Horse-drawn carriage for Silsden Gala queen

Above: Silsden Gala queen Emily-Jane Murdoch and her mum are all smiles as they prepare for the gala-day procession on Sunday, July 27.

Above: gala queen Emily-Jane Murdoch waves regally from her special carriage. The gala queen usually travels in an open-top car but this time Silsden Town Council funded the hiring of a horse-drawn carriage as 2014 is the centenary of the outbreak of the First World War.

Above:  panic not. With tomato ketchup in the top pocket of his doctor's coat, the vicar, the Rev David Griffiths, tends to an injured cyclist as part of the St James' Church Tour de Faith message (pictured below).

Above: there was a slight hitch in Kirkgate when a wheel came off Elijah's chariot. Miraculously, an onlooker came to the rescue.

Above: Mrs Margaret Procter with great-grandchildren Libby (right) and Lilly. As Margaret Smith, Mrs Procter was Silsden's gala queen in 1952.

Above: the Eclipse jazz band led the procession.

Above: retiring gala queen Niamh Marie Fearnley.

Above: Silsden majorettes -- the All Stars.

Above: Silsden Disco Zumba dancers.

Above: a visiting gala queen from Oakworth.

Above: Silsden Royal British Legion with a recruiting theme.

Above: visiting gala queens charmed onlookers.

Above: new hair and beauty salon Duvals introduced themselves.

 Above: the Pink Lady Boys of Twisters High.

Above: Colne gala queen.

Above: Jamba Samba drummers.

Above: Lego on the march with Bricks 4 Kidz.

Above and below: vintage tractors made a colourful feature.

 Above: late arrivals for Le Grand Depart?

 Above: junior players from Silsden AFC.

Above: stirring regulars Accrington Pipe Band.

Above: and finally......the town's retained firemen.

Silsden's war stories to be told

in commemorative weekend

The village postman of 100 years ago will feature in two evening performances of The Path Across the Heather, a production of drama, poetry, readings and music taking place during a special weekend to commemorate the centenary of the outbreak of the First World War. Hosted at the Town Hall by Silsden Local History Group, the weekend from August 8th to 10th will feature an exhibition about Silsden's part in the war, a children's corner and musical performances. The picture above shows Ray Colling as the postman and Bron Farrell (left) and Sylvia Wass as women of the Home Front who throughout the war knitted socks, wrapped parcels and raised funds.

Above: these young women from Silsden belonged to the Masqueraders concert party, which serenaded wounded soldiers during the war. The Masqueraders are being revived by Silsden Community Productions for two evening performances (August 8th and 9th) at the Town Hall during the centenary weekend. Tickets (£5) for The Path Across the Heather and the accompanying Masqueraders entertainment are on sale at Twigg's newsagents. 

Above: this poignant photograph from 1913 shows Silsden scouts gathering firewood at their summer camp at Grange-over-Sands. Within a couple of years large numbers of scouts from the town's two troops were in training or already on the front line of war. Many did not return. The scouts in the this picture belonged to the 2nd Silsden (parish church) troop. Third on the left is Tom Stocks, who would die of wounds in France in April 1918. (Photograph by courtesy of Roger Bancroft.) The story of Silsden's scouts will be told in a major exhibition at the Town Hall from August 8th to 10th. Programmes for the whole weekend are available at the post office, library, churches and shops.

Relief as climate change makes Proms on the Farm a sparkling success 

Above: Silsden's 11th annual Proms on the Farm fund-raising treat was given a civic send-off by the Bradford district's deputy lord mayor, Councillor Roger L'Amie (left), and deputy lady mayoress, Mrs Liz Smith, who opened the event. They are pictured with Silsden's deputy town mayor, Councillor Keith Savage, who judged the best-dressed gazebo competition.

Above: the Proms on the Farm organisers, left to right, are Rosalie Holroyd, Stewart and Fiona Hanson, and Sylvia Atkinson. The event, held at Sycamore Farm, Brunthwaite, has raised an amazing £100,000 over the years for the Manorlands hospice and Silsden Methodist Church's community work. This year's showpiece, on Saturday, July 19, was blessed with a dry evening after a day of downpours and brought in around £11,000 for the two causes.

Above: Le Tour has left but the party goes on. This group of 43 family and friends of Paul Rae (fourth from left at back) won the best-dressed gazebo competition.

Above: much merriment for the Last of the Summer Wine lookalikes.

Above: hoe-down time for Tony and Bib Bailey (fourth and fifth from right) and friends.

Above: game for a laugh. Silsden gala committee went with a Cluedo theme.

Above: the renowned Skelmanthorpe Brass Band, conducted by Martin Hall, headlined. Formed in 1843, it is one of the oldest brass bands in the country.

Above: popular local singer Sarah Halstead (right) was the soloist for Last Night of the Proms favourites played by the Skelmanthorpe band. Sarah is pictured with Juliet Johnson, who also sang.

Above: family and friends organised a surprise 60th birthday gathering for Peter Kaye, of Silsden, who is pictured above (third from left) with his wife Joanna, daughter Alex, son-in-law Andrew, brother David and Chi Chi Wu.

Above: a party at the Proms celebrated Emma Wilding's 40th birthday. Emma is pictured standing seventh from the right.

Above: the Proms take place at Sycamore Farm, by permission of Mrs Jean Newns, who is pictured (second from left) with (left to right) granddaughter Nicola Wood, Beverley Sanderson and Dorothy Daniels.

Above: the Sultans of Swing got everyone in the mood with classic tunes to open the Proms. The 29-piece band was formed in January.

Above: Robert, 11, Daniel, 9, and Freya, 6,  enjoyed the Sultans of Swing with mum and dad Richard and Susan Sroka.

Above: well-suited. Left to right are Glen Waterhouse, Philip Sedgwick and Richard Spencer.

Above: from the Moonshine gazebo are, left to right, Laura Waterhouse, Janet Brent, Sue Boothman, Laura Boothman and Sally Morrow with Jayne Fort at front.

Above: raffle tickets were sold by (left to right) Sue Gatenby, Judith Isherwood and Alison Dinsdale.

Above: John Lohan (right) compered the event, assisted by Stewart Hanson (left). They are pictured with Dale Gatenby, who was responsible for the electrical installations.

Above: The Big Bang entertained with 60s rock music. Left to right are Steve Wilson, Kieran Nuttall, B. J. Walmsley and Stan Greenwood.

Above: musical sisters Emily and Beatrice Overend. Emily plays baritone sax for the Sultans of Swing. Both are members of the Bradford Youth Orchestra, with which they toured Germany recently.

Above: ......and a good time was had by all, as can also be seen from the following photos.