125 Years Ago - 1891

On Saturday a fire occurred in the workroom of Mr Gill, taylor, Otley Road, Guiseley. The irons are heated by a gas stove and Mr Gill had just lighted the stove when he was called away. He threw the match (as he thought) into the grate, but it appears to have gone into some patterns.

On Tuesday a man named Emanuel Brown died suddenly in a lodging house in Haworth Lane, Yeadon. The deceased had not been in the best of health for some time, but two hours before his death he was certified as being fit to be removed to the Otley workhouse, an order for admission to which had been obtained.

100 Years Ago - 1916

Mrs David Busfield, Guiseley, and Mrs Wm Popplewell, Guiseley, for their gift of eggs for the wounded soldiers. They have received a letter from the East Leeds War Hospital, acknowledging with thanks the receipt of 520 eggs.

Pte. Thomas Jackson, whose parents live at 4 Bolton's Yard, Yeadon, has been wounded and is in a Red Cross Hospital in France. Writing home, under day April 21st, he says: "I think my wound is getting on very well. I was shot through the left leg and right ankle. I am now in hospital in Calais but expecting to come to a hospital in England in a week's time.

75 Years Ago - 1941

Glimpses of a prisoner-of-war's life in a German internment camp are contained in letters which Mr and Mrs Stanley Sowrey, of 28, Lawn Avenue, Burley, have received from their son Ronald Vincent (22) who was taken prisoner last year. In a letter dated January 3 he writes: "I am very pleased with the books you sent. They help to kill the spare time. I am still working plenty. We had three days holiday at Christmas, and also New Year's Day off, so we did well." In a further letter dated January 1 he writes: "We have not worked since Christmas as it is too cold. All we do are odd jobs in the camp. It is 30 degrees below zero here, but we have a fire and we have to chop our own wood. I am learning German in my spare time."

Among the seven German bombers brought down over Great Britain on Sunday night was one where the crew baled out after the bomber had been engaged by a night fighter. Residents heard a sharp short burst of gunfire high in the air, and immediately afterwards the German plane swept over the district, obviously disabled and losing height. The first Nazi was captured by police officer Heeley, who was patrolling on a motor cycle. There was no other means of transport so the constable ( who knows a few words of German) made it clear to his prisoner that "there mustn't be any monkey business" and told him to get on the carrier of his motorcycle. The two of them set off, the Nazi holding onto the policeman as they bumped over the hilly road, and the constable delivered his prisoner safely at the nearest police office.

50 Years Ago - 1966

Consider the man who empties your dustbin. If he asks you to put your waste paper in a separate pile, and not mix it with the ashes in the bin, don't think he is merely standing on his dignity. He is trying to help you. For much of the waste paper collected by our councils is baled and sold, And it brings in over £2m a year. This helps to keep the rates down.

A BBC television competition with Ilkley challenging Otley at Ilkley Swimming Pool may be held in August. Mr B. E. Townend, Clerk, told the Council on Wednesday night that they had been approached by the BBC television in regard to a programme they would like to arrange as part of a new series.

25 Years Ago - 1991

There may have been a cold wind blowing off Ilkley Moor but HRH The Princess Royal was given a true warm Yorkshire welcome when she visited the International Wool Secretariat Development Centre in Ben Rhydding on Tuesday afternoon. A cheering flag-waving crowd of schoolchildren, local residents, staff and their families - even a pen of three Swaledale sheep - greeted the Princess.

A decision on the building of a £1.5 million wind farm on the outskirts of Addingham is now in sight after the issue was returned to local councillors by the Environment Secretary, Mr Michael Heseltine. But a divided Craven Council are offering few clues as to whether the controversial Yorkshire Water project will received the go-ahead. Protestors fear turbines will damage the environent and distract traffic using the A65.