A GROUP of "modernisers" elected to lead The Bronte Society has urged members to put the past behind them after more than 12 months of feuding.

Newly-elected members of the society's ruling council include Reverend Peter Mayo-Smith, of Haworth Parish Church. Jan Lee, a former Bradford deputy headteacher and John Thirlwell, a TV producer from Ilkley.

The self-styled modernisers have been calling for changes to the way the society operates and have campaigned for a closer relationship with Haworth traders and residents.

Six council members stood down at the society's annual meeting last Saturday, (June 6) along with president Bonnie Greer.

Rev Mayo-Smith said it was time for people to put their differences aside following turmoil which has seen the departure of key society volunteers and employees.

"There is a lot of goodwill," he said. "A huge amount of work is going on around the forthcoming bicentenaries of the Brontes.

"The key thing that came out of the annual meeting is the need to put the past behind us – that's crucial."

Ms Greer will remain a society member and do work on grassroots projects.

Dr Rowie Shaw, a consultant involved in the governance review, said it was not unusual for organisations to experience turbulent periods.

"There is ample evidence of goodwill among the trustees and the modernisers to take the society forward positively," he said.

Haworth, Cross Roads and Stanbury Parish Council chairman Councillor John Huxley said the Bronte Society has failed to engage with the community.

“The society has become very remote and a little bit metropolitan literati," he warned.

“I don’t have any opinion about what is happening within the society, but it hasn’t been edifying to see it imploding.

“As a council we'd like to be involved in trying to maximise the Bronte legacy in collaboration with the society.

“But on one occasion when we called a meeting to discuss the tourist offering and invited the Bronte Society, they didn't show up."

He said one example of the society’s “remoteness” was its purchase of the Bronte sisters’ writing table, using a grant of £580,000 from the National Heritage Memorial Fund.

He said this came at a time when the village had lost its fire station and was facing threats to its Treetops Children Centre and its Butt Lane community centre.

He said: “While this may be a very famous table, this is an awful lot of money for a piece of furniture."

Bronte Society marketing and communications officer Rebecca Yorke responded: "We continue to build on our established links with Haworth businesses and the local community to ensure the Bronte Parsonage Museum continues to play its part in contributing to the visitor economy.

"In recent months the museum participated in the Haworth 1940s weekend and has invited local accommodation providers to attend special events at the parsonage.

"It's an exciting time for the society, as we finalise our programme for the bicentenaries and we look forward to bringing the Brontes to the world and the world to Yorkshire."