The Local Leader Edition 11

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LOCAL LEADER your favourite community magazine in Bradford

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“BIGGEST FA CUP SHOCK OF ALL TIME” Greatest day for Bradford City as they overturn defeat into spectacular 4-2 win against Chelsea Match report on Page 6 by Jake Verity, Photography by Thomas Gadd

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04 Welcome to Edition 11 of The Local Leader!

Later this year, we have the £260m Westfield Broadway shopping centre opening and 2015 is already being called Bradford’s year Bradfordians are beginning to get more and in a funny way, The Local Leader has optimistic about the city’s future. We have a started off on a high! January is usually a very fantastic retail offer in Bradford now - the quiet time for the publishing industry straight existing Kirkgate Shopping Centre and Oastler after the highs of Christmas, but we have Centre, the new Independent Quarter and done very well and also got a lot of interesting Westfield will only add to this. Shipley is also content from a wide range of contributors. on the up thanks to the hard work of Just a matter of days ago, I went to the most shopkeepers there who are running the sensational football match I have ever seen especially popular “Shipley Shopping” the one and only Chelsea v Bradford fixture. campaign. With thousands of fans now and the The match just proved what can be done number constantly growing, it is nice to see when people get behind something - the the efforts of these people paying off. rapturous feeling among the fans spurred In this edition, we must also say goodbye to Bradford City on to winning 4-2 and this Gerry Sutcliffe MP, who will be retiring his edition celebrates that on the front cover. We Bradford South seat in May. We would like to would like to thank Jake Verity for writing the thank him for the columns he has written for report for us with such tight publishing us and the publicity we have got on his deadlines and to Thomas Gadd for the images behalf. used on the front cover and in our special report.

Enjoy Edition 11!

James Slater

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LOCAL LEADER

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THE LOCAL LEADER MAGAZINE 28 COMMERCIAL STREET SHIPLEY BRADFORD BD18 3SP ................................................................

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06

Bradford City storm to shock win at Chelsea!

Jake Verity reports on the game where Bradford won their first match at Stamford Bridge in over a century taking them to first fifth round FA Cup game in 18 years

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behind our players. Service stations along the motorway were conquered by a whirlwind of Claret and Amber. Scarf sellers lined outside the services, Utter bliss. Morais hammers it home to coaches pulling up by the dozen, the FA equalise, the game is 2-2 and the fans Cup fourth round was really a reality are rapturous. and at this point it began to dawn that Disbelief. Andy Halliday curls a delicate we had made it this far. right footed shot towards the top Arriving in Chelsea showed just how far corner. 3-2 against the best team in we have come, from 6 years ago a 3-3 England. draw against Luton Town and mid table Empty stadium. Well, aside from the mediocrity in League 2, to beating 6,000 Bradford fans in complete Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, it simply jubilation as Mark Yeates and Jon Stead just hadn't sunk in for most. combine to create a goal worthy of a The occasion was evidently fantastic, Champions League victory, let alone the every street corner turned a Bantam 4th round of the FA Cup. awaited. Every step into the ground you It all began with a mass exodus of took, a phone out taking photos of what Bradfordians ready to make the trip to was going to be a special day. the delightfully upmarket area of The fans? How can we even explain Fulham known as Chelsea. With ourselves, our passion and pride for our Stamford Bridge in sight, you could beloved who we have seen drop through hardly forgive a fan’s optimism but this all four divisions, administration, was not the first evidence of the belief managerial merry-go-rounds, players Mass Euphoria. That's a simple term to define the Shed End when Jon Stead found the top corner.

6,000 Bradford fans travelled to Chelsea and filled the Shed End to spur on the Bantams

have come in and players have left, we almost dropped out of the football league and now, in these times of nothing but joy, we deserve this.

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Phil Parkinson is the special one.

Arsenal, Aston Villa, Chelsea, Wigan, Leeds. All conquered. There is no man who could of transformed us like himself, on an incredibly low budget with limited resources, he galvanised an average squad in 2012 and turned them into a brilliant side. With a league cup final came promotion. This year, he took a good side to Stamford Bridge and provided the entire country with the biggest football surprise of all time. In modern football this is unheard of, but we are experiencing it.

The travelling away contingent thought we had taken the lead but for a marvellous piece of goalkeeping from Petr Cech. Davies' header from Morais' corner rocketed towards the top corner but the experienced goalkeeper was equal to it with a marvellous acrobat save to palm the ball away.

When Chelsea came forward with more and more intent, the questions were constantly being asked of our back four who showed nothing but resilience in the second half.

After Darby cleared his lines after Azpilicueta attacked, Oscar's delivery from the resulting corner lead to a second attempt but make no mistake, Chelsea capitalised on their second corner in a row and it was meant by an incredibly skilful volley from defender Gary Cahill. Ben Williams was helpless as the ball flew into the top corner and set the Blues up for a 1-0 lead. It was to be expected given the circumstances but yet the team who were sixth in League One were clearly not happy.

Drogba continued to make a nuisance of himself, forcing a wonderful save from Ben Williams to deny him on the turn. The pantomime villain for the away fans as his consistent performances diving were not to earn himself plaudits.

And it’s 4-2!!! Bradford City players celebrate the end of the iconic match seeing them overturn a 2-0 defeat into a 4-2 win against the leaders of a division two above their own.

So, the game?

Chelsea were clearly a class above at the start and it took some getting used to from our defence. The sheer pace of Salah and Remy was tough to deal with whilst Drogba's power alongside Oscar's panache made for a deadly duo.

Filipe Morais' attempts to launch an attack saw him dispossessed by Ramires and the Brazilian was to clinically convert his neat one-two pass with

Salah to slot a left footed effort into the bottom corner.

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At this point you would have been forgiven for expected a demolition from the Blues but as Morais swung in a cross, it worked its way towards Billy Knott who cut it back to Jon Stead.

Stead unleashed a thunderbolt to the top corner which Cech was helpless to preventing the goal. The belief was back in the Bradfordians who went into half time with only a one-goal deficit.

Bradford were constantly asking questions promoting the introduction of Willian and Fabregas to the pitch despite Chelsea having a slender advantage. A throw from Meredith saw a flick on from Hanson land at Knott’s feet, who was to be denied by a great reaction save from Cech, yet Morais slotted into the empty goal with no trouble. 2-2 and the game was back on.

were unfolding and records were being broken.

Late on before the hellish 7 minutes of injury time, Ramires picked out Zouma who thrashed a shot wildly over the bar.

To sum up, chairman Mark Lawn quoted "The fourth goal, wait until you see the fourth goal. You would have thought we were Chelsea". Irishman Mark Yeates the late substitute was then to compile Mourinho's misery with arguably the goal of the round. His delicate flick to the feet of Stead saw the on-loan striker calmly play Yeates through, who finessed a shot into the far right corner past Cech with real panache to finish off one of the most sensational wins of the FA Cup in history.

It was full time and Chelsea 2-4 Bradford City.

Report by Jake Verity Eden Hazard was the next to arrive and Photography by Thomas Gadd he was trying to use his international experience to effect which provided no goal for the Belgian.

Drogba's effort was The special one and an even more saved by Williams and special one: Phil Hazard's whipped cross Parkinson and met no target.

Jose Mourinho Goalscorer Stead turned provider and Morais found him in the box and his fantastic hold up play saw him bring new permanent signing Andy Halliday into play from the edge of the box who curled a sumptuous effort into the top corner on his weak right foot.

Unbelievable scenes

shake hands at the end of the match with Steve Parkin looking on.

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MATCH FACTS • Bradford are the first team to score four goals past a Mourinho side at home.

• Bradford last beat Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in 1912.

• Bradford were 49 league places below Chelsea.

• Chelsea have now failed to get to the fifth round of the Cup for only the second time in 17 years.

• Chelsea’s side was assembled for £200m, Bradford’s side was assembled for £7,500.

BRADFORD PLAYER RATINGS First Team Williams 7 Darby 8 McArdle 8 Davies 7 Meredith 8 Morais 8 Liddle 8 Knott 8.5 Halliday 8.5 Stead 9 Hanson 8

• Chelsea last conceded four goals to a thirdtier team in January 1958.

• First Chelsea home defeat of the season.

Subs Yeates Clarke Routis

8 7 7

CHELSEA PLAYER RATINGS MATCH STATISTICS Possession Chelsea 59%, Bradford 41% Shots Chelsea 15 (6 on target), Bradford 8 (6 o/t) Corners Chelsea 9, Bradford 8 Fouls Chelsea 15, Bradford 10 Saves Cech 2, Williams 4 Attendance: 41,014 Referee: Andre Marriner

First Team Cech 8 Christensen 6.5 Zouma 7.5 Cahill 7.5 Azpilicueta 7 Ramires 7.5 Salah 8 Oscar 7.5 Mikel 7.5 Remy 8 Drogba 7 Subs Fabregas 6.5 Hazard 7 Willian 6

10

By Lisa Firth

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The Doomed Love of Branwell Brontë Throughout the nearly 170 years since his death, Patrick Branwell Brontë, the great white hope and later black sheep of Yorkshire’s most famous literary family, has cut a Byronic figure in the popular imagination. The legend of the hard-drinking, opium-eating, rebellious and ultimately tragic wastrel-genius has grown to almost mythic proportions, with Branwell often (and erroneously) cited as the inspiration for many of his sisters’ romantic heroes: from brutalised Heathcliff in Wuthering Heights and womanising Rochester in Jane Eyre to the alcoholic philanderer Arthur Huntingdon in Anne’s The Tenant of Wildfell Hall (in reality the only Brontë hero who may have been loosely based on Branwell). A promising poet, his fall from grace and descent into alcoholism following a doomed affair with the "diabolical seducer” Mrs Robinson - his employer's wife could almost be a Victorian morality tract against the dangers of forbidden lust and unrestrained vice.

His lingering “bad boy” reputation is one that Branwell would perhaps rather welcome than regret. From the early days of what is misleadingly known as the juvenilia (these writings, set within the Brontës’ imaginary childhood kingdoms of Gondal, Glasstown and

Angria, actually continued throughout much of their adult lives), Branwell had delighted in creating the sort of dashing, roistering, charismatic hero that would later find a counterpart in the pages of his sisters’ novels.

Inspired by the works of Walter Scott and the Romantic poets, as well as his favourite periodical, Blackwood’s Magazine, Branwell's writing took him away from sleepy Haworth parsonage and allowed him to live vicariously through his characters in an idealised world of intrigue, seduction, political machinations and military campaigns - a world that was as real to him as everyday life.

In the fantasy world of Angria which he shared with his elder sister Charlotte (with younger siblings Emily and Anne partnering to create Gondal), the character who came to dominate Branwell’s prolific writings was Northangerland, an unprincipled, scheming anti-hero and powerful political orator constantly at war with Charlotte’s favourite character, Zamorna: a paradigm of sexual magnetism who was the predecessor of her Mr Rochester in everything but appearance. That Branwell strongly identified with Northangerland is evidenced by his use of the name as his pseudonym when he published verse in the regional papers. His illustrations for the juvenilia, which tend to portray both Zamorna and Northangerland with a classical

Branwell’s sketches of Northangerland (left), Zamorna (centre) and himself (right)

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Branwell had indeed inherited his father Patrick’s prominent Roman nose and in adulthood wore his shock of red hair artistically curled and combed around his face. Despite his unimposing stature - he was only 5’3” tall - he was a charming, convivial, eccentric and yet oddly naive figure, handsome according to the standards of the day, who was easily able to befriend men and charm women. As the darling of the Brontë household, the brilliant only son who was to provide for the family after their father was gone, Branwell managed to escape the crippling shyness and reserve with which his sisters so often struggled in society. His easy, captivating manners, his obvious intellect and his talent as both writer and artist fully justified the Brontës' high hopes for their brother.

Branwell had no intention of letting them down. He had a prodigious opinion of himself and was ambitious in the extreme. Like his political and military idols, the young poet intended to do great things and make his mark on the world, fancying for himself a shining future as a great society artist, a noble statesman, a respected man of letters, a brilliant and courted writer and any number of other high-flying vocations.

Unfortunately, however, Branwell’s early career was a series of failures and false starts, needing all his characteristic resilience to dust himself off and move on to the next challenge following each setback. His first foray into the world of work was at the age of 21. Setting up as a portrait painter in Bradford in July 1838, this career was abandoned when he struggled to earn enough to support himself. Next, drawing on the classical education his Cambridge-graduate father had provided at home, he sought a position as a private tutor in a gentleman’s family. This, too, was shortlived: Branwell was dismissed from a

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Roman profile and elegantly curled hair, also show just how far he identified himself with the romantic heroes of Angria.

comfortable position in the Lake District after only seven months, probably when his employers learned that he had fathered an illegitimate child by a local girl (the child, who died young, may have been the subject of Branwell’s 1846 poem "Epistle from a father on earth to his child in her grave”. Written six years after Branwell's dismissal, this would imply the girl died in her sixth or seventh year). His next position, as clerk at the new Luddenden Foot Rail Station, was terminated when it was discovered he had failed to balance the ledger correctly, although he was not suspected of theft or wrongdoing. While Charlotte had despised this role as far beneath her brother's talents, Branwell himself had relished the opportunity to work on that wonder of the modern world, the rapidly expanding railway network, and was apparently happy in the position.

Finding himself unemployed and back at the parsonage for the third time in his short working life, having held three jobs in roughly as many years, the young man was also becoming despondent about his literary endeavours. He had written several times to his favourite magazine, Blackwood's, offering his poetry but had never received a reply, although his work was certainly of a high enough standard for consideration. He also sent his writing to a number of literary heroes, including William Wordsworth, Hartley Coleridge and Robert Southey, without receiving any response. One of the real tragedies of Branwell's life is that some of these potential patrons, Coleridge for example, actually did value his work but never got around to replying to him - here he came far closer to success than perhaps he ever realised. In other cases Branwell proved himself his own worst enemy, repelling Wordsworth and the editor of Blackwood's with his flattering, arrogant, bombastic style of address and his poorly checked letters, which were often full of schoolboy errors in spelling and punctuation.

At this point in his career, 25 years old and

12 John Brown after just three months in the job:

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with a number of different vocations tried and failed, it must have seemed a lifeline to Branwell when his youngest sister, Anne, who was then employed as a governess by the wealthy invalid Revd. Edmund Robinson of Thorp Green near York, told him the family needed a tutor for their young son and offered to recommend him.

Branwell began work as Edmund Robinson Jr's tutor in early 1843. He may well have been determined that this time, with a second chance to succeed as a tutor, he would not make a mess of things, but it seemed that temptation at Thorp Green - in the shape of Revd. Robinson's wife Lydia - was difficult to resist. Mrs Robinson is often unfairly painted as the corruptor of “poor” Branwell Brontë, largely as a result of references to the affair in Mrs Gaskell’s posthumous biography of Charlotte: Branwell himself was certainly no angel where women were concerned, as his natural child in the Lakes indicated. According to his own testimony, however, Mrs Robinson was the one to instigate the relationship.

Branwell wrote of his dilemma to his friend

Mrs Robinson, referred to by Patrick Brontë as the “diabolical seducer” of his son.

"My mistress is DAMNABLY TOO FOND OF ME...

Is it worth-while for him [Branwell, referring to himself in the third person] to go to extremities, which she evidently desires?" he asked Brown. "The husband is sick and emaciated - she is always making him presents, talking to his sister (the governess) about him - telling him she does not care a farthing for him - asking him if he loves her & so on."

Evidently Branwell decided that it was worth "going to extremities" with Mrs Robinson, and the two embarked on an affair. Although her later behaviour would suggest that his mistress never saw Branwell as anything more than the plaything of an idle hour, the young man was well on the way to being very much in love.

What he saw in Mrs Robinson, a materialistic society woman of no especial beauty who was 17 years his senior, is hard to conjecture.

Perhaps Branwell, who had lost his own mother at the age of only four, was drawn to an older woman who gave him all the affection he craved. Certainly his adopted mother, the Brontës' aunt Elizabeth Branwell, had died just two months before he went to Thorp Green, a loss which had apparently hit him hard. "I have now lost the guide and director of all the happy days connected with my childhood," he wrote sadly to his friend Francis Grundy on the day of Aunt Branwell's death.

Branwell's happiness with Lydia Robinson was to be short-lived. It was only a matter of time before her husband found out what was going on right under his nose. After two years at Thorp Green, Branwell was once again dismissed and sent packing back to Haworth Parsonage, this time in deep disgrace and with his future career forever blighted by the stigma of having had an affair with a married woman. Although the Robinsons did their best to hush up the business - long after Branwell's death, Mrs Robinson was still claiming he was a deluded fantasist and threatening libel action against those who suggested otherwise

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On Ouse's grassy banks - last Whitsuntide, I sat, with fears and pleasures, in my soul Commingled, as 'it roamed without control,' O'er present hours and through a future wide Where love, me thought, should keep, my heart beside Her, whose own prison home I looked upon: But, as I looked, descended summer's sun, And did not its descent my hopes deride?

The sky though blue was soon to change to grey I, on that day, next year must own no smile And as those waves, to Humber far away, Were gliding - so, though that hour might beguile My Hopes, they too, to woe's far deeper sea, Rolled past the shores of Joy's now dim and distant isle Branwell Bronte, 1st June 1846

- it was nevertheless widely known among his circle. Young Brontë himself certainly saw no reason to keep quiet about it, sharing the tale of his woes with anyone who would lend him a friendly ear.

That Branwell, always with one foot in the daring and dramatic land of Angria, relished his new character as a star-crossed lover is obvious. Now firmly established back at Haworth, he bored his drinking companions and irritated his family with sentimental poems dedicated to "Lydia Gisborne" (Mrs Robinson's maiden name) and grandiose references to his lost love as "one whom I may never see again". But nor can his very real depression and love for Mrs Robinson be doubted, as they rapidly turned him from a heavy social drinker to an incurable alcoholic.

At this stage, however, hope was not entirely lost. Revd. Robinson had been ill for some time, and there was always the prospect that on his death the two lovers could be reunited, legally, as man and wife. Branwell still believed that Mrs Robinson was as deeply in love with him as he with her, and although she refused to see him, using trusted emissaries her medical man and lady's maid - to plead ill

The manuscript of Branwell’s poem “Lydia Gisborne”

health brought on by the dramatic events, he was confident that Robinson's death would remove all impediments to their union.

He was wrong, of course. Revd. Robinson died less than a year after Branwell's dismissal from Thorp Green, sending him almost manic with excitement. Not only could he now be with his beloved Lydia, but the thorny problem of his career would also be settled: with money enough at his disposal to be a gentleman of leisure, he could finally pursue his literary bent as a poet and man of letters.

The news which then came from Thorp Green, again delivered by Mrs Robinson's physician Dr Crosby, drove Branwell half-mad and marked the beginning of his rapid decline. The two could not be married, claimed Branwell's informant: Revd. Robinson's will expressly forbade it (this was demonstrably untrue), and his widow would forfeit all her inheritance if she made a match with her son's erstwhile tutor. Mrs Robinson, the doctor claimed, was

driven almost insane by grief, regret and guilt and had fallen dangerously ill (this, too, was almost certainly untrue). She could never see Branwell again.

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All was up for the young man who had once held such a high opinion of his genius and prospects. His ambition and his love thwarted, over the next two years he gave himself up entirely to drink, famously using opium purchased over the counter at the Haworth apothecary to deaden the pain and nightmares brought on by the onset of delirium tremens.

Opiates would also have helped with the worsening pain in his side and chest and his constant, wheezing cough - symptoms too easily masked by his other problems, but which signified the beginning of the consumption that would kill him.

Mrs Robinson would not see or correspond directly with her former lover but was liberalhanded enough in making him gifts of money.

If she didn't send Branwell the cash with the express purpose of helping him to drink himself to death, nor did she care what use he did make of it, and he became dependent on her bounty to feed his habit and pay his debts.

Like many addicts, Branwell grew devious as he grew desperate, cajoling, demanding and stealing money from his father to subsidise his drinking habit and making frequent requests to Dr Crosby for further funds from Mrs Robinson's coffers. By 1847 that lady herself was living with her distant relative Sir Edward Scott and his ailing wife, marrying him on 8 November 1848 just three months after the passing of the previous Lady Scott - and only six weeks after Branwell's pitiful end.

Branwell died at Haworth parsonage on 24 September 1848, aged 31, and was laid to rest in the family vault inside the Church of St Michael and All Angels, Haworth. He was to be joined by his sister Emily just three months later, and Anne was also to die within seven months of her brother, all three succumbing to the same fate: the dreaded consumption (tuberculosis).

Perhaps there would, after all, be little triumph for Branwell in the fact that he is now almost as well-known as his high-achieving sisters, remembered as the sort of man he had always fantasised about being: brooding, mysterious and morally dubious, yet fascinating and, somehow, irresistible. Often seen as inferior in genius to his siblings, Branwell in fact possessed a fine artistic mind, showing both talent and taste, and should have been capable of great works. Nor was he entirely unsuccessful in his life, publishing poetry in newspapers which included the discriminating Halifax Guardian. But the real end to all his talent and promise was ignominious, his last written composition a pathetically composed scrawl to his old friend John Brown begging him for fivepenny-worth of gin - a drink that in happier times he had despised as not worthy of a gentleman. “In all my past life I have done nothing either great or good,” Branwell is said to have wailed to Brown as he lay dying, all the hopes and dreams he had once cherished now evaporated. For all his shortcomings, Branwell Brontë deserved a better fate.

His friend Francis Grundy perhaps best eulogised Branwell and the tragedy of his short life: "Poor, brilliant, gay, moody, moping, wildly excitable, miserable Brontë! No history records your many struggles after the good your wit, brilliance, attractiveness, eagerness for excitement - all the qualities which made you such 'good company’, and dragged you down to an untimely grave."

Sources Barker, Juliet. "The Brontës", 2010 The British Newspaper Archive Brontë, Patrick Branwell (ed. Neufeldt, VA).

“The Works of Patrick Branwell Brontë: 18371848”, 1999 Orel, Harold. "The Brontës: Interviews and Recollections”, 1997 The Oxford Dictionary of National Biography

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Celebrating 125 Years of the Cinderella Club

Bradford remains the home of one of the only Cinderella Clubs still around, with its history rich in making positive changes for the less fortunate.

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James Slater takes a look at the rich and interesting history of Bradford’s Cinderella Club, which over the last 125 years have come to the assistance of thousands of children and their families in need of their help.

character Cinderella who was herself transformed from a child drudge into a princess.

In January 1890, notices appeared in the Bradford Observer inviting The Cinderella Movement as a people to form a Cinderella Club whole was started in the late to “reach and afford amusement” nineteenth century to provide food to the poor children of Bradford. and entertainment to poor innerOn 24th January, its first meeting city children. At that time, was held, forming the club and conditions in these cities had arranging the first treat for the become nothing short of appalling: children. And on Saturday 1st they were rife with disease, February 1890, the first act was poverty and overcrowding. The for “tea and entertainment” to be division between different sections given to 200 poor children at the of society was marked at all levels Bradford Coffee Tavern. and in the period of prosperity, the difference between manual Within just a few years, the club workers and professionals was very had grown rapidly from a handful high. of people to one of the leading institutions in Bradford. National After much discussion, social and organisations such as the Labour political reform was high on the Church acknowledged this. The agenda and it was Manchester provision of a free meal for journalist Robert Blatchford, after underprivileged schoolchildren in seeing the poverty that existed winter months rose to nearly among the millworkers, who came 40,000 and became so successful up with the idea of forming groups that the Bradford Schools Board that could provide entertainment and the Corporation passed the and food to those children living in Provisions of Meals Act 1905, with city slums. These associations the free school meals we know became known as Cinderella Clubs, today a direct result of the named after the fairytale

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pioneering work of the Bradford Cinderella Club.

council were hard pressed to find the resources to cope with the welfare problems. They called on By the outbreak of World War One, the help of the club. In 1926-7, the the club was not only providing General Strike took place and the treats and daytrips but also club was busy handing out food, clothing and footwear. At this clothing and footwear to needy time, they were distributing toys families and giving Christmas by the “Telegraph Santa Claus”, treats, toys and trips to the distributing milk, virol and other countryside. All this, on top of the health foods to children over two continuing trips of up to 40 years of age, presenting an annual children every fortnight to Hest pantomime, visiting the Lord Bank, forced the club into debt.

Mayor’s Treat, entertaining children at St George’s Hall, Fortunately, successful fundraising providing free fireguards, picnics by the committee quickly out of the city and the annual overcame the problem and widows’ trip. business went on as usual.

It was around this time that the club purchased land at Hest Bank, just outside of Morecambe (known affectionately as Bradford-by-theSea at the time!) and built a holiday home on the seafront.

Operating from April until October each year, the centre could cater for 40 children at a time, with children visiting for a fortnight and all food, accommodation and activities being funded by the club. The charity’s cost for the year of 1914 was just over £1000 or about £25 per bed.

Cinderella Club children’s concerts were a popular event, and in 1938, celebrity guests from the BBC came together to celebrate with the children – Reginald Dixon of BBC and Blackpool Tower fame, BBC Tenor Donald Murgatroyd and BBC Cellist Douglas Bentley were present, with all proceeds going to the club.

By 1940, the Cinderella Club was coping with further pressure from families of soldiers fighting in the war. The club converted its Hest Bank Holiday Home into an By the Great Depression of the evacuation centre where children mid-1920s, the Bradford Cinderella from Bradford could be moved to.

Club was going from strength to It was kept open during the winter strength in a city where the months for the first time.

20

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After the war, Hest Bank went back to being a holiday home and these trips remained the highlight of the year for many inner-city children. The difference these visits made to children’s health was immense, with the matron, Mrs Stanway, noting that some children went home almost half a stone heavier.

purchase 170 pairs of shoes for children in desperate need.

In the 1970s the club, with the assistance of Bradford and Ilkley College, began providing camping holidays in the Yorkshire Dales in addition to the Bradford activities and the Hest Bank Holiday Home.

These camps, again for 40 children at a time, were staffed by By the 1960s the club was spending volunteers. The children stayed £3 per person to send children on under canvas in groups of a dozen holiday to the seaside or even less and ate in a large marquee tent for a day out to local countryside. with the cooking mainly done by Although all children of school age the children. Children were able to received clothing and footwear see rural activities such as lambing from government allowances of and harvesting first hand – a the time, it was still necessary to novelty for the majority of them who had sometimes never been

The Dormitory at Hest Bank Holiday Home

more than a mile from their inner city homes before. Canoeing and swimming were also provided by staff at the nearby Bewerley Park Outdoor Centre in Nidderdale.

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21 accommodation for nearly 50,000 children.

The Bradford Cinderella Club still exists today, and builds on its legacy of having pioneered free But the worst news came in school meals and providing muchNovember 1977. Severe storms and needed help to tens of thousands gales on the west coast, which saw of inner-city children. 125 years the destruction of Morecambe’s after its foundation, there are still West End Pier, also caused children requiring that bit of help significant damage to Hest Bank and fortunately, the club is still Holiday Home. The weather here meeting those needs. conditions had caused extremely You can support the charity by high tides, which had lifted the indoor swimming pool the club had becoming a friend of the charity for just £5 (or more) per month. built in the home’s grounds.

Altogether nearly £50,000 worth of To apply or for more information damage was done to the home, but on the charity, go to www.cinderellaclub.org or email more importantly no one was the team at injured. Not all the damages info@cinderellaclub.org caused by the storm could be recouped from the insurance companies and the Cinderella Club was unable to carry out full repairs.

The home opened again in 1978 but it soon became apparent it couldn’t last long and the decision was made to close down the centre, after seven decades of service providing holiday

Year Opening at Hest Bank Home, 1958

22

Latest news from Bradford Camera Club ….........................................................................................................................................

Tony Caunt reports to The Local Leader on what has been going on at the club!

Winter is upon us whether we like it or not and the prospect of some falls of snow give us the opportunity to get out with our cameras. The attached picture shows what can be achieved if the right ingredients present themselves when we are out and about, the figure with his dogs, the low winter sun and the snow underfoot. Here’s a tip when photographing in snow, due to the high UV light your camera can be fooled and it may over expose if you point the focussing just at the snow. So aim the focussing at something neutral as in this photo, the trees will give a more accurate exposure. If one is on a skiing holiday for example and you have a wide expanse of snow the sky will turn out very dark almost black if you expose directly at the snow, so look for something that will be in your picture that is anything but white and expose to that by holding your finger on the shutter release button half way and then without taking the finger off the button re-frame the shot and shoot the picture. I would take a piece of grey card in my pocket and focus on that or get your friend to stand in front to make the exposure using their clothing.

Other ideas for winter photography is

the dramatic skies that often occur, the sunsets, the wet streets – particularly cobbled streets, sheep with a coating of snow on their backs or people rushing by huddled in their winter coats and bobble hats.

When you have your masterpiece why not bring it down to Bradford Camera Club, they meet every Thursday at 7.30pm in Carleton House 46 Little Horton Lane BD5. The programme for February is 5th Digital images from last year’s Photographic Alliance of GB’s annual exhibition. The 12th will see David Dodwell take us on “A Cycle Trip to India” and then on 19th members favourite prints with discussion. On the 26th there will be the 2nd round of the Mitchell & Metcalfe competition.

All meetings are at Carlton House, 46 Little Horton Lane, BD5 0BA – you can call 01535 273709 or visit us online at sites.google.com/site/bradfordcameraclub

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Happy New Year from Allerton Cats!

Thanks to all our supporters, we were able to give the Allerton cats a fabulous Christmas and wonderful start to the New Year. Through our Christmas Shoebox appeal we amazingly had enough boxes donated to build a shoebox tree!

These lovely boxes were filled with all sorts of treats and goodies that our puddies ate, played with, wore or snuggled on. As our finances are all donated and fundraised, they do not often stretch far enough to buy these treats and it was a joy to watch the puddies enjoy them.

We also once again appealed for and collected Morrison's vouchers to enable us to buy cat food and build our annual "Catmus Tree" – again our supporters were fabulous, dropping off vouchers at our shop and putting them in the post for us. With the fabulous response we were able to buy over £1000 worth of cat food and treats which the cats are enjoying.

This food, however, will only last 2-3 months.

It has been an exciting year at ACR: our new Facebook page was launched in June and thanks to our supporters we reached a fabulous 1000 like on Christmas Eve, so please keep spreading the word. The more likes, the more exposure our rescue gets in its quest to find these pussy cats homes. Since launching the page in June around 100 cats have been rehomed. facebook.com/allertoncatrescue Our website was also launched in October and is updated regularly with our cats in residence: thanks to QA Computing for donating and setting it up. http://allertoncatrescue.co.uk

Also in October our very own charity shop was opened inside Premier Furniture, Old Mill, Victoria Road, Eccleshill, Bradford BD2 2BH. There are some real bargains to be had there and all money raised goes to help our cats. If you are having a clear out or have unwanted Christmas gifts, please think of donating to us.

They can be dropped off at the shop or rescue or we may be able to collect: please contact Helen on 01274 561271.

We are always looking for volunteers and help with fundraising, especially at our monthly bag packing, usually the last Saturday of each month. This is to help with our vets’ bill, which is around £2500 a month, so please get in touch if you can help in any way. Donations can be sent by cheque to the rescue, or made via our Paypal address: allertoncatrescuefundraising@hotmail.co.uk Or you could buy from our Amazon wishlist: search for Allerton Cat Rescue.

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RSPCA Pet of the Month: Daisy-Mae

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RSPCA Pet of the Month!

Daisy-Mae is our longest resident dog.

She is a sweet, friendly dog who loves being made a fuss of and given attention. She does pull on the lead.

Daisy-Mae did live with another dog but she had to be brought back to us as she was jealous of the other dog and was fighting. She also lived with a cat but the cat was kept separate and she is likely to chase a cat in play. Daisy-Mae is better being rehomed as the only pet in the household. She knows most of her basic commands but more obedience training will be needed.

Daisy-Mae will need to be rehomed with an experienced dog owner. She will need a garden where she will be able to run around and burn off her energy.

Daisy-Mae will need an active owner who will be able to take her out for her daily walks and give her a lot of stimulation and attention that she needs and a home where she won’t be left alone for more than two to three hours maximum on her own as she does suffer from separation anxiety. She will

be suitable to live with a family with teenage children or a mature family or couple.

If you would like more information about our work and the pets we have available, please contact us on 01274 723063. You can find out more at www.rspca-bradford.org.uk or look for Bradford RSPCA on Facebook and Twitter.

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150 Years of Cottingley Town Hall …...................................................................................................................................

Hilary Charnock, one of the Trustees at the Cottingley Town Hall tells us more about the 150th birthday celebrations on 22nd March 2015 150 years ago, on 21st March 1865, Cottingley celebrated the opening of its newly built ‘Town Hall’. A good name for a place built on Town Hill but one that has caused much confusion.

The opening festivities included a meeting of singing and prayer followed by a tea for around 600 people. Adults were charged two shillings for refreshments including celery and buns, children half price.

Although the pioneering Sunday School, Day School and Mechanics Institute had all provided money for the building to be furnished it was the village community that had given their labour and weekly subscriptions to make their dreams of a dedicated village hall a reality.

From its opening until the present day the ‘Town Hall’ has been run under a Trust on behalf of the village and continued in its aims of providing a place for activities to improve mind and body, Christian fellowship, education and general interests.

Early records show a school day of singing, prayers and the ‘Helps. Adults listened to talks on new inventions such as the typewriter or bicycle, advanced studies included Euclid. The original preaching meetings were formalised in 1877 when the’ Town Hall’ was registered as a ‘place of worship for Christians’. Details of the history can be found by visiting www.cottingleyconnect.org.uk/cth.

On 22nd March we are marking this important anniversary in the history of the village. At 2pm Reverend Robert Waddington will lead the thanksgiving, celebrating the past and looking to the future. Singing will be led by the village churches. Children from Cottingley Primary and the Pre School have been invited to remember the beginning of education for all. Refreshments (including celery and

buns) will be available at 1865 prices, 10p for adults and 5p for children.

Too many years have passed for people to have personal memories of attending day school at the ‘Town Hall’ but some local people will remember playing billiards, reciting at Sunday School or performing on stage in concerts and shows. Records kept

by Lay Pastor Maurice Atack of weddings, christenings and funerals plus other documents and photographs will be available to view on the day.

We hope that people now living in the village who are not familiar with the ‘Town Hall’ will take this opportunity to come along and have a look around, check out the current activities on offer or sample the refreshments. Come and meet old friends or make some new ones.

For more information email cth1864@gmail.com

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Cottingley’s Home Front Clive Harrison writes for us about his research finding about the local organisations and people in Cottingley who helped the war effort.

I took a great interest in the servicemen of Cottingley and researched their lives and service for their country, which resulted in the exhibition staged at the Cornerstone Centre in November.

A by-product of that research was to learn what was going on in the village while many of the menfolk were away fighting in the trenches, being seriously wounded and, in some cases, giving their lives. It would be wrong to say that life continued as normal, for quite obviously it did not. The gradual reduction in the male population meant that the women left behind had to take on some of their responsibilities.

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In recent months the media, through radio, television and newspapers, have told us a lot about the First World War from a military point of view. Many stories have been told about the activities of the soldiers, sailors and airmen preparing for and going into battle.

It was not surprising that, in a time of war, the Cottingley Rifle Club was thriving, with a membership of 120 when a rifle range, built on land near Cottingley Mill provided by Mr Walter Ramsay Kay, was opened in September 1914. In April the following year a fullscale exercise, intended to give the men some experience of warfare, was undertaken in cooperation with Shipley Volunteer Training Corps. The 120 members of the Shipley contingent occupied the village of Cottingley and the Cottingley men had the task of regaining their territory. With only 46 members available that afternoon, through subterfuge, a diversionary ploy and,

perhaps, the advantage of local knowledge, the Cottingley men regained the village without too much difficulty.

Various organisations undertook the task of raising funds, goods and material to support the men, both those fighting at the front and those injured and recuperating at home. The children, too, played their part by sending useful items to the soldiers.

Regular collections were held, although it was not always cash that was received. In December 1916 food comprising buns, biscuits, parkin, cakes, scones, rolls, teacakes, tarts, eggs, tomatoes, apples, tinned goods, fish, flour, tea, sugar, butter, cocoa, jelly squares, turnips and cabbages were collected in Cottingley for the wounded soldiers at Morton Banks Military Hospital. Also collected were matches, books, pencils and phonograph records. Additionally, £7 was spent on a service wagon, a bread cutter, twelve washing bowls and six hot water bottles.

It would appear that in December 1915, 42 Cottingley men were on active service as at that time Mr and Mrs WR Kay organised that number of parcels to be sent, each containing a shirt, a pair of socks, a handkerchief, a pair of boot laces, a packet of toffee, a packet of chocolate, a writing pad, a tablet of soap, a mouth organ, a tin of Vaseline, a pencil, a candle, a packet of cocoa and milk, a packet of safety pins, a tin of sardines, Oxo, biscuits and a parcel of cigarettes.

In August 1916 the number of parcels being sent out increased to 61, and by Christmas 1916, to 85.

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EXCITING CHANGES COMING! We are a craft shop like no other anyway, so when we announce that we are making changes to the shop you’ll be pleasantly surprised. Over the next few weeks, we are reorganising the shop to be featuring cards and prints of local scenes by local artists in addition to a good selection of bespoke handmade greetings cards and mini books! Come in and visit us today and we guarantee you’ll like the new Tuliptoppers - Ace of Craft!

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34

Bradford’s New Independent Quarter!

We look at the new Independent Quarter in Bradford and the various different businesses and projects which are making up the quarter.

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Bradford City Centre has been experiencing a rapidly accelerating renaissance in recent months and 2015 is being heralded by many as ‘Bradford’s year’.

A pocket of new development is emerging to the north of the city which has sparked just as much excitement and anticipation as the big players like Broadway’s Westfield Centre and the Odeon cinema plans.

A true phoenix from the ashes comes in the form of Café Bell-A-Pizza. This project has literally rescued the remains of a stunning Victorian building on the junction of Westgate and Barry Street, which was gutted by fire four years ago while in use as the Natasha’s school uniform store.

First of the newcomers to open in 2014 was Fuse Art Space on Rawson Place which incorporates a gallery, performance space and This area, centred around North Parade, book and record store. This was followed by Westgate and John Street has been dubbed The Bazaar, off Westgate in the old Rawson Bradford’s Independent Quarter by traders and Market, now with 100 stalls selling Asian and visitors due to the quirky individuality of the multicultural products. The Record Café businesses – many of them leisure venues – opened just in time for Christmas 2014 as an which has drawn comparisons to Manchester’s independent record store, charcuterie counter established Northern Quarter. and real ale bar.

February sees the launch of Bradford Brewery, Existing venues in the area have also benefited a high-profile development which will bring from the continued revival. Both Smorgasbord back one of Yorkshire’s well-loved industries Coffee Bar and Fish Dish restaurant and to the heart of the city centre for the first takeaway have undergone major time in over 50 years. The brewery boasts an transformations and work has started to bring attached pub, the Brewfactory which will not Mamma Mia Italian restaurant firmly into the just showcase its own locally-brewed products 21st century. More footfall through the Oastler but also those of other UK breweries. And in a shopping centre has encouraged new business ‘first’ for Yorkshire, let alone Bradford, the start-ups in the historic market venue on John venue has clinched a deal with the awardStreet. winning national brand leaders Pieminister to be the county’s first ever Pieminister Pie Pub. Whether this clustering is by accident or design is a subject for debate. Some allude to This development has breathed new life into a ‘domino effect’, started by the early arrivals an empty factory off Westgate which is like the Sparrow Bier Café, Al's Dime Bar and steeped in history. The building was once the social enterprise Forks Café. Others see a headquarters of Shaw’s Moisture Meters whose more direct catalyst in the City Council Bradford philanthropist founder, Professor Len Growth Zone funding which has attracted Shaw, made his fortune from inventing, entrepreneurs to take on the renovation of developing and selling moisture-sensing some of the stunning Victorian buildings in this technology for use in the textile industry. part of the city alongside the creation of Around the corner in North Parade, work has hundreds of new jobs. started on converting a former furniture shop David Robertson-Brown of Gumption, into The Beerhouse, a high-end pub and food contracted by the council to spearhead the venue. The Beerhouse is expected to open in Growth Zone activity, defers to the range of March, bringing an offer of craft beer, cask independent businesses across the city ales and quality food which is expected to preferring to talk about clusters of ‘smarter appeal to discerning diners while favourably more creative business communities’, in whetting the whistles of real ale fans in the party.

‘distinct destinations’ working together for mutual benefit.

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35

He says: “What we’ve witnessed as a spin-off of the Growth Zone initiative has been the creation of a new breed of business community. One that’s smart and directly addresses the ever-changing face of the High Street. They use social media to promote the destination as a unit and understand that they all need each other to succeed. And it’s working.

“They now have a head start before the national brands arrive at Westfield so they can compete by providing something different, quirky and edgy. Getting the independents moving in has been massively important. I believe 2015 is going to be Bradford’s year!

Earlier in 2014, local businessman Matthew Crowther began to see the transformation of Bradford's Northern side in the city centre mirror that of London's Brick Lane and Manchester's Northern Quarter, both of which saw their fortunes change in the early '90s.

Now they are both renowned alternative destinations in their own right.

He says: "So the Independent Quarter identity was born and the area is now heavily promoted through social media to hundreds of followers on Facebook and Twitter. Word continues to spread about all the great venues the Independent Quarter has to offer, and those that are coming soon." www.facebook.com/IndieQuarterBradford www.twitter.com/IndieQtrBfd

From top right (clockwise): Cafe Bell-A-Pizza under construction, Westgate (courtesy of Crux Comms), Bradford Brewery and Brewfactory Pub, Entrepreneurs discussing North Parade developments (© John Ashton) and the Beerhouse exterior, North Parade (© John Ashton)

36

Phil’s photography walkabouts!

Phil Robinson writes about where he's been with his camera since our last edition and tells the story of his travels and adventures around Bradford!

Since the last Local Leader, I have been out and about with my camera, going to events and looking at some interesting places within the BD postcode.

SUNBRIDGE WELLS: BRADFORD’S FIRST UNDERGROUND MARKET No treasure or artefacts have been found so far, just an old Victorian penny from 1871, but I think the tunnels themselves are the biggest treasure.

In the late 1960s and 70s it was The Little Fat Black Pussy Cat Nightclub, owned by Shirley Crabtree (aka the wrestler Big Daddy).

Lots of famous 60s bands have a history with the tunnels, including The Moody Blues, Rod Stewart, Kiki Dee, Georgie Fame, Alan Price and many others.

He redevelopment came about when site manager Graham Hall happened to walk past the tunnel entrance in 2008 and became interested (not many people even knew then that they existed). I had a look at the plans and they show his great vision of what we can expect. There would be space for “two or three fancy wine bars”, as well as Victorianstyle shop units running along the tunnels’ internal street with a large glass area above. It will become Bradford’s own Victorian quarter, in keeping with the history and ambience of Bradford, as well as a base for young entrepreneurs.

The tunnel entrance will be used as an art gallery space, with local artists able to show and sell their work around the walls of the tunnels. I spoke to in-house artist Trafford Parsons about the ongoing work and he said he was excited to be part of the project. He has already painted some amazing artwork around the place.

I will be going for another visit in a few months and look forward to seeing further progress as the tunnels develop into a new Bradford attraction.

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Today I was invited for a second look at the progress on the Sunbridge Wells development.

I was very impressed at the amount of work that had been done. Over 300 tonnes of rubble have been removed from the subterranean tunnels. The stone flags and cobbles had all been relaid. The walls and ceiling had been jet-washed and sand-blasted. All the detritus from the many years of tipping was removed.

The steel guiders put in to strengthen the roof when it was used as an air-raid shelter had all been panted and looked as good as new.

They have manage to dig right up to the rock face of an ancient quarry (which has not been seen for over 70 years). It dates back to the 13th century, when there were only three streets, Kirkgate, Westgate and Ivegate. The stone from this quarry would have been used for the buildings on these first few early streets.

Built out from the rock face were several of what are said to be holding cells, where undesirables were held until they were put on trial. They were part of the Ivegate prisons that were nearby. The cells were directly under an abattoir: it wouldn’t have been a very pleasant place to be held, as you can imagine.

The workmen digging out the many years of rubble said the air at the face was stale.

There are rumours that there is a passageway which connects the top floor of the tunnels to City Hall. It remains undiscovered…

I reached the upper floor via a set of three ladders. The area here had been full to the roof with old bottles, corks and beer barrels – this part of the building was used as a brewery and bottling plant, where in the 1870s working conditions would have been horrendous.

37

PHOTOS FROM SUNBRIDGE WELLS All taken by Phil Robinson

38

THE WESTFIELD SHOPPING CENTRE What a difference a year makes. We have now passed the first anniversary of Westfield returning to begin work on the long-awaited Broadway Bradford Shopping Centre. I have been taking pictures of the ongoing development.

Westfield is set to open in November / December 2015 and you can check future editions of The Local Leader for more information on the Broadway shopping centre.

39

THE ODEON & UNDERGROUND! I was invited down to have a look at even more workings on this visit. Here we can see a set of pictures taken from the back of the Odeon: you can see a section of the Bradford beck as it heads underground. Work is now just getting started on the refurb of the former cinema. All About Bradford and the Local Leader have always campaigned to save the Odeon and now, with Bradford Live taking it on, our dream has been realised. I will be keeping you up to date with Bradford Live’s plans and posting updates as the work continues. It seems that Bradford City Centre is going through a bit of a building spree at the moment and there are many new projects afoot. It’s going to be a very busy few years that should see Bradford bouncing back once again.

I will, as usual, be out and about looking at more projects and events all over Bradford over the next couple of months. If you have anything you would like me to come and see contact me on Facebook through my personal profile or through “All About Bradford” page, or email me at philrobinson005@gmail.com

40

Your bimonthly update from your MPs! In our regular column, Bradford South MP Gerry Sutcliffe and Shipley MP Philip Davies update their constituents on the latest political developments

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Gerry Sutcliffe MP (Labour, Bradford South) With the general election rapidly approaching this will be my last ever column for the Local Leader. As you may know, I have decided to step down at the next election after serving as MP for Bradford South for more than 20 years.

It’s going to be a busy last few months in Parliament, as I attempt to tie up loose ends and ensure that the various projects I am involved in carry on after I leave Parliament.

I have always felt that it is a shame that the only aspect of Parliament that the vast majority of the public get to see is the weekly Punch and Judy show that is Prime Ministers Question time. It’s a pretty unedifying sight and does not reflect well on politicians or Parliament. It’s a shame because it does not reflect the reality of the day to day business of parliament, which largely goes on outside the House of Commons chamber and away from the glare of TV cameras.

Whilst the gladiatorial nature of life in the House of Commons chamber may make for good TV, the reality of our democracy is that much of the business of government and politics in general is done in a very cross-party way. Bradford is represented by five Members of Parliament, who come from four different political parties. Whilst the five of us may disagree on politics, often vehemently, there are many issues where we work together for the good of our great city.

There are lots of issues where party political differences are put to one side for the benefit of Bradford. I hope that spirit of co-operation continues after the next election, whoever is elected to represent our communities.

There are a number of projects that I’m involved with that I’m trying to progress in the

short time that I have left in Parliament. One of the most exciting is the proposal to host an International Mixed Ability Rugby Festival in Bradford ahead of the Rugby Union World Cup. The idea for the festival is the brainchild of the people who set up and run the Bumbles RUFC, based at the Bradford & Bingley RUFC in Bingley. Mixed ability rugby allows players with learning or physical disabilities to play alongside able-bodied players in a 15 aside game. It really is truly inspirational to watch.

The festival will feature mixed ability teams from all over Europe and, together with Phillip Davies MP, I am helping them secure the necessary funding to host what will be a fantastic festival of sport.

So, as this is indeed to be my last column, I would like to thank James and the fantastic team at Local Leader and wish them and all of their readers all the best for the future. I am, as ever, optimistic about our great city’s future.

Gerry Sutcliffe has been the MP for Bradford South since 1994 and will be retiring at the 2015 election.

His constituency covers Buttershaw, Great Horton, Low Moor, Queensbury, Tong, Wibsey and Wyke.

Gumption Centre, Glydegate, Bradford, BD5 0BQ (opposite Media Museum)

01274 288688 sutcliffeg@parliament.uk

41

Philip Davies MP (Conservative, Shipley)

The demolition is also tinged with sadness as it reminds us of the downfall of the Bradford and Bingley Building Society - an institution of which people in Bingley were very proud and whose 150 year history was destroyed in the financial crash. My support for the campaign by the Bradford and Bingley Shareholder Action Group to see shareholders - many of whom were also employees - who lost everything compensated continues.

The other good news was that Aldi confirmed to me that they hope to start the development of their new store in Bingley shortly, and expect it to open later in the year. Their progress was hampered by issues which needed resolving with the Highways Agency and Yorkshire Water and I was delighted to help in that process. This is a development that the whole of Bingley is excited about and I hope that it now makes quick progress.

exposing wrongdoing by people in authority.

We should always cherish and defend our freedoms and never take them for granted. It was a wonderful initiative by Bev who does so much for Bingley.

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The New Year has seen good news for Bingley.

At long last we have seen the start of the demolition of the old Bradford and Bingley Headquarters. After pressing Sainsbury's hard over many months, I am delighted to see progress being made, although I am acutely aware that this is only the beginning, and it is vital that in its place we see a new development which will bring footfall into the town centre.

After the horrific events in Paris at the start of the year, I was also delighted to send a message of support to the service held by Rev Beverley Mason at Bingley Parish Church in support of a free press. A free press is a cornerstone of a free society and is crucial in

The one setback we have seen is Bradford Council's disgraceful decision to ratify the closure of Bingley pool. This is nothing to do with a lack of money - after all they are building brand new swimming pools - this is a deliberate decision to close down a much used facility in Bingley (especially by school children who we should be encouraging to swim) and to open a new one in another part of the Bradford district. If proof was ever needed that Bradford Council cares little for Bingley this is it. The fight will continue, but the future of Bingley pool is now very precarious.

Philip Davies has been the MP for Shipley since 2005.

His constituency covers Baildon, Bingley, Cottingley, Harden, Menston, Saltaire, Shipley, Wilsden and Wrose.

76 Otley Road, Shipley, BD18 3SA 01274 585830 daviesp@parliament.uk

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This will be the last MPs column until after the May general election. Parliament will be dissolved in March, before our next edition is released and the election campaigning will begin.

The General Election will be held on Thursday 7th May and our March/April edition will have more information in about candidates, parties and campaigning information from across Bradford.

We would like to thank both Philip Davies and Gerry Sutcliffe for contributing to this feature for the past few months. As this is Gerry’s last column, we would like to thank him especially for all he has done in promoting and writing for the magazine and we wish him the best for the future.

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46

The latest news from Bradford West Rotary Tony Caunt gives us the latest from the Bradford West Rotary Club.

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for the year. This year, which runs from July to May, is “Light up Rotary”, taken from Confucius, who said, “It is better to light a single candle than to sit and curse the darkness!”

President Gary CK Huang said, “There is so much difficulty and strife in the world and there are so many people who need our help. Many people say they can do nothing and if The Christmas period was very hectic so, nothing happens.” We in Rotary believe that we can make a and the culmination of our charity difference and we prove that all the collections. The picture shows some of the pupils from Russell Hall Primary time with the many things we achieve.

School, who, along with pupils, staff and parents from Shibden Head and If you would like to make a difference Fox Hill Primary Schools in Queensbury, collected a mountain of in your community, look up Rotary! To find our club call Robert Morphet on toys which we were able to take to the Bradford Toy Library. There were 07970 815204, or see our website also 194 shoeboxes collected, mainly www.bradfordwestrotary.org. from Keelham, Wilsden and Harden Primary Schools and some lovely Our programme for February is as private individuals living in Saltaire follows: on the 5th, Faye Wilson will and Harden: grateful thanks go to all speak on Centrepoint. On the 12th, these caring folk, who can be assured Richard Wimpenny will speak on that the boxes have gone to children French Warfare, 1914. We have a and families less fortunate than we business meeting on the 19th and are in Eastern Europe. then on the 26th, Rotarian Ken Robertshaw will show us film of his The motto of Rotary is “Service above epic journey along the whole of the Self”, and every year the President of Mississippi.

Rotary International also has a theme Rotary is for most ages and people from all walks of life, and there are ten clubs around the Bradford district. Our club meets at Sandal Farm Restaurant on the Queensbury – Denholme Road every Thursday from 12.30pm, where we have some 36 members and enjoy fellowship and helping good causes in our community.

Tony & Judy Caunt present

AFRICAN SAFARI Kenya , Tanzania and Zanzibar At St. Matthew’s Church, Wilsden Friday 13th February 2015 @ 7.15pm Tickets £5 tel:- 273709 or 272805

Community Updates In Brief • The Annual Dinner for Sandy Lane JFC will be held on Friday 6th March at the Dubrovnik Hotel with guest speaker, England and Newcastle legend Peter Beardsley, supported by comedian Josh Daniels. Tickets can be purchased for £35, including a four-course meal, from Dave on 01274 493585 or Tim on 07931 360138.

• The Yorkshire Federation of Amateur Winemakers and Brewers (Airedale Branch) would like to invite new members to join them at the monthly meeting at Cardigan House, Bingley. First Tuesday monthly at 8pm. Tuesday 3 February is a commercial wine tasting. Beginners welcome.

Contact the Chairman, Paul on 01274 487607.

• British Cactus & Succulent Society has started off its 2015 programme. Next meetings - 11th Feb & 11th March held in Shipley Library. Membership just £15 adults, £12 senior citizen.

Contact Joan Thornton on 01535 274755.

• 9th Bradford North Scout Group have been very busy! Five Scouts and leaders enjoyed a packed “JOTI” (Jamboree on the Internet) Camp. As well as the usual camp activities, using the Internet they made contact with Scouts from over 100 countries around the world. Our Scouts worked hard towards the Chef badge and cooked for family and friends at the end of November as their final test. Guests were asked to pay what they felt the meal was worth – we raised £50!

Our Christmas party was held at “ROKT” in Brighouse, an indoor climbing centre. There, two new Scouts were invested on the climbing wall and a host of recently gained badges awarded.

We ran a super recruitment day with Sandy Lane Primary School in November down at Blackhills. Year 5 came in the morning with Year 6 in the afternoon. They took part in different challenge activities such as shelter building and scavenger hunting. The recruitment is continuing and they welcome girls and boys aged from 10 ½ to 14 and meet in Sandy Lane on Wednesday evenings – contact Phil on 07973 339007.

• Rainbows, Brownies and Guides from Bingley Division took part in their annual Shield Competition in December at Wilsden Village Hall. The Confectionery Challenge involved decorating buns, constructing Christmas cottages from cake and making and decorating cake pops. The winners were Wilsden Rainbows, Cullingworth Brownies and Wilsden Guides. The Leaders were also challenged to decorate cakes, with the girls deciding that the winners were the leaders from Wilsden Guides. A fun afternoon for all!

For further information about Girlguiding please visit www.girlguiding.org.uk/interested

48

Looking back at Bradford in 1851 Bradford had just nicely entered the railway age, with its important implications for trade. After years of rivalry between different companies and advocates of alternative routes, the Bradford to Leeds line officially opened on June 30 1846, thus linking the town with the national network.

This was followed by a profusion of lines and small, short-lived stations around the outskirts of the town.

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Astrid Hansen looks back to a time when Bradford was at the height of prosperity

The town, not yet a city, had received borough status in 1847. Some fine buildings had been erected, including the courthouse in classical style which stood in Hall Ings. This, alas, has been lost, but its near neighbour, St George’s Hall, survives. The foundation stone of St George’s Hall was laid in 1851 by the Earl of Zetland. The magnificent textile warehouses that used to dominate the Hall Ings–Leeds Road area were rapidly replacing the meadow lands of a previous era, although most of those still to be found in Little Germany date form the next two decades of the century.

1851 was the year of the Great Exhibition in Hyde Park, London.

Leading Bradford man, Edward Hailstone, was one of those called on for advice by Prince Albert as he planned the event.

Bradford manufacturers seized on the opportunities presented by the exhibition. The town contributed more

money to the central fund than any other town of similar size and Bradford exhibits won twelve medals for cloth and nine for yarns. [In his book ‘Bradford’, Joseph Fieldhouse supplies the rather pleasing information that the Leeds display was more like a woollen draper’s shop.]

Bradford was at the height of its prosperity – but not for everyone. The Board of Guardians struggled to cope with poverty and unemployment as they administered the new Poor Law. In the days before WE Forster’s Education Act, education of any kind was a hit and miss affair, with requirements of the various Factory Acts for the education of child workers patchily implemented. Church leaders worked hard to make good the deficiencies, providing Sunday and day schools. Revd. Dr Scoresby FRS left the parish church in 1847, having upset a great many people, but also having succeeded in providing several day schools where there had been none. At Horton Lane Independent Chapel, Revd.

Jonathan Glyde was responsible for much good work in educational and other spheres. Ministers of the many other denominations played their part.

There is an opportunity to learn more about Bradford at this significant period in its history.

Bradford Historical and Antiquarian Society, in partnership with Bradford

49 Family History Society and Bradford Local Studies Library, is presenting a Day School, Bradford in 1851, on Saturday March 21st, 9.30am to 4.30pm at The Bradford Club in Piece Hall Yard. The cost of £20 includes refreshments during the day, a buffet lunch and four excellent speakers: Peter Higginbotham on The Poor Law, George Sheeran on The 1851 Ordnance Survey Map of Bradford, Elvira Willmott on The 1851 Census and Janet Senior on the 1851 Religious Census.

To book a place, please contact the BHAS treasurer, David Glass, 281 Poplar Grove, Bradford BD7 4HU, before March 9th.

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