In an age when foundries and haulage firms relied on horse-power, Keighley Gala processions included a competitive class for the "best groomed and cleanest heavy horse", a feature which continued, albeit with diminished entries, into the 1950s.

Here, in Malsis Road prior to the start of the 1951 procession, stand Duke and Jack, who that year won first prize for coal and foundry hauliers Foster and Manning.

D Chambers came second, although Foster and Manning's main rivals for some years were gas plant makers Clapham Brothers Ltd., whose heavy horses shared fairly equal honours with those of Foster and Manning.

The photograph was supplied by Mr Frank Yardley, of Queens Road, who recalls with affection his working days at Foster and Manning's stables in Parker Street.

His horses used to move 100 ton of castings a week, and he delivered 7 tons of engine coal every morning.

A carter's wage was £7 for a 54 hour week, and he had one weekend off in three, for the horses had to be fed on Saturday night and Sunday morning and night.

Still, he says he preferred those days to these!