KEIGHLEY and District Local History Society is staging a double celebration.

The organisation's next meeting, on Wednesday, December 11, will be the annual seasonal gathering.

But the society is also marking its 20th anniversary.

There will be a quiz and an opportunity for visitors to look through some of the items donated over the past 12 months.

Also, vice-chair Steve Bown will give a short presentation on how Keighley marked Christmas in 1964. It will include a snapshot of duties being performed by the mayor and mayoress over the festive season, illustrated by some photos donated recently by the former mayoress herself, Doreen Nolan – now Doreen Kitchen.

And there will be a selection of photographs showing workers from John Haggas Ltd on a trip to Blackpool in the late 1960s.

"We’re hoping that people can help us identify some of those in the photographs," says Tim Neal, for the society.

"As well as celebrating Christmas, the society is also marking being 20 years old.

"It was formed as part of the celebrations when Keighley Library turned 100 back in 2004. The town already had a family history society, but it was felt that it was worth having a separate society focussing on the history of the town and the surrounding area.

"The meeting will mark the occasion with a slide show of what the society has been up to during the past 20 years, plus of course there will be a birthday cake."

Everyone is welcome to attend the event, which takes place upstairs at Keighley Library.

Doors open at 7.15pm. All those arriving at the library after 7pm should use the Albert Street entrance.

There is lift access to the first floor.

Admission is free for society members, and £3.50 for non-members.

The meeting is scheduled to finish at around 8.45pm.

There will be an opportunity for members to renew their membership for the year ahead. The cost is £15 for an individual, or £20 for a couple, and covers the whole of the calendar year.

Mr Neal adds: "The diary for 2025 is already looking pretty exciting, with a full roster of guest speakers and several members-only visits lined up. Full details will be available on the night."

Members also have the option of joining the meeting via Zoom.

For further information about the society, visit keighleyhistory.org.uk

The organisation can also be found on Facebook, at facebook.com/keighleyhistorysociety