1884

At the Otley Police Court a man from Leeds was brought up in custody charged with stealing a dog, the property of Absalom Gledstone, of Otley. The prosecutor was at the Bowling Green Hotel and the dog was outside the door. The doge went missing and in consequence of some information given to him the owner went to the rear of the Welcome Inn, where some lodgers lived. He entered and shouted ‘Turn out that dog’ The prisoner handed over the dog. The bench sentenced him to one month's imprisonment after finding him guilty.

A letter recently appeared in a Leeds contemporary, complaining that the so-called ‘express’ North Eastern trains to and from Leeds, occasionally stop at Pool. If this practice was continued the passholders would transfer their patronage en masse to the Midland company.

The Horsforth Local Board made an annual survey of the township, starting from the Board Room. After the cemetery and burial grounds had been inspected and found to be in excellent condition, the party proceeded to the Board Room where an excellent knife and fork tea had been provided to which ample justice was done.

1909

Shortly before noon on Monday a somewhat serious cycling accident occurred at the dangerous corner near the Black Horse Hotel, Otley. Ernest Nettleton of Garforth, who is staying with his brother at North Parade, Otley was riding down Westgate on his bicycle, in Beech Hill, whilst a young lady named Miss Marston was proceeding down Kirkgate. Coming up from Manor Square was a heavy horse and waggon belonging to Messrs Dodshon and Sons, corn merchants, Otley. Miss Marston, taking too late a turn round the Westgate corner, caused Nettleton to swing too close to the waggon. The driver pulled the horse on to its haunches to avoid running down the cyclists, and in coming down again the fore feet of the animal struck Nettleton, causing injuries about the right eye and the legs. He was taken to Dr Galloway's surgery and attended to. Fortunately, the young lady escaped injury but her machine, which had been hired five minutes before, was badly damaged as was Nettleton's.

The annual carnival at Guiseley - the 11th of its kind – in aid of charitable institutions – was held on Saturday last. Gloriously fine weather had been hoped for by the promoters - the members of the Hospital Saturday committee – but the actual realisation, however, fell below the previously formed expectations. From early morn until well on towards noon rain fell almost continuously and it was not until nearly twelve o'clock that Old Sol managed to break through the watery clouds and show his genial face. From this time on the weather gradually improved and the whole of the festival programme was carried out without interruption and with an amount of financial success.

1934

The tolling of the bell in the tower of Guiseley’s ancient parish church conveyed to people of the township the news that their new Rector, the Venerable Sydney Edward Lowe, Archdeacon of Bradford, and former Vicar of Otley, had been instituted and was about to be inducted. Long before the service began, every seat was occupied and many people were unable to enter, although many extra chairs were provided in the aisles.

Hedley Verity, the Rawdon cricketer, has been England's hero this week. His brilliant bowling in the second Test Match against the Australians at Lord’s gave England a decisive victory and set his name on everyone’s lips. Verity made the ball do everything but talk and his performance resulted in him receiving a standing ovation from the 30,000 strong crowd.

Guiseley Urban Council instructed the Clerk to invite local dairymen to meet them to discuss mil prices in the district. A letter was received from the Milk Marketing board, with regard to retail prices. The letter stated that although the board had prescribed minimum retail prices, the fixation of retail prices was still in the hands of districts and they advised the council to approach the local diarymen’s association about the matter. Milk is being sold in Guiseley for between 4d and 6d.

1959

The printing trade dispute prevents us from issuing the papers in their usual form. That this sheet appears at all is due to an over-riding feeling that faith must be kept with a long and honoured tradition of service that a local newspaper owes to the district it serves. During its long existence the Observer has appeared in many formats and in the face of many difficulties. Never has it appeared in more unorthodox form or in greater difficulties than now.

At the inquiry into the appeal against the refusal by the council to permit the erection of a shop in Town Street, Yeadon, it was said that a contemplated revision of the Aireborough Town Map would involve the wholesale reorganisation of the shopping area of Yeadon.

Several hundred visitors attended Otley Hospital’s first open day, and a garden party in the grounds organised by the Ladies Hospital Group. The gross proceeds were £350 1984 Requests for entry forms for the Otley Half marathon to be run on July 1 have been greater than ever, and it promises to be another record event with more than 2,000 competitors taking part.The main sponsors are G Eric Hunt and the race has been planned from the firm's showrooms in Leeds Road.The race will be started by the Lord Mayor of Leeds, Councillor Douglas Glabb from the rugby club’s Pool Road pitch.

The support it received on Saturday from participants and visitors proved beyond doubt that Otley Carnival is now firmly established as a major social event in the town's calendar. Traffic was virtually brought to a standstill as the half-mile long parade winded its way through the town centre streets to Bridge End where a crowd of around 6,000 enjoyed the events.

Otley’s Citizen's Advice Bureau answered 4,484 queries from the public during 1983-1984. It also increased its opening hours, started a free legal advice session, undertook tribunal work and improved standards by extra training. Retiring chairman Christopher Melville said it seemed hard to believe that five years had passed since the first exploratory meetings when a group of interested people began to contribute suggestions that had culminated in the opening of the CAB.