100 years ago

A LECTURE on Tolstoy and Russia was given by the Wesley Guild, Long Preston, by the Rev WB Smith, of Skipton. He dealt with Tolstoy's political, literary, religious and domestic life. He was one of the most religious men that Russia ever produced, he said.

The first prosecutions under the Lighting Restriction Order were dealt with by magistrates, with several shopkeepers being summoned for not complying with the regulations. In each case the defendant had not taken sufficient precautions in preventing light issuing from his shop.

A Barnoldswick weaver admitted being drunk. He said he had been turned out of the lodging house. Supt Vaughan put in a list of 77 previous convictions, five within the last ten months, and said the prisoner was a fit candidate for an inebriates' home - if those places were any good. He was fined 12s, with the alternative of 14 days imprisonment.

50 years ago

ABOUT 40 countries were represented at the eighth annual International Night which the Skipton Business and Professional Women's Club held in the town. It was attended by about 250 people, including a number of men.

Contrary to rumours in the town, ample supplies of smokeless fuels were available in Skipton. The chief public health inspector said he had dealt with many conversions to smokeless fuel and he was being told that people could not get the fuel they wanted.

Barnoldswick firm Albert Hartley embarked on a £100,000 modernisation scheme at its Crow Nest Shed, following which three shift working was to be introduced.

25 years ago

A MOTHER'S Day treat turned to disaster for newly-wed Skipton woman Fiona Toseland. For while she and her husband, Mark, treated her mother to a meal, their home was raided by thieves, who stole Mrs Toseland's £1,200 designer wedding dress. "It is something you can't replace," she said. "I hadn't even got it cleaned and there was still confetti on it."

Giggleswick anti-roads campaigner Bob Leakey failed in his bid to challenge the Transport Secretary's order for Gargrave bypass. The 76-year-old had called for a judicial review, claiming that all bypass inquiries were corrupt and had a hidden purpose, which was to increase the amount of traffic so more roads could be built. Despite his application being rejected, he vowed to fight on.

As part of Skipton's Comic Relief efforts, a giant red nose was erected 220ft up the chimney at Belle Vue Mill. The fundraiser was the brainchild of mill owners Kingsley Cards, who arranged for steeplejacks to erect the nose while the wind whistled around their hard hats. There was talk of floodlighting the nose so it could be seen for miles around.

10 years ago

A TIGER Moth plane flown by retired Skipton dentist Ken Ellwood during his RAF service took to the skies again. Mr Ellwood was reunited with the Tiger Moth when he joined the Northern Aero Workshops. They put him in contact with a Tiger Moth enthusiast whose passion was tracking down the fate of every Tiger Moth. Mr Ellwood provided a list of about 50 Tiger Moths he had flown and discovered that three were still in existence. One was owned by brothers in Shoreham who refused to sell, but in 1994 Mr Ellwood made a second approach which was successful.

A country hotel which started life as a farm shop saw the completion of a £1 million investment. The final stage of the redevelopment at the Coniston Hotel and restaurant included the opening of a large residential and conference extension. Owner Michael Bannister said: "I have a passion for the countryside and I'm convinced there is still a market for old fashioned, traditional hospitality. I believe people like the atmosphere, character and history the hotel offers."

At the grand old age of 21, Benji was thought to be the oldest dog in Barnoldswick. Despite his grey hairs the elderly Lakeland terrier, who was an incredible 147 in doggie years, had boundless energy and enjoyed at least one walk a day. Owner Lida Delbono said the secret of his old age was just "plenty of love, exercise and lots of attention".