November 2007
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BRIDGE IS BACK AT LAST In this issue IT’S NOT MUSIC, MUSIC, MUSIC Harmonium Museum THE PAPER Shop and School PEOPLE BUY, Plus IT’S THE CAFÉ WITH A HEART In the heart of town PAPER BY Plus ALL OUR USUAL THE PEOPLE UNUSUALS ECO DAY On Monday 29 October, a could make it down the Salts LANDSCAPING new bridge costing £240,000 Sports track.” Sunny laughed Saturday, November 3rd is ECO was installed by British Water- and said he didn’t feel his quote It’s worth knowing that the Day and local residents of all ages are ways’ contractor, Morrisons on how he felt about the access Saltaire Garden Centre has a encouraged to call in at Kirkgate low mark up pricing policy, and Community Centre to find out more Construction Ltd, over the problems would be printable Leeds to Liverpool canal restor- but he is very glad the new there are some real bargains to about how they can reduce household be had even through the winter bills and improve their local environ- ing road access to Hirst Wood bridge is now in situ. It’s come ment. There will be a chance to "Have Crescent and the Saltaire Gar- too late to solve his problems months. Other services on offer Your Say" about what needs to happen den Centre, on the north side of this year though – he’s worried are landscaping (domestic and in the Shipley Constituency, and to commercial), turfing, fencing hear from senior managers and politi- the canal. because summer is the main trading time for garden centres, and plants and flower arrange- cians within Bradford Council about FRUSTRATING YEAR ments for bars, restaurants and their priorities for the environment. with custom trailing off in win- weddings. Pamela Reynolds It has been a frustrating year for ter months. REFRESHMENTS those affected by the loss of the There will be plenty for children and bridge which was suddenly young people to do, including "Eco taken out of commission in Face Painting", "Crafty Stuff" and ADVENT CALENDAR ALIVE AGAIN "Eco Footprints" and free Fair Trade March this year. The Saltaire refreshments will be available. Garden Centre, which opened in January 2006, has been badly It's a tad early to wax rhapsodic If you would like to participate The event will "kick off" at 10.30am affected by the lack of a bridge. about Christmas - but needs this year call David on M. with news about funding and Shipley College's work to become a sustain- Owner, Sunny Chana who in- must! The Living Advent Calen- 07802 445786, or email: able college. Workshops and our stalled a new irrigation system dar began in Saltaire last year, [email protected]. market place will run throughout the and made extensive repairs to inspired by a project which It’s hard to think ahead, but try! day, with the event finishing around the polytunnels and glass- began in Hessle, near Hull. It might be fun to unveil your 3pm with a short presentation from houses, was set to have a suc- Cllr Hawkesworth. (Formal presenta- Twenty-four windows dotted window with a Christmas party tions will be kept to a minimum.) cessful year before the bridge failed. He said that takings have around the village were deco- for family or friends. Last year's FOOTPRINT been down by 80%, due to ac- rated with a Christmas scene windows are on the Village In addition to all this, you can find out cess problems. and one by one, from the 1st Website: how to reduce your carbon footprint. “Local customers have had December to Christmas Eve, www.saltairevillage.info (follow ECO DAY is a day of information, difficulty with access, let alone they were lit at dusk, counting the IMAGES link) and will fea- workshops and fun activities organised those from further afield who down the days to Christmas. ture again this year. by Shipley Area Committee and part- couldn’t work out the compli- The event added an extra touch CHRISTMAS TREE ners. cated diversion route down of festive magic to Saltaire and 437146 Victoria Road and through the drew many visitors to the vil- On 1st December, a 20ft grounds of Salts Sports Asso- Christmas tree will be erected You are welcome to just drop in ciation. Getting suppliers to lage on an advent treasure trail. and stay for as long, (or as short!) a outside Victoria Hall with twin- deliver has also been a night- By popular demand, the Living time as you like. kling lights. Gather round for mare. Suppliers are reluctant to Advent Calendar is set to be- Jane Hughes mulled wine, mince pies and accept small orders and no vehi- come a Saltaire tradition. Shipley Area Co-ordinator’s Office cle larger than a transit van song. WHATEVER IT IS – SAY IT IN THE E-mail: [email protected] OR use the form to be found on the website: www.saltairevillage.info Deadline: 20th SALTS Roger Clarke's SALTAIRE FOLK SALTS MILL MILL THE Pam and Phil Fluke’s investment in Saltaire is total and com- Opened 1853 and SILVER YEARS still plete. They came to the Village in 1983, after moving from Lon- don’s Isle of Dogs where Pam was one of the youngest Primary It is twenty years since Open Every Day School head teachers in the capital. They reached Saltaire via Riddlesden and East Morton, and decided that this was where Jonathan Silver bought Attractions include they wanted to put down roots and raise their 4 adopted children. Salts Mill. SALT’S DINER They were able to see the potential of the Village, despite the fact Anne Davies, one of the original that the Mill closed down within a few weeks of their arrival. employees and now the Gallery Cafe in to the Opera Concerned about the threat of a new trunk road through the Vil- Bookshop Manager, recalls the lage, they were active members of the protest group which chal- early days: SALTAIRE HISTORY lenged the Dept of Transport’s plans. From their victory here, the EXHIBITION Village Society was born, and they were early members (Phil has 1853 Gallery been chairman in the past and is still an active member). They We learned last month how are both committed to preserving the integrity of the Village and Jonathan Silver put all his ef- AND MUCH MORE its community. forts into establishing his new venture in the Mill, and worked ADMISSION FREE There is one building in the Village which excites them more tirelessly to pursue his dream. than any other – Victoria Hall. Phil has been particularly in- 01274-531163 He expected the same level of volved with it over the past twenty-two years, voluntarily commitment from his staff. ______________________ “keeping an eye on it” before refurbishment in 1996. He then Anne admits that she couldn’t became caretaker, a post which he holds to the present day. take the early pressure and left VICTORIA the Company in 1994. But she Within Victoria Hall he and Pam have created a national and returned in 1995, after doing a TEAROOMS international treasure - - one of only 3 reed organ and harmo- number of temporary jobs, nium museums in Europe. Theirs was the first, but now there 8 Victoria Road which all seemed boring in com- are others in Switzerland and Holland. They have been collecting parison. She missed the excite- Open Daily this Cinderella of keyboard instruments since 1974, ever since ment and the unpredictability of Pam asked Phil to buy her a piano, and he came back with a har- working for Jonathan – you 01274-823092 monium which didn’t work! Phil determined to restore it, and either laughed or cried with him, contacted the last surviving harmonium builder in London to help but never yawned! She put in ______________________ him. The museum is a wonderland for talented musicians and long hours and no real job de- SALTAIRE collectors, and for the uninitiated. Phil is always around to super- scription because she wanted to vise and inform the hands on/ interactive experience which he please him, and to share his encourages visitors at all levels to enjoy. Most of the instruments vision for the future of the mill. NEWSAGENTS are from the Victorian period, when reed organs were so popular. She wanted him to make it work, and of course he did. 9 VICTORIA ROAD After all, pianos were very expensive whilst reed organs cost £4 _____________________ on hire purchase, and never went out of tune. Then, reed organs were combined with pianos, made to accompany silent movies. But then he fell terminally ill, Their sound is so evocative of a period in British history. PETER and things were bound to RANDALL Amongst the hundred instruments in their collection are a tiny change. There was the obvious Gentleman’s “book” harmonium, the size of a family Bible, through to others 7 sadness amongst staff – Anne had worked for him for four Hairdresser or 8 feet high, and even a combined reed organ and sewing ma- chine!! years. At first he had to cope AND MORE ! with the idea of delegation, al- Pam’s role is more behind the scenes. An enthusiastic harmo- lowing other people to manage 205, Bingley Road nium player, she also “looks after the ephemera” – ordering and the company. The baton of cataloguing the extensive archive of music and its history – as leadership passed to his brother 01274 – 597140 essential as the “front of house” museum. Robin before Jonathan’s death. Robin had been running his own ___________________ Remarkably, this whole venture is largely financed by them- Company, The Home, but then selves.