100 years ago The New Inn at Clapham was a lively scene for the beaters’ supper and ball. Dancing was held in the large assembly room and music was supplied by Kirkbright’s band of Austwick.

A leap year dance was held in the Provided School, Giggleswick. About 80 people attended the event. The ladies had the privilege until midnight and took full advantage of it, keeping the men on their toes.

The surveyor at Earby Council was instructed to obtain tenders for the supply of a tar-spraying machine and also for the supply of tar.

50 years ago A large part of Grass Wood, Grassington, was turned over to the Forestry Commission and an extensive area of special botanical interest had been leased to the Yorkshire Naturalists Trust for use as a nature reserve.

Hunter trials, by the Pendle Forest and Craven hunt due to be held at Gledstone, West Marton, had to be cancelled owing to the hard and dangerous ground.

25 years ago School cook Beverley Seward won the county’s school menu planning competition for the second year running. Mrs Seward, who worked at Otley Street Nursery, took top honours with her menu of carrot and almond loaf and crunchy finger salad, followed by apricot fool. Among the runners-up were Gargrave School cook Rose Edmondson and Upper Wharfedale kitchen assistant Megan Lightfoot.

Sixteen patients were evacuated from a ward at Airedale General Hospital, Steeton, when a fire was discovered in a nearby day room. Patients on ward 12 were moved to another part of the hospital while firefighters tackled the blaze. A man was later charged with arson.

Former Barnoldswick man Roger Knowles became a multi-millionaire after selling his toiletries business, Woods of Windsor, for £5 million. Mr Knowles, who was a trained pharmacist, bought a shop next to the entrance of Windsor Castle for £22,000. He and his wife, Kathleen, subsequently found some old books containing recipes for soaps and perfumes – and so Woods of Windsor was born. The business – which had a turnover of £4.5 million – was bought by Kingsgrange Products.

10 years ago The gavel fell on the first live auction of cattle in more than 12 months. The fat stock ring was full of farmers and dealers eager to find out what prices would be made for the 172 feeding bulls and 153 store cattle. “It’s grand to be back,” said Richard Wellock, who had hardly missed an auction in 90 years.

Linton Youth Hostel was to close after suffering losses during the foot and mouth crisis. The Youth Hostel Association chief executive Roger Clarke said the association had lost £5 million during the closure of the countryside and had to make economies. “We very much regret this move,” he added. A second youth hostel, Kettlewell, was saved at the 11th hour.

Children’s TV series 24Seven, filmed in Giggleswick, was nominated for an international award. The Granada series, set at Giggleswick School, was shortlisted for a Prix Jeunesse International Award. The programme showed the lives of boarders over 14 consecutive nights.