125 Years Ago – 1889.

The funeral of Mr John Walker, farmer of Addingham, took place at the Parish Church on Friday last, and was attended by a very painful circumstance. Miss Sarah Ann Walker, daughter of the above, who had only returned home quite recently, went to Bradford on Thursday to transact some business and on arriving back at Addingham in the evening she hurried home to escape the inclemency of the weather. When she reached home she was suddenly taken ill, and died the following morning from apoplexy. Miss Walker was 57 years of age.

On Tuesday morning last another mad dog was observed by a man named John Clapham, residing at Gildersber, near Addingham. He was coming to his work at Ilkley when he observed on the road in front of him a black and tan sheep dog behaving somewhat suspiciously.

100 Years Ago – 1914.

In both divisions of the area of the Wharfedale Rural Council the medical officers report a decreased death rate for the past year. In the northern district there were 26 deaths in a population of 3,609, the lowest rate known. Doctors report that the better-built and more healthily situated cottages are eagerly sought after and seized upon by people from the surrounding towns. The publication of the foregoing statistics will certainly not abate the ardour of this quest. If the migration from town to country halves the risk of death it is worth some sacrifice of convenience.

At a meeting of the Wharfedale Board of Guardians last week, a letter was read from the authorities at the Ilkley Coronation Hospital, asking for payment for the cost incurred by a man who cut his throat on the moor and who had to be treated in the hospital before being taken to the Workhouse Infirmary.

75 Years Ago – 1939.

Very little criticism is heard nowadays concerning the bi-annual alterations of the clock. Its advantages are now almost universally recognised, and the change is taken as a matter of course. The weather too has made the task of getting up an hour early not at all unpleasant. Indeed a Burley man told me a couple of days ago that all the previous week he had been getting up at a quarter to six instead of the usual quarter to seven to make a cup of tea in a kitchen that catches the early morning sun.

Many of those responsible for the vast modern business of building and selling houses often take as their slogan “Why pay rent?” This is a fair enough question, especially nowadays when it is comparatively easy for any section of the population to become house-owners. The economic structure of the country today means that credit facilities are not only made available to all, but that credit is the accepted system of acquiring most things, including houses, furniture, and road vehicles of all kinds.

50 Years Ago – 1964.

The curiosity of John Martin Gallimore brought excitement to Valley Road on Monday morning in the shape of firemen, police, an ambulance and a doctor.

When John, who will be two in June, was left alone for a moment whilst his mother Mrs Maureen Gallimore, went outside to hang washing on the line. John decided to investigate the electric washing machine. He pushed a chair alongside, climbed onto it and pushed three fingers between the bottom roller of the wringer and the plate. Then he found they were stuck. Fortunately the machine had been switched off.

Rowdyism on late Saturday night buses between Ilkley and Otley has caused a bus company to consider making application to the Traffic Commissioner for the withdrawal of the service. This was stated at Otley Magistrates Court on Friday.

25 Years Ago – 1989.

Ilkley shared in the nation’s grief after the worst ever sporting tragedy at Hillsborough claimed the lives of 95 Liverpool football fans. This Thursday and Friday outside Ilkley’s Tesco’s supermarket, the Ilkley Good Neighbours Scheme’s workers will be collecting for the Disaster Fund.

A 14-year-old Norwegian boy, Christian Hoff, who is a keen football player, is looking for a pen pal. He would like to correspond with someone of similar age in this country. Officials of Guiseley AFC have sent him a copy of their programme for the Northern Counties East Football League match with Harrogate Railway.