SIXTY years ago in January 1958 a group of 53 young ladies arrived in Ilkley to start their three year training as housecraft teachers.

On Wednesday, May 16, 17 of these students returned to Ilkley in what was their final official “60 years on” reunion at The Craiglands in Ilkley.

One of the group Barbara Penney who lives in Norfolk said there were so many things to be remembered but especially their very fond memories of Ilkley.

She said: "Our training covered all aspects of housecraft from obviously cookery, but also all aspects of homemaking, housework, painting and decorating, laundry work, needlework, art, science, biology, and obviously English as well as childcare and their teaching practices too, in many senior schools in and about the West Riding of Yorkshire as it was known then. In the final year we all spent time running a home in three purpose built flats.

"Over the years many of us have taught what became Domestic Science and then Food Technology in schools across the country and even abroad. Our training was very thorough and has stood us all in good stead and provided us with a career over many years, and we remembered fondly our principal Miss E M Glen who was always so gentle and kind and set us a very high standard to follow and for whom we all thank."