FOR anyone with a spare around £40,000, what better way to spend it than on this rather splendid 1972 gold Rolls Royce Corniche II. The car is just one of several beautifully preserved cars due to go under the hammer at the Tennants Auctioneers’ Motor Vehicle and Automobilia Sale in Leyburn on Sunday, May 12.

First introduced in 1971, the Corniche was in production for nearly 25 years, but while it was sought after by many, few could afford the price tag.

The car has clearly not been used much, it has only 28,000 miles on the clock. It also includes the original working eight track audio system, with tapes, and an interesting number plate, CX65.

MOTORBIKE experts out there may know what type of machine this is which stands forlornly against a wall in a field not too far from Bolton-by-Bowland.

It looks as though it was propped up ready to be collected at some point, but was then forgotten – for many years – apparently.

There’s even an old pheasant’s nest behind it so at least it was made useful.

We suspect it will take rather a lot of TLC to get this up and running again.

FOOD and drink played a staring role in last weekend's Tour de Yorkshire cycle race, including a specially produced TdY chocolate bar courtesy of Whitakers Chocolate of Skipton. The ‘Yorkshire loves Le Tour’ themed individual 90g milk chocolate bars were handed out to the world's media in the county to report on the event. Gemma Whitaker, the company's marketing manager, said: “The Tour de Yorkshire is such a fantastic event for so many reasons. As a long-standing Yorkshire based company, we were delighted to get involved and create a unique ‘Yorkshire loves Le Tour’ milk chocolate bar to celebrate this momentous occasion and keep energy levels up in each media centre."

Welcome to Yorkshire’s commercial director, Peter Dodd said: “Now in its fifth year, it’s always fantastic to see how much effort our members go to when the Tour de Yorkshire comes to town. It really is an event that always brings communities together and not only celebrates the world’s best riders but the best of Yorkshire food and drink too! I’m sure the journalists visiting the county to cover the race from all around the world enjoyed the delicious produce on offer in the media centres!”

THE Royal Armouries in Leeds is launching a new series of events in May, giving visitors a chance to get up close to some of history’s most remarkable monarchs.

The five themed weekends will, says the museum, bring history to life with costumed characters, including the monarchs themselves and their consorts, live and authentic combat demonstrations, tours and object handling opportunities. Two of the weekends, Elizabeth I and Charles II, will also feature action-packed horse shows with Atkinson Action Horses, famous for their work on the silver screen. The series will start on May 25

with an opportunity to meet the ‘Virgin Queen’ herself, Elizabeth I, alongside her loyal consort Robert Dudley, the Earl of Leicester, whose armour can be found in the museum’s Tournament Gallery.

As well as live performances and combat demonstrations, the May bank holiday weekend will also feature a special Tudor horse show, showcasing skill-at-arms from the period in the museum’s outdoor arena. The Queen and her consort will be in attendance to greet their loyal subjects! Shows will be at 12 noon and 3pm daily and tickets can be booked in advance online at: royalarmouries.org/event/monarchs/

THORNTON Hall Country Park, this year's winners of the best customer service gong in the Skipton Business Awards, staged a number of popular events over the Easter holiday. There was an Easter bunny, of course, pictured here with team members, Shannon Spencer and Lorna Preston, and also a lot of other partying going on. The Great Show spectacular, on Good Friday featured circus skills and singing; while toddlers were given their own party, and there was also a superhero and princess party on Easter Monday.

A FASCINATING evening is on the cards later this month when the county record office opens its doors as part of 'archives at dust'.

North Yorkshire County Record Office is taking part in the event for the ninth year running, and this year will be looking at crime and punishment.

Exploring criminal records from the 19th century, it will include the story of 25 year old 'Buffalo' who was sentenced to two months' hard labour in Northallerton's house of correction for stealing three fleeces in 1871.

The Victorian records on show also point to the harsh punishments given to women, with one sentenced to three months’ hard labour for stealing a coat in 1872.

Re-enactors from Ripon’s Prison and Court House Museums will bring court proceedings to life, alongside a paper trail that will follow several North Yorkshire folk through the criminal process.

On display will be plans and records from the now closed Northallerton Prison, showing the site of the treadmill, and revealing the names of those who were sentenced to be confined with hard labour or transported.

Archives at Dusk will take place on Thursday May 16, from 6pm to 8.30pm at North Yorkshire County Record Office, Malpas Road, Northallerton. Admission is free and light refreshments are provided. Booking is not necessary and free parking is available on site and nearby. For more information, visit : northyorks.gov.uk/county-record-office or call 01609 777585.

50 years ago, in May, 1969, Skipton and District Young farmers held a jubilee show in the Old Showfield, off Embsay Road, Skipton. Maurice Brewster turned up to the event in a horse drawn, four wheeled, four seater Phaeton, a vehicle in common use in 1900.

IN the same edition of the Craven Herald, mention was made of the 150th anniversary of the birth of the eminent Victorian writer, John Ruskin. The paper claimed Ruskin must have been with the artist, JMW Turner at Weathercote Cave, near Ingleton. The artist spent time at Weathercote sketching the cave system. Ruskin wrote about Ingleborough that he could not understand how the mountain managed to stand without rocking - prompting the Herald to think he must have gone on a very breezy day. He went on to refer to a Yorkshire breeze, saying you could lean against it as you could a 'thick-set hedge'.

THERE were celebrations amongst the bell ringers of St Andrew's Church, Kildwick 100 years ago following a successful second attempt to ring a peal. Some 5, 088 changes of Kent Treble Bob Major were made in three hours and 14 minutes. There were eight ringers, who came from Kildwick, Gargrave and Skipton and the conductor was Mr W Billows, of Skipton.

A CYCLIST wrote to the Craven Herald in May, 1919 on the question of 'tar spraying of the roads'. The cyclist, from Giggleswick, referred to the 'gigantic volume of traffic coming through Giggleswick and Settle' and suggested the correct method of tar spraying was of great public interest.