Silsden

Linda Berry

Tel 654643

linda-berry@sky.com

Today: Citizens advice, Health Centre, 9.30am to11.30am. Drop in for advice on any subject.

Monday: Ladies dance and exercise class at the Methodist Church between 11am and noon. Wear loose clothing and bring a drink of water. Fun and fitness to music – contact Janet on 01535 663681.

Tuesday: Tots Time at the Youth Centre, Elliott Street, 1pm to 3pm; band practice at Gloucester Community Centre, 7pm to 9pm; Over-55s Club meets at Silsden Sports Centre, Keighley Road, from 10am to 12.30pm.

Wednesday: Bingo at the community centre, Gloucester Avenue, from 2.30pm to 4.30pm.

Silsden with Skipton Young Farmers met at Mr and Mrs Ayrton’s farm in Embsay for dairy judging. This was a thoroughly enjoyable evening and placings were: girls 1 Lucy Ellison and Rebecca Stapleton, 2 Holly Preston and 3 Polly Throup. Boys’ winner was Tom Stapleton.

Silsden Methodist Church fundraising group has booked Joe Maiden, the Yorkshire gardener, to appear on at 2pm on November 8. Contact the church for more details.

The arrival of Methodism in Silsden had a profound influence on village life, particularly among newly industrialised workers. This will be the subject for discussion when Silsden Local History Group holds its October meeting on Monday evening, led by Alan Raine, retired Methodist minister and a member of the group. The meeting is being held at the Methodist Church, with doors opening at 7pm for refreshments and a 7.20pm start. The group will hold its monthly drop-in session at Silsden Town Hall the following afternoon between 2pm and 4pm. Newly donated archive material relating to the village will be on display. Anyone with a family or local history query is also welcome to attend for assistance and support.

The exhibition Silsden’s Story In The Great War, first shown at the town hall in August, has been on display at Bradford Mechanics Institute following an invitation from the city’s First World War Group. Chairman, Patricia Restorick, described the display as “inspirational”, and said the many visitors had been greatly moved by the stories of village life during the war years. The professionally-designed banners from the exhibition will be shown again in Silsden at a coffee morning in the town hall on November 8, organised by Silsden Local History Group. “A number of local people were away on holiday in August and were very sorry to miss the event,” said history group chairman, David Mason. “We have had numerous requests for a repeat. This will be an opportunity for some people to see it for the first time and for others to take a more studied second look.” On sale at the coffee morning will be the children’s book Edward’s Diary – written by local teacher Anne Reay – and specially produced calendars and Christmas cards, featuring scenes of Silsden.

Silsden AFC is finalising plans for a service to commemorate the centenary of the start of the First World War, to be held on November 8 at the Angel Telecom Stadium. This will start at 1pm and will include Silsden Town Band, a group of singers, the Royal British Legion, local groups, league officials and local dignitaries. Silsden Historical Society is providing a display and there will be refreshments in the sports club. Following the service, there will be the scheduled football match (3pm kick-off), for which the Silsden team has obtained permission from the league to play in the original colours of the 1914 team – light blue and white stripes. A commemorative programme will be on sale, with all the day’s profits going to the Royal British Legion. E-mail silsdenafc@hotmail.com for more details.

Pied Piper Pre School runs from Monday to Friday, 9.15am to 12.15pm, for children aged two to five, with funded places for three and four-year-olds, at St James’ Church. E-mail piedpiper-preschool@co.uk or contact Dawn Arrowsmith on 01535 654930.

The Methodist Church has a coffee morning each day from Tuesday to Friday – Chatterbox from 9am to noon Tuesday to Thursday to meet, eat, drink and chat, and then the original Friday coffee morning, 9.30am and 11.30am.

Disco Zumba is held on Monday at 8.30pm and on Thursday from 6.15pm to 7.15pm in the town hall. Wear suitable clothes and take water. All abilities welcome; just turn up on the night. See the facebook page for details.

Donations of tinned and non-perishable foodstuffs for food banks will be gratefully received at our three churches, any Sunday morning, and at Silsden Methodists’ refreshment area Tuesday to Friday, between 9.30am and 11.30am.

Silsden Library is open on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday between 10am and 4pm and then on Saturday from 9.30am to 4pm. Call 01535 618155 for further details and special events.Take One youth drama group meets every Wednesday night in the Gloucester Avenue community centre from 5.30pm to 7pm. Meet and make friends while learning some great stage skills and get the chance to perform on stage. Contact David Hardman on 01535 657249 for further information or go to the facebook page Silsden Community Productions.

Church services on Sundays: St James’ Church Traditional (Book of Common Prayer) Communion Service, 8.30am; Parish Communion with children’s workshop and creche, 10.30am; Methodist Church Family Worship, 10.30am, Evening Service, 6pm; Our Lady of Mount Carmel Holy Communion, 9.30am; Shoppers Service at the Methodist Church, 20 minutes on a Friday from 10.30am for all denominations.