Pontefract Voice - August 2016

PONTEFRACT VOICE AUGUST 2016

NEW MONUMENT CELEBRATES TOWN’S PAST

MAGNA CARTA MONUMENT Ribbon Cutting Ceremony After two years of hard effort and negotiation with various stakeholders, and weeks of hard graft for the craftsmen involved, Pontefract Civic Society was able to deliver a fitting Magna Carta monument for the town and its many visitors.

Reference was made to Malcolm Macaskill’s legacy which contributed significantly to financing the project through Pontefract Civic Society, to which WMDC, Harworth Estates and a small number of individuals contributed. The craftsmen, Charlie Kershaw (carvings) and Clive Preston (stonemason/ builder), were equally thanked.

We were fortunate to have Michael Sayles Fox, Deputy Lieutenant of West Yorkshire, and a former Pomfretian, as our principle guest, together with Cllr Denise Jeffery, Yvette Cooper MP and pupils from our first Junior Civic Society member, Carleton Park J&I School, who gave a very accomplished reading between them, explaining what the Magna Carta was all about. The ceremony was hosted by Peter Cookson, Honorary President, and at the time the monument was conceived was our elected Chair.

After the ribbon cutting and photographs, all guests including civic society members and other group representatives took refreshments in the Nelson Room of Pontefract Town Hall, where Mrs Elma Mangnall read a poem, “Magna Carta” by Marriott Edgar, and our Chair and Magna Carta Monument Project Manager, Paul Cartwright, closed proceedings ensuring everyone involved was thanked.

The reception included display boards from the civic society, and we were fortunate to have one of the first secret ballot boxes on show, thanks to David Evans from Pontefract Museum – a further link between Pontefract, Magna Carta, and our nation’s democracy.

The only remaining task is to design, purchase and install an interpretation board, similar to that at All Saint’s Church. Donations are still being accepted for the project as a whole, so please contact Paul Cartwright if you wish to contribute.

“The only remaining task is to design, purchase and install an interpretation board, similar to that at All Saint’s Church. ” Images courtesy of the Pontefract and Castleford Express.

Registered charity number 513509

www.pontefractcivicsociety.org.uk

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CHAIR’S REPORT What’s been in my diary?

As well as participating in meetings of our Executive, and other committees (Conservation, Environment & Planning and Publicity, Events and Admin), I have been involved with our PR stall at numerous local events (detailed elsewhere in this newsletter), and the following meetings, events and discussions.

• Successfully gained press releases in the Pontefract & Castleford Express: pre and post Yorkshire Day, and Magna Carta ceremony.

• Gained a £500 donation from Harworth Estates for the Magna Carta monument • Met Harald (York University PhD student) with Colin and Karl to set up and participate in a Digital Heritage project.

• Gained a £600 grant award in support of our participation in the University of York’s Digital Heritage Project; grant coming from the Council for British Archaeology’s Mick Aston Registered charity number 513509

Archaeology Fund supported

by Historic England. This grant will support meetings, travel and PR costs, enabling a series of local meetings to take place, and attendance at a project meeting in York with representatives from Bridlington Civic Society, Friends of the Chalk Tower (Flamborough), and York University.

• Harald Fredheim (York University) has since delivered 3 local workshops, and our group (with the exception of Colin White) went to a workshop in York to meet with representatives of other projects in Bridlington and Flamborough.

• I had an informal evening with five new members, a couple of prospective members and two existing members, the purpose being by way of an introduction to the civic society, in a social setting, and to hear what they thought we might consider doing in the future.

National Board of Directors, & Railfuture cycling officer.

• I have managed two Yorkshire Day grant awards from WMDC for bunting, posters & flyers, and face painting; the bunting being used with primary schools that created their own designs, the results being used to decorate stalls in the town centre.

• I have had individual meetings with Roger Woodall (a new member), Ian Hookham (now co-opted to the Executive), John Hufton, Cllr David Jones, and attended Pontefract Town centre Business Partnership meetings.

• I attended the Armed Forces Day (post-event) reception at Wakefield College where we received impeccable service from the college students.

• I met with Peter Cookson and Chris Hyomes in order to scope our public meeting to create a rail partnership.

Chris is a Pro Rail campaigner, director of Don Valley Railway, member of Railfuture www.pontefractcivicsociety.org.uk

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(Re)negociating Expertise and Participation Conference Allied to our involvement in the Digital Heritage Co-creation Project, I attended the (Re)negotiating Expertise and Participation Conference at the University of York which was organised in collaboration with the Council for British Archaeology and the UK Chapter of the Association for Critical Heritage Studies, and funded by the White Rose College of the Arts and Humanities and the Humanities Research Centre at the University of York.

Keynote speakers were Dr Mia Ridge (British Library) and Paul Buddery (formerly Royal Society of the Arts) both of whom spoke about changes in processes and services in a digital world, how it’s essential to reward people’s meaningful experiences’, and how volunteers are consumers of services in which local authorities need to negotiate a different relationship with them.

Other speakers and key points were: Keith Emerick (Historic England) – “...needing to create a legacy, enhancing local expertise…”

Lucy Moore (Leeds City Council Museum) – “… are running several partnership projects with volunteers who are very passionate about their project and its ownership for them…”

“In archaeology, the UK is at the forefront of using volunteers…”

Tracy Wilcockson “The National Trust can’t function, from a conservation perspective, without volunteers, who all need appropriate training to ensure care is taken with delicate objects….”

Lorna-Jane Richardson (CBA) – “In archaeology, the UK is at the forefront of using volunteers…”

The afternoon’s sessions comprised a number of syndicates where the delegates used their relative experience in group discussions and feedback, whether as volunteers, students, academics or professionals.

Overall, this event was a worthwhile experience.

WELCOME to the following new members: • Gareth & Melissa Bell

• Linda Benson-Henfrey

• Matthew Boyer

• Olga Hill

• Claire Crossdale

• Jacqueline Warner

• Philip Henfrey

Registered charity number 513509

www.pontefractcivicsociety.org.uk

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YORKSHIRE DAY Shop Window Display Competition The civic society announced in May that after the success of the Christmas shop window displays, we’d give it a go again in an effort to promote the town and business. The interest was a little lower than Christmas, so we had 8 windows to judge, and our Chair, Paul Cartwright, was joined by Cllr David Jones (Deputy Economic Growth & Skills Portfolio, WMDC), and Purple Faye (www.purplefaye.co.uk, a local artist with a studio on Finkle Street). We had a good hour wandering around the town, dodging the shower, stopping off at Brosgill Opticians, Airedale Computers, Pontefract Library, Belles (now Olives), Pomfret Gallery, Wilson’s Pies, Top Mark Suit Hire, and finally Southgate Kitchen & Bathroom Studio with Hark Interiors.

All registered entrants are thanked for their efforts, with the real creativity being displayed at Pomfret Gallery with a framed castle of Pontefract Cakes, and we then had a similar theme of the very best of Yorkshire at Belles and Southgate Kitchen & Bathroom Studio with Hark Interiors. So, the judges’ decision then became final!

We were pleased to award a Runner up Certificate and some small gifts to Helen, the new owner at Belles (or Olives as it will soon be rebranded). The judges felt that the window looked great with Yorkshire Tea and other food produce, together with gardening themes, Yorkshire bunting, and Yorkshire Life Magazine as part of the display.

Registered charity number 513509

“... real creativity being displayed at Pomfret Gallery with a framed castle of Pontefract Cakes” Our winning shop window for today was awarded to Southgate Kitchen & Bathroom Studio with Hark Interiors, where Karen Morley was thrilled to receive her certificate and goodies from Pontefract Civic Society. The judges noted a plethora of Yorkshire themes from a tweed jacket, to dogs, tea, liquorice allsorts, Yorkshire bunting, and it was then the sporting collection which swung the judges, through the inclusion of rugby and cricket.

Karen would also like to thank Tordoff’s and Signature for providing some of the display material.

Thanks also to David Jones Photography (Winner & Runner Up).

www.pontefractcivicsociety.org.uk

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Digital Heritage Project Over the past couple of months, we have participated in a number of workshop sessions with Harald Freidheim, a Norwegian PhD student from the University of York.

This has included assessing what heritage actually means to different people, best described as a sense of place, buildings, past trades and industry, through to arts, culture and performance. How heritage is communicated in a physical sense and online to different audiences, e.g. local people including school children, visitors, and volunteers delivering heritage, are all important aspects to be considered when co-creating tools for others to use.

This is the start of a journey and it’s not over yet.

MEMBERSHIP 2017 Recruitment 2017 - Tell your friends It’s common that in conjunction with Heritage Open Days, we launch our recruitment for new members for 2017. At our 2016 AGM, our membership rates for 2017 were approved.

Individual Member

£15

Individual 2nd Member in the same household £5 Bronze Business Member

£40

Silver Business Member

£75

Honorary Membership

No fee

Junior Civic Society Membership

No fee

Executive Committee Contacts Chair

Paul Cartwright

01977 708658

chairman@pontefractcivicsociety.org.uk

Secretary

Karl Gilbert

01977 218835

secretary@pontefractcivicsociety.org.uk

Treasurer

Ian Wood

07806 916 937

ianfwood@hotmail.co.uk

LUT Chair

Peter Cookson

01977 792530

p.cookson@talktalk.net

PEA Chair

Mike Skidmoore

01977 709327

mskid672@talktalk.net

CEP Chair

Peter Taylor

01977 703050

p.taylor569@btinternet.com

Co-opted & HODs

Claire MacDonald

01977 709268

cmacdonald@doctors.gov.uk

Co-opted & Pontefract in Bloom

Colin White

01977 795074

whitedrc@sky.com

Co-opted

Ian Hookham

01977 705030

ianhookham39@gmail.com

Registered charity number 513509

www.pontefractcivicsociety.org.uk

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HERITAGE OPEN DAYS Discover Pontefract

Heritage Open Days is England’s largest heritage festival, taking place 8-11 September.

The Crescent Cinema

Join us in Pontefract and explore the multitude of familiar and hidden places on your doorstep, completely free of charge! For more information on any of the events, please visit: www.heritageopendays.org.uk.

Saturday 10 September: 1330-1530

Pontefract Town Hall - Heritage Tour & Talk Wakefield Council, Town Hall, Bridge Street, Pontefract, WF8 1PG Friday 9 September: 1000-1500 Tour 1100 & 1400

Malt Shovel Cellars Malt Shovel Hotel, 1 Cornmarket, Pontefract, WF8 1AN Friday 9 September: Saturday 10 September: Sunday 11 September:

1200-1600 1200-1600 1800-1900

St. Joseph’s RC Church St. Joseph’s Church, Back Street, Pontefract, WF8 1NL Saturday 10 September: 1000-1400

St. Giles Church 24 Market Place, Pontefract, WF8 1AT Thursday 8 September: Friday 9 September: Organ recital Saturday 10 September: Bells Concert

48 Ropergate, Pontefract, WF8 1LY

0900-1500 0900-1700 1300-1400 0900-1700 1000 1930

Pontefract Masonic Hall 1 Ackworth Road, Pontefract, WF8 3PA Friday 9 September: Tour 1530 Registered charity number 513509

St. Michael’s Church St Michael’s Church, Carleton Road, Pontefract, WF8 3RW Saturday 10 September: 1000-1200

Friarwood Valley Gardens Friarwood Valley Gardens, Pontefract, WF8 1PL Saturday 10 September: Tours

1000-1600 1100, 1400 & 1500

www.pontefractcivicsociety.org.uk

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Minden House

All Saints Church

The Barracks, Minden House, Wakefield Road, Pontefract, WF8 3ES

All Saints Church, South Baileygate, Pontefract, WF8 2JL

Saturday 10 September:

1000-1300

Sunday 11 September:

1400-1600

Pontefract Castle

Conservative Club

Pontefract Castle, Castle Chain, Pontefract, WF8 2JF

Market Place, Pontefract, WF8 1AG

Saturday 10 September: 1100-1600 Sunday 11 September: Brass Band Concert 1400-1600

Saturday 10 September: Sunday 11 September:

1100-1900 1100-1900

Rogerthorpe Manor Hotel Thorpe Lane, Badsworth, WF8 1AB Thursday 8 September: Friday 9 September: Saturday 10 September: Sunday 11 September:

1000-2000 1000-2000 1000-2000 1000-2000

Liquorice Fields of Pontefract

Heritage Walks Meeting at Pontefract Museum, 5 Salter Row, Pontefract, WF8 1BA Friday 9 September: Tours 1030, 1200 & 1330 Saturday 10 September: Tours

1030, 1200 & 1330 Sunday 11 September: Tours 1030, 1200 & 1330

Narrow Beck House, Knottingley Road, Pontefract, WF8 2LA Saturday 10 September: Tours

1300-1500 1300, 1330, 1400, 1430 & 1500

Registered charity number 513509

www.pontefractcivicsociety.org.uk

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COMMITTEE REPORTS Land Use & Transport Report At the present time, we’re awaiting two meetings that we hope will give us up to date information about transport infrastructure in the town. The first of these (with WMDC officers) should give us information about road and junction improvements proposed for the near future, and the second (with officers from Railnorth and other stakeholders) about developments on the rail. So far, we do not have dates from these and the midsummer holiday period makes them rather difficult to set up.

“... a shortsighted, lost opportunity and we do not wish to see such a short-termism repeated in the same area again.”

We referred last time to the number of housing developments now on stream but one, in a particularly sensitive area, has not yet started. The area of the old furniture factory on Mill Dam is the subject of a proposed housing scheme and the development Registered charity number 513509

of this site impinges both on Mill Dam Lane (which is a key section of the road linking many other active sites) and the area where extra station parking will undoubtedly be required at Monkhill.

The new car park at the station has been a most welcome improvement and it is already usually full during the day.

However, it was known from the outset that it would be too small for the station’s potential and it is important to have further land available for an extension in the not-too-distant future; this is likely to be in the vicinity of the Mill Dam scheme. It is of considerable importance for the design of any scheme in that area to take this into consideration. Failure to do so would in our view, be a big mistake. The recent decision not to adopt and implement the Society’s plan for concentrating bus and rail services at the station by using access through the Maltings site was a short-sighted, lost opportunity and we do not wish to see such a short-termism repeated in the same area again.

Still at the station, there is a worthwhile benefit to be had by opening up the existing bridge to the Maltings site to cyclists and foot passengers, who could then access the station from the east more conveniently and safely than at present. There is still much work for the station and its environs.

Peter Cookson LUT Chair

Publicity, Events & Administration Report The second third of the year was a very busy time for our society!

On Sunday 12 June Pontefract held the Cycle Fest. Although we were not connected with the organising committee, we do publicise all major public events in the town. It was well attended, both by participants and by the large number of people who watched. Fortunately the weather was perfect for cycling.

On Saturday 25 June Armed Forces Day was held for the first time in Pontefract Park. By every statistic it was a major success, not only by the wealth of stalls (ours included), but also by the numbers of people who attended.

There was every type of stall, plus an array of military vehicles, even an aircraft cockpit for children to sit in and have their photograph taken. There were several arena displays during the day, finalising in two parachutists coming down

www.pontefractcivicsociety.org.uk

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and landing on a small square - again, the weather was ideal.

Armed Forces Day was followed in the evening by the Proms at the Castle, which was a further great success for Pontefract.

On Tuesday 5 July the society held a talk by Simon Tomson entitled National Friaries. This was a follow up to the talk he gave last year on Pontefract’s Black Friars.

Although I couldn’t attend the talk I was informed that it was well attended and much appreciated by those there, who saw slides of friaries in a national and European context. As history is an integral part of our lives, it is no surprise that such talks are popular, and Simon does them exceedingly well.

On 9 July Pontefract Heritage Group hosted Picnic in the Castle, which is a popular favourite, though the weather was not our side. Arena entertainment came in the form of several Viking battle scenes and local youth dance performances. Outside of the arena, visitors were successfully entertained throughout the day by a male swing duo who sang their way through the 50’s and 60’s.

Pontefract Liquorice Festival, Registered charity number 513509

that unique event, known now to probably millions of people, not only locally, but nationwide, was held on Sunday 10 July - a brilliantly hot day. The town was packed from about 11.00 am onwards. Pontefract Civic Society naturally had a stall amongst all the many others. This Festival is growing year on year and at one time there was talk of opening a liquorice museum. If anybody has any comments or ideas on that please contact our society and put them to us. We will be most interested.

“We as a society are also working with local schools, to promote the history and heritage of the area…”

August 1st was Yorkshire Day. This special ‘Day’ is slowly growing, and Pontefract is one of the towns that promote our County’s Day. There were activities taking place in Friarwood Valley Gardens, at the Castle, and of course in the town centre.

Pontefract Civic Society promoted all these activities and more. We also held our very first Yorkshire Day shop window display competition, after a similar success at Christmas, which is featured elsewhere is in this newsletter, but it must be said, all the competitors tried exceedingly hard, so next year should be interesting.

As a society our thanks go out to many groups within our town, namely Friends of Friarwood Valley Gardens, Pontefract in Bloom, Pontefract Heritage Group, Friends of Pontefract Castle, Friends of Pontefract Park, and many others. Without so many people giving up their free time to try to improve Pontefract, the society would have a much more difficult time in achieving our aspirations for the town.

Future Events Looking to next month, Dr Claire MacDonald has done a wonderful job coordinating Heritage Open Days, which is scheduled between Thurs 8 to Sun 11 September, offering fifteen venues to choose from, ranging from a town heritage walk, to a guided tour of the Town Hall, and the Masonic Hall on the corner of Carleton Road and Ackworth Road.

The following week, we will host a public meeting for anyone interested in seeing Pontefract’s rail stations and services improve to their former glory – but that only happen with enthusiasts who are prepared to form a new “rail partnership” group.

www.pontefractcivicsociety.org.uk

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We as a society are also working with local schools, to promote the history and heritage of the area, and find out what young people think of their town. Four primary schools have already said they wish to affiliate with Pontefract Civic Society, and in the coming new school year we will be discussing with them how we can proceed on this initiative, together. We have several ideas, but ultimately it is down to our Junior Civic Society.

On 4 October, we are holding a talk by David Winpenny in Carlton Grange, 7.00 pm. It is entitled ‘Scandals, Spite and Shuttlecocks: The story of Wentworth Woodhouse’, definitely worth £3 of anybody’s money.

Finally, although an event organised by the Lionesses, on Saturday 15th Oct, they are holding the Pontefract Lantern Festival which is gaining in popularity each year.

The society is a very broad church and is open to any constructive ideas about how to improve Pontefract. Being a member gives you an opportunity to contribute and perhaps make a difference.

We welcome new members, whether individually, couples or corporate. So much needs doing in our town, but we need willing people to do it.

Mike Skidmore PEA Chairman

Registered charity number 513509

On Gillygate above the former amusement arcade is a development adding 8 apartments.

The scheme involves adding an upper level pitched roof to the existing flat roof with dormer windows.

Conservation, Environment & Planning Report There have been in recent months a number of planning approvals progressed in the town centre to private residential accommodation in the form of flats and apartments.

Now nearing completion, Micklegate House on Horsefair has seen the upper floor office space converted to form 27 apartments. The external alterations include reconfiguration of the windows and orange, grey and pale blue cladding.

“The Civic Society welcomes the new uses to unoccupied floor space in the town centre.”

The planning approvals on King Charles II House suggests a proposal which could provide approximately 60 units with little alteration to the exterior of the buildings.

Several other approvals which could be implemented include adding 7 flats to the rear of 31 Market Place, above Bennetts Butchers and to the buildings at the rear.

There is an approval for 2 apartments above 1 Market Place to the upper floors with a separate entrance on Market Place.

Still to be approved are 2 apartments involving conversion of the upper floor level of 29 Market Place, the former LLoyds Pharmacy property.

The proposals are all within the centre of Pontefract and there was little concern from the Highways Department regarding any car parking provision.

The Civic Society welcome the new uses to unoccupied floor space in the town centre. There would appear to be both a need and a demand for this form of accommodation which is being met by private investment.

Peter Taylor CEP Chairman

www.pontefractcivicsociety.org.uk

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OTHER SOCIETY REPORTS YHACS Whitby Meeting Christine and I represented Pontefract Civic Society at the summer meeting in Whitby, which turned out to be a hot June weekend, with an Armed Forces event too.

We stayed at a pub in Sleights, and met with the YHACS committee and some members of Whitby Civic Society for dinner on the Friday night where we were treated to some good food in a private dining room at the White Horse and Griffin, a historic inn below the abbey.

Saturday morning saw a lengthy walk from the harbour through town to the museum and back to the main town centre highlighting buildings with Georgian features; our guide and his grandson were both well-informed and amusing.

The afternoon’s meeting at the James Cook Theatre in The Coliseum started with the YHACS Chair, Kevin Trickett, describing heritage & culture in the context of digital archive resources. This was followed by two heritage presentations from Whitby Civic Society; firstly on the disaster of His Majesty’s Hospital Ship Rohilla which comprised a series of commemorative events through music, concerts, media, and a church service. Secondly, we heard a great presentation entitled Haven under the Hill” which described the history, growth and importance of Whitby over centuries. A few fascinating facts included:

• The Whitby coastline faces due north • Alum working was hugely important; the Sandsend works opened c. 1607 • Shipbuilding c. 1600 for the Master of the King’s Navy • The value of exports in 1609 was £92 which dramatically rose to £12,795 in 1640 (as compared with Scarborough and Bridlington at a mere £500 each) • The population increased in the 1600’s from 1,000 to 12,000 • By 1877, the railway and goods warehouses were replacing shipyards • In 1909, the current swing bridge cost £22,000 to build and install The next YHACS meeting will be hosted at the Lowther Hotel by Goole Civic Society on Sat 29 Oct. If any members from Pontefract wish to attend, please ask.

Paul & Christine Cartwright

Friends of Friarwood Valley Gardens • Pinhole Camera: The former aviary has been renovated over the past 12 months and converted to the world’s largest pinhole camera (our belief until proved otherwise). It was first open to the public on World-wide Pinhole Photography Day, Sunday 24 April, again for Liquorice Festival and Yorkshire Day and will be open again for Pontefract Heritage Open Day, Saturday 10 September. We wish to acknowledge funding for Registered charity number 513509

the renovation from WDH “Love Where You Live” initiative, WDH 10 Year Anniversary Fund and WDMC Neighbourhood Improvement Fund. We will be seeking further funding to upgrade to a Camera Obscura.

• Tree Sculpture: In May we commissioned Yorkshire Carving to transform a dead tree into a sculpture of two owls perched on a fairy tree www.pontefractcivicsociety.org.uk

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were able to give several days’ work in the Rose Garden earlier this summer.

house. It was funded by one of our members.

• Replacement of two dying flowering cherry trees: Visitors to the Valley Gardens were concerned when two of the trees in the celebrated blossom avenue were removed in February because of age and disease. Fortunately we have been able to replace them with two trees of the same variety and they are growing well.

Thank you to the donors who paid for the trees: Castleford and Pontefract District Lions Club and one of our members.

• Rose Garden: The Rose Garden has been in full bloom again this summer, but maintenance is stretching the small team of volunteer gardeners to the limit. Thanks to the Prince’s Trust who

• Events: Easter Egg Hunt, Liquorice Festival and Yorkshire Day were all very successful events, and the weather was kind on each occasion. Xplore trails have been added to our established Tree Trail for the summer events. Xplore Orienteering is a fun quiz trail to encourage family exercise activities, funded by Wakefield Public Health. The next event in the Valley Gardens is the annual Lantern Festival on Saturday 15th October.

• Funding applications: We have been busy over the past few weeks submitting funding applications for more picnic benches and to replace the outdoor stage.

• Call for volunteers: Friends of Friarwood Valley Gardens has nearly 50 members, but only about 12 active volunteers to help with gardening, events and fund raising. Help with our aim to improve the Valley Gardens will be welcomed and appreciated.

Dr Colin White - Chair

Pontefract Heritage Partnership Having at last obtained a formal agreement in principle from the Mid Yorkshire Trust Board for the transfer of ownership by asset transfer of the former Dispensary and Hermitage, Pontefract Heritage Partnership is now able to proceed with an application to the Heritage Lottery Fund. A public meeting will be held in Pontefract Town Hall on Wednesday 28th September to publicise the project and to launch fund raising. The funding application will be for £2m of which £200k will have to be raised separately as match funding. Full details of our business plan and progress will be explained at the public meeting.

Dr Colin White - Chair Registered charity number 513509

www.pontefractcivicsociety.org.uk

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Pontefract in Bloom Funding for summer floral displays in Pontefract town centre has gradually declined in recent years due to Council cut-backs and fewer than 30 hanging baskets were put up last summer. To address this lamentable situation a Pontefract in Bloom committee was formed in October 2015 and a decision was made to go for a sponsorship solution. 25 town centre businesses and two private individuals sponsored 38 hanging baskets, 12 were provided free by First Impressions Nurseries, Ackworth and 22 from funding obtained from WDH and Wakefield Council’s Neighbourhood Improvement Fund; a total of 72 hanging baskets. A planter paid for by Wakefield Council was installed on Bridge Street next to the newly erected Magna Carta monument, and four new planters funded by the Highways Department were placed on Southgate in front of the former Dispensary. We

expect to increase our sponsorship involvement year on year as businesses note the floral enhancement of the town centre. Pontefract in Bloom would like to recruit additional committee members, especially from the business community.

Donations & Bequests

Avdertisments

Have you thought of making a donation to Pontefract Civic Society during your lifetime, or leaving us some money in your will? This newsletter and the Annual Reports on our website show the tremendous work the society and our members are doing to make Pontefract a better place. To continue our important work at its present level, or in fact expand it as we plan to do, then we have a pressing need for more resources.

The beneficial position of the society is both it’s independence and non-political stance, and that we do not rely of public sector grants to conduct our core activities. As the town’s watchdog on planning, architecture, heritage and public amenities, we can speak on behalf of those who live and work in Pontefract, without fear or favour.

We would be absolutely delighted if you would make a donation or a bequest. Both the Chair and the Secretary are available if you wish to discuss this in more detail.

Registered charity number 513509

Dr Colin White - Chair

13 The Circle, Chequerfield, Pontefract throughout September & October Wednesday’s 6:00pm - 9:00pm

Saturday’s

10:00am - 4:00pm

Adults & Children Welcome Come and make your lantern ready for the Parade on Saturday 15th October

All materials provided Free of Charge All Donations Welcome

For further details contact

Tel: 07970 575723 / 07711 933457 Email: jinty71@btinternet.com www.lions105c.org.uk/pontefractlionesses

www.pontefractcivicsociety.org.uk

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Celebrating 40 Years of Service to the Community with Minden Bugle and Drums Band

From Pontefract Castle (Gates open 6pm, Parade departs 7:00pm)

to Friarwood Valley Gardens

For further information contact: 07970 575723 / 07711 933457 Email: jinty71@btinternet.com

www.lions105c.org.uk/pontefractlionesses

Crescent Project Film Club Proudly Presents

Sunday 11 Sept 6.30pm for 7pm Malt Shovel Hotel Cornmarket Pontefract

Tickets £5 Supporters with voucher £4 Malt Shovel Hotel Pineapple Hair Studio Perfect 10 Nail Studio www.the-crescent.org.uk

Directed by Danny Boyle. Starring Cillian Murphy.

A spaceship is on a journey to “restart” our sun.

This is the story of that flight, the crew, the spaceship and the Sun itself.

The visuals are mind-blowing - and the sound track is spot on.

A riveting plot with award winning Special Effects.

Supporting The Crescent Project Creating a prestigious environment for entertainment, culture, media and sport Making Pontefract Proud Find us on the web www.the-crescent.org.uk

Crescent Cinema Pontefract

Registered charity number 513509

@TheCrescentWF8

www.pontefractcivicsociety.org.uk

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Dates For Your Diary Sat 3 Sept - 2pm till late

Tues 4 Oct - 7pm

Party in the Park - Hundhill Hall

Talk: Scandals, Spite and Shuttlecocks (Wentworth Woodhouse) by David Winpenney (Ripon Civic Society) - Carleton Grange

Thur 8 - Sun 11 Sept Heritage Open Days

Sat 15 Oct

Weds 14 Sept - 7pm

Pontefract Lantern Festival

Public Meeting to form Pontefract & District Rail Partnership - Nelson Room, Pontefract Town Hall

Weds 7 Dec - 7pm

Sat 17 Sept - 12 noon - 4pm

Members’ Annual Dinner - Rogerthorpe Manor Hotel

Five Towns Community Day - Pontefract Park

We are proud to have the following businesses as members:

Pontefract Civic Society is also a proud member of:

Registered charity number 513509

www.pontefractcivicsociety.org.uk

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