1884

To those who have followed the course of the Ilkley Vocal Society during the ten years of its history, the opening concert of the present season, given in the Congregational Schoolroom, on Tuesday evening, must have been exceedingly interesting in many ways, pointing conclusively to the fact that the society continues to hold its own in the sympathies of the music-loving public of Ilkley. As usual there was a very large and fashionable audience, the elite of the town being present in full force.

It will be remembered that about the middle of September last considerable interest was excited by the reported absconding of a clerk, named Jones, in the employ of Sir Titus Salt, with a sum of over £600. Last week, a young man of good address who gave the name of George Paul, was charged with a series of frauds. When he was brought before magistrates at Birmingham Police Court on Wednesday, it was stated that George Paul was no other than Messrs, Salt’s defaulting clerk, John Atkin Jones.

At the Assembly Rooms, on Monday evening, a meeting was held in connection with the Ilkley Blue Ribbon Union, when all things considered the attendance was very good. After the opening melody, the chairman gave a short address, in the course of which he referred to the catholicity which characterised the platform of the Blue Ribbon Union, as under its banner men of different denomination could work hand in hand and shoulder to shoulder to promote the great work of total abstinence.

1909

The first annual meeting of the members of the Ilkley Public Library Book Club was held in the town hall on Monday. There was a fair attendance, and Mr A T Akeroyd took the chair. Mr W Graham (Hon Sec) in his annual report stated that the membership of the club now stood at 114 and that the total income for the year was £57-19s-7d.

Letter from the Ilkley Guild of Help - Sir, A number of married men are at present out of work, men for whose good character the guild can vouch. If any of your readers are contemplating alterations in their gardens or have work to offer they can contact Mr George Thompson, 7 Leeds Road, and he will furnish them with several names. Work is the finest form of help, and I sincerely hope that this appeal, coming as it does at a very special time of year, may meet with a response.

lIlkley Skating Rink: In respect of many requests another costume carnival has been arranged to take place on Monday, December 27. The success which attended the first carnival has led the manager to arrange the forthcoming carnival on exactly the same lines. The costumes competition is divided into five sections – the most original, beautiful, burlesque, character and comic.

1934

An Ilkley bank clerk, Mr Sidney Smith of 12 Cardigan Road, Leeds had a narrow escape from serious injury on Thursday morning. He was driving his car towards Ilkley and near the Riversdale Cafe, at Escroft, skidded on the greasy road. He pulled his car over to avoid hitting another coming from the opposite direction and went through the hedge into the field at the other side, when the car overturned and came to rest upside down. The car was badly damaged but Mr Smith escaped without a scratch.

Canon C J Hamer, Vicar of Ilkley, and the Rev W Brockbank, Superintendent Minister of the Ilkley Methodist Circuit, who are the Chaplains at the Middleton Sanatorium, are again making an appeal for cigarettes on behalf of the patients there. There are some 300 patients there, most of them are smokers, a large proportion have very little financial margin with which to provide themselves with tobacco and gifts of this nature are therefore highly appreciated.

An addition to Ilkley’s Homes and Hostels has been provided at Oswald House in Parish Ghyll Road. It is the new Ilkley Hostel of the Leeds Unmarried Women’s Benevolent Institution which has been provided as the result of the generous bequest of Miss Elizabeth Dixon. Miss Dixon, who resided for many years at Oswald House and died in April, 1933, bequeathed her own residence and also the adjoining residence, Westbury House, to the institution to be used as a hostel, and she also endowed them. Subscribers and friends had an opportunity on Saturday of visiting the new hostel.

1959

A day and night operation to deal with the many thousands of extra letters swung into action at Ilkley yesterday to cope with an anticipated busier Christmas than last year. The Christmas bulge in mail was first felt on Sunday and since then until Tuesday an extra 5,000 letters was posted in the Ilkley district compared with an ordinary period. Four casual postmen have been employed at Addingham to help with deliveries.

A suggestion that the High County and the Church of England School at Addingham be merged and the present buildings be used for the one school under the control of the Headmaster of the Council School has been made by the managers of the school. The Rector, the Rev LP Clare said for some time now the school had had only one teacher and many of the parents had complained to the Authority about this, because they felt is was impossible for her to tutor children between the ages of five and eleven at the same time.

Some of the schools in the Ilkley District have broken up this week, and others complete the winter term at the beginning of next week, and at most there have been the usual parties, plays and open days. In many cases, the Christmas events are spread over seven days, and the idea of a carol service at one of the churches to complete the Christmas term is growing in popularity.

1984

An Ilkley man who for the last two Christmas Eves has witnessed ‘ghostly happenings’ on Ilkley Moor is re-visiting the scene again this year – but hoping for a number of friends to keep him company. The man, who lives in Hangingstone Road, on the edge of the moor, has advertised for anyone interested to join him and his friends at Hangingstone Rocks between 7pm and 8pm on Christmas Eve. He says he wants to go back this year but will feel a lot safer with some friends along.

Against a background of Christmas music and glittering decorations pupils at schools in the Ilkley district have this week brought the final term for 1984 to a close. They have sung carols , held parties, and participated in nativity plays but as they celebrated Christmas they did not forget those in need and their activities have included collections of both money and toys for the deprived.

Perhaps by this time next year we shall have heard enough of Handal and Bach but because 1985 sees the tercentenary of their birth, next year many orchestral and choral societies will present concerts featuring the music of those great composers. Therefore last Sunday residents of Ilkley were besieging the Kings Hall to hear this most popular of all ‘sacred oratories’.