100 years ago

LITTLE or no interest was taken in the annual parish meeting for Steeton with Eastburn. In addition to members of the parish council, only five ratepayers were present. In a review of the year, it was stated that the council's efforts to secure a branch post office for Eastburn had failed.

Considerable interest was shown in an exhibition game of billiards in Lothersdale between Harry Virr, of Bradford, winner of the UK and the English Amateur Championship, and Herbert Lambert, a promising young player from Silsden. The result was Virr 750, Lambert 507.

Anthony Eastwood of Midland Street, Skipton, received notification from the War Office that his son, the late Lance Corporal H Eastwood of the 18th Hussars, had the honour of having conferred upon him by the Emperor of Russia, the medal of St George, for gallant conduct in the field.

50 years ago

GIGGLESWICK School's annual athletic sports were held at the school's Lords Sports Field next to the River Ribble.

The Bentham Phoenix Players' production of Night Must Fall was struck a severe blow when one of the cast died suddenly as he prepared to join the cast for the final performance. The audience watched the performance unaware of the strain on the other characters.

Parents who collected their children at tea time from Brougham Street School, Skipton, were creating a hazard by parking their cars outside the school. It was decided to ask for a 'school entrance' sign to be written on the roadway.

25 years ago

BARNOLDSWICK United footballer Gary Johnson would be out of action for the rest of the season, after breaking his leg in a match. Gary, 19, was playing for United's second team at Settle when the accident occurred. "I went in for a 50-50 tackle and heard a loud crunch. I have never known anything like it. I was in agony." He broke both his tibia and fibula.

A Sutton-in-Craven soldier returned from The Gulf - and saw his new-born son for the first time. Andrew Clayton, 24, returned to an emotional reunion with his family, including his second son, Jason, who was born while Andrew was out in the Gulf serving with an ordnance company. "I got a fax straight away after Jason was born and I was sent some photographs. It seemed funny coming home and seeing him for the first time," he said.

Skipton Music Festival hit a high, with more entries than ever. Trophy winners included cellist Rachael Eteson, of East Marton, singer Hilda Harrison, of Cononley, 11-year-old recorder player Susannah Hallas, of Harrogate, and singer Carole Whaley, of Bacup. "It was a wonderful festival," said secretary Ann Ware.

10 years ago

TWENTY-two-year-old Toby Williams spent an afternoon in minus 25 degrees centigrade temperatures training for an expedition to the South Pole. The former Ermysted's Grammar School pupil from Bolton Abbey was hoping to become the youngest Briton to reach the pole, following the route of Captain Scott's famous but ill-fated journey. Toby, who was with the Royal Army Medical Corps, prepared for the extreme cold in a giant freezer at St George's Hospital, London.

Skipton doctor Christopher Craig retired after 31 years at the town's Dyneley House surgery. A native of Buckinghamshire, he trained in London and moved to Skipton in 1972, working at the newly opened Airedale General Hospital. Three years later, he joined Drs Robinson, Merrell, Dennis and Gibson at Clifford House - now Dyneley House - and was thrown straight in at the deep end. "A lot more was expected of us in those days," said Dr Craig.

An astronomer won the first round of his fight to keep a three-metre high radio telescope at his Horton-in-Ribblesdale home. John McKay erected the equipment behind his house on Bransghyll Terrace and was then forced to seek retrospective planning permission from the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority. Initially it looked as though his hopes of carrying out intensive research into outer space were going to be dashed when officers recommended refusal, but members said they were minded to approve the plan after hearing that Mr McKay had the backing of neighbours and astronomy experts.