14July2010
Posted by patrick under: News.
There are many interesting bed & breakfasts and self catering cottages throughout the Holme Valley – but possibly one of the most unusual places to stay for a weekend, week or longer must be Nora Batty’s house in the centre of Holmfirth.
Described as a unique opportunity to stay in the “most famous house in TV Comedy”, visitors could be the envy of millions of Summer Wine fans throughout the world.
The property is fully furnished – as only Nora would approve – and tastefully decorated in keeping with the overall Nora Batty Experience.
Fans and others will enjoy the exclusive memorabilia – signed photos of cast & crew are in abundance throughout the house as well as props used in the filming.
What do visitors think? A family from Illinois, USA, said “We enjoyed our stay with Nora! The cottage gave us an idea of British life. We also love the Yorkshire area.”
An Austrian couple commented: ”…As avid fans of Last of the Summer Wine, it was easy to savour the ambience of Nora’s cottage and the local area.”
To read more comments, and find out more about the cottage and how to book a relaxing stay, click the “dream holiday” button top right of the Holmfirthweb.com website.
13July2010
Posted by patrick under: News.
The Flush House kiosk
A regular hiker to the Holme Valley has slammed as “insensitive” telephone kiosk advertising on a local lane which is said to be out “totally out of keeping” with the rest of the Holmfirth countryside.
“Its a big blot on the Holmfirth landscape,” said James Gareth, 63, of Oldham, in an email to Holmfirthweb.com. “The poster is advertising university places at Leeds Trinity and features a large colour portrait of grinning college kids.
“This may do the trick an urban area, where it is most likely to target the right kind of people, but not in a lovely rural country lane just 20 minutes from Holmfirth. Who is likely to see this who would be interested in going to Leeds college – I don’t see many kids round there.”
Mr Gareth, who visits the Valley area at least twice a month for day-long hikes, said the offending kiosk was situated on Flush House Lane, Flush House, Holmfirth, and has kindly attached a photo with his email.
“The horrid thing about this is exactly the same loud poster appeared last year and I complained to a BT engineer working nearby and the next time I came across to Holmfirth, the poster had vanished so I thought it must be as a result of my complaint. But its back again this summer which means last year’s removal was merely a coincidence and this must part of a seasonal campaign, so it will be here again and again”
“I called into Holmfirth centre last week to complain to the local paper but relised there is no longer a publication in the town so contacted the Holmfirth website instead.”
Holmfirthweb.com attempted to contact BT to invite comment however a refernce on a website said ”…BT have indicated that the continuing growth in the use of mobile ‘phones is having a significant impact on the commercial viability of the BT Payphone service, revenue from kiosk advertising would contribute to the running costs of the Payphone service and might stem any future increase in call charges from pay phones.
12July2010
Posted by patrick under: News.
Marianne and Graham in Holmfirth
Welcome to Sid’s Cafe in Holmfirth!
One of Holmfirthweb’s most regular readers Marianne Smits-Jansen
from Roermond, The Netherlands, paid another visit to the town to see some of the local Summer Wine attractions. She is pictured here with a friend Graham, and also met up with Patrick, Editor of the Holmfirth-based website, to discuss local issues.
Marianne has been a regular visitor to the website for many years and her regular comments and feedback have helped to improve the site for other overseas visitors.
Marianne said: “After 3 previous visits to Holmfirth, in 2003, 2004 and 2005, of which visits the diaries written by me were published on the Holmfirtth website, I paid another, but more personal visit to Jackson Bridge, where this time I stayed with friends.
“I did have the opportunity to be shown practically all of the Summer Wine filming spots, first by Patrick, well known to you all, then by one of the biggest fan of LOTSW, Terry Bartlam, who drove me around Holmfirth, telling me all about the Summer Wine spots and where several episodes or part of episodes were filmed, which was really interesting.”
29June2010
Posted by patrick under: News.
A mobile wellbeing roadshow bus is out and about in the Holme and Colne Valleys in July.
This follows a successful tour last year using a bus and local facilities which was organised in the Holme Valley by Kirklees Council and its partners including the NHS and voluntary organisations. The aim was to reach as many people as possible, and in particular those people who find it difficult to be able to get to Huddersfield because of transport or health reasons.
The roadshows give people the opportunity to find out more about the services available to them and how to make contact. Staff will be on hand to discuss any issues, whether about care, health and well being or to help people check if they are receiving all the services and benefits they are entitled to.
If you want to find out about help with financial issues, help getting back to work or training, services for older people, health, or what’s available for young families then please look out for the bus on July 6 and 13 in Holme Valley South including Cinderhills, Scholes, Burnlee, Netherthong, New Mill
If you have a group meeting on any of the days the roadshow is out and about or there are a number of people in your community who would like us to call in please contact Keith Melbourne on 01484 225709 and we will do our best to fit you in.
There will also be wellbeing roadshow activity days at the following venues:
St Bartholomew’s Parish Hall, Meltham – July 1 from 1.30pm to 5.30pm
Holmfirth Methodist Church – July 19 from 10am to 3pm.
For further information contact Keith Melbourne Kirklees Safer Stronger Communities via 01484 225709 or email: keith.melbourne@kirklees.gov.uk
29June2010
Posted by patrick under: News.
It’s that time of the year again – the major Holmfirth artWEEK, the local event with a national reputation.
Most of the exhibitors are from the local area but visitors come from all over the country to view and to buy.
It is amazing just how much artistic talent there is locally – it is this that makes the event such a success . . . and brings so many visitors to Holmfirth every year.
The main Exhibition in the Civic Hall runs all week and features work by about 400 professional & amateur artists.
Dates & Times:
Sun 4 July & Sat 10 July
10.00 – 17.00
Mon 5 July to Fri 9 July
10.00 – 21.00
Please note the earlier weekday closing time this year
(*Market closes at 16.00 on Sat 10)
Admission to the Exhibition is £2.00 (£1.00 concessions) – this price allows unlimited visits during the week (many people find that one visit isn’t enough to appreciate all the work on display!).
In addition there are numerous smaller fringe venues around the valley
Further information: info@holmfirthartweek.net
The first Holmfirth Art Exhibition was organised in 1967 by Isobel Shaw and Christabel Dangerfield. Their twin objectives were to provide an opportunity for local art students to show their work and to raise money for Cancer Relief (as it was then called) – on that occassion a grand total of £120 was raised for the charity.
Their legacy is an annual event which sells 2000 artworks every year and regularly raises in excess of £30,000 for Macmillan Cancer Support. Having acheived our target of £40k for the 40th event artWEEK has so far raised well over HALF A MILLION POUNDS.
29June2010
Posted by patrick under: News.
Should we save our lovely red telephone boxes? If so, then Holme Valley Parish Council want to hear from you.
Talks are talking place with BT who are wanting to remove some of them because they no longer make any money.
Parish councillors have the chance to “adopt” some to help save them, and may be able to get cash grants towards doing them up.
The phone boxes under consideration are:
Upperthong, Towngage
Fulstone, Far Well Lane
Oldfield, opposite the Playground
Holme, opposite the Fleece Inn.
Email the Parish Council with your views and ideas as to future uses of the phone kiosks:
admin@holmevalleyparishcouncil.gov.uk
29June2010
Posted by patrick under: News.
Hepworth Garden Trail
On Sunday 11 July, the seventh biennial Hepworth Garden Trail will be held between 1pm and 6pm.
A total of 18 gardens are open to the public, four of them just outside the village.
There’s an art exhibition in Hepworth Church, some of the gardens are doing refreshments; and light lunches and refreshments will be served in the village hall.
Tickets in the form of a map cost £3 per adult, accompanied children free and give access to all the gardens and the art exhibition.
Tickets are now on sale at Holmfirth Information Office or on the day itself from participating gardens. Hepworth Art Group have done a wonderful notice for the Garden Trail.
Pictured holding the notice are (from left to right) Keith Harris, Alison Booth and John Blunden.
21June2010
Posted by patrick under: News.
Holmfirth Climate Change Group will be inviting residents from the Holme Valley to attend a meeting on Thursday 24 June at 7pm at Holmfirth Parish Church to see a film about how the farming industry can adapt in the future to using less fossil fuels.
‘A Farm for the Future’ is Rebecca Hosking’s inspiring film about farming’s dependence on fossil fuels and what could be achieved by sustainable agriculture that renews and enriches natural eco-systems (permaculture). As both presenter and co-producer she explores the importance of oil in farming and the potential impact of the decline in availability of oil in coming years (peak oil).
The film has a passionate narrative centred on Rebecca’s small family farm in South West England; can she make her farm fit for the future?
The film will be shown in collaboration with Holme Valley Gardening Network, a community of local growers which provides support, encouragement, information and advice for anyone living in the Holme Valley.
Holmfirth Climate Change Group, which was established back in April, is also about to set up a website and needs a new and memorable name which will convey its aims and objectives. One of the organisers, Martin Smith, said:
“We need a name that is short, inclusive and enthuses people to work together to meet the challenge of climate change. We hope to get some creative ideas from the meeting.”
Next Thursday’s event is just the first of a number of regular meetings which Holmfirth Climate Change Group is planning over the coming months. On Thursday 29 July there will be a presentation by members of Incredible Edibles Huddersfield at 7pm at Holmfirth Parish Church. And on Sunday 22nd August Kate Hughes will lead a Wild Food Walk with an opportunity to investigate and discover the growth of local and natural plants that can be eaten raw.
For further information about the work of the Holmfirth Climate Change Group contact Martin Smith on 687139.
13June2010
Posted by patrick under: Uncategorized.
Email Appeal – Can YOU help?
I am in contact with a lady in Australia who has connections with my family tree and we are both anxious to find out more about the former Kaye and Messenger Candleworks Factory which used to exist on the road between Brockholes and Honley.
We know that our relative Victor Messenger had connections with it but have been unable to find out any more about the people who actually owned it, especially the Kaye side of the ownership.
If anyone has any information that would help us we would be grateful to hear from you. I can be contacted on email: denginny@yahoo.co.uk or by phone on 01433 620753.
Grateful thanks
Virginia Haywood
13June2010
Posted by patrick under: News.
What could be better than a lazy Sunday, enjoying a picnic and listening to the fantastic sounds of a traditional brass bands in the Holme Valley this summer.
Hade Edge Band, pictured left, are providing the music at Honley Park, Westgate, this coming Sunday, June 20, between 2 – 4pm.
Next month, July, a little nearer home, Emley Brass Band are entertaining at Holmeside Gardens, Towngate, Holmfirth, from 2pm on Sunday, July 4.
Admission is free, just come along and enjoy the brass!
