125 Years Ago - 1891

The Feast in Otley was marred by Jupiter Pluvius, whose dampening influence militated very considerably against outdoor pleasure. On Sunday morning rain descended heavily and continued until an advanced hour in the afternoon.

The stepping stones at Ilkley - It is a great pity that the Otley Highway Board could not see its way to replacing these stones upon the half of the river which abuts upon their district. It was a very small boon to claim, and yet the Board would not grant it.

100 Years Ago - 1916

An Otley lad, who is with the Machine Gun Section, in a letter to his parents writes as follows:-"I don't think it is right that the munition workers should have a holiday. If they only knew what shells were used in this 'scrap' alone, I think they would alter their minds; that is, if they think anything at all about their country.What shells ---- makes in a week they fire in about five hours and perhaps less. So if they (the workers) would study, I think they would not grumble. I don't know what some of them would do if they had to come out here, where there are no holidays and only a shilling a day.

Driver Wilf. Ettenfield, R. E., of Addingham, in a letter says: "The weather out here is simply beautiful, and to see all in full bloom, and to have a quiet walk down the country lane it's all right, but not as nice as being at old Addingham.

75 Years Ago - 1941

Whilst "queuing" in Otley does not appear to be as evident as as was the case a short while ago, it still persists, particularly for bread and confectionary, and, though there is no indication at the moment that queuing will cease or increase during the coming winter, it seems to me that steps should be taken now to prevent the hardships and inequalities which arise from the from the practice. I have in mind that in the near future it is likely young married women will be called into industry, and if at all possible arrangement should be made to ensure that they do not suffer on the domestic side as a result.

"Hope for the best, but prepared for the worst" is a wise maxim. The trend of events on land and sea and in the air has sensibly relieved the tension under which the people of this country have been living during nearly two years. No sensible man will grudge his fellow citizens a growing sense of quiet confidence and a more cheerful outlook. Equally, no sensible citizen will be deceived into thinking that all is over or that there is any excuse for the relaxing of effort.

50 Years Ago - 1966

I think every village has its Auntie - not the music hall joke or hackneyed description of some outmoded person or institution, but a very real and loveable inhabitant who, by common consent, is looked upon as Auntie. Village communities are closely knit whatever critics of rural life may say, and when I returned recently to my native heath I was glad to see that the 80 odd years lay lightly on the sweet face of the lady of our village who was and still is known to us all as Aunt Maggie.

A 22-year-old Yeadon rock climber, Tom Crosby, was one of a team of four climbers from Hull University who reached the 5,250 feet peak of the dangerous East face of Mount Nordre Trolltind, in North Western Norway by a route which has never previously been successfully climbed. Last winter three Norwegian students were killed attempting to climb the route which Norwegian experts said was regarded as 'impossible.'

25 Years Ago - 1991

About 150 householders will know soon if they have won their fight to stay under the control of Harrogate Council - or whether they will be swallowed up by Leeds City Council. Boundary Commissioners have completed their draft report on the possible redrawing of the boundary line between the North Yorkshire and Leeds authorities and a copy of their findings will be sent to the Environment Secretary within the next few weeks. The Otley wrangle centres on people living in Throstlenest Close, St David's Road, Carr Bank and Riverside Park.

Otley's Adrian Barber was in at the beginning of the pop music explosion of the late Fifties and early Sixties. As a member of the Big Three he helped to establish the Mersey Sound in Liverpool which the Beatles and other groups were to follow. Since then he has been a major musical influence in the United States.This week he made a nostalgic visit to his home town.