Fifty years ago a dedicated visionary who was influential in re-inventing the heart of Shipley officially unveiled his brainchild on a glorious summer's day.

In front of a crowd of onlookers, the chairman of Shipley Urban District Council, Councillor Stanley Rodway, cut a ribbon to mark the opening of the transformed market square in Shipley town centre.

Rows of decrepit back-to-back slum houses had been bulldozed to make way for an ahead-of-the-time shopping hub which opened up the town and has remained relatively unchanged to this day.

The scheme involved the market's re-location from its traditional spot at the now traffic-swamped Fox Corner opposite The Sun Inn. It formed the centrepiece of the town with new retail units built around it and the landmark clock tower incorporated into the row of shops.

The biggest change since is the removal of the roads which ran around three sides of the market square, which have been pedestrianised and permanent market stalls constructed.

Father-of-two Coun Rodway served the Council for 21 years and sat on the parks and gardens, planning and housing committees.

He originated from Birmingham and became a pilot in the Royal Flying Core during the First World War and served in France. On his return, he left for pastures new and moved to Shipley where he met and married his wife, Nora, who gave birth to their first child, John.

Mr Rodway, then aged 35, trained up young Air Training Core cadets at Salts Mill, in Saltaire, ran a motor accessories business, called Motorfactors in Manningham Lane, Bradford, and joined the Council as a Conservative member in 1947.

In those days councillors didn't receive a salary or expenses and worked as volunteers.

He was appointed chairman in 1957 and revealed the modernised town centre on June 1, 1957. Following an address to the crowd and the ribbon-cutting, outside the development's flagship store, Woolworths, he and his wife toured the newly-opened shops in the square.

They met and greeted staff at Sea Land Foods, Sutcliffe's furnishers, Higginbottom's, Hagenbach's bakers and the Telegraph & Argus office on Kirkgate.

These were well-known names at the time and occupied premises now home to major chains such as Gregg's, Superdrug and Boots.

In the West Riding of Yorkshire County Handbook, published in 1966, it states: "Comprehensive redevelopment of the town's central area has resulted in a fine new market square, flanked by bright new shops. It has grown into a flourishing shopping centre comprising 77 new shops, including two departmental stores, two supermarkets and free parking."

Mr and Mrs Rodway's second child, Sheila, 76, still lives in Shipley and remembers being pregnant at the time with her youngest son.

"It was a lovely, sunny day, much like yesterday, and a podium was set up outside Woolworths. There were a lot of people there. My father was very proud and enjoyed the day. He was a great one for doing charity work and helping people out. He really enjoyed his time on the Council and was very much part of the planning process behind the modernisation.

"Before it was re-done it was just lots of terraced houses, they were doing other developments taking place at the time and it made for a lovely town centre."

Mr and Mrs Rodway's son, John, 74, who went to Bingley Grammar School and left Shipley for Cleveleys, near Blackpool, in 1960, said: "I used to work for my dad at the business and he would go on to Council meetings every night, he was very involved in planning.

"He would say it was a new beginning for Shipley and he was dedicated to the development. He thought the plans were a big advance and improvement for the town."

Andy Taylor, regeneration manager for the Airedale Partnership, is working on a masterplan to improve Shipley. He said: "It was a visionary idea at the time, and now we need to look to retain the best features of Shipley town centre for the next 50 years."

Yvonne Crossley, Shipley town centre manager, said the Council had secured £87,000 through the Safer, Cleaner Initiative to carry out maintenance to the square. Working with community arts projects, the Council is looking at introducing new street banners, a piece of public art made by the community placed in a raised flowerbed, repairs to lighting and re-painting.

She said: "In those days they were trying to be pro-active and add vitality, just like we are trying to do now. I'm told that people used to come from miles around to come to Shipley, especially to see the clock tower."

In 1968, Mr Rodway passed away but he has left a legacy which remains a lasting part of Shipley's history.

e-mail: ben.barnett @bradford.newsquest.co.uk