Volunteers behind some of the area’s best-loved traditions have been welcomed to Parliament and Downing Street by Ossett and Denby Dale MP Jade Botterill.

Ms Botterill welcomed members of the Gawthorpe Maypole Committee to Westminster and Downing Street on Monday (October 27), celebrating the organisation’s contribution to the local community and its long-running traditions.

The Gawthorpe Maypole Committee organises a number of major community events across the area, including the World Coal Carrying Championships and the Gawthorpe Maypole Procession and Feast.

Founded in 1874, the committee has played a central role in preserving the area’s traditions and has selected a May Queen every year since 1876.

Jade Botterill, MP for Ossett and Denby Dale, brought the Committee of the Gawthorpe Maypole Committee to Westminster and Downing Street.

placeholder image — Jade Botterill, MP for Ossett and Denby Dale, brought the Committee of the Gawthorpe Maypole Committee to Westminster and Downing Street.

Ms Botterill has been a long-standing supporter of the committee and has also volunteered to help with the running of the World Coal Carrying Championships.

During the Westminster visit, committee members held a meeting attended by Ms Botterill to discuss their ongoing work in the community, plans for the future and efforts to strengthen links with Kelty in Fife, home to Scotland’s Coal Carrying Championships.

The visit also included a trip to Downing Street, where the committee brought a commemorative plate marking 150 years of the Gawthorpe Maypole Committee.

Members also presented a Coal Carrying Championships ‘No10’ top for the Prime Minister.

Ms Botterill and Duncan Smith, President, Gawthorpe Maypole Committee

Speaking about the visit, Jade Botterill MP praised the volunteers whose efforts keep the area's traditions alive.

“Events like the World Coal Carrying Championships and Maypole Procession are what make our area so special,” she said.

"They build community, bring neighbours and families together, and attract visitors from across the country.

“They are only possible thanks to the hard work of volunteers, especially the Maypole Committee, so it was a privilege to bring them down to Westminster.”

Members took a commemorative plate which marked the 150 years of the Gawthorpe Maypole Committee, as well as a Coal Carrying Championships ‘No10’ top to present to the Prime Minister.

Duncan Smith, President of the Gawthorpe Maypole Committee, said: “We are delighted to have been invited to Parliament by our local MP, Jade Botterill, to showcase the Gawthorpe Maypole Committee and our two cherished events: the 64th World Coal Carrying Championships and 153rd Maypole Procession and Feast.

“We discussed the voluntary effort behind these traditions and our ambitions for a replacement maypole, a new Maypole Cabin and developing stronger links with Kelty, Fife, through our shared coal mining heritage and coal racing traditions.”