Mirfield's charity Brontë-themed Christmas events

From Imelda Marsden, organiser of all these Brontë events and life member of the Brontë Society.

Bookings for Mirfield's Brontë-themed Christmas all-charity fund-raising events. Some Brontë descendants of Rev Patrick Brontë's brothers and sisters to be present at some of the events. All funded by local businesses in North Kirklees and Haworth and friends of Kirklees Brontë Group.

Friday 26th November. Literary talk with a change of venue - now the talk to be held in the restaurant of Whiteleys Garden centre, Leeds Road, Mirfield, across from Holly Bank School, formerly Roe Head, where the Brontë sisters attended. Helga Hughes, curator of the Red House Museum in Gomersal, to give the talk 'A Writers' Friendship between Charlotte Brontë and Mary Taylor'. Just come along and have a cup of tea or coffee, lunch on offer after the talk. We ask for a donation to the school and there's a raffle to be held with prizes donated from Dr Juliet Baker: her newly revised biography The Brontës signed by her; prizes also from the Brontë descendants, one of Patrick Brontë's sisters' descendants to attend.

This is a fund-raising talk for Holly Bank School, Mirfield.The school now houses severely-disabled young people from 5 years who are cared for and educated. Afterwards, the Brontë descendant and a pupil from Holly Bank School will be opening the Bronte exihibition at St Mary's parish church, Church Lane, Mirfield, at 2pm with the history of the church and its Brontë connection.The copy of Charlotte Brontë's wedding dress and bonnet will be on display loaned by the Brontë Parsonage Museum, Hawoth. The exhibition will be there for one week then move to Mirfield Library.

Saturday 27th November. Costumed Brontë Ball at Northorpe Hall, Mirfield.We ask for those who attend to come as a character from one of the Brontë novels.Food, music and dancing in the superb setting of Northorpe Hall, dating back from the late 1500s. Tickets £15. This is a fund-raising event for two charities: the Northorpe Children's/Adults' Trust and Coeliac disease. Prizes for the best-dressed character costume.

Sun 28th November. A Brontë walk in the footsteps of the Brontës when they walked from Roe Head school to St Mary's parish church, Mirfield. We will see what is left of the former Blake Hall site, where Anne Brontë was a governess. Then back to the church hall where one can purchase refreshment and food and see the exihibition about the St Mary's church history and the Brontë connection. The walk starts at 1pm across from Holly Bank School, Mirfield, at the top of Whitleys Garden centre to be led by Ken Dews from the Kirklees Ramblers. It will take about one and a half hours at the most. All are welcome - just turn up. Some of us to have collection tins for Help the Heroes.

Friday 3rd December. Full Brontë Night programme starts at 7.30pm with the History Wardrobe to present 'Jane Eyre the well-dressed governess' talk with costumes. Then Christmas hymns/carols in the second half: London vocalist Val Wiseman to sing from her Brontë album, Keeping the Flame Alive. Tickets £10 and £5 under 18s with refreshments.This is a fund-raiser for two children's charities: the Huddersfield children's hospice, the Forget-Me-Not Trust, and Holly Bank School Trust. We are to have a deputy Lord Lieutentant to represent the Queen present and also a Brontë descendant.

Saturday 4th December. Brontë Quiz at the Navigation Tavern, Mirfield, at the side of the canal in the evening. Fund-raiser for Kirkwood Hospice, Huddersfield. For futher information on this event contact the Navigation Tavern, Station Road, Mirfield.

For all other events, for further information and booking, contact the Kirklees Brontë Group. Telephone 01924 519370, or send a self-stamped addressed envelope to Kirklees Brontë Group, 18 Quarryfields, Mirfield WF14 ONT. e-mail: david.marsden9117@ntlworld.com

I, Imelda Marsden, will be at Mirfield Parish church hall on Saturday 20th November on the Kirklees Brontë Stall with tickets and booking for Brontë events.

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