Bingley Hub - Issue 19 by Overt Marketing Ltd

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Issue 19 | December 2013/January 2014 | Published monthly

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Counting down to Christmas Read our Christmas feature Starting on page 18

Features inside:

Distributed to Harden, Wilsden, Cullingworth, Cottingley, Eldwick, Gilstead, Crossflatts, Sandy Lane and Bingley Central

ET C

ISE

SCREWS • FIXINGS • TOOLS • WORKWEAR BUILDING MATERIALS • SEALANTS • ADHESIVES

Trade & DIY Warehouse Ash Terrace Bingley BD16 1HB Tel: 01274 510 510 Web: www.toolcentral.co.uk

Contributions: Philip Davies MP Alan Cattell Michael Wilde Alan Molineaux MA Pam Laking Jane Richards Nicola Ratcliffe David Petyt Bingley Little Theatre Peter Eccles Sara Atkinson, Yorkshire Cat Rescue

Contacts Editor - Kimberley Devine kim@overtmarketing.co.uk Sales – Alex Jowett alex@overtmarketing.co.uk Tel: 01274 299103 Sales & Marketing – Simon Harrup simon@overtmarketing.co.uk Design – Christopher Thorpe chris@overtmarketing.co.uk

Contents 8

Remember to quote the Bingley Hub if you use any of the local services advertised in the magazine

Say hello to us www.mycommunityhub.co.uk www.facebook.com/mycommunityhub twitter @communityhubmag

6 Marketing Ltd 143 Main Street, Wilsden, Bradford, BD15 0AQ Tel: 01535 275355

12 We hope that all information contained in My Community Hub will be useful and interesting. We encourage readers to come forward with their views on content in this issue. Although every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information contained in the publication, My Community Hub and Overt Marketing Ltd cannot accept responsibility for any errors it may contain. All issues and editions of The Hub is sole property of Overt Marketing Ltd. The Hub and Overt Marketing Ltd cannot be held responsible or legally liable for the loss of damage or any material, solicited or unsolicited. No reproduction of any part of this publication, in any form or by any means is permitted without prior written consent from Overt Marketing Ltd. The views expressed in this publication do not necessarily reflect those of the advertisers or the publishers. All magazine content has received the necessary approval/permission, to be included, by necessary parties.

A word from the Editor

Hello Readers

This is my new look welcome page. I decided that I have far too much to talk about so I dedicated a whole page to myself.

Tis the season to be jolly .... Far la la la la, la la la la Hello & welcome to our glitzy Christmas issue As I write this letter, it is exactly one month until Father Christmas comes and we celebrate the birth of baby Jesus, feast on Turkey, Ham, Nut Roast, pigs in blankets, boxes of chocolate, drink until we are merry and watch films and Eastenders, and of course the Queens Speech. I love this time of year. I love the run up to Christmas at the children’s school. My little boy Theo, who is 6 (Y2) will be donning his Shepherds costume this year, which he is very excited about. And he also has words to say ... so he is even more excited ! I love the switching on

of the lights in our lovely village of Harden, I love the Carol Concert at St. Saviour’s and the Christingle Service on Christmas Eve. I love picking Holly off my hedge and putting mistletoe up above the doorway. And I love the whole magic of seeing the children excited on Christmas Eve, putting the Reindeer food out and leaving a glass of milk and a mince pie for Santa and settling down to a glass of mulled wine, waiting for Christmas Day to arrive. It really is a magical time of year. I hope all my readers have a lovely Christmas and a Prosperous 2014.

Don’t forget to shop locally this festive season What I would really like to say in this letter, is to encourage the people of Bingley and the surrounding villages to try and buy some of your gifts from local retailers. We have some amazing shops in the Bingley area, that offer an independent, friendly and welcoming service. These businesses NEED you to spend YOUR money with them, so that they can too spend THEIR money with other local shops. So that our lovely Town Centre will thrive into next year and the year after and the year after that.

This C hris tmas I pro mise to

Shop Local Eat Local Enjoy Local Spend Local

the local And help support pport me businesses that su & my co m munity 4

| My Community HUB

STATISTICS of Shopping Locally For every £10 spent by each person that resides in Bingley - this will put an estimated £10 million back into our local economy each year ... So .... where are you spending your money this Christmas? I found the quote (below left) on the internet and wanted to share it with my readers. From all the team at The Bingley Hub (Simon, Kimberley, Chris and Alex, Vanilla and Bruno the dogs)

HAPPY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR ! Address: 143 Main Street, Wilsden BD15 0AQ Email: kim@overtmarketing.co.uk Tel: 01535 275355 www.facebook.com/mycommunityhub @communityhubmag Get in touch with us - we want to hear your opinions Until next month Kimberley

Community

A note from your local MP Philip Davies As we approach the end of 2013 we received the disappointing news that Sainsbury’s have decided to abort their plans for a store in Bingley on the site of the old Bradford and Bingley headquarters. Earlier in the year, after they had announced that the store had not been included in their new store programme for this year, I feared that Sainsbury’s would go the same way as Westfield in Bradford with year after year passing and nothing happening to a vitally important site for the regeneration of Bingley town centre. As someone who worked for a supermarket chain for the 12 years before being elected as the local MP, I could see that Sainsbury’s were struggling to make the scheme financially viable. I therefore met with them earlier this year and asked them to go away and either come back with a viable scheme which they could then press on with, or to admit that they wouldn’t develop the site and agree to sell it on as quickly as possible to someone who would. We agreed

to reconvene in November this year. To their credit, Sainsbury’s did as I asked and admitted defeat in their efforts to produce a plan with an acceptable return on their investment. At our meeting they pledged, with my support and encouragement, to clear the old B&B site in the New Year. Not only is the current building a monstrosity but I believe that the site is much more likely to be attractive to other potential purchasers without the building there to demolish. They also promised to sell the site as soon as possible and agreed not to put any block on any competitor who might wish to purchase the site from them. Although it is disappointing that Sainsbury’s are not progressing with the site in Bingley, I hope people agree that it was important to force the issue and end the uncertainty around the site. I hope now that we can look forward to 2014 with optimism where I hope this site is developed as soon as possible, and I hope Aldi’s plans for a supermarket in Bingley are also

passed as quickly as possible so that, with a fair wind, their new store can be open in time for Christmas next year. It is a great privilege to represent the Shipley constituency in Parliament and I will always do my best for each part of it. I wish all readers a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Remember to quote the Bingley Hub if you use any of the local services advertised in the magazine

Crime prevention - Christmas shopping Please take a moment to read these simple crime prevention tips to follow while you are out and about doing your Christmas Shopping. • Keep your cash and cards safe. • Protect your ‘pin’ numbers • Keep your handbags closed and fastened. • Keep wallets in inside pockets. If you return to your car to get rid of parcels, please put them in the boot and out of sight. Don’t be like the picture above and display your latest purchases for the opportunist thief to help themselves. Lock cars and close windows – too many crimes are through lack of 6

attention being paid when leaving your vehicles unattended and are actually leaving them insecure. People now have more valuable items in their homes so it is also vital that your home security is kept at the forefront of your minds. • Keep doors and windows locked, even when you are inside. • Use timer switches to make it look like someone is in. • Keep keys out of sight from doors and windows - but in an easily accessible place should an emergency arise. • Put your purchases out of sight Happy and safe shopping everyone!!

To advertise call Alex or Kim on 01535 275355 or email alex@overtmarketing.co.uk

We pride ourselves on 1st class workmanship & customer satisfaction with 5 years warranty. We work in conjuntion with Illingworth McNair Insurance Brokers who to deliver the best service to our customers. Returning a lease car and need bodywork repairs? We can repair your vehicle for the fraction of the cost you will be charged by the leasing company. Try us - we guarantee you wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t use another bodyshop after youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve been to ours!

working in conjunction with

Recipe

A Festive twist to a classic Crème brulee Egg Nog Crème Brulee Directions - 10 portions 1. In a large saucepan, combine the eggnog, cream, egg yolks and 1/3 cup sugar. Cook and stir over medium heat until mixture reaches 160° or is thick enough to coat the back of a metal spoon. Remove from the heat; stir in the rum, vanilla and nutmeg. 2. Transfer to ten 6-oz. ramekins or custard cups. Place cups in a baking pan; add 1 in. of boiling water to pan. Bake, uncovered, at 325° for 35-40 minutes or until centres are just set (mixture will jiggle). Remove ramekins from water bath; cool for 10 minutes. Cover and refrigerate for at least 4 hours. 3. In a small bowl, combine the brown sugar and remaining sugar. If using a creme brulee torch, sprinkle custards with sugar mixture. Heat sugar with the torch until caramelized. Serve immediately. 4. If grilling the custards, place ramekins on a baking sheet; let stand at room temperature for 15 minutes. Sprinkle with sugar mixture. Grill 8 inches. from the heat for 4-7 minutes or until sugar is caramelized. Refrigerate for 1-2 hours or until firm.

Ingredients • 2 cups eggnog (Advocaat) • 2 cups heavy whipping cream • 8 egg yolks • 1/3 cup plus 3 tablespoons sugar, divided • 2 tablespoons spiced rum • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract • 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg • 3 tablespoons brown sugar If you want to cheat buy some readymade crème Brulée mix and add some eggnog and start at direction 3.

Richards Christmas Stuffing A Family Favourite every year you can add chestnuts if you wish or just about anything you like!!! Great with the turkey. Directions 1. Fry onion in butter and sunflower oil until soft about 2 minutes 2. Add the Sausage meat, mushrooms , Garlic cook until sausage meat is cooked stir well as this can catch the pan 3. Add the Port and cook out the alcohol 4. And all other ingredients 5. Place in a dish and cover with foil put in the oven about an hour before serving 6. Drain off excess fat that has been released and serve with Turke, Pork Chicken or just on its own on a sandwich!!!

Ingredients • 8 Cumberland Sausages skins removed • 3 Cloves of Garlic crushed • 1 medium Onion finely chopped • Butter for frying • Sunflower oil • A glass of Port • Cranberry sauce 2 tablespoons • 4 mushrooms finely chopped • Splash of double cream • Chopped Thyme • Chopped Parsley

To advertise call Alex or Kim on 01535 275355 or email alex@overtmarketing.co.uk

F IVE RISE LOCKS

HOTEL & RESTAURANT

Celebrate with a touch of style The Five Rise Locks Hotel is a perfect venue for your celebration or a get together with family and friends. We can cater for up to 60 people for a sit down meal and up to 80 for a cocktail party style buffet.

The Venue

Wine and Drinks

With stunning views over the Aire Valley, the restaurant and bar were fully refurbished in 2010. The restaurant presents crisp fine white linen cloths and linen napkins for sit down events. The pictures and mirrors, the polished wooden floors and rich red carpet create a comfortable, tasteful atmosphere whilst still being relaxed and friendly.

Our Bar is well stocked with local ales, a good selection of single malt whiskies and wines by the glass as well as everything else you would expect in a first class restaurant.

Hire the House Why not hire the whole hotel for your wedding, birthday or celebration. You will get exclusive use from 12.00 noon on the day of the event until 11.00am the next day. Included in the price are: • All 9 bedrooms 2 twin, 1 single, 1 four poster and 5 doubles. • Breakfast the next morning for your residential guests. • Exclusive use of the ground floor and gardens of the hotel. • Choice of catering from our menus.

Meetings and Conferences The Front Restaurant section can be screened off to make a conference room that seats up to 24 in a block table. This leaves an area for lunch to be served and a break out area in the Bar. We can be totally flexible and can tailor make the day to make sure you reach your objectives. Day delegate rates and Room Hire rates are available on request.

Catering We buy the best seasonal ingredients sourced locally where possible. All diets can be catered for with ample notice and most dishes can be adapted to suit. Gluten free, dairy free and other regimes. we are a licensed food premises we do not allow own catering at events.

Wine Tasting Dinners The ever popular wine tasting dinners run about every 6 weeks. The format is an arrival time of 7.00pm when you are welcomed with a glass of wine and a few nibbles. Then sit down to a 6 course set meal and wine is served with 4 of the courses. As each wine is poured our Connoisseur describes the wine and why he has selected it to compliment the food. Club tables operate on these evenings. In association with the House of Townsend wine merchants. The next dates @ £35.00p per person inclusive of a 6 course meal with 5 wines.

For more information on any of the above services, please contact 01274 565296 or visit our website at www.five-rise-locks.co.uk. Also, find us on Facebook.

Five Rise Locks - Hotel & Restaurant, Beck Lane, Bingley BD16 4DD Tel: 01274 565296 Fax: 01274 568828 email: info@five-rise-locks.co.uk Vat Reg. 923 9835 91

Richard and Margaret Stoyle Proprietors

www.five-rise-locks.co.uk

AA Rosette Restaurant

Community

The ghostly sightings at St Ives For the last few years, the Friends of St Ives have been researching the history and archaeology of the St Ives Estate in Bingley. Increasingly we’ve found that we were being told stories of strange sightings and happenings that people had experienced down the years whilst visiting here. We don’t pretend to understand, or feel able to comment on, the stories and experiences which follow, but felt everyone may be interested in hearing them. It would seem, from research that people have inhabited St Ives for about 10,000 years, firstly living and trading within a large Iron Age settlement then moving through the centuries until present day and possibly leaving behind more than just physical evidence of their presence??? The Land now known as St Ives, was owned in the Middle Ages by Rievaulx Abbey and the monks farmed here, living in a Monastic Grange, situated somewhere on the Estate (most probably close to the existing Mansion). Throughout the centuries and into modern times there have been many reports of ghostly monks seen in the gardens, walking through the wooded areas and along the tracks, either singly or in groups. A local legend is that there is an ancient tunnel (bricked up long ago), leading from an entrance in Harden Park up to St Ives, possibly an escape route in times of persecution? The Monks were hard working and self-sufficient but still had to pay taxes (along with others on the Estate) to the Abbey. One day in the latter part of the 13thc, William ‘Cherrycheeks’, a local woodsman, was unhappy about paying taxes and so shot the Abbey’s tax collector with an arrow. The poor tax collector took 6 weeks to die (upon which William disappeared and became ‘the outlaw of St Ives’). Is one of the ghostly monk figures actually the conscientious murdered tax collector still trying to collect the money? (Do they ever give up??) Strangely we’ve just received a report that a

The Coach house 12

ghostly Nun was seen this year standing on the steps to the old building near the Coach House. We don’t have any historical evidence that nuns ever lived at St Ives? There are reputedly 200 soldiers’ graves from the civil war somewhere on the Estate, resulting from a violent skirmish fought there between Royalist and Roundhead forces, and there have been various reported sightings of ghostly Royalist soldiers around the paths and woodland over the years. However strangely about 10 years ago, in one of the Cuckoo Nest houses, a child woke her mother in the night, saying that she’d just seen a man sitting at a wooden desk in her room dressed in a cloak and a large brimmed hat writing with a feather. He had then disappeared. Neither the parents nor child knew about the Royalist civil war connections with St Ives. But perhaps the most notable sighting of Royalist soldiers is one reported by a local lady. About20 years ago, she and her father were driving along Keighley road with St Ives to their right. At the junction of Altar Lane, 2 strange men suddenly appeared in the road. The car was forced to do an emergency stop and then the occupants were then most alarmed upon realising that the car headlights were shining straight through the men! They were dressed in 17thc Royalist clothes and each detail could be clearly seen. The soldiers seemed completely unaware or the car and occupants and kept looking anxiously down the road as if waiting for someone. This continued for approximately for 3 minutes with the lady and her father distressed and confused. Her down to earth father asked her not to talk to anyone about their experience and she has only spoken now as he has sadly died. A few years ago, a group of teenage boys were sitting and talking in the gardens near the Mansion one evening when suddenly and silently, an older lady in Victorian clothes emerged from some shrubbery and walked slowly across the lawns. She seemed to have no awareness of the young people and on approaching some rhododendrons; she just disappeared into thin air! Apparently they were so terrified they rang their parents and begged them to drive and get them asap!! We’ve also been told of sightings of a young, pale lady, dressed in old fashioned grey clothes, seemingly very distressed, running along the driveway between Betty’s Lodge and the Mansion. By a certain tree she stops and looks anxiously around and then just sinks to the ground weeping and then gradually disappears. We wonder who she was and what great sadness seems to keep her here. More recently a dog walker was out for an evening walk at dusk near Cuckoo Nest Wood. He turned round briefly to call his dog to heel and then on

To advertise call Alex or Kim on 01535 275355 or email alex@overtmarketing.co.uk

Continued on page 16

£20 MOT

Text ‘MOT’ to 60777 e v i e c e r To £20 your MOT

When we receive your text we will give you a courtesy call to book you in at your convenience.

Get a grip this winter Don’t leave it too late! Albion Garage, Keighley Road, Bingley, BD16 2RD

Tel: 01274 511400 Email: bingleymot@yahoo.com

Community turning back to resume his walk, he came face to face with a strange Grey Faced man in a hooded cloak who’d appeared suddenly, and completely silently, from now where. Once again, the ‘man’ seemed to have no awareness of the dog walker, who turned and ran back, home in record time and no longer walks his dog at dusk. Not many years ago, council workers were busy restoring the path close to Lady Blantyre’s rock. It was a quiet sunny day and whislt they were eating their lunch, they noticed a strangely attired lady approaching walking slowly. Their view was momentarily blocked by their lorry but she never rounded the vehicle. She could not have left the path at that point and after a search no trace of her was found. Could she have been Lady Blantyre (William Ferrand’s mother in law) returning to her most favourite place again where she spent so many happy days of her life, sitting resting against a huge boulder on the hillside, reading and enjoying the beautiful view. A memorial stone (Lady Blantyre’s rock) marks this spot today. Look carefully next time you pass that way. Along the back alleyways on the small housing estate at Cuckoos Nest (below Cuckoo’s Nest woods,) a happy, skipping ghostly child is said to have been seen on more than one occasion. Joy and John, the owners of Lady B’s café, have on several occasions whilst clearing up after a busy day with the café closed and the door locked, heard the front door apparently opening and someone entering the building. Also sounds of someone moving around in the rooms at the rear of the café have also been heard and interestingly a local dog who regularly visits the café with his owner now refuses point blank to enter this area. However, always upon investigation, no (living) person was to be seen. New apparently ghostly experiences continue to happen. About a year ago a committee member and her husband were about to unlock the far door to the new Visitor Centre. It was dark and there was no one about, but there was external lighting above the doors. Suddenly they heard a friendly knocking at the other door. As it was only 10’ from them, they could clearly see there was no ‘person’ there. The knocking happened 3 times, and then they somewhat apprehensively entered the rooms but there was no one inside either. That same week, there were some very strange happenings in the Coach House itself. A lady clearing an area within it, completely alone, heard doors opening and closing around the building. Extremely un- nerved she left straight away. A few days later, two ladies went across to collect more papers and once again they were alone in the building, and once more, doors could be heard opening and closing around them. They too, beat a hasty retreat! Having read the above story submitted by Pam, it dawned on me that my encounter with my beloved 14

Lady Blantyre’s rock doggies, wasn’t so strange after all. One night in October, whilst out walking around St Ives with my friend Stacy and my 2 lovely doggies, Vanilla and Bruno, we didn’t think about the time, and how dark it might get. We set off from home in Harden at 6pm, but by 6.30pm it was starting to get dark. Neither of us had brought torches with us, and we started to get a little spooked out, walking in the woods on our own ... So our steps began to quicken, as the moon came out and the darkness set in. Our doggy walk usually take us from the Keighley Road entrance, up the hill to Lady Blantyre’s rock, past the golf courses, through the open field and then back down past the golf club and past the Visitor’s Centre, Coach House and Lady B’s cafe. In total about an hour and 15 minutes. But .... as we approached the Visistor’s centre, something very spooky happened ... My youngest dog, Bruno, who is a Labrador / Collie cross breed and only 11 months old, jumped out of his skin, heckles up .... barking mad at the coach house / visitor’s centre as we walked on by... then Vanilla, who is also a Collie cross breed, as is 22 months old, joined him with her barking. It was a very strange encounter. Both Stacy and I were looking to see if there was something in the shadows that they had seen or maybe they had heard something .. but no, nothing .. not a sound, nothing in sight .. just darkness.... It was at that point that I recalled Pam telling me about the Ghostly encounters at St Ives, and then realised that the dogs may have seen something we could not see .. a ghost perhaps? They do say dogs have a sixth sense .... who knows Bruno may be in tune with the spirits :)It seems that at dusk, and after dark, St Ives becomes ‘alive’ with the Past…… or is alive really the right word??? Watch carefully when you walk there………!

To advertise call Alex or Kim on 01535 275355 or email alex@overtmarketing.co.uk

Community

Santa is coming By David Petyt Christmas day is bound to be a let-down. I’ve seen Santa so many times this month already; I feel that I know his every whisker and every bump on his jolly nose. You see I have been helping on the Santa Special trains on the Keighley & Worth Valley Railway. It takes sixty five people to operate the trains every day when Santa visits. Not only do we need an engine driver and fireman, but also a diesel engine driver and secondman to help keep the trains moving in this cold weather. Then we have the guards and staff on every station plus the volunteers who operate the level crossings. We have a team of people providing vital refreshments and hot drinks for both visitors and volunteers and in addition to all these we have the on-train entertainers and the stewards. I have been a steward all through December and I love it. We start at nine o clock in the morning where we meet the team for the day including entertainers and the chief steward who makes sure that everyone is briefed on their task for the day. Behind a shed in Oxenhope marshalling yard is an enormous kettle which switches itself on in the middle of the night and pumps steam through the carriages to make sure they are nice and warm for our 16

passengers. One downside of this is condensation and all the windows steam up, so one of our tasks is to try and keep them clear – it’s a never ending task which isn’t helped by people breathing! After the engine has arrived & pulled us to the first station, then whoopee, all the children start to arrive. Everyone is excited, especially the mums & Grannies. Granddads can get a bit emotional but in the main Dads tend to keep cool and make sure everyone stays calm and not get overexcited. My job then is to make sure everyone is sitting in the correct seats and make everyone welcome whilst quietly telling Dad where he can find the bar. It is not long before the entertainers arrive, some days we have clowns, and sometimes its Rudolf who enjoys having his nose stroked. Scrooge invariably makes an entrance as he tries to convince people that they are on the wrong train and makes a quick exit before he is deafened by booing crowd. And then, the big moment arrives. Santa enters our carriage to cheers and shouts of “Hello Santa”. He speaks to every child and many mums and dads as well as he moves through the carriage. As if by magic a gift appears in his hand, specially selected by the watchful Chief Pixie who

follows him everywhere and who is in turn followed by a stream of other pixies all carrying huge sacks of toys as they stagger though the narrow aisles. Once Santa has passed by, the excitement of unwrapping begins and colourful wrapping paper flies in all directions and squeals of delight come from all corners, because the gifts are always superb. By this time, Mum & Dad have probably been given a tasty glass of sherry and a mince pie and guess who has to go around with a sack, picking up the debris. As the children continue to enjoy themselves, the train puffs back to the station and slowly everyone shrugs back on their warm coats and leave the train with cries of “Merry Christmas”. Now I have to do a quick brush down, tidy and sweep before the next crowd leaps on board and the cycle starts again. We probably have five trips every day and it’s a happy but weary Steward who heads home to a blazing fire and tasty Christmas dinner.

Remember to quote the Bingley Hub if you use any of the local services advertised in the magazine

To advertise call Alex or Kim on 01535 275355 or email alex@overtmarketing.co.uk

THE CARD

EMPORIUM

your local independent card shop

cards for all occasions largest selection of family xmas cards xmas card packs from £1 charity and religious cards greetings from bingley cards all you need for christmas gift wrap and bags, cake boards, decorations and much more. now stocking mala leather purses & wallets lots of stocking filler gift ideas

well worth a visit TEL: 07758 826057

11 CHAPEL LANE, BINGLEY, BD16 2NG monday to friday 9AM-5PM and saturday 9AM-4:30PM

THE VILLAGE CARPENTER Fully qualified Joiner based in Harden Any type of Joinery work undertaken from hanging a door to supplying and fitting a kitchen

• Home Improvements • Hand made bespoke furniture • UPVC windows fitted From the little jobs to the great big jobs

We Support

Call Dave Kaye Tel: 01535 271420 Mob: 07778 110316 Email: ad.kaye@tiscali.co.uk St. Ives Lodge, Harden

Christmas

Turkey talk At Christmas there’s turkey, turkey everywhere – but which is the best? Are you baffled by bronze turkey or wondering what white turkey is? Read on while I explain all things turkey: • Bronze turkey is most like the original wild turkey, slightly gamier, usually traditionally or free range reared. It can have a little black stubble before cooking, moist rich flavour and finely grained meat. • White turkey is generally a larger breasted bird with clean skin and short legs. • Black turkey is the traditional British bird. It has a fuller, gamier flavour than white turkey and a smaller breast. • Free range means poultry that ranges freely for food rather than being confined. UK Trading Standards state that free range poultry must have continuous daytime access to open-air runs, access to ground mainly covered with vegetation and each have at least ten square metres of ground. • Ethically reared – should be free range, high welfare, smallscale family farms with lots of space. The birds should be well cared for and have a ‘quality life’ not to be confused with organic or GM free. • Organic means produced according to the organic standards as defined by the Soil Association. • Herb fed – our own Yorkshire turkey feed supplemented with fresh herb for a fantastic moist, free range bronze turkey. • Turkey crown is a whole turkey with the legs and wings removed. It’s easier to carve, cook and there’s less waste. • Basted or pre-basted can mean it has been injected with fat and salt. Check the label! • Christmas turkey – the traditional meal served on Christmas Day along with all the trimmings: cocktail sausages, pigs in blankets (sausages wrapped in bacon), sage and onion, chestnut or sausage-meat stuffing or my favourite sausagemeat balls, accompanied by Brussels sprouts, roast potatoes, roasted parsnips, carrot and turnip and gravy – not forgetting the cranberry sauce and bread sauce. • Thanksgiving turkey – American version of the above.

Pre-cooking turkey tips • How big a turkey do I need? Allow a minimum of 1lb (As the recipes are in kgs – could Chris convert this to an equivalent in kgs?) per person, more if you are hoping for lots of leftovers for Boxing Day sandwiches or turkey curry. • Size matters! Instead of one massive turkey why not cook two smaller ones? Smaller turkeys will cook more quickly and will usually stay juicier as they will not have dried out in the oven for as long. Remember to check whether your fridge and oven are big enough for your huge turkey. • Stuffing – cook your stuffing separately because stuffing the bird can prevent the core of the bird cooking properly. For the authentic taste you can still add some meat juices from the roasting tin. Cooking your perfect turkey Place your turkey or turkey crown in an oven pre-heated to 230°C/450°F/Gas 8. Cook at this temperature for the first 30 minutes (or for the first hour for birds over 5kg) and then lower the oven temperature to 190°C/375°F/Gas 5. Total cooking time will be approximately 30-35 minutes per kg. About half-an-hour before the full cooking time, remove foil and turn the bird over so the breast bronzes.

Carving the turkey Remove your turkey from roasting tray and allow to stand in a warm place for 15-30 minutes before carving. • Hold the turkey leg by the knuckle • Cut close to the body and twist off, then carve this dark leg meat • Remove the wing and cut in half • Slice the breast meat from one side • Repeat for the other side. Alternatively remove the whole breast by sliding the knife down the breastbone and then carve the breast into slices. Serve on a plate with gravy poured over the top.

To advertise call Alex or Kim on 01535 275355 or email alex@overtmarketing.co.uk

Lets Celebrate

Wedding

The Personal, friendly service, which is tailored to individual business needs Services include: • Book keeping • Tax returns • VAT returns • Budgets and forecasting • Management accounting

Call me now for your free, no obligation meeting Mobile: 07552 244556 Tel: 01535 517917 Email: enquiries@hmaccounting.co.uk Website: www.hmaccounting.co.uk

Studio

Bespoke Handmade Wedding Stationery & Invitations For All Occasions Our Wedding Stationery is truly unique from Invitations to Place Cards, Save The Date, Reply Cards, Table Plans etc. We create beautiful Invitations to complement your colour scheme & theme. Ask about packages for your stationery so you budget for your special day. Celebrating a Birthday, Christening, Engagement or Anniversary. Why not send something special to your guests. Tues - Fri: 10.30am - 4pm Sat & Sun: By appointment only 156A Queen’s Court, Main Street, Bingley BD16 2HR Tel: 01274 270483 Mob: 07712 622697 Email: juliechapmanjowett@yahoo.co.uk Website: www.letscelebrate156.co.uk

Open throughout the year including Boxing Day until December 31st.

Relax in the historical surroundings of the Five Rise Locks Cafe The cafe has free WiFi and sells canal related gifts.

Breakfast, Lunch & Snacks -

or join us for Fresh Ground Coffee, Yorkshire Tea and a

Five Rise Locks Cafe

selection of fresh cakes or ice cream • Dog friendly cafe • Canal related merchandise and gifts available • Free Wifi

Five Rise Locks Cafe, Beck Lane, Bingley, BD16 4DS Tel: 01274 569 664 | www.fiveriselockscafe.co.uk Winter Opening Times - 10am - 4pm Tuesday to Sunday

Christmas

Does size matter when it comes to Christmas trees? Three Steps to Picking the Perfect Christmas Tree 1. Size is everything Measure the height of your ceiling and subtract two feet. This is the height of the Christmas tree you should buy. The first foot you subtract is to accommodate the Christmas tree stand and the other is for the angel or star you put on top. Measure the length of your wall. A tree two to four feet less will allow you to walk around and decorate all sides. 2. Shapely is best Look for a tree that is fairly symmetrical. Look for a tree with a full shape. Try to find a tree without gaping holes. Remember, all real Christmas trees will have imperfections but these will be covered by ornaments, lights and other decorations. 3. A healthy tree Needles should not fall off the tree when you pat the branches. If they do, move on to another tree. When you rub a Christmas tree branch between your fingers, it should release a fresh aroma. The needles on the tree should gracefully bend when you gently squeeze them between two fingers. If they break, reject the tree. Decorating your perfect Christmas tree in five easy steps 1. Face your tree’s best side into the room. Plug in the lights, replace any dead ones and leave them on as you hang them, so you can check that the tree is evenly illuminated. 2. Start at the back of the tree at the bottom then weave the lights in and out of the branches. Place a few bulbs near the trunk to give depth to your arrangement. 3. Now you are ready to add the decorations. It is best to put the top star or fairy on first and work down, so you don’t knock off any decorations as you reach up to put the higher ones in place. 4. Next tie red bows to the ends of some of the branches, or drape tinsel or strings of beads around your tree. 5. Hang the baubles, starting with the larger ones and using smaller ones to fill any gaps. If you are using different colours, mix them up, always standing back to check the effect as you go. 20

“Never worry about the size of your Christmas tree. In the eyes of children, they are all 30 feet tall.” Larry Wilde The Christmas Tree Christmas trees date back over 500 years, when people in Europe started bringing trees into their homes and hanging treats from the branches. Such treats included apples, dates, nuts, paper flowers and even cheese!! Spruce, fir or pine trees were popular, then as now, because these stayed green longest after being cut down. Artificial trees first appeared in the 19th Century and were made from goose feathers!!

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The G

e le

de n F ol

harden

b u p e g a l l i v l A traditionay welcome and a l d n e i r f a h t i w . e r e h p s o m t a t grea w

Happy hour all day and night on Mondays.

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w The Golden Fleece, 38 Long Lane, Harden Tel: 01535 273970

Christmas

Christmas Trivia The Arctic The word “Arctic” comes from the Greek word meaning “bear”. It refers to two constellations or groups of stars called the Great Bear and Little Bear that travel in the night sky around the North Pole. The Igloo People who live in the Arctic, such as Eskimos sometimes build temporary shelters out of snow. The most famous is named the “Igloo” – a dome shaped building made out of blocks of hard packed snow. The blocks freeze together to form a strong, airtight structure that is cosy inside, needing only a single candle to keep it warm. The Teddy Bear One of the worlds most popular toys, the teddy bear, has been around since 1902. It gets its name from the American President Theodore Roosevelt, who was known as Teddy. The president had refused to shoot a bear cub while out hunting one day and, before long, toymakers selling “teddy” bears to an eager public. Today, early toy bears made by the German toy company Steiff can fetch over £100,000!

Santa Claus in Outer Space On 21st December, 1968, three NASA astronauts in an Apollo spacecraft made history when they blasted off from the Earths surface to become the first men to orbit, or fly around the Moon. They spend 20 hours circling the Moon and each time they passed behind it they lost radio contact with Earth, so no one knew if they were still OK. When the spacecraft appeared from behind the Moon for the last time on Christmas Day, the astronaut James Lovell announced “Please be informed that there is a Santa Claus”. To this day no one can be sure if he was joking or if he really did spot Santa on the far side of the Moon. “There’s nothing sadder in this world than to awake Christmas morning and not be a child.” Erma Bombeck “They err who thinks Santa Claus comes down through the chimney; he really enters through the heart.” Mrs. Paul M. Ell “Remember, if Christmas isn’t found in your heart, you won’t find it under a tree.” Charlotte Carpenter

Santa’s Reindeer Rudolph Smaller than the other reindeer, but makes up for it by having more heart and more stamina that the rest, plus a very special nose. Dancer Legs are strong and muscular, and slightly longer than those of other team members. The most graceful reindeer in the team, although not the largest. Vixen Very clever and strong-willed. Can be relied upon never to give up, even in the worst weather. Usually harnessed alongside Dancer. Prancer Full of fun and energy! If ever the sleigh team is flagging, it needs only to look at Prancer to put a spring back in its step! Dasher Always ready and willing, with lots of energy to spare. Usually harnessed alongside Prancer, 22

helping to fill the team with enthusiasm for the journey. Donner The most powerful of the reindeer. His hoof-beats sound like the rumble of distant thunder – in fact, ‘donner’ means ‘thunder’ in German. He’s always harnessed alongside Blitzen. Blitzen The fastest reindeer in the sleigh team, Blitzen is named after the German word for ‘lightening’. Even before he began training with the Sleigh Master, he could reach over 100km/h. Comet Not as fast as Blitzen, but fast enough to give the ‘lightening’ reindeer a run for his money. Can be relied on to stay on course, no matter how strongly the winds blow. Cupid Flies straight as an arrow, with a keen sense of direction that always keeps him on course. Usually harnessed alongside Comet.

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Living History

Michael Wilde who now lives with his family on Salt Spring Island, B.C. Canada recounts a visit that they made to Bingley in May 2013. Michael’s Grandfather Joseph emigrated to America from Bingley in 1907 and Michael has been carrying out research into his Bingley roots from a distance. Here he describes the reasons for the visit and what he discovered.

Visiting my Father’s birthplace - Bingley Family Adventure When planning a three-month European travel adventure for our family, a visit to Bingley, Yorkshire, England was top of our list. On top of the list because my father Geoffrey (b. Wild) Wilde was born in Bingley on April 20, 1901 at 36 Knight Street. It was time to share my heritage with my wife and twin daughters. They wanted to know, “Are we related to Robin Hood or King Arthur?” Local History In making arrangements for a week’s stay at the Five Rise Locks Hotel, I asked the owner Richard Stoyle if he could suggest a local historian. He put me in contact with Alan Cattell, local historian and author, who graciously gave us walking and driving tours of Bingley and 24

district during our visit in May 2013. Alan met us at the Five Rise Locks Hotel and took us out for a walk from Beck Lane up to Gawthorpe Hall, where our Wild/ Wilde family research has come to a dead end with the birth in about 1650 of Nicholas Wilde and his marriage to Frances Greene on 28 October 1677 in Bingley Parish Church. We walked along many of the place names I had only read about in census records and on old maps - Crownest, Priestthorpe, Leeds & Liverpool Canal. Geneology Research Since the 1970s, I have been involved in genealogy research about my Bingley family, when I developed a Wilde Family Recipe Collection publishing project to capture stories and favourite

recipes from my English relatives to share with my extended family. Susan McPherson Wilde, wife of my cousin Gordon Wilde, joined me in my research in the 1990s. She jumped into all the details as the genealogy research world was moving from microfiche to the Internet. She made numerous contacts via the Yorkshire Archives list serve, along with extensive research using the Latter Day Saints archives. I have continued the research, enhancing the detailed history that started to emerge of my ancestors - farmers, stonemasons, and worsted weavers. From Bingley to America My grandfather Joseph Wild and his wife Clara Elstub Wild left Bingley in July 1907 sailing for America with all nine children.

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Continued on page 26

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They settled first in Rhode Island, and then drove west to California in 1920. Earlier, my great uncle Harry Wild, son of William Wild, and his wife Bessie Taylor Wood had sailed for America, also settling in New England. On applying for naturalization, my grandfather decided to add an “e” on the end of his name to differentiate his family from the Harry Wilds. To make Wild/Wilde matters even The Joseph Wild Family / 1907 Bingley, Yorkshire, England more confusing, two Standing, L-R: Geoffrey, Louis Frederick, William Ernest, Lena, Edgar, Edith, of Harry’s daughters Arthur, Sydney Hanson. married two of Seated, L-R: Janet, Joseph Wild and Clara Elstub Wild Joseph’s sons after Street, enjoying the wonderful moving to America! A Warm Welcome and hospitality of the Five Rise Hospitality Bingley Relatives Locks Hotel, Loft Café, While in Bingley, I scooped up Through research, a number of Cardamon Restaurant, La as many locally published books Bingley relatives have become Strada, and celebrating our on Bingley as I could, including apparent, including William anniversary at Valentino Alan Cattell’s latest Bingley and Wild, one of the stonemasons Ristorante, we came away Surrounds, Forgotten Moments who constructed the Five from Bingley feeling very from History, and mailed them Rise Locks (1774) , Lily much at home. Thank you to home. My family and I walked Elstub, publican of the Old everyone who made our stay Queens Head (1930s), the gravestones at the Parish so special and helped my William Hanson, one of the Church and the paths of the family see our English origins founders (1853) of the Bingley Bingley Cemetery. While on the come alive. We will be back Industrial Cooperative towpath at the Five Rise Locks to find Robin Hood and Society, and Mary Gott Wild), we were invited by a couple King Arthur! publican of the Royal Oak to go aboard their canal boat By sharing these (1845-1853). and ride several lock changes. recollections of the I could see the Wild/Wilde family, if stones my relative residents, local genealogy William Wild had researchers and historical placed with his society members have own hands. A more information to help hailstorm forced guide my research, please us to make a run contact Geoffrey Michael for the Five Rise Wilde at: wildeduc@ Locks Café where hotmail.com. we enjoyed a delicious lunch in Pictures courtesy of Michael the former canal Wilde and Jarrod Forsdyke horse stables. Finally, walking Michael Wilde, Salt Spring Old Main Street, Island, Canada. Michael Wilde and Alan Cattell stopping into Edited by Alan Cattell, Bingley December 2013 shops on Main 26

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Community

‘Deathtrap’ is Bingley Little Theatre’s first production of the New Year Bingley Little Theatre’s production of Ira Levin’s murder mystery, ‘Deathtrap’, is a mustsee for local theatre audiences this winter. It plays at Bingley Arts Centre from 13 to 18 January 2014. The play opens with Sidney Bruhl, a successful writer of thrillers, who seemingly comfortably ensconced in his charming home, is struggling to overcome a ‘dry spell’, which has resulted in a string of failures and a shortage of funds. A possible break in his fortunes occurs when he receives a script from a student in the seminar he has been conducting at a nearby college – a thriller which Sidney recognises immediately as a potential hit. Sidney’s plan, which he devises with his wife’s help, is to offer collaboration to the student, an idea which the younger man quickly accepts. Thereafter suspense mounts

steadily as the plot begins to twist and turn with devilish cleverness and with an abundance of thrills (and some laughs), holding the audience enthralled until the final startling moments of the play. The play is directed by Gilly Rogers who is well-known to Bingley audiences both as a director and actress. The cast features David Templeton, June Driver, Jason Evens, Gabrielle

Cross and Jim Brooks - all experienced actors. Looking ahead Another fine production, ‘The Right Thing’, takes to the stage of Bingley Little Theatre from 24 February to 1 March. This gripping drama by award-winning writer, John Turley, is set in Nelson in 1945. It follows the fortunes of a Lancashire family battling with a time of change and uncertainty as the men return from war. Bookings Phone 01274 567983 or visit the box office of Bingley Arts Centre in Main Street, which houses Bingley Little Theatre, between 11am and 3.30pm Monday to Friday and between 6.45 and 7.30pm during show weeks. You can also book online on www.ticketsource. co.uk/bingleyartscentre. For more information view www.bingleylittletheatre.co.uk.

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World Music Festival before a staggering TV audience of 300 million people - making history in the process by becoming the first western-world band to be screened live in Communist Cuba! For your chance to win, tell us what year did Showaddywaddy form? Was it a) 1971 b) 1973 c) 1976 All you need to do is send your answer to kim@ overtmarketing.co.uk, along with your telephone number. The competition is also running on my communityhub’s facebook page ... www.facebook.com/mycommunityhub. You can enter either by emailing or by visiting the competition on this page. Closing date of competition is 15th January 2014 Winners will be announced by email / facebook on the 16th January 2014 Good luck !!

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Bingley Arts Centre -

home of Bingley Little Theatre

Bingley Arts Centre, at the heart of Bingley Town includes a 350 seat theatre which can also be configured as a large open space. As well as a varied programme of entertainment, the Arts Centre is home to “Bingley Little Theatre” who present eight plays each year along with a programme of studio activities.

What’s On Guide

See our itinerary below for December. Main Stage

Wednesday 11th December 2013 at 7.30pm Glen Tillbrook (formerly of Squeeze) Glen Tilbrook was responsible for Top Ten hits all around the world such as “Tempted”, “Hourglass”, “Cool For Cats” and “Up The Junction”. Ticket Sales - in advance £17.50 Saturday 21st December 2013 at 7.30pm LIVE/WIRE... THE AC/DC SHOW Get ready for a seismic event. The unique six man tribute to rock’s greatest band AC/DC, complete with trademark cannons, a wall of Marshalls and two hours of High Voltage Rock and Roll. And in AC/ DC’s fortieth year, the band cover both eras with both Bon Scott and Brian Johnson present to take you on the Rock and Roll train for a night to remember. 18 December 2013 Blood Donor session 14:00 - 16:00 and 17:00 - 19:30 NHS Blood and Transplant. 13 - 18 January 2014 at 7:30pm Bingley Little Theatre - Deathtrap A thriller by Ira Levin.

Bingley Arts Centre

Main Street, Bingley BD16 2LZ

B L T

2014 Events We have some fantastic events coming to you in 2014, get in touch for further details. Saturday 15 February 2014 at 8:00pm Showaddywaddy

24 February - 1 March 2014 at 7:30pm Bingley Little Theatre - The Right Thing. A drama by John Turley. 5 March 7:30pm - 10:00pm The Lindisfarne Story.

Telephone: 01274 519814 Box Office: 01274 567983 11am to 3:30pm Monday to Friday excluding bank holidays

For further information on any of our shows, visit our website at www.bingleylittletheatre.co.uk

Come see our tree-mendous selection of Christmas trees! We stock a great selection of Christmas trees, both real and artificial and we stock a variety of sizes too, so you can be sure we’ll have something to suit your needs. Choosing a real Christmas tree is a greener choice, as every tree harvested from a Christmas tree farm is replanted, and every part of a real tree can be shredded and re-used, regardless of whether it’s potted or cut. However, a quality artificial tree will last for years to come. Before you come in to choose your tree, make sure you know how much room you have, measuring the ceiling height and the width of your space.

And whether you choose a cut, potted Nordman Fir or artificial tree, once your tree is ready we’ll wrap it carefully to make it easier to transport and keep it protected on the journey home. Along with our fabulous real Christmas trees, we stock a full range of Christmas tree stands and saucers for potted trees. And of course a huge selection Traditional Norway of decorations, wreaths, flowers and Spruce everything else you might need.

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Caring for your Cut Christmas tree: A few simple care tips will give you greater enjoyment of your real Christmas Tree and will help to keep it fresh and fragrant throughout the festive season. • When you get your tree store it in cool conditions away from the wind and sunlight. • Put the base of the tree in a bucket of water to prevent dehydration. • When you are ready to put your tree up you should cut 1cm - 2cm (1”) from the base of the tree before putting it in a stand that has watering holding facilities. By doing this you will have broken the natural seal on the base of the trunk and the tree will be able to take up as much water as it requires. • Before bringing your tree inside hold the tree up-right and bang the bottom of the tree onto the ground. This will remove any old needles which the tree naturally sheds throughout its life. • The tree will require to be watered every day and may drink anything between 1.125L 4.5L (2 pints to a gallon) of water a day. DO NOT allow the tree to dry out. It’s just like a cut flower in this sense. • Once the tree is in its stand and in the correct spot remove the netting. • Avoid placing the tree near a fire, radiator or warm lighting (any direct heat source) as it will dry out with the potential effect of causing needle drop or drooping branches. In some cases even watering your tree will not stop this happening.

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Local History In this specially reprinted article for Bingley Hub our local historian Alan Cattell looks at the revival of Christmas during Victorian times and at the influence Charles Dickens had on this. The article concludes with an account of Dickens’ visit to Bradford and his reading recital of A Christmas Carol at St Georges Hall, Bradford in December 1854.

Charles Dickens - A ghost of christmas past in Bradford? The Victorian Revival of Christmas At the start of the Victorian era the celebration of Christmas was in decline, partly due to Puritanical attitudes in existence since Cromwellian times. Additionally the needs of the Industrial Revolution meant that workers were allowed little time for the celebration of Christmas. A number of factors and individual contributors influenced the re-emergence of Christmas traditions during the nineteenth-century and these gave birth to many of the customs that are today part of the holiday itself. Christmas trees, cards, dinners, presents, and carols are all either products of, or were revived during, the Victorian period. Key contributors included: • Queen Victoria’ and her husband, Prince Albert (who introduced the German custom of decorating the Christmas tree to England). In 1832 the young Queen enthused about a Christmas tree hung with candles, ornaments and presents. The tree, complemented the Anglo-Saxon tradition of decorating homes with mistletoe and holly during the mid-winter festival. After her marriage to Albert the decorating of Christmas Trees became more widespread throughout Britain. The image shown opposite of the Royal Family gathered round their Christmas tree at Windsor Castle, created a sensation when it was first published in the Illustrated London News in 1848. • William Sandys who in 1833 began the revival of Christmas Carols by publishing Christmas Carols Ancient and Modern. This included the first appearance in print of ‘The First Noel’, ‘I Saw Three Ships’, ‘Hark the Herald Angels Sing’ and ‘God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen’, later popularized in Dickens’ A Christmas Carol. 32

• Sir Henry Cole who commissioned the first commercial Christmas cards in London in 1843 featuring an illustration (shown above) by John Calcott Horsley. • Charles Dickens who wrote the novel A Christmas Carol (published on 17 December, 1843) • Tom Smith of London who invented Christmas Crackers in 1847 as a wrapping for the bon bon sweets which he made. In 1850 he introduced the packaging of a motto or love poem with the sweet and by 1860 he added a “banger” made of two strips of chemically impregnated paper. A hat was added to the cracker in 1900. On December 18, 1988, Britain’s Sunday Telegraph proclaimed Charles Dickens as “the man who invented Christmas.” Whilst Dickens might not have “invented” Christmas, he certainly had a major influence on Christmas traditions in the Victorian era. In his career he wrote a total of five “Christmas” books, but it was his novel A Christmas Carol which helped revive and rekindle the spirit and joy of Christmas in portraying the holiday as a time for family, goodwill and compassion The Influence of Dickens Of his five Christmas Books, A Christmas Carol

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Continued on page 34

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Tel: 01274 567428 www.villagefuneralservice.co.uk is one of the best-loved works. The tale of the heartless miser Ebenezer Scrooge and his reform at Christmas is not only an uplifting moral tale and social commentary, but is also of historical importance, as a result of Dickens’ witty and detailed description of a Victorian Christmas. Perhaps none of Dickens’ other novels have entered the public consciousness as much as A Christmas Carol with its vision and philosophy of Christmas as a family celebration. When first published, its style and sentiments immediately endeared Dickens to his public ensuring that his name has been irrevocably associated with celebrating Christmas ever since. Why Did Dickens Write It? There appear to be three reasons, namely: • His social concern, which inspired him to highlight the plight of the poor and the desperate need for charitable contributions for those affected by the severe depression of the 1840’s. • His own experience of hardship and poverty as a young child and the social inequalities his own family experienced. It has been suggested that the Crachit’s house in the story was based on the small house in Camden that Dickens had lived in when he was ten. • He was himself in debt and needed to keep his creditors at bay. Additionally,his wife was expecting a fifth child and he needed to raise money quickly hopefully by writing a bestseller. In the event his publisher turned the book down and Dickens had to pay for the publishing of the book himself. Spurred on by the above, Dickens completed the book in six weeks between October and November 1843, and the book was ready for publication by December of that year.

With What Results? The book immediately caused a sensation and breathed new life into a holiday that had fallen into disfavour. It was a harsh and drab time, in desperate need of spiritual regeneration and as such was ready for a book which transformed Christmas into a family occasion and a time to remember the less well off. Through the messages contained in the book Dickens hoped to profile Christmas as a familycentered festival of generosity, goodness and charity. His preface to the book ideally sets the scene for such a transformation:

Preface to the Original Edition -A Christmas Carol “I have endeavoured in this Ghostly little book, to raise the Ghost of an Idea, which shall not put my readers out of humour with themselves, with each other, with the season, or with me. May it haunt their houses pleasantly, and no one wish to lay it”. Their faithful Friend and Servant, C. D. December, 1843 Dickens Legacy What Dickens also did was to paint a word picture which would become the model of Christmas for the future. From the pages of a Christmas Carol we can soak up the atmosphere of a cold, frosty and foggy London where workers scurry home to a warm fire in anticipation of a rare day off work. Contrasts between cold and heat, rich and poor, family celebration and individual loneliness are made using the symbols of the Christmas Tree, Carols, Christmas Dinner and Christmas Pudding as examples of the festive spirit. The book also presents the notion of Father Christmas of whom images dating back to the 17th century in Britain already existed. Dickens Continued on page 36

Local History public readings of his major works to packed represented him as the “Ghost of Christmas Present”, a large, bearded and jovial man wearing houses in Britian and the United States. The most a coat lined with fur. He guided Scrooge through popular by far was A Christmas Carol for which he the bustling streets of London on Christmas introduced a condensed version which took about morning, sprinkling people that they met with the two and a half hours (including a short interval) to essence of Christmas. read Critical Acclaim Dickens in Bradford Despite not achieving the expected profits from As part of this, publishing the book because Dickens pitched the Dickens visited price too low in relation to the quality of printing Bradford in 1854 and illustration, the book sold well and to huge and carried out a critical acclaim. The Guardian of 22 December reading recital of 2009 identifies “By February of 1844, less than two A Christmas Carol months after the Carol’s appearance, there were at at St George’s least eight theatrical versions of A Christmas Carol Hall which had in production, and since then there have been been opened by literally hundreds more adaptations for stage, radio, Queen Victoria and television, and film”. Prince Albert in Dickens Own Family August 1853. The reading took place It is clear that the author himself loved the on Thursday 29th Christmas period as a time of nostalgic family December 1854 in celebration. front of an audience One of his sons wrote: “Christmas was a great of 3000 and for time, a really jovial time and my Father was always which he received a at his best, a splendid host, bright and jolly as a fee of £100. boy and throwing his heart and soul into everything Because of his recital at Bradford, Dickens missed that was going on.... And then the dance! There dinner with one of his sponsors on 29th December. was no stopping him!” In a letter dated 23rd December 1854 (shown In her book My Father As I Recall Him (1886) his above), he sends his regrets, explaining the he is daughter Mamie observed “Christmas was always “going to Bradford in Yorkshire to give a Christmas a time which in our home was looked forward Reading to some three thousand people.” to with eagerness and delight, and to my father it was a time dearer than any other part of the Newspaper Report year, I think. He loved Christmas for its deep The Leeds Mercury of December 30th 1854 carried significance as well as for its joys, and this he a report of the event which had been organised for demonstrated in every allusion in his writings to the the Temperance Educational Institute. It noted: great festival, a day which he considered should be “Shortly after seven o’clock Mr Dickens came to fragrant with the love that we should bear one to the platform and presented himself to the audience another... amidst loud cheering. He observed that in reading In our childish days my father used to take us, this little book “(The Christmas Carol), he should every twenty-fourth day of December, to a toy shop pause for at the most ten minutes, as nearly half in Holborn, where we were allowed to select our way through as the prescribed division of the story Christmas presents, and also any that we wished would permit” (an oblique reference to the short to give to our little companions. Although I believe interval!) we were often an hour or more in He then continued “Allow me the shop before our several tastes before I commence to express two were satisfied, he never showed wishes: the least impatience, was always interested, and as desirous as we, The first is that you will have the that we should choose exactly kindness by a great stretch of what we liked best.” imagination to imagine this is a The photograph shown right shows small social party assembled to Mamie Dickens and her sister hear a tale told round a Christmas Katey with their Father at their fire (applause and laughter) home in Gads Place, Kent in 1865 And secondly, that if you feel A New Career disposed as we go along to give expression of any emotion, you will To supplement his writing career do so with perfect freedom from and earnings Dickens began a second career by performing Continued on page 38 Dickens with his daughters 36

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Bingley Grammar School, Keighley Road, Bingley Hazelbeck School, Wagon Lane, Bingley, BD16 1EE Lessons are also available at our Hebden Bridge site: The Craggs Country Business Park, Cragg Vale, Hebden Bridge, HX7 5TT

If you would like to book your child onto one of our courses, and help them progress with their swimming, please contact Swim Stars on 01274 560570. 36 Keighley Road, Crossflatts BD16 2EZ. Alternatively, please visit our website at www.ukswimstars.com and complete the booking form.

Where to pick up your copy You can pick up a magazine in one of our Point of Sale stands, which are currently located at: • Woodbank Nurseries (Potting Shed Restaurant & Main Entrance) • The Arts Centre (Bingley Little Theatre) • Nuffield Health Centre @ Cottingley Gym • Canalside Health Centre You can also pick up copies from: • The Card Emporium, Chapel Lane, Bingley • The local Co-ops, Wilsden, Cullingworth and Bingley • The Newsagents on Bingley Main Street and Park Road • Bingley Hub Offices - 143 Main Street, Wilsden Magazines are also delivered to all businesses, shops, cafes, dentists etc. If you would like a copy and cannot find one to pick up, please contact the office on 01535 275355.

We are now offering a subscription service (only the postage cost will be charged, the magazine is still free) and we will post one to your door every month. Call for details. Areas covered: Bingley Central, Eldwick, Gilstead, Cottingley, Crossflatts, Harden, Wilsden, Cullingworth, Sandy Lane and some of Keighley. Now delivering in East Morton.

To place an advert: email: kim@overtmarketing.co.uk or tel: 01535 275355

Local History constraint and without the least apprehension of disturbing me (loud applause) Mr Dickens then proceeded to read the story and a jolly, genial Christmas story it is, as all our readers must have long known – presenting an immortal satire upon griping, sordid avarice and forming an eloquent plea for all that is gentle and tender and amiable towards humanity at this blithe, jovial season. He read with an enunciation clear and distinct and beautiful and was interrupted by loud cheers or hearty laughter. The humorous part of the story (the Cratchit family and the account of their Christmas Dinner) were developed with great gusto. The reading of the story occupied rather more than two hours and a half and was concluded amongst loud and reiterated cheering. Mr Dickens said that the audience had been admirable and that he would only detain them to thank them most heartily for their cordial response, and just retire by assuring them that he could not possibly have given them more pleasure than they had given him”. Further visits to Bradford He visited Bradford on two more occasions, in 1858 when he recited excerpts from The Poor Traveller, Boots at Holly Tree Inn and Mrs Gamp, and in 1869 (a year before his death) when excerpts from Boots at the Holly Tree Inn, Pickwick Papers and Oliver Twist were read.

A Final Tribute Dickens and his wife Catherine had ten children but unfortunately separated in 1858. Mamie Dickens and her sister Katey continued to look after their Father at Gads Place, Kent until his death from a stroke on June 9th 1870 at age 58. Perhaps a fitting tribute to the man and his relationship with Christmas was recorded by the critic Theodore Watts-Dunton in 1870. As he was walking down Drury Lane near Covent Garden Market on the day of Dickens death, Dunton overheard a Cockney barrow-girl’s reaction to the news of the great novelist’s demise: “Dickens dead? Then will Father Christmas die too?” Whilst Father Christmas didn’t die along with his greatest promoter Charles Dickens, the influence of the man and his novel A Christmas Carol guaranteed that Christmas continued and continues to have special meaning for generation after generation of readers, 170 years after he wrote it. Alan Cattell December 2013 Photographs and images courtesy of Bradford LIbraries

A fascinating history book by writer Alan Cattell Alan Cattell’s local history book Bingley and Surrounds - Forgotten Moments from History has received good reviews locally for its readability and informative style of writing. Part of Alan’s reason for writing the book was to bring history out of the archives and into the living room of those interested in local history. The other reason was to be able to donate some of the

researched content and proceeds to local archives. To date Shipley College, Saltaire Archives have received a donation to set up a Japanese Gardens archive. Several local primary schools have also been given copies of the book to use as teaching resources. Alan thanks all those who have bought the book to date for their support in enabling this to happen.

How to order a copy of Bingley and Surrounds: Forgotten Moments from History Published by Overt Marketing Ltd Tel: 01535 275355 or email: kim@overtmarketing.co.uk Look out for the book at Woodbank Nurseries, Copy Quick, The Card Emporium and The Little Yorkshire Gift Company.

ONLY

9.99

“Bingley’s Little Secret” “Where you feel special, unique and where style is created” Liberties & Co is a family run business established in 2004. Owner and award winning nail enhancement expert, Emma Harrison has built a well earned reputation for being the very best at what she does. In an industry saturated by nail salons and mobile nail technicians, Emma's passion, attention to detail, commitment to the very best customer service, and the day to day involvement of her family in running the business, has set Liberties & Co head and shoulders above the rest. The location is a hidden beauty spot in Bingley, situated in a waterfront location ... a fab place to go with friends for the ultimate pamper day. A place where you can take your time to relax. Isn't that what being pampered is all about? Emma and the team will look after you and make sure you are completely satisfied with the result. Emma recently won a gold award at a prestigious Industry awards ceremony called Worldskills UK. She came in first place in the category "Nail Technology Advanced Enhancements".

Nails - Offering Award Winning Nail Services in Enhancements, Manicures, Pedicures and more.

Hair - Experience our creative colouring and cutting services with our artistic hairdressers.

Services offered at the salon are: Nail enhancements; using only the very best in nail technology : CND Acrylic System Rockstar, Minx, CND Shellac Hand and Foot Treatments Manicures & Pedicures Beauty Therapy, Spray Tanning & UV Tanning Creative Cutting & Hair Styling

Beauty - Enjoy a full range of beauty treatments that will immerse you into total relaxation.

Christmas Bookings If you still need to book in for your Christmas treatment why not give us a call and come and relax and enjoy the Liberties & Co. experience! Call us on 01274 787779 to book in with us now.

Bridge House, Riverside Buildings Bailey Hills Road, Bingley BD16 2RJ Tel: 01274 787779 Email: libertiesbingley@hotmail.com www.libertiesbingley.co.uk Facebook: search Liberties&Co

Community

Merry Christmas from all of us at Yorkshire Rose Dog Rescue At this time of year rescues all over are full to the brim. Can you help us by opening up your home to be one of our invaluable dog fosterers? Or perhaps you would like to help us care for these amazing dogs over the Christmas period?

To make a donation or to see our current dogs in foster care and waiting for their forever homes please visit our website www.yrdr.co.uk If you are interested in becoming one of our foster homes I would love to hear from you. Contact Enza on 07738231734.

To advertise call Alex or Kim on 01535 275355 or email alex@overtmarketing.co.uk

Safest Tanning EVER at Luxura X7

Brand new sun bed with 38 tanning tubes. For that comfortable lie down experience. The bed has an MP3 player installed so you can listen to your favourite music whilst experiencing the ultimate lie-down experience.

All beds re-tubed beginning of November

Luxura V7

Brand new vertical tanning cabin. The cabin has more space within, so you can move about freely while tanning. The cabin has 48 tanning tubes, which means an all over even tan is achieved.

Christmas vouchers available

Here are a few questions & answers regarding the new 0.3 tubes.

What is 0.3 and what does it mean? 0.3 is the name referring to the new ‘Low Output Limits’ that all sunbeds have to comply with. The law has changed and to protect the consumer (you...) all Sunbeds should now be changed over and their erythemal dose reduced down to the level of 0.3w/m2. This is the ‘safe’ output level that is recognised across Europe and is covered under the EU Electrical Safety Regulations Directive that was passed in 2009. Why do things have to change, I like the sunbeds as they are? Well, it is a legal requirement for all sunbeds to be of this output. In fact Trading Standards Officers can issue notices to salons to comply or in extreme circumstances they could close a salon for being ‘unsafe to use’. When do all sunbeds have to be changed? There is no actual date set for 100% compliance, but as a responsible and careful business, we have chosen to begin to change our sunbeds now. It has all been done carefully and we will continue to monitor satisfaction levels to make sure you still get the most amazing Tan anywhere in the UK.

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Red Light therapy-Simple, Effective, Safe Helps to stimulate collagen and elastin in the skin! The use of red light technology, is the most powerful & effective way to stimulate the production of collagen & elastin in the skin.

Fine lines and wrinkles result through the lack of collagen and elastin in the skin. Red light penetrates into the dermis layer of the skin, energizing the cells, thereby helping to create collagen and elastin, much the same as when you were younger. Collagen helps to plump up the skin, while elastin helps to firm the skin thus diminishing fine lines and wrinkles. It’s that simple! What is Photo Rejuvenation Collagen (Red Light Red Light Therapy? Therapy) Photo Rejuvenation or Red Light Therapy is the use of light to create an anti-aging effect on the skin and is quickly becoming recognized as one of the safest,fastest and most affordable ways to achieve younger, more vibrant looking skin.

Skin revitalisation or red light therapy has been available for several years in a medical spa but has been too expensive for many people until now. Golden Rays are proud to offer this revolutionary treatment for a fraction of the price, along with the convenience of anytime access that all members enjoy.

Benefits of red light therapy include: • Minimizes appearance of fine lines and wrinkles • Regenerates collagen and elastin • Improves skin tone and complexion • Kills acne, refines pore size • Minimizes cellulite, scars and stretch marks • Increases the skin’s circulation • Repairs sun damaged skin, fades age spots “For Pure And Timeless Beauty At Golden Rays” • Collagen Sunbed Benefits • Building Up A Healthy Collagen Network • Visible Anti-aging Effect • Reduction Of Lines And Wrinkles • Boosting Skin Cell Regeneration • Re-tightens The Skin (helps Prevent Cellulite) • Improvement Of Oxygen Intake • Renewal Of Collagen And Elastic • Activation Of The Skin s Mineral Metabolism • Helps To Make The Skin Smooth And Fresh • No Negative Side Effects Or Harm • No Pain

Opening Hours:

17-19 Park Road, Bingley, BD16 4BD Tel: 01274 567367

Monday to Friday: 10am-8pm Saturday: 10am-5pm Sunday: 11am-3pm

Winter hours

Monday to Friday: 11am-8pm Saturday: 11am-5pm Sunday: 11am-3pm

Pet advice

Merry (and safe) Christmas to all our pets. By Peter Eccles Airedale Veterinary Group The festive season can be a strange time of year for our dogs and cats. Suddenly the house is filled with a strange tree and Christmas decorations and there are scary noises from champagne corks, crackers and even fireworks. Your routine probably will change and you might have unfamiliar visitors coming to the house. Your favourite Christmas Food Chocolate, nuts, raisins, grapes, blue cheese, onions, fruit cakes, puddings and mince pies can all be toxic to dogs and cats. Any food which is high in fat can be especially dangerous to dogs. Turkey bones can cause choking, constipation or cause damage to your dogs or cats intestines. Any string which is used in cooking meat can smell and taste good to dogs and cats but can be very dangerous if swallowed and can require immediate surgery to try to avoid a fatal outcome. Eating large quantities of any food can be both dangerous to both humans and our pets, especially if eaten quickly. Try to put

treats and decorations can also be very appealing to your dog, and extremely harmful. Some of the common Christmas dangers around the home for your dog and cat are listed below. If in doubt about your pet’s health phone your vet for advice. It’s better to be safe than sorry. If you think you need a vet, always ring before setting off, often the vet or support staff can give you advice on first aid before you set off and they can get prepared for your arrival. all food out of reach of your pet with the exception of their own of course. Put waste in the bin carefully so your pet cannot get it or put it straight into the wheelie bin and shut the lid so it is safely out of reach of your pet. Giving your dog or cat left-overs they are not used to can upset their stomach. Christmas Trees Most species of Christmas Tree are not very toxic but may cause a mild tummy upset (i.e. vomiting and/or diarrhoea) if chewed or pine needles are swallowed and they can damage the intestines. Pine needles can get stuck in paws and cause irritation as well. Trees that don’t drop their needles are best and vacuum daily. Other plants such as Poinsettia, Holly and Mistletoe if eaten can also very rarely cause problems, so keep them out of reach of your pets. It is probably best to get Christmas lights which use a transformer as this will be safer if you pet, (including house rabbits) chew the electric cable. Decorations Christmas decorations look attractive and beautiful and can be tempting to our pets. They are not often toxic but they can still cause significant problems if eaten. Baubles can break and form sharp fragments which can cause damage or block the intestines and dogs tend to eat tinsel. Presents Don’t forget if you are wrapping presents containing food items, dogs and cats can smell food through the wrapper, be careful when wrapping chocolates as these are especially dangerous to dogs. Also with dogs it is best not to put chocolate decorations on the tree. When I was a boy, our dog used to pull the tree down to get at the chocolates. Any presents

To advertise call Alex or Kim on 01535 275355 or email alex@overtmarketing.co.uk

Caring for your pet as if it was our own Airedale Veterinary Group has surgeries in both Wilsden & Keighley.

All consultations are by appointment.

Please ring: 01535 609040

We have full medical, surgical & dental care for your pets. Everyone who works at Airedale Vets does so because they love animals. The owner of the practice has been caring for injured and sick animals from the age of fourteen. All of the team are pet owners and so understand the bond between the owner and the pet. We love animals as much as you do. The practice is about caring for animals and we are here to keep your pets healthy and happy!

1st Practice in the area to have the latest dog vaccine. This is at no extra cost to you. We also have the latest rabbit vaccine.

Please visit our new website for details: www.keighleywilsdenvets.co.uk Peter Eccles, BVSc MRCVS

Airedale Animals Ltd. (Airedale Veterinary Group) 36 Devonshire Street, Keighley, West Yorkshire, BD21 2AU.

Also at Wilsden, Bradford, BD15 0EQ Ring 01535 609040 for both surgeries Email: mail@airedalevets.co.uk

Visit out Facebook page: www.facebook.com/AiredaleVets containing food can be dangerous to pets as they might eat the wrappings or eat too much of a food which they are not used to. So put any presents containing any type of food well out of reach of your pet. Also keep batteries out of reach of pets. If these are chewed or swallowed, they can be fatal. If you think your pet might have swallowed a battery, please ring you vet straight away. They show up well on X-ray and need to be removed as soon as possible. Antifreeze Ethylene glycol (anti freeze) ingestion is very dangerous. Cats and dogs often like the taste. Keep it out of reach of your pet. If you think your pet might have drunk even a small quantity please ring your vet as it can cause serious kidney damage and can be fatal. Unfortunately, the longer the delay between ingestion of the anti freeze and starting treatment makes a good outcome less likely. Disclaimer Airedale Amimals Ltd (Airedale Vets) nor anyone working at Airedale Vets assumes any liability for the content of this page. This advice is not a substitute for a proper consultation with a vet. This is only

intended as a guide. Always contact your local veterinary practice for advice or treatment immediately if you are at all worried about your petâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s health - even if they are closed, they will always have an out of hours service available. Find out more about what to do in an out of hours emergency. A lot of Vets in the Bradford area pay Vets Now to provide a service out of hours when their own vets are not available. Their telephone number is on their web site. Vets Now Vets will also give free advice to clients of practices which pay Vets Now for this. Have a Great Festive Period but be careful. Further advice and information will be available on our web site www.keighleywilsdenvets.co.uk near to Christmas.

36 Devonshire Street, Keighley, West Yorkshire, BD21 2AU Tel: 01535 609040 www.keighleywilsdenvets.co.uk My Community HUB

Cat’s Corner b is pleased to be ly feature, Bingley Hu ing at the homing nth mo ing nu nti co r en pp In ou te news of what is ha bringing you up to da to be working with such a fantastic ed as ts in our region. centre. We are ple re-home unwanted ca charity, which helps

Cat gifts The charity Dogs Trust have a fabulous strap line, which most people will know – “A Dog is for Life, not just for Christmas”. It sums up in a sentence the working ethos of most animal rescues substitute Dog for anything – cat, rabbit, iguana etc, and substitute Christmas for any festival – Mothers Day, Wedding Anniversary, Eid etc. The message is valid for all rescues and all animals whether from a rescue or from a breeder. Rescue charities, including Yorkshire Cat Rescue, regularly ask people to make an informed decision about taking on a pet – consider the costs including long-term veterinary costs should the pet live to a ripe old age, the arrangements for holidays and the effect it will have on your life and that of your family. With improved veterinary and nutritional care, cats can easily live into their late teens or even their early twenties - the equivalent of 80+ years in human terms - and in that period of time the changes in the lives of their owners can be significant, for example the arrival of babies which over twenty years may progress into the “babies” leaving home or even having babies of their own. Of course, none of us can predict with accuracy what we’ll be doing in a year’s time, never mind in twenty years time, but we can at least plan, and have a contingency plan in force should our circumstances change. Kittens are particularly photogenic and for cat lovers it is very hard not to react on impulse when a sweet photo appears with the logo “I need a home”, or when someone’s cat has kittens and they are so cute and snuggly and pretty. Even worse is when a well-meaning relative or friend gets a kitten or cat for someone else without consulting them first. Here at Yorkshire Cat Rescue we have taken in cats from people who have been given them as gifts, without the person giving the gift taking time to find out if the recipient wants one or after the death of a previous pet is actually ready to have another yet. We would encourage any potential owners to think carefully 44

• Yorkshire Cat Rescue has a 2014 Calendar now for sale. Designed and created by Pam Laking, we’re really hoping to sell every single one of them to raise much needed funds for our rescue centre. We asked people to send in photos of their kittens and cat adopted from us over the years. Originally Pam was going to have one cat illustrating each month, but on receiving approx. 260 kitty photos, and reading their stories, she found it impossible to use only 12. Now each page shows several cats and kittens and at the back of the calendar, each ones story is told. The calendars can be purchased at our Centre, on line at www.yorkshirecatrescue.org , at our charity shop in Cavendish Street Keighley, at Lady B’s Café at the St Ives Estate Bingley, at Sharp Cuts hair salon Wilsden and Haley Bevan interiors Eldwick.

before committing to something that could need care for twenty years. Are you in permanent accommodation? Are you planning a family? Do you have a family member to care for the kitty if you can no longer do so? None of these are insurmountable, and none of these reasons should prevent you from getting a cat, but it pays to think carefully before you do. If you have to part with the cat, the cat will probably cope well but you – the owner – will be devastated. Can you live with that? If you want to get one for a relative or friend, give them an “opt out” - take them to a cat rescue and ask if they actually want one and if so, give them the joy of choosing the cat themselves – call it a magical mystery tour and if they don’t want a cat buy them something else. Enjoy looking at pictures of cats – maybe on a calendar. Line your bedroom with toy cats and enjoy them, but get a cat for yourself at the right time in your life, when it is planned and wanted, so that you can enjoy her company for the rest of her life. For enquiries please call Yorkshire Cat Rescue on 01535 647184 or visit www.yorkshirecatrescue.org

To advertise call Alex or Kim on 01535 275355 or email alex@overtmarketing.co.uk

Your friendly local pharmacy on Wilsden Road

Mon - Fri 8:30AM - 1PM & 2PM - 6PM |Sat 8:30AM - 12:30PM

FREE

and Prescription Collection & Delivery Service We can collect your prescription from all local doctor surgeries. Simply hand in your repeat medication slip to us and we will have it ready for you to collect in 2 working days or we can deliver to your door. Take advantage of our FREE and delivery service 5 days a week across all areas. All you have to do is pop in and complete a simple form or simply call us.

New Christmas range in stock now!

New perfume range in stock now Limited stock available Harden Pharmacy, 2 Wilsden Road, Harden, Bingley, BD16 1JP Tel: 01535 271211 Email: Hardenpharmacy@Hotmail.co.uk

The home of recycled mobile phones Recycle, Re-use, Repair!

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MPRO - Mobile Phone Recycling Organisation Ltd The Continuum, Moderna Business Park, Mytholmroyd, West Yorkshire, HX7 5QQ 0844 414 1417 info@mpro.org.uk mpro.org.uk

Home & Beauty

Creative ideas for Christmas By Jane Richards Here at Divine Shabby Chic Ltd, we know that the run up to Christmas can be a very busy time. With the trimming of the tree, buying gifts for your loved ones, and writing those endless Christmas cards. So why not set some time to one side to have some fun with the children? We have a fabulous idea you can share with them where they can make their own personalised cards to send off to friends or just make to give to their grandparents to bring a little smile. It’s simple and you will only need some paint and card. By adding some paint to their feet or fingers and pressing onto some card

you can create these lovely Reindeer Christmas cards ..... Hope you have fun !!!! but be warned it can get rather messy! Find us at www.divineshabbychic.co.uk

Home Made Face Masks and Scrubs Why pay for a store bought face mask when you can save money and use the basic ingredients found in your kitchen cupboards anyway to make your own simple hydrating masks and scrubs. Banana Mask for Oily, Acne-Prone Skin This mask is a soothing face mask that’s cheap and fun to do. All you need is: 1 Ripe Banana, 2 Tablespoons Honey and 1 Orange or Lemon. To start mash the banana in a bowl then mix in two tablespoons of honey and add a few drops of orange or lemon juice. For best results you can skin dry with a towel and follow with your usual use a blender. The mask should be in a paste like moisturiser. consistency. When you have your mask prepared, Rose Mask for Combination or ‘Normal’ Skin apply to your face using either a face mask brush This mask is perfect for giving you an even balance or just your fingertips. Leave the mask on for between the oily and dry areas of your skin. For approximately 15 minutes. To remove the mask this mask you will need 6 fresh rose petals, 2 use a warm wash cloth and follow with your usual tablespoons of rose water, 1 tablespoon of natural moisturiser. yogurt at room temperature and 1 tablespoon of Carrot & Avocado Mask for Dry, Skin runny honey. This mask is a fantastic way to moisturise your skin Firstly soak the rose petals in water before the ingredients needed are 1 carrot peeled and decrushing then in a bowl, add your rose water, stemmed and cooked until soft, ½ a ripe Avocado, 1 yogurt and honey. Mix them all together well and Tablespoon of Honey, ½ Tablespoon of Olive oil or apply to your skin using either your finger tips or a Vegetable oil, 1 tablespoon of Lemon Juice and the face mask brush. This mask works best when left yolk of 1 Egg. on your skin for 10 minutes before gently removing Mash the carrot and avocado until it forms a paste with a warm wash cloth. the add honey, egg yolk and lemon juice and mix To make an appointment at Ooh La La’s – together by hand. Your mask can then be applied Cullingworth please contact Nicola or Jane on your face and leave for 15 minutes. For best results 07826 841 603. wash off with a warm washcloth and then pat your 48

To advertise call Alex or Kim on 01535 275355 or email alex@overtmarketing.co.uk

A brand new look for Oakwood Hall Hotel

Oakwood Hall Hotel is set in a quiet leafy location just 1 mile from Bingley town centre. The Hotel has recently completed a total refurbishment, the elegant restaurant, bar and reception area, along with the beautiful oak paneled staircase have all been tastefully redecorated, luxurious carpets and furnishings complete the brand new fresh look. The hotel, which boasts 20 en-suite bedrooms offers comfortable accommodation, many of the rooms have also been revamped.

We are now offering a new food menu Mondays to Fridays and Sunday lunchtimes.

Lunch - from 12pm to 2pm Monday to Friday Two course £9.25 Three course £11.75 Dinner is served from 7pm to 10pm À la carte menu Table d’hote (Set Menu) Three course £17.50 Sunday Lunch is served from 12.30pm to 2pm Four courses £17.25 (inc coffee/tea and chocolates) A wide choice of starters, mains, including a vegetarian option and dessert

We also offer the following : Wedding Packages (from £3313) • Civil Ceremonies • Conferences • Functions - parties etc.

For further details on any of the above, or to book a table in our restaurant, please contact us direct on 01274 564123. Alternatively, you could contact us via email at info@oakwoodhall.co.uk

Oakwood Hall Hotel

Lady Lane, Bingley, West Yorkshire BD16 4AW

www.oakwoodhall.co.uk

Advertorial

The Office Christmas Party & Employment Law Pitfalls The Christmas party is an event which all staff look forward to. It’s a chance to relax and enjoy colleagues’ company, to reward employees for the year past and to look forward to the year to come. Whilst most parties pass with no more concern than the dodgy dance moves, employers who organise an event and employees who attend should be reminded of the simple rules of professional etiquette to avoid the employment law hang over from hell. Are we discriminating against non-Christian employees by holding a Christmas party? Employers can face discrimination claims if they do not take different religions into account when planning their Christmas party. Location, theme, timing, dress codes and catering should all be considered. For example, holding the party in the local pub or imposing a dress code requiring all women to wear cocktail dresses may discriminate against Muslims. Are we liable for the actions of an employee who harasses another member of staff? Employers are liable for the behaviour of their employees at work-related social functions and could, therefore, face claims resulting from inappropriate sexual or homophobic comments made at the Christmas party. Remember that comments which are intended to be good natured but are perceived to be offensive could constitute harassment. Is it our responsibility if an employee decides to drive home after drinking too much? Employers have a duty of care to ensure, as far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare at work of their employees.

Consideration should be given to providing transport home or circulating the phone numbers for local taxis and encouraging employees to use them. What can we do if an employee fails to turn up for work the next day? If an employee fails to attend work the day after the Christmas party without calling in, the employer is entitled in principle to treat the unauthorised absence as a disciplinary matter. For the record a hangover does not count as being sick! However if you are genuinely feeling unwell after the office party it is better to ring in and be honest. Don’t make excuses honesty is the best policy. If your employer has evidence (the mere suspicion is not enough) that you are not genuinely sick, it may treat the absence as a disciplinary matter. Are we obliged to honour any promises made to employees at the Christmas party? Managers should be reminded not to make any promises regarding salary or promotion prospects at the Christmas party, believe me in high Christmas spirits, it happens! In one tribunal case an employee claimed that he had been promised a substantial pay rise by a manager towards the end of the evening at the company’s annual dinner dance. It was decided that, considering the environment in question, the manager would not have intended to enter into a legally-binding contractual commitment. However, this will not always be the case and promises made at the Christmas party could end up having significant and costly consequences. Here’s hoping your Christmas Party goes without a hitch, if not The Employees Lawyer aka “bar humbug” is working all over the festive period. For your FREE 45 minute consultation, contact me on 07715 672698 or email me at gaynor@theemployees-lawyer.co.uk

To advertise call Alex or Kim on 01535 275355 or email alex@overtmarketing.co.uk

PARK VIEW

Specialists in the care of the elderly Your guarantee of service and comfort in Bradford k Homely Atmosphere k Situated overlooking beautiful parkland k Near city circle bus route k High quality home cooking k Visiting Optician, Minister, G.P.

Hairdresser, Dentist, Chiropodist. k 24 Hour Personalised Care

k Sitting Room, Drawing Room,

Dining Room, Conservatory k Mostly single rooms, many with en-suite

facilities k Full nurse call system k Close to shops k D.S.S. and Private Residents welcome

k Registered with Care Quality Commission

8 North Park Road, Heaton, Bradford BD9 4NB

NATIONAL CAREassociation

Tel: 01274 544638

The voice of the nationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s independent care sector

BRONTE PARK

Specialist residential care for clients with dementia type illness (EMI)

A beautiful Grade II listed former mill owners house set in the heart of picturesque Bronte Country (Haworth) providing quality care in a relaxed homely atmosphere. Our dedicated friendly staff team offer specialised 24 hour personalised care, in a supported, safe environment, under the supervision of The Manager. Please contact us to arrange a visit and see the home for yourself.

Tel: 01535 643268

Bridgehouse Lane, Haworth, BD22 8QE

www.yorkshirecarehomes.com

Puzzles Proudly sponsored by Jon Beasley:

Tel: 01274 567428 www.villagefuneralservice.co.uk

BrainWave

Down

1. Danger (5)

1. Security device (7)

4. Percussion instrument (7)

2. Bone (3)

8. Deliberated (7)

4. Plain (6)

3. Supple (5)

6. Enlarges (9)

7. Astound (5)

12. Similar (5)

14. Mode (7)

15. Rigorous (6) 18. Assumed name (5)

11. Consortium (9)

13. Martial art (4,2)

21. Similar to a giraffe (5)

5. Fortification (7)

10. Marine mollusks (7)

19. Accumulated (7)

Across

9. Molten rock (5)

16. Irksome (7)

17. Wonder (6) 18. Repent (5) 20. Artery (5)

23. Unwell (3)

22. Dizziness (7) 24. Perpetual (7) 25. Book of maps (5)

Sudoku B

4 3 7 8

2 7

Crossword and Sudoku Answers Down: 1: Padlock, 2: Rib, 3: Lithe, 4: Modest, 5: Pampart, 6: Magnifies, 7: Amaze, 11: Syndicate, 14: Fashion, 16: Tedious, 17: Marvel, 18: Atone, 20: Aorta, 23: Ill. Across: 1: Peril, 4: Marimba, 8: Debated, 9: Magna, 10: Oysters, 12: Alike, 13: Kungfu, 15: Strict, 18: Alias, 19: Amassed, 21: Okapi, 22: Vertigo, 24: Eternal, 25: Atlas.

1 8 5 6 7 3 2 4

6 7 3

8 9 5

2 8 7

4 5 3 5

4 8 6

4 5 2 8 9 6 3 7 7 9 6 1 5 3 2 4 8 3 1 4 2 7 9 6 7 5 3 4 2 8 1 2 8 6 1 5 4 9 6 4 9 7 8 5 2 4 3 7 8 9 1 5 8 9 5 6 1 7 3 5 1 7 2 3 4 6 8

3 3 8 1

9 3 1 6 2

9 3 1

7 9 8 5 5 9

To advertise call Alex or Kim on 01535 275355 or email alex@overtmarketing.co.uk

8 7 5 6 1 3 9 4

3 4

5 1 2 9 4 7 6 3 8 9 6 5 3 2 1 4 7 4 3 6 1 8 2 9 5 7 2 6 9 8 1 4 5 4 5 1 9 3 7 3 8 6

1 2

9 7 8 2 6 5

8 1 4 5 4 3 6 7 2 3 8 7 2 5 8 4 7 9 1

3 2 9 6 1

Sudoku A

Advertorial

Just a bedtime story... that’s all it was meant to be. Written by Richard Parr

This book is a dream I’ve shared with my daughter Caitlin, ever since her 5th Birthday. It was that evening she asked me to make up a bedtime story, instead of reading one of hers. Looking at me with her big blue eyes, how could I refuse? Caitlin would ask me to tell the story to her again and again. Each time I would add more details and Caitlin would add ideas of her own. She told the story to her Nana, who is one of the characters and as a former Nursery Teacher she convinced me to put it down on paper. I joked about the idea of writing it as a children’s book with my wife Lisa and before I knew it, she had looked on-line and found an amazing illustrator, Monika Suska. I sent Monika a sketched idea for the cover and once we saw her first painting, there was no going back. We decided that this story should be shared, so I set about the task of writing it. As an unknown first-time author, getting published is impossible, so we decided to independently publish the book ourselves under the name

Magic Blanket Tales. The world of selfpublishing is fraught with hidden perils and things that go bump in the night, but after 2 years of hard work, our book was finally printed and in our hands. There are still moments when I wonder if all the work and cost has been worth it, then we get an email from a parent who’s children won’t go to bed until they’ve had our book read to them. Our first book is special to us, so we have tried to make it special for anyone who buys it. We have printed it in hardback with an embossed dust jacket. The book comes wrapped in pink and blue tissue, sealed with a sticker and delivered in a Gift Box that can be re-used with character cutouts on the reverse. We have self-published and self-funded everything, so nothing you pay will go to publishers or any other fat cats :0) Support a local first-time author and buy your copy today. See our Special Offer opposite. We have sold about 200 copies and donated over 100 copies to Schools, Hospitals and Children’s Charities.

Meet the team: A lot of time, love and talent goes into making a truly enjoyable bedtime story.

A Child’s Mind: Treat with tender loving care, then soak with a lifetime of fun and imagination. 54

To advertise call Alex or Kim on 01535 275355 or email alex@overtmarketing.co.uk

What’s on

What’s on and where DECEMBER Mondays: 2nd, 9th, 16th, 23rd & 30th Fridays: 6th, 13th, 20th & 27th Saturdays: 7th, 14th, 21st & 28th 9.30am - 4.30pm Shipley Open Market provides a focal point to the town centre; the open market operates on a Monday selling a selection of second-hand items and bric-a-brac. On a Friday and Saturday, a wide selection of goods and fresh food products are available on over 40 stalls Market Square, Shipley, Bradford, BD18 3QB. Tel: 01274 432245.

Christmas characters. Each child will get the chance to meet Santa, receive a present and have a photo opportunity. Woodbank Nurseries, Harden Road, Harden, West Yorkshire, BD16 1BE. Tel: 011274 562 971 or visit www.woodbanknurseries.com for more information. Cost is £5 per child.

Saturday 7th, 14th & 21st Sunday 8th, 15th & 22nd 10am - 4pm Tuesday 3rd, 10th & 17th Wednesday 4th, 11th & 18th 2pm - 4.30pm Monday 23rd - Tuesday 24th 10am - 4pm Santa Land at Woodbank Nurseries. Woodbank Nurseries Santa Land is magical grotto filled with animated scenes of Santa’s workshop, elves, and

Christmas events at Eldwick Church, Otley Road, Eldwick Saturday 14th December 4pm Messy Church group meet to celebrate Christingle. Messy Church is a worshipping community of all ages, it is for all the family. It will be held in the church hall and the church. There will be craft activities as you arrive in the church hall, stories from the Bible, songs and prayers in the church– rounding off with sharing a simple meal together in the church hall. This is an event for all the family – whatever your age, why not come and join in the fun! Sunday 15th December 10:30am Sunday Club Nativity. Everyone is welcome to this service. Wednesday 18th December 9:15am “Happy Hour” with a Christmas theme. Happy Church is a monthly event aimed at younger ages and gives a time to play, have a cuppa, sing songs, enjoy a simple craft and share a Bible story. Sunday 22nd December 6:30pm. Carol service. The Travelling Nativity, which is now a popular event in Eldwick, takes place at 3:30pm on Christmas Eve. This sees many Nativity characters, usually including a donkey, travelling around Eldwick, re-enacting the Nativity scene. All are welcome to attend and take part in this wonderful event. Also on Christmas Eve, at 11:30pm is a Christmas service, including Communion. Finally the Christmas Day Family Communion service takes place at 10am. Details of other events at The Eldwick Church can be found at www.eldwickchurch. org.uk or you can join our Twitter feed at @eldwickchurch, or on Facebook.

Sunday 7th, 8th, 14th, 15th, 21st, 22nd & 24th Santa Specials 2013. The popular steam-hauled Santa Specials will be running again this year. During the journey Santa visits every child and the grown-ups get a mince pie and a sherry. Join the Santa Special at Oxenhope, Haworth or Keighley Stations for a ten-mile return journey on our steam train, lasting around an hour. Experience nostalgia and the magic of Christmas in our specially decorated coaches, with festive music to get you into the mood. Santa and his pixies visit each child during the journey, delivering presents and the grown-ups are served with a mince pie and seasonal drink: the perfect way for you and your family to start the Christmas season. All the Santa Specials have a buffet car serving real-ale, hot and cold drinks and a variety of snacks, with entertainers on board to make sure you get the most out of your day. Your ticket also allows you free travel on the connecting diesel services. The hugely popular Pixies Pantry Cafe and Winter Wonderland display will be available in Oxenhope Exhibition Shed throughout the Santa Special period. Book online: Santa Special tickets can now be booked online at http://booking.kwvr.co.uk/Santa or on tel: 01535 645214 between 10am and 4pm. Visit www.kwvr.co.uk for more information.

To advertise call Alex or Kim on 01535 275355 or email alex@overtmarketing.co.uk

Continued on page 58

Sunday 7th, 8th, 14th, 15th, 21st & 22nd 12:00pm - 4.30pm Shipley Glen Tramway. The Shipley Glen Cable Tramway is the oldest working cable tramway in Great Britain (cliff lifts excepted). Dating from 1895, the line was built to serve the local beauty of Shipley Glen, near Saltaire in West Yorkshire. Prod Lane, Baildon, Shipley BD17 5BN. For more information visit www.glentramway.co.uk or Tel: 01274 589010.

Harden St. Saviour’s Christmas Services Sunday 22nd 6.30pm Carol Service. Tuesday 24th 4pm Christingle Service. Wednesday 25th 10.30am Family Communion Service. Sunday 29th 11.15am Morning Worship. Wilsden St. Matthew’s Christmas Services Sunday 15th 6.30pm Carol Service. Tuesday Dec 24th 4pm Christingle Service. 11.30pm. Midnight Holy Communion. Sunday Dec 29th 9.30am Morning Worship. Please note NO Cafe Church today.

Wednesday 11th 7.30pm Glen Tillbrook (formerly of Squeeze). Glen Tilbrook was responsible for Top Ten hits all around the world such as “Tempted”, “Hourglass”, “Cool For Cats” and “Up The Junction”. Ticket Sales - in advance £17.50. Bingley Arts Centre, Main Street, Bingley BD16 2LZ. Tel: 01274 519814. www.bingleyartscentre.co.uk www.bingleylittletheatre.co.uk Wednesday 11th Open Mic Night at Foundry Hill Bar & Lounge. Usually on the Second Wednesday of every month, everyone is welcome to sing or play, just bring along an instrument. A sound system is available, but feel free to bring along your own. Wellington Street, Bingley, BD16 2NB. Tel: 01274 566 144 for tickets. Visit www.foundryhillbar.co.uk for more information.

Sunday 18th Woodturners Group. St Ives Visitor Centre host a demonstration day for West Riding Woodturners Group. They are already planning and making some lovely Christmassy designs for visitors to buy as unusual gifts or to decorate their homes and Xmas trees.For further information please contact the Secretary, Steve Griffiths, by telephone on 01274 809010 or by email to rcpilot@talktalk. net, or come along to a meeting at Eldwick Memorial Hall, Otley Road, Eldwick, Bingley, BD16 3EQ.

with trademark cannons, a wall of Marshalls and two hours of High Voltage Rock and Roll. And in AC/DC’s fortieth year, the band cover both eras with both Bon Scott and Brian Johnson present to take you on the Rock and Roll train for a night to remember. Bingley Arts Centre, Main Street, Bingley BD16 2LZ. Tel: 01274 519814. www.bingleyartscentre.co.uk www.bingleylittletheatre.co.uk Saturday 21st 11am Enchanting Ice Sculptures at City Park. The Children of the Snow and the Boy with the Little Idea. Come and marvel at beautiful and enchanting ice sculptures by celebrated local artist, Jamie Wardley and the team from Sandinyoureye. Follow the story of a young boy in the North Pole who plays with the magical Children of the Snow. The boy has a little idea, let’s make children happy on Christmas day! One day it changes the world.

JANUARY 2014 Saturday 25th 7.30pm - 11.30pm Record Club. 12” Singles Night. We’ll be dedicating our January event to the 12” single. Love it or loathe it, we’ll be playing only 12” singles for the entire night. Well, we might, or we might not.Rob @robfprior is going to be in charge, so look out for instructions from him over the coming months. As usual, there should be a nice bar, nice people and good music, so bring along something you think the rest of us should hear and enjoy. The Kirkgate Centre, 39a Kirkgate, Shipley BD18 3RR. Visit www.recordclub.org.uk for more information.

Friday 13th 7.30 pm Aire Valley Singers. Christmas concert: WHAT CHEER? We will be performing a selection of both sacred and secular Christmas music and including festive readings. Seasonal refreshments will be served at the interval. At St Paul’s Church, Kirkgate, Shipley.Tickets on the door, from choir members or telephone: 01484 710052, or email airevalleysingers@hotmail.com. Visit www.airevalleysingers.com for more information.

Saturday 21st 7.30pm LIVE/WIRE... THE AC/DC SHOW. Get ready for a seismic event. The unique six man tribute to rock’s greatest band AC/DC, complete

To advertise call Alex or Kim on 01535 275355 or email alex@overtmarketing.co.uk

The Biggest and Best kitchen and bathroom showroom in the Bingley area

For more information or to discuss your project please call:

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01274 566100

• Fabulous range of bathrooms and kitchens • 25 years experience • Family run business • Fully qualified tradesman

Member of The Guild of Master Craftsmen

We now have an extensive range of Bosch appliances

Mon-Fri: 10am - 3pm Unit 2 Leonards Place, Leonard Street, Bingley, West Yorkshire BD16 1DP Email: info@simplybathroomsbingley.co.uk www.simplybathroomsbingley.co.uk

Sat: 10.30am - 1.30pm (Evenings & Weekends by appointment only)