kathleen Findley, 71, thought she was going to Hull for an Easter party, but some of the congregation had arranged for the surprise of a lifetime. She ended up enjoying her first-ever flight and a sightseeing tour of London. "Kathleen does a tremendous amount for St Mary's," said churchwarden Roy Cartwright.

Young Laura and David Daw were heartbroken when their plans to be attendants at a relative's wedding fell through. And, in an attempt to console them, their parents appealed for other couples about to get married to "hire" their youngsters' services. Dad Peter said: "There is no-one else in the family left to marry off and I can't think what else to do." Laura, nine and David, seven, were pupils at Skipton's Parish Church School.

Three walkers were stranded on an island in the middle of a swollen beck near Ribblehead for more than two hours. They were following the Dales Way walk, but got into difficulty while crossing Gayle Beck. Eventually, one of the walkers waded across, through waist-high water, to raise the alarm. The other two were rescued by firefighters using ladders.

10 years ago

MEMBERS of Rylstone WI removed their clothes for a third charity calendar. The new publication, secretly shot near Skipton, contained new nude images of the six WI members, whose campaign inspired a block-busting movie. The 2007 calendar was again in aid of Leukaemia Research. But the images would no longer have a WI craft theme. Instead, photographer Terry Logan had made them "light hearted and humorous". "I don't want to give anything away just yet, but one has the girls just wearing Christmas hats," he said.

Thirty-four jobs hung in the balance at Langcliffe following news that the paper mill could close. John Roberts Holdings Ltd, which owned the former corn mill and cotton spinning mill, announced the possibility of the redundancies, blaming significantly rising energy and other costs. A spokesman for the company said in a statement: "After careful consideration of the trading pressures facing paper manufacturing, John Roberts Holdings Ltd has reluctantly decided to consider the possibility of closing its Langcliffe Paper Mill. There is little sign of trading conditions in paper manufacture improving."

Cononley golfer Ian Kaye chose the perfect moment to hit a hole-in-one - it earned him a holiday in Mauritius and 500 Euros to spend in a professional's shop. The 20 handicapper was at La Cala in Spain with a party organised by Allister Black from Skipton Golf Club when they took up a challenge from Leukaemia Research on the first day of their trip. They paid seven Euros to enter and anyone who hit a hole-in-one won a golfing trip to Mauritius plus 500 Euros to spend in the pro's shop. And, if Mr Kaye could repeat his hole-in-one feat in Mauritius, he would win one million dollars.