125 years ago

At the Otley Police Court, Arthur Sims, who had one of his hands off and stated that he had been a soldier, was brought up charged with being drunk and disorderly and also with assault on Mr Isaac Birkett, butcher. The court heard that the prisoner was going about selling books and had a bugle with him. He assaulted the butcher in a dispute over meat in a shop. He was fined 10 shillings.

AN Otley coal merchant received a note purporting to come from the churchwarden of Fewston for him to forward two loads of his best coals to Fewston Church. It was subsequently discovered that neither the parson, churchwarden nor sexton had ordered any coals at all. It appears that because the church has had no fire this winter up to January 1, no doubt some perishing sinner had ordered the coals as a warm hint that it was high time to fire up.

The employees of E Bolton and Co, Manor Mills, Horsforth, held their annual tea and ball in the Town Hall. The tea which was an excellent one, took place in the schoolroom and reflected credit upon Miss Betsy Aktkjinson who had to superintend affairs. A total of 220 peop.e sat down and did full justice to the excellent spread.

100 years ago

Tempers rose at a meeting of Otley Education Sub-Committee when secondary education was debated. Mr J D Brown said that at the meeting of the Otley Urban Council the previous night, Mr J Kay had made a statement to the effect that higher grade elementary education would meet the need of the town better than the secondary school system. Mr Kay said it was entirely out of order introducing the subject. It had come to his knowledge that some gentleman he did not know had proposed it would be a very good thing for the education committee if a cask of gunpowder were attached to him and he were blown into eternity. Mr Kay: "I do not want to go there just yet."

One hundred and seventy one architects had sent in their names and addresses as willing to submit competitive plans for a proposed Guiseley Secondary School, to accommodate "an estimated number of about 200." The monthly meeting of the Governors of Guiseley Secondary School also heard that plans for the proposed site of the new school had been approved by the Board of Education.

For having no control over a horse and trap at Menston on Christmas Day, Fred Airton, a Yeadon carter, was summoned. PC Blundy proved the case and pointed out that the defendant was deaf and dumb. Defendant's brother said his brother and friend had evidently been treated too well by the customers. A fine of 1s. and the costs was imposed.

75 years ago

So great has been the demand for fretwork cut-offs made by George Brearcliffe of Otley since royalty had taken an interest in them, that he has been unable to keep pace with it, and has had to put in a good deal of overtime. Both the Queen and the Prince of Wales have now some of the artistic productions and the Princess Royal has sent Mr Brearcliffe several views of Harewood House to be similarly dealt with. It is quite possible that Mr Brearcliffe will be kept busy for some time.

Successful flying training has been given during the past year by the Yorkshire Aeroplane Club at Yeadon. Twenty-one Yorkshire people qualified as air pilots, thus bringing the total number of people trained by the club to more than 100. The machines flew 1,200 hours, which equals approximately 100,000 miles. There has been a fair proportion of ladies who have succeeded in obtaining flying licences and are very keen aviators. Eleven members have their own aeroplanes and fly to the Continent on business and pleasure.

Fame in the world of art has come the way of a Wharfedale man, Mr John Cooper. Mr Cooper is known as the Yorkshire artist and one of his chief paintings, Concert at St George's Hall, Bradford, has been bought by the Contemporary Art Society. This is a great honour and may be regarded as the hallmark of success. It places Mr Cooper in the front rank of artists today.

50 years ago

During the past few weeks, men of the three services who took part in the recent Suez fighting have been arriving at their home towns for welcoming periods of leave. Among the first to land on the dawn beaches at Port Said was Marine Commando Andrew Hall, of Prince Henry's Road, now on 30 days' leave. Two other soldiers from Otley, Lance Bombardier Tony Smith, and Gunner Donald Pickles, of Ghyll Beck Drive, went out with the same regiment.

The petrol shortage is having its effect throughout the district. In general, traffic is the lightest it has been for years. On Sunday mornings or any evening it is possible to drive along empty roads for distances that would have seemed incredible only a short time ago. One welcome by-product of the crisis might well be a drastic reduction in the figures for people killed and injured on the roads.

A sum of £122 9s 10d which Otley Old People's Club received from the winding-up of the former Otley Liberal Club. Has been invested in a fund for a new building. The chairman, Mr J H Veall, said the cheque had been received as a donation to their funds. He said: "The aged people have definitely opened a door through which others may follow in starting a building fund for a club worthy of aged people."

25 years ago

The number of houses being built in the Leeds area, which now includes Otley, parts of Wharfedale, Aireborough and Horsforth, looks set to hit a new low level. A report forecasts that in the whole of the Leeds area, only 2,000 to 2,200 new homes will be completed in the public and private sectors within the next two years. As a result, more people will have to live with relatives or friends or occupy housing of a lower standard than they would have liked.

A £1 million scheme to improve domestic water supplies in Otley and Aireborough has been put forward by the Yorkshire Water Authority. The scheme, scheduled to start at the end of the year, will involve the building of a new service reservoir, the laying of a new main to Moor Top, Guiseley, and the building of two new booster pumping stations to feed Moor Top and Haw reservoirs.

England's newest international Rugby Union player, Peter Winterbottom, was pictured at work on his uncle's farm as he prepared for England's match against Scotland at Murrayfield. Headingley flanker Winterbottom, who lives at Clifton, near Otley, made his debut for England in the recent match against the Australians at Twickenham. Named as one of England's replacements for the match is Menston's Nigel Melville, the Wasps and former Otley scrum-half.