25 Years Ago, September 3, 1976:

BECKFOOT Park, Kirkby Lonsdale, became a temporary small town at the weekend as 1,700 caravans poured in from all over the North for the caravan club's biggest ever Centres Rally.

No fewer than 1,500 caravans arrived at Beckfoot on Friday night and by the time another 200 were installed on Saturday morning, Kirkby Lonsdale 1976 had become by far the biggest rally of its kind, almost as big in fact as the club's national rally which usually boasts around 2,000 caravans.

50 Years Ago, September 8, 195:

THE old stone structure of Meathop Bridge went "up in smoke" on Sunday morning.

It was demolished by sappers of a Territorial Army Engineers Unit as "an exercise", a 280lb, high-explosive charge being detonated.

100 Years Ago, September 6, 1901:

THE Humors of the Customs House - A curious case of smuggling was detected at Dover on Tuesday.

On the passengers landing from the Ostend boat, the Custom House officers noticed that a lady looked suspiciously bulky about the skirts.

Upon her being questioned it was found that she had concealed under her dress a fox-terrier, which she was endeavoring to smuggle into the country to evade the prohibition law in regard to dogs.

The dog was sent back to Ostend.

A VENTURSOME Lion Tamer - The lion tamer Cararre, who was recently badly clawed during a performance at the Place Pantin, reappeared for the first time since entering a cage forming part of Bezon's menagerie at Batignolles.

Four lions and one lioness were in the cage.

One of the lions behaved in an unruly manner and Carerre struck him.

Instantly the lion sprang upon the trainer, hurling him to the ground, and begun to crunch his shoulder.

While the horrified spectators fled, the keepers vainly prodded the lion, which did not release the victim until Bezon entered the cage.

Carerre was conveyed to the hospital in a condition more dead than alive.