ORGANISERS of this year's Haworth 1940s Weekend have spoken of the "immense" support the public provided last weekend's event.

Thousands of people turned up for the three days of the 2017 celebrations, which raised money for the Pilgrim Bandits charity. This organisation helps severely injured service personnel rebuild their lives.

Commenting yesterday afternoon Roberta Winterton, Yorkshire representative for the charity, said: "It has been amazing. It did rain yesterday, but even then it was still busy and everyone was enjoying themselves.

"This isn't an easy event to organise and it's a lot of hard work. But our team has done well – they are all volunteers and include injured veterans, serving members of the armed forces and cadets.

"We've done everything we possibly can to put on a great event, and while the funds are important the smiles on people's faces are even better."

Guest of honour at the weekend and Pilgrim Bandits ambassador and patron Lance Bombardier Ben Parkinson, was at the forefront of collecting for the charity, both in the park and near the parsonage museum.

He survived severe injuries in a bomb blast in Afghanistan in 2006.

His stepfather Andrew Dernie, who was also present with Mr Parkinson's mother Diane, said the Pilgrim Bandit's work, which involves taking badly wounded, recuperating military personnel on demanding expeditions, plays a vital role in helping them recover and regain confidence.

"We take eight to ten amputees or people with other serious injuries on each trip," he explained.

"They are people who've joined the armed forces to be part of a team, to go off and do something exciting, then all of a sudden they get injured, are wrapped up in cotton wool and told they can't do anything for the rest of their lives.

"We take off that cotton wool and get them doing things again."

The village was packed with attractions over the weekend, with much of the entertainment centred on Haworth Central Park, Main Street and its surroundings and the Bronte Parsonage Museum car park.

Despite some mixed weather on Saturday, the crowds enjoyed a drier day yesterday, with plenty of sunshine.

The park featured food and refreshments stands, vintage civilian and military vehicles, live music and dancing at the bandstand an air pistol range, and an army careers stall.

There were also clothes and memorabilia stalls as well as stands for the Men of Worth local military history project, the Soldiers Sailors Airmen Families Association and local cadet groups.

Main Street included a home guard unit and air raid warden re-enactment – complete with a hand-cranked air raid siren – more vintage vehicles including a range of Jeeps, and a charity collection by Christian Aid.

The parsonage car park again hosted a Spitfire fighter plane, 1940s era songs, old-style sweets and stalls selling civilian and military period outfits.

*See this Thursday's Keighley News for full Haworth 1940s Weekend picture special story.