A LONG ROAD AHEAD

MP PLAYS FOR TIME IN BYPASS BATTLE

IT’S NOT There will be no bypass More, not less, roads were In this issue THE PAPER around – or under – Sal- needed, he stated. When local FESTIVAL PHOTO taire for "many, many resident Joan Barton asked if Plus PEOPLE BUY, years" Phillip Davies, Con- a park and ride scheme, fol- IT’S THE servative MP for Shipley, lowing the successful example TEAROOM TALK told a public meeting or- of York, might be a possibility, Plus the MP's prompt reply was PAPER BY ganised by Village WILDLIFE WALKS Society on September 24th. "Buses get held up in conges- THE PEOPLE tion". That was my cue to Plus It would be up to the Re- leave. Pamela Reynolds ALL OUR USUAL gional Transport Board to UNUSUALS PARK PLANS allocate funding (the pro- jected cost of a bypass is Historic Landscape Consult- presently between £120M ants HTLA have unveiled the and £130M) and funding is designs which will support EXCITING FUTURE FOR spoken for until 2012. the bid for Heritage Lottery HISTORY CLUB funding of an extensive resto- Mr Davies assured the meet- ration of Roberts Park. ing that he would not support BANDSTAND any proposals which posed a One of the great local success together which was the 'talk of threat to the World Heritage stories of the year has been the the town' in more ways than Plans include repairs to the establishment and rapid growth of Site or Hirst Wood. Dave one from 1878 until building and infrastructure, a Shaw pointed out that as the the Saltaire History Club, brain- park manager providing a designation of Saltaire as a child of Dave Shaw. Denys Salt, who was accompanied by his wife 1964. Victoria Hall Manager visible presence, public con- World Heritage Site was veniences and spectacular, if Eva, addressed a very mixed Stacey Clarkin is so keen to taken at a national level, "It is contraversial ideas for a audience of forty people on the see this reinstated that she has brightly lit new bandstand. an issue for the government 204th aniversary of his great already set dates for the three not for the Regional Trans- grandfather's birth. day event – February 14th- PLANTING port Board" . Rather than Alan Petford gave an informative 16th 2008 - and is asking take issue with this point, Mr The basic layout of planting and entertaining lecture on the Sentinel readers who would in the park has survived since Davies emphasised that any development of model villages proposed scheme would need nationwide. like to be involved to contact the 1870s and the intention her: now is to restore the vista of to be endorsed by UNESCO. TRIP beds, shrubs and trees to its Saltaire Village Society [email protected] original colourful splendour. This turned out to be an enticing believes that the public backdrop to the announcement money which will fund the that the Club is organising a trip Watch this space feasibilty study would be this month to Copley, Ackroydon Saltaire Village Website for further news of the Saltaire better spent on solutions and other historical sites near Halifax… (See page 4) Journal, and Friends of Shipley www.saltairevillage.info including improved public College. transport and car sharing. Dave Shaw introduced his latest has many more details on this initiative, The Saltaire Journal, item (as well as others), al- Mr. Davies appears to think The next meeting of the otherwise. His emphasis was and Julie Woodward recruited History Club will be on lowing you to examine and volunteers for Friends of Shipley comment on the actual de- on “individual freedom” as a College. December 6th at 7pm in signs. philosophy, with cars bound Roger Clarke spoke about the the Shipley College build- to increase in number as peo- Conversazione—(or which he ing on Exhibition Road. ple prospered. writes on page 2) - the annual get-

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

THE GLITTERING EVENT THAT WAS THE CONVERSAZIONE January, 1878, was the date of the first Conversazione. This was a 3 day, glittering social occa- THE sion, with much eating and dancing. It began on a Thursday evening with the grand opening, which all the top Society figures from the West Riding, and especially the area, attended. This SILVER YEARS was an expensive and sumptuous meal, and dancing to the best bands. Friday was a special dance It is twenty years since Jona- which more Villagers attended. Saturday afternoon was a Children’s Party. But the most popular than Silver bought Salts Mill. was Saturday night, with cheaper prices which more Villagers could afford. It was so popular that it was held every year (apart from the War Years, and other times of national emergency) until 1964, Anne Davies, now the Gallery spanning almost a century. Victoria Hall was always the venue. The front doors were blocked off Bookshop Manager, recalls to provide more space inside, and access was via the Lockwood Street entrance. The interior was the early days: decorated in the most expensive and sumptuous manner, with exotic plants from the Salts family conservatories, and all manner of expensive fabrics and curtains. There were ribbons and bunting, Under Jonathan’s leadership, flags and flowers, mirrors, Chinese lanterns, and a scent fountain to freshen the air. The best dance Anne tells us, everyone did what- bands were hired, and other entertainment included ventriloquists, solo singers, actors performing a ever was necessary. He was a farce, memento readers, choirs, a conjuror, and all manner of the latest scientific inventions includ- workaholic and expected every- ing the telephone and microscopes. one else to give the same commit- ment. He could be conducting a Food included boars head, lobster, pates and potted meats, exotic desserts, and both temperance and alcoholic drinks. For most of the Villagers, Saturday was the best day. The children’s party critical negotiation one minute had masks, balloons, prizes and presents. The evening dance had all the latest popular tunes and and sweeping the floor the next. dances, as well as pies and beer to suit the working man and woman’s taste. Similarly, staff could be busy with a job and then called away to park This was the social event of the year, and all proceeds went to local charities. Its demise seems to his car or walk Freda, the dog have been linked with the increase in TV ownership, and the increase in popular entertainment at [Both the Silvers and David Hock- home. The wind down of the Mill had also begun, and perhaps there was less community spirit ney owned dachshunds, as did with fewer workers on site. Whatever the reason, the 1965 event was cancelled at the last minute their great hero, Picasso.- Roger] because of lack of support, and it has never been held again. When Jonathan opened the It was Frank and Ilma Senior who first encouraged my interest in the Conversazione. Diner in 1993, Anne worked 27 consecutive days without a break, This page: ROGER CLARKE REPORTS and was then allowed 2 days off. If you lasted a month, she says, you did well. The work pressure SALTAIRE FOLK on everyone from Jonathan was In June, 2005, Frank and Ilma Senior celebrated their Diamond Wedding anniversary. intense. He quite simply wore Frank is now 87 years, and Ilma (whose name is Finnish), is 84 years old. They have both people out. He lived and spent most of their lives in Shipley and Saltaire, and both worked in Salts Mill. breathed work, and found it diffi- cult to take holidays. He would Ilma’s family on her mother’s side were Sykes, a large family who all lived in Saltaire and phone into work when on holiday worked in the Mill. On her father’s side were the Watmoughs. She was born in Windsor or when ill for whispered conver- Road in a fish and chip shop, owned by her parents. This housing was demolished in 1967, sations about work without and Asda supermarket was built on the site in 1984. At 14, like most young people in the Maggie hearing him. On one area, she went into Salts Mill – first in the burling and mending, and then into the Office. She occasion he persuaded Anne to attended Business School in the evenings to gain her RSA qualifications. miss her holidays because she Conscription into the ATS came in 1942, in the Accounts section. Returning home in 1945, wasn’t going away and he argued she and Frank married, and a year later their only son, Geoffrey was born. Ilma remained at that she might as well be at work! home until 1962, when a favour to a relative led her back to Salts for a “temporary” job to do The only hierarchy was that Jona- some stocktaking – which lasted until she retired in 1975! than was in charge and was the star of the show. Everyone else Frank was born at 3, Katherine Street, Saltaire. His father was a loom tuner and his mother a was a supporting cast. He made weaver at Salts Mill. When he left school at 14 years he started work there himself. He was all the decisions, with his bril- first a bobbin tube piler for 3 months, then on the gatehouse as errand boy, then in the En- liantly agile mind and his atten- quiry Office and finally in the Design Dept and the Sales Costing Office before entering the tion to detail. The advantage to RAF where he trained as ground crew, maintaining the aircraft. After being stationed in this this was that you always got an country, the inevitable posting overseas came with a long haul by sea to Port Said (the Medi- immediate answer to any query, terranean was effectively closed to shipping, and a trip around the Cape was necessary). He provided you could pin him down returned home in 1945 and demobbed in March, 1946, to return to Salts Mill – as a Sales and were prepared to share his Costing Clerk once again. By 1957 he had become Costing Manager for finished fabric, attention with several other peo- where he remained until his retirement in 1983. ple. Jonathan had an endearing Frank had lived with his parents in Edward Street, Saltaire (which they were offered for £250 quality of showing an unexpected as sitting tenants by Gresswells estate agents), but after the War he and Ilma moved to Earl touch of humour, kindness or Street (which ran off St Pauls Road) and lived there between 1946 and 1960. They still re- thoughtfulness, which meant that member, with nostalgia, the community spirit there. These back to back houses are now de- any disagreements were quickly molished. Since 1960 they have lived in Marlborough Road. They recall that before the War forgotten. Marlborough Road had huge ornate metal gates at the bottom, which were dismantled in the … To be continued 1930’s. (Do any other Sentinel readers remember them, or have photographs?)

SALTS NEW DRAMA, MILL SAME SUCCESS Opened 1853 and It’s becoming an annual treat! still Hattie Townsend has written, directed, and frequently performed Open Every Day in, a series of dramatic productions Attractions include for the Saltaire Festival every year for the past four years. They never SALT’S DINER seem to lose their freshness and appeal. This year’s offering was a Cafe in to the Opera drama walk, “Challenging Utopia”, featuring Kate and Dan Breeze SALTAIRE HISTORY Hattie Townsend (on the right, in bonnet) looks on disapprovingly, in from the village, plus Nathan and EXHIBITION character as the Salts' housekeeper, as Maria Glot (centre) brings her ex- Tom Barker from Little perience of enthralling a crowd outside to her role as millgirl Ellen Danby. 1853 Gallery Theatre. The brothers provided horseplay, touching ambition, and AND MUCH MORE a healthy irreverence towards the The Saltaire Sentinel more staid Village characters. ADMISSION FREE Kate and Dan were tragic figures in JOHN NICHOLSON POETRY a domestic conflict which spilled 01274-531163 over onto Saltaire’s streets. They PRIZE ______joined Hattie, Maria Glot and Roger Clarke, performing as This month we are pleased to publish the fifth winner of this VICTORIA housekeeper, millworker and Min- year's John Nicholson Poetry Prize, for which there was sim- ister, to link the drama with stories TEAROOMS ply insufficient space in September's issue. Since the initiative from different levels of Saltaire was launched in 2003, the number of entries has steadily in- society in 1878. Repeat attenders 8 Victoria Road creased. Of course, it's not about winning; the fact that readers and newcomers alike enjoyed the Open Daily see publication in these pages as a prize worth having and skilful crafting of Hattie’s charac- respond so positively to the invitation to participate is very ters within their well researched 01274-823092 encouraging. So Thank You as well as Congratulations to all historical setting. ______this year's entrants. Poems are usually published in September but may be submitted throughout the year. Details of the Who SALTAIRE and Why John Nicholson appear regularly in these pages. SALTS WALKS NEWSAGENTS Slightly less dramatic SALTAIRE guided tours of the Village 9 VICTORIA ROAD A unique monument to one man's vision set out regularly and by ar- ______rangement from ‘Magic PETER By Geoff Tynan Number Three’ in Victoria RANDALL A unique monument to one mans vision, Road. Gentleman’s Water the key to his decision. For more information, Hairdresser To power looms and convey the goods, call AND MORE ! The and Liverpool ascends the landscape like no river could. Maria Glot: 599887 or 205, Bingley Road (mobile) 07952745471 01274 – 597140 Clean air for once instead of smog, But no place to sell the grog. ______To keep the highway free and neat, ECO ACTION DAY No washing please across the street. The SPA Saturday November 3rd 21 Titus Street Mind and body catered for, is ECO Action Day for the Shipley Savouries, Frozen Rich in Art, Sport and knowledge for the poor. Area. Kirkgate Community Centre Food, Groceries, Gateways to a better life, will host a "fun and informative Sweets, Etc. No smoke clad city strife. event with lots to do for residents Mon-Sat 8.30am - 10pm of all ages", organised by the Ship- ley Sunday 10am – 10pm Relax in the mystical east for a while, Shed the days toil Turkish style. Area Committee and Partners, 01274- 826534 Wander home through streets related, between 10am and 3pm. Over twenty stalls, as well as free work- ______The Salt family tree on Prussian blue stated. shops and discussion sessions, All the above are outlets for will offer practical advice and the Sentinel. Advertising space The Masons Art lifts the tone, information and there will be chance to meet local councillors in these pages is not for sale. Street corners fanned in Yorkshire stone. From flagstones worn by workers all, and senior officials and have your say on environmental issues. To the Classical of, Victoria Hall.

EDDIE IN ILKLEY SALTAIRE HISTORY CLUB SHIPLEY RETIRED MEN’S FORUM Eddie Lawler will be at the TRIP TO HALIFAX MODEL VILLAGES Ilkley Literature Festival next Shipley Library at 10.15am month talking about, perform- Saturday, October 20th Speakers this month: ing from and hoping to sell his Everyone is welcome to join our guided trip to visit: the 3rd Geoff Budd excellent new book Saltairy model village at Copley; the Crossley Almshouses and Peo- Fares Please Tales. Ever loyal to his many ple's Park; the village of Ackroydon and buildings not nor- 17th Maurice Kitson supporters this side of the mally open to the public. The coach will leave at 9am from Photography and Music Moor, the Saltaire Songster Exhibition Road and return at 5.30pm (or before). Bring a officially launched the book as packed lunch. 31st Peter Watson North Country Folklore part of our Festival on Sep- Tickets £10 from Roger Clarke 592944 (after 5pm) tember 10th in a packed Half New members welcome or e-mail [email protected] Moon Café. "I've never 591745 worked so hard in my life" or [email protected] said James Duncan, who was SHIPLEY ROTARY CLUB selling tickets on the door, "I OVERWHELMING SUPPORT Every Tuesday 12.30 – 2pm enjoyed taking people's Lower Hall, Otley Road money, but handing it over to KEEPS TEAROOMS GOING Eddie was very difficult for A Message to readers from Tracey Bennett, call Arthur Smith: me." Eddie can be seen (for 01535270615 free) at the Ilkley Playhouse who runs the Victoria Tearooms at 8 Victoria Road: (Wildman Studio) at 9pm on I would very much like to express my heartfelt thanks to all BRACKEN HALL Oct 5th. our customers who have supported us during the renovation COUNTRYSIDE CENTRE works at Don't Tell Titus. At times we experienced major Glen Road, , Shipley disruption with noise, builders, etc. Whilst it was completely Friday 19th unavoidable, trading in those conditions became extremely Guided walk to Cliffe Castle GOODBYE DAVID difficult and put the business under a lot of pressure. The support from our regular customers has been overwhelming (9 miles) In the August edition of the and has kept us going, and I would like to let them know that Return from . Sentinel, I reported that things are back to normal again and we look forward to wel- Train fare and lunch required. David Johnson had opened coming them back. Meet at Bracken Hall 10.30am. the Victoria Gallery at Num- In addition to the ever popular iced teas we have on sale, our Friday 26th ber 3, Victoria Road. Sadly, new menu includes an extended range from Taylors of Harro- Family walk to Hirst Wood he is now leaving Saltaire to gate, the name behind Betty's, featuring all the traditional (3 miles) pursue his painting career classic blends such as darjeeling and assam, as well as a Fair- Bring along a drink and a snack. elsewhere. His painting is his trade breakfast tea. The whole Taylors range is also on sale in Meet at Bracken Hall 10.30am. boxes to take home and try later. The classic black tea infu- passion, and the number of Sunday 28th commissions which he has sions add a twist to the traditional teas, with natural flavour- ings (the mango tea in particular is proving very popular) and Fungi Foray in Shipley Glen. are testimony to his skill as we would encourage customers to come and try something (2 hours) an artist. He will be missed. new today. Meet at Bracken Hall at 2pm Good luck for the future, 584140 David. Roger Clarke SALTAIRE VILLAGE SOCIETY TRAVEL BLACKPOOL ILLUMINATIONS

DAVID FORD'S Oct 21st/22nd staying in 3 star hotel SALTAIRE BOOKSHOP PROGRAMME OF DAY AND SHORT 217 Bingley Road BREAKS THROUGH THE YEAR 10am – 4pm 01943 870228 Open Tues. - Sat.

Late opening Thurs. till 8 POLICE & COMMUNITY POINT New and second hand books CONTACT SALTAIRE are based at the entrance to Salts on two floors. Mill. People who live round and about are welcome to come and talk about any community issues, whether they 594377 are for the attention of the Police or the Council, on [email protected] Wednesdays from 10am to 2pm.

The Saltaire Sentinel is written by the people of Saltaire and photocopied by Shipley College in the heart of Saltaire EVERY MONTH. It is not affiliated to, nor in any way controlled or influenced by any group, society or organisation. Sadly, sooner or later you will dispose of this copy of the Sentinel. Please do so with care for our World Heritage Site environment.