Fred Knox was one of three public-spirited friends who formed the society back in 1972 to help preserve the area's heritage and install civic pride in the valley.

From those humble beginnings it has gone on to achieve national acclaim with its high profile projects such as the Miners' Memorial at Oakwell, the Savoy Square and the Spen Fame Trail.

Fred has been actively involved in the society since its inception and has been president since 1992.

And while he is stepping down from the role, he will remain an active member.

A special celebration lunch was held at JafJaf on Sunday in his honour, during which he was presented with a plaque engraved with the miners' memorial sculpture.

As a former miner, and pit deputy at the Nutter Lane colliery, Fred's input into the memorial project was vital.

New president John Holroyd paid tribute to Fred saying: "He has been a tremendous help to the society for more than 35 years. We owe him a great debt of gratitude for all his work and his representing the society at all sorts of functions."

Fred said he was delighted to receive the award and told of how the society had begun.

"Jack Dewhirst and Ralph Sewell, who were both on Spenborough Council, and me got together to discuss ideas of how to promote our area, and to improve the enviroment and preserve buildings of historic interest.

"It was a bit of a struggle to get members at first but as it became known what we were doing, we soon gained interest.

"However it was when our current chairman Max Rathmell took over that things really started moving. He was the catalyst and brought a new impetus to the society and it's since gone from strength to strength.
"It's now described as a 'little body with a helfty punch'."

Fred said he had drawn enormous pleasure from his work with the society - and his proudest moment was the unveiling of the Miners' Memorial.

"I was able to tell the artists exactly what it was like underground which they captured brilliantly in the sculpture," he said.

"The unveiling was very special and it was wonderful that so many of the former miners were there to see it."

Fred is 86 and lives with his wife Mary in Birkenshaw.