Members of Keighley Library staff enjoy themselves at their work Christmas party in December 1962. The party was held in the lecture hall, part of the new extension to the library. Those attending included Chief Librarian Fred Taylor and Mrs Taylor, Margaret Allsopp, Dorothy Beckwith, Betty Cardwell, Stewart Cardwell, John Cox, Nancy Crick, Michael Davison, Ian Dewhirst, Sally Hudson, Janet Kennedy, Dorothy Major, Doreen Nolan, and Barbara Watson.
All of the images are part of the John Normington Collection, donated to Keighley and District Local History Society by John’s daughter Liz Hornby in 2021.
John Normington was born in Keighley on 26th May 1929 and grew up in the Exley Head area of the town. He was joined by younger brother William five years later. John attended Ingrow Primary School and later won a scholarship for Keighley Boys’ Grammar School. His interest in music started with playing the drums at the age of six, then swapping to take up the piano.
His first job was at Keighley Library, where he remained (except for a break for National Service in 1947-49) until taking early retirement in March 1984. He was made Chief Assistant (Deputy) in 1953 having studied at the Leeds School of Librarianship. He ultimately became a lecturer himself in Cataloguing and Classification. He worked alongside local historian Ian Dewhirst for many years. Six months after he retired from Keighley Library in 1984, he took up the part-time role of Library Assistant at South Craven School.
One of his passions beyond the library was his music, and in performing. In the 1940s and 1950s he both acted with and played the drums for the Ingrow St. John’s Parish Church Players. Later he played the piano (and occasionally the drums) for Keighley Amateurs (of which he was a member for 72 years). Utilising his musical skills, he joined the Good Time Jazz Band in 1978. Another passion was potholing, having been introduced to it in the late 1940s, and he joined the Craven Pothole Club in 1952. He served as President of the Club in 1982 and as treasurer from 1984 to 1992. He was also a member of the 40 Club, the Grafton Club and Haworth Round Table. John died on 11th January 2020 at the age of 90.
