Shipley Pirate Day

There was terrific fun for the kids (and some of the grown-ups) in Shipley market square earlier today as a ship load of pirates, Peter Pan and a dinosaur sailed into town.  The entertainment was part of the annual Shipley Pirate Day with plenty of pirate based activities, face painting, a parade and several very enjoyable pantomime performances.

Santas Helpers

Santas helpers keeping the kids entertained in Shipley Market Square on a very cold Saturday afternoon.

Preacher - Shipley Market Place

A billboard, a Bible, a voice, and a message.  Baptist preacher, Shipley Market Square.

Bearing The Torch Exhibition - Shipley Focus'd Gallery

Yesterday was one of those days when things just seemed to happen.  It was a beautiful morning and I decided to have a walk around the historic village of Saltaire where I happened to bump into Jennyfreckles who does the excellent Saltaire Daily Photo blog (http://saltairedailyphoto.blogspot.com/) and who just happened to be the first follower on my blog (thanks Jenny, it was a big boost to my confidence).
From Saltaire I walked the short distance to the Focus'd gallery in nearby Shipley where, according to my local  newspaper, a photographic exhibition was due to open on the Olympic Torch and its journey through the Bradford district.  The newspaper didn't give any further information and so I was pleasantly surprised to see that this was a joint exhibition by local professional photographers Roger Moody (http://rogervmoody.co.uk/) and Dean Smith.  As it happened, Roger Moody and Dean Smith were due to attend the opening of the exhibition along with some of the torch bearers who took part in the Olympic Torch Event.  I know Roger a little as he regularly photographs events taking place in and around Bradford and he was happy to let me take a few pictures of him at work.  The picture shows the director of the Q20 Theatre Company John Lambert (the master of ceremonies at the Olympic Torch event in Centenary Square) with the city center manager of Shipley and some of the torch bearers, and of course Roger with his young photographic assistant (his son).
I also bumped into local sports photographer Tracy Laycock (http://tracylaycock.com/) who just happened to be shopping in Shipley.  Tracy was at a cycling event a couple of years ago, when I first started doing this blog. The borrowed digital camera I was using at the time was causing me a few problems, and Tracy sorted the camera out for me and gave me a few tips on sports photography which  I greatly appreciated.                                                                                                                                            
The Bearing The Torch Exhibition is on until September 3rd 2012 and the gallery is open on Mondays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays and is well worth a look if you are in the area.

Mural - Shipley Baptist Church

The summer has finally arrived here in Yorkshire and I decided to take a short walk from Saltaire to Shipley this morning and took a slightly different route taking me past the Baptist Church and this mural.  I honestly didn't know the mural was there until today, I will have to take a walk around my own back yard a little more often and see what else is there to be discovered.

Gravestones - St Paul's Church, Shipley

I was driving past St Paul's Church and noticed these gravestones with a dusting of snow on them. The gravestones must have been moved from the graveyard at some point as they now stand propped up against the perimeter wall. I drive past the church regularly but never stop to look around. The church itself looks quite interesting and worth a picture, but I think I'll wait until the weather warms up a bit, it was absolutely freezing this morning!

Pirates of Shipley Market Square

     Shoppers in Shipley were entertained by a band of marauding pirates today as their ship sailed around the market square.  After kidnapping a few passers-by the pirates were joined by Peter Pan for some open air entertainment.  Children and performers later took part in a parade around the town centre.  I think I enjoyed it all just as much as the kids!