One of our Bradford area parishes will be using the May Day Bank Holiday to go back to the 1940s and mark VE Day, as well as raise funds to support work on their church bells.
St Andrew’s Kildwick, part of the parish of Kildwick, Cononley and Bradley, are holding a 1940s themed community picnic on Monday, May 5, with cream teas, cakes and drinks, craft stalls, a sweet shop and old-fashioned children’s games.
As part of the commemorations and celebrations of the 80th anniversary of VE Day, marking the end of WWII in Europe, Jane Francis, the Lancashire Belle, will be singing 1940s songs, and people will have the chance to learn how to Lindy Hop properly as well.
At the picnic, the church will be running bell tower tours to raise funds to keep the church bells ringing.
The bells need major work to maintain the historic tradition of ringing, as well as their strong sound.
New ropes have already been purchased in the colours of St Andrew, while the bell clappers have been refurbished
Each bell still needs work on various parts, as well as on their frames.
The bells will be rung on Thursday, May 8 at 6.30pm, as the church join the national Ring Out in Celebration campaign to commemorate Victory in Europe 80 years ago.