bingley rural august 2013

Bingley Rural: August 2013 1To advertise email [email protected]

BingleyRuralThe independent guide to what’s on in your community

FREE!Please take

one

August 2013

Photo: Moonlight Walk for Cancer Support Bradford & Airedale © Mark Winterbourne of No More Dead Pixels

On yer bike!David Peel cycles to Paris to raise money for the Royal British Legion.

www.BinglEyRURAlMAg.co.Uk

Ten-quid PomsEric Firth recalls emigrating from Bradford to Australia in the 1970s.

covering wilsden, cullingworth, Harden, cottingley, Sandy lane, crossflatts, Shipley and Bingley

...plus our regular features!community newsPast timesgardening

History from Astrid HansenFamily tree researchAll about animalsUniformed organisations

charity newsReaders’ letterswhat’s on guide...and much more!

2 Bingley Rural: August 2013 www.bingleyruraladvertising.co.uk

A woRd FRoM THE EdiToR

greetings from the editorial office! Welcome to another issue of the Bingley Rural magazine.

We’re back and raring to go after our summer break. I hope everyone has been enjoying the sunshine!

The summer has seen lots of top local events, including another successful (and what’s more of a rarity, sunny) Harden Gala – featuring yours truly in a very fetching tiger onesie as part of the 2nd Wilsden Brownies’ “Brownie Zoo” float, which won first prize in the procession. The Oxenhope Straw Race was another event which included some truly ridiculous fancy dress, and many of us also turned out to enjoy this year’s Wilsden Beer Festival.

Sadly, the 2013 Wilsden Gala was cancelled again for the second time in three years. To find out

more about the campaign to save next year’s gala, please turn to page 16.

That’s all from me – enjoy what’s left of the summer and we’ll be back in September!lisa Firth, EditorAugust [email protected]

cover image: Moonlight walk in aid of cancer Support Bradford and Airedale on Friday 5th July (© Mark winterbourne of no More dead Pixels). The event raised over £12,000 for the charity, £3000 more than last year – well done to all those who took part!

AdVERTiSE wiTH USbingleyruraladvertising.co.uk

Ads start from just £18 a month! See p31 for a full list of prices.

david Peel, a member of the Bingley branch of the Royal British Legion, will soon be setting

of from London and, along with some 300 others, will be cycling the 463km to Paris. On arrival they will be escorted along the Champs-Elysees by police motorcyclists to the Arc de Triomphe, where a wreath will be laid on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

David is raising money for those injured whilst serving their country

David is no stranger to outdoor events: he has completed many long treks as well as undertaking a cycle ride through

the Himalayas, starting in Simla in north-west India. He rode 230 miles in varying temperatures, from freezing mornings to sweltering afternoons, getting to heights of 3000 ft on some off-road tracks until he finally reached Haridwar on the

Ganges – all for Mencap.This time he is doing it to raise

money for those injured whilst serving their country, particularly in Iraq and Afghanistan. Many serving there are of a similar age to his son, currently with the Yorkshire Regiment.

Although he has been supported by his employers and two of their customers, David would be grateful for any additional sponsors.

David would love to hear from any possible sponsors by e-mail at [email protected] or on 07909 687673.

david gets on his bike for legion


CALL THE EXPERTS on 01274 728089

F.C. MILNES (UK) LTD HEARING AIDS

12 North Parade, Bradford (city centre) BD1 3HTalso at Cottingley Manor, Nuffield Wellbeing Centre, Cottingley New Road, Bingley BD16 1TZ

www.fcmilnes.co.uk

Call for a FREE consultation you havenothing to lose and everything to gain!

Over95 yearsof service

AT THETENNISMATCH...

AT THECINEMA...

And thanks to uniquetechnology that preserves thehuman voice, you can alsohear more words; for instance,enjoy conversations, evenin the noise of a crowdedrestaurant or at a concert hall.

WIDEX DREAMallows more sound in than any otherhearing aid so you can hear moredetails of the world around you;and in a way that’s as true-to-lifeas technology allows. Even in noisyenvironments such as parties, sportevents or at the cinema.

More sound, more words,more personal!

from the firm with more experience than anyone else......the UKs leading audiologists since 1918. And STILL a family business!


FAMily HiSToRy RESEARcH

not all our ancestors will have originated in West Yorkshire. In my own case, for instance,

my paternal line is made up mostly of East Riding residents, with an odd Irish couple thrown in, whilst my maternal side is predominantly from Hertfordshire.

So how do we Yorkshire folk research those of our ancestors who came from other parts of England and Wales, from the comfort of our own living rooms?

There are, of course, the usual subscription websites – Ancestry.co.uk, FindMyPast, Genes Reunited, The Genealogist, etc. – but that makes the task expensive.

A good place to start for pre-1900 information is our old friend, www.familysearch.org, which is good for baptisms and marriages and has recently added lots of information from the censuses.

Another useful website is www.genuki.org.uk, which will tell you where documents relating to a particular church can be accessed – and, if you are lucky, there may be some information online. Just select a county, followed by a place within that county, and see where it leads you. Sometimes at the very bottom of the information, there may be transcriptions of directories for the place concerned.

How do Yorkshire folk research ancestors from other parts of England and Wales from the comfort of our own homes?

If you have Lancashire connections try www.lan-opc.org.uk, which currently boasts over three million baptisms, over one million marriages and over two million burials from the county’s parish records. If you think an ancestor may have attracted the attention of the upholders of the law, www.lancastercastle.com has a convict database among its sources of information.

A hub of activity in the past was the city of Liverpool. Those of us with Irish ancestors may find that Liverpool was the first destination to escape the famine of the mid-19th century. It may also have been a stopping-off place on the long journey to North America. www.old-liverpool.co.uk is a fascinating website which contains information from newspapers, etc. which may be helpful to you.

I have previously mentioned www.lincstothepast.com as a valuable source of genealogical information about the residents of Lincolnshire. This website enables you to see the original church registers for many parishes.

For the county of Hertfordshire a good source of information is Hertfordshire Names Online. Visit http://bit.ly/Ua4SnF to view the site.

For Essex, http://seax.essexcc.gov.uk is a wonderful website for researchers. Unfortunately this is not a free site but subscriptions can be obtained for periods as short as one day.

These are just a few of the websites that I have found interesting in my research, and nowadays most county authorities have a website dedicated to assisting family historians. Some have started digitising their archives and making them available to the public.

Most counties and many cities have their own family history society with its own website. Membership is not expensive and can be worthwhile. Once enrolled, you can register your interest in a particular name or region with a chance of contacting others with similar interests. They usually also have a “Link” scheme in which a local member will conduct research on behalf of distant members. Regular magazines are also issued to members.

Although our ancestors may have been from distant parts of the UK, it is still possible, with a little bit of luck, to continue your research from the comfort of your own home.

Back to your rootsclive Harrison explores how we can find out more about our non-yorkshire ancestors.


The Will Service Ltd

To promote our legal services in your area, we will write

Your Will for only £40

A trained consultant can visit you at a convenient time at your home to offer

advice and take your instructions.

Call free on 0800 0075682 at any time

• The Will Service Ltd •

We also offer: Power of Attorney • Document store • Funeral Plans • Trusts

Every Thursday evening 7.30- 9.30pm at Crystal Space, Aire View, Silsden, BD20 0AN. £1 including refreshments. See website www.crystalspace.co.uk (events section), phone Ally on 07546 109072 or email [email protected] for more details. All welcome.

Workshops on alternative therapy/healing practices


UniFoRMEd oRgAniSATionS

B y P h i l l o w d e

At 9th Bradford North Scout Group (Sandy Lane) we are focusing our attentions on the

Beavers at present. Our Cub pack has had to close temporarily due to the work commitments of its leaders.

Beavers have been out and about as much as possible, making best use of the light and warm evenings.

• Church Parade at the beginning of June

looked at maps and compasses and we now know where Ilkley is!

• The Tuesday after, we continued this theme and explored the orienteering trail at Blackhills. To keep in contact with Bear at base, we had to learn to use walkie-talkies.

• The following week was a lovely evening in the woods, where we searched for birds’ nests and nesting-boxes, made pictures of people using natural materials and had a great sing-song round the campfire.

• The follow week we practised campfire building, including all the safety procedures to be followed, then cooked sausages and ate them round the fire with a beaker of pop.

• Two of our new Beavers were invested in the woods.

The 9th Bradford North Scout Group is based in Sandy Lane at the Methodist Church. Please contact Phil Lowde – 07973 339 007 – if you would like to volunteer to support our worthwhile youth movement.

leave it to Beavers

Bangers and pop at the Beaver campfire

The other morning I said to wife, “Where is it today then, sweetheart?” After a moment or

two she replied, “Wot day is it?”Like a flash I answered, “Wednesday luv, I’m

almost sure it’s Wednesday. Today’s the day I get all t’wheelie bins out, so it must be Wednesday!”

“Right then, that’s settled, Wednesday. Well I’m low on red potatoes so we’re off to Dewsbury. You don’t mind do you?”

“Well,” I reply, “it maybe seems a bit far, say 30-mile round trip, just for three pound of red spuds. Don’t you agree?”

“It’s the run out that I go for, not just the potatoes. Anyway, that’s where we’re off.”

I thought that was the end of the matter, but she’s looking at me funny like.

“Wot’s up, luv?” I enquire. She comes back with, “I hope you don’t think you’re going out with me

dressed like that do ya?”

“Well, er, sweetheart, my shirt’s clean on and my pants are quite smart. I think I look pretty good for some’dy my age.”

Her reply is short and to the point. “You can get changed right now or you and me are finished: you know wot I mean by finished, don’t you?”

I had a good idea just what she meant by that. So I got changed as instructed, but she did come back with, “That shirt – you can wear it whenever you’re out without me, is that okay?”

“I suppose so, but the only time I’m out without you is when I’m in t’garden or washing the car or walking our Ruth’s dog. I’ll never get any wear out of that shirt.”

“Then it can go back to the charity shop where it came from in t’first place!”

A little run outAnother incident in the life of John Butterfield of cottingley.


PAST TiMES

in the pages of the Wilsden Almanac reproduced in the April issue of the Bingley Rural, the editor

Ethelbert Binns suggests a reason for part of Wilsden Main Street being known locally as Dolly Hill. It ran roughly from the end of Royd Street to The Laurels and was much steeper in days gone by. It is almost a pity to offer an alternative to the image of old Dolly sitting under the tree with her knitting but it is just possible that the name came from one of the field names in that part, Marriall Doal. Doal (or dole) simply meant a portion or share. I have found no explanation for Marriall but it may be from the name of an early owner of that portion, or dole, of land. Still, Ethelbert was a poet and entitled to his more picturesque idea. Other street names derive more obviously from the fields on which they were built: Townfield, Thornfield,

Mayfield and West Royd. The latter was written as West Rood in a will of 1674 (from the Old English “rod”, a clearing).

There is a part of Wilsden that ought to be a setting for an episode of Dr Who, and that is the part of Dewhirst Street still sinisterly known as the Eternal Pit. Alas, that same 17th-century will refers to Tarnhill Pit, almost certainly the local pronunciation of Townhill, where the land rises up from Townfield.

John Midgley was the man who inherited these pieces of land, along with two acres of newly-enclosed land on Wilsden Lee. Here he built a house, barn and stable in 1684. The date-stone over the porch bears the initials IMEM for John Midgley and Elizabeth Midgley. The present stone is a 20th century replacement, the original having become weathered until barely readable.

John’s fine new house gave rise to another romantic but misleading street name. A much later owner added a signboard declaring it to be “The Old Manor House”. Old, yes – manor house, no. No Lord of the Manor ever lived in Wilsden and John Midgley was never more than a yeoman farmer – albeit a wealthy one for this area by the standards of the time, with one and a half acres at Townfield, two acres on Wilsden Lee and half an acre at Kincliffe on a part of the waste called the Bents. The house still bore its grand title when a small estate of houses was built on part of John Midgley’s two acres in the 1960s, giving us Manor House Road.

Fact or fiction?

THE PiAno STREET MySTERyA reader recently shared his memory of the coal man and other older village residents when he was a boy referring to Royd Street in Wilsden (where the Co-op is now located) as “Piano Street”. Do any other readers remember hearing this nickname, and can anyone enlighten us as to where it may have come from? Please write to the editor at 4 St Grove, Harden, Bingley, BD16 1BA, or email [email protected], if you have any information.

was wilsden’s dolly Hill really named after dolly, an old lady who would sit knitting under a tree? Astrid Hansen investigates.


Kath


BRAdFoRd cAMERA clUB

B y T o n y C a u n T

As the longest day has now passed, one might think “well, it’s all downhill now”. Not a bit

of it: there are many long days ahead and lots of good light to take photographs. We live here in God’s own county, the largest county in the land with many diverse landscapes and architecture, and one doesn’t have to travel far to be in glorious countryside. Within an hour one can comfortably be in the Ripon area if travelling by car, for instance, and there visit Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal. If you are a National Trust member it is free to visit. There are endless photographic opportunities at all times of the year, from the delicate new leaves and spring flowers to the heavier colours of summer, and then into the golden autumn colours followed by the snows of winter to add a different dimension to your pictures. There is the abbey itself with the surrounding gardens, and the pleasant walk along the stream to Studley Royal, where deer roam. To see the stags in rutting season is something else.

The Bradford Camera Club has not got any regular meetings during the summer but the members are to meet for a day out on Sunday 11th August, when they will visit Rudding Hall,

near Ripon in North Yorkshire. There will also be a visit to the butterfly house in Roundhay Park, Leeds (date to be decided). For further details and membership, call Debbie Alstead on 01274 824758 or Allan Ogilvie on 01274 884187, or visit our website: sites.google.com/site/bradfordcameraclub

The club will start its autumn/winter programme on Thursday 5th September, with mini-presentations from our members, and then on the 12th we will hold a tutorial evening. This would be ideal for new members to come along with cameras and any queries they may have about photography.

Photography through the seasons

wilSdEn wAll-BUilding gRoUPThe walling group continue from strength to strength and is currently working on walling at Haworth Road, opposite Windy Grove, on walls belonging to the riding school. New members are always welcome and full instruction will be given: contact Tony Caunt on 01535 273709. The group would also be interested in any donations of walling stone and in particular “toppers”: these are the rounded stones found on the top of the walls. Regretfully we have vandals in our area who delight in knocking down walls that have taken hours to build and these idiots knock toppers off in seconds that will take time and effort to rebuild. There have been three instances

of damage on walling opposite Old Allen Road in May. If anyone has information concerning who may be involved, we would very much like to hear from you.


All ABoUT AniMAlS

it’s 4am on a Sunday morning; four hours until I start my next shift as one of many rescue

volunteers. And I can’t breathe. Last night, as seems to be a regular occurrence lately, I couldn’t sleep. What kept me up all night? The worry. The cold fear of what I would arrive to work to find. How many heartbreaking and horrendous stories would I have to hear, heart hurting because there was nothing I could do?

Some cats will never leave our sanctuary and go on to pastures new. Depression, some may be surprised to learn, is one of the biggest killers in rescue centres across the country; even the world. Cats are creatures of habit. They adore what they come to know; and when all that is taken away from them they begin to struggle – just as we would – with the concept of why. They struggle to see beyond the life they have at that moment, where their human isn’t there to soothe them. They give up. They don’t eat. They refuse interaction and they sink. No matter what veterinary intervention takes place, if the animal doesn’t meet us halfway there is little that can be done for them.

On my last shift, a cardboard box was waiting for me. Inside was a donation of sorts: a donation of very sick, frightened kittens. Then began the

scramble of finding these kittens a place in our overburdened foster system. They’re too young, too fragile to mix with our adult residents.

We were lucky: we managed to slot them in. But because these kittens are sick, this foster home is now closed for all other young kittens until these four are better. Who knows where our next young, unwanted family will go when they inevitably arrive? I have seen cats come to us from abusive homes, or cats whose owners have died, and most tragic of all, those cats whose owners have merely grown bored and have left them in the hopes of finding a younger kitten who has more energy and play in them.

During kitten season, the ongoing cat overpopulation problem becomes even more severe. Hundreds of thousands of kittens end up in shelters, which are already overcrowded. Many of the kittens find homes, at the expense of older cats that have been waiting for years.

No matter how much good volunteers do for these animals, sometimes it’s hard to get out of bed and go to your shelter. You cry for the ost, unhappy cats in your care. You hurt for them. You lay awake at night, distraught that there is nothing to be done beyond what you’re doing. And inevitably, you feel useless in the face of this bigger evil; this throwaway society that sees rescue centres like ours become a necessity. It’s hard being a rescue volunteer.

conTAcT USPlease like us on Facebook: facebook.com/AllertonCatRescueEmail: [email protected]: 01274 481984If you would like to come see the cats we are open 12 till 2pm on Thursday, Saturday and Sunday at 258 Allerton Road, Allerton, BD15 7QX.

confessions of a rescue workerAn anonymous account from one of Allerton cat Rescue’s volunteers.


THE RoTARy clUB oF BRAdFoRd wEST

B y T o n y C a u n T

we have entered a new Rotary year and Dr Anne Raine has now been

installed as our new president.Dr Raine practised as a GP in the

Denholme area before moving on to work in the Oncology Department at Bradford Royal Infirmary. She retired in 2010, joining Rotary in 2011, and has progressed up the “tree” to become president for the year 2013/14.

She is inetrested in helping people and works as a fundraiser for Sue Ryder’s Manorlands Hospice, as well as the Ear Trust. Her husband, Professor Chris Raine, heads this pioneering group and many more charitable causes.

As an example, Dr Raine and some of the Rotarians will be helping with marshalling and First Aid for the sponsored Moonlight Walk on behalf of Cancer Support Bradford & Airedale on Friday 5th July (see front cover). The walkers will set off from the Nuffield Health & Fitness Club in Cottingley at 7.30pm.

The Rotary Club recently had a very interesting talk from Jeff McQuillan of the Great Northern Railway Trail, coordinated by sustrans (www.sustrans.org.uk). This discussed the work completed so far on the Cullingworth to Queensbury Trail and the work yet to be accomplished to open the whole route. The campaign started in 2001, with some energetic enthusiasts who had the vision to create a long-distance walk over the abandoned railway line. The last train ran on this late Victorian engineering achievement in 1963, when the Beeching axe fell. There are now sections open to the public, in particular the

Hewenden and Thornton viaducts where walkers, cyclists and equestrians can walk or ride. The organisers welcome any support from local people, and it with this in mind that the Rotary Club of Bradford

West is to consider ways in which members can help maintain and warden the route.

The club has had a very varied programme at their Thursday lunchtime meetings, held at Sandal Farm Restaurant. On 4th July, Allyson Seth talked about Yorkshire Water, then on the 11th there was a business meeting followed by a lecture from Manami Kawamoto, who talked about Rotary Future Vision in his position as a Rotary Scholar. On the 25th, Chris Sutcliffe will talk about Ogden Reservoir and then on the 1st of August Paul Wray will visit the club and talk about British Gas Energy Conservation.

A further engagement was held on the 12th July, when members attended Southfield School for disabled children and took some 40 students to Ponderosa Animal Farm. On the 20th, president Anne Raine will hold a coffee morning at her home in Harden.

For August speakers at the Thursday meetings please look on the web site.

For more information about this friendly club, call John Ellis on 07970 253371 or visit www.bradfordwestrotary.org

Rotarians herald new era as president takes office

Hewenden Viaduct


ableliving


EVEnT nEwS

when Wilsden Gala had to be cancelled twice in three years due to a lack of volunteers,

a handful of residents knew it was time to take action. Now the community are being asked to get behind a campaign that will put their village gala back on track.

“It’s not that people aren’t willing to get involved,” says Lisa Firth, who launched the campaign to save the gala. “I think many villagers would willingly give up their time, but in a village the size of Wilsden, with several thousand residents, it’s hard to get the word out to everyone that gala volunteers are needed – not just on the day of the event but in the critical planning and organisation stages too. That’s why the new campaign is making use of all available communication channels, including a Facebook group, website, email campaign, posters and flyers – I know by reaching out we can put together a dedicated committee who will be able to restore our gala to all its former glory!

“It can seem like a big job, and I think a lot of people find the word ‘committee’ quite daunting because it suggests boring meetings and a large time investment. But in reality, organising the gala doesn’t have to be difficult or time-consuming: we just need plenty of volunteers to divvy up the work involved. So far we have around 12 volunteers but it would be great if we could recuit even more!

“Other villages in the area organise their galas through a dedicated committee made up of residents, and I think that if Wilsden doesn’t follow suit, we will end up consigning this much-loved event to the history books.”

The gala has been a popular event in Wilsden for over a hundred years. A “Komik Karnival” held in 1901 boasted attractions including “Volodovski and his Performing Antediluvian Bear” and refreshments such as “sugary lions and windy pop”. In more recent years, attractions have included a band-led procession with fancy dress themes such as Toytown and the Wild West, as well as stalls,

games, rides, refreshments and other attractions.Current volunteers held their first meeting on

22nd July, and are optimistic they can bring back next year’s gala bigger and better than ever before.

Wilsden mum Sam Jannetta said: “The gala would be a real loss for our children and our children’s children. I look back fondly on all the great times I had as a child, dressing up for the parade or showing off my decorated pram or bike. I was really upset on both occasions the gala was cancelled.”

“Those of us who grew up in the village remember the gala as the highlight of the summer – I couldn’t sleep on ‘gala eve’, it was like Christmas for us kids really,” says Lisa. “Let’s hope we can all pull together and create something equally memorable for children in the village today.”

conTAcT dETAilSSave Wilsden Gala blog: http://wilsdengala.wordpress.comFacebook page: facebook.com/WilsdenVillageGalaIf you would like to join the gala committee or enquire about booking a stall at the 2014 event – or if you are a local business who can offer raffle prizes or programme sponsorship – email Lisa on [email protected], or phone Erica on 07834 575043.

Villagers’ plea to save struggling gala

In 1991, Toytown was chosen as the gala’s theme


cHARiTy nEwS

To celebrate the charity’s silver jubilee year, Cancer Support Bradford & Airedale is to hold

an It’s a Knockout event at Bradford and Bingley Sports Club on Wagon Lane, Bingley, on Sunday 8th September at 12noon The event is open to all local organisations who wish to take part.

This is a firm favourite with businesses and community groups, who will go head to head against the forces of foam on an inflatable battlefield. Based on the famous television series, it’s an event for groups of ten people and is a great team-building event, putting the “fun” into fundraising for a great local charity.

Teams need to register their places to take part. Individuals can register too and we’ll put them into teams. The cost to enter is £50 per team and the target sponsorship per person is £100.

Details can be found at www.bradfordcancersupport.org.uk or speak to the fundraising team for more information on 01274 202226. The event is run by Graham Fisher’s, so for more details on the actual event visit www.itsaknockout.co.uk

Hayley Collis, fundraiser at Cancer Support Bradford & Airedale, says: “Bradford and Bingley Rugby Club have supported our charity for the past three years. This is a new and exciting fundraising event to be hosted by the sports club and we are looking for members of the local community to participate. From rugby players to football players, factory workers to CEOs, all are welcome to join in this wet and wild fun.”

Cancer Support Bradford & Airedale has supported people affected by cancer for the past 25 years. Participating in this event will help make sure they are around for the next 25, to support everyone who needs them.

A knockout charity event

Two Beckfoot school pupils from Bingley took to open water on the 16th June when they took

part in the Great North Swim in Lake Windermere. They achieved great positions against the 4500

swimmers who particpated in the mile-long race and raised £557 for MacMillan Cancer Support.

For Josh and Sophie Holdsworth, this was their first open water swimming competition. Josh, aged 17, achieved an overall fifth place (against 4500 swimmers!), finishing in just 21 minutes and 39 seconds. His younger sister Sophie, 15, completed the mile close behind him in 23 minutes and 56 seconds, the eighth fastest female swinmer.

They were delighted with the result. As north of England-level swimmers they currently train 12 hours per week, which equates to around 26 miles. They represent the City of Bradford club in pool-based competitions throughout the north of England, but open water racing is very different and a mile is more than they would usually race. A great result for their first open-water swim.

Beckfoot swimmers’ open-water success


gARdEning

The rambling gardenerB y J o h n B a r T l e

when and why has gardening become more popular? I suppose, hundreds of years ago,

if you were rich you could employ someone to plan and implement your grand design and oversee your stately home.

But more recently, gardening arose out of necessity. Two world wars meant that imported foods could not be purchased or were only available at a premium, so “Dig for Victory” was the order of the day. Gardens, lawns, tennis courts, public parks and so on were dug up and planted with food crops. The image of Dad’s Army’s Corporal Jones rationing meat springs to mind. The auctioning of three oranges for charity probably wasn’t that far-fetched.

One man involved in the dig for victory campaign was Percy Thrower. His name was to crop up later, when, as part of his distinguished career, he became the gardener for Blue Peter and also the frontman for Gardeners’ World. I remember well his gentle approach, his glassless greenhouse – the BBC cameras couldn’t film through glass – and his love of fuchsias. His home “The Magnolias” hosted many episodes of Gardeners’ World.

Gardeners’ World, still going after all these years, has had many presenters. There was Peter Seabrooke, who members of Wilsden Gardening Association went to see at Leeds Town Hall, and Geofffrey Smith, who ran the Royal Horticultural Society Trial Grounds at Harlow Carr for many years.

Geofffrey was a friend of my father’s and took great delight in showing his new alpine house at Harlow Carr to me and my dad.

“Harry,” he said, “Bring John and come have a look at this.” He was so pleased and pointed out the benches inside the alpine house, covered in deep gravel to simulate the mountain scree slopes, and the side windows to allow year-round ventilation. Others who spring to mind are the late Geoff Hamilton. He was a great enthusiast, one of my favourite presenters. Alan Titchmarsh, a local lad from Ilkley, also had a spell from his home in Hampshire, known as Barleywood, before moving on to other things. The present-day team are Monty Don and Carol Klein from Long Meadow.

Throughout this long period, people’s interest in gardening has been stimulated by such programmes. The steady rise in the number of garden centres is evidence of this. In the 1970s when Wilsden Gardening Association began, the garden centre that was on the site of the present Stephen H Smith’s was the only one for miles. The high spot of the place was its New Year’s Day auction, when vegetables and other goods were available at knockdown prices! Unfortunately the winter snows did the knocking down and the glasshouses were flattened.

Other television programmes concentrating on making miraculous changes in gardens in the space of a few days have led to the proliferation of decking, flagstones, gravel and ponds.

it’s a gardener’s world.


The televising of the Chelsea Flower Show and other great gardens has also increased interest in gardening.

Many people nowadays aspire to having an allotment. Several of the gardening programmes above have featured allotments and they have become very popular. Waiting lists for some, particularly in the large cities, run into hundreds.

Waiting lists in Bradford are enormous, the interest is so great. People tend to see them as easy to maintain and a source of cheap food. Both of these ideas are quite wrong – probably thanks to the very programmes seen on TV. The going rate for an allotment is about 15p per square metre per year, so a 30m x 10m plot would be about £45 per annum. Add on the price of fertiliser, seeds, etc. and the cost soon rises. Then there is the cost of canes, netting, raised beds and so on, which can push the cost up. You can evem add to that, particularly if you include greenhouses and poly tunnels.

Allotments need regular attention, a lot to begin with, but once sorted out the time and effort spent can lessen. It is, however, a great hobby, and for anyone with the time to spend, can be most rewarding – not to mention good exercise and therapy. I am sure it is better for you than joining a gym and spending hours pedalling nowhere!

As for the people who enjoy gardening, what sort of people are they? Looking at the list of Gardeners’ World presenters, they have been relaxed, at ease with life, patient, friendly, appreciative of the natural

world and knowledgeable. My own experience on Wilsden allotments is just the same. As one who has had an interest in gardening all my life and been an allotment holder for over half of it, I know these qualities to be fairly typical of my colleagues.

The interest in growing has also been inspired by the plethora of cooking programmes on TV. Most chefs use fresh ingredients and if you have them to hand, so much the better. They do taste better than their supermarket equivalents, so to be able to grow it, cook it and eat it seems a great combination to me.

Wilsden Gardening Association can help you with one of the above, the other two you will have to sort yourself! Happy gardening!

if you would like to join a group of enthusiastic gardeners, you could do worse than joining wilsden gardening Association by contacting catherine Bartle on 01535 273102 (you do not need to be a resident of wilsden to become a member). For wilsden residents who fancy having an allotment it’s the same telephone number, just ask for her “old man”! one visit to our garden hut for a purchase of fertiliser, etc. should recoup your £5 annual membership when compared with many retail outlets.


SPoRT

wilsden cricket club Juniors in cup win glory

B y M a r k h u M P h r e y s

wilsden under-17s swept to victory in their first UAJCA William Spencer Cup Final

against Oxenhope. In a finals day at Haworth Cricket Club, Wilsden were represented in both matches, with the under-13s missing out to close rivals Cullingworth. But the under-17s restored Wilsden’s spirits, claiming their trophy in a very entertaining match.

Batting first, Wilsden had a fantastic start with openers, man of the match Saim Butt (49 runs) and captain Ben Whitfield, retiring not out with 50. After this pair departed, Oxenhope got back into the match and began to take wickets. A quickfire 22 by Charlie Shimmin, with partners running out, took Wilsden’s total to 149. Wilsden bowled and fielded tightly and were always in control, regularly taking

key wickets. Oxenhope were dismissed for 112, with the pick of the bowlers being Charlie Shimmin with a great return of 4 for 24.

This is a fantastic result and with two league fixtures left we hope to go on to complete the double!

U13S BATTlE BRAVEly AgAinST locAl RiVAlSAppearing in their third UAJCA John Hindle Cup Final of the past four years, Wilsden under-13s finished runners-up against a strong Cullingworth team. Going in as underdogs, the team battled hard throughout, but came out second best on the day. Cullingworth scored a big total of 164, with Wilsden missing a number of key chances to take wickets. With our openers going cheaply, the run chase was always going to be difficult and ultimately Wilsden fell well short of the target.

Our boys did the club proud, and all credit goes to Cullingworth who put in a great team performance to retain the cup.

For the latest news and information about Wilsden Cricket Club, visit our website: www.pitchero.com/clubs/wilsdencricketclub, or follow us on Twitter: @wilsdencc.Cup winners: Wilsden Cricket Club under-17s

The under-13 team


B y M a r g a r e T k r u P a

There was a certain amount of panic creeping in as we wondered what the Russians were up

to. Would they stop the train and revoke our free passage? Would these clampdowns overtake us? As we neared Moscow there were cookhouses at the stations to feed the troops. The Poles were also entitled to get food here. We were well-fed and well-treated by the Russian army who, unlike the police, were not influenced by local politicians.

Just before the train pulled in at one of these stations, it was slowing down passing over a level crossing and I saw Murzyn, the chief engineer from the prison camp. He was in military uniform and was standing at the crossing with his regiment waiting to cross the track. I shouted to him and we conversed for a short while, he walking alongside the track until he could go no further. We wished each other luck and waved goodbye. I was pleased to see him not only alive, but reinstated to his former rank.

When the train got near Moscow our wagon was put into a railway siding and for a few days we were fed and looked after by the Russian army. We were warned not to leave the station. The Russians were panic-stricken about German spies. Consequently anybody wandering about, particularly foreigners, was liable to be shot. At the time the Germans were very near Moscow and that was what was causing the hysteria. We saw many Russian refugees being shunted from one place to another. Confusion was everywhere. Eventually we were transferred to another goods train, which then bypassed Moscow, and we continued our journey southward. The delay in Moscow had been more than a little worrying and I breathed a sigh of relief when we were once more on our way.

As a military unit, wherever we stopped we were entitled to be fed by the local authorities. Obviously with the shortages that the Russians suffered everywhere, food was very limited and we had to supplement our rations by selling pieces of our western clothing that was very much in demand by the Russians.

On one occasion we stopped in a large town and were put into a siding. Being hungry, we started searching through the open wagons stationed there, looking for food. A few stupid men broke seals on one of the closed wagons and found inside a cargo of perfume. Unfortunately for them they had been observed and reported to the local police. The police arrived and ordered us all out of the wagon. We were all searched and three men were found to be in possession of the perfumes. They were charged with stealing then led away. I never saw them again. This taught us a lesson, not to risk scavenging

on other trains again – or at least be extremely careful. For my part, my freedom was of far greater importance to me than

a few extra scraps of food.At times we would go long distances without

stopping at any stations and then the train would suddenly stop in the middle of no-man’s land. Here water would be taken on board by pump from a local stream. As it was now getting warmer we would persuade the engine driver to delay for a time while we stripped off and bathed in the stream. The engine

drivers were co-operative, friendly souls and were happy to have company on their long journey for once.

The further south we went, the warmer the weather became. Most of us only wore trousers, the rest of our

clothes and shoes having been sold along the way. By climbing on top of the cattle truck and jumping from wagon to wagon we could travel the length of the train. Indeed, we very rarely slept in the truck, preferring to find an open wagon carrying timber. Occasionally the engine driver would stop and bring us buckets of boiling water to drink or make the imitation apple and pear core Russian tea.

As with all gatherings of people, there were a few bad eggs. Two of our number, claiming to be Polish officers, would always volunteer to go to the delegates for food. The first time they came back after quite a long absence with nothing, saying the delegate was closed, we accepted it. The second time it happened we noticed how content and well-fed they seemed. The third time they were followed. It was all too apparent. They had been selling the food on the black market in the local town and pocketing the proceeds. No wonder they were the only ones still with a full set of clothing.

Thanks again to Margaret. Marian’s story will continue next month.

Marian krupa: through no-man’s land

PAST TiMES

Marian Jan krupa (1922-2009) came to live in cottingley with his second wife, who had lived in the village most of her life, and their two-year-old son. He was born in krakow, Poland, and his experiences after leaving there in 1939 until his arrival in England in 1943 were traumatic. we continue his story.


yoUR SToRiES

Three in a million

As Clive Harrison tells us in his excellent ancestry-tracing series of articles, lots of

Britons have left for Australia over the years. This is my family’s story. It cost ten quid and eight years. We drew.

In 1971 Britain was in a bad way – the national press told us so. You know, the usual stories they enjoy depressing us with. “Nurses leaving the NHS in droves,” “Squaddies leaving the forces in droves,” “Police leaving in droves,” “Britons leaving the country in droves,” droving me crazy and showing why the word “press” is part of “depressing”.

I’d finished 15 years’ army service about a year earlier: good life and guaranteed wage, unlike the crazed building trade I’d been in; travelled the world, satisfied itchy feet, thrills and spills galore, loads of mates, good tan, fit as the proverbial. I just couldn’t settle in to what seemed a dull, friendless, unhealthy civvy street that everyone seemed to be leaving in droves, whilst those remaining were saying, “Cheer up, things could be a lot worse!”. Well, we cheered up, and sure enough things got a lot worse – the press told us so.

So my wife Maura, our daughter Sandra and I, who’d all lived happily in married quarters in Germany and Cyprus, decided to emigrate, not wanting to be the last to leave and switch the lights off in a country everyone seemed to be deserting (in droves). We had just about the ten-quid fare between us. We chose Australia and so became three of the famous, or in Australia, infamous, “Ten-quid Poms”. We learned that we would be joining a million Britons who had taken advantage, in droves, of the assisted passage scheme started in 1947. This was a joint venture between the British and Australian governments. Fancy, our own government paying us to get out, and in droves too. Truth is they wanted us replacing cheap labour from the old empire. Thanks.

It wasn’t just Australia: for years newspapers and magazines had carried large, colourful ads aimed at enticing us to New Zealand, South Africa

and the Rhodesias. All these plus Canada also wanted ex-British servicemen. I thought about that one too and decided against it, but only just.

So, in late April 1971, it was cheerio England and hello Oz, where, we soon learned, they called England Pommyland (among other things). We left for Perth, the sprawling, modern capital city of Western Australia, situated between the Swan River and the Indian Ocean. A state covering a third of the country but a population of just one million at that time (now over two million), named after Scotland’s Perth and modelled, by an American, on Los Angeles, we landing with not so much as a pair of sunglasses between us.

We could have gone by boat but we didn’t want Sandra off school all that time so took the plane, not that she’d have complained. It would have been a lovely cruise too, stopping in Durban, Natal, where I’d had a week’s leave whilst serving in Swaziland 600 miles north-west of Durban in 1963/4. Governments eh? They don’t half chuck other people’s brass around. Taxpayers should have been screaming, “Luxury cruises? Holidays in Durban, Natal? ON US?” Boy, could we ex-squaddies tell a few tales. If only we could find an embassy to take us in.

On our first full day there I bought the local

Eric Firth remembers leaving Bradford for Australia in the 1970s.

Eric with his baby daughter Sandra, eight years before the family left for Australia


Daily News, to see the job situation. But something else caught my eye first. It was a front-page headline story about a Yugoslavian migrant sitting on the tarmac at Perth airport and refusing to budge. Seems he’d been in the country a few weeks, didn’t like it, and was demanding they flew him back to the glories of his communist homeland, having me thinking, “What the hell have I come too?”

The rule was, if you came via the £10 assisted scheme and wanted to leave before two years were up, you had to pay your fare, not just back home, but also the fare there, and he didn’t have it. The Government relented after a while because it was giving the state, and the entire country, a bad press.

My wife got a job in days. At her interview the Aussie interviewer, puzzled by her mixed Irish/Yorkshire accent, asked, “You’re not a Pom are you? We don’t like Poms here, they cause too much trouble.” “Er, no,” said my wife, “I’m Irish.” “Jeez,” said the Aussie, “They’re worse”.

She got the job though, and stayed for the eight years we were there. In fact it became two jobs. She worked in the uniform room of a hospital, taking in the nurses’ uniforms for cleaning, and she would leave her Avon book on the desk, knowing they would pick it up and more often than not order something for husbands, boyfriends, Mothers’/ Fathers’ Day, etc., picking their orders up along with their clean uniforms. After a few weeks she was making an extra week’s money a month from Avon, which proved to be a truly international company, the nurses being migrants from all over the world.

As Del Boy would have said, “Lovely jubbly”. She didn’t make millionaire though. Maybe this time next year.

We rented a flat in the suburb of Mosman Park, nine miles from Perth, four from Fremantle or “Freo” and a ten-minute walk from the Indian Ocean. It was a thousand miles from the next nearest big city, Adelaide – a bit awkward if you fancy a change of shops for the weekend.

Now we needed some small items of furniture, so I looked at the ads displayed in the local post office window. This made me realise that I was in a country as foreign as any I’d been in with the army. One of them said, “Lost, gallah (a pink and grey cockatoo), answers to Rover, has one leg and barks like a dog”. Better than barking like a pig I suppose. I then went in the post office and bought two pairs of sunglasses for a dollar. I also got a job as a painter from one of the ads.

I’d been apprentice-trained, and became part of a four-man all-English team with Roy from Leeds, Dave from Essex and Hughie from Manchester. Hughie started the same day as me and told us that a few weeks earlier he had returned from a holiday in Manchester. He said that after landing and leaving the airport in Manchester, he noticed people were giving him odd looks. He was wearing shorts and T-shirt – fine in Perth, Western Australia, in mid-summer when he’d left, but a bit strange in a Manchester winter when he’d landed.

One day Roy and myself were painting a guttering and when I looked across at Roy his back was black, not from the sun but a heaving mass of flies. I commented on it and Roy said, grinning, “Think yours is any different?” And of course it wasn’t. I soon learned that flies are one of Australia’s biggest menaces and nothing to grin at: if you do they explore inside your mouth. You spend much of your time swatting the little demons, fighting them for your sarnies, knocking them off your cups of tea, and spend a lot of money on cans of fly spray that last for half an hour before you need another one. Even babies in prams go through the torture of learning to swat early. We’d annoy the Aussies, saying the reason they produced such good tennis players was because of all the practice they get swatting.

We called it the Aussie Salute and we called Australia, Swatstralia.

MAcHo MEn!Well done to the Bingley Rural’s Mark Anslow and team-mates for winning Best Group Costume at the Oxenhope Straw Race as the Village People!From left: Danny Jarmola, Nigel Emsley, Steve Rollins, Greg Rogers, Mark Anslow and Michael Wignall


lETTERS

dance hall memoriesdear Ms Firth,When I was looking through some old photographs recently I cam across this photograph of my late father, Ernest Mitchell. My father and his dance band, “Ernest Mitchell and his Sylvian Players”, used to play for dances in Wilsden Mechanics’ Institute many years ago. I wondered if this photograph would bring back happy memories for the stolen generation of Wilsdeners.Sincerely,Janet o’Hara

Readers’

Letters

wilsden Post office in “Use it or lose it” warningdear lisa,Kevin and June Akeroyd at Wilsden Post Office have commented that unless people come back to using the post office and the goods and services offered therein, they will be forced to close the business.

Since taking over the Wilsden Post Office they have seen takings drop and it is noticeable that some of their old customers have deserted their shop. It is therefore essential that unless people want to see the post office close in Wilsden (as we hear that Harden Post Office is at risk of closing), then Wilsden needs to be used sooner rather than later.Regards,Tony caunt

welcome to the world!The papers may be full of the royal baby, but as far as I’m concerned the most important baby born this year is my niece, Niamh Isabelle Brooke Ritchings! Niamh arrived on 7th June 2013 weighing 7lbs 13oz. Congratulations to proud parents Erica and Lewis. Ed.

Niamh: editor in training!

Send your letters to lisa Firth, 4 St ives grove, Harden Bd16 1BA Emails can be sent to [email protected]


Computer/Laptop RepairsSecurity & Virus Removal

Computer/Laptop UpgradesSales, Advice & Consultation

Data Backup & RecoveryInternet/Network/Cloud

iPhone Repairs

M: 07980 185332 E: [email protected] A: Cullingworth, BradfordW: www.as-computers.co.uk


AUgUSTSaturday 3rd August From 7.30pmThe Quireboys plus guests at Bingley Arts centre. Advance tickets £20 from 01274 567983 or ticketsource.com/bingleyartscentre

Sunday 4th August until Sunday 27th october 1-4pmSt ives young disabled Unit car Boot. Cost: £10 per car. Come and sell your unwanted items at our car boot sale. Sundays: July 21st; August 4th and 18th; September 1st, 15th and 29th; October 13th and 27th. St Ives YDU, St Ives Estate, Harden Road. Phone 01274 569118 to book.

Sunday 11th August 2-4pmBandstand concert featuring Herr Jens oompah Band. Cliffe Castle Park, Spring Gardens Lane, Keighley.

wednesday 14th AugustFamily Fun day. Anyone interested in helping out or bringing an activity or stall, call 01274 588831. Windhill Community Centre, Church Street, Shipley.

Sunday 18th August 2-4pmBandstand concert featuring Hall Royd Band. Myrtle Park, Bingley.

Saturday 31st August 7-11.30pmMurder Mystery Evening at Cottingley Cornerstone Centre. This promises to be a fun-filled and spectacular event with the red carpet rolled out for the film stars, all of whom will be competing for the coveted DAFTA award. Egos will run high and nerves will be stretched to breaking point. The evening also includes a sumptuous two-course buffet and a cabaret, and there will be a prize for the top super-sleuth of the evening. Once the culprit has been arrested there will be ample time to dance the night away. Black tie optional. Tickets are now on sale at £17 per

person or £136 for a table of eight, plus receive a FREE bottle of wine per table. Tel 01274 512800 to book.

SEPTEMBERSaturday 7th September From 7.30pm“Are you Experienced?” The Jimi Hendrix Experience at Bingley Arts centre. Starring John Campbell, this is widely accepted as the top Hendrix tribute. With showmanship that harks back to Hendrix’s late 60s performances, even the most ardent fan would be impressed. Tickets: standing £14.95, limited seating £16.95. Call 01274 567983 or visit ticketsource.com/bingleyartscentre

Saturday 14th September 10am-4pmlavendar Fields craft and gift Fair, Bingley Arts centre. Our craft fairs are filled with a wide and varied range of unique handmade items, 90% of which will be hand-crafted. Our stallholders offer an excellent range of products, all at affordable prices. If you are looking for something a bit different, then here is the place to look – you won’t find these items in any shops. Free entry. Call 01535 211486 or email [email protected] to find out more.

Sunday 22nd September From 2pm

EVEnTS gUidE

SUMMER AUcTion By THE BRiTiSH cAcTUS And SUccUlEnT SociETy – BRAdFoRd BRAncH

Our next meeting will be on 14th August, when we welcome Rob Stevenson from North Lincolnshire to tell us how he has developed his collection there. In our meeting on 11th September we will hear about a collection of varied succulents in

Southern California.


cAlling All cHildREn!over £300 in prizes to be won!

Need some extra pocket money? Want something to do in the summer holidays? Get creative now and enter the Wilsden Show on Sunday 22nd September. With 19 classes to enter there’s something for everyone, including painting, model making, photography, Lego and much more.Each year we try to have something new to make and this year it’s a mask. The miniature gardens laid out in a seed tray always attract a lot of attention from visitors too, as do the decorated buns.There are three age bands: 3 to 7, 8 to 10 and 11 to 15 (must be under 16 on show day).In each class prizes are:1st prize: £32nd prize: £23rd prize: £1Entries must be brought to Wilsden Village Hall on 22nd September between 9 and 11.15am. The show opens to visitors at 2pm.For further details contact the show secretary, Roger Golton, on 01274 568166.Wilsden Show is organised by Wilsden Gardening Association.Only one entry per class allowed – must be your own work.

classes Picture competition. Pictures in any medium should be on an A4 sheet. Name, address and age to be written on the back of the picture. 3 to 7 years old: Picture of flowers8 to 10 years old: Draw your dream garden 11 to 15 years old: Draw a celebrity Handwriting competition. Write the poem below on an unlined piece of paper, with name, address and age on the back. Decoration can be used but will not be judged.

My candle burns at both ends;It will not last the night;But ah, my foes, and oh, my friends—It gives a lovely light!By Edna St Vincent Millay (Roald Dahl’s favourite)

Animal made from vegetables and/or fruit Posy of flowers Photograph of your family pet, max size 7 x 5 insMiniature garden arranged in plastic seed tray 45 x 35 cmAn edible necklace Construction kit model (not made of Lego) – not to exceed 45 x 35 cm

A maskA photograph taken in 12 months prior to show, max size 7 x 5 insWacky designer specs Four decorated buns Party hat Model – made only from recycled household materials Painting – freehand Lego model (own design) – size not to exceed 45 x 35 cm Decorated paper plate Decorated eggDesign a birthday card

wilsden Show. Wilsden Gardening Association’s annual show at Wilsden Village Hall. Entry £1 for adults, 50p for children. Staging of exhibits costs 20p (free for children’s classes).

go for gold, olympians tell grassroots organisationsLondon 2012 medallists are encouraging Yorkshire community groups to apply for funding from Skipton Building Society as it launches a new community programme, Grassroots Giving, for its 160th anniversary.

The society is offering 160 individual community organisations across the UK donations of £500. www.skiptonbig160.co.uk will also showcase all shortlisted applicants, and Facebook and Twitter accounts will help spread the word. There will also be branch activity nationwide, to help promote the groups and the valuable work they do in local communities.

Andy Hodge, a Team GB medallist from Moseley Boat Club who was born and bred in Skipton, said: “Support like this is so important, as it means we can focus our efforts on putting in intensive training to get the results we all want. And there are many small groups and organisations around the country, which’ve been set up by people with passion, but they’re struggling to stay afloat. We will most certainly be encouraging them to apply.”

Local sports clubs, arts organisations, eco and educational projects, allotment clubs, groups supporting the elderly and local playgroups are among those who have registered interest in the community funding.

David Cutter, Skipton’s Group Chief Executive, said: “Grassroots Giving should help us to discover and champion some real gems in communities across the country, and we’re passionate about helping these organisations grow. We’ll be giving a helping hand to 160 community groups with our donations and we’re looking forward to seeing how far this money can go, but what we’re more excited about is supporting grassroots groups in a sustainable way”.

Application forms can be downloaded from skiptonbig160.co.uk or picked up from any of Skipton Building Society’s branches. Applicants are simply asked how the £500 would make a difference to them.

When the closing date of 31 July 2013 arrives, a shortlist of entries will be drawn up and placed into regional groups. Each shortlisted application will be posted on the Grassroots Giving website in August – then it’s over to the local communities across the UK to vote for who they’d like to receive the 160 pots of support.


Bingley division girlguiding newsRainbows, Brownies and Guides from Bingley Division, along with their leaders and parent helpers, put their skates on and took over Bradford Ice Arena on a Sunday evening in June. They all had a brilliant time and proved that ice skating is a fun and exciting activity for all ages and abilities.If you would like to know more about Girlguiding visit www.girlguiding.org.uk/interested or call 0800 1695901.__________________________________________________________________

British cactus and Succulent Society (Bradford Branch)The Bradford Branch of the above meets on the second Wednesday of each month in Shipley Library at 7.15pm to hear presentations about growing cacti, We hear from experts who have been to remote parts of the world to see cacti in habitat and share members’ experiences and problems. The meetings are open to anyone interested.The national society is seeking to bring the interest in cacti to new people, especially to youngsters, and so the Bradford Branch has established contacts with a number of schools and projects involving young people. We take cacti to them, explaining a little about the plants and then using cacti as a basis of work within the school curriculum. This could involve repotting plants, creating miniature gardens, drawing or simply handling the plants. For these contacts, succulents without spikes are used! The branch is happy to extend these contacts to other schools, groups of young people or indeed anyone interested in a one-off or longer project. Further information can be obtained from Brian Thornton, the branch publicity officer, on 01535 274755.___________________________________________________________________

charity raffle prize appealA charity masquerade ball will be held at the Midland Hotel in September. Although tickets are sold out, the organisers would like to appeal for raffle and auction prizes to help raise money for their charities, supporting cancer research and spinal muscular atrophy.Further details can be found at www.charitymaskedball.com or call Victoria on 07927 756511.If you would like to go on the waiting list for tickets please still get in touch. From our experiences last year there are always people who cannot make it.___________________________________________________________________

cottingley cornerstone centrePlay schemeOur popular play schemes are running again throughout the summer, from Tuesday 30th July to Friday 23rd August. They run 10-12noon every Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday and are suitable for Primary-aged children. There will be a variety of activities on offer, including arts and crafts, cheerleading, sports and music-making to name but a few. Each session costs £5 per child, with a reduction

for siblings. We can guarantee that they’ll have fun.Summer drama schoolThere will also be a taster summer drama school running alongside the play schemes. This runs Monday 12th to Friday 23rd August, when participants will put on a show to a paying audience. Students will learn all aspects of stagecraft including devising, the art of the audition, rehearsing, learning lines, making props/costumes/lighting and marketing the show. The school will be led by a professional actor with experience of the theatrical world. This is a pilot course and has received funding, so is free for participants. However, it will also serve as a taster for a fully-fledged drama group to run weekly from September, which will require payment and will lead to a performance each term. Sounds good! Places are limited for the summer drama school so first come first served, I’m afraid, and yes we’d love help from parents as well.Tel Geraldine 01274 512800 for more details.___________________________________________________________________

Harden women’s instituteOur WI currently has a membership of about 40 and we hold our meetings on the second Monday of every month (except August) at 7.30pm in the family room of St Saviour’s Church in the village centre. We are always very pleased to see new faces at our meetings and visitors are very welcome to come along to meet us all. For further details contact Mrs Vicky Furness on 01535 272673.Monday 9 September 2013 – Remembered items QuizPenelope Scott-Rowley will bring along several items from the 1850s to 1960s which will all have been found in everyday homes and shops. Perhaps the title of the quiz is a little misleading as I am certain there is no one in our WI who will remember anything from the 1850s!___________________________________________________________________

wilsden Trinity church (formerly wilsden Methodist & United reformed church)coffee eveningsWe will be continuing our series of charity summer coffee evenings in our church building as follows:

• Monday 12th August, 7.30-9pm, in aid of the Multiple Sclerosis Society.

• Monday 9th September, 7.30-9pm, in aid of Martin House Hospice.

Everyone is welcome! Thank you all for your support so far. An amount in excess of £200 was raised for the Parkinson’s Society at the June event and around £250 for Yorkshire Air Ambulance in May.SoupermumsA group for mothers with young babies will be starting at Wilsden Trinity Church at the beginning of September. The aim is to provide a light lunch for mothers and an opportunity for conversation and friendship in a baby-safe environment. For further information contact Sharon Fell on 07794 040826.

coMMUniTy noTicES


No VAT to pay!


EVEnT nEwS

bingley rural august 2013

Documents

wilsden gala

bingley branch

bingley rural magazine

years gala

years wilsden beer festival

david peel cycles

aid of cancer support

sunny harden gala