Youngsters tune in to learn new music skills
A COUPLE whose lives have been touched by tragedy have celebrated their diamond wedding anniversary.
Harry Evans, 81, and his 82-year-old wife Betty Evans, nee Rattigan, of Northgate, Almondbury, met as teenagers when they lived just doors away in Sheepridge.
They got married at Woodhouse Church, Sheepridge, and lived initially at St Mary’s Fold, Kirkheaton.
Mr Evans enlisted in the regular Army’s service corps aged 18 and worked on tank transportation for three years.
He spent all his working life as a wagon driver while Betty worked as a mender at various mills across Huddersfield.
Although the couple were blessed with three boys and three girls, 10 grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren, tragedy struck in 1981 when their son John Michael was killed by a drunk driver.
Then in 2012 their grandson, former Royds Hall High School pupil, Pte Anthony Frampton, – known to his friends as Anton or ‘Frampdog’ – was killed in a bomb attack in Afghanistan.
The 20-year-old, of the 3rd Battalion, the Yorkshire Regiment, was caught in an explosion on March 6.
He died alongside five colleagues while on patrol in an armoured vehicle in Kandahar province.
He was described as “courageous” by one of his commanding officers at his funeral.
Mr Evans said: “We have had a lot of good times but unfortunately we lost one of our sons and Anton.”
The couple, who lived in Deighton for 40 years, held a reception at Deighton Working Men’s Club for 100 friends and family. potential of the group. They went on to perform in a concert for parents, and were so proud of everything they achieved in such a short space of time.”
In total 51 children have achieved a Discover & Explore Arts Award in the first few months of the In Tune project.
Offered by Arts Council England, the awards are given, along with a certificate, to children and young people who have gained experience in a particular art form, found out about practising artists and shared their experiences with others.
Gail Dudson, director of Yorkshire Youth & Music, said: “The children at Ashbrow School are making great music for themselves. They’re writing their own songs, learning to play trumpets and trombones, singing and trying out music styles from around the world.” A LORRY driver is planning to fly solo the length of Britain once he has completed flight school and organised sponsorship.
Stuart Grace, 49, is raising money for the Yorkshire Air Ambulance by flying a paramotor – known as a powered paraglider – from John O’Groats to Land’s End.
The Huddersfield Town fan decided on the aerial adventure to mark his 50th birthday. He’s yet to fly a paramotor but is due to attend flight school for basic training that will take between three and five days. A licence is not required. He will then get some air hours under his belt in time for the flight in June next year.
Stuart said: “It will take a week to do the flight as the paramotor can only stop in the air for half an hour before you have to land and re-fuel.”
www.gofundme.com/ paramotor-for-charity