Your FREE MAGAZINE for Kirkheaton, Upper Heaton, Gawthorpe, Bog Green, Briggate, Houses Hill, Wellhouse ISSUE 22 & Lascelles Hall NEWS AUTUMN 2018 Kirkheaton PO on the move! After over twenty five years as postmasters at Kirkheaton Post Office on St Mary’s Lane, Lynn and Michael Whitehouse are preparing to stick their last stamps, weigh their last parcels, close the PO and retire. Fortunately, Kirkheaton is not losing its PO. If all goes to plan it will relocate to the newsagents at the corner of Shop Lane and Town Road in the near future. However, this has caused some concern among residents as parking and pedestrian access are serious issues in the area. But on the plus side it will have two Bumper open counters and will be open for longer hours six and half days a week. Various other venues were considered but have issue! had to be discounted for varying reasons. NCS SUCCESS Michael became postmaster in April 1998 after a career as a mining surveyor. He commented “ When Margaret Thatcher THIRTY YEARS ON! closed down all the pits, my job disappeared, so I did what I always fancied doing - run a PO - which I’ve really enjoyed.” DALTON WARD During his 25 years at the job he has seen many changes. WEEKEND “Business has changed. At one time there were OAP’s queuing out of the door to collect their money on pension days. All that has gone now as pensions are paid directly into bank accounts. The government has also moved many of its services online so many people no longer renew their car tax or buy their TV licences etc at the PO. Now much of his custom comes from people trading on Ebay and, with the demise of local branch offices, bank customers increasingly use the PO for their banking services. Michael and Lynn are moving to sunny Blackpool but hope to spend much of their time at their apartment in Portugal. They have supported many community initiatives over the years and will be greatly missed. We wish them well in their retirement. Sad loss of Dr George Redmonds – local historian On 10 August, aged 82, George Redmonds sadly passed away after a short illness. He was an internationally recognised historian, specialising in the origin of surnames and place names. He was awarded a PhD at Leicester University in 1970 for his research into surnames of the West Riding, and in 1973 his work was published as the first volume of the English Surnames series. A resident of Lepton, near Huddersfield, he gave up his job as a senior lecturer at the town’s Polytechnic to become a freelance historian in 1974, earning a living through his local history publications. Are you looking for a venue to hold His local history talks have been enjoyed by many people in Meetings? Functions? Kirkheaton who were impressed by his depth of knowledge of the area and his ability to speak without notes. Classes? Parties? Kirkheaton Scouts & Guides HQ is an ideal venue Great rates, flexible options & secure parking Tel: 07903 851 852 contact@ kirkheatonscoutsandguides.org.uk Fancy Volunteering? Kirkheaton Community Centre has many volunteering job opportunities eg working in the coffee shop, baking for it, help organising events, gardening, marketing, ‘DIYing’, decorating, and in the library. We have a good group of people who enjoy volunteering and work well together. Call into the Community Centre on library/coffee shop days to find out more or call Trish on 07858 223854. 2 Club celebrates 30 years with a Walk-a-thon Kirkheaton Youth Football Club celebrate their 30th year in 2018 and to mark the occasion they organised a sponsored walk and a family fun day event as well as their now annual tournament. Nine teams including players, parents and coaches from the Under 6’s to the Under 17’s took part on a very hot Sunday morning in July. Over 50 walkers set off from various locations including Ossett, Horbury, Cumberworth, Scissett, Holmfirth, Hepworth, Northowram, Greetland and Meltham. The challenge was to be the first team back to the football ground, with each age group covering nearly 10 miles. Along each route teams also had specific challenges and tasks to complete, including group selfies at specific landmarks, answering local knowledge questions, and a favourite of each team - a drink at a local pub! On returning to their football ground at Bankfield Lane they were met by supporters to enjoy an afternoon of entertainment together with a well-earned drink and BBQ. The walk raised a massive £3500 in sponsorship and KFC would like to thank everyone who sponsored the walkers, the volunteers who helped organise the event, everyone who helped on the day, and everyone who attended. They also hosted their 4th Annual Football Gala in September. Thirty teams attended from all over West Yorkshire. Thanks to their support and all the hard work of the volunteers the club raised around £2,500. Kirkheaton had a number of teams in all age groups with the U10’s as trophy winners in their league. The £6000 raised from these two events will go towards plans to build a permanent club house and equipment for Kirkheaton Youth Football. If you would like to know more about the club and how you and your children can get involved email: [email protected] All new players welcome. 3 FIRST AID, FOOD SAFETY, HEALTH AND SAFETY FRANK PEXTON COURSES DRAPER AND OUTFITTER The front of this property in Shop Lane has probably changed little in the last 100 years. Originally the ground floor was a linen All fully accredited drapery shop owned by Edward Pexton and later his son Frank. Meet statutory An advert of 1937 stated that the business was founded in requirements 1834; this would have been by Frank’s great grandfather John Suitable for paid staff Stocks who died in 1882. The business passed to his daughter and volunteers Martha, the wife of Joseph Pexton (blacksmith). Edward Pexton was the son of Joseph and Martha. Running at local venues Contact Jill 07808277525 or In later years Frank had a single storey shop built to the left of Steve 07740704164 for further the drapery business whilst he continued his tailoring business #9522-Huddersfield-40x65-directory advert-12jan18-PRINT.pdf 1 10/01/2018 14:16 information on the upper floor of the shop pictured below. Following Frank’s retirement, Doreen Shelton continued a drapery and knitting wool business in the small shop followed by Trish Mellor when it was called Stitches. Today it is owned by Aspect hairdressers. A 1953 photograph shows a single storey house on the left hand side of the building below. This was later demolished by Douglas Cooper when he modified the side of the property to form a butcher’s shop, the front of which is still evident today. Successful for a number of years, it finally closed along with all the village butchers. If anyone has further information or memories we would like to hear from you. John Taylor Kirkheaton History Group 4 Community Gala 2018 Laneside Landfill The sun shone! Families enjoyed themselves and helped raise over Site Update £5,100 for the following groups There has been very little activity on the in Kirkheaton: Yetton Together, site for the past year and seemingly this Scout Hut, Guides, Brownies and is likely to be the case for some time. Kirkheaton Youth Football Club. Due to increased recycling of domestic waste, less is going into landfill sites. A big thank you to all the Consequently Caseys have said that they volunteers who helped on the day will continue to ‘mothball’ the site until ‘a and the people who supported viable opportunity arises.’ this annual community event. In the meantime the site and the newt colonies will continue to be monitored and maintained. Also The Landfill Liaison Group is due to be reconstituted in the near future. Fashion show In September a band of YT’s cafe volunteers got together and organised a fashion show (all proceeds givento the Community Centre) The event was a great success – and due to the presence of a licensed bar, lasted long into the The Gala Queen and her attendants L to evening! A grand total of £446 was raised. A R: Rainbow Attendant - Olivia Hepworth; big thank you goes to the group for organising Brownie Attendant - Louisa Alford; Gala their first event with such enthusiasm and verve Queen- Imogen Aust; Senior Attendant- and to the brave models who strutted their stuff Anna Walkington with such great aplomb! Walker’s GARAGE Coach Travel Services SERVICING DIAGNOSTICS REPAIRS • TYRES EXHAUSTS Transport to School for Wakefield Girls High, Queen Elizabeth Grammar, Crossley Heath Grammar Call Gordon Walker and Huddersfield Grammar. on 01484 512 432 New Road Garage, New Road, Telephone 01484 518 908 Kirkheaton HD5 OJB or visit www.coachtravel.me www.walkersgarage.net Private Hire for Schools and Groups 5 Further refurbishments at CC Recently the remaining 22 metal framed windows in the Community Centre (CC) were replaced by Heritage Grey PVC ones - Thanks go to Suez and Bradley Waste Management for their financial support. We also have to thank Kirkburton Parish Council and Huddersfield Common Good Trust for their financial help which has enabled us to remove the old school toilets and refurbish them as a small meeting room and a much needed storage room. In addition the small community room has been smartened up by a new carpet. Kirkheaton Matters – new Facebook group for all Nigel Harnell, who created the group writes:- ‘As a lot of you are aware there is a new group on Facebook called Kirkheaton Matters - which has already reunited a few lost pets, gained business for business owners in Kirkheaton and just recently got a misplaced birthday card to a lady called Mavis.