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Heptonstall Festival 2013 – Event Details….

Saturday 21 September 2013 – Morning and Lunchtime Events 

CHILDREN’S, FAMILY AND COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES

Saturday 21 September from 10.30am

Alice, Mad Hatter and Mr Bloom

Heptonstall Festival this year has a major emphasis on children, families and the community.  As the village has emerged from months under the tyranny of heavy vehicles thundering through, September 21 will be a traffic-free day of make believe and fun.

The whole morning and lunchtime will be themed around Alice in Wonderland.  Villagers and visitors alike can join the Queen of Hearts’ barmy army.  It will be time to get lost in Lewis Carroll’s topsy turvy tale of doors too small for keys too big, ‘Drink me’ potions and Bread and Butterflies.  Who do we know who grins like the Cheshire Cat or is as illusive as the White Rabbit?  Which neighbour is as eccentric as the Mad Hatter or as fiery as the Red Queen?  Which children and which parents will be what, and who will the Queen’s Card Guards be?

The barmy army and camp followers will gather at Heptonstall School at 10.30 to be greeted by the Queen of Hearts, (local actress Ursula Holden Gill) and the White Rabbit (Sonia from Canopy Arts) together with the school’s Parent and Friends Association.  The Queen will give her Card Guards a final warming up prior to their long march.  A Mad Hatter (Sydney Roper) will no doubt make a nuisance of himself.

Then, led by the Red Rose New Orleans Band from Preston, the Queen will march her barmy army through the village streets to finish up in the old church ruins.  Once the army enters, the stalls will open, the giant bluebells will be hung and the fun begins.  The Queen and her entourage will hand on the giant teapot and cups to CBeebies’ Mr Bloom, who will open the proceedings and unveil all manner of treats for us all – music, dancing and an awful lot of homemade cakes!  The children will perform the composition they have created during the previous week.

Everyone should come with blankets and baskets filled with goodies for a Mad Hatters Tea Party (which, being in Wonderland, will be at lunchtime!).  The Red Rose band will hand over to Tim O’Connor and Des Horsfall from the musical melting pot of Manchester, who will entertain the tea party and carry us through into the afternoon.

The Heptonstall Wonderland will not have started on 21 September.  For many days before, festival teams will have been working with the children, their families and teachers in both Colden and Heptonstall Schools to make the dreams come true.

In Heptonstall School, the whole curriculum in the week before the festival will have been devoted to music, design and costume making.  In Colden School, this will have happened at drop-in sessions at the after-school club.  A festival arts team of Mimi Faulks, Jo Harris, Chrissy from Hat Therapy and Mel Daniels, the Dramasaurus teacher, will have worked with the children to make all their wonderful Wonderland costumes.  Romily Meredith will have helped with the giant teapot and teacup;  and Sandra McCracken will have assisted the making of giant willow bluebells.

Ursula Holden Gill and Sonia from Canopy Arts will also have helped the children develop the drama and action for the day.  The Card Guards will have been drilled to perfection, and everyone will have warmed up for Wonderland and brushed up on their fun procession poses.  Composer Katie Chatburn will have helped the children compose the music that they would then perform on the day at the Mad Hatters Tea Party.

At Colden School, the festival team will have been joined by Jo Wells and parent Sarah Regan.

Village Bunting

A key part of the festival is the bunting.  Local people have been designing flags for “I Spy with my Little Eye” and creating images of distant views, like Stoodley Pike or Pecket Well, or close up, like a robin, a tree in the garden, members of the family, or Grandpa’s hands.  The flags will debut this year and will continue to grow and decorate local events for years to come.

So, dear reader, have you yet made your bunting.  If not, get to it, or it will be off with your heads!

Saturday 21 September 2013 – Afternoon Events

A GALAXY OF BANDS ON TWO STAGES, MAGIC, BEER AND CRAFTS

The afternoon at this year’s Heptonstall festival on Saturday 21 September will be a galaxy of a dozen or more bands performing on two stages, together with a local bawdy drama, magic, storytelling, dancing and much, much more.  The first stage will be in Weavers Square, as it has been in previous years.  But the second stage will be in the old church ruins of St Thomas a Beckett.  The ruins provide a highly atmospheric backdrop for drama and music.  In previous years, a Handel opera was performed there as part of Hebden Bridge Arts Festival and Sheffield University frequently performed Shakespeare plays.  But this is the first such use in the 21st century.  The festival committee is most grateful for the support of the vicar and churchwarden.

Music commences at 11.45 in the old church ruins, during the Mad Hatters Tea Party, with Tim O’Connor and Des Horsfall.  O’Connor is a charismatic performer creating a warm and dynamic atmosphere for the day.  With Irish roots, he grew up musically in the melting pot of Manchester.  His father played ukulele à la George Formby.  His influences include the Beatles, Dylan and Neil Young but he has found his own style.  Prior to Heptonstall he has played in festivals like Celtic Connections in Scotland, Roche sur Foron in France, Zamek in Poland, Oslo Irish and Boston Johnny D’s Club.

On the square, music starts at 12 noon with singer/songwriter Paul Weatherhead.  The exciting and eclectic programme throughout the day includes some nationally famous, some up and coming locals and young bands from the Royal Northern College and Leeds College of Music.

The main headline act, playing in the old church ruins at 5.55, is Nizlopi – John Parker (double base and human beatbox) and Luke Concannon (vocals, guitar and bodhrán), whose most successful JCB song reached number one in the UK on its second release. The band is named after an Hungarian girl whom Luke fancied at school. Described by Radio 1 as “Political, intense, angular and beautiful”, they play joyful stories, from heart cracked open love songs to their people power invocation ‘England Uprise!’.

The other headline act, playing at 5.05, is Taylor Jackson, Manchester born and bred soulstress, whose debut EP ‘Roots’ is available right now!  For over 10 years she has been writing, producing, recording and performing music with fellow artists and musicians. Her first solo project draws from her own experience, her love of soul music, and her degree in classical composition to produce something truly inspirational.

James Christy is a Pop Rock singer/songwriter from the north of England. After the success of James’s debut album “Man Made of Glass” James has moved on to bigger and better things. Over the last year James has formed a backing band around himself and they have been performing all over the country and have been recently selected to play on the Atom Live tour in October later this year.

James Paul on the other hand is an experienced, enthusiastic guitarist from Edinburgh and RNCM, looking to develop new ways of playing guitar and inducing new sounds to enhance everyday music, from jazz and hip hop to rock and funk, being as diverse as possible in a session.  Prior to Heptonstall, he has played at Edinburgh’s Usher Hall, Queen’s Hall and Traverse Theatre.

Other performers include bluegrass group from the hills of West Yorkshire, Cowbaby, playing Americana and acoustic, Jenni Doyle, Adonis, Bath-based singer/songwriter Ash Tucker, local singer Penny Stansfield,  close harmony singers from RNCM Three of Hearts and Heptonstall’s very own Chris Hancox All Star Experience.  There will also be bands in the White Lion.

Apart from music, there will be magic by the magnificent Alexander Wells, who will also be MC’ing, dance by the Hebden Bridge’s famous Hill Millies and a young Colden Morris group, clowns and a local bawdy drama, “Much Ado about Something” by Geoff Scott, about the exploits of some beer-loving and women chasing local lads. There will be both storytelling and song by Ursula Holden Gill.

Performances will finish at 7pm, in readiness for the candle-lit evening concert with David Owen Lewis, Margaret Bruce and Iyad Sughayer.

Food, Drink and Craft Stalls

There will we a wide feast of beer, wine, tea and food stalls and tents, and craft stalls of all types, on the square, in the churchyard and on Towngate.  The two local breweries, Bridestones and Little Valley, will each have a tent, Bridestones on the Square and Little Valley in the old church ruins.  The two village pubs, the White Lion and the Cross, and Towngate Tearoom will also be open all day, providing solid and liquid refreshment.

Towngate Tearooms, the village deli, will have a stall on the Square and the Proved Pizza Van will also be there.  In the ruins will be both Thai and French food stalls and a tea stall run by the church.  Come Dine with Me star, Heptonstall’s Jan Lymer, will also have a sweetie stall.

On the Square, there will be a vintage clothes tent, Richard Hemmingway’s Ironworks, BEAT (Blackshaw Environmental Action), HELP (Heptonstall Lights and Planting) and Nicola’s knitting stall.  In the old church ruins and the churchyard there will be facepainting, hula hooping, sand art and Andy Bell’s Strange Thing.  While on Towngate, there will be Blackbark Greenwood Working, Caroline’s church stall, Craggs Cakes and Helen Hought.

Something for everyone, Heptonstall’s flowering of cultural and social dynamic will a traffic-free day  –  a day of relief from eight months when the village was a traffic maelstrom while a landslip closed the by-pass.

Saturday 21 September 2013 – Evening Events

CANDLELIT EVENING CONCERT IN THE OLD CHURCH RUINS

Saturday 21 September from 7.30pm

Victoria Sharp (Soprano); David Owen Lewis (Baritone); Margaret Bruce (Keyboard); Iyad Sughayer (Keyboard)

When the bands have stopped playing and the craft stalls packed away their produce, the atmosphere at Heptonstall Festival will change for an all-star candlelit evening concert under canvas in the ruins of the ancient St Thomas a Becket Church.

Very well known to concert-goers in and around the Calder Valley, baritone David Owen Lewis will be singing a programme of romantic arias, Neapolitan love songs and hits from the shows, together with international concert pianist, Margaret Bruce.

David Owen-Lewis was born in the Swansea Valley. He started singing at an early age and has never stopped. He studied at the National Welsh College of Music and Drama and his life has been one long adventure in music ever since. Having started his career at the end-of-the-pier and then being a member of Opera North for a quarter century, he always found time for oratorio, concerts, music-hall and cabaret, including several years with Pennine Spring Music in Heptonstall. He starred in the Handel opera performed in the old church ruins in 1998.

He now performs regularly with Margaret Bruce in Britain, France and Italy. But equally important to him is his work with Moodswings and Streetwise Opera in Manchester, sharing music with the homeless and people with bi-polar conditions, and also with Mind in Bradford.

Canadian born Margaret Bruce has had an entire repertoire of music written for her by composers as famous as Herbert Howells and Lennox Berkeley. Born on the Pacific Coast, she received a scholarship to Toronto’s Royal Conservatory in her mid teens. At 18 she came to the Royal College of Music in London and her British debut in 1968 was in Winchester Cathedral and Wigmore Hall. With Peter Gellhorn she established Canadians and Classics at St. Johns Smith Square.

She’s played Mozart at the Barbican with the Royal Philharmonic, Liszt in Slovakia, and varied recitals throughout North America and Europe. The Czech composer Tucapsky has written various work for her, including Tara’s Song for her young grand-daughter. Margaret has held many concerts over the years at her home at Walshaw Lodge and has performed at Pennine Spring. She now plays with David Owen Lewis across the UK and Europe.

19 year old Iyad Sughayer is a young virtuoso Jordanian/Palestinian pianist who studied at Chethams School in Manchester and is now at the Royal Northern College of Music, where he has just been runner-up in the International Concerto Competition. Playing since age of five, Iyad is no stranger to the international stage, having performed in the Middle East, Russia, UK and other countries in Europe. As well as a solo pianist, Iyad has played concertos with the European Chamber Orchestra, the Prague Youth Orchestra, Chetham’s Symphony Orchestra, Buxton Chamber Orchestra, Cairo Symphony Orchestra and Amman Symphony Orchestra. He has also been awarded 1st prizes in the Chetham’s Concerto Competition and the Chetham’s Beethoven Competition.

He is performing extensively particularly in the UK, his native Jordan and recently at the Madinat Jumeirah Theatre in Dubai and the Mashrek International School in Amman (under the patronage of HRH Princess Rym Ali). He has made a number of recent live recordings of Mozart (Adagio in B Minor and Piano Concerto no 18) and Chopin (Nocturne No 1). He played stunningly at this year’s Pennine Spring Music in Heptonstall, where he was the star of the week.

Victoria Sharp is a leading soprano with the Opera North chorus, of which she has been a member for 25 years. She is currently performing nationwide as the Lady in Waiting in Verdi’s Macbeth, as Ninetta in Prokofiev’s The Love for Three Oranges and in Britten’s Peter Grimes. Her past roles for Opera North have included Barbarina (Le Nozze di Figaro), Despina (Cosi Fan Tutti) and Fasquita (Carmen). She has given a renowned performance of Turandot in which she will sing the title role.

She is a performer much in demand for her oratorio and musical singing around the UK and abroad. She has recent given what was described as a blazing performance at an opera gala of classics in Ilkley, singing Puccini, Lehar, Paganini and Heuberger. She is giving a Christmas performance of Mozart at The Mansion in Leeds.

Vicky has appeared at the Edinburgh Festival, the Cheltenham Festival, the Royal Albert Hall and the Queen Elizabeth Hall. And, of course, she has starred many times with Opera North colleagues at Pennine Spring in Heptonstall.

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An Invitation to Join “The Performance Ensemble”.

Plans are underway for an exciting community performance project for Calder Valley residents to be delivered in early 2014.

If you are close to 60 or above and have lots of stories to tell, this is for you. Set in a dance hall this quirky, romantic performance will include acting, singing, dancing, visual arts and live music. Local stories will be woven into the piece with volunteer performers, musicians and artists coming together to make this happen.

The Performance Ensemble is the brain child of Alan Lyddiard, an accomplished theatre director with a passion for creating community theatre with older people. Alan will be attending on September 14th to talk a little about the project, to answer any questions you might have and to listen to your ideas for the event too.

This informal get-together will take place upstairs at the church and there is a lift if you need one. Downstairs the infamous Mytholmroyd Marmaladies will be holding their ‘Marvellous Market’ so there’s plenty to do. There’s a café too.

Joe Standerline is the community Liaison Contact for the Performance Ensemble. Joe is a playwright and creative coach who’s helping to spread the word and ensure as many local residents know about the project as possible. If you’d like to know more, please give Joe a call on 0794 1234 313 or email joe’@’mycoachjoe.co.uk.

Mytholmroyd Methodist Church
Scout Rd. Mytholmroyd. HX7 5QD
Saturday 14 September 2013
11am to 12.30 pm.

If you can’t attend this time but would like to get involved in the project please let Joe know so he can keep you informed. Please feel free to forward this to friends and family.

See you there for the start of something wonderful.

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HELP Front of House Winner 2013

Front of House Winner 2013The winner of this year’s Front of House competition was the garden at 18 Southfield. 
Second prize was given to the residents of Swan Fold for a fantastic communal effort.

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Mr Bloom at Festival

Bloom_Hands on hips2Heptonstall’s own celebrity gardener and entertainer Mr Bloom will be welcoming children to the Festival on September 21.

Mister Bloom open the festivities in the church ruin around midday, fresh from his very successful tour of the country which saw thousands of families flock to see his very special stage show “When Julian lost his wiggle..”

Played by local resident Ben Faulkes, Mister Bloom’s nursery was the first Cbeebies programme to come out of BBC North and shows no sign of losing its popularity.

Now is your chance to meet the man himself as he appears live on stage at Heptonstall Festival.

 

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Local family records

The Community website regularly receives enquiries from people researching family history which typically ask if we can assist with information about relatives that may have lived in the Heptonstall parish area in the past.

We in turn would be interested to know where such information may be found, and what arrangements are in place for such information to be accessed, in order that we can respond to the enquiries in the fullest way possible.

If anyone has any knowledge on this subject, please get in touch using the Contact Us page.

 

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Bus Service Threat

Metro and First bus companies are proposing to scrap through buses from Heptonstall to Halifax.

There will be a half-hourly service from Blackshaw Head through Heptonstall to Hebden Bridge, and a bus every ten minutes from Todmorden via Hebden Bridge to Halifax.

Their statement below:

First are considering making substantial changes to bus services in Hebden Bridge,  particularly services 591 and 593 at the end of January 2014. The company plan to operate every 10 minutes (Monday to Saturday) between Halifax and Todmorden via Hebden Bridge. To achieve this there will no longer be a direct service to Halifax from Heptonstall and Old Town.

Metro is proposing a revised minibus network for the area which will both address recent unreliability problems and maintain links to Hebden Bridge which would be lost following the changes to services 591 and 593.

Metro and First would like to seek your views on these proposals.

Why change is needed        

  • First have indicated that they wish to concentrate resources on an improved Halifax – Hebden Bridge – Todmorden service
  • Unreliability of current minibus network due to vehicle problems
  • The current minibuses are reaching the end of their working life
  • Poor connections to train and longer distance bus services
  • Duplication of bus resources on routes to/ from Old Town, Heptonstall, Keighley Road and Cragg Vale
  • The need to find a solution which does not involve additional public subsidy

Proposals by First

  • Service frequency between Halifax and Todmorden increased to every 10 minutes from 0700 until 1800 (Mon – Fri). “Turn up and go” frequency between Hebden Bridge and Todmorden
  • Services 591 (Heptonstall – Halifax) and 593 (Old Town – Halifax) withdrawn

Proposals by Metro

  • Metro will invite tenders for a new minibus network increasing from 3 buses to 4 buses
  • Smaller minibuses introduced to improve access

What type of buses will be used?

Metro are proposing to increase the number of minibuses from 3 to 4 and to use smaller vehicles which are better equipped for roads in the area. This will enable us to serve more areas.  The smaller buses will carry up to 16 passengers. Unfortunately the use of smaller buses will mean less room for shopping, buggies etc. Also some passengers may find it harder to get into and out of a smaller minibus.  We will finalise the make and model of buses when we appoint a bus operator for the services.

To complete the survey, visit https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/hebdenbridgebusreview

Alternatively, public consultation drop-in events during August, where First and Metro staff will be available to answer questions and listen to your suggestions.

DATE TIME LOCATION
Wednesday 07 August 10:00 – 18:30 Hebden Bridge Town Hall
Thursday 15 August 14:30 – 18:30 Halifax Bus Station

If you need to contact Metro regarding these proposals, please email busconsultation@wypte.gov.uk

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Who are Nizlopi?

Nizlopi“Political, intense, angular, and beautiful” according to Colin Murray, BBC Radio 1.

“The real thing” according to the Guardian.

But who are our Festival headliners?

Festival organiser Matt explains what Heptonstall can expect:

“They are John Parker and Luke Concannon, a duo whom when you close your eyes, sound like a four piece, folk hip-hop band, on Devine fire.

“They are most widely known, for being the underground, independent act, that topped the UK and Irish charts with ‘The JCB song’ in 2005. However they offer far more than this one song, having recorded two albums and four EP’s, this soulful, passionate, and articulate pair, go for broke with their writing and playing.

“It is skilled, sonorous, Double bass beat box, acoustic roots rap and they have long had a fierce reputation for inspiring, moving live shows.

Having been doing their own things for the past 4 years, they have come back together to enjoy playing for folk this Summer and Autumn with some new songs, including Material from Luke’s new album ‘Give It all’.

“They play, joyful, honest, atavistic heavenly folk stories; from heart cracked open Love songs, to their people power invocation ‘England Uprise!’ John Martyn and Danny Thompson, meet The Roots, meet Ani Di Franco.”

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Donations still welcome

Heptonstall Festival organisers hope local people will continue to support fundraising for next month’s festival.
Jan Lymer said they planned to distribute one more flyer, together with donation envelopes, in early September.
In the meantime, pink collecting boxes have been placed in both pubs, Towngate tea rooms and the post office.
She said: ‘Cheques should be made out to Heptonstall Festival. If anyone wants to donate now, they can give them to Tony in the post office.’

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New Chef at Cross Inn

A new chef is starting work at the Cross Inn with a themed night of food from his native Thailand on Thursday.

Landlord Simon Fancy said: “Tatts wants to show people what he can cook.

“Every month we will have one night a week with a special. Thai nights will run for a month, then steak nights, etc.

“Tatts is a very good chef who can cook Italian, French and other continental dishes so I am sure we won’t short of inspiration for our speciality nights.

“The food we will be serving will all be freshly prepared and cooked on the premises all from local suppliers so I can guarantee the food should go down a storm.”

On offer from 5pm will be a choice of 3 starters, 3 mains and 3 desserts. Two courses are £13.99 and three courses are £14.99.

The regular menu will start on Friday serving 12noon – 3pm, then 5pm – 9pm on weekdays; and from 12noon – 8pm on Saturday and Sundays.

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Food at the Cross Inn back on

Food will be served at the Cross Inn from Monday, 11 August. Full message from Simon and Sophie below:
Simon and Sophie welcome you to The Cross Inn, Heptonstall
Opening times:
Monday: 3:00 – 12:00
Tuesday – Sunday: 12:00 – 12:00
Food will be being served from Monday 11th August
Monday:  5:00 – 8:00
Tuesday – Friday: 12:00 – 3:00 and 5:00 – 8:00
Saturday and Sunday: 12:00 – 8:00
New kitchen!
New Chef!
New Managers!
New Refurbishment!
New Beer Garden!
We are walker, family, dog and cyclist friendly pub
Every week we have rotating guest ales for you to try
Sky Sports, ESPN and wi-if also available
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Traffic survey proves drivers speeding

A covert traffic survey organised by a residents’ group has shown cars speeding at more than 55mph through the village, in contrast to Calderdale’s radar gun survey.

The council’s survey suggested average speeds of only 12-13mph but the residents’ group believes this was due to the way the speeds were measured. Full statement below from Heptonstall Traffic, Parking & Road Safety Group

Results of a traffic speed survey carried out in Towngate and Smithwell Lane over the period 20-26th June 2013.

Residents have long complained of the non-compliance of drivers with the 20mph speed zone through Towngate and Smithwell Lane. These complaints have grown in both number and volume since the Lee Wood Road closure forced increased traffic through the Village and serious road safety concerns have been voiced by an increasing number of the wider local community.

The Group and the Parish Council have repeatedly taken up these concerns with Calderdale Council, first to try to obtain effective speed zone enforcement and second to get effective traffic calming measures in place. The Council’s response has been to carry out some sporadic SiD/Radar gun surveys, the latest of which suggested average speeds of 12-13mph, maximum speeds of 20mph and 85 percentile speeds (the parameter used for determining speed limits) of 14-16mph. As a consequence of these results Calderdale Council proposed to take no further action.

To try to resolve this conflict between residents’ and Calderdale Council’s views and because in our opinion the Calderdale surveys are unreliable (random days & locations, short time periods, SiD/Radar gun visibility slows drivers down) the Group, with Parish Council support, decided to carry out its own more systematic, comprehensive and covert survey.

Our objective was to provide hard evidence either, that drivers are compliant with the 20mph limit and that therefore residents have no cause for concern or, that drivers are not compliant and that therefore some enforcement and/or traffic calming action is needed from Calderdale.

The speed survey was carried out over the seven day period 20th – 26th June 2013 by Leeds City Council, which is contracted by Calderdale Council to carry out similar work for them. Traffic volume and speed data was collected by hour, for 24 hours per day in 5mph wide ‘bins’ from 0 to 60mph, using pneumatic tube sensors across the road and battery operated electronic recording equipment – a more discrete method of measurement than radar guns/SiD and much less likely to impact on normal driving speeds.

Measurement was carried out for both ‘up’ (Northbound) and ‘down’ (Southbound) traffic at three points: at the start of the ‘cobbles’ just uphill of the junction with Valley View Road (ie inside the 20mph zone at the lower entry to the Village); at the junction of Silver Street with Smithwell Lane; and, at the Lodge/Sandal House entrance drive (ie inside the 20mph zone at the upper entry to the Village). Unfortunately, due to technical problems, the Silver Street equipment delivered only 3 full days of results but the other equipments delivered a full 7 days of results and we consider we have more than adequate data to draw some robust conclusions.

The survey produced a mass of data and analysis of it is on-going but a brief summary of salient facts of immediate interest is provided in the table overleaf. The most striking facts to emerge are:
• 800-900 vehicles travel up and down Towngate/Smithwell Lane per day (reducing to 500-600 at week-ends);
• Of these 8-12% exceed the 20mph speed limit at the lower end of the Village, 7-9% do so at Silver Street and 32-33% exceed the limit at the upper end;
• Amazingly, at the lower end of the Village 5 vehicles were recorded travelling at more than 45mph, of which 2 were exceeding 55mph, whilst at Silver Street (in just three days) 3 were recorded at more than 40mph and, at the upper end of the Village, 11 were exceeding 40mph, of which 3 were exceeding 55mph.

We consider the results of the survey lend substantive weight to the views of residents, that there is considerable non-compliance with the 20mph speed zone and that a significant number of vehicles are being driven at dangerously high speeds through the Village. It is our intention to use the evidence generated to try to persuade Calderdale Council to take effective action to achieve driver compliance with the 20mph zone.
traffic survey-page-0

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Fell Race Report

Heptonstall Festival Fell Race turned into a fabulous battle between a string of worthy contenders with the ladies’ race being one by the village’s own Holly Page. 

On a perfect summer’s day, it was hard to imagine a better venue for a short fell race with freshly mown fields, glorious azure skies, breathtaking views and the faint sound of a German oompah-band in the background. 

Organiser Stephen Grimley said: “We raised around £400 for the Festival (through the race) whilst Jan raised a further £300 through catering.

“Big thanks to the 30 marshals (mostly from the village), we hope they enjoyed their free pints. A massive thanks to Lynn at The White Lion for hosting the HQ and providing all the prizes, and to Anthony Holt for letting us use his field for parking/ race route.

“Hazel Noble and Penny and Mark Wharton also kindly allowed the race to pass through their fields. We were really grateful to the Methodist Church for the use of benches and tables for the post race party in Weaver’s Square, and to the residents in the square for putting up with the all the commotion. Mark Wigg and Mark Holman gave up a huge amount of there time helping us to set up and organise the race. And how could forget Alan Nethercott dressing up in Lederhosen to srat the race – Wunderbar! What a community! Well done everyone!”

The six mile race, with 1647 ft of climb and very hot conditions, made it a lung-busting test of stamina and resolve.

The descent into Midgehole, past the Blue Pig, is followed by a gruelling climb from the valley.

Tod Harriers’ Nick Barber crested Pecket Well road crossing in the lead with Wharfedale’s Dave Kirkham and Mark Sennett hot on his heels. 

Calder Valley’s Joe Washington – fresh from his maiden victory on Wednesday at Cragg Vale – and new boy Jonny Helliwell were close up.

In the absence of some of Calder’s bigger names, veteran Mark Goldie reached High Brown Knoll trig point in sixth  and the scene was set for a rip-roaring return to Heptonstall. 

As the group rattled past Little Stoodley and back down into Midgehole, Kirkham had nipped ahead of the rapidly fading Barber, with Washington and Helliwell pushing hard to stay in contention. 

Back past the Blue Pig again, the final, withering climb back up to the finish line bore its teeth.

Step forward Helliwell,  who crushed the leading pack with a masterful ascent and powered to the finish line to claim his maiden victory.

Kirkham and Sennet took second and third while Barber somehow hauled himself over the line in fourth place, only to collapse with exhaustion, requiring the local ambulance to navigate the tricky streets.

 Helliwell, Goldie and Washington helped Calder Valley claim the men’s prize. 

In the ladies’ race, local lass Holly Page secured a comfortable victory and 15th place overall, and helped Calder to the ladies team prize along with Jackie Scarfe and new girl Sarah Tait. 

Post-race fun was provided in the main square with fine German lager, frankfurters and bratwurst, and delicious strudel. 

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Fell Race Results

Heptonstall Festival Fell Race took place on a scorching hot July day with a challenging six-mile route across mixed terrain, down into Hardcastle Crags and up to Higher Green Hill and back.

Back in March, the Heptonstall Fell Race took place in snow. This time the heat proved a problem for some competitors, and an ambulance was called for one man at the finish line. He quickly recovered. Despite this, 104 finished the course and enjoyed German-themed food in Weavers Square afterwards. Full results are here.

2013 results

Position Name Club Cat Time
1 Johny Helliwell CVFR M 0:52:56
2 Dave Kirkham Wharfedale Harriers M 0:53:45
3 Marc Sennett Wharfedale Harriers M 0:53:51
4 Mark Goldie CVFR V40* 0:54:35
5 Nick Barber Todmorden Harriers M 0:55:45
6 Joe Washington CVFR M 0:55:47
7 Ian Symington CVFR M 0:56:16
8 Robert Paradise CVFR M 0:56:27
9 Simon Pymm Saddleworth M 0:57:39
10 Liam Gough unattached M 0:57:48
11 Jonathan Collins Stainland Lions M 0:57:54
12 Chris Balderson Clayton le Moors V40 0:58:38
13 Brian Stevenson Pudsey and Bramley V40 0:59:02
14 James Adey unattached M 0:59:06
15 (lady 1) Holly Page CVFR L* 0:59:15
16 Steve Pullan Todmorden Harriers V40 0:59:17
17 Dave Kelly Rossendale V50* 0:59:23
18 Toby Cotterill CVFR M 0:59:31
19 Robert White CVFR M 0:59:42
20 Adam Holloway unattached V40 0:59:44
21 Peter Hughes Queensbury V50 1:00:00
22 Mark Wharton CVFR V40 1:00:03
23 Pete Dimitrijevic Wharfedale Harriers M 1:00:09
24 Dave Collins Todmorden Harriers V50 1:00:17
25 Tristan Sheard Stainland Lions V40 1:00:33
26 Thornton Taylor Rossendale V50 1:00:52
27 Roberto Conte Mersey Tri V40 1:00:55
28 Dean Ralphson Trawden V40 1:01:05
29 Jonathan Emberton CVFR V50 1:01:42
30 Neil Worswick Clayton le Moors V40 1:02:37
31 Ben Clare Queensbury M 1:02:49
32 Graham Hill CVFR V40 1:03:03
33 Mark Irving Bowland M 1:03:17
34 James Kershaw CVFR M 1:03:24
35 Andy Poole Achille Ratti V50 1:03:30
36 (lady 2) Rachel Pilling Pudsey and Bramley L 1:03:37
37 Jim Mosley CVFR V40 1:03:48
38 (lady 3) Delia Beddis unattached L 1:03:50
39 Ben Timbers unattached M 1:03:57
40 Simon Wood GMFRSMR M 1:04:23
41 Giles Bailey Meltham V40 1:04:33
42 Stuary McAleavy Marsh Harriers M 1:04:39
43 Paul Brown Trawden M 1:04:42
44 James Williams CVFR M 1:04:47
45 Ken Taylor Rossendale V60* 1:04:57
46 Martyn Chapman unattached V40 1:05:04
47 Jonathan Boothman Wharfedale Harriers V40 1:05:16
48 Michael Coe Queensbury V40 1:05:29
49 David Kelly unattached M 1:05:45
50 Sean MacCarthy Abbey Runners V40 1:05:51
51 Craig Neville unattached V40 1:05:59
52 (lady 4) Jackie Scarf CVFR LV50* 1:06:02
53 David Baldaro Todmorden Harriers V40 1:06:17
54 Nick Murphy CVFR V50 1:07:03
55 Dugald McCallum Clayton le Moors V60 1:08:19
56 Tim Brooks CVFR V40 1:08:36
57 Chris Myers Todmorden Harriers V40 1:08:38
58 Jon Osborne unattached M 1:08:40
59 Darren Sargent CVFR V40 1:09:29
60 Martin Roberts unattached V50 1:09:41
61 Boff Whalley Pudsey and Bramley V50 1:09:43
62 John Jodrell Pennine V50 1:10:32
63 Stephen Grimley CVFR V40 1:10:59
64 Jeff Miller Meltham V40 1:11:08
65 Sam Swindells Heptonstall Hurriers M 1:11:11
66 Ian Page unattached V40 1:11:42
67 (lady 5) Ruth Dorrington Abbey Runners LV40* 1:11:48
68 Duncan Ritchie Todmorden Harriers V40 1:11:55
69 Dave Culpan CVFR V50 1:11:57
70 Nathan Kennaugh CVFR M 1:12:15
71 Lawson Conroy unattached V40 1:12:18
72 Richard Briscoe Clayton le Moors M 1:12:28
73 (lady 6) Sarah Tait CVFR L 1:12:45
74 Phil Cook Todmorden Harriers V40 1:13:03
75 Allan Corran Isle of Man Vets V50 1:13:09
76 Don Nichol Burnden V50 1:13:34
77 Matthew Ogden unattached M 1:14:13
78 Stuart Wolstenholme unattached V40 1:14:38
79 Toby Sydes CVFR V40 1:14:41
80 Derek Donohue Todmorden Harriers V50 1:14:51
81 Graham Lloyd CVFR V50 1:14:59
82 John Egan Wharfedale Harriers V40 1:15:23
83 Arthur Warren FRA V60 1:15:28
84 Neil Harris unattached M 1:15:32
85 Graham Jowett Queensbury V60 1:15:46
86 Rob Myers Wharfedale Harriers V50 1:16:00
87 Tommy Brichard unattached M 1:17:38
88 (lady 7) Lucy Tatam CVFR L 1:20:52
89 Joe Daniels Todmorden Harriers M 1:21:00
90 Luke McQuades unattached M 1:21:04
91 Dave Ashworth unattached V40 1:21:07
92 (lady 8) Moira Alderson Stainland Lions LV40 1:21:19
93 (lady 9) Polly Wilding Abbey Runners L 1:21:20
94 (lady 10) Hilary Lane Abbey Runners LV50 1:23:48
95 Glenn Cockroft unattached V40 1:27:03
96 (lady 11) Sheelagh Ratcliff Abbey Runners LV50 1:27:38
97 (lady 12) Susan Bladon CVFR LV50 1:27:49
98 (lady 13) Charlotte Wetton CVFR L 1:28:34
99 David Danbury unattached V60 1:28:56
100 (lady 14) Danielle Ramsey Mersey Tri L 1:29:27
101 Phil Martin Bowland V70* 1:32:09
102 (lady 15) Anne Handley Wharfedale Harriers LV40 1:33:01
103 Kevin McDougall unattached V40 1:45:49
104 Reg Czudek Todmorden Harriers V60 1:47:49

All-time Records

Senior men

Christopher Smale (2012) 0:52:09

Under 18 men

Sean Carey (2011) 0:53:01

Veteran men over 40

Christopher Smale (2012) 0:52:09

Veteran men over 50

Thornton Taylor (2011) 0:56:54

Veteran men over 60

Ken Taylor (2011) 1:01:16

Veteran men over 70

Phil Martin (2013) 1:32:09

Senior women

Katie Walshaw (2011) 0:55:42

Veteran women over 40

Anne Johnson (2011) 1:00:56

Veteran women over 50

Jackie Scarf (2013) 1:06:02

Veteran women over 60

Aileen Baldwin (2012) 1:11:47

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Lee Wood Road re-opening August

Lee Wood Road, which skirts Heptonstall village, will re0pen to traffic from August 16 or earlier, according to Calderdale Council.

A letter from the Planning and Highways division said there would be a permanent 40mph speed limit and 18 tonne weight limit, with the larger vehicles being diverted via Todmorden, Cliviger and Blackshaw Head.

Boreholes have shown that the section of wall cannot be reconstructed using the council’s current method, as the wall would need to be built from more than 6m below road level.

However, as monitoring  has shown no further movement, engineers plan to narrow this section between Tentercroft and Hollins to a single lane and re-open it with vehicle-activated traffic lights.

Reconstruction of the collapsed section of the retaining wall that supports the road has now been completed. Workmen are now re-laying a drainage channel, trimming trees and putting in a kerb to narrow the road and traffic lights.

Monitoring will continue, and if the road begins to show movement again, the wall would have to be replaced with a piled construction. Designs for this will be made as a contingency measure. Building this would mean closing the road again.

A letter to residents about the works is on display in the noticeboard cabinet next to the café.

Official confirmation of the above plans to  re-open Lee Wood Road have now been received from Calderdale MBC by the Parish Council.

Details can be seen here…

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Early Aerial Photographs

Some interesting early aerial photographs of the building of the Gorple reservoirs and Hebden Bridge are available on the Britain From Above website.

Taken in 1929, the Gorple pictures show the building of the dams with the navvies’ huts close by. The Pack Horse pub is visible in the distance of one of the 13 pictures. To find the whole set, search for Heptonstall, one is shown below.

The four Hebden Bridge pictures, taken in 1931, show the many mills in the valley bottom with Heptonstall Road leading up above it, the now demolished Cross Stones Methodist Chapel at the top of the buttress is also visible.

gorple building

 

 

hebden from above

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Dramasaurus Classes

dramasaurus logoNew drama classes are on offer for children aged two to 11 at Heptonstall Social and Bowling Club.
They are run on Fridays by qualified teacher Melanie Daniels and are bookable half-termly, though children are welcome to join at any point.
Classes cost £5 per session, trial class free.

 

Timetable as follows:
2:30pm – 3:15pm, age 2/3
3:40pm – 4:25pm, age 4/5
4:30pm – 5:15pm age 6/7/8
5:20pm – 6:05pm age 9/10/11

For more information, visit the dramasaurus website, email info@dramasaurus.co.uk or call
07554368232.

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Heptonstall Festival Fell Race 2013

DSC_0361

HOLLY PAGE WINNING 2012 RACE FOR CVFR

Heptonstall Festival Fell Race takes place on Saturday as local runners take on a Germanic theme to raise funds for the village festival despite the on going closure of Lee Wood Road. Heptonstall Hurrier’s decided that with sufficient planning the challenging Category A Fell Race could be staged on its usual July date, with minimal impact on traffic flows.

The 6 mile, 1500 feet ascent, Heptonstall Festival Fell Race would normally take place as part the annual village festival traditionally held in early July, however the Village Festival has now been moved to September 21st. Festival organisers hope that the work on Lee Wood Road may be nearing completion by the autumn, allowing queues of frustrated motorists to make way for a parade, bunting, street entertainers, stalls, and caterers on Heptonstall’s famous cobbles. Heptonstall Hurriers were unable to alter their fell race date as the event has now become a popular fixture in the national fell running calendar, but the race organisers were still keen to do all they could to support the festival.

It was decided that the 2013 Heptonstall Festival Fell Race would take place on its normal date, as an early summer fund raiser for the autumn village festival, helping to cover the cost of bands, artists, and parade costumes as the September event promises to be village’s biggest and best ever festival. This Saturday’s race will not be short on festival spirit, however. Heptonstall’s TV celebratory chef Jan Lymer is all set to host an outdoor feast of German cuisine, including Frankfurters, Sauerkraut, and Strudel. Jan, who is due to appear on “Come Dine With Me” in the autumn, was once a chef in Germany. In scenes more reminiscent of Heidelberg than Heptonstall, rows of tables and benches will fill Weaver’s Square, allowing weary fell runners fill-up on Teutonic delicacies (£3.50 a head – all funds to the village festival). Non alcoholic drinks will be served in the square, whilst the White Lion will have Austrian beers on draft to add to the Germanic theme.

If the German beer-fest format proves popular there is even talk of making the Heptonstall Festival Fell Race an international event in 2014. Organisers would like to invite German runners from the twin town of Warstein, famed for its beer production, along with hordes of continental athletes heading to Hebden Bridge for the Tour de France which will cross the Heptonstall route the day after 2014 race. To avoid clashing with the first day of the tour the race may be held on the Saturday evening, kicking off what should be a memorable pre tour party in the village the square.

Heptonstall Festival Race Organiser Steve Grimley said, “ It would have been a great shame to have cancelled the 2013 race. The local community have put in so much effort into making the Festival Fell Race an important fund raiser for Heptonstall Festival. We have been working closely with the local Highways Department, and we are confident that the issues caused by the ongoing closure of Lee Wood Road will be overcome”, Highways officials will be setting up diversions for race-goers, ensuring race traffic avoids the narrow, cobbled, village streets, which are currently clogged with drivers by-passing the road closure at Lee Wood Road. Race goers will be encouraged to travel to Heptonstall via Mytholm Steeps and Blackshawhead. Parking will be provided in the usual fields at the top of the village if weather permits; should the parking field be out of use, runners will be directed to parking spaces on the roads around Draper Corner and Slack.

The diversions will allow the 6 mile fell race route to remain unchanged, particularly the classic cobbled start, where runners will line up before being treated to the best of the local landscape as the race follows its unusual double-descent format, featuring a 500 foot descent to the Blue Pig, followed by a 1000 foot ascent to High Brown Knoll, where runners turn tail and head back to the Heptonstall the way they came, enjoying the exhilarating 1000 foot descent back to the Blue Pig, before the torturous 500 feet of ascent to the finish line.

The race is sure to attract top runners from across the region whilst inspiring locals new to fell running, to experience the exhilaration of racing over the magnificent hills of the upper Calder Valley. Beginners will find the route easy to follow, fully flagged, and well marshaled. Seasoned fell runners will enjoy the 1500 feet of climbs and descents over a wide variety of terrain as well as the tough competition provided by the expected gathering of elite competitors.

Rumour has it that Heptonstall based winner of last year’s ladies race, Calder Valley’s Holly Page, will be back from France this week hoping to defend her 2012 title, and in doing so, potentially break the lady’s course record of 55.42 set by Holmfirth Harriers’ Katie Walshaw in 2011. A host of Calder Valley’s fastest men will be aiming to take advantage of the firm ground and fine weather to beat the men’s best ever time of 52.09 achieved by Bingley’s Chris Smale at last year’s race.

Runners can register from 9.00 at the White Lion Pub (£4, minimum age 16), race starts at 11.00; followed by prize giving and German themed refreshments at 12.30 in Weaver’s Square. Full details at www.heptonstallfestivalrace.wordpress.com

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Festival Memories

We can’t wait for September 21, but in the meantime here’s some happy memories from 2010. Can you spot yourself?

Heptonstall Festival 2010 from Ed lister on Vimeo.

Many thanks to Ed Lister for the memories.

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Alison Grant, artist and architect

Alison Grant Underwater world
Alison Grant enjoys all things creative and produces artwork in a range of media including felt and textiles, charcoal and ink. Her studio features in the annual Open Studios event.

Alison is also an architect for her own practice Alison Grant Architect

 Alison Grant meadow
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Calling all residents of Heptonstall, Slack, Colden, Blackshaw Head and surrounding areas!

The ‘I spy with my little eye…’ Community Bunting Project needs you!

The idea is to create an ever growing set of bunting flags, which can be treasured by the community for many years to come. It can be brought out to decorate community events and could even be exhibited if we want. Each individual flag should be created and designed by a different household/family/individual.

The design should be inspired by the theme of ‘our villages and the views all around us – near or far’. This can be interpreted however you like – be it of a monument like Stoodley Pike or Heptonstall Church; or something more personal to you such as your washing blowing in the wind, your guitar, your favourite tree or your dog!

Expect to see the first display of the flags at the Heptonstall Festival on Saturday 21st September 2013. The next event that we plan to have the flags displayed at is when the Tour de France cycles its way through Hebden Bridge on Sunday 6 July 2014. There is another local group who are aiming to line Cragg Road – the longest steady incline of any road in England – with bunting flags to celebrate Hebden and the surrounding area. Let’s add our bunting to this event too. Any other ideas for upcoming events please let us know.

How to get involved…

Perhaps this project has been passed to you by a friend and you already have the flag template, but if not, the templates are on display on the notice boards at the following places: Heptonstall Post office, Heptonstall School, Colden School and May’s Farm Shop. The template is just a paper template, made from an A4 piece of paper, to show you the correct size of the triangular bunting flag. Draft your own copy of the template and do one to pass on to a friend too. Once you have your template, find your own fabric, new or reused and cut out your flag. Cut two, if you’re doing both sides.

On the front – do your design inspired by the theme of ‘our villages and the views all around us – near or far’ – using whatever fabrics you like and by whatever means – be it sticking, hand stitching, machine stitch, patchwork, knitting or appliqué. Anything goes!

On the back – put letters to describe the view you’ve chosen e.g. SP for Stoodley Pike, HC for Heptonstall Church, T for Tree, B for Bluebells etc. This is so that children can play an ‘I Spy’ game with the flags when they are displayed.

Once you have completed both sides, return the flags to the friend who passed this project onto you or Heptonstall Post Office, Colden School Office or Heptonstall School Office. Make sure you include the following information on a piece of paper – your name, which village you live in, the date and a description of your flag and any other comments about how special this ‘view’ is to you. These bits of paper will be kept and made into a scrapbook for the project.

Thanks so much for taking part, please spread the word and pass this on to your friends! Any questions please contact anothercuriousidea@gmail.com or zeitgeisthair@gmail.com.

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School Sports Day: a report

The sun finally shone for Heptonstall School Sports Day, the first for three years due to poor summers.

A huge turnout of spectators cheered on the children at Heptonstall park, who competed in traditional races including shuttle runs, hurdles, sprints, sack races, egg and spoon, skipping and balancing.

sports day

Some of the events proved challenging for the younger competitors. The skipping race was particularly difficult for those who were turning the rope backwards whilst trying to run forwards.

Balancing a coit on the head even whilst waiting at the start line was problematic for the Class One boys. After a slow start to the race, teacher Peter Jenel assisted some by holding the coits on their heads for them as they walked over the finish.

The sack races were also speeded up by teachers carrying several competitors over the line in their sacks.

Egg and spoon techniques varied between double handed, single handed, or simply holding the egg onto the spoon. During some races, eggs changed ownership. Some older boys experimented with using the spoon as a racket to knock the egg over the final yards, which produced impressively close finishes.

The Heptonstall Parish Website’s “One to Watch” award goes to Isla Lee-Grant, of Class 2, who won every race she entered.

The eventual winners were the Festival team.