Category Archives: Friends

Add Your Own Decoration To The Advent Tree

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Friends dressing the tree

Friends dressing the tree

The Advent tree has now been started in the Park; we would encourage people to take the opportunity to now add their own decorations as they pass,  and make a wish for the season and the coming year.   You can be as artistic,  or not,  as you like.  The idea is to create a colourful seasonal display that residents have done between them – as the season goes on, so the ‘artwork’ should hopefully grow.

Thank you to the people who came out on a cold, damp Saturday afternoon to start dressing the tree – particularly the children who had made and hung their own decorations.  Thank you as well to the ladies who have made some of the more intricate decorations and bunting.

Children have made decorations for the Advent tree

Children have made decorations for the Advent tree

Friends have now also laboured to put down wood chippings on the paths that will be most used for the Lantern Parade.

Thank you to the dog walkers who were commandeered to take a wheelbarrow of chipping to a suitable spot, as they came through the gate:  especially Steve who took and filled a number of

Tree figures, knitted by a Guiseley resident of longstanding.

Tree figures, knitted by a Guiseley resident of longstanding.

barrows up and down the hill

Bulb Planting This Saturday, 8th, Come Along And Help

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500 Bulbs to Plant

500 Bulbs to Plant

Come along and work off a few calories in the fresh air, enjoy some camaraderie with neighbours and help beautify the Park for next Spring.  This Saturday, 8th November, 10am to 12 noon, we will be planing daffodil bulbs in the Park on the lower slopes.  The daffodils’ have been supplied by Groundwork.

You will need to bring your own spade or bulb planter,  and obviously be aware that with the wind cutting across the valley, the Park can be chilly if the weather is so inclined, and slippery with mud if it has been raining.   There again,  it can bake in sunshine, and be glorious.

Meet at the Greenshaw Terrace Gate, or, for more information,  write a comment here,  or call 01943 877282

 

Park Maintenance Update

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Site Ownership Is A Key Issue

Site Ownership Is A Key Issue

Five foot high grass,  an ugly clay mound that would not look out-of-place in a mining district,  and dog excrement everywhere, is not exactly what the Friends had in mind for the Park in 2014.   Since last  year we have been trying to get something done about all these issues – and at long last may just be getting somewhere.

Park Ownership

The issue firstly is the ownership of the Park.  As is now known,  the papers that gave Continue reading →

Planting Poppies For Aireborough’s WWI Commemoration Launch on 4th August 2014

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The Poppy Planting Team

The Poppy Planting Team

As part of Aireborough’s World War I commemorations, Parkinson’s Park have been sowing poppies.  The idea is for the poppies to be in bloom on 4th August, when a whole host of events and special features are due to start as a means to recognize the sacrifice and say ‘thank you’ to all the local people who took part in the First Wold War,  in whatever way.

On the morning of Wednesday 30th April  Chris Parapia joined in with Oxford Road Pre School Playgroup  to sow wildflower and poppy seeds at the play area in front of the playgroup building.

In the afternoon six pupils from Guiseley Infants School and their teachers, Daisy, Matilda, Oliver,Jake Evie and Harriet and their teachers Janet Munnings and Helen Gastel,  walked up to the Park,  and worked very hard sowing seeds in the newly extended wildflower area by the Farmgate; helped by Betty, Josie, Chris and Barbara from the Friends.

Brass Cap Badge from The Royal Artillery & 1914 Half-Penny recently found in the Park.

Brass Cap Badge from The Royal Artillery & 1914 Half-Penny recently found in the Park.

The poppies should give colour on August 4th, when there will be a wreath laying ceremony at the cross in Guiseley at 11am followed by flowers placed on the war graves in St Oswald’s cemetery: Guiseley Brass Band will be playing  music from 1914, from 10.30am.  Later in the evening the Guiseley churches will be holding an evening reflection.  Nationally there is to be a ‘blackout’ from 11pm when people will be asked to turn off their lights, and light a British Legion candle.  Special  WWI candles will be available from The Royal British Legion’s partner,  Marks & Spencer’s from early July,

Entry from Guiseley Town Council Minutes of 12th November 1918.

Entry from Guiseley Town Council Minutes of 12th November 1918.

The Aireborough Commemmorations are designed to bring together in remembrance the townships of Yeadon, Guiseley and Rawdon – not forgetting Hawksworth and High Royds, whose families were all part of the Parish of Guiseley.  The events will last from 2014 until 2018 and compliment national events.    The idea was started by Stuart Andrew MP, last year,  after discussions with the local Royal British Legion.  The organizing committee, of which Parkinson’s Park is a member, along with Guiseley in Bloom,  Guiseley Carnival, Rawdon Parish Council, local churches, and the British Legion,  is chaired by WWI historian Cllr John Davies from Rawdon Parish Council.   Anyone who wants to be part of the committee,  or has an event they are organizing that could link into the WWI programme, should contact John on 0113 250 4403.

 

 

 

Marking the Start of the World War One Centenary

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Friends preparing the wildflower and rememberance poppy area.

Friends preparing the wildflower and rememberance poppy area.

On Saturday 26th April 2014,  seven Friends of Parkinson’s Park came to help dig over and prepare the Wildflower area for planting and poppy-seed sowing – as part of this year’s World War One Centenary.

The area is due to be planted by school children from Oxford Road Pre School Playgroup in the morning and Oxford Road Infants, in the afternoon of Wednesday 30th April.  The  wildflower seeds have been donated by an organisation called “Grow Wild”,  and the poppy seeds donated by The Royal British Legion via Guiseley in Bloom.

It was definitely a case of many hands make light digging,  and thanks are extended to Chris Parapia, Barbara Winfield, Richard and Gail Lamb, Sue Jackson, Josie Brooks,  and Anne a new member from the Bellway Estate, whom we were very pleased to welcome; along with Daniel, aged 8, who came along to help out later in the day.

The 30th April will see a number of local community groups taking part in poppy-seed planting to  mark the start of rememberance of those who between 1914 – 1918 gave up so much to make a stand against tyranny in Europe.   Aireborough,  will be putting on a number of events over the coming months, and a WW I committee has been formed to co-ordinate activity – more of this in a later post.

Invitation To The Annual General Meeting – 30th April 2014, 7pm

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We invite Friends of Parkinson’s Park to the FOPP AGM on 30th April 2014,  in the  Fellowship Room, Methodist Church, Oxford Road, Guiseley.  7 – 9pm.

7 – 7.45pm – Reports on 2013/2014; election of Management Committee officers for 2014/2015; discussion on whether a subscription is required for the coming year; and suggestions and discussion of the work plan for 2014/2015.  This is for all Friends of Parkinson’s Park.
7.45 – 8pm – Tea
8 – 9pm – Talk by Jennifer Kirkby on the historic research she and Barbara Winfield have been doing for the All Our Stories project.

Nomination of Officers for the Committee
The Management Committee of FOPP currently has three vacant officer positions, so if a FOPP member would like to be on the committee please could you let the Chair,  Chris Parapia (chrisparapia@hotmail.com) know the name, proposer and seconder by the 28th  April 2013.  A list of people standing for the committee will then be published for the AGM, for voting on at the meeting.  There will therefore not be any nominations from the floor on the night of the AGM.

Changes to the Constitution
The AGM is the time to make any necessary changes to the constitution, so, if there are any alterations a Friend of Parkinson’s Park would like to propose, please let Chris Parapia know by the 28th April 2013, so changes can be circulated to Friends prior to the AGM.  A copy of the constitution is here.

Work Plan 2014/2015
If any member of FOPP has any suggestions for new projects, events or work they would like to do in the Park,  please would you let Marketing Officer Jennifer Kirkby (ja.kirkby@btconnect.com) know, so that they can be added to the work plan for discussion at the AGM.  FOPP encourages Friends to put forward suggestions for improvements to the Park, that the person making the suggestion would like to lead a project on.   This, for example, is what led to the hibernaculum -a Leeds University ecology student proposed that they would like to build one in the top copse: that was then approved by the management committee who organized Friends to help.

In order to cater for the relevant numbers in a room of limited size, we would be grateful if you could let Chris also know if you will be attending the AGM.

2014 – Calendar of Events

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Help Us Build Community Events for Guiseley

We are pleased to announce our 2014 calendar of main events.

AGM and Presentation on All Our Stories – 30th April 2014, 7pm Methodist Church, Oxford Road

Children’s Gala – 7th September 2014, The Park

Lantern Parade – 7th December 2014, Parkinson’s Park to Town Gate  (Change of date)

If anyone would like to be involved in the organization or sponsoring of these events, or take part, then please email on parkinsonspark@gmail.com.  There is plenty of scope and support for young people who would like to gain skills and experience of leadership and community event organizing to put on their CVs.

2013 Website Review

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The WordPress statistics monkey has prepared a 2013 annual report for this blog.  What this has told us is that ‘location’ has been the most popular post – thereby attracting, hopefully, more visitors to the Park, both generally, and for our three main events: All Our Stories, Archaeology Project, the Children’s Gala, and the Christmas Lantern Parade.    Our links with other social media, Facebook, Twitter and email have been a key method of people finding out about the Park and activities.  However, we need to work harder at attracting more comments and interaction from Park users.   The full report is below.  Which only leaves us to wish you a Happy New Year for 2014.

Here’s an excerpt:

The concert hall at the Sydney Opera House holds 2,700 people. This blog was viewed about 8,700 times in 2013. If it were a concert at Sydney Opera House, it would take about 3 sold-out performances for that many people to see it.

Click here to see the complete report.

Lighting Up A Future Tradition

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Guiseley Brass Band Play Carols

Guiseley Brass Band Play Carols

Thank you to everyone who came to the Friends of Parkinson’s Park Lantern Parade; there was a fantastic turnout from all over the area, with residents old and new, all our local Councillors and Member of Parliament.  Some people passing by the in their cars, even stopped to join in.

It seems the children really enjoyed coming to the Park in the gathering dusk with lanterns: and watching people approach the decorated tree in the park from all directions was like watching a ‘gathering of the tribes’.   It was lovely to see so many different types of lanterns and the thought that had gone into them.

At the Cross,  Guiseley Brass Band really created a wonderful atmosphere in which to munch home made mince pies , and drink mulled wine, and try and read the words of the carols – those who couldn’t just hummed the tune.

We would also like to thank ‘God’ for being kind with the weather – we had asked especially if he could hold the rain off for an hour or so – and he obliged  :-).

In the role call of people who made the event happen, thanks particularly go to:

Lanterns

Lanterns

The idea – Nicola Denson

Invitations – Nicola Denson, Josie Brooks, Barbara Winfield, Jenny Kirkby

Paths Chipping – Josie Brooks, Steve Megson, Chris Parapia , Jenny Kirkby

Chippings – donated by Mike Shackleton (Tree Care Company)

Lights  – Barbara Winfield, Andy Cheetham

Moon Lantern and Drums – Cecil Higgings Arts, Bradford

Music – Guiseley Brass Band

People on Parade

People on Parade

Mince Pies and Buns – Sian Cartwright

Mulled Wine – Richard Slatcher (The Station)  & Rebecca

Photographs – Leekie Parapia, Peter Kirkby

Taking Part – Guiseley residents

Marshalls – Josie Brooks, Nicola & Jon Denson, Andy Cheetham, Barbara Winfield

Overall organization – Chris Parapia and Jenny Kirkby

Funding – Comic Relief Community Cash, Local Cllrs

Gathering In the Park at Dusk

Gathering In the Park at Dusk

The purpose of the event is to set a new Guiseley tradition, in line with our 2013 All Our Stories project – exploring the history of the Park and its role with local people. Now we have experimented with the idea and know it works and people like it,  we will aim for the same event next year with lantern making workshops, and more drums on the route.   We have made a note of a number of ideas for improvement, but please let us know of any ideas you have, or if you would like to take a role in the organization of it.  We’ll be posting more photos of the event over Christmas.  Oh, and last but not least thank you,  to all those who gave us a donation – this will go to the upkeep of the Park and future events.

A Merry Christmas to everyone from The Friends of Parkinson’s Park.

Film For Sale – Parkinson’s Park: A New Chapter

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20130530_140739 (768x1024)David Myer’s one hour video ‘ Parkinson’s Park – A New Chapter’,  filmed between November 2011 and June 2012 is now available for sale.   The cost is £11.50 including postage and packaging, let us know if you would like a copy at parkinsonspark@gmail.com.

The film tells the story of the Park’s regeneration, and features interviews with many of the people involved in the various projects and events.  David is intending to eventually deposit copies of the film in the Yorkshire Film Archive as part of the All Our Stories project – (although his film was not funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund) – as it is an important part of local history.