SKIPTON schoolchildren Georgina Macdonald, 15, Willow Clapham, 12, Jessica Braddy, 11 and eight year old Charlotte Malin, helped get Christmas off to a good start in Bradford.

The four girls, along with 11 year old Sebastian Peters, from Shipley, performed a specially written poem at the launch of the ‘Sparkling Bradford’ campaign at last week’s start of festivities.

The performance was filmed, and has been shared across social media, as well as appearing on big screens around the Bradford district.

The Sparkling Bradford initiative has been developed by The Broadway Bradford, Visit Bradford, Bradford Council, Made in Bradford and the University of Bradford, and is aimed at highlighting the district as a Christmas destination for people from across the North.

The final verse of the poem, written by Andy Warriner, from Keighley, reads:

“Distinctive, delightful,

diverse and delicious,

make Sparkling Bradford,

your choice, this Christmas.”

One of the young stars of Sparkling Bradford, Jessica Braddy, said: “I loved reading the Sparkling Bradford poem, it made me feel so festive and excited about everything we do in Bradford. It’s such a special time of the year and Bradford is such a special place. I really hope that everyone loves what we’ve done and it makes even more people excited about visiting our district this Christmas!”

Pictured from left, back, Diana Greenwood from Visit Bradford, Ian Ward from The Broadway with poem performers, left to right at front: Charlotte Malin, Georgina Macdonald, and Jessica Braddy, picture by Lorne Campbell / Guzelian.

A SKIPTON pub has once again won acclaim for the quality and standards of its toilets – in the Loo of the Year Awards 2018.Wetherspoon’s The Devonshire Inn has been awarded a platinum rating by inspectors – the highest award possible.

The awards are aimed at highlighting and improving standards of ‘away from home’ toilet provision across the UK. Loo of the Year Awards inspectors make unannounced visits to thousands of toilets at sites across the country, seeking out the very best.

And, all are graded from bronze to platinum with unacceptable toilets not graded at all.

The platinum rating is given only to outlets which offer ‘exceptional toilets’ and take into account decor, maintenance, cleanliness , and hand washing and drying facilities.

Manager, Christopher Donoghue, said: “We are delighted with the award. Staff at the pub ensure the toilets are in first-class condition at all times and it is great that this has been recognised by the inspectors.”

The Loo of the Year Awards 2018 managing director, Mike Bone, said: “The toilets at The Devonshire Inn have been designed and fitted out to a very high standard and are both clean and well maintained.The pub richly deserves its platinum award – the highest individual award the judges can deliver.”

YARNDALE Skipton’s creative festival of ‘all things woolly and wonderful’ might have been and gone for another year, but one of its founding organisers, Carole Rennison and fellow yarn lover, Jaki Bogg have been commissioned to take their knitting and crochet skills to the high seas on a guerilla knitting mission.The duo, both accomplished textile workers and self-confessed ‘yarnoholics’ will set sail from Corfu in Greece, to Montego Bay onboard Marella’s Discovery. Recruited by Skipton based Peel Talent – the live entertainment producers and suppliers, Carole and Jaki have been tasked with the classified objective of encouraging their trainees to covertly ‘yarn bomb’ - or decorate with knits - the ship under the cover of darkness.

Carole said: “My passion for yarn has taken me on some fabulous journeys, from starting Skipton’s first Knit and Natter group, to launching the Yarndale Festival, to my new book, Yarn Hooking.This is going to be another great journey and hopefully the ridiculous novelty of creating colourful woolly coverings for the ship’s fixtures and fittings will encourage lots of wannabe knitters and crocheters to have a go.”

Meanwhile, Sara Andrew, cruise enrichment manager at Peel Talent, said they were always looking for new talent. “We are always on the lookout for accomplished artists, crafters and music and drama tutors who can run engaging and practical skills sessions on board a whole range of ocean cruise liners. With all their experience of Yarndale, Carole and Jackie are the perfect people to take the Marella Discovery by storm and surprise staff and guests with their creative and cheeky yarn bombs. I can’t wait to see the pictures of what they decorate.”

If you have a special skill – as a speaker, tutor or instructor – and can talk with charisma and authority, then Peel Talent would love to hear from you. A love of cruising is an absolute must as all appointments aren’t rewarded with a fee, but with a complimentary holiday for the creative and their guest. To apply to Peel Talent, email sara.andrew@peeltalent.com. Yarn hooking will be available next year with Search Press.

A HUNDRED years ago, the Craven Herald of 1918 was less than enamoured with the arrival in Burnsall of Ramsay MacDonald - the first Labour politician to go on to become Prime Minister. Mr MacDonald, reported the paper, was spending a ‘quiet holiday in Burnsall’ with his ‘pacifist adherents’. Included in the ‘week’s gossip’ column - a forerunner of ‘the diary’, the paper commented that the scenic beauty of the Dale was not enough for the politician and his pacifist friends, for while they were there, they held ‘secret meetings’ in the Township Hall. Those meetings, said the paper, were no doubt used for the planning of a campaign with ‘their brethren in Germany’. “The public of the Craven Dales are by no means enamoured of the presence of these mischief makers, and we regret to find that the village hall was let to them for their special purpose,” said the paper.

ALSO of interest in the ‘gossip’ columns of 1918, was an unusual craft spotted on the Leeds and Liverpool Canal and moored close to the ‘celebrated double-arch’ at East Marton. Described as looking like an ‘ornamental cucumber frame’, the folding pleasure boat was being steered along the canal by four men - much to the amusement of onlookers, who had gathered along the towpath to watch its progress. The craft was the product of scientific and artistic minds, said the paper. It was 12 feet long, and four feet wide. The bow section could disconnect, and fit into the middle section, while the stern lapped over and locked into place. The boat had a flat bottom and was propelled by something that looked like a ‘domestic egg beater’. The paper explained: “By turning the handle, a miniature propelling screw is revolved, and hey, presto! the boat glides along with barely a perceptible ripple on the water.” The idea was to have a power pleasure boat, without the use of motive power - ingenious. The boat was launched amidst a downpour, and when it set off, the inventor and his colleagues were the recipients of many congratulations, said the paper.

THE 1st Kildwick and Farnhill Scout Group is gearing up for its annual gang show, due to take place on Friday, November 23, and on Saturday, November 24 in the Glusburn Institute.

It will be the 77th gang show for the group, and the longest running one of its kind in the country. The group has more than 80 beavers, cub scouts, scouts, explorers and leaders.

This year’s show will include songs such as ‘American Legends’, ‘The Greatest Showman’, ‘War Time Memories’ and ‘The Time Warp’. Sketches include ‘The Great Escape’ and ‘Romeo & Juliet’, and to finish, the traditional ‘Crest of a Wave’. Doors open 6.45pm for a 7.15pm start. Tickets for Adults £7.50, and for children £5.00

Family and group tickets are available, contact Neil Tillotson on 01535 653511 or emailing richtilly@aol.com