THESE nurses, holding candles, were singing carols at Christmas 1945 in the Keigh-ley and district Victoria hospital, where the first peacetime festive season for seven years was being celebrated 'in traditional fashion'.

Christmas was a busy time in Keighley's hospitals. Mayor William Smith was himself a patient, so it devolved to deputy mayor and mayoress, Mr and Mrs Tom Snowden, to fulfil a Christmas Day tour of the wards at St John's, Morton Banks and Victoria, plus the children's home -- which housed 50 boys -- and the Oakworth Road Institution.

Victoria Hospital was especially festive. The previous Sunday the Keighley Salvation Army Band gave a 'cheerful musical programme', while staff seen here, together with the choir of All Saints' church, sang carols in all the wards on Christmas Eve. Rev DSRowlands, of All Saints, conducted short services on Christmas Day and Boxing Day. Patients received presents from a matron's Christmas fund and the workpeople's collection committee, and could each entertain a visitor to tea on Christmas Day. In the evening nurses presented a panto 'Dick Whittington'.

Both nursing and domestic staff enjoyed their own Christmas dinners two or three days later. The photo was supplied by Graham Hall, of Micklethwaite.