A FUNDRAISING drive has been launched to collect £10,000 to employ a professional team to help run next year’s Haworth 1940s Weekend.

The people behind the popular event say it has become so big it can no longer be handled by volunteers alone.

Andrea Leathley, one of the organisers, said: “Many people aren’t aware of the cost of putting on an event like this, and it has grown so big we now need professional help.

“This year we estimated we had about 36,000 people in the village, throughout the 1940s Weekend.”

Mrs Leathley, part of the team to take over the weekend after a previous committee disbanded, said she and the rest of her group want to employ about 40 paid workers, who will handle health and safety, traffic management, marshalling, and communications.

She explained this would give her and her volunteer colleagues certainty over how much assistance they can expect to receive during the event.

“With paid professionals it means we wouldn’t be let down, but it will take quite a bit of money,” she said. “We’ve come up with ideas on how we’ll raise it.”

The 1940s weekend is the biggest event in Haworth’s annual programme of entertainments. It includes military and civilian vehicles, outfits from the era, music from the 1940s, and a range of stalls, food and re-enactments.

The event has been running for 23 years, and has raised tens of thousands of pounds in the last five years alone for military charities.

A preliminary calendar of fundraising events for the 2019 1940s Weekend has been issued, with details about further entertainments to be released soon.

*December 15 – Table top sale at Haworth Village Hall and Community Hub, in Butt Lane, from 11am to 4pm.

January 12 – Tribute artist Andy Wiseman to perform Neil Diamond night at Haworth Village Hall from 7.30pm to 11.30pm. For £10 tickets, contact Mrs Leathley on 01274 407430.

January 25 – Auction evening at Kings Arms Pub, in Church Street, Haworth, from 8pm to 11pm. Will include karaoke led by DJ Simon Bennett and auction of donated goods by Mr Bennett and landlady Caroline Ingram. Donations of additional items for the auction are welcome at the pub in advance of the event, or on the night itself. Admission to the evening is free.

February 9 – Tribute artist Eddie Popescu to perform Elvis night at Haworth Village Hall from 7.30pm to 11.30pm. For tickets, contact Mrs Leathley on 01274 407430.

March 29 – “Beaky Plinders” themed evening at Kings Arms Pub, in Church Street, Haworth, based on the similarly named BBC TV series. Starts at 8pm and will feature 1920s outfits, cocktails, live music and casino tables. Free admission but a charge of £5 to take part in the casino.