125 Years Ago - 1891

The late Mr David Green, whose remains were recently interred in the Otley Cemetery, was well-known and respected by the older portion of the residents. At the interment, we are sorry to state, another painful incident occurred. As has happened on two or three former occasions, the grave in this case was again not large enough to admit the coffin, and it had to be left on the side until the blunder was rectified. This is not at all creditable to the burial boards, and it is not the first occasion a similar mistake has been made.

The reports which have been prevalent in Otley as to the supposed death of Mr. James Hunter, basket maker, Peel's Crescent, Otley, have occasioned him great inconvenience and some loss. Mr Hunter is, it seems unnecessary to say, still at his old quarters, and at his request we make known this fact.

100 Years Ago - 1916

On Tuesday morning ex-police Sergt. Clarke, of The Mount, Horsforth, received official notification of the death of his son Pte. Frank Clarke, of the West Riding Regiment. Pte. Clarke was one of four brothers who joined up shortly after the outbreak of war, and all of them have seen service at the front. The parents had heard nothing from their youngest son, who has now made the great sacrifice, since the early part of July when they received a letter from him, on the envelope of which were written the words "In case I am killed, please forward."

The death occurred in action on August 28th of Second-Lieutenant Martin Kenion Gray, younger son of the later Mr Edwin Gray, of Rawdon, and Mrs Gray, Hollingley, Ilkley, and grandson of Sir William Duncan, Bart, Horsforth Hall. Lieutenant Gray was 19 years of age. He joined the Leeds University O.T.C. in June last year, and received his commission in November. He had only been at the front nine weeks.

75 Years Ago - 1941

At first reported missing after the rearguard action at Crete, Marine George Albert Horton, of the Royal Marines, youngest son of Mr and Mrs H Horton, 7, Marshall Street, Yeadon, is now known to be a prisoner of war. The information is contained on a postcard received from him by his parents, in which he says he is fit and well. Marine Horton is 21 years of age and went out to the Middle East in January.

Sir, Knowing how lonely people can be in a strange country, my husband and I wish to extend a hearty welcome to any Otleyites who should be stationed in Malaya. It may be possible for us to meet them or at least send them a cheery letter. Our address can be found by application to the Minister, Wesley Church, Singapore, or from Mr A. S. Hellewell, The Old Corner Shop, Kirkgate, Otley. - Yours etc. Margery Jennings (nee Hellewell), Singapore S. S.

(Six months after Mrs Jennings wrote her letter Singapore fell to the Japanese. She died in an internment camp at the age of 37 in May 1945.)

50 Years Ago - 1966

At 7pm on Wednesday about 800 hand-operated sirens will be sounded for a period of one minute throughout North Eastern Civil Defence Region. The sirens have been issued to public warning points throughout the area, and in an emergency will supplement the power sirens. Purpose of the test is to check the efficiency of the siren distribution.

Back home after an enjoyable three weeks' holiday in America are Mrs Gertie Rathmell, of Bradford Road, Otley, and her eldest granddaughter Miss Elaine Blackburn, also of Bradford Road. Mrs Rathmel's own comments on America: "It is a very nice place to visit - but I like Otley to live in."

25 Years Ago - 1991

Surviving the tail end of a tornado, tackling traditional Korean games and performing a Japanese dance for two hours in a street carnival are just some of the memories a 17-year-old Otley girl has brought back from her once in a lifetime trip to the East. Pam Burgess, of Riverside Close, has just returned from a 17-day visit to Korea and Japan, which included nine days at the World Scout Jamboree attended by more than 20,000 people from more than 100 countries.

An Otley man this week spoke of the horrors he encountered on a mercy-mission to crisis hit Romania. Walter Hamby, 59, who is president of the Otley and District Lions Club, has just returned from a two-week trip to Iasi in north-east Romania, where he helped distribute cot mattresses and supplies to orphanages and to check that mattresses already sent were being put to good use.