A struggling Keighley history group has been saved after joining with a similar group.
Keighley and District Local History Society faced closure due to a lack of people on its committee.
Keighley Archaeology and History Society, run by teenager Lewis Parker, is now being merged into the organisation.
Lewis and his father, Andrew, have joined the Local History Society’s committee. Lewis’s extensive website and pictures will gradually be absorbed into the Local History Society’s archives.
The merger came after the Local History Society revealed worries that it might fold without new blood.
Jan Perkins, the society’s archivist and webmaster, says there is now a full committee with “much-needed new and young blood” on board.
“We have gained even more members and the society is going from strength to strength,” she added.
Lewis’s website, which focuses on areas, including the long-demolished Westgate, will be closed down.
The Holy Family School student will become the newly merged society’s events co-ordinator and his father will become publicity officer. Jan said: “This merger will mean that we can all work together to secure even more history for the future and for Keighley people to enjoy.
“We believe there is so much out there in the public domain, which could be lost forever if not copied for posterity.
“Any photographs, books or articles of local history can be scanned into the archive and the originals returned to the owner without any damage whatsoever.”
Jan can be contacted on 01535 661185, at janperkins@blueyonder.co.uk or via the website keighleyhistory.co.uk.
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