Happy Christmas It’s December, so we appreciate some company can officially say Happy or who is new to your area? Christmas, although if you’ve Invite them for a meal, to got children it’s probably come to a Christmas market been the talk of your house with you, to watch a festive for the last couple of months film, or bake them cookies... already. get creative and have an Did you see the festive inclusive festive season. ON THE COVER episode of Martin Lewis’s With Clayton Dickensian Hug in a Mug! Money Saving Expert show? Market and Thornton A scrummy hot chocolate is like a nice Yet again he reminds us Christmas Tree Festival warm snuggly hug. Get creative with all to rethink how we do kicking off local celebrations yours and send us a pic. Christmas gifting. Not to this month, they are both a overspend, not to get in fantastic example of the local We currently produce over 5750 debt, not to feel pressured community spirit we have in copies each month, which are delivered FREE in Thornton and to give unnecessary gifts, our part of Bradford. The surrounding areas. what wise words. recent poppy displays and remembrance celebrations We are only able to do this with Christmas is a great time for the support of local businesses who spending time with family, were another wonderful advertise with us. Please mention the enjoying the real meaning of example of what can be Thornton Directory when responding achieved when everyone to adverts. If you would like to Christmas, going to events, advertise with us, please go to page 38 all of which are about joy joins together. We have for our advertising rates. and love rather than costing been able to cover lots of good news stories and new Editor: Neil Bird lots of money. There are lots Tel: 01274 447315 of fabulous events listed in community initiatives in the Email: [email protected] our What’s On pages and on magazine in 2018 and are Web: www.thorntondirectory.co.uk our facebook’s ‘Big Festive looking forward to featuring List’ for you to enjoy. all the fabulous things that will be happening next year. How about including someone in your activities Have a lovely Christmas Your Thornton Directory is proudly this Christmas? Do you and we will see you again in printed using vegetable based inks on know someone who will 2019! paper sourced from sustainable certified sources. be on their own, has had We are eco-friendly, you can be too, a tough year, would really don’t just throw me in the bin, pass me on to a friend. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole Contents or in parts without permission is strictly prohibited. Local News 6 All information is correct at time of going to print. The views and opinions by In Your Community 12 contributors in this publication may not Local History represent the views of the publishers. 10,26 All advertising is subject to the editor’s Off the Beaten Tracks discretion, nor does any advertisement 28 constitute a recommendation. The Thornton What’s On Directory also takes no responsibility for 33 claims made by any advertisements in the Sports Desk publication. 36 ©2018 Thornton Directory 3 facebook.com/thorntondirectory twitter.com/thornton_dir 01274 447 315 Dear Neil Dear Neil, There is a lot to enjoy about Thornton. It was a lovely surprise to see Eric Kaye in your However, the most horrible and upsetting last issue and read some of his memories. I’m aspect of it is the irresponsible dog owners - a glad to hear he is doing well as he was such minority I presume - who allow their dogs to a well known local mechanic and we went to foul the highways and byways of the village. him for years. We were sad when he retired. This is most noticeable along the beautiful and He always had that cheeky glint in his eyes and imposing Thornton Viaduct, where you really I can see that coming through in his stories, need to keep your eyes on every footstep you which is great. I love reading the history articles, take instead of the view. Compare the also but even more so when it’s recent history and delightful Hewenden Viaduct near Harecroft, you reminisce about things in the village that just a few miles away. Clean as a whistle. you remember too. I look forward to the next Come on, those irresponsible Thornton dog instalment and I hope others send in stories too. owners, clean up after your dog! Michael | Thornton resident Jane Robinson | Thornton resident Editor: I’m pleased you enjoyed reading it. Dear Neil, Look out in January for the next installment. How amazing it was to see the poppy display Thank you Thornton Directory for your BIG at the Methodist Church for remembrance day. Festive list of events on facebook again. It’s like I’d seen the advert for the poppy display at the waiting for the ‘red cups’ at that well known Methodist in the Directory and so thought I’d coffee chain! When I see your ‘big list’ I know pop along expecting something quite small but Christmas is on its way! wanting to show my support. I was amazed Naydeen | Clayton resident when I walked through the door to see so many poppies of all types made by so many groups Editor: Our ‘BIG LISTS’ certainly do get a lot in the village. The display by the antiquarians of facebook interest, helping to publicise local with the photos of local lads who lost their lives events. We hope you enjoy getting along to made me quite emotional. some and enjoy a festive treat to two. Sarah Harris | Thornton resident 4 To advertise in the Thornton Directory or for flyer distribution call Neil on: 01274 447315 Please mention the Thornton Directory when responding to adverts 5 The Centenary Remembrance The total of donations to the Poppy Appeal in our district was close to £25,000. The eleventh hour of the eleventh day of Thank you to everyone who did so much to the eleventh month has come and gone. The make a huge difference to all who need our Centenary marking the end of World War1 help. was, I think, one that we will find difficult to Mike Herbert | RBL Thornton Branch forget in future years. The time of Remembrance means different things to us all, some reflect on happenings and some simply honour the fallen. This year we have all being brought starkly into contact with some of the horrors of conflict through the media and events commissioned to commemorate ‘The Centenary’. Yet throughout Remembrance we have also highlighted the ‘now and the future’ because that is the reality of what conflict does. We have witnessed many examples in our local district of how the past impacts on the now and the future. Everything from our Primary School displays and projects, to local events and displays and the use of the famous ‘Soldier Silhouettes’ and inspirational public scenes – as on the roundabout in Clayton – and at the many War Memorials across the district. Our own two primary schools, Thornton and Keelham were involved with song and poetry and the Scouts Groups and ACF Cadets and Camo Crew were there too. The Remembrance Wreaths were incredible and inclusive with acknowledgement paid to the Commonwealth and Dominions, Volunteers and the Veterans of Russia. The Poppy Appeal has just finished but the work it funds never stops, that’s what the Appeal is all about. In Thornton our Churches held Coffee Mornings, Exhibitions and Fellowship Meetings, and the ‘Clubs and Pubs’ supported the Poppy Appeal and many of our local shops did so too, thank you. We have also had great help from the Ahmadiayya Muslim Women’s Association and the Nasirat-ul-Ahmadiyya, Bradford North. 6 To advertise in the Thornton Directory or for flyer distribution call Neil on: 01274 447315 New Musical Director Wanted As President of this wonderful choir I want to put out a plea for a New Musical Director. Photo Competition Results Our current MD is David Mawson who has guided the choir for the last 7 years and We had some fabulous entries into this years regretfully he has decided to leave us at the photo competition, all with the theme of end of this year due to personal commitments ‘Yorkshire Architecture’. and living in St. Anne’s. It gives me great pleasure to announce our 1st, The position is now open for someone who 2nd and 3rd place winners who will get to be has the right qualifications to lead our choir on our June 2019 covers to launch next years from January 2019 onwards. They will be competition. committed to lead and conduct our choir with Congratulations to our 1st place competition our resident accompanist, Sian Hughes and winner, Gemma Ackroyd, with her photo of attend rehearsals at Haworth Road Methodist the ‘Octagon Tower at Studley Royal Water Church 7.30pm to 9.30pm each Wednesday. Garden’. We perform over five concerts each year and Below: Runner’s remuneration is negotiable. up places go to Alan Isherwood for his ‘Whitby Abbey ruins’ and Nicola Barker for her photo of ‘Thornton The choir, formally known as Thornton Vocal Viaduct’. Union goes back 100 years and lapsed until Keep an eye out after the Second Wold War when James for the covers on our June 2019 Burchell reformed the choir. John Marshall, issues. a local Thornton man took over as MD and ran the choir for 30 years from 1970 to 2000.