‘Greatest show town has seen’ (From Keighley News)
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‘Greatest show town has seen’
11:00am Saturday 21st July 2012 in News By David Knights
Youngsters celebrate winning a giant teddy at the Red Kite disco
Around 1,000 people performed in this year’s Keighley Festival, says one of its leading lights.
Malcolm Hanson said he couldn’t thank the people of Keighley enough for supporting the festival during its 2012 relaunch.
He said: “This has been without doubt the best Keighley Festival I’ve been involved with over the eight years I’ve helped in arranging the event.
“Next year looks set to be even better, with more than a dozen new attractions already offered by local events organisers.”
Mr Hanson, owner of the festival’s cuddly-toy mascots Mr Happycat and Dolly Dipstick, last month proclaimed the 2012 event would be the “greatest show Keighley has ever seen”.
He admitted he “quaked” when he saw his claim in print in the Keighley News, so he enlisted the help of children taking part in the flagship show Yet An Even More Amazing Night.
He said: “When the show started, I told all the children to help make that true and they did. The kids delivered a show-stopping performance to a packed Victoria Hall and had all us adults on our feet stamping for more at the end.”
Mr Hanson said another excellent event was the Red Kite Disco for children in Braithwaite. “The moment I turned up with Happycat and Dolly they were mobbed. More than 100 children packed into the Kingfisher Centre for two hours of complete and utter mayhem,” he said.
Keighley Model Engineering Society’s boating evening on Keighley Tarn also attracted a constant stream of interested visitors.
l The Temple Row Music Group gave its debut performance as part of Keighley Festival. The group consists mostly of people who have never played music before and learned to play by ear. It is based at Keighley’s Temple Row Centre, which provides activities mostly for disabled or elderly people.
The group is appealing for donations of brass instruments. Anyone who can help, or who wishes to join, should contact Geoff Donaldson on 01535 637761.
