A Grand Day Out in the Park – a great success

/0 Comments/in , , /by

SILSDEN Park started a series of July events celebrating the first anniversary of the Tour de France coming through the town.

SilsdenPark_4thJuly2015The Grand Day Out In The Park lasted six hours and spread across a large area of the park.

Silsden Bowls Club had an open day where people could try crown green bowling, using special targets on the green.

Silsden Storm, the town’s new under-10s rugby league team, played against Swillington early in the day, then in the afternoon Silsden AFC juniors played exhibition matches and hosted a penalty shoot-out competition.

There was also tennis coaching on the tennis courts, relay races, a demonstration by scooter experts on the ‘rocks and ramps’, and a children’s obstacle course, run by cycle training organisation Becycling of Bingley.

Silsden Town Band performed music, dogs showed off their ability on a special course, and West Yorkshire Police officers chatted with visitors.

The organisers of the event, Silsden’s Grand deParty Group, said they were grateful to everyone who was involved with the event.

 

 

The History of Silsden Park

/0 Comments/in , /by

by Cathy Liddle

Until the arrival of the motor car, Silsden’s children enjoyed total freedom of the streets and the fields.

Then in 1914, following a death on the road, a small playground, with two swings and a goalpost, was opened in Sykes Lane.

But as traffic continued to build, local newspapers described Silsden as “sadly behind many much smaller and less wealthy places in the matter of public recreational facilities.”

Turned down for funding by national government and by the local council, the push for a park was organised entirely by volunteers. Within five years of its launch, the Playing Fields Association had raised enough money to buy over eight acres of agricultural land.

In February 1934, mill owner Richard Fletcher, the PFA chairman, and three year old Vera Cockshott, the town’s youngest school pupil, cut the first sod. In April the first stone was laid for a pavilion. And by September the Playing Field – with play equipment, a bowling green and tennis courts – was said to be in pristine condition for the official opening by the Princess Royal.

It rained throughout this special day but crowds turned up to hail this remarkable community effort and profess themselves well content with the town’s newest facility.

A bandstand, dedicated to the famous Silsden composer and bandsman Edward Newton, was added the following year.

…. more pictures

 

Silsden is going orange

/0 Comments/in , /by

Have you noticed the orange hanging baskets appearing along Kirkgate?

hanging_basketsThese are part of the decorations for Silsden’s Grand deParty celebrations, a month of events which will be taking place throughout July.

It is all part of the legacy of the Tour de France which this year starts off in Holland and of course Holland has a national colour of orange!

Soon you will see the tulips appearing!!!!

For more information about the events (which start on 4th July with A Grand Day Out in the Park) please see the calendar.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pictures of Silsden Park

/0 Comments/in , /by

To mark the first anniversary of the visit of the Tour de France to Silsden, a ‘Grand Day Out in Silsden Park’ is being organised by Silsden’s Grand de Party Group.

As part of their work the Group has been considering the history of the park.  Neil Whitaker, a member of the Group, said “There are  carved stones at the Bolton Road entrance to the Park which tell how the Park was opened by The Princess Royal on 29 September 1934.  We have located a few old photographs of the park but we would love to be able to find some more.

We hope to have a display of the photographs at our special Park Day so if anyone has any old photos of Silsden Park which they can share we would be very grateful.

One year on we want to celebrate Silsden’s connection with the Tour de France by having  a Grand de Party throughout July – starting with a community day in Silsden Park on Saturday 4 July, from 10am to 4pm.

This special Park Day will involve lots of fun activities in the park for all the family.”  Silsden’s Grand deParty Group can be contacted by email to info@grandeparty.org.uk  or via Twitter @granddeparty.

Details of other Grand deParty events in July can be found at www.http://granddeparty.silsden.net

 

 

Bowling – Sat 4th July

/0 Comments/in , /by

Come and give bowling a go on Sat 4th July (you never know you might enjoy it)

Bowling_2Basic tuition for anyone over 6 and under 106 who turns up wearing flat soled shoes / trainers and a sensible attitude.

Refreshments, cakes, and scones will be available.

We will provide all equipment.

If we get enough interest between 10am and 2pm we will run an Independence Day competition for all the newcomers who wanted to enter – prizes to include free club memebership for the rest of 2015

 

More information …….