Brighouse takes a step back 70 years

Brighouse stepped back 70 years as an estimated 100,000 visitors came to the town over the weekend for the first ever event of its kind organised by the Brighouse Business Initiative.

The town was transformed with a vintage market and vehicles from the war-time period lining the streets of the town centre.

Due to the incredible success Lesley Adams, one of the organisers of the weekend, said the event will be back in the first weekend of June 2014.

“The event was fantastic - absolutely brilliant. Everybody had a great time and it was great to get so many people into Brighouse who may not have ever been before.

“A big thank you must go to all the volunteers, businesses and visitors to the town because we would not have been able to do it without them.”

From land girls to soldiers, spies to evacuees, businesses and people dressed for the occasion with a host of entertainment including jazz and swing music keeping the public entertained.

A Winston Churchill look-a-like also made an appearance, rousing the masses with his famous wartime speech.

The weekend reached its climax with a flypast from a Battle of Britain Memorial Flight Spitfire, piloted by Squadron Leader Duncan Mason.

Steven Lord, from the Harrison Lord Gallery and another organiser of the weekend, said: “It has been amazing. We have been overwhelmed by the number of people who came and more importantly how many smiling faces you saw on the streets.

“All the businesses got involved and staff dressed up for the weekend. I don’t think Brighouse has seen anything like this and the community coming together since the war and the 1940s.

“Squadron Leader Duncan Mason has already said how amazing Brighouse looked and he himself has already asked if they can do another fly-by next year.

“The phone has been red hot asking if they can come back next year and from other reenactment groups and performers wanting to come.”

Many Courier readers sent in pictures of the event including Arlene War, Mathew Utley, Angela Bottomley, Matt Allen, Jane Miller and Beverley O’Rourke. We’ve also got a selection on our website and a video at www.halifaxcourier.co.uk