STORY of the Blues Night held at the Clarke Foley Centre in Ilkley on Tuesday, October 2 and organised by the Rotary Club of Ilkley Wharfedale was a great success raising £1,400 for local charities.

The evening was opened by President of Ilkley Wharfedale Rotary Club, John Brash. Master of Ceremonies, Brian Hindmarch assisted by Paul Winn of Radio York gave a presentation of the Story of the Blues from the end of the 19th century supported by projected pictures and recordings. The planning of the event also included Peter Mate (Chair of the Rotary Club’s Community Section), Andy Copsey and Charles Oxtoby.

Live music was played first by Patrick Davy and Mark Kelmanson followed by Doctor Bob and the Bluesmakers. Thanks go to David Lishman, Four Kitchens, Parag and Tesco for supplies of food and drink on the night and the raffle prizes kindly donated by John Mayall, Ilkley Cinema, Tesco, Anne Hawksworth, Majestic Wine and Rotarians Peter Earnshaw, Marten Koopmans, Georges Lepelley and Peter Mate. Thanks go to Una and the Clarke Foley Centre for their considerable help and support. Finally, thanks go to the team who worked hard in the kitchen to help make the event the success it became, Jo Jarvis, Elaine Atkinson, Vicki Barraud, Chris Philo, Martin Tod and Maeve Mate. The event was attended by John Grogan, MP and the Mayor of Ilkley, Steve Butler and his wife Kate. There is the Ilkley Blues Festival on this Saturday, October 13 at the Clarke Foley Centre which is an all day event.