OTLEY’S Mayor has announced his final fund-raising events for his last few weeks in office.

Among the entertainment announced by Cllr Nigel Francis will be a retro weekend organised as a “thank you” to local people.

The first of the events will take place on Saturday, April 21, at the Methodist Church Hall, when there will be a concert by the Drighlington Brass Band and special guest Artist Sylvia Cullen, who sang the Otley Christmas recording of The Oak and the Ash. The door will open at 7pm with the concert starting at 7.30pm. Tickets cost £10 for adults or £8 for concessions. Tickets can be bought at the Core, Orchardgate, Otley, and from Colin Pitt, Leeds Road garage.

A special Wartime Supper Evening will be held on Saturday, April 28 at Our Lady and All Saints Parish Rooms. There will be music, wartime food and drink and a talk on Yeadon Airport and the Avro Works by Ken Cothliff, author and radio broadcaster. The talk will start at 7.30pm and finish at 9.30pm. Tickets will be on sale in the Core after April 16 and from Nigel Francis on 01943 463467.

The final event is the Retro Memories week-end to be held from 10am to 5pm on Saturday, May 12 and Sunday, May 13 at Otley Rugby Club. There will be a number of items on display along with stalls, talks, a concert by Charlie Chuck, off shore radio (pirates) display, clothes, twin vinyl disco decks and chopper bikes. There will be no admission charge for the event, but there will be a small charge for the talks and concert.

Cllr Francis said the event was open to everyone.

“I wanted to do this as a thank you so that everyone can come along and have a good time. It has been a tremendous year, and this is the last week-end I will be Town Mayor,” he said.