100 years ago

THEFT was in the news. The Herald reported that a man, who appeared to be a navvy, had pleaded guilty to stealing six or eight eggs from a farm in Austwick. The court heard that after being informed of the theft, the farmer chased the suspect and a fight ensued. The thief was given two months of hard labour for stealing the eggs and a further two months for assault.

Elsewhere, an Addingham man was accused of stealing a horse and three Skipton parents were fined over their children's irregular attendance at school.

A Bradford man also found himself on the wrong side of the law. He was fined five shillings for riding a motorcycle without a licence - but was then caught riding the same motorcycle back home from court. He was hauled back before the court and fined a further £1 8s.

50 years ago

A FIRE broke out at the Angel Hotel at Hetton as evening meals were being served. Worker Dorothy Wright dashed upstairs to rescue her six-year-old daughter, Susan, who was in bed. And Mrs Wright later paid tribute to customers, who formed a bucket chain to fight the blaze until the fire brigade arrived. One bedroom was gutted and there was damage to the roof.

Halton Gill School was to close. West Riding Education Committee was told that the school currently had eight pupils, but that number was set to drop to three. Members decided the pupils should be transferred to Arncliffe School.

A 13-year-old schoolboy was seriously injured in a potholing accident. The youngster fell 80 feet as he explored Gaping Gill with students and instructors from a school in Derbyshire. Members of the Cave Rescue Organisation hauled the unconscious boy 400 feet to the surface in a six-and-a-half hour operation. The teenager was then taken to Leeds General Infirmary, where he was said to be improving.

Ox-roasting took place in Skipton for the first time in 70 years. Chairman of the Skipton Urban District Council, Coun J A Kenyon, received the first sandwich from the "champion ox-roaster of Britain", GF Tyler.

Britain's Cotton Queen, 19-year-old Angela Smith, visited Alderton Bros, at Moss Shed, Barnoldswick. The Herald reported: "She went around every department and was subsequently entertained to lunch."

25 years ago

MEMBERS of Skipton Round Table "battered" their way into the Guinness Book of Records at the Broughton Game Show, making the world's largest Yorkshire pudding. The 77-square-feet pudding required 22 gallons of milk, 68 dozen eggs, 80 pounds of flour and a cup full of salt. Round Table member Patrick Russell said: "Everyone has worked really hard and it has been a great success. We have also had a lot of fun."

For the third time in three weeks, residents in the Station Road area of Cross Hills had floodwater in their cellars. The damage was caused by widespread thunderstorms which wreaked havoc in the area. Local councillor, Joe Howley, promised to raise the matter with Craven District Council. "It is absolutely disgusting when you have all these people getting filthy water shooting into their homes. I intend to take this as far as I can," he told the Herald.

And the row over who should take responsibility for the recent devastating floods in Skipton rumbled on. This week, Craven councillors blamed "irresponsible" Skiptonians for the problem. They claimed residents had dumped their unwanted rubbish in local becks, causing blockages. They also criticised river bank owners for not doing their bit to make sure the watercourses flowed freely.

Barnoldswick beauty Anne Winstanley was named Miss Red Rose 1982. The 20-year-old, who was studying for a fine arts degree at Reading University, had already won the Miss Pendle title.

Between 20,000 and 50,000 people were expected to assemble outside the US communications base at Menwith Hill, near Blubberhouses. It was hoped the demonstration, organised by Skipton Peace Group, would "effect the removal of a prime target in the event of nuclear war". Members said British people needed to be independent of US military activities.

10 years ago

RATS were becoming a problem in Silsden after untreated raw sewage was found to be making its way into the beck. "The e-coli levels in the beck are horrendous," warned environmentalist Keith Norris.

Pendle had its first major environmental festival, with people being urged to "Say Yes to Alternatives". More than 50 local and national organisations took part in the event, which included a gas-powered car and organic wine tasting. Free, diesel-guzzling, buses were available to take the public to the four satellite events.

Members of Glusburn Institute were celebrating after being awarded an £88,000 cash grant by the Arts Council. The community had also raised £10,000 through a series of productions by the village's youth theatre.

Benji, the border collie, got more than he bargained for when he leapt over a low wall in Skipton - and plunged 10ft into the canal. The nine-month-old pup then crawled into a small culvert and it took rescuers two hours to entice him out. The drama came less than 24 hours after Benji was given a home by Doreen Garforth and her 16-year-old son, Graham.