2. A Village Society for Wilsden?
A Village Society for Wilsden?
The Problem
Since the spate of new building in Wilsden and the influx of people having no real family connections with the village, it has become clear that something must be done to involve newcomers in village life and to engender some kind of community atmosphere. It is an unfortunate fact that for various reasons the heart of the village is slowly dieing and we believe there is a real possibility that with the passage of time the village will become little more than a commuter suburb of Bradford or Bingley and that its essential character as a lively village will disappear.
The Aim
What we feel is necessary is to form a Society truly representative of village people and village life which has the following aims
a) to promote the recreational social and cultural welfare of the village and to encourage village activities in this respect
b) to provide so far as possible or to procure the provision of the facilities that are at present lacking in the village for example a village hall or community centre.
c) to hold such public meetings as may from time to time seem desirable for the debating of vital issues affecting the village.
d) to consider the future growth of Wilsden as a community and to represent public opinion in discussion with the Local Authority, County Council or similar bodies.
The Means
We believe such a Society could if properly run help to play an important part in reviving and promoting interest in village life as a whole. But we are firmly of the view that it must be truly representative of the various bodies and groups in the village at present and that a combined front will not only benefit the various bodies and groups themselves but by concerting our efforts will benefit Wilsden as a community.
Royd House and its grounds were given by the mill-owning Ambler family in 1919 for the benefit of the people of Wilsden. It provided a reading room, housed a bowls club, was the venue for a baby clinic, and had rooms available for small meetings. Some years later, Bradford Metropolitan District Council sold the house but most of the grounds remain as part of Wilsden Park.
Encouraged by reactions at that meeting, some of the initiators of the idea and one or two others suggested by them, met in Royd House as a steering committee on 15th Jan 1970.
Those present were Counc. Tyler, Peter Booth, John Hansen, David Varley, Marcus Catling, Anne Lloyd and Janet Catling. Apologies from Counc. Calvert and Eric Marsh. These people, with Counc. Hall and the vicar were to arrange the date and format of a public meeting, propose the aims of the society as set out by Counc. Tyler, and suggest names for a first set of officers and committee members.
A conclusion reached at the steering meeting set the tone for the society’s approach to its role and underlay much of its future success. When the question of the Maud Report on local government reorganisation was brought up it was quickly appreciated that a village society must offer constructive ideas if it was to survive and be heard in the larger administrative areas envisaged by the report.
In addition letters of general support and apology for being unable to attend were received from Doreen Butterfield, Reginald H.Fawcett and J.M.Booth. (Mr. Booth sympathised with the objectives but did not hold out much hope of success.)
