100 years ago

THE consecration of the new burial ground at the Long Preston churchyard had to be postponed owing to the illness of the Bishop of Richmond. The enlargement consisted of some half acre of ground and covered the whole length of the old burial ground.

Messrs Lambert Bros, of Skipton Road, Silsden, sent 360 eggs during a week to the headquarters of the National Egg Collection in London. The total number sent from Messrs Lambert's stores since the depot was established there was 6,656.

David Walker, of Long Preston, was summoned for having a dog at large with no name on the collar. Sgt Wright stated he was on duty in the office when the dog was brought in. The defendant told the sergeant he could not attend court because both his sons had gone to war and he could not leave the farm.

50 years ago

SKIPTON Council bowed to public opinion. As a result of objections raised by residents in the Keighley Road area against the use of the Bold Venture Recreation ground as a car parking area and for the erection of garages, the council resolved not to pursue the matter.

It was the 250th anniversary of the school at Rathmell. A history of the school was compiled by headteacher Mr DW Barker. To mark the anniversary, a thanksgiving service was held in the parish church.

A proposed scheme for a public hall and cultural centre for Skipton was discussed by Skipton Council. It was felt it would be to the benefit of the town and discussion was adjourned pending various methods of funding.

25 years ago

THE closure of Skipton's Raikeswood Hospital was done as though it was "a dirty little back street hospital that had fallen foul of health regulations", it was claimed. And Doreen Brodie told a meeting of Airedale Community Health Council's special interest group for the elderly that it had been done without any consideration for the patients, their families and the staff. She said the closure was disgraceful.

Fire caused extensive damage to a disused signal box at Horton-in-Ribblesdale. The fire in the box on the southbound platform of the Settle-Carlisle line was already well-alight when firefighters arrived. It took them an hour to get it under control and a further hour to damp down. "We have no idea as to the cause, but services will not be disrupted in any way," said a British Rail spokesman.

In a bid to solve one of the thorniest problems ever faced by Craven District Council, members agreed, in principle, to make some provision for the parking of market traders' vehicles once proposals to improve the central area of Skipton came into effect. "We need the goodwill of the stallholders and you will not get it saying you can take pot luck in the car park and pay the charges," said Cllr Peter Willey.

10 years ago

THE new licensee of a pub in Kettlewell uncovered a piece of history. Stephen Whyte, known as "Chalky", unearthed a time capsule dating back six decades during restoration work at the Blue Bell Inn. It contained a threepenny bit from 1942, a newspaper dating back to 1947 and a note from the then owners, Robert and Nancy Butterfield.

Ribblesdale Land Rover in Settle said goodbye to employee Richard Wallbank who retired after almost 50 years' dedicated service to the company. And the friendly, chatty body shop manager was rendered speechless when his colleagues presented him with a Ford Ka as a special thank you. "I have really enjoyed it here with all the staff and meeting so many people. It has been a lovely place to work," said Richard, who was about to celebrate his 65th birthday.

Thousands of commuters across the Aire Valley faced nightmare journeys after a lorry crashed into Kildwick level crossing. One of the two barriers came off in the collision and the lorry hit overhead cables, causing a loss of power. A spokesman for Network Rail said the lorry was driven through at "great speed" and had smashed through both barriers as they lowered. The driver failed to stop. Train services along the Aire Valley were severely disrupted, with no service operating for the first few hours after the incident.