This was what the Keighley News of the time called a ‘striking scene’ on the Town Hall Square, when upwards of 5,000 Keighley schoolchildren celebrated Empire Day in 1909 – a day later than originally planned because of rain!

After listening to appropriate talks in their schools, scholars were marshalled in the square, many carrying flags. Here they sang patriotic melodies conducted by W H Whitaker, headmaster of Ingrow Council School, and were addressed by the Mayor and B S Brigg, chairman of the Education Committee.

The Mayor spoke on responsibilities and Mr Brigg on the motto ‘I serve’: “I want you to realise that you can never command unless you train yourselves to obey,” he told the children. “You can never rule unless you serve”.

Afterwards, they all trekked down to the football field for games, with tea and buns paid for by Keighley MP John Brigg. Marriner’s Band played into the evening.

Although May 24 was the official date for Empire Day, its celebrations during the Second World War were sometimes – for obvious reasons – combined with those of May Day. Mr Brigg’s 1909 message, together with the proliferation of Union flags seen here, help explain why. School talks about the Union flag, emphasising ‘personal service and devotion to duty’, were the order of the day.