12 | WHAT'S ON KEIGHLEY
Keighley Town Council’s round-up of what’s on in 2017 Church Green will be playing host to St George’s Day celebrations on April 23 where there will be fun, games and all things England as well as Bradford Council’s special outdoor market. Following the Annual Meeting of the Town Council, May will see the election of a new Town Mayor and this will be marked with a special civic occasion. As the school year comes to a close in July, we will reward Keighley’s outstanding young people. The School Awards will recognise the very best achievements of pupils and students from the town’s primary and secondary school at a prizegiving day in the Town Hall and the Mayor will present each winner with a new crest for their school’s shield. Summer will hot up with Yorkshire Day on August 1 where there will be activities on Church Green and in the centre of town, which will celebrate “God’s own county”. Wear your white rose with pride – and with any luck it will be set against the background of a deep blue sky. Heritage Day will return in September, as part of a national celebration of our architectural, cultural and natural inheritance. Organisers are planning to open some of Keighley’s most important buildings so that they can be used to display objects and artefacts of local interest. Guided tours, storytellers and speakers will add interest to the occasion. November is a time to reflect on the sacrifices made by our armed forces past and present, as we mark Armistice Day on November 11 and Remembrance Sunday on November 12. The Town Council will be working with the Royal British Legion and community organisations to coordinate the parade, wreath laying, service and refreshments.
Save the date
The open public meetings were introduced by Keighley Town Council in 2015 as a pledge to restore openness and transparency following the publication of the negative audit report. The Council has since scheduled three additional meetings to the Annual Town Meeting, which have been well attended by members of the public. The latest meeting held on December 15 2016, saw a recommendation for the Town Council to lobby the district authority’s planning department over controversial issues regarding the Aire Valley incinerator plant and to hold another public meeting to address these concerns. The successful recommendation was approved by the Town Council at its meeting on January 26 2017. The next public meeting is the Annual Town meeting which is scheduled for April 27 this year at 7.00pm at the Keighley Civic Centre. Keighley parishioners are encouraged to attend and the council will continue to set up further public meetings for the next civic year 2017 to 2018. These meetings allow the public and elected members to speak candidly outside the current confines of council protocols.
Raising money for Bradford Disability Sports and Leisure
Recent events organised by Bradford Disability Sports and Leisure saw hundreds of pounds raised for the Keighley Town Mayor’s Charity: Bradford Disability Sports and Leisure (BDSL). Fundraising events included line-dancing which took place on September 23 and raised over £900 and a fun run which took place on October 20 which also raised hundreds of pounds. The Mayor’s curry night took place on January 10 at Azeems Restaurant in Keighley and this night raised £259. Guests enjoyed a three-course meal at the restaurant and Azeems donated a percentage of the proceeds to the Mayor’s Charity. Donations to the Mayor’s Charity can be made payable to ‘Keighley Town Mayor’s Charity’. The Annual Civic dinner is due to take place on March 15 and the full story and pictures will follow in the next issue. KTCConnect | SPRING 2017
Christmas will be celebrated with the Pensioners’ Christmas Lunch, which will once again take place over two days in December. Every Keighley resident aged 65 and over will be invited to attend a threecourse dinner at the Civic Centre, with gifts and musical entertainment. This will be followed by the town’s Big Carol Service, which is organised in partnership with Keighley Shared Church. Ringing in 2018, Keighley will host its very own New Year Honours in the form of Keighley Town Council’s Community Awards. The awards will recognise Keighley people who go the extra mile to help their local community, environment and economy.
Learn to draw at Long Lee Village Hall
When Russell Street Art Group closed eight years ago, many local aspiring artists decided to attend the Long Lee and Thwaites Brow Art Group based at Long Lee Village Hall. Since then, Keighley residents have been improving their basic drawing and painting skills and are now making greeting cards, knitting, crochet and other crafts. The sessions provide basic art materials and reference books to aid self-teaching with members always happy to support each other. These are friendly sessions that don’t follow a set programme of activities, allowing everyone to follow their own hobby or learn a new skill. The art group meets twice a week on Tuesdays and Fridays from 1.30 until 3.30pm at Long Lee Village Hall, just behind the doctors’ surgery. If you’d like to join this friendly group please feel free to pop in at the above times or call Barbara Klempka on 01535 669914 for an informal chat.