MEMORIES of Christmas past can be seen in these photographs spanning more than a century.

The images, from the online archive of Aireborough Historical Society, were mostly taken in the run up to Christmas and date back at least as far as the First World War.

A card sent during the conflict is connected to Rawdon and was donated to AHS by Helen Collins. Its shows a soldier who was serving in the Army during the 1914-1918 war. The verse reads :

“Just a word to bid you think of me

Just a kindly wish and hope that all

Happiness and fair prosperity

This glad season to your lot may fall”

A forces greeting card from the Second World War was sent to Mr and Mrs Schofield of Guiseley from Geoffrey Brooksbank in 1944. The picture shows the Mediterranean and the lands surrounding it.

A third, undated, card was sent by Margaret Doreen Haigh, known as Peggy, who was born in 1920 and died in 2013.

The card was sent from the Samuel Ledgard Society. Peggy worked as a conductress on Ledgard’s buses and is remembered by many people locally.

Excited youngsters were photographed enjoying their Christmas party with Santa at South View Infant School in 1984.

Aireborough Historical Society knows the identities of many of the children who were present but would like to hear from anyone who knows the other names.

The names already known but not in order are Rachel Glendinning, Sharron Tapping-Hay, Louise Hardwick, Ben Laycock, Scot Staniforth, Martin Booth, Andy Kirkbright, Charlotte Blades, Mark Thompson, Sarah Jorden and Anna and Joanne Lau. The picture was donated to AHS by Rachel Glendinning.

Guiseley Guides were photographed in 1957 at their Christmas fair, which was held in the guide hut.

Names of those in the picture are Christine Hall, Pam Brown, Christine Webster, Margaret Armitage, Christine Rushworth, Mary Barrett, Isabel Houseman, Kay Spencer, Pam Maude, Marian Webster, Hazel Wilkinson, Brenda Wilkinson, Elizabeth Armitage, Ethel Potts, Cynthis Goodall, Barbara Cutler, Edna Hall, Nell Sedman (Potts), Lucy Rushworth and Mrs Webster.

A young girl was pictured receiving a gift from Santa at Yeadon Charities Christmas Fayre in 2016.

The proceeds from the fayre go towards the cost of the annual old folks seaside trip. The photographer was Carlo Harrison.

Yeadon Charities Association is long established and holds a variety of events throughout the year including coffee mornings, fayres, social nights and a pantomime. It raises money to support people in need in the local area. It provides the annual day trip to the coast for elderly residents, and it makes regular donations to Memory Lane, a dementia care centre in Yeadon. It also pays for day trips for children with special educational needs.

An image of a prize-winning bull being displayed outside a butcher's shop is undated. The animal belonged to Allan Eastwood of Brewery Farm. The bull won best in show one Christmas.

Another undated but wintry photographs shows pupils of the Friends School in Rawdon sledging at the Friends School sledging on Low Green. The image was donated to Aireborough Historical Society by Carol Hall.

The AHS website says: "The school was opened in 1832, by the Society of Friends (Quakers), initially with 40 boy pupils only.

"The fee was £12 a year, girls were also enrolled in 1836.

"Strict discipline was enforced with pupils carrying out domestic tasks as well as being taught. The school closed in 1924 and pupils were transferred to Ackworth School near Pontefract.

"The property was used for residential purposes until 1930 when Rawdon Council judged them unfit for habitation. It is now an area of small business units (February 2018)."

The Aireborough Historical Society calendar Then and Now is on sale again for 2022. It can be bought online or from Yeadon Post Office, Rawdon Library, Guiseley Library and the archive room at Yeadon Town Hall on meeting days.