Hundreds braved the wintry wind and rain this evening for the annual carol singing in St. George's Square. There were more people than ever for this popular event, spilling over into the road at both ends of the square. Atheists, agnostics and people of differing religious persuasions all singing side by side. Music supplied by the Hebden Bridge Junior Band.

Hebden Bridge’s Riverside School’s continued success is shown in the Primary School results published by the DFES today. For the 4th year running, Riverside has dramatically improved its results in the Keystage Two tests. 87% of pupils received level 4 or above at English, 89% at Maths and 92% in Science.

Added together these results give Riverside a score of 268 which is nearly 40 points better than last year and 35 points above the national average. (53 eligible for the KS2 tests)

More Riverside details from the DFES site

Results from Hebden Royd at Mytholm were English (80%), Maths (80%) and Science (100%) giving a score of 260 down slightly from last year’s 285. (20 eligible for the KS2 tests) More details from the DFES site

Local hilltop schools continued to do well. 11 pupils at Old Town gained 273 points for their school and 15 pupils at Colden gained 287 points.

A centre to celebrate the life and work of former Poet Laureate Ted Hughes in his birthplace of Mytholmroyd, West Yorkshire, has come a step closer following publication of a new report.

A Pre-feasibility Study commissioned by Royd Regeneration and Calderdale Council and prepared by Brighouse development consultants Jackson Quigg Associates, recommends that the project move to full feasibility to test in detail where such a centre should be and if there is a strong enough business case to take it forward.

The initial study concentrated on examining the former Railway Station building in Mytholmroyd, with Leeds-based Bauman Lyons Architects drawing up outline sketch schemes for how the building might be used. The building is derelict and is in the Mytholmroyd conservation area of New Road for which there are detailed regeneration plans.

Jackson Quigg carried out a consultation process to determine levels of interest and support from the family of Ted Hughes, from his publisher, from a number of universities, and from statutory bodies like Yorkshire Arts, the Arts Council and local authority.

The project already has the possibility of some capital funding. English Heritage -  Heritage Economic Regeneration Scheme (HERS) has provisionally offered 93,000 each year for the next 3 years for Mytholmroyd including the station, and the Railway Heritage Trust has offered 45K towards renovating the station building.

Alan Brooks, Chair of Royd Regeneration and a founder member of the steering group for a Ted Hughes Centre said: "Ted Hughes lived in Mytholmroyd until he was eight, and the Calder Valley provided enormous inspiration for his poetry. It seems only fitting that we should celebrate his life and work here in his birthplace with a centre that could help inspire future generations to experience his work and relate to it in its Pennine setting".

"We would hope to provide study and research space, with exhibitions and artefacts, a bookshop and a cafe/restaurant. It may also be possible to move Mytholmroyd Library into the building if additionally we are able to develop space underneath the railway arch."

Mr Brooks continued: "We now need to take the project forward by consulting with local people and carrying out more detailed research to decide whether or not the Railway Station building is the right place for a centre, exactly what should go into it and how it would be financed and run. Expressions of interest have been very positive, and although there is a long way to go we believe a Ted Hughes Centre would be a great success."

Expressions of interest have come from as far afield as Australia, and the Hughes family have firmly supported the idea in principle.

"We will of course keep the family fully informed about our plans," added Mr Brooks. "We are very pleased to have their backing and hope we can develop a centre that matches their aspirations and those of the many people who have enjoyed Ted Hughes' writing."

The study was funded by grants from Calderdale Council Millennium Cultural Activity, Yorkshire Forward and Hebden Royd Town Council.

'A' level results are also slightly down from last year at 19.3 points per pupil (2000 - 19.5, 1999. 22.4). Many local students do not stay at Calder High for their 'A' levels but go on to other local colleges. Many commute to Greenhead College in Huddersfield which is this year the second best performing college in the country at A level with pupils averaging 25.2 points.

Next year's results should be particularly interesting because the performance tables are going to have a "value-added" dimension showing how well students at secondary schools have performed when compared to how they performed at primary school.

Source: DFES page for Calder High - GCSE
DFES page for Calder High - A level

Any comments? Use the Hebweb Discussion Forum

Flower beds will be replanted and there will be selective removal and replacement of trees. A footpath will be laid and there will be bench seating which will all be lit at night. The football pitch will remain but the old gasometer site will become a coach park, for use by vehicles at events like the annual bonfire and carnival. A cycle route will also run through the site which will mean pedestrians and cyclists are separated.

Funding is still being sought.

My company, Jackson Quigg Associates, has been asked by Calderdale Council in West Yorkshire and Royd Regeneration, the agency in Mytholmroyd, Ted Hughes' birthplace near Halifax, to investigate the potential for setting up a Ted Hughes Centre there.

The project is at an early stage and I would welcome comments from anyone who might be interested in the establishment of such a centre.

For example, what would its purpose be? Could it link in to centres of study which have connections with his work, or indeed hold archives which could be loaned for special exhibitions? What about links with the Sylvia Plath Society and Bronte Society? Should it encourage school visits at all levels? Is Mytholmroyd a good place to have such a centre (bearing in mind its position in the Calder Valley!)? Would a cafe/restaurant be a good idea?

We would be grateful if people would consider this and give us their views. We are investigating the old Railway Station building in Mythomlroyd to see if it might be suitable, and will be reporting back soon on our initial research.

Thanks in advance to anyone who feels moved to contribute.

Piers Jackson
Jackson Quigg Associates
46b Bradford Road
Brighouse
West Yorkshire
HD6 1RY

On Friday 14 th, September 2001, the only residential unit for children with Special Needs in the Calder Valley, closed. There were four children who lived there. One has been taken back to Leeds. The other three have been sent to live at Linden Brook until Social Services open another residential unit. This, apparently, may take over three months to set up. The parents who will use Linden Brook will be aware of the implication of this news.

There are seven beds at Linden Brook and if three of them are used for residential; there are only four beds to share for all the children in the Calder Valley.

Respite care may be cancelled for some children. Jennie Kerwood, mother of Jonathan, aged 12 and one of the children affected by the closure of Ashworth House, has told the Hebden Bridge Web that if people want to support the parents and carers in the Calder Valley, they could send a letter and send to Calderdale Social Services at The Director of Social Services, Calderdale Social Services, Horsfall House, Skircoat Moor Rd., Halifax. HX3 OHJ

A suggested wording of the letter would be: I firmly believe that Calderdale should have a residential unit for children with Special Needs. Linden Brook should not be used for residential care and I believe that Social Services should establish a residential children’s unit as a matter of urgency.

On Wednesday 26^th. September there is an open day held by Social Services Children with Disabilities Team. This meeting is open to all parents of children with Special Needs. Jennoe is urging people to go along and question Social Services about their plans for a residential unit for children in the Calder Valley. The open day is held at the Shay, Halifax. It will last all day.

Yesterday evening, Calderdale councillors granted permission for the conversion of the popular Nutclough pub into housing. This was in spite of the opposition to the plans by Hebden Royd Council who argued that its loss would cause damage to the tourist industry, and that the landlord had not effectively marketed the pub. The pub will be converted into two houses.

Several pubs have closed in the area in the past few years and the neighbouring Nutclough Tavern has been closed now for six months. So far these have been mainly pubs outside Hebden Bridge centre - the Mount Skip, top Shoulder of Mutton and The Woodman. More details..

If you have views about this proposed closure, make use of the Hebweb Discussion Forum.