Keighley and District Local History Society

23/10/2026

ERH closed this Sunday because of the impending storm.

Due to the high winds forecast for Sunday 25 October, East Riddlesden Hall, including the lower fields and car park, will be closed.

We hope to reopen on Monday 26 October, but will first need to carry out post storm safety checks across the site. Please check our social media channels or website for updates before you travel.

Thank you for your understanding.

23/10/2026

Keighley Playhouse's production of 'An Inspector Calls', by J. B. Priestley, was performed at the Playhouse from Monday 23rd to Saturday 28th October 2006. The play was directed by Mike Boothroyd. It was the second play of the 2006/07 season. This was the only week in 2006 when the play was performed in West Yorkshire.

The play, set in the fictional industrial city of Brumley in 1912, centres around the Birling family's evening meal, which is interrupted by a visit from Inspector Goole. The morals and motives of the different members of the family are exposed as the Inspector questions them about the untimely death of a local woman...

Inspector Goole was played by David Templeton, supported by Guy Wilman, Anthony Calvert, Laura Campbell, June Driver, Samantha Davison, and Matthew Nutting (making his debut at the Playhouse).

The programme, from which the images are taken, is part of the Christine Broadley Collection. The production photographs were taken by Gary McDonald. Researched and collated by Tim Neal.

22/10/2026

Keighley Amateur Operatic and Dramatic Society's production of "Oklahoma!" played at the Hippodrome Theatre in Keighley for six nights (with a Saturday matinee) from Monday 22nd to Saturday 27th October 1956. The musical was written by Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II. The Amateurs' production was produced by Peter Miller, with musical director R. Lewis Scargill. The musical was significant in that it was the last production held at the Hippodrome. The theatre had already closed earlier in the year and was reopened especially to stage "Oklahoma!". After this it was closed for good before being demolished in 1961 as part of the town centre redevelopment.

The story of "Oklahoma!" concerns the quarrelling between the factions of farmers and cowboys settling in the emerging state of Oklahoma in 1906. Curly (played by Edwin Smith), a cowboy, loves Laurey (Audrey Hutchinson), the niece of farming matriarch Aunt Eller (Marian Pedley). But Laurey is torn between Curly and the loutish Jud Fry (Arthur Day), who actually just intimidates and scares Laurey. At a society social Curly outbids Jud in winning the right to take Laurey to supper. This show of devotion persuades Laurey that Curly is the one. Meanwhile there are complications in the affairs of Ado Annie Carnes (Frances Fairclough), a girl who just can't say "no", between pedlar Ali Hakim (Frank Hopkinson) and cowboy Will Parker (Keith Marsden), that also involves Gertie Cummings (Brenda Chatterton). Aunt Eller throws a wedding for Laurey and Curly, but as the newly-weds are about to depart, Jud comes out of hiding and a fight breaks out between him and Curly. The fight ends with Jud dying when he falls on his own knife. A verdict of accidental death leaves Curly and Laurey free to depart in their Surrey (with a fringe on top) and peace breaks out between the cowboys and the farmers.

Other people in the cast included Hildred Hoyle, Reuben P. Drake, Frank Bailey, Patricia Roberts and Brian Reynolds. There is a ballet dream sequence in the musical in which the parts of Laurey, Curly and Jud were danced by Elsie Greenwell, Keith Ingham and Derek Lund respectively.

The production was reviewed in the Keighley News of 27th October 1956: "Of all the musicals which the Amateurs have chosen during their long association with the theatre, 'Oklahoma!' is perhaps the most evenly balanced. There is no really outstanding part, and even the minor principals have an opportunity of showing their ability. There were no misfits in the cast selection and producer Peter Miller can rarely have had such enthusiasm among his company... The Hippodrome is leaving us in a blaze of glory befitting the memory of some of the great artists who have played there, and it is appropriate that the local Amateurs, who themselves have presented so many fine shows there, should provide the grand finale."

The cast photographs used here were taken by Keighley-based professional photographer N. K. Howarth and featured in the 44-page programme, printed by The Keighley Printers Ltd. The programme is part of the Joy Rundle Collection, donated by Jane Eaman and Mark Rundle in 2023. Researched and collated by Tim Neal.

21/10/2026

Keighley Amateur Operatic and Dramatic Society's production of 'South Pacific' played at Victoria Hall Leisure Centre in Keighley from Monday 21st to Saturday 26th October 1991. It had music by Richard Rogers and lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II, and was based on the Pulitzer prize winning book by James A. Michener. The Amateurs had staged the show thirty years previously, in 1961, at the Ritz Cinema.

The story takes place on a South Pacific island during World War II which is hoke to an American Army base. It involves nurse Nellie Forbush (played by Julia Tosney) who falls in love with a local French estate owner, Emile De Becque (Roy Newton). Nellie learns that the mother of his children was an island native and, unable to turn her back on the prejudices with which she was raised, refuses Emile’s proposal of marriage. Meanwhile, Lieutenant Joe Cable (Richard Aldham) denies himself a future with Liat (Amanda Chapman), an innocent girl with whom he’s fallen in love, out of the same fears that haunt Nellie. When Emile is recruited to accompany Joe on a dangerous mission that claims Joe’s life, Nellie realizes that life is too short not to seize her own chance for happiness, thus overcoming her prejudices.

Other members of the cast included Nicola Greenwood, Stephen Boothroyd, Robert Lister, Julie Thompson, Derek Lund, David Webb, Anthony Waddington, Michael Kennedy, Mike Boothroyd, David Walsh and Chris Blackie. Michael Kennedy and Derek Lund were in the 1961 and the 1991 versions (with Derek playing Stewpot both times). It was produced by Tony Cross (inset), the musical director was Peter J. Wild, and the choreographer was Barbara Boothroyd. Peter J. Wild had played Lieutenant Joe Cable in the 1961 production.

The programme (from which all of the images are taken) is part of the Joy Rundle Collection, donated by Jane Eaman and Mark Rundle. Researched and collated by Tim Neal.

21/10/2026

Keighley Playhouse's production of 'The Glass Menagerie', by Tennessee Williams, was performed at the Playhouse from Monday 21st to Saturday 26th October 1996. The play was directed by Geoff Whitley (inset). It was the second play of the 1996/97 season.

The play is set in the deep South of the United States of America in a St. Louis slum apartment where Amanda Wingfield (played by Mary Woolridge) lives. She lives with her son, Tom (Jonathan Tate), and daughter, Laura (Ziona Lewin), and is clinging to a past of southern belles and gentleman callers. The cast was completed by Chris Stocks as Jim O'Connor.

The 12-page programme is part of the Christine Broadley Collection.

21/10/2026

Press photographs taken at Keighley Technical College on 21st October 1981, showing students receiving Apprentice of the Year Awards. The story was covered in the Keighley News of 23rd October 1981.

(main picture) Andrew McCrink (left) and David E. Eeles (right), joint winners of the Engineering Apprentice of the Year Award at Keighley Technical College.

(bottom left) Mark Graham (left) receiving the award for best stage one apprentice on the motor vehicle training course at Keighley Technical College. The prize is awarded by Dennis Williams of Glynwed Screws and Fastenings Ltd. Anthony Fish (stage two winner) is in the centre.

In 2021, Keighley and District Local History Society acquired an extensive collection of photograph negatives taken by the Keighley News. Groups of negatives were held in small wallets with the date and basic labelling written on the wallet. These images are developed from some of those negatives.

17/10/2026

Keighley Amateur Operatic and Dramatic Society's production of 'Guys and Dolls' played at the ABC Ritz Cinema in Keighley for six nights and a Saturday matinee from Monday 17th to Saturday 22nd October 1966. It had music and lyrics by Frank Loesser, based on a story and characters by Damon Runyan.

The action takes place, on the whole, around Broadway in New York, where the guys play dice and the dolls play games. The main characters are Sky Masterson (played by Ernest Clough), challenged by Nathan Detroit (Keith Marsden) to go on a date Sister Sarah Brown (Louise Hindle) from the 'Save-a-Soul' Mission. Nathan's own love life with cabaret artist Miss Adelaide (Joan Lund) is also not without its challenges. The usual twists and turns ensue before everything ends happily ever after.

Other cast members were Kenneth Tolson, Peter J. Wild, Derek Lund, Roland Coombs, John Ogden, Jack Hepworth, Steven V. Jowett, Nikki Hogg, Jean Ickringill, John Trenouth, Brian Middleton, and Derrick Smith. The musical was produced and directed by Peter Blakeney (inset, with cigarette), the choreographer was Elsie Scott, the musical director was Arthur B. Mitchell, and the chorus master was Peter J. Wild.

The production was reviewed by Brian A. Smith in the Keighley News of 22nd October 1966: "Peter Blakeney fused the whole together so effectively that, for once, principals and chorus were not separate entities... It was a production notable for teamwork, but, nonetheless, the leading quartet were in outstanding form. Ernest Clough (Sky) and Louise Hindle (Sarah) teamed admirably once again, singing delightfully from the much underrated score by Frank Loesser... Joan Lund, giving perhaps her best performance with the company, presented an Adelaide as sparkling in personality as in dress... She and Keith Marsden, creating some beautifully-timed comedy moments as Nathan the likeable waster, were splendid partners."

A 44-page programme was printed by The Keighley Printers Ltd., from which these cast photographs (by N. H. Howarth) are taken. The programme is part of the Joy Rundle Collection, donated by Jane Eaman and Mark Rundle. The advert is from the Keighley News of Saturday 1st October 1966. Researched and collated by Tim Neal.

16/10/2026

Keighley Amateur Operatic and Dramatic Society's production of 'South Pacific' played at the Ritz Cinema in Keighley for six nights and a Saturday matinee from Monday 16th to Saturday 21st October 1961. It had music by Richard Rogers and lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II, and was based on the Pulitzer prize winning book by James A. Michener.

The story takes place on a South Pacific island during World War II which is hoke to an American Army base. It involves nurse Nellie Forbush (played by Elsie Scott) who falls in love with a local French estate owner, Emile De Becque (Edwin Smith). Nellie learns that the mother of his children was an island native and, unable to turn her back on the prejudices with which she was raised, refuses Emile’s proposal of marriage. Meanwhile, Lieutenant Joe Cable (Peter J. Wild) denies himself a future with Liat (Joan Lund), an innocent girl with whom he’s fallen in love, out of the same fears that haunt Nellie. When Emile is recruited to accompany Joe on a dangerous mission that claims Joe’s life, Nellie realizes that life is too short not to seize her own chance for happiness, thus overcoming her prejudices.

Other members of the cast included Christine Wilson, Elizabeth C. Wilson, John A. Sandland, Malcolm Slater, Elisabeth Nott, Derek Lund, Johnny O'Connell, Brian McDonnell, Keith Marsden, Dennis P. Smith, Michael Kennedy and Victor J. Wood. It was produced and directed by Frank Rydon, the musical director was R. Lewis Scargill, and the choreographer was Irene Ogden.

The musical was reviewed very favourably in the Keighley News of 21st October 1961: "In front of an all-time record audience, Keighley Amateur Operatic Society presented one of their biggest and best shows on Monday at the Ritz Cinema with Rogers and Hammerstein's 'South Pacific'. The staging and singing of the famous tunes lost little but realism in comparison with the film of 'South Pacific' which ran for three weeks in Keighley over a year ago."

Keighley Amateurs would go on to stage the musical again, thirty years later, in 1991. Michael Kennedy was promoted from Lieutenant Buzz Adams in 1961 to Captain George Brackett in 1991, while Derek Lund played Stewpot in both productions. Peter J. Wild (who played Joe Cable in this production) would be the musical director for the 1991 version.

The programme (from which all of the images are taken) is part of the Joy Rundle Collection, donated by Jane Eaman and Mark Rundle. Researched and collated by Tim Neal.

15/10/2026

Keighley Amateur Operatic and Dramatic Society's production of "The Vagabond King" played at the Hippodrome Theatre in Keighley for six nights (with a Saturday matinee) from Monday 15th to Saturday 20th October 1951. The musical comedy had book and lyrics by William H. Post and Brian Ho**er, with music by Rudolf Friml. The KAODS production was produced and directed by Philip F. Howley, with musical director R. Lewis Scargill. Howley had stepped in at the last minute, when original producer Edward Royce had fallen ill.

The story takes place in Paris during the fifteenth century reign of King Louis XI (Ernest Marsden). The King himself has gone undercover to the Fir Cone Tavern, a vile place with a villainous reputation, to discover what his subjects think of him. Among the taverns other customers are poet Francois Villon (Arthur Day), his mistress Huguette du Hamel (Enid Whitaker), the new object of Villon's affections (and poems), the high-born and beyond-his-reach Katherine de Vaucelles (Emilie Hargreaves), and Grand Marshal Thibaut D'Aussigny (George Park). Having spoken treacherously of the King, Villon is forced to accept a position leading the troops in defence of the city, against the invading forces of the Duke of Burgundy - a seemingly lost cause. But instead he rallies the Paris people to successfully save the city. He then uncovers a plot against the King, formulated by the Grand Marshal. Huguette sacrifices herself to save Villon, freeing Villon to be with Katherine.

Other people in the cast included Keith Marsden, Margaret Best, Mollie Spavin, A. Rosemary Ogden, Alan Petty, Jack Morrell, Frank Hopkinson, Norman Binns, Geoffrey Rundle (who played two roles), Horace Bancroft, John H. Crabtree, Gwenda Binns, Margaret Atkinson, Norman Moulding, Frank Richmond, Derek Lund and Irene Ogden. The Boy Choristers of Keighley Parish Church also appeared in the production.

The musical was reviewed in the Keighley News of Saturday 20th October 1951: "Principals and chorus alike have brought to life this stirring tale of revolutionary France. It had been the wish of Mr. Edward Royce, who was originally producing the piece, that it should be a great success for he has a deep affection for the Keighley society. Unfortunately Mr. Royce was taken seriously ill three weeks ago and, at extremely short notice, Mr. Philip F. Howley took over the duties. Despite this set-back the production went with a smoothness which reflected considerable study and patience on the part of the cast and great skill on the part of Mr. Howley.

"Emilie Hargreaves, playing her first part with the Keighley society, is a particularly fine vocalist. As the beautiful Katherine de Vaucelles, a lady of the King's Court, she displays a fine regal manner, and her rendering of the popular 'Only a Rose' is a treat. She is heard to good effect also in the duets 'Tomorrow' and 'Love Me Tonight' with Arthur Day, who gives an imposing study as Francois Villon, villainous leader of a band of vagabonds who later redeems himself by his patriotism. Mr. Day has absent from the cast in recent productions but he returns to display his former confidence.

"The principal comedy role is well filled by Frank Hopkinson who revels in the droll antics of Guy Taberie, boon companion to Villon. He has some scintillating dialogue with Jack Morrell as Oliver le Dain and the pair of them make an ideal comedy team. Mollie Spavin, too, who gives a really fine interpretation of the small role of Lady Mary, has one glorious scene in which she co-operates with these two fun-makers. Ernest Marsden, with many years of experience behind him, gives a convincing performance as the old tyrant, King Louis, suspicious of all his subjects. Margaret Best is sound as usual in a grand character role as the bumptious Margot, the innkeeper, and Enid Whitaker, another newcomer to the cast, gives a charming study as Huguette, Villon's mistress, who sacrifices her life for the vagabond chief."

A 40-page programme (from which these images were taken) was printed by The Keighley Printers Ltd. of High Street, Keighley. The programme was part of an anonymous donation made in 2022. Researched and collated by Tim Neal.

15/10/2026

Keighley Amateur Operatic and Dramatic Society's production of 'My Fair Lady' played at Victoria Hall in Keighley from Friday 15th to Saturday 23rd October 1976. It had music by Frederick Loewe and lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner, and was adapted from the George Bernard Shaw play 'Pygmalion'.

The story involves an academic professor, Henry Higgins (played by Keith Marsden), who sets out to prove to his friend Colonel Pickering (Edward Cowen), that he can transform an ordinary flower girl, Eliza Doolittle (Louise Hindle), into a woman who can pass unnoticed in 'polite society'. He succeeds initially until Eliza rejects the person she has become and by the end a compromise is reached that balances heart with mind.

Other cast members were Sheila Peckover, Geoffrey Whitley, Alan Park, Derek Lund, Michael Kennedy, Mike Boothroyd, Gwenda Marsden, Sylvia Chadwick, Janine McAndrew, Barbara Boothroyd, Maureen Hender, Barbara Mason, Robert Lister, Daphne Doughty, Louis McAndrew, Laurence Bramall, Rachel Hardman, Bernard McKnight, Kathleen Major and Patricia Thompson. The musical was produced by Rex Squires (inset), the choreographer was Elsie Scott, the musical director was Peter J. Wild.

The production was reviewed by Clive White in the Keighley News of 22nd October 1976: "Keighley Amateur Operatic and Dramatic Society's performance of 'My Fair Lady' on Friday, started on a high note and never lost pitch throughout... Two facts went a long way to ensure the high standard. One was the musical itself, which is a classic of its type, and the other the skilful and imaginative production by Rex Squires."

The 28-page programme, from which the photographs were taken, is part of the Joy Rundle Collection, donated by Jane Eaman and Mark Rundle. The advert is from the Keighley News of 15th October 1976. Researched and collated by Tim Neal.