Archive

  • Ben Rhydding Ladies share spoils

    B R Ladies 2 Don Valley 2 DON Valley are in the division above Ben Rhydding in the Northern Premier League but are grappling at the bottom and look set for demotion, whereas Rhydding seem set for promotion, so both sides had a point to prove. Valley scored

  • Prescott to rule on shopping centre

    Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott will decide if a public inquiry should be held into plans for a £3 million shopping centre in Haworth. Bradford council has referred to Mr Prescott the controversial plans for a retail centre on part of a private car

  • Hunger costs man his licence

    A 20-YEAR-OLD Skipton man drove to a petrol station to buy a late night snack after he had been drinking on New Year's Eve, the town's magistrates heard. Jonathan Wade, of Burnside Crescent, was disqualified from driving for two years, fined £500 and

  • UFO is back - after 71 years

    A COUPLE who claimed to have seen a mysterious object in the sky above Ilkley Moor have received a call from a woman who had seen a similar UFO - almost 71 years ago. Valerie Fawcett, of Addingham, who with her husband, Gerald, had seen the shape hovering

  • Young newshounds have their noses to the ground

    MINI-newspaper reporters and photographers have been buzzing round a Rawdon school in recent weeks. The budding newshounds at Rawdon Littlemoor Primary School have been busy collecting material for the school's newspaper - Littlemoor News. So far three

  • Church ready for 90th birthday

    A BUSY weekend of events is being planned to celebrate the 90th anniversary of a Pool-in-Wharfedale church. Members of Pool Methodist Church are gearing up to mark the occasion with a flower festival and special services from May 7 to 10. Roger Bareham

  • Conservative Club set to move

    ONE of Otley's oldest established social clubs could be on the move from its 100-year-old home. The Conservative Club - known affectionately as the 'Con Club' to its 230-odd members - has outgrown its premises at the bottom of Market Street and is poised

  • Otley bus passengers to miss out

    BUS users in Otley are missing out on a share in a million pound security programme being introduced by transport bosses - because the town's terminal is privately owned. The West Yorkshire Passenger Transport Authority (WYPTA) has approved the £1.64

  • Carnival beneficiaries

    THE final Ilkley Carnival of the 20th century should bring smiles to the faces of ten organisations. However, many Olicanians have been condemned for 'not lifting a finger' in support of the event. After months of careful deliberation, the carnival committee

  • Village makes perfect ten with millennium markers

    Ten engraved stones are to be erected around Sutton to mark the new millennium. The stones are to be placed at each of the ten entrances to the South Craven village. Supplying the stones is the village's conservation group. Nearly half the stones have

  • Operation waiting lists still growing

    Health chiefs have admitted they face an uphill struggle to meet hospital waiting list targets. Latest figures show waiting lists for non-urgent hospital operations in December rose for the second month running by 273 to 12,519 people from the Bradford

  • Addingham All Stars cup fightback

    ADDINGHAM ALL STARS 4 THORFNTON U-13s 2 DESPITE the sloping pitch and the cold, strong wind both teams served up a feast of football to warm the spectators in this league cup quarter-final. Although the All Stars back four of Sam Britton, Bob Shone, Tony

  • Cricket: Wynn Cup draw

    OAKWORTH will face Cowling at Cure Hill in the opening round of cricket's Wynn Cup. The draw for the Craven League cup competitions took place recently and Oakworth, last year's beaten finalists, will fancy their chances again this year. Champions Carleton

  • Fireman fights to keep job

    THE future of a part-time Ilkley fireman still hangs in the balance after an appeal against his dismissal for fighting. Paul Chapman, 24, was sacked for fighting after an investigation by West Yorkshire Fire Service into alleged misconduct at Ilkley Fire

  • Grey Wolf takes Crow Thunder

    A Native American woman from Haworth will forego a white wedding this weekend to marry in traditional tribal dress. Crow Thunder, 29, and her husband-to-be Grey Wolf, 49, will tie the knot at Halifax Registry Office in full traditional Native American

  • Chiodren's future hangs in balance

    A top-level meeting between Bradford social services chiefs and Department of Health officials takes place next month to thrash out a deal over the future of two young brothers. The boys, aged three and six, were taken into care by social workers together

  • Where to develop next?

    More than 70 sites have been identified by Bradford council officers where new development could take place in the Keighley area. The locations have been earmarked as part of City Hall's vacant urban land survey, which has pinpointed 260 such plots throughout

  • Rangers continue winning ways

    GUISELEY Rangers continued their winning run when they travelled to Bradford last Saturday to play Dudley Hill Eagles in a Pennine League second vision match. Rangers gained their revenge as Dudley Hill narrowly won the previous game at Nunroyd Avenue

  • Inept display by Park

    West Park Bramhope 0 Vale of Lune 11 THIS defeat - the first time West Park Bramhope have been nilled this season - was due to a totally inept display by the home side. Their performance gave a fired up Vale of Lune side the chance to leapfrog them in

  • Injuries hit Otliensians

    OTLIENSIANS 0 CASTLEFORD 25 THE gremlins which have haunted Otliensians' efforts all season were at it again on Saturday. An enforced change in the pack due to Richard Smith having a hamstring injury forced them to put Dave Roberts into the second row

  • Miserable start for Burley Trojans Reserves

    BURLEY TROJANS RESERVES 2 UNISON 4 BURLEY Trojans Reserves' miserable start to the New Year continued with a lack lustre performance at home to lowly Unison. Against a side they had trounced 6-1 on the opening day of the season Trojans never looked like

  • Williams orchestrates Guiseley victory

    GUISELEY 2 CHORLEY 1 FORMER Leeds United midfielder Andy Williams pulled all the strings as Guiseley gained victory in their FA Trophy third round re-play coming back from being a goal down. Guiseley will now entertain either Shepshed Dynamo or Yorkshire

  • Simply Smith

    with Tom Smith A RECENT report in a national newspaper highlighted the use of Third World child labour. Regardless of the facts behind the particular case mentioned, the story brings into sharp focus the plight of an estimated 150 million working children

  • Cycling: Taylor's national success

    IAN TAYLOR captured seventh place in the national cyclo-cross championships last weekend. Ian, from Thwaites Brow, enjoyed a trouble free ride in the event and was sixth for over three quarters of an hour in the race which lasted for one hour and one

  • Protesters fight against new homes

    PROTESTERS against a controversial housing development in Addingham have lost their fight to block it. And planning officers have been instructed to examine whether traffic-clogged Bolton Road could be turned into a one-way street. Members of the Keighley

  • Cash reprieve for Kiddicare

    A nursery for four-year-olds has been saved from the axe by a £71,000 national lottery grant. Staff at Keighley Kiddicare's nursery education unit have won funding for another three years from the National Lotteries Charities Board. The cash windfall

  • Star chefs could be headed for Skipton

    CELEBRITY chefs could soon be heading to Skipton, thanks to the expansion of the town's most famous kitchen appliance shop. Several successful cookery workshops have been held by T N Cook at the family firm's former premises on Water Street, with well-known

  • Community bus for sale

    Voluntary groups in Keighley are being offered a second-hand minibus. Braithwaite and Guard House Community Association has had to replace its bus because it needed a bigger vehicle. The unwanted vehicle is E-registration, in good working order, has a

  • School tries to eliminate asbestos risk

    NEW rules have been brought in at North Yorkshire's largest comprehensive school following the discovery of asbestos. Work is set to take place during the next 10 months to deal with all asbestos-based products from areas of South Craven School, Cross

  • New twist in culvert saga

    SILSDENERS are backing a last ditch attempt to solve the problem of a dangerous culvert under a former tip in the town. Bosses at Bradford Council have said there is no money in the kitty to repair the culvert which runs under Bradley Green. Video evidence

  • Opinion

    A golden opportunity has arisen for those who live in this district to make a substantial impact on the use of our most precious commodity - land. At long last the dream of those who care about land usage may come true - recycling previously developed

  • Green top victory is welcome news

    BURIED away in the news this week was a small, but significant, victory for those who enjoy traditional food. The Government has blocked plans to outlaw "green top" milk. Perhaps mindful of the scorn and derision when beef on the bone was banned (a ban

  • Soccer: County Amateurs

    PHOENIX entertained last week's County Cup opponents, Crag Road United, but could not repeat last week's win. Crag managed to hold Phoenix 1-0 at half time after Dale Hoyle had headed the Keighley side into the lead. Phoenix found the Crag Road defence

  • Hot tempered Spaniard is on his way home

    A LATIN romeo is on his way back to Spain following being convicted of attacking his English girlfriend after coming to live with her in Ilkley following a holiday romance. Jealous Cristobal Garcia Moreno punched Susan Brooke in the face during a drunken

  • Yorkshire Water pledges roadworks action

    Long-term roadworks are causing anger. Ingrow residents say they are fed up with congestion caused by temporary traffic lights at the junction of Halifax Road and Haincliffe Road. Yorkshire Water (YW), which is responsible for the work, is promising '

  • Bid to bring treasure back to area

    A CAMPAIGN has been started to bring a unique hoard of gold coins discovered in Silsden back to West Yorkshire. The coins were discovered in a farmer's field in the town by amateur treasure hunter Jeff Walbank who had been combing the area with his metal

  • Soccer: Wharfedale Sunday League

    Bolton Villas caused a cup upset by beating Premier division side Cricketers Arms to secure a quarter-final place. After coming from 1-0 down to lead 2-1 just after half time Cricketers equalised only for Villas to score two more. Cricketers Arms added

  • Soccer: Home draw delight

    PHOENIX face a County Cup clash with fellow County Amatuer League outfit, Bay Athletic. "It is a tremendous draw for us, we were hoping for a home tie and it couldn't have gone better," said club secretary, Robert Harness. The Keighley side are currently

  • Ashley's faith in Jewell is reaping rewards

    Bradford City's meteoric rise up the First Division table in recent months has surprised many people in football, but Ashley West-wood is not one of them. Despite a huge outlay of £3.3 million during the summer, City suffered a disappointing start to

  • Embsay made to fight

    Despite the heavy rain of the previous week only three matches fell victim to the weather on Saturday in the Craven Football League and though grounds were heavy the majority of games were entertaining. In the Skipton Building Society Premier Division

  • Competition winners

    Winners of the Keighley News' recent Letterland video competition were: Sean Robinson, of Washburn Drive, Glusburn; Caroline Walsh, of Laburnum Grove, Cross Roads; Georgie Knappy, of Keighley Road, Bogthorn; Mrs Crossland, of Park Avenue, Bingley; Joshua

  • Vintage cars could be left high and dry

    WORRIED members of the Skipton-based Craven Old Wheels vintage car society fear they may not be able to run their cars after leaded fuel is phased out. The Government aims to ensure as many vehicles as possible convert to environmentally-friendly unleaded

  • Action group in TV protest

    MEMBERS of a North Craven action group are to take part in a vigil outside Channel Four's London headquarters to protest about a programme. Families Involved in Raising Media Awareness (FIRMA) was formed in Giggleswick a couple of years ago by parents

  • Rugby League: Amateur round-up

    A LARGE crowd turned out at Crossflatts as Albion continued their quest to lift off the bottom of the national conference League. New signing, former Cougar Alex Caine, was soon in action with strong running and rock solid tackling. Keith Dixon was a

  • Craven through the years

    100 years That great British topic, the weather, was the subject of great discussion at a meeting of Silsden Mutuals. It threw up some suprising similarities between conditions we are putting up with today, and those of 100 years ago. It was said that

  • Mills in the Dock

    Bradford City top scorer Lee Mills will this week answer a charge of misconduct from the Football Association in the hope he can avoid a suspension. The 28-year-old was involved in a bust-up with a linesman after confronting the official at the end of

  • Stressed boss gets new role

    FORMER Bradford Council chief executive Richard Penn has a new job - helping other chief executives overcome their problems. Mr Penn, of Westwood Drive, Ilkley, who has just retired from his £110,000-a-year post because of stress, will act as an unpaid

  • OBITUARY - NOEL JOHNS

    A personal tribute from Frank Pedley NOEL Johns, who died recently, was an example par excellence of a public representative in the days before local government re-organisation, who devoted much of his life, his energy and indeed his personal finances

  • Robbers steal woman's fur coat

    A woman was attacked and robbed of her fur coat as she walked along Heber Street, Keighley, on Sunday morning. The 27-year-old was punched in the face by one woman and struck from behind by another, and was ordered to remove the coat. The two attackers

  • Not-so-super market sweep!

    ASTOUNDED Skipton traders say they have watched in disbelief as roadsweepers cleared away salt laid by gritters minutes earlier. The stallholders are among the few people out and about early enough to see both important public services in action. Some

  • Hospital tackles watchdog

    A survey has revealed there are still no toilets for the disabled in Airedale Hospital's outpatients department - three years after a similar check. Airedale Community Health Council (CHC), which acts as the patients' voice within the NHS, will hear next

  • Gala '99 wins business backing

    Keighley firms are rallying to support this year's Keighley Gala and ensure more proceeds can go to local charities. Leading the pack is Keighley business Harrison and Clough which is sponsoring the gala to the tune of £2,000 to mark its centenary year

  • Railtrack praised for station work

    Work has started on a project to make Keighley railway station more user-friendly. The work is part of a multi-million-pound nationwide station regeneration programme. Scaffolding has already been erected on the station building and footbridge area which

  • Michael finds the words to go Dutch

    A member of Keighley Lions has enlisted the help of a local councillor to stop him speaking double dutch. Michael Walton wants to make a welcoming impression in Dutch when a fellow Lion from Holland visits these shores. His plans were going Edam-shaped

  • Rachelle calls for soccer equality

    Talented goalkeeper Rach-elle Houldsworth is the winner of our Search for a Sporting Star competition this month, run in conjunction with Taywood Homes. Rachelle, who collected her award this week, scooped it in recognition of her prowess between the

  • Tourism officials head for Holland

    Former Bront Country Tour-ism (BCT) manager Carolyn Spencer has left the organisation to pursue a career as a freelance travel trade consultant. She will specialise in marketing, public relations and product development services for the tourism and leisure

  • 'Council hijacked parish campaign'

    Haworth's bid for a parish council has the full backing of residents and local councillors. Councillors and residents voiced their 100 per cent support for the introduction of a parish council at this week's Haworth, Stanbury and Cross Roads neighbourhood

  • Let's display treasure at Cliffe Castle

    A treasure hunter who unearthed a hoard of ancient gold coins in Silsden has reissued his plea for it to stay in the area. Jeffrey Walbank wants the treasure he found to be displayed at Keighley's Cliffe Castle Museum where it can go on public display

  • Historic church ponders exciting future

    Two months of daily activities are planned at a historic Baptist church to celebrate major refurbishments. A variety of events will hopefully attract Haworth villagers to the West Lane church, as well as boost a £50,000 appeal to help meet the costs.

  • Mum guns for theatre

    A Keighley mother has complained to theatre bosses that a children's show frightened her daughter so much they had to walk out. Judith Sims says scenes of mice with machine guns, a blood-stained baby and a head on a pole left her daughter clinging to

  • Fire worry at lack of interest

    A SENIOR fire officer spoke this week about a lack of interest in a home fire prevention scheme. Rawdon Station Commander Richard Moxon said about 3,000 leaflets offering advice on fire safety had been delivered to homes in Guiseley, Rawdon, Yeadon and

  • Rugby Union: Keighley's true grit

    Keighley 19, Goole 13 KEIGHLEY put behind them their recent spell of poor form with a gritty performance against a strong Goole side. Their win hoists them to fourth place in the League. In a tense close fought game neither side was able to dominate.

  • Lack of warden leaves elderly living in fear

    RESIDENTS of an Addingham sheltered flats complex fear they are at risk while they continue to be left without a live-in warden. It follows an incident last week at the Bradford Council run Southfield House when entry was forced to one flat so that ambulance

  • Ramblers in a rumble over flying debris

    Ramblers walking in woods around Cullingworth say they are having to dive for cover from wayward clay pigeons. One walker claims to have been hit by falling debris from a clay pigeon while walking along a path beside Manywells Wood on the edge of the

  • Bistros on cards for top Bradford site

    Towering Provincial House could be replaced by ground-floor cafes and bistros spilling on to Centenary Square, it was revealed today. Developers are also interested in a prestige hotel on the top city-centre site. The site opposite Grade One-listed City

  • Craven gears up for the millennium

    FORGET Eurovision: talented songwriters are urged to try their hand at composing a millennium song for Skipton. Yes, your ditty could soon be Boom-Bang-a-Banging out loud at every public event connected with the town, thanks to a songwriting competition

  • Play area on the way

    A PLAYGROUND specially designed for disabled children to enjoy alongside their able-bodied counterparts will soon take shape in Horsforth. Plans for the purpose-built integrated area at Horsforth Hall Park, Hall Lane, won the backing of Leeds City Council

  • Promises on town hall charges

    USERS of Yeadon Town Hall have been told they will not have to meet increased booking charges when the hall re-opens after repair work has been carried out. Coun Bernard Atha, chairman of Leeds City Council's cultural services committee, says in a letter

  • War hero still in hospital

    A WAR hero from Guiseley who collapsed just days before he was due to be honoured by the French Government for his bravery is still in hospital. Harry Holmes, who is 101, was belatedly awarded the French Legion d'Honneur in recognition of his services

  • Victory for one man and his dog

    A PARTIALLY sighted Otley man has won his campaign to have pedestrian crossings at the junction of Boroughgate and Crossgate adapted to help blind and disabled people. Neville Birch, 62, who gets about with the help of his guide dog, Danny, voiced fears

  • Soccer: OakBank's national date

    oakbank school's Under-16 football team is to represent West Yorkshire in a national knockout competition. After reaching the final of the West Yorkshire schools cup, Oakbank take on Valley Comprehensive from Worksop, representing Nottinghamshire on Monday

  • Takeaway owner fined

    The owner of a takeaway restaurant at 453 Bradford Road, Sandbeds, has been fined £2,250 for breaking planning laws and ordered to pay costs to Bradford council of £965. The council's Keighley planning sub-committee was told yesterday the defendant had

  • County council warns of 'deep cuts' to services

    NORTH Yorkshire County Council has issued a warning that increased council tax bills could be necessary. At the moment the council spends £362 million on its services, and, in council tax terms, is listed as one of the lowest spending authorities in the

  • Single vote cast over council tax bills

    A PUBLIC meeting over options for the coming year's council tax in Pendle failed to attract the public of West Craven on Wednesday. It seems people either didn't know about, or simply couldn't be bothered going to the meeting held at Barnoldswick Civic

  • Emergency sparks warden worry

    AN ambulance crew was forced to break into a flat to rescue an elderly woman because a key for the building could not be found immediately. Residents at Southfield House sheltered housing complex in Addingham have hit out at Bradford-based Careline following

  • Thieves steal new park benches

    DETERMINED thieves have smashed and sawed their way through concrete and metal to steal three newly-installed benches from Skipton's Aireville Park. The calculated theft has angered Craven District Council, which only last year spent a small fortune restoring

  • Dear Reader

    The Advertising Standards Authority has this week published the result of its investigation into a complaint objecting to an advertisement in the Keighley News for windows. The adjudication is that the complaint was not upheld. The complaint centred on

  • Soccer: Keighley Alliance

    Injury-hit Bingley White Horse paid a heavy penalty when they faced Stanbury Park Rangers. They went down to a 6-0 defeat in a match with both teams struggling to cope with difficult conditions. Stanbury adapted quickest to the mud and took the lead after

  • Rampant Pool net six

    POOL AFC 6 HARLOW HILL 0 LEAGUE leaders Harlow Hill were the latest victims of this rampant Pool side which is determined to keep the bandwagon rolling. From start to finish Pool's flowing, confident football destroyed a team lacking in ideas. The deadlock

  • Findlow wins at Nunroyd

    RICHARD Findlow of the Bradford Airedale club left himself with a clear chance of winning the Sport Direct West Yorkshire Cross-Country League after his decisive win in the third round at Nunroyd Park, Yeadon, on Sunday. The Skyrac A C staged event was

  • Yarnbury pack hold firm

    YARNBURY 20 WESTOE 18 TWO league matches in 1999 played, two league matches won. Yarnbury continued their good start to the New Year with an impressive performance at home against promotion contenders Westoe. Having been walloped up in South Shields before

  • Otley scrape home

    OTLEY 22 CAMBERLEY 18 OTLEY, who looked to be coasting home to a comfortable win during the first-half of this Jewson League Division One match at Cross Green last Saturday, just managed to scrape home in the end. They completely dominated the first-half

  • Christian Viewpoint

    by Steve Tunstall, secretary of Keighley Churches Together THE week of prayer for Christian Unity is held annually over the eight days, January 18-25 inclusive. From its inception, the Week of Prayer has been an integral part of the ecumenical movement

  • What is this Government doing?

    by Charles Smallwood, 16, who is studying English, Media, and General Studies A-Levels at Oakbank School After reading the articles and watching the recent headlines about the behaviour of Labour MP Mr Robin Cook, I believe that it is about time that

  • Readers' Letters

    SIR - Mr H L Holmes is quite right to stress the danger of the euro coinage but that is not all that lies in wait for us. Our sovereignty is indeed at that risk. Plans are in hand for the unification of value added tax. Taxation varies considerably in

  • Slick PR campaign wants your support

    ASK anyone in Ilkley to nominate the world's kindest benefactor at the moment and I suspect Jesus, Ghandi, and even Booths supermarket will be pushed out of place by Crest Homes. The plan to develop the Ilkley College campus is being accompanied by the

  • Otley out in the cold

    THIS week brought the encouraging news that finally bus users are to get the kind of safer surroundings they have been crying out for. For too many years people using public transport have had to put up with dark, dirty, sometimes smelly and frequently

  • Millennium garden plan blooming

    THE man behind Ilkley's Darwin Gardens millennium project is delighted with the public support he has received. Dr Peter Harnett has revealed to the Gazette that 75 per cent of those who have answered a questionnaire about the scheme have given it the

  • Aloha from hawaii

    Well, aloha there. Keighley may appear to have little in common with the paradise islands of Hawaii. But the town has a special place in the life of one teenager on the idyllic isles - she's named after it. And 15-year-old Keighley Randels is proud of

  • Robbery case man in custody

    A 20-year-old man has appeared before magistrates accused of robbing an elderly woman at her home in Gilstead. Craig Scholes, 20, of no fixed abode, appeared at Bingley Magistrates Court yesterday afternoon charged with robbery and aggravated burglary

  • Cheaper houses

    WHEN and where to build 'affordable' housing in Ilkley are not the clear cut and obvious questions many people would assume them to be at first glance. First-time home buyers and those without executive incomes would applaud Bradford Council's policy

  • Comment: Benefits of crackdown on fraud

    If you plan to defraud the benefits system, Bradford is not the place to try to do it. That is the message coming loud and clear from the success of the Benefits Agency investigations team which has been operating in the city for the past two years. Its

  • No reward for Ilkley youth

    Ilkley Junior Youth 0 Intake 2 THE famous Liverpool manager Bill Shankly reportedly said after his side had dominated a 0-0 draw at Anfield against arch rivals Leeds United that 'We could have played until Christmas and still not scored a goal.' Though

  • Cricket: Search for spin demon

    ASHLEY ROBINSON has been called up -- as England search for a cricketing super-star. The 18-year-old former South Craven School pupil has joined England's 'spin academy' as the nation's top coaches try to find a bowler capable of matching the Aussie spin

  • Fraud blitz saves taxpayers £20m

    Fraud investigators are cracking down on Bradford's benefit swindlers and saving taxpayers more than £20 million in the process. Officers working for Bradford Benefits Agency fraud investigations team uncovered thousands of false claims during 1998. And

  • MP calls for action over tax bungle

    DAVID Curry MP has asked a Parliamentary watchdog to investigate the taxman's bungled handling of a Skipton pensioner's tax affairs. Dino Reardon spent two years fighting the Inland Revenue, after it wrongly claimed he ran a pigeon breeding business.

  • Homes site 'only fit for the rich' row

    TWO Ilkley councillors have been attacked after trying to block a proposal to build cheaper homes on the college campus site. In response to an offer from Crest Homes officials, Tory district councillors Martin Smith and Anne Hawkesworth said they would

  • Taking their life in their hands

    Demands are being made to give pedestrians and cyclists a safer passage across a busy road before someone is killed. Councillors and a local resident say people are taking their lives into their hands when they cross the Aire Valley Trunk Road at Silsden

  • Fire call-outs reduced

    A massive safety campaign by Keighley firefighters has helped slash the number of call-outs. The town's brigade last year turned out 1,246 times, a drop of almost 250 on the previous 12 months. The number of malicious calls also fell, from 210 to 131.

  • Skipton firm wins £200m development contract

    A Skipton property developer is undertaking a massive £200-million regeneration of Scarborough's North Bay. The Zenith project is to be the biggest leisure development of its kind in the country and is intended to revive the town's appeal as a holiday

  • Soccer: Craven League

    Keighley gave league leaders Embsay a real run for their money as clubs began the task of working through a huge backlog of matches. Bright sunshine allowed most of the league programme to go ahead after weeks of rain, followed by frost which led to dozens

  • Fisher in line for county vest

    For the second successive year Otley Athletics Club's Ian Fisher has qualified to represent Yorkshire in the Inter-Counties Cross Country Championships at Rotherham. Ian produced an excellent performance to finish fourth completing the hilly 11k course

  • Farnley 1

    Otley Town 2 NOT for the first time this season the Wharfedale Observer - sponsored Otley Town side bounced back from a disappointment with a splendid win. Valuable league points were gained from a gutsy display in which Town's younger end shone. Notable

  • Ilkley's eight goal romp

    Ilkley AFC 8 Dalton Athletic 1 ILKLEY AFC go into this Saturday's crunch league encounter with Pool brimming with confidence after an eight goal rampage against Dalton Athletic. This thrashing only came about in the final 20 minutes as Ilkley took full

  • Running: County call-up

    KAREN SLATER was crowned Yorkshire Vets Cross Country champion lst week -- and was called up for the county team. Karen, a member of Keighley & Craven AC was 9th lady overall in the championship race. Sarah Dugdale, of hellifield, who trains at Keighley

  • Council fires broadside in fight over forum

    REELING under accusations of 'stubbornness', Ilkley Parish Council has hit back at those who have condemned its stance over the Neighbourhood Forum scheme. Councillor Alec Henderson (Con, Ben Rhydding) has said calls for the parish council to 'embrace

  • New homes get cash boost

    Work on 24 new homes in the centre of Keighley should be ready earlier than expected because extra cash has been found. Low-rent housing projects are under way in the former Rob Roy's nightclub, in North Street, and in Chapel Lane opposite Keighley bus

  • Phone offer that sets alarm bells ringing By Mike Priestley

    Getting at parents' pockets through their children is no new marketing ploy. It's been going on ever since the consumer society came into existence after the war. The method is simple enough. Create a fashion trend among youngsters, and let peer pressure

  • Tribute paid To Correena

    Keighley's Holy Family School singers paid tribute to the death of cancer sufferer Correena Done this week. A group of six 15-16-year-olds sang a modern-day version of The Lord is my Shepherd at Tuesday's funeral at St Andrew's Parish Church, Keighley

  • What goes around comes around

    THE festive paper was barely off the presents before thoughts turned to winter '99 and the 50th Harrogate International Toy and Christmas Fair rolled into town. Parents had little time to breath a sigh of relief after spending their hard earned cash on

  • The Curmudgeon

    THE first meeting of Beggarsdale Parochial Church Council in 1999 was a pretty noisy affair according to the Curmudgeoness, who returned from it with her face flushed red with fury. And no wonder. For the first item on the agenda was a letter from a firm

  • Ilkley lose vital league game

    MALTON 24 ILKLEY 6 KNOWING that this was a vital game to win to keep clear of the relegatioon zone Ilkley made a goob start taking the game to Malton. Dominant in the scrums Ilkley won good ball to put Malton under pressure and they had them going backwards

  • Soccer: Junior round-up

    Silsden Under-11's played some excellent football to beat Church on the Way 7-1. Throughout the first half they attacked the Church goals, piling up a 5-0 lead at the break with goals from Chris Sutcliffe, Gavin Shearer and outstanding finishing from

  • Gallant Ribb almost topple leaders

    North East Division Two North Ribblesdale 11 Darlington 13 This was a tremendous match, a cut and thrust contest where a wholehearted effort from Ribb all but turned the league formbook upside down as they took Darlington to the very limit, writes Trevor

  • Society stalwart dies

    The funeral is taking place today of former Silsden Civic Society secretary Dora Laycock. Dora died in hospital at Beverley, North Yorkshire, last Friday. She had been ill for some time. A former secretary at Allied Industrial Services in Bradford, she

  • £300-a-day drugs addict locked up

    A drug addict with a £300 a day cocaine habit has been jailed for eight years for a string of terrifying knifepoint robberies. Bradford Crown Court heard yesterday how 19-year-old Richard Fearn targetted vulnerable premises such as sub-post offices, service

  • Traders may win village parking places

    Traders could soon have every right to park in Haworth's historic Main Street. at next month's Bradford council highways committee meeting Worth Valley councillor Mike Young will ask for the order preventing shopkeepers parking in the street's homeowners

  • Mudd confident over bonanza

    Highfield has been shortlisted for a £4 million government grant to breathe new life into its community. An outline bid from Keighley's Single Regeneration Budget bosses has been accepted by the government office responsible for regeneration funding.

  • Lynn heads for Liverpool

    The high-profile coordinator of Keighley SRB is leaving the town to take on a flagship regeneration post in Liverpool. Lynn Spencer, who oversees hundreds of local regeneration projects, will run an SRB partnership in the Speke and Garston area. She will

  • Big blitz on burglaries

    Keighley's Single Regeneration Budget (SRB) Partnership Board made decisions this week on which local projects should receive funding from its multi-million-pound cash pot. David Knights reports Braithwaite could get up to £60,000 to slash the high number

  • Magistrates court lists

    SIMON PAUL MOLE, of 6 Barrows Lane, Steeton, was ordered to pay £240 for speeding. Michaela Roberts, of 13 Sunnyhill Grove, Exley Head, Keighley, was ordered to pay £80 for possessing heroin. Darren James Atha, of 16 Greenfield Court, Braithwaite, was

  • Kart track could rise from ashes of foundry

    Keighley kart enthusiasts could soon be burning around a new indoor track set to be built this year. The track, to be used by pre-booked private parties, would have ten karts of the new 1999 design - low engine noise and emissions - running at any one

  • Culvert talks held amid collapse talks

    A row over a dangerous culvert is set to continue - even though a company has offered to dig it out for free. Doncaster-based MGH Recy-cling Ltd says it would take away ash from the site at Bradley Green in Silsden for recycling. This would leave the

  • Alison Thais up qualification

    Althams Travel Services counter clerk Alison Sheriff has successfully completed a one-year training course on East Asia. Alison, who has been at the firm's Keighley branch for the last two and a half years, was one of 825 candidates taking the East Asia

  • Spicy earner for Steve

    A walk in the park has turned into a business opportunity for a man with a passion for packaging. Spice Girls crisp packets, picked up by the hundred in parks throughout the county, are selling like mad in the USA. The packets, featuring photos of the

  • Road set for spring reopening

    A moorland road closed while it is rebuilt should reopen in March. Residents attending this week's Haworth, Stanbury and Cross Roads neighbourhood forum were told by Bradford council that work on the road should be completed then. Highways officers Jutinder

  • Steve home after Gulf duty

    A Silsden serviceman is back on British soil after giving ground-crew support to war planes in the Gulf. Steve Taylor, an RAF junior technician, was part of the Tornados 12 Squadron which helped launch the pre-Christmas bomb blitz on Iraqi military targets

  • Experts to remove all school asbestos

    Air tests have been carried out at South Craven School after asbestos was found at a dangerous level. The tests at the Cross Hills school showed one of its rooms contained asbestos fibres. North Yorkshire county council specialists immediately sealed

  • Couple have no illusions about marriage

    A wedding is always a magical occasion and for one happy couple wedded bliss will certainly be no illusion. Unconventional Mark Ayres, 44, and Lesley Marshall, 37, cast tradition aside when they tied the knot at Ilkley's King's Hall and Winter Gardens

  • Store plans turn to housing bid

    A Silsden-based developer has scrapped plans for a new supermarket. Novo Homes instead wants to build 62 sheltered housing-type homes with two schemes on a site in the town near the Leeds-Liverpool Canal known as Tunnicliffes yard. The properties would

  • Report paints gloomy picture of Yorkshire life

    YORKSHIRE is suffering from chronic economic problems - including low wages, educational under achievement, poor skills levels and unemployment - according to a new report. The quality of life in Yorkshire is highlighted in the first report of its kind

  • Flash floods create havoc

    MOTORISTS experienced driving difficulties on both Friday and Saturday as roads across the district flooded. North Yorkshire Police were contacted on numerous occasions with reports of floods on the main A659 between Otley and Pool-in-Wharfedale, on the

  • 'Missing' housing money is queried

    MENSTON councillor Chris Greaves has challenged the chairman of Bradford Council's education committee to explain a 'mystery' behind the City's 'missing' £164m school repairs bill. But in response, the chairman said 'the Tories were never very good at

  • Relatives face funeral delay

    GRIEVING relatives are facing delays of up to a week while waiting for their loved ones' funerals to take place. Some funeral directors say their staff are working extra hours to cope with a noticeable rise in the number of deaths across the area. Now

  • Lack of cash threatens village green plans

    A SUBSTANTIAL cash injection is needed to complete the Burley-in-Wharfedale village green extension. Burley Community Council's funds are running low and the man behind the scheme needs at least £5,000 to finish the project. Tom Sumner has been responsible