The Keighley Municipal Officers’ Guild held their Annual Soiree in the Municipal Hall on the evening of Friday 16th December 1921. The guest with ticket number one was the Mayor of Keighley, Mr James Longton, who served as Honorary President of the Guild.
Longton had been a member of Keighley Town Council since 1911. He was born in Withnell, near Chorley, in 1854. He served as Headmaster at Eastwood School in Keighley from 1881 to 1911 when he retired. He was Chairman of the Keighley Education Committee at the time he was made Mayor. He died on 4th July 1925.
The soiree commenced at 7.30pm with guests arriving to be greeted by the Mayor and Mayoress, Mrs Longton. The Ball began at 7.45pm with music provided by the Briggs’ Orchestral Band playing a selection of waltzes, lancers, two-steps and others (including a Flirtation Barn Dance!). A whist drive took place in the Old News Room from 8pm, and it appears from his dance card that the Mayor spent most of the evening playing whist. Refreshments for the evening were provided by H. Atkinson, a confectioner based on Lawkholme Crescent.
The portrait of the Mayor was taken by W. Bruce Johnston. The ticket is part of an archive relating to the mayoral year of James Longton, purchased by the History Society in 2022. The picture of Town Hall Square circa 1920 is from a postcard donated by Liz Hornby. Researched and collated by Tim Neal.
