Liverpool born country sensation Nathan Carter is heading for the Victoria Theatre on Saturday, September 10 and we have got two pairs of tickets for his fabulous show to win.
Following the release of his 2012 album Wagon Wheel, which went to three in the Irish Album Chart, he now celebrates his latest album Stayin Up All Night, which went straight to the top in the same chart, beating artists like Beyoncé and Drake.
Along with his six man band, the country superstar kicked off his tour at the Guildford G Live back on May 23 and six days later played London Palladium.
To stand a chance of winning one of two pairs of tickets for this gig all you need to do is answer the following question.
Where is country star Nathan Carter from?
(a) Merseyside
(b) Greater Manchester
(c) Cheshire
Once you have your answer send it on an email marked Nathan Carter competition to tim.worsnop@halifaxcourier.co.uk
The closing date of the competition is Friday, August 26. Winners will be informed immediately the draw has been made. Usual Johnston Press rules apply.
For more information on Nathan Carter, visit www.nathancartermusic.com
Get ticket for the gig from the Victoria Theatre box office on 01422 351158.
Have you got something to share on the story? Were you there? What do you think? - Send your pictures, videos or story and we'll publish the best × Continue the story Win tickets to see Nathan Carter Loading ... Add up to 3 photos or 1 videos to the story There's been a problem uploading your files. Please try again. By uploading your file you agree to our Terms and Conditions × Continue the story Sign in to contribute sign in shape the news in your area...


Liverpool born country sensation Nathan Carter is heading for the Victoria Theatre on Saturday, September 10 and we have got two pairs of tickets for his fabulous show to win.


THE NatWest T20 Blast is all done and dusted.
A Royal London Cup semi-final looms on the horizon but, for now, Yorkshire’s attention returns to the Specsavers County Championship.
England's Stuart Broad is absent from the Notts line up Picture: Adam Davy/PA.
They are second in Division One, 26 points behind Middlesex with a game in hand.
And this week’s match against Nottinghamshire at Scarborough represents that game in hand.
It comes against a side who are bottom of the league and staring down the barrel of relegation.
Mathematically, it is not a must-win fixture, for there are still four to play after this match.
But it presents an obvious opportunity for Yorkshire to close the gap on Middlesex, and to close it to just two points if they can claim the maximum 24.
Yorkshire travel to second-bottom Hampshire next week and host third-bottom Durham the following week, before ending their campaign at home to Somerset and away to Middlesex.
A hat-trick of titles is still in their hands, but you sense that they need to seize the present moment.
It will not be easy.
Not only is the weather unpredictable at this time of year, rendering victories already gained like gold dust, but sides such as Notts are scrapping for points for different reasons – namely, their First Division survival.
Trent Bridge is arguably the finest ground in the country – at least outside of Lord’s, and with all due respect to Scarborough –but it faces the unpalatable prospect of Second Division cricket.
It will be extremely tough for Notts to beat a strong Yorkshire team at Scarborough, a ground where Notts have won only once in 12 matches, indeed, but that does not mean that they will be pushovers in what has been a tight division.
Yorkshire have a good recent record in the Championship at North Marine Road, but they lost on their last outing there in early July – an innings defeat to Middlesex that they hope will not have the same look in retrospect that Durham’s win there did in 2013, when it provided the impetus for the visitors to go on and pip Jason Gillespie’s team to the title.
Yorkshire, on paper, should be too strong for Notts, and yet the visitors possess some talented players.
Stuart Broad, the England pace bowler, is out with an ankle injury, and there is no Jake Ball or Alex Hales, who are on one-day international duty along with Yorkshire’s Joe Root, Jonny Bairstow, Liam Plunkett and Adil Rashid.
But Notts have plenty of seasoned campaigners – not least the evergreen Chris Read and Samit Patel.
First-team coach Gillespie is certainly not taking Notts for granted as his side go in search of their fourth win of the Championship campaign.
“It’s going to be a massive challenge,” said Gillespie.
“Notts are a very good side, and although they haven’t played the cricket they’d like in the Championship, they’re an incredibly dangerous team and they’ve got some real match-winners.
“We need to play at our best if we’re going to compete with them, and we’ve got to make sure that we tick all the boxes.
“We’ve got a good record at Scarborough in recent times, and hopefully we can build on that this week.”
A week of inactivity for Middlesex would be as good a week as any for the champions to strike, with the leaders battling problems of their own.
With pace bowler Steven Finn currently out with a hamstring injury, Middlesex have been dealt another blow with the news that former Notts batsman Adam Voges will not be returning to captain them for their last four games, with Cricket Australia wanting him to rest his own hamstring problem.
Middlesex return to action next week when they travel to Warwickshire before visiting Notts the following week.
They continue their programme away to Lancashire before the potentially key fixture with Yorkshire in late September.
Notts, who are 14 points adrift at the bottom, really need something from this week’s fixture.
Mick Newell, their coach, is considering changes to his batting line-up, with Root’s brother, Billy, among those who could come into the team along with fellow batsman Tom Moores, the 19-year-old son of former England coach Peter Moores.
Whoever he selects, Newell is conscious of the need for immediate improvement.
“We’re in a mess in the Championship,” he admitted.
“We’ve got to try and get out of the bottom two.
“This is a really big game, and I’m not sure where the pressure sits because they’re trying to get to the top and we’re obviously trying to get off the bottom.
“We’ve got to find a way of winning games.”

Yorkshire v Nottinghamshire: Yorkshire lookint to seize the moment in Championship title bid


THE NatWest T20 Blast is all done and dusted.


Halifax Amateur Operatic Society prepares to take its audience back to a time of big music, big egos, big guitar solos and even bigger hair when it presents the Broadway and West End smash hit ‘Rock of Ages’.
Set in LA’s infamous Sunset Strip in 1987, ‘Rock of Ages’ tells the story of Drew, a boy from South Detroit, and Sherrie, a small-town girl, both in LA to chase their dreams of fame and rock stardom while falling in love. Working at a Hollywood club, The Bourbon Room, the pair get mixed up with everyone from pretentious rock stars to wicked redevelopers who want to close down the club!
Everything from Bon Jovi, Europe, Twisted Sister, Journey to Poison will be belted out in this spectacular production.
The show is filled with colourful characters all of whom get the chance to sing some fantastic numbers including Don’t Stop Believin, Nothin’ but a Good Time, Wanted Dead or Alive and Hit Me With Your Best Shot.
The show is directed by Neil Hurst, Luke Robbins-Ross is the Musical Director and Sarah Attah has created the choreography.
Said Neil: “We have a committed cast dedicated to putting on a fantastic production.”
Rock of Ages runs at the Victoria Theatre, Halifax on Sep tember 14, 15, 16 at 7.30pm.
There are two performances on Saturday, September 17 at 4pm and 8 pm.
Tickets range from £17 to £21 with discounts available. Purchase tickets online, www.victoriatheatre.co.uk, or by calling the Box Office on 01422 351158.
Have you got something to share on the story? Were you there? What do you think? - Send your pictures, videos or story and we'll publish the best × Continue the story Big hair, big noise - it’s the 80s Loading ... Add up to 3 photos or 1 videos to the story There's been a problem uploading your files. Please try again. By uploading your file you agree to our Terms and Conditions × Continue the story Sign in to contribute sign in shape the news in your area...


Halifax Amateur Operatic Society prepares to take its audience back to a time of big music, big egos, big guitar solos and even bigger hair when it presents the Broadway and West End smash hit ‘Rock of Ages’.


The Chancellor is being urged to cut duty and tax on fuel to help boost the UK’s economy.
Fuel pricing campaign group FairFuelUK has written to Philip Hammond urging him to use his first Autumn Statement to cut costs and bring the UK more in line with other developed countries.
Calling on Mr Hammond to “be bolder” than his predecessor, the letter asks him to cut duty on all fuels by 3p and to cut VAT on fuel to 15 per cent.
The group argues that lower oil prices are failing to do enough to help the economy, pointing out that a high proportion of fuel costs in the UK are made up of VAT and fuel duty, and arguing tha this puts UK businesses at a disadvantage to European rivals.
The letter says: “Our supporters worry that even fragile economies like Greece enjoy lower duty on diesel, and in Greece’s case it’s also 30p less than they pay on petrol. German and Polish diesel drivers respectively, pay 20p and 30p less than UK diesel at the pumps.
“All countries have access to the same petroleum prices of international markets but impose different tax regimes. As a result, the retail price of fuel is very different and in the case of the UK,
we consistently pay more tax than most of the developed world nations.
“Lower oil prices have undeniably helped in the last 12 months, but we’re now at a stage where lower oil prices can’t be translated into significantly reduced pump prices because of the circa total 70 per cent duty and VAT elements.”
It adds: “Cutting VAT on fuel to 15 per cent, as alluded to in the Brexit campaign, will help all motorists and small unregistered VAT businesses, who represent the engine room of our economy.”
The group is also calling for the creation of a fuel price monitoring body to cut the “lottery” faced by drivers at the pumps.
It says fuel retailers are not passing on savings in wholesale oil costs to customers and wants a monitor to investigate the “murky pump pricing processes” to create a fairer and more transparent market for drivers.
Howard Cox, founder of FairFuelUK said: “It’s now time for the new Treasury administration to practice what they endorse.
“Back in 2014 they said, lower fuel duty benefits the economy by boosting GDP.
“Such a widely popular cut in duty and VAT will also resonate profoundly with those families the Prime Minister addressed directly on the day she took office. Those families she said, that are: ‘just managing’, ‘working around the clock’, ‘doing their best’ and where ‘life can be a struggle.
“It’s time for the Government to truly deliver on the PM’s laudable intentions and help millions of hard working families, small businesses and the haulage industry to prosper. By doing so, the UK Economy will thrive after Brexit.”

Chancellor urged to slash fuel costs to boost economy


The Chancellor is being urged to cut duty and tax on fuel to help boost the UK’s economy.


IT was not so much North Marine Road as Submarine Road at Scarborough cricket ground on Thursday night.
Yorkshire were sufficiently concerned that rain would run their hopes of a final day victory against Nottinghamshire – after they had passed up the chance to enforce the follow-on on day two - that they arranged for their “Blotter” to be brought over at 5.00 yesterday morning from their Headingley headquarters some 70 miles away.
MAGIC MOMENT: Yorkshire's Alex Lees takes a great catch to dismiss Nottinghamshire's Imran Tahir and give them victory at Scarborough. Picture by Allan McKenzie/SWpix.com
After two hours of blotting the saturated outfield, play was able to start on time and Yorkshire romped to a 305-run win after Notts resumed on 61-3.
Had there been an official man-of-the match, the “Blotter” would have been a strong contender, with Yorkshire’s 21-point triumph closing the gap to five points on leaders Middlesex.
If Yorkshire had not prevailed, they might have been tempted to get “blottoed” hours after calling for the “Blotter”, following their decision to bat again with a first innings lead of 188.
That decision, unanimous in the dressing room according to first team coach Jason Gillespie, was not quite so unanimous among the Yorkshire supporters, who could be heard debating it in and outside the ground for two days with all the gravitas of whether a nation should go to war.
Yorkshire's Tim Bresnan is congratulated by Ryan Sidebottom and team mates on dismissing Nottinghamshire's Tom Moores. Picture by Allan McKenzie/SWpix.com
But, as William Shakespeare once scribbled, ‘all’s well that ends well”, and history will remember the result first and foremost.
For Gillespie, it was vindication of Yorkshire’s approach as they made suitably light work of the division’s bottom club after recovering from a perilous 51-6 on the opening day.
“It was the right call (to bat again),” said Gillespie.
“People had a pop at us for not enforcing the follow-on, but we stick by what we believe is the best opportunity to win the game of cricket, and we were vindicated there.
“The bottom line is, it was a very important result against a very good side.
“Having been 51-6 on the first day, to win by over 300 runs, this team never ceases to amaze me.
“I can’t be any more proud of them. There are no words to describe it.”
After the torrential rain of the previous night, the “Blotter” went about its business beneath sunny skies as summer returned to North Marine Road. Technically, it did its work so well that Notts even lost a wicket before the official start time of 11, with the clock showing 10.59 when Tom Moores fell to the day’s fourth ball.
Moores, the 19-year-old son of former England head coach Peter, had played with great maturity to make 41 on the third evening.
He had not added to his overnight score – and neither had Notts – when Tim Bresnan located his edge from the Trafalgar Square end, Adam Lyth doing the rest at second slip.
Notts fell to 77-5 when Samit Patel perished after half-an-hour, adjudged caught behind off Bresnan by umpire Neil Mallender.
Patel stood his ground in echoes of Michael Lumb’s dismissal the previous evening, when he, too, felt that Mallender had wrongly given him out caught behind, and the visitors’ cause became utterly hopeless when Bresnan claimed his fifth wicket, Chris Read edging to Jake Lehmann at fourth slip.
Bresnan has never had a six-wicket haul in his distinguished career, and this was only his eighth “five-fer” in first-class cricket.
He had to content himself with career-best figures of 5-36, and his best match haul of 8-51 too, his spell of 3-9 in 31 balls during an eight-over burst yesterday morning ensuring that there would be no unexpected resistance from the visiting team.
That is not to say that they put up the white flag, however, on a day when it would probably have blown away in any case such was the strength of the south-westerly wind. As the red-and-white pin-striped deckchairs flapped in front of the Festival marquee, and as the washing hanging outside the houses at the Trafalgar Square End enjoyed a late-summer airing, Notts showed fight through Brendan Taylor and Brett Hutton.
The pair negotiated the 80 minutes remaining until lunch before Hutton fell to the third ball after the break, drawn forward by a tantalising delivery from Ryan Sidebottom from the Peasholm Park End and caught behind by wicketkeeper Andrew Hodd.
Taylor fell to the third delivery of the next over when he lobbed a short ball from Jack Brooks to cover, having resisted gamely for over two-and-a-half hours, and Brooks bowled Luke Fletcher with the next delivery to leave Notts 130-9.
Brooks wrapped it up at 2pm in his next over, Imran Tahir turning to short-leg as the pace bowler ended with 4-35, Notts all out for 146. Yorkshire left the field to a standing ovation from the 2,676 crowd, which lifted the match attendance to 15,283, a ringing endorsement for England’s finest outground.

Tim Bresnan and ‘Blotter’ combine to vindicate Yorkshire’s Scarborough tactics


IT was not so much North Marine Road as Submarine Road at Scarborough cricket ground on Thursday night.


People are being encouraged to enter a nationwide competition to become the permanent voice of BT’s iconic talking clock.
The competition has been launched to celebrate the service’s 80th anniversary.
Around 12 million calls are still made to the clock by dialling 123.
The winner will become only the fifth permanent voice of the clock in its history.
The current voice of the clock, Sara Mendes da Costa, who will be one of the judges, said: “I’m so honoured to have been the voice - only the fourth permanent voice in history - and to be part of such an iconic service.
“I’m sad to be at the end of my time as the voice of the BT Speaking Clock, however ten years is not a bad run. And it’ll be great to be on the judging panel to choose the new voice, just as my predecessor Brian Cobby helped choose me.”
The competition to find a new voice will help raise money for the BBC Children in Need appeal. BT will donate 10p to Children in Need from each call to the BT Speaking Clock* from the start of the competition in August until 9 November.
To celebrate the competition and the 80th anniversary, BT are donating the original speaking clock machines from 1936 and 1963 to the British Horological Institute (BHI), where they have been on loan and on display for some years. It will also be donating a digital Mark IV clock, which was recovered from Liverpool. This machine transmitted the voice of Brian Cobby from 1985 – 2001.
David Hay, head of BT Heritage, said: “Eighty years ago BT’s technology first created the Speaking Clock and it remains a much loved part of British life today. Celebrating in this way demonstrates BT’s determination to preserve the heritage of the world’s oldest communications company on behalf of the nation.”
Anyone ten years and over can enter. The competition is being run in partnership with BBC television programme The One Show. Aspiring voice artists should visit the website at: www.bbc.co.uk/theoneshow where they will find full details of how to enter. The website will be open for entries until 10pm on Monday, 29 August 2016.

BT searching for new voice of iconic speaking clock


People are being encouraged to enter a nationwide competition to become the permanent voice of BT’s iconic talking clock.


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JASON GILLESPIE’s departure as Yorkshire’s first-team coach, after five years in charge of the county champions, had been on the cards for some time.
Earlier this summer, Gillespie’s wife, Anna, and their four children moved back to Adelaide in Australia.
HEADING OUT: Yorkshire first-team coach, pictured at Headingley in November last year. Picture: Bruce Rollinson
It would be a strange marriage that could survive for several months apart on opposite sides of the world, although, on second thoughts, some couples would probably relish that thought.
Flippancy aside, Yorkshire had hoped to get at least one more year out of Gillespie, whose future had been the subject of regular speculation since he took the job in 2011.
Since then, the former Australia fast bowler has helped the club to one County Championship promotion and to back-to-back Championship titles, with the prospect of a hat-trick to follow next month.
Under Gillespie, Yorkshire have also twice reached NatWest T20 Blast Finals Day and successive Royal London Cup semi-finals, although, after 14 years without a one-day trophy, they have yet to crack limited-overs cricket in quite the same way.
IT'S OURS: Yorkshire captain Andrew Gale and coach Jason Gillespie celebrate with the County Championship trophy at Trent Bridge back in 2014. Pictures: SWpix.
Gillespie’s track record, however, speaks for itself (Yorkshire have lost only five of 76 Championship games since his arrival), and he has been linked with practically more international coaching positions than there are jobs vacant.
There are many observers –this correspondent included –who thought that he should have got the England job last year, an opinion that has not been altered by progress under Trevor Bayliss.
Gillespie has also been linked with international positions back home, where his great friend and former team-mate Darren Lehmann is in charge of the Australia side.
Gillespie already doubles up as coach of the Big Bash franchise Adelaide Strikers, and potential moves for him now could include international cricket/the Indian Premier League.
CHEERS, I'LL BE OFF THEN: Yorkshire coach Jason Gillespie will leave the club after five years at the end of this season.
Although Yorkshire will be sad to see him go, it was a case of ‘when’, not ‘if’, Gillespie left.
The time would seem right for him not only from a family perspective, but also, one suspects, from a cricketing point of view.
Gillespie has probably taken Yorkshire as far as he can; their performances in the Championship this summer have actually tailed off a touch, although they have been more affected by injuries than in recent seasons, and they go into the final four matches just five points behind leaders Middlesex.
But it has not been the dominant campaign that many had hoped, although the end result is all that counts, and the players will be doubly determined to give Gillespie a successful send-off.
THRILLED: Jason Gillespie watches from the Lords balcony as the County Championship title is retained, despite the triumph being accompanied by defeat against hosts Middlesex.
Yorkshire’s magnificent pace attack is not getting any younger, and although there is no reason to suspect that the current side cannot aim to stretch their run of titles to at least four or five in a row, Yorkshire must soon face such unpalatable questions as: “Exactly how do you replace Ryan Sidebottom?”
Sport moves in cycles, and Gillespie has been part of a golden cycle at Yorkshire. He will leave with the thanks of the club’s supporters, who already respected him for what he achieved as a player.
As a key member of the great Australia side of the Nineties and Noughties, Gillespie took 402 international wickets. As a coach, it is noticeable that he never speaks about that success, or indeed seeks credit for Yorkshire’s recent triumphs.
He appreciates that it is players who win silverware first and foremost, and that support staff, in a nutshell, are exactly what that term would imply.
Gillespie’s coaching methods would seem quite simple: he does not over-complicate the game, but encourages his players to perform with freedom and to try to take the positive option.
He recognises the importance of making sure that the players believe that the coach believes in them, and his style is more arm-around-the-shoulder than ranter-and-raver.
Like all in sport, however, he hides a tough streak, although never quite to the extent that it masks a cheerful personality for too long.
At heart, he is a thoroughly decent chap: friendly, personable, and with time for all.
Even his infamous comments about the dairy industry, which he suggested earlier this summer should be closed down as it does not tie in with his vegan views, betrayed that decency and caring disposition, even if they were not shared by everyone – not least the Yorkshire sponsors, Wensleydale Cheese.
Yorkshire will not replace him easily, but a team of talented cricketers will cope.
Gillespie himself has seen to it, by helping to create a culture that will not be broken just because the time has come for him to say goodbye.

Chris Waters: Time is right for Jason Gillespie to bid farewell to Yorkshire CCC


JASON GILLESPIE’s departure as Yorkshire’s first-team coach, after five years in charge of the county champions, had been on the cards for some time.


YORKSHIRE’s dream of winning the treble is over, but first team coach Jason Gillespie insisted that his players will come back fighting as they target the next best prize of a league and cup double.
Yorkshire failed in their attempt to win the NatWest T20 Blast for the first time when they lost by seven runs to Durham in the semi-final at Edgbaston on Saturday.
However, Gillespie’s men are still in the hunt for a hat-trick of County Championships and they are through to the Royal London Cup semi-finals for a second successive season, with Yorkshire determined to put behind them their T20 heartbreak.
“We were bitterly disappointed to lose the T20 semi,” said Gillespie, “but there’s still everything to play for in the next few weeks.
“We’re still in the 50-over comp and the Championship, and we’ll dust ourselves down and crack on.
“We can look back on the T20 campaign by and large with a lot of pride, considering the way that we started the tournament (Yorkshire won only one of their first seven games before winning six of the last seven to reach the knockout stages).
“It’s a tough one to take, losing the semi, but there’s still plenty to fight for in the next few weeks, and I know that the lads will bounce back strongly.”
Yorkshire came up against a world-class display from England pace bowler Mark Wood, who captured a T20 career-best 4-25 from four overs after Durham scored 156-6 in the second semi-final, Northants beating Nottinghamshire by eight runs in the first semi-final.
Wood twice took two wickets in three balls – including the key scalps of England batsmen Jonny Bairstow and Gary Ballance – after Ben Stokes had earlier top-scored with 56 on his return to the Durham side after a calf injury.
“Mark Wood bowled beautifully,” said Gillespie, with Wood following that performance with 1-25 in the final against Northants, who went on to take the trophy with a four-wicket win.
“We were going along quite nicely and then we lost two quick wickets (Bairstow and Ballance), and we didn’t quite recover from that.
“I certainly felt that it was a gettable total, especially with the strength and depth of our batting line-up, and we should have chased those down.
“We can look at all sorts of reasons as to why that didn’t happen, but the facts are that we didn’t get the runs and Durham played very well.”
With hindsight, Gillespie felt that Yorkshire might have made more of an effort to see off Wood, although that was clearly easier said than done.
The 26-year-old right-armer, who only recently returned to action after ankle surgery, was bowling at 90mph and he would have been a handful for any opposition.
“Maybe we just needed to soak up the pressure a little bit more and get through his (Wood’s) spell, knowing that he only had four of the 20 overs, and maybe there are some lessons to be learned there,” said Gillespie, whose side take on Surrey in the semi-finals of the Royal London Cup at Headingley on Sunday.
“We just weren’t able to win the key moments, and Wood took the wind out of our sails.
“Any cricket watcher could see that he was used very well by the captain; he was brought on to take wickets and put the pressure on us, which is exactly what happened.”
Yorkshire captain Alex Lees echoed Gillespie’s sentiments at the end of an encouraging T20 campaign for the club overall, with Yorkshire having only once previously reached Finals Day.
Lees hit the second-highest score of 22 on a day when Adam Lyth (64) led the Yorkshire chase.
“Woody tipped the scales, and when you twice get two wickets in one over, it certainly puts the opposition on the back foot,” said Lees.
“We’re bitterly disappointed, and I just think that we lacked somebody in the middle order to make a contribution.
“Overall, we had a good tournament after everyone had written us off after the first few games, and we showed strength of character to come back and qualify and reach Finals Day. That’s testament to the group of players that we have, and the lads’ work ethic and prep was second to none.”
Attention now returns to the Championship, with Yorkshire going into tomorrow’s game against Notts at Scarborough in second place in Division One, 26 points behind Middlesex with a game in hand.
Finals’ Day report: Page 9.

Yorkshire vow to hit back after T20 defeat


YORKSHIRE’s dream of winning the treble is over, but first team coach Jason Gillespie insisted that his players will come back fighting as they target the next best prize of a league and cup double.


Calderdale is a great place to send and receive post, according to research.
Royal Mail’s Quality of Service report for the first quarter of the financial year 2016-2017 revealed it has beaten its regulatory First Class mail target in the HX postcode area, with 93.6 per cent of mail delivered on time, according to independent research.
The First Class target is for 93 per cent of mail to arrive the next working day.
Nationally, Royal Mail’s latest Quality of Service report reveals it had met/beaten its regulatory First Class mail target, delivering 93.3 per cent the next working day.
It also exceeded its Second Class mail target of 98.5 per cent, delivering 99.0 per cent of this mail within three working days for the first three months of the financial year 2016-2017.
Rob Jenson, operations director, Royal Mail said: “Our postmen and women work extremely hard to deliver to some of the most demanding Quality of Service standards in the whole of Europe.
“We remain the only UK delivery company to publish our Quality of Service and we are proud to do so.
“We are more focused than ever on continuously improving and maintaining high standards of service for our customers.”
Royal Mail is the only UK mail delivery company required to publish Quality of Service performance against delivery targets every quarter.


Calderdale is a great place to send and receive post, according to research.


With more than 1,200 donated puzzles, comprising over 850,000 individual pieces - you could say the fifth annual Brighouse Jigsaw Festival has taken some piecing together.
But it wouldn’t have been possible without the willingness of people from the local community who mucked in and helped assemble this year’s display. In fact some families put together as many as 70 puzzles.
During the festival up to 200 made-up jigsaws of various makes, types and sizes will fill the body of St. Martin’s Church and as soon as one puzzle is sold another will be put on display.
There will be puzzles to cater for all tastes - children’s puzzles, traditional country scenes, 3D, double-sided, murder mystery, crossword, impossipuzzles, wasgij (that’s jigsaw backwards) and mirror image.
Entry is £2, which includes a £1 discount voucher towards the purchase of a puzzle at the Festival.
If people retain their programme they can return as many times as they wish without paying again.
There will also be a wide selection of delicious food served by the St Martin’s Hospitality Team at the “Missing Piece Café”, including morning coffee with bacon butties, fabulous Yorkshire breakfasts, lunches and speciality afternoon teas.
There will also be crafts on display, a luxury raffle (sponsored by businesses in Brighouse and beyond), a tombola and a golden jigsaw competition paying cash prizes.
The direct beneficiaries of the 2016 festival will be ...
Calderdale based charity Together for Looked-after Children.
TLC provides book parcels for primary school children through its Letterbox scheme and Busy Box craft kits for pre-school children.
Its Enrichment Fund offers financial support for additional needs, which are not funded elsewhere, such as equipment for apprenticeships, one to one tuition, educational visits and training.
It will also support St Martin’s mission to children in the community which includes after-school clubs, a pre-school group, in-school play sessions offering a creative and imaginative approach to Christian nurture, a weekday church for children and adults involving creativity, celebration and hospitality and several holiday clubs, film clubs and activity events each year
The Festival runs from Friday to Monday, August 26-29 (10am - 5pm), except on Sunday when it will open at 12 noon.
Have you got something to share on the story? Were you there? What do you think? - Send your pictures, videos or story and we'll publish the best × Continue the story The fifth year of piecing it together Loading ... Add up to 3 photos or 1 videos to the story There's been a problem uploading your files. Please try again. By uploading your file you agree to our Terms and Conditions × Continue the story Sign in to contribute sign in shape the news in your area...


With more than 1,200 donated puzzles, comprising over 850,000 individual pieces - you could say the fifth annual Brighouse Jigsaw Festival has taken some piecing together.


THE day was sunny and very warm, made bearable by a cooling breeze blowing from the Trafalgar Square end.
Thunder flies clung to the skin until they were swept away with sweaty hands or else flicked off – Subbuteo-like – with sticky fingers.
Spectators sat in shirt-sleeves and sun hats, occasionally raising a drink to their lips or slurping at ice creams, while seagulls squawked and circled the ground, looking for remnants of discarded food.
For much of the long and lazy afternoon, the pin-striped deckchairs in front of the West Stand marquee were vacant as important people enjoyed an extended lunch, occasionally popping their heads outside to check the scoreboard on the popular bank.
All the sights and sounds of Scarborough were present for the start of the 130th Festival, just as they have always been, and the cricket itself was of compelling character.
After half-an-hour’s play, Yorkshire were 21-0 after Notts, the bottom club, took up the right of the visiting side to field first.
Half-an-hour before lunch, Yorkshire, the second-placed club, had sunk to 51-6 after insipid batting and inspired work from medium-pacer Steven Mullaney had nipped out three of the wickets and effected a run-out.
A seventh-wicket stand of 132 in 34 overs between Andrew Hodd (96no) and Azeem Rafiq (74) stopped the bleeding, and even inspired a recovery back to rude health as both made their highest scores of the season, Hodd also making his highest score for Yorkshire.
The wicketkeeper deserved a century, but was left stranded when the hosts were dismissed for 282 deep into the evening session, Notts reaching stumps on 38-2.
On a day when 4,979 spectators gathered in glorious sunshine, it was pertinent to ponder initially who was not playing as much as who was.
Yorkshire were without Joe Root, Jonny Bairstow, Liam Plunkett, Adil Rashid and David Willey due to international calls, while captain Andrew Gale failed a fitness test on a sore back, with Gary Ballance leading the club for the first time in the Championship.
Gale, who has struggled for runs, therefore missed out at a ground where he has scored 1,372 of them in 19 first-class games at 49, including a career-best 272 when these sides last met in the Championship here in 2013.
For their part, Notts were without pace bowlers Stuart Broad (ankle), Jake Ball (international duty) and Harry Gurney (hip), with the visitors handing a debut to 19-year-old batsman Tom Moores, son of former England head coach Peter Moores, the Notts’ coaching consultant.
Despite their depleted bowling resources, Notts could hardly have wished for a better morning session.
There was a strong element of luck about the first wicket, Adam Lyth run-out at the non-striker’s end when Mullaney deflected a drive from Alex Lees on to the stumps.
But there was nothing fortuitous thereafter as Lees pushed at one from Mullaney and was caught at third slip, Jake Lehmann was caught at second slip driving at Mullaney, and Ballance went lbw to Luke Fletcher playing across his pads.
When Tim Bresnan padded up to Mullaney and Jack Leaning followed a wide delivery from Brett Hutton and was caught at third slip, Yorkshire were 51-6 and in disarray.
But Hodd and Rafiq added 46 in seven overs before lunch, and then they frustrated the visitors in the afternoon, Notts failing to build on their earlier good work.
Rafiq, who has a first-class hundred to his name, gradually grew in confidence to the extent that he contemptuously thumped Hutton for four over mid-on towards the Peasholm Park end.
When he chipped the next ball for four just over a leaping Fletcher at mid-on, Rafiq had his third first-class fifty from 75 balls with eight boundaries, a fitting way to mark a day when he was officially re-presented with his county cap – along with Leaning – by the Yorkshire president, John Hampshire.
It took an apparently controversial decision from Neil Mallender to send him on his way, the umpire adjudging him lbw to Samit Patel, a wicket swiftly followed by that of Steve Patterson, who went lbw to Imran Tahir.
Hodd breezed past his previous best for Yorkshire of 68 not out against Somerset at Taunton three years ago, and he added 88 for the ninth-wicket in 21 overs with Jack Brooks, who contributed 48 from 66 balls with seven fours and a six, Brooks chopping on to Hutton.
When Ryan Sidebottom was lbw to Hutton nine balls later, Hodd was left agonisingly short of a fifth first-class hundred, having faced 185 balls and struck 10 fours.
Notts lost a wicket to the seventh ball of their reply when Brooks pinned Jake Libby lbw, and they would have been 1-2 had Leaning taken a low chance at third slip offered by Moores off Sidebottom.
But Bresnan had Moores caught at second slip by Lyth in the final over as Yorkshire completed a fine fightback.
Scoreboard: Page 22.

Yorkshire are left indebted to Andrew Hodd and Azeem Rafiq


THE day was sunny and very warm, made bearable by a cooling breeze blowing from the Trafalgar Square end.


Punk duo Slaves say they may be unable to live up to the name of their forthcoming album and Take Control of the 'wild' Leeds Festival crowd this weekend.
Drummer vocalist Isaac Holman and band mate Laurie Vincent, on guitar and vocals, play Leeds Festival main stage on Sunday after Reading Festival on Saturday.
And they say northern fans are often more wild than anywhere else in the country.
"I don't know if we can take control of the Leeds crowd but I'll give it a good old go," laughed Isaac, promising fans 'blood, sweat and laughs'.
AUDIO: Listen to Slaves star Isaac Holman's exclusive chat with Graham Walker - CLICK HERE.
"We are a southern band so we did a bit better down south at first. But the northern crowds are even more wild for us now than down south sometimes. I think Leeds is going to go off.
"It's completely what I live for. I love playing live. It's the only time my mind goes quiet and I feel comfortable when I step out on stage. The more people there the merrier."
GET LEEDS AND READING FESTIVAL APP: Daily set times for Reading and Leeds Festivals are now live on the R&L App - iTunes and Android.
Slaves are on the same bill as Red Hot Chili Peppers. Imagine Dragons and Courteeners.
Other superstar bands playing this weekends include Biffy Clyro, Fall Out Boy, Foals, Disclosure, The Vaccines and Chvrches - along with rising local stars, such as South Yorkshire's own Radio 1 hitmakers The Sherlocks. Leeds Festival is set to attract around 80,000 people.
Isaac, who also revealed they still get starstruck, said it will be a highlight of their year which also includes a 15 date UK headline tour in November and the release of next album Take Control on September 30.
Isaac added: "Sometimes you get starstruck. Me and Laurie definitely do fanboy some people we meet. But the more you get into the scene you realise everyone is just a person and it becomes a little bit more normal.
"We've worked our way up through the stages. Being main stage is like another level - Leeds and Reading were the festivals we went to when we were younger and I don't think we ever imagined we would be on the bill let alone on the main stage. It's brilliant."
Slaves, from Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent, will be laying waste to venues across the country as they launch into a full UK tour in November. Yorkshire dates include Leeds O2 Academy on Tuesday, November 15 and Sheffield O2 Academy, on Friday, November 25.
See full tour, ticket details and album download links links below.
Slaves earned a reputation for themselves as one of the UK’s fiercest live acts with their constant touring and festival appearances off the back of last year's debut album, Are you Satisfied?
Their next hit album in waiting was part recorded at Jackson Browne’s studio in Santa Monica, California.
Take Control was produced by one of the legends of early hip hop and New York punk, Mike D who, says Laurie, “Became like another member of our band – we can safely call him our friend, which is just surreal!”
The album finds the young pair sharpening up their skills, both in songwriting and in execution and sounding heavier in places.
Several tracks on the album were recorded on vintage equipment used by the Beastie Boys on their classic records, Including STD’s PhD’s, Angelica and Consume Or Be Consumed.
Recorded back home in London, Steer Clear was a collaboration with another hero, Baxter Dury, who lent his distinctive vocals to a duet with Isaac.
Slaves first emerged in 2012, working their way up through the local toilet-venue circuit to become one of the success stories of 2015.
The band’s debut album Are You Satisfied? smashed in to the UK top 10 and earned the band huge critical acclaim. Thanks to their charismatic mash-up of punky urgency and silly humour, they bagged Kerrang!’s Spirit Of Punk award and NME’s Best Video award (for Cheer Up London), while also securing nominations for the Mercury Music Prize, and for Best New Band at Q and NME.
Along the way, they’ve won the hearts of The Streets’ Mike Skinner, stolen the show on last year’s NME tour, had Skepta join them on stage at Radio 1’s Big Weekend and toured with Jamie T and Wolf Alice – the latter in America in March, after which Wolf Alice’s drummer Joel Amey bunked off to California to play on new track People That You Meet.
Pre-order new the album now to get a free download of Spit It Out, first single from the album, at youareallslaves.com - you can also order at iTunes, Amazon or Google Play.
VIDEO: Check out Spit It Out, the first single off the album - a snapshot of their manic daily lives in Tunbridge Wells and New Cross - CLICK HERE.
Leeds Festival Ticket Information
Weekend tickets are £205 + £8 booking fee = £213 total Day tickets are £59.50 + £7 booking fee Early entry permits - £20 (No booking fee) Campervan permits - £75 (No booking fee) Lockers - £16 (No booking fee)
Slaves 2016 UK Tour dates (All shows 14 +)
Thu 10 Nov 2016 – Bexhill - De La Warr Pavillion - UK
Fri 11 Nov 2016 – Truro - Hall for Cornwall - UK
Sun 13 Nov 2016 – Cardiff - University Great Hall - UK
Mon 14 Nov 2016 – Cambridge - Corn Exchange - UK
Tue 15 Nov 2016 – Leeds – O2 Academy - UK
Thu 17 Nov 2016 – Newcastle – O2 Academy - UK
Fri 18 Nov 2016 - Glasgow – Barrowland - UK
Sat 19 Nov 2016 – Birmingham – O2 Academy - UK
Mon 21 Nov 2016 – Bristol – O2 Academy - UK
Tue 22 Nov 2016 – Leicester - O2 Academy - UK
Wed 23 Nov 2016 – Nottingham - Rock City - UK
Fri 25 Nov 2016 – Sheffield – O2 Academy - UK
Sat 26 Nov 2016 – Manchester - Albert Hall - UK
Tue 29 Nov 2016 – London - Shepherds Bush Empire - UK
Wed 30 Nov 2016 – London - Shepherds Bush Empire - UK
MORE:
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VIDEO: Leeds Festival preview
AUDIO: Take plenty of wet wipes, says 'Mr Leeds Festival' Frank Turner
Leeds Festival 2016: What we know so far about this year’s line-up

AUDIO: 'I don't know if we can Take Control of wild Leeds Festival crowd', jokes punk stars Slaves


Punk duo Slaves say they may be unable to live up to the name of their forthcoming album and Take Control of the


The Crossley Shield is probably the biggest and heaviest of the Spenser Wilson Halifax League’s trophies but Warley seconds skipper Craig Brennan is showing no signs of getting tired of lifting it.
His men plundered it for the third successive year yesterday with a comfortable 89-run victory over neighbours SBCI at Mythomroyd.
The club’s ninth Shield win in all takes them to the top of the all-time list, ahead of Sowerby St Peter’s and Triangle.
They will look to continue their domination of the local second team scene by adding the league title for the third year running.
Warley shook off the loss of Jimmy Sarwar with the score on five to post a useful 256 for six off their 45 overs in the Halifax Carpet Company-backed event.
A 79-run stand between father and son, Andrew and Dominic Oates, provided the platform for James Whitworth (61) and Haroon Razzak (45) to pile on the runs.
SBCI were never in the hunt in reply. Both openers were back in the pavilion with only 13 runs on the board and the underdogs lurched from 40 for four to 60 to six.
Young Charlie Holt-Conway showed great maturity to hit 56 and Simon Hampshire added 42 not out but SBCI were all out for 167.
Sarwar (three for 24) was the most successful Warley bowler and Whitworth was man of the match, adding two wickets to his earlier half-century.
SBCI v Warley
Warley won by 89 runs
WARLEY 256 for six
J Sarwar c&b Hampshire 0
D Oates lbw Lamper 35
A Oates c Keast b Lamper 42
J Whitworth c Summerscales b Benson 61
B Schofield c Holt-Conway b Summerscales 24
H Razzak c Summerscales b Benson 45
L Senior not out 17
J Rashid not out 18
Extras 14
Fall of wickets: 1-5, 2-84, 3-99, 4-150, 5-203, 6-226
Bowling: O Benson 9-1-41-2, S Hampshire 8-1-31-1, S Bragg 7-0-46-0, H Lamper 9-1-50-2, B Summerscales 9-0-40-1, C Conway-Holt 3-0-36-0.
SBCI 167
C Potts c&b Sarwar 4
J Greenwood c Razzak b Brennan 1
D Jones c D Oates b Sarwar 10
M Wood c&b Sarwar 11
C Holt-Conway b Senior 56
M Keast c D Oates b Whitworth 4
H Lamper b Whitworth 0
B Summerscales b Senior 11
S Hampshire not out 42
O Benson c Rashid b Hine 8
S Bragg b Hine 1
Extras 19
Fall of wickets: 1-5, 2-13, 3-21, 4-40, 5-60, 6-60, 7-77, 8-129, 9-158, 10-167
Bowling: C Brennan 9-6-14-1, J Sarwar 9-2-24-3, J Whitworth 7-0-47-2, L Senior 9-1-24-2, B Schofield 6-1-26-0, R Hine 4-0-16-2.
Northowram Fields failed in their bid to win the Wheatley Cup second teams’ trophy at Wrenthorpe yesterday.
They lost by four wickets to Liversedge in a competition now run by the Bradford League after the Central Yorkshire League folded.
The Halifax side were on the back foot from the start, after being sent in on a wicket affected by morning rain.
They were 20 for three and 55 for six before tall left hander Matthew Rushworth hit an unbeaten 61 to lift the total to 156 for eight.
Liversedge opener and skipper Jonathan Trevitt guided his side home with an unbeaten 71 but lost six partners along the way, clinching victory with an over to spare.
Josh Dodd and Will Parkin, two of six teenagers in the Rams line-up, claimed two wickets each but their side was left to reflect on a handful of dropped catches.
Todmorden are up to fifth in the Lancashire League table - their highest position for some time - after a seven-wicket home win over Colne yesterday.
Aussie Ashton Turner marked his final game by clinching victory in a 40 overs per side contest with an unbeaten 64 off 54 balls.
He figured in stands of 58 with Kristian Garland (40) and 59 with Elliott Gilford (19 no).
Earlier, Colne had relied on sub pro Rudi Second (74) to help them to 158 for seven, Hamza Ali taking three for 45.


The Crossley Shield is probably the biggest and heaviest of the Spenser Wilson Halifax League’s trophies but Warley seconds skipper Craig Brennan is showing no signs of getting tired of lifting it.


A TV company is on the hunt for separated families and parents across the UK, to take part in a new Channel 5 series.
The show, with the working title of The Modern Family, wants to talk to people who would like help resolving any issues they feel are getting in the way of co-parenting, or getting on with an ex-partner for the sake of their children.
Separation affects around a quarter of children in the UK, with the common belief being that being brought up by both parents after separation, where safe and possible, is in the best interests of a child.
“Breaking up with a spouse or partner is one of life’s biggest upheavals,” said a spokesperson for producers Pulse Films. “The difficult part is getting to the stage where separated parents are still able to do things for the sake of the child, like arrange a joint birthday party, or attend a parents’ evening together.”
So the team at Pulse want to film with separated mums and dads who may have moved on to other relationships, and are keen to sort out the issues with their ex for the sake of the children.
Francine Kaye, relationship expert, family mediator and author of Divorce Doctor said: “Kids don’t divorce, parents do. Paradoxically couples need to understand each other more during and after separation, than they did when they were together - in order to parent effectively.”
Working under the guidance of a trained therapist, anyone who has children with an ex and has difficulty with the complicated relationships this has created, can get more information by texting ‘FAMILY’ or call: 07983 640463 / 07555 242 993, by emailing: modernfamily@pulsefilms.co.uk, or by calling Janette Hodds or Lyttanya Shannon on 0207 426 5700.


A TV company is on the hunt for separated families and parents across the UK, to take part in a new Channel 5 series.


Yiorkshire's latest Radio 1 stars The Sherlocks proved a big hit at Reading Festival last night and are now heading home to do it all again - today they play Leeds Festival.
They top along list of big name local breaking local bands - including The Wired, Fighting Caravans and Faux Pas - who are being showcased at Leeds.
Local talent is joining the the likes of Biffy Clyro and Fall Out Boy - who played Leeds last night - Foals and Disclosure, who perform tonight, and Red Hot Chili Peppers who will close Leeds Festival this Bank Holiday weekend.
For more about Leeds Festival and tickets availability visit www.leedsfestival.com
The Sherlocks, singer songwriter Kiaran Crook, 20, brother and drummer Brandon, 23, guitarist Josh Davidson, 22, and his brother and bassist Andy, 17, recently played the biggest music festival in the world, the SXSW music festival in Austin, Texas.
But this is the biggest showcase weekend for the Bolton Upon Dearne indie quartet who have over 700 gigs to their name and have also just completed their first UK headline tour, selling out venues around the country, with their latest single Last Night getting lots of Radio 1 airplay.
Last year Kiaran, Brandon, Josh and Andy drew a huge number of fans before Sunday lunchtime at Reading, but a coveted evening slot on this year’s popular Festival Republic stage meant the crowds in the south were even bigger.
On a scorching summer evening the temperature in Berkshire was almost as high as the anticipation for the band of brothers’ 30 minute seven song set.
At exactly 5.45pm the lads, playing it cool as always, bounded on stage to kick off with single Last Night followed by favourites Escapade and Heart of Gold.
They continued with epic new song Candle Light, Live for the Moment and finished with Chasing Shadows as two giant beach balls flew back and forth across the arena.
Will You Be There?, which had one of its first plays at South by Southwest in Austin, Texas, was another soaring highlight.
The huge Reading turn out for Yorkshire's latest Radio 1 stars The Sherlocks
Almost all the sides to the huge festival tent were drawn back meaning the Sherlocks’ sound carried beyond the tent poles. More and more joined the audience as the gig went on and by the end of the set the place was rammed.
“That was astonishing” frontman Kiaran told us as he came off stage.
“Last year was truly memorable, but this year Reading has taken it to another level. We’re seeing crowd reactions we'd only ever seen in the north before.
“We love it down here and now we're buzzing even more for Leeds.”
* The Sherlocks play The Festival Republic stage at Leeds Festival 5:45pm, Saturday August 27 and tour nationwide in September. More at thesherlocksmusic.co.uk.

Leeds Festival: The Sherlocks rock Reading ahead of Yorkshire homecoming


Yorkshire's Strictly Come Dancing ex-champions Darren Bennett and Lilia Kopylova will quick step back home this weekend - to give free dance lessons to fans.
It coincides with the start of a new season of the hit BBC One show.
Strictly's most successful couple, now parents to one-year-old Valentina Rose, are returning to their family's City Limits Dancentre studio in Penistone Road, Sheffield.
They will take part in free taster sessions on Saturday, September 3, from noon to 2pm. Full details and more at www.city-limits.co.uk
City Limits is run by Sheffield born Darren's parents, former dance champions, Tony and Judith, and his twin brother Dale.
Darren, aged 39, and his Moscow wife Lilia, 37, are the most successful competitor couple of their generation, winning four British amateur championships, three UK championships and representing Great Britain at the World and European Championships.
They turned professional in 2003, winning the British National Professional Championship two years running and made the final of the World and European Championships.
But they became household names when they joined the cast of Strictly Come Dancing in 2004 and won the show in consecutive years.
At his first attempt Darren, dancing with Jill Halfpenny from Eastenders, won the show and then went on to win the Champion of Champions dance off.
In 2005, Lilia waltzed off with the title while partnering Barnsley's own former Yorkshire and England cricketing star Darren Gough, after which they also went on to win the International Christmas special.
They went on to host their own West End show, Latin Fever, which they toured nationally and are today still regarded as one of Britain’s finest Latin American dance couples.
More recently they have worked on the Turkish and Lebanese versions of the Strictly TV show, Darren, born in Deepcar and brought up in Todwick, as a judge and Lilia as a consultant choreographer to the professional dancers.
Darren has also consulted on Danse Avec la Stars, the first series of the French version of Dancing with the Stars.
As well as being successful competitors and performers they have built up an International reputation as coaches, choreographers and first class trainers in both dance and corporate arenas.
They have also trained many of the top junior, youth and amateur couples, including the British Junior champions and No. 1 youth couple in the UK.
Darren's twin Dale said: "Strictly is back and we have Darren and Lilia joining us for an open day, with free taster sessions for children and adults to come along and see what being a student at City Limits is like.
"Fans can take part in one of our Ballroom and Latin classes led by Darren and Lilia.
"It runs from 2pm until 4pm, and we have a timetable of taster sessions throughout the day. Plus visitors can chat to our teachers and find out more about our new beginners' classes starting in September.
OPEN DAY TASTER CLASS SESSIONS
12.15-12.45pm: BALLROOM & LATIN WITH DARREN AND LILIA ALL AGES
12.30-1.00pm: STREETDANCE FOR ALL AGES 4-ADULT
12.30-1pm: BABY BALLET AND TAP
1.00-1.30pm : SALSA AND LATIN WITH DARREN AND LILIA
1.15-2pm: ZUMBA AND FITSTEPS TASTER
1.15-1.45pm: ADULT TAP
The pole fitness studio will also be open, for demonstrations and free workshops, from 12-2pm.
There will also be three Ballroom and Latin technique workshops for those wishing to develop their skills
2pm: Juvenile (under 12's), 45min, cost £5.
2.45pm: Junior (age 12 to 15), 45min, cost £5.
3.30pm, - Adult (age 16+), 60min, cost £8.
For more information about the open day and new class timetable, call he studio on 0114 234 4866 or visit www.city-limits.co.uk
Also visit Darren and Lilia's official website at www.darrenandlilia.com
* Strictly Come Dancing has confirmed this year's celebrity cast for the show, which returns on BBC One on Saturday, September 3, 6.50pm.
The line-up features EastEnders actor Tameka Empson, Birds of a Feather’s Lesley Joseph, former shadow chancellor Ed Balls, Pop Idol winner Will Young, former Eternal singer Louise Redknapp, actor Danny Mac, newsreader Naga Munchetty, reality TV’s Judge Rinder, US singer Anastacia, model Daisy Lowe, GB long-jumper Greg Rutherford, gymnast Claudia Fragapane, presenters Laura Whitmore and Ore Oduba, DJ and presenter Melvin Odoom.
TV stars Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman will be on hosting duties with the judging panel of Darcey Bussell, Bruno Tonioli, Craig Revel Horwood and – in his final year – Len Goodman. For more visit www.bbc.co.uk

Yorkshire's Strictly ex-champs to give free dance lessons at City Limits


Brighouse Town and Glossop North End must meet again on Monday in the preliminary round of the Emirates FA Cup after a 2-2 draw between the sides in Derbyshire.
The visitors looked in trouble when they trailed 2-0 after 19 minutes to goals from Michael Norton and ex-Halifax Town player Jamie Rainford.
However, Lee Spires pulled one back with a fine shot into the bottom corner of the net from 20 yards on 31 minutes.
The equaliser came five minutes after the break from Ernest Boafo, who bent the ball into the top corner of the net from the edge of the box.
The winners of the Hove Edge replay will be at home to Lancaster City, who thumped West Auckland 5-1 away.


Brighouse Town and Glossop North End must meet again on Monday in the preliminary round of the Emirates FA Cup after a 2-2 draw between the sides in Derbyshire.


Local burlesque performer and teacher Lady Wildflower presents an evening of burlesque and cabaret this Saturday (Aug 27) at Hebden Bridge Little Theatre.
This will be the first burlesque show in the town since the hugely successful 4th annual Hebden Bridge Burlesque Festival back in May, which is co-produced by Wildflower and Heidi Bang Tidy.
This Saturday’s show will see performances from Londoner, Bettsie Bon Bon - an internationally acclaimed bump’n’grind showgirl who was recently voted in the Top 20 UK Burlesque performers of 2015.
There will be knife-throwing, sword-swallowing and other deadly feats from the Death Do Us Part Danger Show - a husband and wife duo from Scotland who travel the world with their old fashioned circus sideshow. Lilly Laudanum, a comedy burlesque act from Wales, will be poking a cheeky finger at some of history’s most prominent figures.
Lilly recently won the “British Crown” at the World Burlesque Games with her hilarious Queen Victoria act.
Betty Blue Eyes will also be travelling over from Wales to bring us some fun and laughter.
Her acts include dressing up (and stripping out of) a killer whale costume and an act involving aliens and a Henry hoover...
Local performer, Kinky Krayola, will be bringing her unique brand of burlesque inspired by Drag Queens and performance artists such as Leigh Bowery.
Finally, two of Lady Wildflower’s burlesque students, Vanity Dare and Freida Nipples, will be making their Burlesque debut at this show after training for the past 12 months.
Lady Wildflower, who has been producing the show in Hebden Bridge since 2011 said: “This Saturday’s show is going to be one of the most eclectic and funny we’ve had so far at the Little Theatre.
“I feel these performers really represent what a diverse artform burlesque really is. It’s going to be a really fun night.”
There will be an after-show party in the theatre bar with DJ Dapper Dan and attendees are encouraged to “dress to impress” as there will be “best-dressed” prizes awarded.
Tickets are on sale now at www.thefroufrouclub.co.uk and are priced at £12.50 in advance or £14 on the door.
Doors open at 7:30pm for an 8pm show. Suitable for over 18s only.
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Local burlesque performer and teacher Lady Wildflower presents an evening of burlesque and cabaret this Saturday (Aug 27) at Hebden Bridge Little Theatre.


Calderdale in Recovery, which helps local people overcome drug and alcohol addiction. is holding a family fun day in Centre Vale Park, Todmorden on August 31.
Among the attractions for kids will be face painting, a bouncy castle, and a number of games . There will be a healthy picnic and music for all in the event which runs from midday to 4pm.
Says Andy Bryant of the Calderdale in Recovery team: “We are trying to pass the message that it is possible to recover and become useful members of the community.There would seem to be a number of people in Todmorden who suffer with addiction problems but nobody in the community who can demonstrate visible recovery.
“We are hoping that by holding it in Todmorden people can see and talk to families and individuals who have benefited from recovery elsewhere. Hopefully the wider community can also see how people can change and become assets. Of course we can just have fun as well.”
Entry and food is free, but some aspects may carry a small charge.
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Calderdale in Recovery, which helps local people overcome drug and alcohol addiction. is holding a family fun day in Centre Vale Park, Todmorden on August 31.


Family fun day will help people tackle addiction


Where there’s muck there’s brass as the saying goes...
And nobody is denying there’s still almost a hundred years’ worth of profitable coal in the Grimley colliery seam.
Yet the miners who stood firm throughout the 1984 strike are now faced with a renewed redundancy ballot that threatens to consign both their livelihoods and a century of brass-band tradition to extinction.
Based on the 1996 hit Brit Flick of the same name, Brassed Off captures perfectly both the resilience and despair of an era in which successive Conservative governments ripped out the heart of the mining community and then came back for its soul. This stage version of Brassed Off by Bite My Thumb, Foot of the Barrel, Gravitas Entertainment and Northern Spark are proud to present their upcoming mini tour of Paul Allen’s masterpiece (based on the screenplay by Mark Herman) and featuring players from City of Bradford Brass Band and BD1.
It kicks off its three-legged tour at the end of this month, fittingly at the National Coal Mining Museum, Wakefield before heading for The Carriageworks in Leeds and finally the Civic Hall in Brighouse.
This stage version retains the film’s rugged humour, embattled sense of community and all those memorable lines. Simultaneously sad and uplifting, Brassed Off is staggeringly relevant today as the scars of wounds inflicted on Yorkshire communities during the 1984 Miners’ Strike still run deep.
As the curtain falls, Brassed Off guarantees to bring the house down ... Giving the true story of an against-all-odds struggle for the notion of community.
“This is an unbelievably important story”, said director Neil Knipe. “Plays like Brassed Off are now a modern folk tale for the north.
“These stories need to be ever-present, passed down from generation to generation so we never forget the plight and battle of the miners and the tragedy of the pit closures.
“Yes, this production has all the classic lines from the film and good old northern humour but, unlike a lot of productions, we’re making sure we highlight the deep desperation and sense of being trapped that these characters faced.”
The production has been months in the making and involves Brighouse based Foot of the Barrel productions who produce several shows and comedy nights across West Yorkshire.
The dates for Brassed Off are, August 26/27 – The National Coal Mining Museum (Call 01924 848806 for tickets): Sept 1/3 - The Carriageworks, Leeds (Call 0113 376 0318 for tickets): Sept 9/10 – Brighouse Civic Hall (tickets from www.visitbrighouse.co.uk or Ryecorn Wholefoods 01484 711835 for info.
Have you got something to share on the story? Were you there? What do you think? - Send your pictures, videos or story and we'll publish the best × Continue the story Brassed off and with good reason .. Loading ... Add up to 3 photos or 1 videos to the story There's been a problem uploading your files. Please try again. By uploading your file you agree to our Terms and Conditions × Continue the story Sign in to contribute sign in shape the news in your area...


Where there’s muck there’s brass as the saying goes...


Queensbury look set for another crack at the Spenser Wilson Halifax League’s top flight thanks to the heroics of Amjid Ali at Low Moor yesterday.
They were one of only three winning first teams - the others were Great Horton Park Chapel and Shelf - as grounds heading toward Bradford fared best in avoiding showers.
Queensbury were at home to Low Moor in Division One and prolific wicket taker Ali snapped up eight for 46 to dismiss the visitors for 124.
Opener Jamie Priestley then ensured maximum points with 58 not out as Queensbury, agonisingly relegated from the Premier on the final day of last season, won by eight wickets.
With only two fixtures left for middle section teams, Queensbury look likely to go up alongside Oxenhope.
Queensbury lead the table by four points from Oxenhope, who were rained off at Bridgeholme.
The luckless Eastwood side dropped to fourth and their hopes of making it to the Premier for the first time look to have gone.
Great Horton PC went third - 14 points behind Oxenhope - after opener Amaar Syed’s 151 not out blasted them to an easy win over visitors Stones.
Syed hit 26 boundaries, including two sixes, as the Ewart Street team made 250 for five.
Their visitors from Ripponden had only nine batsmen and were rolled over for 84 with Ethan Pollard’s 31 their top score.
The other match to finish was at Shelf in Division Two.
The hosts beat Greetland by 57 runs after Alex O’Keefe (54) headed a solid top-order effort and number 10 Robert Ramsden added 48 not out.
Greetland, needing 202 for victory, succumbed to Baber Malik (5-60) and Aamir Rashid (4-47), being all out for 144.
Best for the visitors were four-wicket pair Hizar Hayat and Waheed Hussain, who also hit 34.
Cullingworth were unlucky, bowling out hosts Bradshaw for 145 before moving to 125 for three. At that point rain saved the home side.
Ben Burkill took another four wickets and Jon Terry was unbeaten on 46 not out for the visitors.
All the teams in the Premier Division picked up four points from abandoned games.
The only play was at Warley, where the title hopefuls made 97 for three in the 18 overs that were possible.
Premier Division: *Blackley v Jer Lane - no play: pts 4-4. *Sowerby Bridge v Booth - no play: pts 4-4. *SBCI v Copley - no play: pts 4-4. *Thornton v Mytholmroyd - no play: pts 4-4. *Triangle v Northowram - no play: pts 4-4. *Warley 97-3 (Hassan 35, Bottomley 32*) rsp v Sowerby St Peter’s dnb: pts 4-4.
Division One: *Bridgeholme v Oxenhope - no play: pts 4-4. *Great Horton PC 250-5 (Syed 151*, Jordan 48, Swales 3-103), Stones 84 (Pollard 31): pts 12-1. *Old Crossleyans 120-7 (Wolfenden 41, Pilling 31*, Belfield 4-51, 3-29) rsp v Southowram dnb: pts 4-4. Low Moor HT 124 (Ali 8-46), *Queensbury 126-2 (Priestley 58): pts 1-12.
Division Two: *Bradshaw 145 (Fisher 54, Burkill 4-32, Poole 3-30), Cullingworth 125-3 (Terry 46*, Powis 37) rsp: pts 4-4. Outlane 117-3 (Mellor 56, Brook 32*) rsp v *Luddenden Foot dnb: pts 4-4. *Old Town v Clayton - no play: pts 4-4. *Shelf 201-9 (O’Keefe 54, Ramsden 48*, Marshall 36, Ali 32, Hayat 4-108, Hussain 4-69), Greetland 144 (Reynolds 40, Hussain 34, Malik 5-60, Rashid 4- 47): pts 12-5. *Upper Hopton 159-9 (Stephenson 42, Aslam 3-29, Mahmood 3-48), Denholme Clough 39-1 rsp: pts 4-4.


Queensbury look set for another crack at the Spenser Wilson Halifax League’s top flight thanks to the heroics of Amjid Ali at Low Moor yesterday.


Ralph, a once famous screenwriter is in his seventies and is terminally ill.
He has two final missions. To be reconciled with his son and not to be a burden to his wife Anna as he goes gently into that good night.
He is a man who has always had his own way.
He has taken what he wanted and believed in the power of money. He is charming, cantankerous and rude. Will everything go his way? Well, we’re about to find out as Halifax Thespians bring this play to the stage of Halifax Playhouse from September 6-10 - evening starts are 7.30pm with a Saturday matinee at 2.30pm (tickets from 01422 365998).
A film version of this play is in production in Portugal at the moment starring John Hurt and Charles Dance.
Its creator NJ Crisp began his career as a short story writer in the 1960s and his work was published in stacks of magazines.
He went on to work on some iconic TV series writing scripts for Colditz, The Brothers and Dixon of Dock Green among others.
The play was originally produced professionally by Mark Sinden in 1996 starring Donald Sinden and Nigel Davenport and was critically acclaimed.
The director of this production Jeanne O’Rourke, has assembled an experienced cast including Derek Smith, Penny Wadsworth, Andy Rea, Roxanne Rogers and Judith Hardaker.
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Ralph, a once famous screenwriter is in his seventies and is terminally ill.


AFTER five successful years at the helm, Yorkshire’s first-team coach, Jason Gillespie, this week revealed he would be leaving the club at the end of this season.
During his time at Headingley, he has overseen a period of tremendous success for the club, inheriting a team that had been relegated to Division Two of the County Championship before transforming them into an outfit capable of earning promotion back to the top tier at the first time of asking.
HHEADING HOME: Yorkshire first-team coach, Jason Gillespie. Picture: Simon Hulme
After finishing second in their first year back in Division One - pipped to the title they hadn’t won since in 2001 by Durham – they returned to the top of the tree two years in succession.
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Now, with four games remaining Yorkshire are still well-placed to make it three titles in a row and send Gillespie back home to South Australia on a perfect high.
The YP’s Chris Waters joins host Phil Harrison to discuss Gillespie’s departure, as well as reflecting on his time at the club and how his exit on Yorkshire CCC will impact on the club going forward.

CricketTalk: End of an era as Jason Gillespie prepares to exit Yorkshire CCC


AFTER five successful years at the helm, Yorkshire’s first-team coach, Jason Gillespie, this week revealed he would be leaving the club at the end of this season.


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Harvest festival time at Carr Green School


Yorkshire moved to within five points of County Championship leaders Middlesex after wrapping up a resounding 305-run victory over Nottinghamshire at Scarborough.
Knowing a victory was needed to keep pace at the top of the table in what was their game in hand on their main title rivals, the White Rose county backed up Gary Ballance’s decision not to follow-on on Wednesday by securing the win early in the afternoon session.
Tim Bresnan celebrates the wicket of Nottinghamshire's Jake Libby at Scarborough on day three. Picture: Dave Williams
They needed just 34.3 overs to claim the final seven wickets as the visitors were bowled out for 146 chasing 452 to win and leave their own hopes of survival in Division One hanging in the balance.
They remain rooted bottom to the bottom of the table with three matches to play while Yorkshire stay second and well in the hunt for a third successive Championship title.
Despite heavy rain for much of the evening on the east coast, play got under way on time thanks in no part to the decision to transport the club’s ‘Blotter’ from Headingley to North Marine Road in the early hours of the morning.
The machine spent two hours drying the outfield, and Tim Bresnan was soon reaping the rewards as he had Tom Moores (41) caught by Adam Lyth at second slip from just the fourth ball of the morning.
Having taken two wickets in an over on the previous day, Bresnan continued his fine form with the ball, with Samit Patel the next to succumb to the England all-rounder as he feathered an edge through to wicketkeeper Andrew Hodd.
Notts captain Chris Read fared little better as Bresnan picked up his fifth wicket, Jake Lehman the catcher at fourth slip, but Brendan Taylor and Brett Hutton were able to forge a partnership to see Notts through to lunch.
The pair added 47 for the seventh wicket, but just three balls after the interval they were parted as Ryan Sidebottom found Hutton’s outside edge and Hodd took the simplest of catches.
That sparked a lower order collapse, as Brendan Taylor (38) pushed a wide ball from Jack Brooks to Alex Lees at cover and Luke Fletcher was bowled from the very next ball to leave Notts on the brink of defeat.
Imran Tahir was able to survive the hat-trick delivery, but he faced just three more deliveries before fending Brooks off to Lees at short-leg as the final four wickets fell in just three-and-a-half overs after lunch.
Bresnan finished with career best figures of 5-36 and his best in any first-class match across the two innings of eight for 51.

Yorkshire v Nottinghamshire (day four): Tim Bresnan’s career-best return in White Rose victory


Yorkshire moved to within five points of County Championship leaders Middlesex after wrapping up a resounding 305-run victory over Nottinghamshire at Scarborough.


Australian heading back home after five years of success at Headingley
JASON GILLESPIE has resigned as Yorkshire’s first team coach.
The former Australia fast bowler is to leave the club at the end of the season.
Jason Gillespie with Martyn Moxon at Headingley back in 2012.
The news is a body blow to the county champions, whom Gillespie has led to back-to-back Championships.
READ/WATCH MORE - Timeline and slideshow of Jason Gillespie’s time at Yorkshire
READ MORE - Royal London Cup: Semi-final misery continues for Yorkshire as they come up short against Surrey
However, it is not entirely unexpected, with Gillespie’s wife and four children having recently returned to Australia, and with his future having been a regular source of speculation.
Martyn Moxon will not begin the search for a new head coach until the end of the current season Yorkshire CCC statement
Gillespie has been linked with a number of international coaching jobs during his five seasons in charge, and he already doubles up as coach of the Big Bash franchise Adelaide Strikers.
Yorkshire had hoped that he would stay for at least another year, but after the club lost to Surrey in the Royal London Cup semi-final yesterday, Gillespie communicated his decision to the Yorkshire board.
Yorkshire say they will start the search for a new head coach at the end of the season, who will work under director of cricket Martyn Moxon.
In a statement issued today, the club said: “Yorkshire County Cricket Club can confirm that Jason Gillespie will leave his position as head coach at the end of the 2016 season.
Yorkshire's head coach, Jason Gillespie, pictured with Jonny Bairstow during Sunday's Royal London Cup semi-final defeat at Headingley. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture: Richard Sellers/PA.
“The club would like to place on record its thanks to Jason, who led Yorkshire from the Second Division to consecutive Championship titles, along the way suffering just five defeats in 76 Championship fixtures since his appointment in November 2011.
“His wife Anna and their four children have recently returned to Australia and, with the 41-year-old’s existing commitments to coaching the Adelaide Strikers in Australia’s Big Bash, Jason feels the close season is an appropriate time to part company.
“Martyn Moxon will not begin the search for a new head coach until the end of the current season, and the club will provide further updates when the time is appropriate.”
Gillespie has the chance to go out on a high, with the club well-placed to secure a hat-trick of Championships.
Yorkshire go into Wednesday’s match against Hampshire at the Ageas Bowl in second place in Division One, five points behind leaders Middlesex with four games to play.

Jason Gillespie to stand down as Yorkshire CCC coach at end of 2016 season


JASON GILLESPIE has resigned as Yorkshire’s first team coach.


A hospital boss has resigned after being heavily criticised over a scandal involving bungled cancer tests in his previous job in Australia.
Ken Barr, general manager for pathology at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, was sacked from a similar role in South Australia when the prostate cancer testing blunder affecting 52 men came to light.
Now he has resigned from his position in Leeds following publication of a report vilifying the management of his former organisation SA Pathology.
Leeds hospital chiefs said Mr Barr had told them about the issue but had expected to be cleared of blame by the report, so he was offered a six-month contract which began earlier this month.
He previously worked as executive director of Adelaide-based SA Pathology, which provides pathology services for South Australia.
Earlier this year, it was revealed that some men in the state had received false positive results because of an issue with prostate-specific antigen (PSA) testing kits used by SA Pathology between November 2015 and March this year.
That meant 52 men who had previously had prostate cancer received inaccurate test results, including one who underwent unnecessary radiation treatment.
It was announced in April that Mr Barr had been sacked and an independent investigation was ordered.
An SA Health spokeswoman said: “Mr Barr’s employment at SA Health was terminated for failing to advise of the systemic problem of PSA testing at SA Pathology and failing to respond in a reasonable way to the incident.”
The spokeswoman said he also “failed to appropriately manage other serious issues” including the installation of covert cameras to monitor staff at SA Pathology last year.
Following his dismissal, Mr Barr spoke out, saying he had been made a scapegoat and “sacked as a warning to everyone else”.
On August 1, a review into the cancer testing error by the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Healthcare found significant flaws at SA Pathology under Mr Barr and said management, governance and accountability were “seriously deficient”.
South Australia Health Minister Jack Snelling said at the time: “It clearly shows these errors should have been detected long before they were and that when they were identified the response or lack of, by Mr Barr was incompetent and didn’t address the wellbeing of the innocent patients caught up in this.”
Asked about Mr Barr’s appointment, Leeds Teaching Hospitals announced he had resigned.
In a statement, which was agreed with Mr Barr, Dr Sally Lane, clinical director for pathology, said: “Mr Barr was interviewed in April 2016 for a post as general manager starting in August.
“He provided good references showing he was qualified to undertake the role here in Leeds and was the preferred candidate at a competitive interview.
“At the time of the interview Mr Barr was open and frank with the panel that his contract as Executive Director for SA Pathology had ended three months earlier than planned.
“He explained that an investigation was underway about how failures in reported PSA (prostate-specific antigen) test results had been handled by SA Pathology, but he expected this would exonerate his actions. On that basis the Trust offered him a six-month contract pending the publication of the report.
“The Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Healthcare report on this matter has now been published and includes some criticism of SA Pathology’s governance and management.
“While Mr Barr is concerned there are inaccuracies in the report which may be open to challenge due to lack of supporting evidence, he has concluded that in the light of this criticism and in order to avoid any risk of damage to the reputation of Leeds Teaching Hospitals he should not continue his six-month contract as general manager for Pathology.
“He has therefore offered his resignation with immediate effect and this has been accepted by the trust.”
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A hospital boss has resigned after being heavily criticised over a scandal involving bungled cancer tests in his previous job in Australia.


Pathology boss resigns over Australian cancer tests fiasco


Be ready for pretty much anything when Jason Cook takes to the stage at the next Comedy at the Works Show in Sowerby Bridge (August 27)..
Behind his cheerful Geordie exterior lurks a dark, sharp comedic mind capable of taking an unsuspecting audience to places they didn’t want to go.
Jason also wrote and starred in the BBC sitcom “Hebburn” alongside Vic Reeves, and Chris Ramsey.
The show was based on his upbringing in South Tyneside.
Since then he has appeared regularly on our screens as the face of a well known cracker manufacturer and had his second radio 4 series ‘School Of Hard Knocks’ broadcast.
(“Jason Cook has more funny in his middle toe than most comics do in their whole body” - Chortle)
Chris McCausland is the only professional comedian in the UK and possibly even the world who is blind.
This only occasionally attracts the focus of his stand-up however with the attentions of his unique brand of observational comedy being cast far and wide. Chris is also the face of a well known high street bank’s advertising campaign.
(“A must see. Be sure to catch the always excellent McCausland” - Sunday Times)
Compere for the evening is Scouser Brendan Riley and shouty bloke Ben Briggs takes the middle slot.
The show starts at 8.30 pm prompt and tickets are £12.50. Further info and online booking at www.comedyattheworks.co.uk .
Have you got something to share on the story? Were you there? What do you think? - Send your pictures, videos or story and we'll publish the best × Continue the story Jason takes you to unexpected places Loading ... Add up to 3 photos or 1 videos to the story There's been a problem uploading your files. Please try again. By uploading your file you agree to our Terms and Conditions × Continue the story Sign in to contribute sign in shape the news in your area...


Be ready for pretty much anything when Jason Cook takes to the stage at the next Comedy at the Works Show in Sowerby Bridge (August 27)..


JASON GILLESPIE believes there has been clear progress in Yorkshire’s one-day cricket this year, regardless of the result of tomorrow’s semi-final.
Yorkshire are aiming to reach their first Lord’s final since 2002 when they take on Surrey at Headingley (11am start).
THREAT: Surrey's Kumar Sangakkara
It is the second successive season that Yorkshire have reached the Royal London semis, with the club going down by eight wickets to eventual champions Gloucestershire at Headingley last year.
Surrey, last season’s runners-up, will pose another stiff test, but Gillespie has been encouraged by Yorkshire’s white-ball performances, with the club having also reached the semi-finals of the NatWest T20 Blast before losing to Durham.
“We’ve seen clear progress in white-ball cricket this year,” said Gillespie. “We’re not the finished article, but we’ve definitely seen improvements overall in both of the comps.
“We should have chased down the runs against Durham in the T20 semi, even though Mark Wood bowled very well against us.
“But that’s gone now, and I’m pleased overall with how the lads have gone about their work in one-day cricket.”
To get past Surrey, Yorkshire must overcome a semi-final hoodoo in List A cricket. Their defeat to Gloucestershire last season was their 16th in 19 one-day cup semis.
“That stat isn’t in our minds,” said Gillespie. “It hasn’t even been discussed. Sunday is a new day, and the fact is that we’ve played some good cricket in the 50-over comp.
“We know Surrey are a quality team and that people will see them as favourites, which is okay with us.
“We just need to go out there and play the best cricket we can and focus on that.”
On paper, the biggest danger to Yorkshire is Kumar Sangakkara, the former Sri Lanka batsman/wicketkeeper. Sangakkara, 38, scored an unbeaten 130 to help Surrey to a dramatic one-wicket win off the last ball of their quarter-final at Northants.
“Sangakkara is clearly an extremely dangerous player,” said Gillespie, whose side booked their semi-final place with an 11-run win over Kent at Canterbury.
“He has a proven track record, and he is capable of winning games single-handed.
“At the same time, we will do our homework against him and encourage our bowlers and everyone to do their research.
“Phil Dicks (the Yorkshire analyst) puts a lot of stuff together, and the players have iPads where they can look at all the relevant footage – ie, where Sangakkara scores his runs, his wagon wheels, and potentially where he could be vulnerable, which is what we do with all our opponents.”
Yorkshire’s attention to detail in this regard has increased markedly in recent times.
Dicks is an important member of the backroom operation, equipping players with all the necessary stats and info.
“Phil has been brilliant,” said Gillespie. “He’s an important cog in the support staff at Yorkshire.
Yorkshire (from): Ballance, Bresnan, Brooks, Carver, Coad, Hodd, Leaning, Lees (capt), Lyth, Patterson, Rafiq, Rhodes, Waite.

Yorkshire v Surrey: White-ball progress gives Jason Gillespie grounds for optimism as prize of Lord’s final awaits


JASON GILLESPIE believes there has been clear progress in Yorkshire’s one-day cricket this year, regardless of the result of tomorrow’s semi-final.


An expanded Brighouse Canal and Music Festival cruises into town this weekend (August 20/21) promising to pull in even bigger crowds than previous years.
And the event has even greater significance as the canal is restored following the horrendous Boxing Day floods
This well-established free event gives families the opportunity to enjoy not only canal activities but also a street food and craft market, live music and a real ale festival.
Organised by the highly successful Brighouse Business Initiative with the support of the Calder Navigation Society and the Canal and River Trust among other societies, this year’s event promises a weekend of great free entertainment.
Steven Lord of the organising committee said: “Pardon the pun, but we have really pushed the boat out this year!
“There will be lots more boats to see on the canal with free trips, live music on five stage areas, up from three last year, a street market, demonstrations and a beer and Pimms tent. It will be a fantastic party atmosphere.”
The canal will burst into life for two days when families can enjoy free trips in one of the four boats operating cruises.
Throughout the day boats jostle for position as not only the canal trip boats but also pleasure craft sail up and down.
The canal basin will be full of colourful barges and you can see how a canal lock works and how to tie knots.
On dry land, the town will buzz to the sound of live music performed around on five stage areas by over 30 acts.
The music covers all tastes from brass bands to folk to rock and roll.
And Morris dancers will recreate the atmosphere of the bygone days.
On Saturday night music will continue until 10pm with a real party atmosphere.
Visitors will also enjoy a street market with over 80 stalls selling a wide range of street food and local crafts.
The Yorkshire Classic Car Club joins in the fun exhibiting over 40 vehicles and holds a competition for the best turned out car.
Keighley and District Vintage Machinery Club put on a working display of steam powered machines from yesteryear whilst Halifax & Brighouse model engineers will offer steam train rides. Among other attractions, for the brave Creature Caboodle will allow visitors to handle exotic animals such as snakes and insects.
Visitor Ann Gould who was at the 2015 event summed up the festival perfectly: “Amazing. You couldn’t move it was so busy.
Keep an eye on www.brighousecanalfestival.co.uk for the full programmes. Alternatively call 01484 711835.
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An expanded Brighouse Canal and Music Festival cruises into town this weekend (August 20/21) promising to pull in even bigger crowds than previous years.


AT this moment in time, the County Championship title race looks like going right down to the wire.
From the outside, you cannot help but look at the last game of the season versus Middlesex at Lord’s, although there is still a lot of cricket to be played up until then and Middlesex got over the line in good fashion this week and are playing some good cricket.
When you get to this stage of the season, you talk about holding your nerve and we have been there before.
READ MORE - Yorkshire inspired by their past failures
READ MORE - David Willey is aiming to give Yorkshire the edge
READ MORE - Lyth’s knock the spark for Yorkshire’s white-ball momentum, says Lees
READ MORE - Chris Waters: Leg-spinner Adil Rashid in danger of becoming a wasted talent
For us, Leesy is coming into some form and Lythy is and me now as well and, hopefully, we can use that to really start hitting our straps.
I was happy to contribute with 83 in the Roses game at Old Trafford. I wanted three figures and was desperate to get there, but I did occupy the crease for a long period of time and in the context of the game, it was an important knock and I was pleased to get runs.
Coming to the business end of the season, I had said before that we can get our players in form, then it sets us up nicely.
I was pleased to contribute. In the context of the game, there was a lot of rubbish flying around on the field and it was nice to shut up a few of their lads.
We needed 219 from 30 overs at tea on the last day, but decided that the target was just too much and shook hands on the draw.
You have to trust the batsmen out there, I guess, and their decision and the pitch was deteriorating.
There was quite a lot of spin and with our left-handers in the top-order, it was probably a bridge too far. And I think that it was a good statement with us being none down as well.
The last thing we wanted to do was be holding out for a draw, seven or eight wickets down or something like that and it was a decent statement from us, even though we didn’t play our best cricket at times. We came out with our heads held high.
If we had been chasing 150 or 160 going into that last 18 to 20 overs, then it would have given us a good chance. We just felt it was too many to chase.
I don’t think that Lancashire would have gone for it either, to be honest.
Overall, it was a solid draw, although I was a bit disappointed with the way we bowled on the morning of day two as I thought we were exceptional on day one and held our lines and lengths and were patient.
All that hard work was undone by poor bowling on the second morning and it really put us behind the eight-ball.
But the encouraging thing is we got past the follow-on and got back into the game.
Azeem Rafiq, Jack Leaning and David Willey all got their Yorkshire caps before the game and it was a fantastic moment.
The best part of my job is to give caps out like that and see what it means to the lads.
In particular, you could see it for the two lads who have come right through the age groups. To eventually get a Yorkshire cap; you could see the emotion in their faces when they received them.
It was good for David, too. He is starting to win games for us now in the short-ball format, although he probably has not played as many red-ball games as he would have liked and has had a few injury niggles and going into that Old Trafford game, he had a hamstring injury.
But he is starting to win games of cricket and that is why we signed him; for us to be in the hunt – in the white-ball Twenty20 and 50-over competition.
It’s finals day today in the T20 and I am looking forward to it and am going down there and will be in and around the squad.
It is a big day for the club and we want to keep our name in the hat for all three formats and trophies.
Obviously, I would have been liked to have been a part of the white-ball stuff. But when you look down the team sheet when all the international players come back, it is a bloody tough side to get into!

Andrew Gale: Lord’s showdown is looming and we’re really beginning to hit our straps


AT this moment in time, the County Championship title race looks like going right down to the wire.


The Calderdale Way is preparing for a relaunch and should be completed by next Summer.
The 50 mile walk has circled Calderdale for 40 years and work has already started by CROWS and the Calderdale Countryside Service.
So far the route has been surveyed to identify repairs that are needed and it has been waymarked to make it easier for people to find their way.
The Calderdale Way Association developed the route in 1977 and produced the guide but has not been very active for some years so this will also be relaunched.
Some exciting ideas such as a blog and a website are in the works as well as the establishment of Friends who will keep an eye on small stretches of the route.
Richard Peters, one of the organisers, said: “The meeting will need to deal with some admin stuff so the Association can continue to function, but we are hoping for a lively discussion to generate ideas for promoting and looking after the route in the future.”
An open meeting of the Calderdale Way Association will be held on Monday September 5 at 7pm at The Works in Sowerby Bridge.
Anyone who can’t attend can contact calderdalewayassociation@gmail.com


The Calderdale Way is preparing for a relaunch and should be completed by next Summer.


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Trialing the secret Overgate Midnight Walk


Overgate Hospice will be testing the Midnight Walk route next week in order to ensure that the route is safe, fun and suitably long!