A ceremony has been held to mark the 100th anniversary of Keighley Cenotaph
International guests joined community figures at the event, in Town Hall Square.
A short service was led by Keighley team vicar, the Rev Alastair Kirk.
Keighley’s deputy town mayor Councillor Chris Herd and town council clerk Joe Cooney read the roll of honour.
And a new interpretation panel was unveiled by town mayor Councillor Gulfraz Hussain and Philip St Lawrence – great nephew of General Charles Harington, who performed the original dedication of the memorial in 1924.
The event also included the excavation of a time capsule buried a century ago, and the installation of a new capsule, featuring contributions from schools, cadet forces, veterans, the town council and Keighley’s cross-Channel ‘twin’, Poix-du-Nord.
A delegation from the French town was present at the ceremony. The contingent included deputy mayor Séverine Delobelle, councillor Roxane Ghys and Mrs Roumiana Ducornet – widow of the late Guy Ducornet, whose grandfather Gaston Ducornet was instrumental in initiating the twinning venture.
There were also information and activity stalls hosted by the Men of Worth project, Keighley and District Local History Society, Keighley Creative, the town council and housing group Incommunities.
And a centenary dinner was held.
A town council spokesperson said: “The centenary celebration highlighted Keighley’s enduring dedication to its history and the sacrifices of its people. The event served as a reminder of the town’s resilience and the importance of preserving its legacy for future generations.”
Keighley MP Robbie Moore, who was amongst those in attendance, says: “It was truly an honour to welcome representatives of Poix-du-Nord to our town to celebrate 100 years of Keighley Cenotaph alongside our friends from the world’s first ever town-twinning.
“The service and the burial of a time capsule, which is set to be opened in 2124, were extremely poignant moments and it was a great way for our local schools and cadet forces to engage with Keighley’s rich history.
“It was also fantastic to hear from Philip St Lawrence – great nephew of General Sir Charles Harington, the man who unveiled the cenotaph 100 years ago – at the centenary dinner.
“A huge ‘thank you’ goes out to the town council, the Men of Worth project, Keighley and District Local History Society, Keighley Creative, Incommunities and all those who made the trip to Keighley for what was undoubtedly a historic day for our town.”