Happy Easter to all Burley Bridge Association members and supporters! Thank you to everyone who has renewed their membership for 2019, and welcome to a number of new Life Members. It is still not too late to renew or join if you have not already done so (see attached form). Last call for the Steeton Male Voice Choir concert Tickets are still available for our fundraising concert this coming Saturday, 13 April, when the famous Steeton Male Voice Choir will be performing at St. Mary’s Parish Church. The concert starts at 7.30, and tickets costing £10 can be purchased at Just Books in Ilkley and Otley, the Coffee Station in Burley, or on line at www.ticketsource.co.uk/burley-bridge-association. They can also be purchased on the night at the door. Please come and give your support and enjoy an evening of superb singing from the 50 strong choir. Design and development - update Trustees recently interviewed representatives from two local companies that have expressed interest in undertaking final design and development work for the bridge and then seeing the project through to construction. We hope to be able to provide more information at the AGM about this important step forward towards building the bridge. Storm changes at the stepping stones The recent flooding on the River Wharfe resulted in changes to the river scene around the stepping stones area. The most significant has been the building up of the shingle island on the south side of the river, so that stones now completely cover a number of stepping stones with the main channel of the river moving towards the north bank. A large tree blocked access to the north bank for a few days after the river level had dropped until cleared by Burley Bridge volunteers.
Annual General Meeting Wednesday 8 May As the refurbishment of Burley Library will not be completed before our AGM this year, we have changed the venue to St Mary’s Parish Rooms, on Station Road, Burley. The meeting will start at 7.30pm and will be followed after a refreshment break by a talk by Paul Burgess, Manager of Nidderdale Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. He will be tempting us to cross the river (with or without bridge, but preferably with of course) in order to visit the many delights the AONB has to offer, and will also be describing the work of the AONB in protecting this beautiful part of the world. Fundraising news Tickets are selling well for our folk concert by nationally acclaimed musicians and singers Belinda O’Hooley and Heidi Tidow at the Queens Hall in Burley on Saturday 11 May. Doors open at 7.15 for a performance starting at 8.00, and we will be providing a bar. Tickets cost £14. This will be one of the first events in the newly refurbished building. The group’s music will shortly be heard by a much wider audience as they have provided the soundtrack for the British – American historical drama ‘Gentleman Jack’. This is a series being premiered on BBC 1 this spring, and is based on the life and loves of Yorkshire landowner and industrialist Anne Lister who lived at Shibden Hall in Halifax. Find out more about the group: http://www.ohooleyandtidow.com
O'Hooley and Tidow
Fairfax Singers concert 29 June One of our members who sings with the Fairfax Singers contacted us recently to offer us the opportunity of a fundraising concert by this popular local choir. Of course we said yes, and the result is a concert at Burley in Wharfedale Methodist Church on Saturday 29 June. Doors will open at 7.00 for the concert starting at 7.30. As well as singing a range of material, from Elgar to George Gershwin to Carly Simon, the choir will also be featuring their guest soloist, 15 year old Maddy Podesta. Tickets will cost £10 and will be on sale shortly for what should be another great evening.
Jazz concert at Burley Social Club 5 October Having had a rock concert, two folk concerts and two choral events, what better way to end this phase of fundraising events but with a jazz concert! The well-known Two Rivers Jazz band will headline this event, supported by local bands The Band Upstairs, and Chevin Jazz. The concert, at Burley Social Club (venue for our successful rock concert last September) is on Saturday 5 October, starting at 7.30 pm. Tickets will cost £10 and will be on sale later in the year.
Don’t forget our website Please check out our recently updated website, including two walks from the village into the Nidderdale AONB. http://www.burleybridge.com
We can get further more quickly with your help! Our six trustees would welcome some additional input from members and supporters as we move forward. If you want to help us build on the progress we are making – please get in touch for a chat!