The name of Keighley will sail into history - aboard the replica of Captain Cook's ship End-eavour.

Expert ropemaker Norman Kelk, of Lawnswood Road, has presented a unique collection of ropes to the crew of the ship, which is about to embark on the next leg of its world tour.

The ropeboard was presented by Norman to Endeavour's skipper Capt Chris Blake - pictured below right with Norman and the ropes in Hull last week - where the replica bark was undergoing repairs.

"It is the finest and largest ropeboard I have ever seen and we are delighted to accept it," says Capt Blake.

The board features 30 ropes hand-crafted by the former British Telecom manager and Royal Naval Reserve officer, and will take pride of place once the ship's carpenter has encased it.

Hundreds of thousands of visitors will see the board when in place, as the ship heads for the Americas. It will also be used to train the inexperienced crew in the art of knot-tying and ropemaking.

The rope board is Norman's second donation to the Endeavour, on which he and friend Keith Dodgson from Farnhill served as guides over the summer in Whitby.

Norman replaced the rope for the ship bell, now on display in the Endeavour museum in Fremantle, Australia, while Keith has produced a small engraved brass plaque to accompany the ropeboard providing information about its history and its hometown.

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