Grand day out as children turn back clock for opening of park

IT HAS been nigh on 140 years since Saltaire has seen anything like it.

Almost 1,000 children in their Sunday best welcomed distinguished guests in a re-enactment of the opening of what was then Saltaire Park in 1871.

Pupils from Saltaire Primary, Wycliffe C of E and St Walburga's schools entertained the crowds and greeted a VIP party including members of the Salt family.

Denys Salt, Sir Titus Salt’s great-grandson, was a special guest, playing Sir Titus.

Yesterday’s schools celebration was staged as part of the Saltaire Festival and organisers wanted the day to evoke the original ceremony.

It also gave visitors the opportunity to admire Roberts Park, which is back to the splendour of its Victorian heyday after a massive restoration project, funded by a 3.2m grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund as well as cash from Bradford Council.

The chairwoman of the Friends of Roberts Park, Sharon Ashton, played Amelia Salt, the eldest daughter of Sir Titus, who performed the formal opening ceremony in 1871.

She said: “It’s wonderful to see the park with so many people in it.”

The 2010 Saltaire Festival continues until Sunday.