In the picture... 40 years of Brighouse Gala
 Stuart Black: ‘Memories’ |
AMATEUR photographer Stuart Black is a regular at Brighouse Charity Gala.
Since the event was first held in 1965 Stuart has been there capturing scenes of the crowd and the personalities who over the years have made the gala the success it is today.
As a result he has hundreds of photographs stored at his home in Clifton and this year as the gala celebrates its 40th year Stuart has painstakingly sorted through them to put together a photographic record of the past 40 years.
And guests at this year’s gala on June 24, including the Mayor and Mayoress of Calderdale, Coun and Mrs Ann Stout, will have the chance to see a selection of some of Stuart’s photographs.
He has black and white snaps of early processions when businesses turned out in force and trimmed up vehicles to take part in the popular event.Floats prepared by the Young Conservatives, Storthes Hall Hospital, British Monorail, Joe Beaumont Ltd and Brighouse Round Table were among those Stuart took photographs of at the event in 1965.
Brighouse Co-operative Society, whose vehicle encouraged customers to ‘Come Co-operative Shopping for quality and service - and there’s the dividend too’ showed three young people from a wedding scene. Names on the back of the photograph reveal they are Christopher Bray, Anne Cartwright and Michael York.
By the late 1960s black and white photographs had been replaced by colour pictures and former well known Brighouse businesses were among those taking part including Kosset Carpets, who were at Brookfoot, and Firth Carpets at Bailiff Bridge.
In 1971 a line up of young people included a young Tony Lyons who is now manager of Brighouse Town football team.
In 1975 Stuart pictured Frazer Hines busy signing autographs and later in the 1970s both Marshalls of Southowramand Leach Photographic were among the companies taking part.
Town crier Kevin Smith, who has supported the gala for many years, also features among the photographs and there are photographs of hard working gala officials and civic heads who have regularly supported the event.
Stuart, who is a wire worker at J.W. Lister in Clifton Road, Brighouse, said looking back through the photographs brought back many memories. “I have always gone along with my camera regardless of the weather,” said Stuart.. “There are many happy memories of Brighouse Gala.” Among his collection there are many photographs of gala queens along with programmes dating back to 1975 and a selection of admission tickets.
The programme for 1975 with a photograph of gala queen Maxine Longbottom on the front cover cost 10p which included the admission charge.
Businesses in the town supported the gala by advertising and many also gave prizes for the lucky programme drawwhich was held until recently.
Each year the gala committee chairman has written a message asking people to back the event and raise as much money as possible for charity. A full programme of entertainment from early afternoon right through to a Western Musical evening starting at 7pm was lined up for the crowds.
In the early days Stuart was connected with the Royal British Legion band and took photographs of the band at the gala and other events they took part in.
More recently he has been a member of the Brighouse Ludenscheid Society and this year he will be supporting the society’s stand.
As well as gala pictures, including some cine coverage from the 1970s and 1980s, Stuart has many photographs of Brighouse in days gone by, plus steam trains and the full length of the M62 when it was underconstruction.
“I’ve always been interested in photography,” said Stuart. “From my Box Brownie through to the digital camera I use today I have been able to record many happy days at Brighouse Gala.
