Families invited to join in Olympic spirit at museum (From Ilkley Gazette)

Families invited to join in Olympic spirit at museum

9:04am Thursday 9th August 2012 in Local news

Families can get into the Olympic spirit with a fun sports day in support of the Sporting Ilkley exhibition currently on show at the Manor House Museum.

Visitors will be able to try out different outdoor sports and games, including football, rounders and kwik cricket, on the grassed area behind the Bradford Council-owned venue in Castle Yard today.

They will also be able to hear sporting stories and make their own rosette in support of their favourite Olympic team.

The free drop-in event will be held between 11am and 3pm.

Bradford Council worked with the Friends of the Manor House and Ilkley Civic Society on the Sporting Ilkley exhibition, which provides an insight into the history of the many and varied clubs that have made Ilkley and Ben Rhydding their home ground.

One of the highlights of the exhibition – which runs until September 16 – is an illustrated map of sporting locations and activities in Ilkley.

Drawn in the 1960s by Arthur Kitching, the first paid curator of Manor House Museum, the recently rediscovered and framed map features simple figures illustrating various activities, including a diver at the swimming pool and a climber at the Cow and Calf Rocks.

The exhibition also features objects from local clubs and sporting items from Bradford Museum and Galleries’ collections, including 19th century golf clubs and boots.

It also gives visitors the opportunity to try a variety of sports, such as golf and bowling, on a computer games console.

Guided tours of the museum, given by Friends of the Manor House, will take place tomorrow, as well as on August 17 and 24, starting at 2pm.