Earby’s ‘Ranch’ is remembered

John O'Toole reneacts the sod cutting ceremony at the North Holme estate during the exhibition at the community centre watched by Bob Abel, Steve Marshall, Ken Ranson, Peter Dawson, Deputy Mayoress Joanna Sagar and Deputy Mayor Graham Roach.

The heritage day and exhibition at North Holme Community Centre in Earby attracted between 75 and 100 people throughout the Sunday.

The event was arranged to trace the history of the North Holme Estate originally built in 1941/2 to house war workers from the Midlands who came to work at factories in West Craven producing components for aircraft and tanks.

As well as exhibiting the knowledge accumulated up to the present, the society members were keen to see other items of memorabilia to build up the archive.

A TV and DVD was set up showing life on The Ranch, as it became known, and John O’Toole (93) was a special guest as it was he as chairman of Earby and District Council in 1952 who cut the first sod in the process of replacing the old original prefab buildings with semi-detached properties.

Chairman Bob Abel said the society’s scanner was “well used” during a “brilliant day” which also saw volunteers seal away visitors memories on the Ranch to be opened up again in 100 years time.

Mr Abel said: “We weren’t quite sure what to expect but it was a fantastic day.

“It was a time for a lot of people to remember and talk about the Ranch who have not seen each other for a number of years. There were even a few tears shed here and there. Thanks must go to all the society members who put in a lot of work to make it a brilliant day.”

Earby Library will host the exhibition boards until the end of August for those who missed Sunday’s event.