We would like to thank One to One Productions and, Valerie and Ian Black of A Window To Your Past, for allowing the use of the images on this page.
 
      
Click here to see the DVD of the event

  
 contact: alan@a-window-to-your-past.com

A Window To Your Past.
Alan and Valerie Black put on a very personal display highlighting their own wedding 43yrs ago, it was described as the most colourful wedding of the year by the media at the time and was featured on local and National television, Valerie's wedding dress was on display along with many family photographs, Valerie was also responsible for an item that attracted lots of attention, hand knitted underwear from the 1930's, she herself knitted them l have to confess things were a little tense in the house, but well worth it when finished.

Wakefield & District Family History Society.
Elsie Walton personally put an immense amount of time effort and thought in to this display, the result was a fantastic and interesting stand full of facts and very personal stories, also lots of childhood memories eg whip and top, marbles and on display and available for the visitors to touch and handle, a real crowd puller.
Outwood Community Video.
Once again Tony Banks put on an exceptional display attracting lots of enquires from visitors, l know just how much time and effort and research Tony put in to it, well worth it, well done.
Local Studies Library
I must say how much both l and the visitors appreciated this very well researched display, it told a story rightly entitled, From the cradle to the grave, l congratulate the team for delivering on time and content as promised.
Wakefield Museum.
On display was a funeral Bier, that was claimed to be still in use in Wakefield well in to the twentieth century, also on show was mourning jewellery.
One to One Production.
One to One Productions TIMELINE project were screening archive films from the area,
they also were filming the launch and the two days we were open to the public, which will be included in a short documentary about Wakefield's rich heritage.
I have to say One to One added that something extra to the event buy mixing with the visitors and filming and recording interesting stories that many of the visitors had to tell.
West Yorkshire Archives
Items of great value were on display in a glass case, these are rarely seen documents, also on display was lots of text explaining how visitors could make use of the archives.
Christine Ellis
Well known authority on period costumes put on a fantastic display of wedding dresses in the windows, as well as items of memorabilia from her own private collection, she also was available to answer questions from visitors
Modern Memories
Proved to be very popular, Michael who runs the company was able to show and explain just how old and faded photographs can be restored.
Victor Watson
Many will remember Victor from our last event when he attended as the Town Crier, this time he was a Toast Master, and may l say he looked resplendent in his new uniform.
Age of Elegance from Leeds. link
Dawn who runs the company stepped in at very short notice and displayed a ladies and gentleman's mourning outfits, also on display and few people rightly identified them were a pair of French Knickers, most thought they were some sort of cape??.
Wakefield Gilbert & Sullivan Society. link
Put on a fantastic performance, totally unexpected by most of our invited guest but thoroughly enjoyed by everyone, the visual impact was great and very much appreciated.
A Special vote of thanks.
Must go to the numerous and generous members of the public who unselfishly donated or loaned personal family items to be displayed at the event, without question they gave that added interest, one such person was Wendy Cooling who at first brought a few old photographs, then asked if she could help in some way, and finished up been a great asset to the event along with her husband Derrick.

Dean Hubert, my very special computer wizard.
Dean was a tremendous help in designing the website, and putting up with my sometimes impossible requests, but always managing to deliver, a very big thank you Dean.
PRESS FEATURES

That Colourful Wedding Got The full Treatment.

FOLLOWING an exclusive report in the "Wakefield Express" last Saturday of a most unusual event to take place that day, National television, radio and newspaper coverage was given to the wedding at Lofthouse Methodist Chapel of

Miss Valerie Joan Brown to Mr Alan Black.

To recap there were 11 Blacks, eight Browns, five Whites, five Greens, and four Grays at the wedding.

Miss Brown second daughter of Mr and Mrs J Brown. of 41 Longthorpe Lane, Lofthouse.

Her Bridegroom the youngest son of Mr & Mrs A Black, of 36, Johns Avenue, Lofthouse.

The ceremony was conducted  by the Rev. G. J. Gage.

Given away by her father, the bride wore a white crystal satin gown cut on the 'A' line with the bodice and train embroidered. Her short veil was held by a coronet of crystals and she carried a bouquet of cream roses and freesia.

Bridesmaids were Misses P J Brown (bride's sister), L, Gray, E Green ( brides half-cousin) and J, Black (bridegrooms niece).

Misses Brown and Gray wore Turquoise dresses in tree bark satin, cut on the Empire lines, and Misses Green and Black wore salmon pink dresses in tree bark satin cut on the Empire lines. All carried bouquets of gerbera.

Best Man was Mr Eric Black (bridegroom's brother) and the groomsman was Master Kenneth Brown (Brides brother).

A reception was held at the Metropolitan Hotel, Wakefield. The couple will live at 46, John's Avenue, Lofthouse.

Major feature in the Down Your Way Magazine.

Please visit their website.

www.downyourway.co.uk/blog

To read the full story order your copy today.

Also visit this website www.countrypublications.co.uk


As featured in The Wakefield Express 15th January 2010 - Colin Strachan

Dressed up volunteers could get themselves on TV for helping out at an event celebrating local family history in March.

The first 'A Window to your Past' event at the Ridings shopping Centre in September had more than 2200 visitors in just two days, and organisers wasted not time in setting up a second.

The exhibition can help visitors learn more about the story of their family, their house and town, using information provided by experts from local societies, including the Wakefield & District Family History Society, West Yorkshire Archive Service and Wakefield Library Service.

Alan Black, event organiser, said he would like volunteers with period costume from the early part of the 1900s to promenade around the centre for few hours on the days of the event to help create a buzz.

He would also encourage anyone with interesting photographs and stories about weddings and Christenings within their family to come forward.

Mr Black said, a film crew will be there making a documentary of the event, so there's every chance that some of the better dressed volunteers could get on film.

The whole thing is going is going to be really fascinating and absolutely anyone can benefit from coming along.

The event is set to take place on March 12 13th from 9-30am until 4-30pm, but volunteers will also be required for the press launch on March 10th at 11am.

Anyone willing to volunteer, or with an interesting piece of family history should contact us.

Please email for details.

All moneys collected from supporters of this event, will after legitimate expenses have been deducted be donated to charity, it should be noted that all work is been done on a voluntary basis.