Take a seat: courtesy of Friends of Silsden's Green Places

Above: in another valuable addition to community pleasures, the Friends of Silsden's Green Places have replaced two old and dilapidated seats in Hainsworth Road, better known as Gasworks Lane. Paul, from Cobbydale Park, particularly welcomes the new seat as it's a convenient stopping place on his daily convalescing walks from home to the Brunthwaite canal bridge and back. Also taking a breather are Sarah Morton and sons Noah and Seth, who were engaged in a Silsden Rocks hunt. Sarah and her husband James own Hills Bakery. 

Silsden's young cross-country star shines for England

Above: Silsden runner Sam Smith capped an outstanding season by earning a place in the English Schools Cross Country team and taking part in the Home Countries Championships at Wollaton Park in Nottingham last month. Sam, who attends South Craven School and runs for Wharfedale Harriers, finished fifth out of the 32 elite junior runners representing England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. His performance helped England win the team event. Sam, who is only just 14, was selected for England after coming fourth in the English Schools Cross Country Championships at Temple Newsam in Leeds. 

Above: Sam is pictured with his dad, Michael, mum Louise and sister Mollie, who is also a Wharfedale Harrier. Louise, who used to run for Bingley Harriers, is Sam's coach and has overseen his meteoric rise -- from 158th in last year's English championships to fourth this time. With the cross-country season over, Sam is turning his attention to the track and chasing 1500 metres glory. Meanwhile, he will run for Yorkshire in the London Mini Marathon on April 22nd. Michael is a well-known local farmer, supported by the family at busy times like spring with 100 ewes to lamb.  

Trustees hold key to Town Hall's future as a community asset

Sign of the times: Silsden Town Hall, which opened in 1884, is officially a new-style community asset run by seven trustees on behalf of the town. They take over from Bradford council, which is offloading public facilities to cut costs as part of government-imposed austerity measures. 

The Magnificent Seven: these public-spirited volunteers came forward to manage the Town Hall. From left to right are Simon Holland (secretary), David Jessup (operations manager), Pat Colling, John Peet (treasurer), Ray Colling (chairperson), Graham Arrowsmith and Paul Kilgallon. The leasing arrangements are being finalised. As well as a major venue for a wide range of events, the Town Hall is home to nearly a dozen organisations, from winter bowls to zumba, who meet there regularly.

Purcells pay homage to famous forebears

Descendants from Ireland have been in Silsden to retrace the footsteps of the town's most celebrated doctor. Dr. John Purcell arrived here in 1880, from the village of Feakle in County Clare, to join a small surgery in St. John Street, and very soon established himself as a larger than life character who introduced team sports into the community. He served the town for over 40 years, visiting his patients on horseback and never losing his thick Irish brogue. The Purcell family still live at Feakle and, on the right of my picture, is 95 year old Denis (Dun) Purcell, great nephew of Dr. John, who has never before left his native village. Next to him is his own son, also Denis, who runs the family farm at Feakle, and his grandson Matthew, aged 15. On the far left is Dr Purcell's great grandson Clive Greenwood; third from left is Clive's sister Sarah Richards and between them is Jacci Higgitt (nee Purcell), granddaughter of Dr Mattie Purcell, who older Silsdeners still fondly remember.

Above: Family members pictured at Flesher's Cottage - where Dr. John's medical life began in Silsden - alongside Barry Thomas (right), president of Silsden AFC, who is researching the life and times of this renowned doctor. It was Barry's enquiries which led the way for the Purcell family visit.

Above: farmer Mr Matthew Purcell of Feakle (1819-1891), father of Dr John Purcell.  

Above: Dr John Purcell, who remained in Silsden until his death in 1927, married a local girl, produced one son and five daughters, and moved his home and surgery to what is now Carmel House, Wesley Place.

Above: Dr John's daughter Hannah (later Mrs. Greenwood) takes a ride on her father's thoroughbred horse, which was almost certainly brought over to Silsden from Feakle.

Dr John Purcell is pictured third from left in the middle row of this Silsden team of handball players in the late 1800s, after introducing the game of handball to Silsden and the surrounding villages. In 1883, Dr. John also launched a local football team, which used the handling code (more similar to today's sport of rugby).

Dr Purcell, wearing a bowler hat (second row from back), is pictured with Silsden FC after 1904 when the town adopted Association football rules and elected him as president. The team colours were blue and white, the same as those of the defunct rugby union club. The doctor also played cricket and bowls. This photograph is from the late Neil Cathey's collection.

When Dr. John died in 1927, he was succeeded as local GP by his nephew Matthew "Mattie" Purcell, who also hailed from County Clare, Ireland. He continued the family's sporting interests and is pictured here, soon after his arrival in the town and looking dapper in a bow-tie, with members of Silsden Rugby League Club founded in 1920.

Dr Mattie Purcell, like his uncle, was a Silsden GP for some 40 years, with a practice just off Skipton Road. He died in August 1969, having given up his practice two years earlier. His granddaughter Jacci Higgitt (daughter of Mattie's only son Michael) met her Irish relatives for the first time at the gathering organised by Barry Thomas. She attended Hothfield and South Craven schools.