100 years ago

A SERIOUS accident befell a motorcyclist. Accompanied by a friend in the sidecar, the unfortunate man named Waddington had passed the Green Close Railway Bridge, Bentham Road, Clapham, but failed to negotiate the dangerous bend. He suffered a fractured thigh.

The appeal tribunal paid its first visit to Skipton and in four hours dealt with 35 appeals from Skipton, Barnoldswick and Earby. They included several of the Conscientious variety whose astounding contentions served to enliven proceedings which would otherwise have been rather dull.

Nearly 100 letters of acknowledgement and appreciation were received from recipients of the second batch of parcels sent early in the New Year to Earby men serving in the army.

50 years ago

A CIVIC reception was accorded a young German swimming team from Darmstadt when they arrived in Skipton. The party of 30 were taken to Skipton Council chamber where they were addressed by the chairman. They were in Skipton to take part in a swimming gala at Aireville Swimming Pool.

The Craven Herald recalled that, 54 years ago, General William Booth, founder of the Salvation Army, had paid his first visit to Skipton. The general's aide had sent notice of his requirements, including the preparation of a savoury dish.

Daughter of a former railway signalman, Monica Potter of Giggleswick, found herself in Rail News after she took command of the Eldroth Signal box. She had formerly been in charge of the Skew box between Clapham and Settle.

25 years ago

THE historic St Michael the Archangel Church at Kirkby Malham was turned into a television studio. It was the venue for the last of six Lent services, broadcast by Yorkshire Television. It was a great occasion in the life of the 500-year-old church, said the Herald.

A budding musician hit a high note. Seven-year-old Thomas Haigh, from Settle, won an award for his playing at the Bingley Children's Gala annual talent contest. He had only been playing the clarinet for a year. And he gave his applause-winning presentation in a bowler hat, waistcoat and bow tie. "The judges said they hoped he would be back next year," said proud grandmother Joy Haigh.

Vandals targeted the White Lady - a well-known monument at Barnoldswick's Ghyll Cemetery. The damage was so bad that it was thought the beautifully carved stone monument was beyond repair. According to folklore, the White Lady could be seen at night drifting among the dark gravestones.

10 years ago

GOVERNMENT minister Jim Knight dodged dog dirt and litter on a tour of Skipton's grot spots. Mr Knight, the Defra Minister for Rural Affairs, was in Yorkshire to launch a national initiative arming local authorities with powers to punish messy dog owners and litter louts. Led by representatives from Skipton Town Council, Mr Knight was taken on the well-used and heavily littered route from East Castle Street to the Middletown allotments along the path known locally as Khyber Pass.

Dry stone wallers braved the worst of Yorkshire's elements to restore part of the Dales' farming heritage. Despite strong winds and driving rain, volunteers from the Otley and Yorkshire District Dry Stone Walling Association transformed a dilapidated sheepfold and field wall at the side of Buckden Rake back to their original glory. Association member Martyn Smith said: "I have never walled in such terrible conditions. It was a quagmire underfoot. The mud was up to the tops of our boots. It was sleeting horizontally and threatening to blow us off the hillside."

A frantic search was taking place throughout the UK and into Europe to find a suitable Mr Right for a very broody bird. Vera, a lappet-faced vulture at the Yorkshire Dales Falconry and Wildlife Conservation Centre at Settle, needed a mate. Unfortunately, it seemed Vera was the only bird of her kind in the country and so the search was moving overseas. "These type of vultures are very rare so finding a male isn't going to be easy, " said centre owner Doug Petrie.