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Phil Robinson writes about where he's been with his camera since our lastedition and tells the story of his travels and adventures around Bradford!

Phil’s photography walkabouts!

Since the last Local Leader, I have been out and about with my camera, going toevents and looking at some interesting places within the BD postcode.

SALTAIRE FESTIVALThe biggest thing for this edition has been my visit to the Saltaire Festival, and

what a fantastic weekend that was! A massive gathering of people and businessesfrom all over the Bradford District. This event gets bigger and better every year.

The streets of Saltaire and Roberts’ Park were full to bursting. There were somany people crossing the bridge from Saltaire into Roberts’ Park at one point thatthe procession came to a halt and nobody could move on either side. At the backof Roberts’ Park was a great funfair with thrilling rides. There were also lots ofstalls highlighting Bradford businesses and selling everything under the sun. Onstage was some amazing local band who really got the crowd going. On sale was

lots of beer by local breweries, which added to the festivity. The organisers madea really good job of it this year. Well done all! It just goes to show that

Bradfordians know how to enjoy themselves.

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POLICE MUSEUMThe newly reopened Police Museum is a place Ihave wanted to visit for some time. There was awell set-out gallery and exhibits in a large room,with plenty to read and look at around the roomand very helpful staff manning the place. Next Iwas taken on a walking tour around the cells,which was absolutely fascinating. You’re met at the entrance by a constabledressed in a uniform from the past. He takes you on an interesting journeyaround the old cells. You can absorb the atmosphere and get a feel for what itwas like from the tales the guide tells you. The tour ends in the dock, which isa beautifully decorated Victorian courtroom used by many TV and filmcompanies. Well worth a visit.

SHIPLEY GLEN TRAMWAYA few years ago I went to the reopening of theShipley Glen Tramway, and while I was in thearea for the Saltaire Festival I couldn’t leavewithout paying it a visit. It was great to see thepeople queuing up to go on a Bradford favourite:the nostalgic ride up to Shipley Glen. Such ashame that the fair at the top has long gone. Butat least the tramway sill runs, giving Bradfordianslots of happy memories. The tramway is openevery Sunday from 12noon to 4pm.

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BRADFORD CITY HALLThe magnificent, gothic, 19th-century City Hall had its doors open to the public re-cently. This is a must for anyone interested in the history and architecture of Victori-an Bradford. It was designed by the famous Bradford architects Lockwood andMawson, who also designed St George’s Hall and Salts Mill. The hall was opened in1873 by the Lord Mayor of Bradford, Alderman Matthew Thompson. There was also thechance to meet the current Lord Mayor and a look around the council chambers, aswell as many other rooms in the Hall.

SEDBERGH SPORTS CLUB FUN DAYA few weeks earlier I was invited to the annual Sedbergh Fun Day, in memory of EddieMcGuinness, a well-known sportsman killed on Huddersfield Road. Lots of people fromLow Moor and Wyke attended. There were five different category rugby matchesplayed, and many stalls selling goods,food and beer. The under-12 rugbygame was between West Bowling and StJoseph’s (from Huddersfield). WestBowling were the winners. I enjoyed thegame, with some of the older playersputting on an interesting show – therewas even an Ice Bucket Challenge. Agreat family fun day out, rather late inthe year for a Fun Day but they werelucky with this year’s Indian summer.

I will, as usual, be out and about looking at moreprojects and events all over Bradford over the nextcouple of months. If you have anything you would likeme to come and see contact me on Facebook throughmy personal profile or through “All About Bradford”page, or email me at philrobinson005@gmail.com

HIDDEN HISTORY: WIBSEY & LOW MOORA couple of months back I paid a visitto Little Horton Green and took a lookback into Bradford’s past. Anothersmall piece of Bradford’s hiddenhistory lost in time is just offCleckheaton Road in Low Moor. Hereyou can find a small set of houses, apub and a church. Many years ago thisarea was a suburb of Wibsey calledWibsey’s Low Moor, on the border ofNorth Bierley. The Holy Trinity Churchwas once called Wibsey Chapel andthere has been a church there since1400, but the original was completelyrebuilt by the Victorians and evenrenamed. In the graveyard you cansee many graves from the Civil War,and later, graves of many whoworked for the famous Low Moor Ironcompany. There are also a number ofgraves from what was called the LowMoor Disaster, when an explosion in a munitions factory killed many workers.You can see a memorial to this tragedy in Victoria Park. On Chapel HouseRoad there is the Holy Trinity vicarage, an old school and chapel and somelovely old cottages. There is also the Chapel House Pub, very popular for foodand drink in a lovely olde-worlde setting.

INDUSTRIAL MUSEUM CHRISTMAS FAIRFinally this year I will be visiting the Bradford Industrial Museum’s annualChristmas Fair. In previous years it has had a warm Christmassy feeling aboutit, with food and craft stalls alongside the fascinating exhibits and peopledressed in seasonal clothes. And last year Santa came to visit, bringing a fewreindeers for the children to pet!

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