A HUGELY popular weekly Keighley News feature focussing on the town in bygone days is making its own bit of history.

Memory Lane, or Down Memory Lane as it started life, is celebrating its 25th anniversary.

The material is put together by well-known local historian Ian Dewhirst, who recalls the 'birth' of the column.

He was approached by the then editor, John Liddle, about doing a 'one off' historical piece about the High Street area of Keighley.

"In those days there was a business editor who periodically wrote advertising features focussing on particular parts of the town," said Ian.

"On this one occasion I was asked if I could do a historical piece to support a feature, and I included a photo.

"There was an inaccuracy in the caption and several people wrote to the paper about it!

"The interest generated gave Mr Liddle the idea of carrying a weekly column and I remember him ringing me to ask if I would be able to supply a photo every week.

"I did wonder how long I would be able to maintain it, but then people started to loan me photographs and it kept itself going."

The first-ever Down Memory Lane featured a charabanc crash at Oxenhope in 1920, in which five passengers died.

Over the years it has included many Keighley-area landmarks, scenes, incidents, events, dignitaries, local characters and ordinary people.

"Back in 1992 I never envisaged for one moment that I would still be doing it 25 years on – but I thoroughly enjoy it," said Ian, who is 81 this month.

"People will say I remember that shop and I used to go into that shop or that pub, so it creates interest and sparks memories.

"But also it provides a historical record.

"There have been such a lot of changes in the town over the years and people forget very quickly. I know there are some who cut out the column each week to keep the information."

Memory Lane was 'relaunched' in its current three-photo format in July 2013, when the Keighley News went full colour for the first time since it was founded in 1862.

Ian reckons that across the years he has used well over 1,000 photos.

"People lend me them – and I'm extremely grateful – and I should make special mention of regular contributor Kevin Seaton," he said.

"We meet two or three times a year and Kevin hands over a bundle!"

Richard Parker, Keighley News content editor, says Memory Lane is a massively popular feature of the newspaper.

And he pays tribute to Ian.

"So many people love reading the Memory Lane page and viewing the fascinating images of Keighley's bygone days," he said.

"With much constantly changing in terms of our buildings and landscape, it also fulfils an important recording role for future generations.

"Ian's incredible historical knowledge is a massive boon to the Keighley News and the community generally and we are hugely grateful."