Nostalgia: From the archives

The new owner of an 18th century cottage would get more than they bargained for when they bought the building. Alongside the fixtures and fittings was a sitting tenant – a stuffed fox killed in Briestfield by a farmer. The current owners, Sam and Phyllis Brook, asked the solicitors to include it in the sale of the house, with a clause ensuring the new owner could not evict it. Mrs Brook said: “We are not taking the fox with us because this is the fox’s home and it is now part of Briestfield’s history.”

A Batley Carr pub was under siege after a pork pie was left at the doors of a nearby mosque. Hundreds of people from the Asian community surrounded the Albion pub after a man was seen leaving the pie at the doors of the mosque on Bradford Road. Inspector Bill Vivian, community affairs officer for Dewsbury, said it was a carbon-copy of previous irresponsible actions which took place at the same mosque. “Police are making every effort to find the person responsible,” he said.

Hitting the top notes was a Mirfield Parish Church choirboy, who had been given the Bishop’s Choristers Award for the Wakefield Diocese. Robert Stewart, 11, was one of the youngest participants to have won the award.

In this week 50 years ago:

Teachers were becoming “sick and tired” of being told what should be happening to secondary education, according to a local headteacher. Mr Dransfield told the Spen Valley Education Executive that teachers would support a one-day conference to discuss education in the district, but he personally felt the secondary stage of education was “working well”.

A mother had her sights set on gold as she prepared for the paraplegic Olympic Games in Tokyo. Laura Ibberson, of Liversedge, had been confined to a wheelchair for 17 years and was set to represent England in the archery on the world stage. The 48-year-old went into the Games in good form having gained 16 medals in her sport. She had been beaten only four times since she took up archery five years earlier.

A polio victim who was told by doctors “swim and you may be cured” ended up representing England in a national event. Elaine Mary Brierley, of Wood Street, Batley Carr, followed the doctors orders and became so good in the pool that she was chosen to take part in England’s Catholic Swimming Students’ team. She came first in the backstroke in the championships held at Wythenshawe Baths in Manchester.

In this week 75 years ago:

A tennis club served up another championship title victory after winning a local tournament. The Mirfield Tennis Club men’s team was crowned champions in the Huddersfield Royal Infirmary tournament, which took place at Greenhead Park.

It followed the Nab ladies’ win in the Huddersfield subsidiary competition, which took place a week earlier. The men’s team clinched the title by five rubbers to two and won the cup for the first time. The Reporter said: “Their greater all-round strength and their steadier play generally entitled them to their success.”

A reader wrote to The Reporter with concerns animals would be neglected during the summer. Frank Maccunn, of Batley, said pets were often left at home by people going away on holiday and urged people to make arrangements if they planned to go away.

A Batley woman was appointed Blackpool’s representative in the town’s Publicity Bureau in London. Dora Turner was chosen out of seven applicants for the role. Each of the applicants had a 10 minute interview with the Blackpool Publicity Committee and Miss Turner was selected to succeed Miss Craven, who had held the post for 25 years. Miss Turner, who studied at Batley Grammar School, said she was “over the moon”.