100 years ago

A BUS driver was fined for the heinous crime of leaving his engine running while he popped out of the cab for a quick break. A police officer saw the man leave his "motor bus" standing in Colne Road, Earby, in front of the Station Hotel. The officer found the driver in the pub and asked him if he knew he was committing an offence, to which he replied that he did not. Betraying his dislike of horseless carriages, the chairman of the court told the defendant: "You must make yourself acquainted with the law if you are going to drive one of those things."

The mystery of the Farnhill river baby reported the previous week was solved with the arrest of a Bradley woman. Two schoolboys saw a woman go down to the river with two packages and return with only one. The other parcel had been left in the river and contained the body of a baby girl. The woman admitted a charge of "concealment of birth" and when asked whether the baby was stillborn, she replied: "It just did breathe."

50 years ago

YOUNG Settle spin bowler Donald Wilson was picked to play for Yorkshire against Scotland. He had previously played for Yorkshire's second team in a minor counties match. On that occasion, playing against Northamptonshire II, he took one wicket for 26 runs in nine overs in the first innings and 3-58 in the second innings. The promising young player was the only son of Mr and Mrs L Wilson and was an apprentice joiner with Brassington and Cox.

Seventeen-year-old Alan Gatiss, of Skipton, was one of a party of 12 to form a guard of honour when the Queen passed through Hull on her way to Denmark on a state visit. Alan was a student at the city's nautical college.

Former Barnoldswick man, Flight Lieutenant Jack McWicker, had been selected for a two-year officer exchange programme in America. He was to swap his post at RAF Transport Command for a role at the American Air Transport Command in Washington. The former pupil of Gisburn Road School had already had a distinguished career in the RAF after joining as a boy entrant at the age of 16.

Alderman FJ Cornthwaite completed 50 years' service on Settle Rural District Council. Looking back over the years, he said it did not seem any time at all and he did not feel he had made any sacrifices. "I have had pleasure in making a great many friends and a few enemies," he said. During his time on the council, Mr Cornthwaite had witnessed the introduction of electricity, better sanitation and a growth in population.

25 years ago

CRAVEN'S second casualty from the Falklands War was 20-year-old aircraft technician Michael Parker. Just a week after Sutton sailor Graham Wild was hurt by flying shrapnel during a bomb attack at sea, Mr Parker sustained facial injuries when the Argentines bombed the San Carlos bridgehead. A corporal in the Third Commando Brigade Air Squadron attached to the Royal Marines, he was one of the first troops to be sent to the Falklands after the invasion. His mother, Margaret, told the Herald: "You seem to expect the worse. No mother wants her son to go out there, but it is his job. Of course, you worry all the time." The former Settle High School pupil had previously seen service in Northern Ireland.

A party of 25 farmers and gamekeepers, armed with rifles and shotguns, combed the moors above Bolton Abbey for a killer dog. The Alsatian had been running wild for two weeks and had killed more than 25 lambs on local farms. The dog had escaped from a car which had overturned on the A59.

Steeton with Eastburn Parish Council welcomed news that work would start on the new Aire Valley Trunk Road within two years. Chairman Geoffrey Funnell paid tribute to the campaigners who had helped to get this "wonderful result". "These proposals are to be welcomed as they shine a light at the end of a very dark tunnel," he declared.

10 years ago

A FAMILY lost its battle to keep its Snaygill home. David and Dawn Smith watched helplessly as the former agricultural building was knocked down. They had carried out the conversion work without planning permission and, after a lengthy battle, Craven District Council workmen arrived to demolish their home.

Angry villagers turned out en masse to support a peaceful demonstration against speeding traffic in Long Preston. Campaigners Tricia Charnley, Yvonne Thompson and Chris Moorby had recruited a large number of residents to carry placards and ride around the village with signs fixed to their bikes. They were demanding a 30mph speed limit and possibly road humps.

Veteran footballer Bob Smith completed his 50th season in the sport. And to celebrate, the 61-year-old, from Barnoldswick, acted as assistant referee at a junior league under 15s final at Valley Parade, Bradford. Mr Smith started his football career playing for Riley Street Methodists in the West Riding League at the age of 10. He played for a variety of teams before branching out as a referee at the age of 38.