Change in law enabled men to marry dead wife's sister

At Otley County Court, a stone sculptor, George Albert Walker, brought an action for the sum of £13 11s from Mr Marshall, of Yeadon, for work on a tombstone in memory his late wife. For the plaintiff it was argued that the monument was according to order and could not be provided without blotches'. The defence contended that it was not at all according to the order, and Walker was to erect a good monument without blotches'. In giving his verdict, His Honour said if people wanted a good article they must pay a good price and go to first class workmen. Walker had completed the order to the best of his ability.

The fortnightly meeting of the School Board was held in Yeadon. Mr M Halliday reported that there was nothing now to prevent him giving the board possession of the land in Henshaw Lane for the site of proposed schools. The clerk was instructed to obtain tenders for the making of a ground plan, which would be submitted to the Education Department for approval.

100 years ago

Guiseley Education Committee's clerk reported the receipt of a letter from the infant mistress at the Menston Schools, stating that nine keys of the piano were damaged during the recent dramatic performances in the school. Dr Muschamp remarked that perhaps the dramatic people had been using the piano for stage thunder. (Laughter) The hairdressers of Otley have decided to band themselves into an Association somewhat on the lines of the newly-formed Otley Tradesmen's Association. They felt it advisable to do so for many reasons. Now that the hairdressers have organised themselves and laid down uniform hours of business it is to be hoped they will be supported by the public.

An extremely racy and interesting lecture was delivered in Guiseley Town Hall. It was promoted by the choir of the Parish Church and the speaker was the Rev W S McKee, Vicar of St Oswald's, Bradford. In opening his subject Mr McKee, who is himself an Irishman, stated that in some of its characteristics Irish wit was different from the wit and humour of other lands. He then turned to that never failing source of laughter, the Irish bull', and in defining this said: "If you see a cow in a field and, going up to it, find it to be a sheep, that's a bull."

75 years ago

THERE has sprung up with commendable rapidity a delightful little housing estate on the frontiers of Guiseley near the Yeadon boundary at Nunroyd. It occupies a commanding position just off the main Leeds -Otley road and as an approach to the township from the eastern boundary is an overdue and rather bright set-off to the rather sombre mill premises of Nunroyd Mills across the road.

Nearly a year has elapsed since the printing business built up in Napier, New Zealand, by two Horsforth brothers was completely wrecked by the great earthquake. It was learned this week that the men and their families are still in Napier and with the dogged British persistency are steadily building up their business again. Ernest Swailes went out to New Zealand 11 years ago and was so successful that he invited his brother, Asa to join him. Some of the machines were manufactured in Otley while oil cans were made at Atlas Works, Horsforth.

Otley has got its first robots. They have been fixed where Westgate forks for Bradford Road and Ilkley Road. This is a dangerous junction where many accidents have occurred and it is to be hoped that these mechanical men will mean an end to these unfortunate occurrences. The only other point in the town where robots seem to be necessary is the Black Horse corner, but owing to its peculiar formation, it is doubtful if they could be got to function properly.

50 years ago

Widespread interest among motorists has been aroused by an announcement that an Otley firm of manufacturing chemists has asked permission to go into production with an off-ration synthetic petrol. After a test run in a car powered by the new fuel, Colonel Malcolm Stoddart-Scott MP has agreed to ask the Minister of Fuel and Power for this permission to be given.

A company director of Leeds pleaded guilty to driving a van without due care and attention in Bramhope, before Otley Magistrates' Court. A taxi driver found the van upside down in the road and extracted the driver, who was taken to Leeds Infirmary. The court heard there was a skid mark 23 feet long and the van had slid, like a sledge, on its roof for 54 feet.

Otley Road Safety Committee have decided to recommend that in certain areas in the town it should be punishable for dogs to be out of control and not on a lead. Statistics of accidents in Otley which involve dogs during 1955 and 1956 were: Bradford Road ten, Pool Road three, Leeds Road three, Weston Drive three, and 14 on other roads. On only one of these occasions was a person injured, but in all cases a dog was either killed or injured.

25 years ago

The controversial runway extension at Yeadon Airport is once again in the news. The Government has refused to submit an application to the European Commission for a grant towards the extension. Its reason is that Leeds lost its intermediate Area Status last August under which the Government gives cash help to deprived areas.

In an attempt to safeguard Otley Museum, steps are being taken to form a fundraising support group under the name of Otley Museum Friends. For 20 years the museum has been self-supporting whilst having the benefit of free accommodation from successive local authorities. But this facility has now been withdrawn and the future of the museum hangs in the balance unless money can be raised to meet the rent of the premises.

Extensions to the existing sand and gravel site at Bridge End, Otley, have been approved subject to certain conditions which include a restriction on operating hours. The application, by Amey Roadstone Corporation, covers a 25 -cre site but assurances have been given that the extension will not lead to an increase in lorry traffic travelling through Otley. Land in the vicinity of the site has been worked for about 34 years. The proposals will extend site by some 25 acres.