The Keighley branch of the Association of Ukrainian Women in Great Britain has celebrated its 40th anniversary.

The milestone was marked with a service at St Anne's Church, Keighley, attended by members of the local Ukrainian community.

Special guests included Keighley Mayor Cllr Martin Leathley and his deputy Cllr Nick Lajszczuk, with their wives.

The service featured traditional Ukrainian hymns and songs, performed by the Ukrainian women's choir from Bradford.

The history of the association was outlined by Mrs Anna Jaworski, who spoke in Ukrainian, and then by Mrs Olga Pryimuk speaking in English.

After the service, celebrations moved to the new Ukrainian community centre and social club in Henry Street. The building was formally opened by Cllr Leathley and blessed by Father Carlo, a Ukrainian Roman Catholic priest from Bradford.

l The Association of Ukrainian Women in Great Britain - known as OUZH - was formed after the Second World War when thousands of young Ukrainians settling in this country wanted to keep their own national identity.

The Keighley branch was inaugurated at a meeting - attended by 15 women - on September 30, 1962.

The first committee comprised chairman Mrs Anna Rojko, secretary Mrs Nina Shtuhryn and treasurer Mrs Nadia Harkawa.

The audit committee consisted of chairman Mrs Anastazia Andrijaszczuk and members Mrs Stephanie Szczur and Mrs Josephine Ratycz.

The branch soon formed its own choir, conducted firstly by Andrij Muzyka and subsequently by Mykola Lajszczuk and Stefan Zamulynski, which was to exist for over 30 years.

To keep Ukrainian traditions alive, some association members have organised courses of Ukrainian embroidery and Easter egg painting for the younger generation. Over the years the Keighley branch has acquired its own collection of Ukrainian embroidery, woodcraft, Easter eggs, books and paintings, which are displayed at the new Henry Street centre.

In 1978 the Keighley organisation received its own "colours" - a branch flag, which is displayed at various functions and celebrations. Other notable events in the history of the branch have included a major exhibition of sculptures and drawings in 1986 by Ukrainian artist Gregory Kruk, to which local members contributed. The event, at Cliffe Castle Museum, was attended by Mr Kruk.

The Keighley branch has also been closely associated with church activities and has taken part in several celebrations, including - in 1988 - the marking of 1,000 years of Christianity in the Ukraine plus activities for the 85th birthday of Patriarch Jozef Slipij.

Members support many different causes - £100 was donated this year towards the building of a new cathedral in Kiev and over £3,000 has been given so far to a national appeal fund set up to help victims of the Chernobyl disaster.