Practitioners form group to promote therapies

Fifteen established therapists took part in the first meeting of a new group working to promote practitioners providing therapies in Ilkley.

Many people are unaware that Ilkley is currently the working base for more than 60 complementary therapists and therapy centres, say organisers.

The group is compiling a directory of complementary therapies and therapists in the Ilkley area and plan to have this available within the next two months.

It will meet every four weeks and will include an informative talk and demonstration form one of the participating therapists.

At the first meeting Andrew Rhys Mansfield led a discussion about osteopathy and his work at the Wells Practice.

Organisers Paul Birch, of Paul Birch Therapy and Coaching, and Jenny Howarth, of Ilkley Complementary Therapies, as members of the Ilkley Business Forum, had been considering the importance to Ilkley of this sector of health care.

“I was amazed at the level of interest from so many local therapists who were wanting to work together, and I felt that we really had to develop this group further after the March festival,” said Mr Birch.

“The meeting last Thursday was very lively. We are fortunate in Ilkley to have such a range of therapies available, and so many well-qualified and experienced teams.”

Many of the therapies work alongside health service treatments, offering welcome additional support throughout the healing process, whether that be a long-term condition or illness, recovery from surgery or dealing with the emotional and mental challenges of working or family life.

Any qualified complementary therapist practising professionally in the Ilkley area, can contact Jenny Howarth on (01943) 603388 or e-mail info@ilkleycomplementarytherapies.co.uk to find out more about the group.

ST MARGARET’S CHURCH: Music lovers can look forward to a couple of treats at the church this weekend – the monthly Friday organ recital tomorrow at 12.30pm and a concert, Vivaldi’s Venice, on Saturday at 7.30pm. Director of music Christopher Rathbone steps aside tomorrow to give three 16-year-old parishioners the chance to display their talent. Long-time friends Henry Websdale and Anthony Gray are well-known performers. This time they will share the limelight with Richard Hilton, who recently achieved a grade seven distinction. The occasion gives us the chance to enjoy Henry’s farewell performance before he leaves to become the organ scholar under Malcolm Archer at Winchester College, where he will pursue his sixth-form studies. Anthony is the newly-appointed organ scholar at Bradford Cathedral, a role Henry filled with distinction before his departure to Winchester. Saturday’s concert offers amateur singers the chance to participate. A ‘come and sing’ rehearsal will be held at the church at 2.30pm. The evening features Vivaldi’s Gloria, his flute and trumpet concerti and extracts from Monteverdi’s Vespers. Tickets cost £8 or £6 for concessions and are on sale at the door.

BRIDGE CLUB: News for week ending, July 26. Monday, July 22, 13 tables, N/S: John Williams & Ann Shelton; E/W: Les Rothnie & Ray Causton. Tuesday, July 23, 11 teams, winners: Derek Markham & Sue Pell, John Cole & Carole Kelly. Wednesday, July 24 (improvers), seven tables, N/S: Bill Logan & Ken Garrett; E/W: John Cole & Arnold Chapman. Wednesday, July 24 (evening), seven tables, winners: Pat Warnett & John Mulligan; runners-up: Teresa Cannell & Brian Wildblood. Thursday, July 25, 13 tables, N/S: Tim Emmott & Peter Speller; E/W: Roger Lott and John Godden. Friday, July 26, three tables, winners: Teresa Cannell & Les Jones; runners-up: Joan Firth & Marjorie Gill.

BAPTIST CHURCH: The final result from the Buttercross Stall, which was recently organised by our missionary committee in aid of the work of the Baptist Missionary Society, is now to hand and came to £432 – a magnificent effort. Both Sunday services were conducted by Paul Chapman. At both, instead of preaching on a biblical verse or passage, Paul took a hymn and expound their meaning. At the morning it was Isaac Watts’ hymn When I survey the wondrous cross. Appropriate Bible passages were read by Diane Sherwin and Paul Chapman drew attention to the author’s invitation to survey the cross, his assertion that we should not glory in anything else but the cross, and that the cross reveals the incredible love of God. In the evening the Bible passages to fit in with the chosen hymn were read by Margaret Illingworth. The hymn was O Jesus, I have promised. From the words of the hymn Paul Chapman stressed three points: the lifelong commitment involved in ‘promise’; the fact that once we have made such a promise we face ‘perils’ (difficulties) in keeping the promise; but that we need to rely on the powerful presence of the risen Christ to enable us to do so. Appropriately the service concluded with the celebration of the Lord’s Supper, always an occasion for renewing our promise to follow Christ.