Christmas in the Community: party time at the youth centre and an afternoon tea treat for senior citizens
Above: Town Mayor Councillor Peter Robinson is pictured at the Silsden Youth and Community Centre Christmas party on Saturday, December 10. The event also marked the opening of the centre, in Elliott Street, as a Community Interest venture under which volunteers have taken over from Bradford council the management of the premises.
Above: before cutting a ribbon to signal the opening, the Mayor commended the work of the volunteers who have formed the Silsden Youth Community Interest Company. There are four directors, Jill Cook (second from left), Melissa Whitley (left), Janet Russell and Yvonne Whiteoak. They hope the building will have community-wide use as well as being home to the youth centre and the Daisy Chain children's centre.
Above: Santa was among the many attractions, which brought a large number of families to the party.
Above: Steven Kaup-Samuels, popularly known as Sammy (on the right), from Bradford council's youth service, runs two evening sessions a week for teenagers at the centre. On the left is youth centre member Josh Stephens.
Above: Michelle Middleton's face-painting skills were in demand.
Above: schools gardening expert Steve Thorpe gave children the chance to get their hands dirty and to hammer nails. Youngsters could also get close to nature with Lucy Thornton's Ace Workshops. Other entertainments included a bouncy castle and Bricks4Kids. There were refreshments, music, raffle and tombola.
Above: Yvonne Whiteoak (left) and Melissa Whitley are two of the four directors of the new Community Interest Company.
Above: Sue Purcell and son Callum, 11, sold candy floss to help older son Finlay, 14, of Beckfoot School, raise money to take part in a charity expedition to Borneo in 2018.
Above: Amelia Terry was among the youngsters to learn about life-saving techniques, courtesy of Gavin Milligan, of Keighley-based Gem Compliance Training. Amelia's dad, John Terry, will be running a Christmas sports camp for youngsters at the Youth and Community Centre from December 19th-23rd with indoor and outdoor activities (8.30am-4pm, £15 a day). 
Above: Councillor Robinson presents a CD player to Community Interest Company director Jill Cook. The player was a personal gift from the Mayor to the centre.
Town Hall hosts a return to tradition for the over-75s
A traditional Christmas tea and entertainment were provided on December 10th by the Friends of Silsden Town Hall for 50 over-75s in a revival of a community tradition which was lost some 30 years ago.
With funding by the Harry Beverley Tillotson Trust, the guests sat down to a splendid buffet and seasonal songs from the Silsden Singers.
Silsden Mayor Councillor Peter Robinson brought festive greetings on behalf of the town. The Mayor, accompanied by his wife, Alison, is pictured in conversation with Friends' chairman Ray Colling. Mrs Robinson drew the winning tickets in the free raffle, the first prize in which was a handsome Christmas hamper.
The Town Hall was delightfully decorated in festive style by an army of volunteers. One guest described the atmosphere as "better than the Grand Hotel".
Above: the tables were abundantly provisioned.
Above: where would Tykes be without their teapots?
Above: the ever-popular Silsden Singers, conducted by Janet Russell (left), sang carols in a mixture of styles. Janet is one of the four directors of the new Community Interest Group now running the Silsden Youth and Community Centre.
Above: volunteers served up a special day for the senior citizens. In January the Friends will take a leading role in launching a community-wide campaign to save the Town Hall as a vital local asset. The Mayor has already pledged his full support.
