Haworth events hampered by lack of helpers

Robin Jackson, chairman of the Haworth Village Association, told other Brontë Country Partnership (BCP) members his group was finding it difficult to run events.

The association co-ordinates and promotes popular attractions such as the Haworth 1940s and 60s weekends, as well as a series of activities over the Christmas period.

Mr Jackson said: “We have a manpower problem when it comes to staging events.

“The last 60s weekend fell on very few shoulders.

“Despite our success we’ve very few bodies. There is some doubt as to whether we can run this (60s) weekend next year. This is the last year we can stage things in an amateur way — we are going to have to make sure all events are properly stewarded.”

He said he and his colleagues were mainly looking for volunteers to carry out simple tasks such as erecting gazebos, putting up bunting or stewarding crowds.

BCP chairman Samantha Lawson suggested he contact Leeds Metropolitan University for help.

She said this institution was constantly looking to provide some of its students with experience in managing public events.

Ms Lawson said an initiative to get more local people to visit Keighley and Worth Valley attractions should take place again next year. She said she would be happy to see a repeat of “Go Local Sunday” — which allows residents to enter visitor destinations for free for one day.

Matt Stroh, of the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway, asked whether one of Keighley’s supermarkets might be interested in sponsoring the day in future.

Ms Lawson said she would contact the businesses to see whether they would be interested in getting involved.

Graham Mitchell, of the Keighley Bus Museum, noted that even though attractions allowed free entry for a day, they could still make money by selling goods and refreshments. He said the only organisations that spent money on Go Local Sunday and made nothing in return were the bus museum and Keighley Town Council.