Five years of cool to be square
SPEN Valley Civic Society brought a ray of sunshine to rain-soaked Cleckheaton on Saturday for the fifth birthday celebrations of Savoy Square.
Thankfully the rain held off for most of the proceedings and members of the public joined in the party atmosphere with balloons, displays and entertainment.
Four Panther motorbikes were also on show, music was provided by the Ugly Mug Jug Band and Berkana who were promoting next weekend’s Cleckheaton Folk Festival, and entertainer Crafty Devilz provided fun for the kids.
Several costumed characters also put in an appearance to highlight the poster commemorating Charlotte Bronte’s Shirley.
The party was organised to celebrate the completion of three linked Civic Society projects; the Savoy Square, the Spen Fame Trail and the new film poster works of art featuring some of the trail characters on the Market Arcade wall.
Civic society chairman Max Rathmell thanked everyone involved in each of the projects and said Savoy Square had become a valued amenity.
“We mustn’t lose sight of the fact that most of this site is owned by Tesco and therefore by looking after this square and having activities here we are showing how valuable it is,” he said.
“We encourage everyone – particularly Tesco and Kirklees – to work towards securing it long-term for the people of Cleckheaton, and we must also thank Tesco for the fact that it is still here.”
Seven posters have been installed at the site – the artists have given their time free and each picture has been sponsored.
The themes are:
q Spenevieve – spin on the famous film Genevieve celebrating Abel Blackburn’s car: painted by Gareth Bartaby and sponsored by Clemo Motors;
q Charlotte Bronte’s Shirley – celebrating the novel based on real-life characters from Spen Valley and dramatising the attack on Rawfolds Mill by the Luddites: painted by Chris Bullock and sponsored by Kirklees Culture and Leisure;
q The Mighty JBs – celebrating Cleckheaton and England rugby union stars Jeff Butterfield and John Bentley; painted by Chris Dunn and sponsored by Thornton Plastering;
q Saturday Night Fever – marking the internationally renowned Mr Men books whose creator Roger Hargreaves was born in Cleckheaton: painted by Stephen Barlow and sponsored by Cube Design in Gomersal;
q Marsh Mill Rescue – commemorating the Marsh Mill chimney collapse and painted in the style of Cleckheaton artist Edward Wadsworth; painted by Josie Barraclough and sponsored by Cleckheaton Folk Festival;
q The Luddites – attack on Rawfolds Mill; painted by Amanda O’Driscoll and sponsored by Albert and Christine Beaumont.
q Codename Panther – celebrating the town’s association with the Panther motorcycle; painted by Chris Bullock and sponsored by Special Ponderosa Allied and Militaria Event.
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Weather for Cleckheaton
Saturday 04 February 2012
Today
Light snow
Temperature: -3 C to 1 C
Wind Speed: 25 mph
Wind direction: South
Tomorrow
Sunny spells
Temperature: 3 C to 6 C
Wind Speed: 9 mph
Wind direction: West
