8:11pm Sunday 15th June 2008
By Tanya O'Rourke
It was a scream for film fans this weekend when actress Jenny Agutter came to Bradford's National Media Museum.
The iconic star of horror hit American Werewolf in London visited as part of the museum's Fantastic Films weekend, a festival of blood and gore, remembering gory hits from as far back as the 1930s.
Artistic director for the weekend Tony Earnshaw said: "We had great audiences for every film, for want of a better word, it was fantastic.
"Jenny held a question and answer session on the history and her memories of the film.
"She was massively popular. She came all the way from London for us."
Peter Duffell, director of The House that Dripped Blood, and director Piers Haggard and writer of Blood on Satan's Claw Robert Wynne-Simmons were interviewed by Mr Earnshaw.
He said: "I grew up watching Hammer Horror films. Horror will always have a huge audience, but the style changes and older generations will always find the new films gratuitous.
"I find less is more, the suggestion of something frightening is sometimes scarier than having it right in your face."
Meanwhile the Deputy Lord Mayor of Bradford, Councillor Hawarun Hussain, got on her bike yesterday to start Bradford's CTC Cycling Champions Project, which aims to promote cycling as a sustainable travel alternative to driving.
It is designed to target women and black and minority ethnic communities who are under-represented amongst cyclists.
Organiser Viv Carnea said: "We want to get people back on bikes and especially those who may not think they have the finances, confidence or skills.
"We want to provide bicycles and hold skills and maintenance courses."
Coun Hussain took part in a bike ride from Market Square in Shipley to Centenary Square in Bradford on Sunday morning with 30 other cyclists.
She said: "People should just have a go. There's a fun element to it.
"The more people who get involved, the more cyclists will be accommodated and maybe we can press the Council for more cycle lanes. It was a really good turn-out today."
Advice was offered about bike skills and maintenance in Centenary Square and cycling charity Crank-it-Up Cycling for All were there with wacky bikes for people to try including miniature bikes and a unicycle.
Bike Week runs until June 22 and details of further events can be found on the Bradford Council website bradford.gov.uk.
There was also fun in the sun at the 108th annual Skipton Gala on Saturday.
A procession of 20 floats by local schools and businesses headed from Westmoreland Street to the gala field at Aireville Park where entertainment included a high-wire act, cowboys, mountain bikers and clowns.
Gala chairman Geoff Dunn said: "It was a lovely day. The procession was bigger than last year.
"It was very well attended we had a no-drink policy which worked fantastically this year. We've never seen so many people there.
"Right up until 10pm children were out in the playground, it's just unheard of.
"It's nice to see the children enjoying themselves. That's why we do it."
e-mail: tanya.orourke @telegraphandargus.co.uk
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