125 Years Ago – 1889

The Fireside News gives the following anecdote from the life of Mr W. E. Forster:- “Mr Forster, though a kind-hearted man, was rather haughty and stand-offish in his manner, and his servants were sometimes in great dread of offending him. On one occasion Henry, a faithful old butler, seemed unaccountably nervous at dinner, making several blunders. His master could hardly restrain his vexation: but Henry kept bravely on until the desert and coffee were served. Then stealing up behind Mr Forster’s chair, he softly said: “Please Sire, can you spare me now? My ‘ouse has been on fire for an hour and a ‘af.”

On Saturday afternoon an accident happened to Mrs Danks, wife of the Rev. W. Danks, vicar of S. Margaret’s. Mrs Danks was out driving with Miss Collyer and Miss Olive Danks, and when near the S. Margaret’s vicarage, the pony took fright and they were all three precipitated into the road, the trap being smashed to pieces but the pony escaping uninjured. Mrs Danks and Miss Collyer had their faces very much bruised, but Miss Danks suffered little beyond shock.

100 Years Ago – 1914

The Ilkley Urban District Council having applied to the Local Government Board for sanction to borrow £18,000 for purposes of electric lighting for the Urban District of Ilkley and the township of Middleton, including the erection of a generating station on land at the junction of Little Lane and Lower Wellington Road, Ilkley, an enquiry into the subject matter of such application took place at the Ilkley Town Hall on Tuesday morning.

About a dozen members of the Ilkley Cycling Club turned out for a run to Harrogate on Sunday. The outward journey was by Pool and Weeton and the return by Blubberhouses and Bolton Bridge. The party had dinner at the Victoria Hotel, Harrogate, of which Mr J A Middlebrook, formerly of Ilkley, is proprietor.

75 Years Ago – 1939

Many people living in this part of Wharfedale would be interested in the announcement last week that a new village hall is to be built at Harewood and that it will be opened by the Princess Royal. Harewood is, of course, in Wharfedale, within sight of the river, and although his lordship is fairly well known to many local residents, and has acted at several public functions, it is not everyone who is acquainted with the proper pronunciation of the name. That being the case, it was not really surprising when, during a broadcast some time ago, the B.B.C. should actually fall into error. They described him as “Lord Hairwood.”

Sir – In these depressing days shafts of unconscious humour can often be found to brighten the general gloom. The following announcement was published last week: “Anyone caught in a mustard gas attack in the streets during an air raid must immediately shed all clothing – there must be no mock modesty. As quickly as possible A.R.P. wardens will hurry along with emergency clothing consisting of rough sacking.”

50 Years Ago – 1964

When Ilkley’s new automatic telephone exchange comes into operation later this year subscribers in the Ilkley District will have dialling access to 800 distant exchanges in the country. It is hoped to open the new Ilkley exchange in September.

Objectors to the Beeching proposals to close the Ilkley railway services will have the opportunity of voicing their views at a public hearing of the Yorkshire area of the Transport Users Consultative Committee. There is a list of 747 objectors to the proposals to close down service between Leeds and Bradford, Ilkley and Skipton (Via Guiseley), Leeds, Bradford and Skipton viat Keighley, Leeds and Bradford via Shipley, and Leeds, Otley and Ilkley via Arthington.

25 Years Ago – 1989

Local MP Gary Waller is offering all constituents a free booklet on unleaded petrol to help them run their cars on the cheaper and less polluting fuel. The new publication ‘Adjust to Unleaded’ contains all the information needed on adjusting engines and also states which models take unleaded fuel.

A Chesterfield man who visited Ilkley to go walking in the area returned home bootless after his grey, Zamberlan Mountain Lite walking boots, valued at £100, were stolen from the Cow and Calf Hotel.