100 years ago

A LABOURER with no permanent abode, was charged with refusing to work whilst an inmate of the Skipton Union Workhouse and with wilful damage to a door, the property of his guardians. The workhouse porter had spoken to the prisoner and told him to do some scrubbing. He went back later and found the work had been done in a slovenly way. The prisoner was sent to jail for three months hard labour.

A smart, well set up body of men, whose khaki garb suited them down to the ground, was the verdict of many who witnessed the inspection of volunteers at Skipton. The Herald claimed it said much for the spirit de corps of the local citizen soldiers who, despite the discouragements they had long received at the hands of the War Office, were prepared with undiminished enthusiasm.

It was common talk in the Skipton Cattle Market that the Skipton Board of Guardians some time ago accepted a tender for fresh wholesome meat at the low price of 4d per pound. The news that the supplies were not answering expectations seemed to be received with a considerable satisfaction, while more than one cattle dealer was heard to exclaim "serve them right too".

50 years ago

PLANS to extend Skipton General Hospital were causing concern. The Leeds Regional Hospital Board chairman Major JC Hunter said members had spent more time discussing the problems of Skipton Hospital than any other scheme. And the major assured a local delegation that the board was committed to providing the people of Craven with much better hospital services. The current plan was to build an extension to house x-ray, out-patients, casualty, pharmaceutical, occupational therapy, pathology and a chest clinic. Major Hunter also promised that the board would look at additional beds once the extension was completed. There was also a resolution on the table to rename the facility Craven General Hospital.

A proposal by the Yorkshire Electricity Board to erect overhead cables over several miles in Upper Wharfedale aroused a "keen and diverse" debate among Skipton Rural District Council. Eventually the council decided to raise no objections - but the vote was not unanimous. Mr JM Horsfall asked when the desecration on the countryside was going to end, while Mr J Pass believed the lines were a sign of progress. Mr JW Whitham said there was too much focus on the Dales. "No-one bothers about spoiling the amenities of South Craven; yet we have all this fuss about putting a few cables in the Dales," he declared.

Grassington woman Freda Procter had a surprise when she boarded a flight to Frankfurt. She was presented with a hand-woven Irish tweed travel rug as she stepped on to the Aer Lingus plane. She was the company's 3,000,001 passenger since its launch 21 years ago.

25 years ago

FIRE officer Grant Salisbury had just returned from four-week working holiday in America. Mr Salisbury, an assistant divisional officer at Skipton Fire Station, had won a scholarship to study arson suppression and fire investigation in the States. He spent his first fortnight with the New York Fire Department and, wearing a bullet proof vest, toured the black ghettos where arson was rife. He was surprised to find his American counterparts had the power to arrest, interview and charge suspects.

Skipton firm W Lawson and Son celebrated its centenary with a party at the Black Horse Hotel. Head of the company Chris Lawson and his wife, Margaret, cut a special celebration cake. Accountant Arthur Coe, who had had business dealings with the firm since the 1930s, said it could look to the future with confidence. Starting as a cabinet maker and upholsterer, the company had evolved into a joinery business, employing 13 staff.

10 years ago

SKIPTON'S Conservative MP David Curry kept his seat in the General Election - even though his party had suffered an electoral wipeout across the country. He came away with a majority of 11,620 - down on the previous election but still well within the safety margin. Mr Curry said the challenge now was to form an "effective, sharp and active opposition". Referendum candidate Nancy Holdsworth was also celebrating despite coming last out of the four candidate. She secured her party's highest vote in the North East region and was 12th best in the country.

The Craven Cup final was abandoned because of snow. A blizzard meant the match between Gargrave and Barnoldswick had to be called off because the lines were not visible. Allan Cawood had looked through the record books and discovered that it was the first time in its 87-year history that the final had been abandoned.

One of Skipton's last remaining mills was on the market. Union Mill, off Keighley Road, was being sold with vacant possession. Textile production had ceased some time ago and the tenants had been given notice to quit the previous year. Planners were anxious that the listed building remained in industrial use.