KEIGHLEY & DISTRICT LOCAL HISTORY SOCIETY
WE PRESERVE AND SHARE
We’ve just uploaded another album of images to our Flickr site. This time it’s the programme for Keighley Amateurs’ 1950 production of “No! No! Nanette!”. What makes this programme uniquely special is that it was signed with dedications by many of the cast and production team, saying goodbye to long time Amateurs performer Arthur Day. Signatories include Elsie Greenwell, Keith Marsden, Pamela Fitzjohn, Frederic W. Pye and Irene Ogden.
A big thank you to artist Kevin Bell, who spoke to the History Society at Keighley Library on Wednesday night about growing up in the town in the late 1950s, 1960s and early 1970s. He shared memories of school, the Mechanics’ Institute, waiting to use a public phone box, scrumping for apples, using donkey stones to clean stone steps, Millers shop on North Street, Keighley gala, the ABC Ritz cinema, the market and night clubs in Haworth, accompanied by his fantastic paintings.
And a big thank you to everyone who came along to hear and see Kevin. Over 50 people came along on a rather damp night – we had to keep asking the very helpful library caretaker for more chairs!
If you are interested in seeing Kevin in action, he will be painting his latest piece, that marks the 100th anniversary of the unveiling of Keighley War Memorial, in Keighley Library on Wednesday and Thursday next week (21st and 22nd February 2024). Please pop down and say hello.
February’s History Society meeting is on Wednesday 14th February. It is open to everyone and will be held at Keighley Library. Artist Kevin Bell will be revisiting the town where he grew up to share his memories and show some of the paintings he has created of that time. Plenty of nostalgia accompanied by terrific evocative paintings.
The meeting is held upstairs in the Local Studies Library. Doors open at 7pm and Kevin’s talk will start at 7.30pm. If arriving after 7pm, please use the side door entrance on Albert Street. Admission is £3.50. Admission is free to History Society members, who also have the option of joining via Zoom (Zoom meeting details are sent out via email a few days in advance).
