A FLAVOUR of the First World War was among the activities staged at Keighley’s Cliffe Castle Museum over the weekend.

The attraction hosted an event called “World War One Day Out”, which saw visitors able to try out food created from recipes devised to combat shortages during the latter stages of the war.

Volunteers from Cliffe Castle Park Conservation Group gave out free samples of trench cake, bread, and iced coffee.

The baking was done by Jane Gibbon, who said members of the public were pleasantly surprised at how good the food and drink tasted.

The conservation group volunteers introduced people to the campaign launched by wartime Keighley town mayor Frederick Butterfield, meant to get people to use alternative ingredients such as barley, chicory and rice to support Britain’s war effort.

Stuart Kaplan, who is part of Bradford Council’s freelance education team, dressed as Mr Butterfield for the occasion, and was joined by other council staff who attended dressed as First World War era soldiers, nurses and civilians. There was also a suffragette and a flag seller.

The day featured a tombola and children’s lucky dip run by a team from Skipton Women’s Section of the Royal British Legion.

Carol Kitson, branch secretary of this group, said: “We’re raising funds which will go towards awards for serving and ex-serving military personnel and their families, as well as war widows and war widowers.

“It’s gone well so far today, and Cliffe Castle always looks after us. We go to events all over Yorkshire but we do need new members.”

The day also featured some traditional garden games, including draughts, croquet, boules and quoits.

Members of the Shipley-based Hall Royd Band performed a selection of classic tunes, while youngsters were helped to create remembrance poppies and sweetheart pincushions.

The event on Saturday (August 4) accompanied an extensive temporary centenary exhibition inside the museum which began at the end of July and looks at Keighley’s involvement in the First World War.

Cliffe Castle assistant curator Kirsty Young said: “It’s been a very nice day and people have really enjoyed learning about the efforts Keighley put in during the war.

“We’ve also had trails to encourage children to go round the museum and find the First World War related exhibits – including a ‘Find the trench rat’ trail.”

*See this Thursday's Keighley News for more photos from the event