EXPERTS are putting together Otley's £1.6 million lottery bid for improved sports facilities. Leeds City Council has employed outside consultants Strategic Leisure to work with schools, the town council, and sports organisations to put together a shopping
YOUNG skaters in Earby captivated Liberal Democrat leader Paddy Ashdown when he came to admire the beginnings of their controversial in-line skate park on Monday. Mr Ashdown's first ever visit to Earby saw him meet with skaters in Sough Park to see the
MANY of today's most powerful vocal performers don't write their own songs, they rely on talented songwriters to provide the material. But getting an artist to perform one of your songs can be just as much of an uphill struggle as breaking into the recording
THE cost of repairing a dangerous culvert in Silsden could top £600,000, a parish councillor has warned. In a week that City Hall chiefs were asked to fund the cost of the repairs, Coun Chris Atkinson says they could be faced with a massive bill for landfill
THE curtain rises on a new era at Skipton's Plaza cinema today as the keys are handed to a man who first dreamt of owning his own picture house at the age of seven. In buying the Plaza, Charles Morris feels the heavy weight of responsibility in taking
BOLTON Abbey Station will be officially re-opened today (Friday) by Sir William McAlpine. Over 300 specially invited dignitaries and guests are expected to attend the official ceremony to mark the momentous occasion at the station, winner of a National
SKIPTON railway station is bracing itself for one of the most exciting periods in its history. A major programme of renovation to improve the ticket office and car park will be completed by July, together with the installation of a CCTV system monitoring
Utley runner Steve Green was the seventh British athlete to cross the finish line of last week's London Marathon. Steve, 27, of The Fairways, finished in 2hrs 18mins 11secs, giving him a personal best time and the chance to qualify for September's European
SHL Home Delivery Plus - the Keighley-based home delivery specialist, has appointed David Hughes as divisional director for the newly-formed home services division. He has been with the company since it was formed 10 years ago and has considerable experience
THE site of a former Guiseley dyeworks is being developed as a purpose-built community unit for the elderly. Busfield's historic Albion Dyeworks in Town Gate was bulldozed towards the end of last year to make way for the development. Work on the unit
Keighley's former workhouse in Oakworth Road could be transformed into 71 new homes at a cost of £3 million. The building - the former Keighley College annexe at Hillworth Lodge - will be transformed by funding from Keighley's Single Regeneration Budget
SIR - Is this the time to embark on a wholesale carve up of our schools? Where is all the money to come from in our allegedly cash-strapped council? A claim that millions of pounds will be needed for the purpose is being tossed around; is there a government
Jo Prowse won't forget her international debut in a hurry. The mother, who is in her 40's and only took up running serious two years ago, produced a stunning performance in Ireland. "It was a wonderful weekend of Irish hospitality and a fantastic atmosphere
Silsden Park Rangers overcame Slaithwaite Saracens 16-11 in a hard fought and sometimes scrappy encounter on in the first round of the Division Four play-off competition. Stand-off Jon Gwilliam led the way, creating one of Silsden's tries, backing up
Yorkshire Division Three Skipton 22 York RI 0 (Half-time 12-0) What a difference a week makes for after the disappointment of last week's result Skipton - who have finished eighth in the division - produced an excellent all-round performance to surprise
North East Division Two Cleckheaton 34 North Ribblesdale 27 Ribb, who have finished sixth in the division, were more than a shade unlucky to leave Cleckheaton without any tangible reward for they played their full part in a most entertaining nine-try
Craven Football League Division One League Cup Final Rimington 5 Intake 2 This final at Rolls-Royce on Wednesday week was won and lost in the second half when Rimington who were always in the ascendancy scored three times in five minutes to put the cup
Craven Football Association Skipton Building Society Morrison Cup Final Barnoldswick United 5 Bentham 2 Barnoldswick collected the club's second trophy in seven days in a final between two very competitive sides which was well refereed on a good pitch
THE Herald welcomes enthusiastically the advent of a new era at Skipton's Plaza Cinema. At the same time one must thank Boris Hartley, whose family has kept an independent cinema going in Skipton when so many other towns have seen their picture palaces
IN the opening meeting of the West Yorkshire Track and Field League Skyrac Athletics Club gave some prominent performances. In the opening event, the senior men's 1500 metres, Chris Bryan and Jonathan Keith ran away from the field to finish by a wide
One of Keighley's top snooker players, Darren Vause, has finally put himself among the elite. The coveted Scratch Snooker Individual Cup had always eluded him until last weekend. He met Glen Pilkington in the final and their nerves were on edge in the
FOOTBALL: Conceding four goals in just 19 minutes is bad enough for any goalkeeper, but when a six-foot pretend lion is poking fun at you as well then you know it is not your day. That's what happened to Bantams' keeper Gary Walsh when he joined his team-mates
Today the house where the Brontes were born is opened to the public after extensive refurbishment. Reporter Simon Ashberry went for a look round. Nursery rhymes are the only writing the Bronte sisters would have been interested in when they lived in Thornton
RADICAL improvements to public transport could be made in Otley - if the community is willing to foot the bill. Wide-ranging measures to increase services are being planned by the town council and transport company Metro. But cash is at a premium and
The Keighley News has been voted the Weekly Newspaper of the Year. At the BT North East Press Awards ceremony in York last week the Keighley News was voted the best newspaper in an area stretching from the Scottish border, through Northum-berland, Tyne
Frontier-land SIR - I agree with Billy the Kid, KN 24.4.98. This town of ours has become a 'keep looking over your shoulder town'. There are parts of the town which resemble a ghost town, especially along North Street. But let's not take anything away
GUISELEY RES 4 RAWDON O B 1 GUISELEY Reserves lifted the first trophy in their treble bid when their superior fitness and skill saw off the brave challenge of Rawdon Old Boys in the Wharfedale FA Challenge Cup final at Nethermoor Park on Wednesday night
ROBIN APPLEYARD is in third place in the British 125cc Championship despite a disastrous second round at Oulton Park last weekend. The Keighley-based riderhad to retire two-thirds of the way into the 16-lap race due to a collapsed main bearing. The problem
OVER a thousand pounds was raised in the London Marathon to bring a Kenyan girl to Otley for a life-changing operation. Keith Essam, 51, of Tedbury, Gloucestershire, completed the race in three hours and 58 minutes to raise funds for the Grace Mbuthia
POLICE are appealing for information about a van seen near the scene of a bank raid which was later dumped on an Otley estate. The white Ford Transit was seen near the Midland Bank in Crossgate which was targeted by three robbers last Friday morning.
A 100-year-old glass-sided hearse drawn by two black geldings carried 32-year-old car dealer Mark Hickman on his last journey yesterday. Mr Hickman's battered body was found near Shelf on February 13. The coffin carrying his body arrived at Keighley Parish
A mother today spoke of her fury after she was unable to honour a euthanasia pact with her dying son. Heartbroken Sharon Marriott said that she and her 21-year-old son Jenson, who was suffering from a rare cancer, had agreed that when the pain became
Oxenhope ripped the heart out of a nine-man Sandy Lane team, dismissing them for just 57 runs. The Worth Valley openers made no mistake in reply, knocking off the required runs in just 14 overs without losing a wicket. Darren Hopkinson scored 41 not out
Groundsmen are have a tough time getting grounds ready, and spare a thought for Gargrave who are being bedevilled by a serious problem with their square. They had been advised not to play on it until a solution has been found - which may have been during
RAIN spoilt a potentially winning start as Keighley got their 150th anniversary season underway. Steady bowling from Gharib Razak and newcomer McFarlane, restricted Mills to only 59 runs in their first 25 overs. Veteran David 'George' Batty took charge
DRUIDS ARMS reached the final of the Inter-League Cup after a 2-1 win over Nags 94 and Sunday's 3-1 win at Crown. They have won all six of their group matches and now await the outcome of the other group, the winners there are likely to be either Silsden
PHOENIX were presented with their West Riding County Amateurs champions trophy before last weekend's match, after winning the First Division title. League secretary, Steve Mitchell, presented the cup - the first time a Keighley Club's name has been engraved
Cougars 20 Swinton Lions 18 COUGARS roared to their second successive victory - and the battle of the big cats was a real thriller. The game had 10 minutes t run when the Cougars finally took the lead, and they had to withstand two Lions attacks before
RAG FC 8 OLICANIANS 2 YEADON side Rag FC trounced Ilkley side Olicanian Academicals in last Thursdays' Wharfedale FA Sunday Challenge Cup staged at Guiseley AFC. The Rhodes' Coaches sponsored final saw Wharfedale Triangle League Premier Division side
Keighley Motor Club members Jeremy and Paul Nolan flew the local flag in the Pirelli Rally last weekend. The brothers rapaged through Kielder Forest in Northumberland in the event, which was the second round of the 'Mobil 1 British Rally Championship'
haworth faces traffic chaos this Bank Holiday weekend, warns a car park boss. Ted Evans says he will allow only six buses on his two village car parks, following his company's prosecution for allowing coaches to pollute the air with exhaust fumes. Mr
An inquest into the death of a murder victim was held four years after she was blasted with a shotgun by her former lover. The body of Janice Wood has never been found but her anguished mum asked for the hearing so she could register her daughter's death
A LIVING museum to Thomas Chippendale could be opened in Otley by this time next year. A £25,000 grant from the Samuel Chippindale Foundation has meant plans are forging ahead to set up a special room in Otley Civic Centre dedicated to the Otley-born
with Tom Smith I enjoy living in Keighley. The town has most things one could ask for: a more than adequate shopping complex, a town centre in which tired shoppers can sit and relax for a few minutes, train and bus stations, and a host of other facilities
You'd think it was the only millennium show in town. Journalists, politicians and church leaders have all been having their say about what's going to be in it. What's frustrating for those of us who care passionately about the millennium is that the dome
Paul Jewell is looking for his Bradford City side to finish their season with a flourish when they entertain relegation-threatened Portsmouth tomorrow. The Bantams are looking to banish the memory of last week's 5-0 thrashing at Crewe in a game which
HOSPITAL bosses are going to the regional National Health Service to find out why it is delaying approval of a new outline business case for Wharfedale General. David Johnson, chief executive of the Leeds Teaching Hospitals Trust - which runs the Otley
A Keighley museum is offering a safe haven for a group of classic buses known as the 'Bradford Six'. Keighley Bus Museum says it will give the classic vehicles a new home which will keep them where they belong - in this area. The six vehicles are part
Pupils at Bradford's largest schools are among the worst funded in the country, new figures have revealed. But headteachers, who have suffered years of under-funding, are optimistic that the shake-up of education in Bradford will wipe out many of the
A Keighley museum is gaining increasing TV exposure. Three historic wooden-bodied compartment railway carriages from the Vintage Carriages Trust (VCT) Museum at Ingrow were filmed for a new three-part television drama, The Unknown Soldier, which started
Keighley's police chief has pledged to step up the fight against crime. Supt Steve Priestley made the vow as he revealed his plans for policing the district over the next year. He stressed that police will continue to work in partnership with other organisations
Local people have rallied round to raise cash for disabled Keighley twins Jordan and Laura Hadaway. The girls' mother Kathryn this week gave a public thank-you to people who have supported fundraising events. The four-year-old sisters suffer from cerebral
A head-teacher is warning dog owners that photographs taken of their animals fouling a playing field could be passed to dog wardens. Christine Newson's comments came as pupils of Steeton Primary School wrote to the Keighley News highlighting the problem
Keighley could go green with a new £2.4 million environmental initiative. The town's Business Forum will receive £25,000 of SRB cash towards the costs of the first year. The forum wants £260,000 from the SRB over five years, and will receive the other
Children who survived the Chernobyl nuclear disaster in 1986 are visiting Keighley for a holiday which could prolong their lives. The children have cancer as a result of the explosion. Spending just four weeks in an uncontaminated country such as England
A youngster was injured in an alleged assault by a gang of youths in Keighley. The male victim was treated at Airedale hospital for head injuries and bruising after being knocked to the ground at the junction of Spencer Street and Wilkin Street at 6.30pm
Three worried brothers have been combing local woodlands in a bid to find their missing dad - a former soldier who served in the Malaysian jungles. Peter Butterfield's distraught family have launched an emotional plea for him to come home. They fear he
Vandals have again defaced and smashed up Long Lee Cricket Club's pavilion. Friday night's latest attack left walls daubed with graffiti and names and fall pipes ripped from mountings. "They have certainly left their calling card," says a club spokesman
OTLEY 15 LONDON WELSH 38 OTLEY ended their season in the Jewson League Division One with a defeat at the hands of promotion hopefuls London Welsh before a crowd of about 400 at Cross Green on Saturday. Although the score suggests Otley were well beaten
This week is RSPCA week. The RSPCA has centres all over the country and they play an important part in the protection of needy animals. But could school also help? Sarah Cochrane asked the young people of Keighley their views on how school can help with
Stanbury First School has been encouraged to apply for a place in the country's list of the top 100 schools. Due to the school's recent excellent OFSTED report, officials were asked to attend a major conference in London today to receive a certificate
Golden anniversary couple Norman and Josie Brogden found their ticket to love on Bradford's buses. Norman, a former bus driver and conductor, first spotted his future wife in 1946 as he drove along Ravenscliffe Avenue. And, naturally, they took the bus
A NORTH Craven paper mill is set to relocate to a new purpose built factory. John Roberts & Sons has won the backing of Craven planners to build a factory and offices near to its site at Christies Mill in Langcliffe. The new premises would replace
HIKING up charges for Skipton Town Hall would force charities out of the town and kill off its community spirit, councillors were warned. Furious charity groups told members of Craven District Council that the huge rises, brought in with just a month's
A BEAUTY spot in Skipton, turned into an eyesore by fly-tippers, looks set to be restored to its former glory. Waller Hill Beck and the surrounding "Wilderness Wood" used to provide a haven for birds and other wildlife. Now rusty fridges, dumped garden
CENTENARY of playing bowls is being celebrated by the Horsforth Woodside Bowling Club which nestles in the shadow of the Woodside Tavern. The club plays host to a group of talented rising young stars of the game as well as the more conventional idea of
A HORSFORTH amateur operatic society has been invited to take part in a prestigious international festival of music. Officials of Horsforth Grove Methodist Amateur Operatic Society, who are currently putting on Fiddler on the Roof at Yeadon Town Hall,
The parents of murdered prostitute Maureen Stepan told yesterday of their disgust and shock at hearing how her killer has been granted a retrial. George Naylor, 53, formerly of Manchester Road, Bradford, was jailed for life after the murder of the 18-
Cross Hills-based PS Turner Construction is making good progress on the £600,000 second phase of the prestigious Enterprise Court development at Tong Street, Bradford. The development is being carried out by Yorkshire Enterprise, the investment capital
A new concept is being introduced by Keighley Business Forum for this year's business-to-business exhibition. The package, which also incorporates a new name and venue, has been geared specifically to breathe fresh life into the event. The forum's Aire
Quality has been officially recognised at Fray Design with the award of the prestigious BS EN ISO 9001 certificate to the Yorkshire-based contract furniture specialist. The internationally recognised accreditation was completed in less than four months
Skyrac Athletics Club coach Gordon Agar, left of picture, is now coaching a number of young athletes with disabilites. Recognised as one of the top coaches in this sphere Gordon set off with three of his protegees for the inaugural European Championships
TWELVE-YEAR-OLD Emma Brown has become the first junior and first female to earn a Tae Kwando black belt at the keighley club. Emma, a pupil at Holy Family School is also a member of the Cougar Spice cheerleaders group and has won a number of gold medals
First results of tests for tuberculosis on hundreds of babies in Bradford have revealed no cases of the disease. A mass campaign to test 400 babies was launched by bosses at Bradford Royal Infirmary after a junior doctor working in the hospital's maternity
IT'S now three weeks since Bradford University professor Anthony O'Hear risked public lynching by suggesting that Saint Diana, Princess of Wales, was not as perfect as we had previously imagined. Howls of outrage followed his description of the icon of
RISING star Phillip Dowgill almost completed a one-day double last weekend. The Cross Hills bowler won the Open Pairs event at Highfield together with his bowling coach Ken Brenkley, then dashed to Grassington only to lost in the semi-finals of the Skipton
THEY say a win is a win, and after the start to the season we have had you have to grateful for any points you can get - but I wasn't too impressed with last week's performance against the Lions. Once again we handed the ball to Swinton far too often
Yorkshire Cup Semi-Final Wharfedale 22 Leeds 27 The effects of a long, hard season, with the final two games played in the space of four days against the professionals of Leeds proved too much for Wharfedale on Tuesday as they ran out of ideas and steam
WE sat there in silence, gripping our scalding tea mugs unaware of the third degree burns we were suffering, and watched the weeds. Or rather, the iridescent creatures feasting on the weeds. Here, then, was a classic conservation conundrum: To kill or
WE sat there in silence, gripping our scalding tea mugs unaware of the third degree burns we were suffering, and watched the weeds. Or rather, the iridescent creatures feasting on the weeds. Here, then, was a classic conservation conundrum: To kill or
PREPARATIONS are hotting up for Graham Kirkland's tenure as Lord Mayor of Leeds. The Otley councillor and his wife, Joan, already have a bursting diary of some 414 events - and that's before his inauguration next month. And he will have little time to
A coach party of South Craven Methodists and members of Keighley's Powerful Whispers group is travelling to Birmingham on Saturday, May 16, to join a giant human chain around the G8 Summit. They are joining Christian Aid's Jubilee 2000 campaign which
Losing a bright, beautiful 21-year-old son to cancer is a mother's worse nightmare - but the thought that haunts Sharon Marriott is that she didn't get the chance to kill him herself. Euthanasia supporter Sharon says she was forced to watch her son, Jenson
AS regular readers of these pages will know, improving public transport in and around Otley is an issue close to the heart of the Wharfedale Observer. Our Missing Link campaign - which is backing Town Partnership efforts to introduce a regular shuttle
CRICKET: Holders Pudsey St Lawrence will come up against in-form batsman Chris Pickles when they visit Cleckheaton in the Sovereign HealthCare Priestley Cup first round tomorrow. Normally, Pudsey would expect to beat Cleckheaton, but early signs are that
A trapped woman was rescued by firefighters from her Crossflatts home on Sunday. The woman, who was found hanging from a window ledge, was lifted to safety after firemen from Keighley and Bingley broke into a first-floor bedroom window of the semi-detached
Police today appealed for help in trapping sex attackers who left two schoolgirls traumatised after separate incidents. Detectives say they cannot rule out a link between the attacks, in Addingham and Ilkley. They have had a number of calls from the public
STEETON got the season off to a flying start - with a crushing defeat of North Leeds. Neil Spragg captured the first three wickets for just 10 runs. Chris Taylor who joined the Summerhill club from Addingham ended with four wickets for 25 runs and Spragg
After winning the league and cup, Silsden Under-15's took on Grimsby Town's school of excellence. Silsden started slowly against very good team and found themselves 3-0 down, butthey gradually got back into thegame, pulling a goal back from an Adam Whiteoak
With only a few matches remaining in the League left to complete Skipton Bulldogs are virtually home and dry in the race for the Premiership title. They visited Keighley on Saturday and in a cracking match finally won thanks to an own goal. Both sides
RACING: Associates of Godolphin will give more than a fleeting ear to the utterings of weathergirl Sian Lloyd and company after singing along to Stars In Their Eyes on TV tonight. And they will doubtless be hoping to see Ms Lloyd stick a few blazing sun
ADULT learners in Wharfedale are getting a raw deal from college bosses, according to an Otley action group. Campaigners fighting plans to demolish the further education centre in Wharfe Street, owned by Airedale and Wharfedale College, say that temporary
Sarah Cochrane, 16, a pupil at Skipton Girls' High School, questions why some blockbuster movies have received the success they have. Sarah, who is studying A-levels in biology, English language, history and general studies, has been on work experience
We were naturally over the moon after the announcement was made that the Keighley News had won the title of BT North East region Weekly Newspaper of the Year. I was as proud as a peacock when I stepped up onto the rostrum to receive the award. I was especially
Next Thursday gives the opportunity for residents of Keighley and District to try and make changes - if they want - to how this area is run. But that can only happen if those entitled to use their votes do so. Not to use a vote is an abuse of the hard
The dilemma over pollution and parking, especially in tourist areas, will not be resolved through using court action. Bradford Council has a legal duty to monitor levels of air pollution. After complaints from people living near the Changegate car park
Sovereign error Sir - It is said the Irish know too much about Irish history and the English not enough. A point made glaringly obvious in Tom Smith's column. He states Eire became a sovereign state in 1922 which is inaccurate. The treaty signed by Michael
Generous attitude SIR - I am sorry to read in Mr Clark's letter (Craven Herald April 24) that the good work done by the Skipton and Craven Lions will be so badly affected by Craven District Council's decision to put up the Town Hall rentals for charities
100 years ago RAILWAY lines have always held a fascination for young boys, but 100 years ago, that fascination cost four Skipton men and one Draughton man two shillings and sixpence in fines. They had been caught trespassing on the Skipton to Ilkley line
Aireborough 17 Hessle 33 AIREBOROUGH can only wonder at what might have been in this final league fixture of the season at Nunroyd Park. Playing against a strong wind, they went behind to an early penalty but hit back when, from a thrilling passage of
GUISELEY 1 RUNCORN 2 By the time you are reading this Guiseley will have played the second leg of the UniBond League President's Cup final. However, they left themselves a mountain to climb after throwing away home advantage in the first leg with a lack
COUGAR coach Lee Crooks is taking aim on two more big name signings to boost the club's first team squad - but is keeping their identities a closely guarded secret. "I don't want to build peoples hopes up too much in case the deals don't come off, and
Local folk singers including international star Steve Tilston will perform at several events during the festival. Steve, who is known on both sides of the Atlantic, will play and sing with his new group Stringthing. Tickets for the June 13 concert in
acupuncturist Alan Watkinson limped across the finishing line of Sunday's London marathon with a big smile. Alan, 52, of Skipton Road, Utley, suffered from an inflamed Achilles' tendon, a blood blister on his heel and aching legs after more than 26 miles
The peace and tranquility of the high fells above Keighley rocked this week as a wooden shed was blown to smithereens - all in the name of art. The blast shook the earth and a cloud of thick black smoke ballooned 60 feet into the air. Directing proceedings
Keighley taxis are just as safe as their counterparts in Bradford or Bingley, insist local drivers. They say the danger from taxis rebuilt following serious crashes is not confined to one town in the district. The drivers say the vast majority of hackney
Governors at Long Lee's Swire Smith Middle School say all the district's first schools should be closed along with middle schools. Under the council's schools review, middle schools will go, while most first schools will automatically become primary schools
This area must leap into Britain's mainstream schools system before it is pushed, says education boss Cllr Jim Flood. Cllr Flood heads the education committee which will consider final proposals for change to the current system, which covers Keighley,
governors at Oakbank and Bront' schools are meeting to discuss a merger of the two. Under Bradford council's schools review Oakbank upper is earmarked for expansion while Bront' Middle will close. though Keighley's other middle schools are to close too
Elders of a Morecambe church which celebrates its centenary at the start of the new millennium are appealing for descendants of a Keighley woman to come forward. Sefton Road United Reformed church - formerly West End Congregational church - want to hear
Award-winning Keighley brewery Timothy Taylor has done it again. Taylors bagged two Silver Medals and a Bronze in the Brewing Industry International Awards, announced on Tuesday during a presentation ceremony in London's Guild Hall. Taylor's Landlord
A deer park and educational farm could be provided at St Ives as part of ambitious plans to develop the estate. St Ives, a large area of park and woodland between Long Lee and Harden, is proving increasingly popular with local walkers and families. Bradford
