A Craven diary: Unforgivable mix-up over which of the Yorkshire Three Peaks is the tallest

Mitigating for her mistake, there truly can be no real excuse, even for a southerner, she tells me she has climbed all three several times, and finds Whernside the easiest of the three, with Ingleborough the hardest, and Penyghent in second place. And, to prove she has been up Whernside, here is a picture of her at the summit, pausing for breath.

THIS time last year, the question was whether the A59 at Kex Gill was to be open in time for the Great Yorkshire Show at Harrogate. The road had been fully closed since cracks appeared in its surface in the late Spring. As it turned out, the road did open, although to single lane traffic only, just days before the start of the event. Providing, of course, the road is not closed again for safety reasons, the trip across Kex Gill will be trouble free this year. Tickets have just gone on sale for the event, which is being held for the 161st time. Pictured at the launch, at a Longhorn cattle farm in Drighlington, were show director Charles Mills, sporting soprano Lizzie Jones and sculptor Emma Stothard, with a preview of a giant installation which will be unveiled on the president’s lawn. The Great Yorkshire Show will take place from July 9 to July 11. For tickets, go to the website:greatyorkshireshow.co.uk

A HUNDRED years ago, Craven was enjoying its happiest Easter since 1914. With the end of the First World War, and fine weather, the Craven Herald reported that people were able to enjoy the great festival with ' whole-hearted enthusiasm'. From all parts of Craven, there were reports of 'joyous times'. In Skipton, the mills and workshops closed for varying times, some from the Thursday night until the Tuesday morning, and others for shorter times. Shopkeepers closed on Good Friday, Monday afternoon and all day on Tuesday. On Easter Monday, crowds of visitors came to the town, some on their way to the beauty spots of the district, and others to pass a few hours in Craven's capital. It was safe to say, reported the Herald, that 'not for many years had the main thoroughfares been so full of people. All the weekend, motorcars and motorcycles have passed through the town in large numbers, and the railway station on Easter Monday was extraordinarily packed.' In addition, Grassington attracted a record crowd, while other parts of Craven did 'exceedingly well' from the visitors.

IT is interesting to read from the Herald of 1919 that there was a shortage of ready housing then, as now. The paper reported that it was an acknowledged fact that Craven was short of between 100 and 200 'workmen cottages' in its rural areas. The then district council was tackling the issue in a manner 'which indicated the required dwellings would be provided in the near future' said the Herald. The various towns and villages were to be visited and suitable sites identified. The paper understood that a report was to be brought to the next meeting of the council's appropriate committee.

POST war, there was also interest to revive Skipton Football Club. Most of its members had gone off to fight in the war, so the club had gone into debit and had disbanded, but by early 1919, it was hoped to start it up again.

"We have no doubt whatever that an appeal to the sport loving public of the district will provide the necessary funds for relieving the club of its financial responsibilities, " said the Herald.

THANKS to Brian Stott for providing us with another picture of one of the forgotten street names of Skipton.

"Many readers will pass these houses every day without glancing up to note that this set of terraced houses that is part of Keighley Road is in fact West View Terrace," he says.

IN 1969, under the headline 'invaluable services the local council provides' was a history of car parking in Skipton. Some people, said the article, will remember the days when the motor car had not yet started to invade the streets, let alone require special 'standing spaces'. There will be those, it continue, who would recall cattle and sheep being sold behind the town hall and in Caroline Square. The markets stayed in the town until 1906 and it was not until the early 1920s that motor buses started making trips to Skipton. When in 1955, Skipton Council bought the market site behind the town hall, people had already started to park their cars there. The council had not bought the site with the intention of making it a car park, and it was doubtful that the tremendous growth in the need for parking spaces would have been known at the time. Eventually, and still not having decided what it was to do with the site, the council had the remaining cattle pens removed and gradually, the former market became a much needed and much used car park. 50 years ago, the Town Hall car park had capacity for 320 'cars and commercial vehicles' and was often full. Looking ahead at the time, the council planned for large car parks to the east and west of the town, avoiding the town centre. It was estimated that by 1981, there would be a need to accommodate 1,100 vehicles - twice the number accommodated in 1969.

WE recently featured the 200th anniversary of the Mount Zion Baptist Church in Earby. Pupils from Springfield Primary School joined in with the celebrations, while church member, Nick Mitchell (pictured) dressed as William Wilkinson, the first minister of the church.

In 1969, the church celebrated its 150th anniversary, with celebrations throughout the weekend, reported the Craven Herald. The Baptist cause was introduced to Earby by a dozen or so dedicated people against determined opposition from other Baptist churches in the area, said the Herald. People from far and wide attended a day time 're-unifying' service by the church's young and enthusiastic minister, the Rev Peter Wightman, while a play in the evening by a new dramatic society attracted an uncomfortably crowded audience. A service on the Sunday, given by the Rev D S Russell, general secretary of the Baptist Union of Great Britain and Ireland, saw the pews 'almost full'.

The celebrations in 1969 were also attended by four people who had been baptised at the centenary celebrations 50 years previously - Mrs E Aldersley and Mrs Evelyn Bailey, both at the time still connected with the church; and Mrs Windle, formerly Nutter, and Mrs Taylor, formerly Windle, both of who had moved away, but who came back for the celebrations.

A TRACK of pure birdsong is being released for the first time ever as part of the RSPB’s’ Let Nature Sing’ project to get birdsong back into everyday life.

The charity is calling on the public to download and stream the song, both to highlight the fact that there are 40 million fewer birds in the UK now than half a century ago, and to experience its healing qualities. The single contains some of the most recognisable birdsongs that we used to enjoy, but that are on their way to disappearing forever. A compilation of beautiful sound recordings of birds with powerful conservation stories including the cuckoo, curlew, nightingale, crane and turtle dove who form part of the dawn chorus choir.

Directed by Sam Lee, award winning singer and musician, and produced by Bill Barclay, musical Director at the Globe Theatre; the single uses entirely new sound recordings by RSPB birdsong expert Adrian Thomas, recorded on nature reserves and locations around the UK.

It will be released tomorrow (April 26) in time for International Dawn Chorus Day May 5. More information can be found and the track can be downloaded online at: rspb.org.uk/letnaturesing.