S The. Clith ero e A d v e rtis e r and Times. F rid a y , M a rc h 25, l% 6 . C O U N T R Y D I A R Y jf5, ‘I m m m Y


Three-cornered


fight in Skipton Division


rpHE Skipton division is again to have a three-cornered L election liaht and last week Conservative, Labour and Liberal candidates were adopted at well-attended meet-


rt| •t"?v l#*.;


P i l l Conservative candidate is Mr. George Burnaby Drayson w’ho has been MF for the Skipton division since 1945. . He was adopted at an extraordinary meeting of the Skipton Division Conservative Association held in the Devonshire Hotel, Skip- ton, when Colonel F. Longden Smith was in the chair. When Mr. Drayson became


incs. were fit and ready to govern,


not, like the Tory scares, an irrelevancy. I t is a necessity and a matter of vital concern to all those who want a pro­ gressive government.”


the country. “The election." he said, “is


m m I


W E turn hack the pages of time throu#i fifty troubled and hectic years, to this M crowded village scene in Gisburn. This, week our naturalist writer Mr. H. E.


Cook tells of the times that Irish trade played a large part in Gisburn Fairs* a cus­ tom only revived a few weeks ago. This picture, an excellent example of Gisburn Fair taken from opposite the New Inn, was taken in October 1911.


g is ■ f


Back fifty years to Gisburn Fair


Like so many people, l find


a look into the past can be quite as entertaining and com­ pelling as any speculation into the shape of things to


come. 13m unfortunately e v e n


when we wish to turn the clock back a mere half cen­ tury we are immediately


' I ’ - f


very few people who can vividly, and with accuracy, recall their experiences when as young people they attended the various functions 'which took place in . Ribblesclalc. say over half a ccn-;


faced with meat difficulty. The difficulty is that there are


t.urv ago.


sithirable slice in one’s life and ' in such a period there are bound to be remarkable changes. Some a r c advantageous.


Ftrtv-llvc years is quite a con-i


Others, as experience shows are not, altogether as good as one


able. and as we look back over t ilie last half century in particu-J lar. wo so often find chiefly as 1 a result of two World Wars, the j process of change lias been j greatly stimulated.


might, expect. Changes however are inevit­


' Whether we are in agreement j with it all or not. does not con- j com us at the moment. No mat-1 ter how strong our desires we! cannot turn back the clock, but j we can at leas; lor a while look i back into the past with plcasur- \ able advantage.


j FANTASTIC


what all this lias in common with Ribblesdale. its customs,


Now vou may well enquire


changes and history repeating itself. Well I can assure you it is all very closely related ns I am sure you will agree when you hear my story. It all began when I came


across an old picture of Gisburn which I at once photographed. The original photographer


-A


had placed his camera just opposite The New Inn by the War Memorial, and looking straight down the village in the direction of the Ribblesdale Anns had released the shutter.


CROWDED 1 The result, — a c row d e d


thoroughfare oil the 16 of Octo­ ber. mil. This as we can sec by the date is the last Gisburn Fair, held on the main Lanca- shire-Yorkshire road, chock lull of sheep and beef and dairy cattle. Tiie pens in the foreground


m


Naturalist—Mr. II. E. Cook. I asked him of this particular


arc filled with sheep, with other similar pens just adjacent to the Ribblesdale Arms and at a | point where nowadays we find j the Petrol Station.


walk or stand about on the ] cobbled sidewalks and on th e ;


Cows, singly and in groups j


Fair, the lust to be held in Gis­ burn and was not at all surpri­ sed to hear lie was at. this very gathering fifty-five years ago in


1


highway. And men. in bowler hats and ‘


caps move about obviously dis- j cussing tile merits or weaknes- j ses of the various beasts.


very much


1 chatted to a person 1 have known for many years. With a crvstal clear memory lie recal-! led tlie good and not-so-good; old days,'and during our con­ versation one particular com- j ment caused us to reflect, not onlv on the fantastic changes which have taken place in some of the customs and events of our valley, but also on an equally remarkable trend which to me presented a perfect example of history repeating itself during i an interval of just over half a j century.


cattle came regularly to our t Fairs held in the various towns j and villages in Ribblesdale.


Just over fifty years ago 'Irish t j


political reasons and the “Irish question" the trade fell into a '


serious decline. T rade and relations were


again restored a few weeks ago between this country and Eire. And so a fte r over half


' f t :


a century we again find Irish cattle in good numbers com­ ing to our markets.


Then, due to economic and j j And so it was the other day, but


heavy moustache and high col­ lars still


I am afraid you wall have to ao across the sea to Ireland. 'A s


predominating. You may see


similar to the scenes general today scene, there is little change when


Arms, and just beyond the three cottages the White Bull set against a background of tall


, compared with th a t of today, The road, rough and lacking the tarred surface we know to­ day, being skirted by the well- known New In n with Thomas Proctor as mine host. Then comes the Ribblesdale


mature trees. Obviously my sense of enquiry


Fashions as we can sec were j i the Railway Station and then to different with the ! the main street


| lambs and sheep from Hawes. |! These were brought


a good supply first,


; came from Ireland, this trade i no doubt accounting for the 1 long dock or platform at the ! Station. ! Since then all trade with Eire | fell considerably, and now over la half century later the wheel 1 has turned full circle and we see : history repeating itself, i For now, with the new trade ■ agreement, Irish cattle are again being brought to a now more efficient- and elaborate Gisburn Auction Mart. Regarding the old Fair, the


Large numbers of store cattle in Gisburn.


was aroused, and so, eager to have more information of those


held every fortnight with those at Clillieroe and Skipton on the intervening weeks. They started in February and went on until just before Christ- ! mas with


October. He told me these Fairs were


■••>*** 7 Hi


through the Young Conserva­ tives. of which he was an active member before tlie war. His ancestors had sat in Parlia­ ment as early as 1327. • He is one of the most widely


MP for the Skipton Division 21 years ago, he won his seat from Common . We a lth by a ma jo r ity of 2,200. In October, 1964, a t the last General Election, he retained his seat with a m a jo r ity of 6,846. Mr. Drayson entered politics


claimed that in 1965. tiie j Labour government, built more houses than had ever been built before in Britain, 9,000 more than the Conservatives in their best year. “Labour's target for 1970 . is


At one meeting Mr. Knott j ,


50,000 homes, and that is only the first step,” he declared. By 1970, council house build­


ing would go up to 250,000 per vear. in 1964 the figure was only 162,000.' Private houses would also rise to a quarter of


travelled of the-younger mem­ bers of the Conservative party having been as far as America, the Far East, and Europe. During Ills adoption meeting


a million. Mr. Knott said, “The massive


1 and to achieve a decent stand­ ard of social security.


address. Mr. Drayson attacked the Labour Government for its non-fulfilment of promises and he said that the first aim of a Conservative government would be to run the country's affairs efficiently a n d realistically,


son asserted, “Labour does not like profits, and without them you cannot have prosperity. “We reduced taxes. Labour


"Let us be frank," Mr. Dray-


“. t ^ ' o f new and experienced men. He concluded: “I face the


this election, the Conservatives had a new leader, Mr. Edward v, . Heath, and behind him a team


j could spend how they liked, i but the Socialists take more ! away,” he declared. He went 'on to say that, at


increased them. We left more hi people’s pockets so that they


fSiaM M i am confident we shall obtain an increased majority in the Skipton division.” Mr. G. E. G. Nayler. the


; > electors with the utmost con- » . 1 fidence and with your help I


chairman of the Divisional Association, said that they would have to go a long way to find a candidate so con­ scientious and hard working as Mr. Drayson who had endeared himself to people in all walks of life. Mr. Drayson has addressed


meetings at Bolton-by-Bowland, Slaidburn and Newton.


LABOUR'S V IEW


didate. Mr. G. A. Knott, has been visiting many parts of the scattered Skipton Division since his adoption meeting. One of his star supporting


Meanwhile, the Labour can­


rise in Council building is needed to overcome tiie acute shortage of houses and flats to let at reasonable rents. The new Rent Act is already bring­ ing security and fair rents to thousands.”


SECOND T IM E


Herbert Pickard, a 32-year-old bachelor from Barnoldswick. has been adopted as the Liberal candidate for the Skipton Divi­


election. Councillor Pickard is the


cillor Pickard referred to Bri­ tain's need to “pay her way in the world. Only the Liberal Party has looked at this prob­ lem and produced real pro­ posals which can achieve this,”


vice-chairman o f Barnolds­ wick Urban Council and a member of the Craven D iv i­ sional Education Executive Committee. He was educated a t Skipton and Y ork and he gained a B.Sc. degree a t the London School of Economics. In his adoption speech. Coun­


he stated. He said that if sterling were


overvalued it must be revalued. “Britain cannot,” he said, “run an international b a n k in g svstem. maintain an overvalued currency, protect a great deal of inefficient industry and con- tinue to borrow to cover hci


debts.


1 greater rate of economic, growth that we need,” lie!


declared.


| Mr. K nott has been can. vassing and addressing pub-


of to


speakers during the campaign will be Mi\ Roy Mason, the Minister for Shipping, who will be speaking at Skipton on Saturday.


i lie meetings in Grindleton, West Bradford, Waddington, Slaidburn, Bolton-by-Bow- land, Paythorne, Gisburn


j and many other villages in i the constituency. In most of his speeches he


would give strength to hanking ■ reserves, make industry effic.-, ent and able to compete with j any other country in th e ,


He said that the Liberals; , , i world.


Socialists, lie said, were res­ ponsible for the "cushy market allowing the ignoring of exports. Here was the place for


The Conservatives and me , ,,


the distinctive Liberal cry of ••free trade” to be heard to force our industry to become competitive.


has accused the Tories of avoiding election issues and he went on to explain what were. the irrelevancies which the I Conservatives used to avoid the j real election issues.


days fast fading from living memory. I sought the experience and descriptive ability or an old friend of mine. Mr. George


selling of beef cattle began at five or six in the morning and butchers bought the stock which was then driven over Cold Weather Hill to Burnley. As we chatted on these more


Parker of Middop, a man of varied accomplishments whose strong and vigorous mind is only excelled by a wonderful memory. Still active at an age when


plays a" the qualities of a man half his age. .


court scare, and the pound scare “all designed to divert the public’s attention from the absence of a constructive Con­ servative policy,” and also to try to widen the gap between the traditional Labour vote and the middle class who, the Tories fear desperately, are deserting them in favour of the Labour


He referred to the Kangaroo


colourful days I was reminded of my friend’s remarkable memory as lie .spoke of the Irish dealers. Francis O’Brien and


|


“The Tories do not believe m competition. They want pov-ei so that they can restrict change


Councillor Pickard continued. . - to a minimum. . .


Mi-. Wilson, with his fireside manner, his great patience and assurance, supported by the "one man comedy band ol George Brown, should not take our sights from the lack of constructive proposal a n d action by this Government. ‘Tiie highly polished and prac-;


‘‘The public relations man.


resources of the country to the j full can we win through to th e .


“Only by using all tnc • . 11 +UA Councillor Wilfrid Edwin 1


sion. He is fighting this constitu­


ency for the second consecutive m man to be a a it takes A COME YOU?


Party. He said that he had met


John Keenan. Like all lii.s information on


most are resigned to an eventide of memories. Mr. Parker dis­


Skipton Parliamentary Division General Election, 1966 •4


‘Action Not Words’ Mr.G.B. Drayson,™.


IHE CONSERVATIVE CANDIDATE


Your Member of Parliament from 1945 to 1966 Will speak at the following Meetings:


TUESDAY, MARCH 29th at 7-30 p.m. in GISBURN NEW VILLAGE HALL


5! ! : r l f


You can make plans with the Conservatives Labour makes confusion and dissilusion Savings are not safe with the Socialists


RESPONSIBLE PEOPLE WHO CARE FOR THE FUTURE


VOTE CONSERVATIVE AND NEXT THURSDAY VOTE


Liberals who had pledged their support to the Labour Party at this election. “I hope that many more will do so when the time comes to help us to defeat Toryism in Skipton.” The Conservative Party was.


these days his reactions and replies were spontaneous. There


was no hesitation or doubt. No, All! or ” I believe it would


tised smile of Mr. Hea th , should not prevent' us fioni| asking why did the Tones not do all these necessary things whilst in office. Action not words, bv past ' records, will mean action to produce even more words,” lie declared. He said that the Skipton


Division needed changes to deal with her many problems. All three candidates handed


he said, as divided now as they had ever accused the Labour Party of being. Electors must decide which of the two parties


be . . On the contrary niv questions were answered at once as if lie were recalling an event


of yesterday. And so, once again wc note


along with the hundreds of far­ mers, butchers, dealers and by­ standers all talking, bargaining, jostling and shouting completely blocked the main Gisburn-Skip-


as Mr. Parker said the motors were now coming on the road and the task of passing through Gisburn on Fair day was almost impossible. The herds of cattle, sheep


a process of change, this time as a result of the petrol engine for around 1919 the Fa ir or Market found new headquarters. Tiie change had to come for.


in their nominations and deposits last Tuesday. They arrived at the office of


Under 1 8? Just leaving school ? (Or maybe in a deadly-dull dead-end job ?) Get yourself in the running for a tine, well-paid job now—


for as long as you want to stay with it..Long­ life pits in ’every area neeo men who need a rea/secure career. (Don’t let anyone fool you —coal is Britain's most important raw material; British mining is Europe's biggest industrial undertaking: and it's staying that way.)


IT'S A MAN-SIZE JOB


the Deputv Acting Returning Officer. Ml-. L. E. Smith, at Skipton Town Hall.


Letters to the Editor FLUORIDATION AND OUR WATER


Sir,—Much has been said oh


ton road. And so our brief excursion


tliis serious matter, but surely consumers should have the option to refuse its addition to the public water supply. “Force­ meat” should never be resorted to in a “free” country. If tiie only answer science and the medical and dental


into the past comes to a close, but I feel sure there are others who can with vivid nostalgia relate similar days in Clitheroe etc. I intend therefore in the near future to give details of these, so if you can help, your memories will be appreciated.


Walinsley with the dance com­ mittee. and held at tiie St. Michael’s and St. John’s Parish Hall on Friday, was an out­ standing success. There was an attendance of


npi-IE St. Patrick’s Ball, organ- ised by Mr. H o r a c e


St. Patrick ball


nearly 200. The music was by Jock Caton. and the M.C.s were Mr. and Mrs. Turner. There was a buffet supper


profession can offer to dental care is the addition of sodium fluoride to children's diet—give it to them and THEM alone in tablet form. Adults do not need it. their bodies will only secrete some of it, with what results there is some doubt. If in doubt, don’t!


attractively served by Miss C. Speak and a band of helpers.


drayson .1 s the church funds.


Irish dances was given by Mr. McAllister, who is an expert in this field, and lias appeared on North of Ireland television. Almost £60 , was raised for


A surprise performance of


I surely one more good reason why sodium fluoride should only be given voluntarily to those in need of it, and then only for the years that matter —from early childhood up to the age when the full comple­ ment of the set of second teeth is completed. .


of what effect the addition of sodium fluoride to water would have on germination of seeds, plant life, and plant bacteria. I believe sodium fluoride is damaging to plant life, affecting the health of the soil and plant and animal organisms which create plant fertility. This is


Little mention lias been made


water-supply from upland and/ 1 or underground sources and in sufficient quantities, without


have sufficient troubles in pro­ ducing a pure and, wholesome


Water' undertakings surely


adding to their worries further unnecessary hazards. — Yours etc.,


BLOOD DONORS


Transfusion Service team will be in Clitheroe. on Saturday, April 2 at the Parish Church School and will be open for blood donors to attend from 10-15 a.m. to 12 noou and 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. Local arrangements are now


Sir.—The National B lo o d GET GOING jjjjW! POST THIS COUPON TODAY J o :


in the hands of Toe H Clith­ eroe who will in future be responsible for calling on donors to attend the sessions which will be held in April, July. November 1006 and


needed, and new volunteers will be welcome at any of the j sessions.


January 1967. Donors are still urgently


need is a good tiling to do and I it is a fairly simple matter causing little inconvenience, apart from the short ' time spent in attending the centre. Any donor who wishes ■' to


Giving blood for someone in


: the organisers.—For and on behalf of Toe H Clitheroe


give blood,.over' shorter periods of time may do so each three months if lie or she will notify


1 ' B. SHARPLES. j Mr. P*. H. M A U R IC E ,


Head of Manpower Branch A N D ER TO N HOUSE


l o w t o n W A R R IN G TO N , LANCS


} |


| _ _ ............................................................................................’ [ ............................................................ ...............................................................................................................


j p|03S0senc| mo fu|| details of the Mining Apprenticeship Scheme, and the Craft f Apprenticeship Scheme for Mechanics and Electricians.


PS. Headmasters, Career Masters and Youth Employment Officers can talk to you about this, too, V*-| j Name.............................................................................................................Age ......................................


I | Address........................................................................................................................................................


JOHN SCHOFIELD HEAP. 10, Church Road Lytham.


Did you know that (1 ) mining is one of Britain’s most highly mechanized industries.' (2 ) 80% of all the coal w e win is got by massive, marvellous machjnes that both cut and load it. To run these machines, all along the line, needs skilled operators. And that's wha t a miner is these days: and that's what you will become under the NCB's Mining Apprenticeship S c h e m e .


COME AND GET GOING


You'll get practical instruction. You'll get experience of surface and underground work. You'll get courses at a training centre (or technical college). You'll learn the ropes all the w a y through a miner's job. And if you're top-man material, you'll have plenty of chance to get top-man qualifications for a move to one of the really senior jo b s . . .


GET THE MONEY-GET THE HOLIDAYS


Coal-mining's where good men earn good money: and while you're training, too, the


n


and that’s what you will become under the National


Coal Board’s


Apprenticeship Schemes


V .J : i mm W \ , m . ........ .V -,


Wo|


an<! F o u r - W e e k s ’


EACH y e a r for MALE and o ta * 6 1 :V\1


Rates of Pay (Age 21 per week, 42 HOUR Considerable overtimel and Nur?ing Assistant!


Full training faj qualify for posj £23-2*2d. May! Convenient Bui Recreational FI given to StudenJ


Apply personally or ill the CHIEI


i n


JOHN $( & s>i


JUBILEE Ml HAVE V|


OF BC odern miner


ND JOIN THEM


TRI W


J


With weaving experietl other occupations with! are prepared to underl


ing.


You will find a wad Jubilee Mill and pat:| training.


The cloths we weave weaver’s work is a skil high degree of fptelligl


Wages for a five day, i and rising under a thrl pent, Holidays include] pine other paid days


DI TO


money is good. If ever there’s a need for special away-from-home training, you'll get generous travelling and lodging allowances. The Board have a Sick Pay Scheme, and a Pension Scheme. You gel two weeks annual holiday—and all the usual Bank Holidays—with pay: and on top oi that. seven extra p a id rest-days a year.


IT'S A SPORTING LIFE!


You won't be able to name another British industry that produces so many top sports­ men 1 Sprinters, hurdlers, boxers, wrestlers, footballers—they all get big opportunities because the Coal Industry Social Welfare Organisation runs sports and recreation grounds, community centres, youth clubs . . .The whole mining industry is buzzing with the sporting life—come and get a taste of th a t,to o .


N0W-SH0RTER APPRENTICESHIPS FOR ENGINEERING CRAFTSMEN (with NCB)


If you've a good hand and eye for mechanical or electrical engineering, the mining indus­ try’s the finest place to put it into practice because there’s probably no other industry where you’ll get a wider scope. The industry has its own Engineering Training Centres— can give you more intensive instruction—so, with the NCB, you can finish your Mechan­ ical or Electrical Apprenticeship in low years, instead of the usual five! If you’re re a lly good, wha t’s to stop you taking a University scholarship and a- Degree? N o th in g ! Your prospects of getting to the top are limitless—with the NCB.


i j


IVM-Tri


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