Doug Thompson, Saltaire Arts Festival
AUSTRALIAN, ITALIAN & NORTH BRITISH LANDSCAPES

I shall be holding an exhibition of some of my paintings as a contribution to the annual Saltaire Arts Festival on the weekend of Saturday 9th and Sunday 10th September. It will be a joint show with photographer Natalie Ania and will take place at her home, 5 Albert Road, Saltaire, between 10am and 4pm on each of the two days. It would be lovely to see any of you there if you were free that weekend and in the vicinity.

Albert Road is the first road on the left past the old tram sheds on Bingley Road, A650 (now a splendid pub and restaurant), travelling in the direction of Leeds. However, it cannot be accessed by car directly on sight. You must continue down Saltaire Road towards Leeds and turn left at the first street on the left, Upper Mary Street, then left again into Shirley Street, then at the end of Shirley Street left again into Albert Road. Number 5 is near the top of the road on the left.

All good wishes,

Doug

Years at KBGS e.g. 1958-1964 (optional) 1951-58

Current location (optional) Keswick, Cumbria

I don't get into Keighley, Bingley, Shipley that often for social or art reasons. But it seems Saltaire has become not only an arts centre but a notable real ale centre with attractive bars and pubs. And it all happened without outsiders really noticing. Strange how life unfolds -- as at one time nobody would bother with visiting Saltaire for night life.

Years at KBGS e.g. 1958-1964 (optional) 1961-68

Current location (optional) Steeton

or 'daylife', for that matter, Phil! But how right you are. What I thought of as drab and dismal terrace houses as the bus took me through in my childhood, have now all become des-res.

Doug

Years at KBGS e.g. 1958-1964 (optional) 1951-58

Current location (optional) Keswick, Cumbria

Whoever was responsible for developing Salts Mill and the Hockney Gallery, plus making the area round the bridge look good, did great things for Saltaire. Not surprised that it became a trendy little enclave. Sad that the restrictions of the past twelve months have meant that I have had to abandon my visits. I guess that it's been the same for you, Doug.

Years at KBGS e.g. 1958-1964 (optional) 1958-65

Current location (optional) Leeds

Victorian mill owner and philanthropist Sir Titus Salt started it and then creative Jewish clothing entrepreneur Jonathan Silver nudged it along in the Eighties. With support from his Bradford Art College mate David Hockney.

I guess the bar owners and coffee shops could see the cultural drift. The Sunday Times said recently it was in the top 10 best places to live in UK. Disc jockey John Peel used to extol its attractions on Radio One too before he died a few years ago. His much younger wife was originally from Saltaire and she returned frequently to visit her parents. Nice to visit but not to live there surely.

Years at KBGS e.g. 1958-1964 (optional) 1961-68

Current location (optional) Settle