Yorkshire pride
FEW countries have such a richly varied history as Great Britain. It is one we should celebrate but, nevertheless, successive surveys reveal a worrying lack of knowledge in many younger people about the evolution of these islands.
Of course, history is all around us and an innovative project in Almondbury, on the outskirts of Huddersfield, is bringing 1,000 years of local events to life from its mention in the Domesday Book, through the impact of civil and two World Wars on the area to typical village life, including weddings and Christmas celebrations.
The venture has been sprinkled with stardust with the involvement of Huddersfield-born actor Gorden Kaye, as well as husband-and-wife Timothy West and Prunella Scales, who both have family ties with the West Riding. All have recorded stories about the village.
It is a remarkable effort, imaginatively bringing local people together, and one that gives a lie to those who believe history belongs in dusty textbooks.