Tim Garthwaite, of Keighley ’s Holy Family Catholic School, is looking for material for an exhibiton in November.

He writes: “There is a group within Keighley Local History Society that majors on collecting ephemera from the local schools.

“In the autumn term they will make a particular focus of the Catholic schools in Keighley; but with the Catholic community being fairly tight-knit, we are badging it as Catholic Heritage rather than Catholic Schools Heritage, so we do not exclude general material.

“We launch the appeal for material on the weekend of September 9 for an exhibition on November 17.”

The Keighley Schools Heritage Group has been collecting photographs and artefacts from local schools for a number of years.

Dan Moorhouse, from the group, said: “The background and circumstances of schools are changing rapidly in current times and it is very easy for historical artefacts to be lost.

“The archive in most schools is ‘The old photographs in a box in the cellar’, easily overlooked in the midst of any major development in school.

“With modern scanning methods we can scan material immediately and return the originals to the owner.

“We are not necessarily asking for material to be donated to the group, though donations are acceptable.”

Together with the Catholic schools in Keighley – Holy Family, St Anne’s, St Joseph’s and Our Lady of Victories – the September appeal is for anyone connected with the schools or Catholic community in general to look out old photographs or any other artefacts.

Tim added: “The Catholic community, especially in times past, was very tightly-knit, and it would be nonsense to separate our schools out of Catholic life in general, so we are seeking any items relating to the presence of the Catholic community in Keighley.”

On November 17 there will be a Catholic Heritage Day at the Local Studies Library, upstairs in the Library, North Street, Keighley Further details or to offer material should be sent to keighleyschools@gmail.com, or to Tim Garthwaite at Holy Family School on (01535) 210212 ext 403, or timg@holyfamily.ngfl.ac.uk. Dan Moorhouse can be contacted on dan@schoolshistory.org.uk.