FOR decades the senior citizens outing to the seaside has been an important part of life in Yeadon.

The annual jaunt, organised and paid for by Yeadon Charities, has been staged for more than 70 years, with convoys of coaches heading off to destinations such as Blackpool, Southport, Bridlington and Withernsea.

The scale of the enterprise can be seen in one of these photographs from the archives of Aireborough Historical Society. The 1951 shot of the outing to Southport shows some of the 18 coaches parked beside Chelker reservoir.

The Aireborough Historical Society website says: “Yeadon Charities Association was founded in 1900 as Yeadon Hospital Fund to give help to people in the town before the NHS was founded.

“The name was changed to Yeadon Charities Association in 1939.

Fund raising events take place all year, the main one is the annual pantomime in Yeadon Town Hall, donations are also given.

“Once a year the charity takes senior citizens to the coast for a day, a different venue each year, guests are provided with refreshments, lunch and tea.

“Traditionally on their return the coaches would be met at the top of the High Street and played home by Yeadon Brass Band.

“Yeadon can be proud of keeping this tradition and proving that community spirit is still strong despite all the changes which the passing years bring.”

A second photograph of coaches setting off was taken by Bryan Waite and donated to Aireborough Historical Society by his family. The trip, in 1958, involved 17 coaches of elderly people departing from Albert Square and heading off to Bridlington. On their return they were met at the Fountain crossroads by Yeadon Brass Band. The band then led the coaches home.

In 1998 the Yeadon Charities Association held a Golden Jubilee trip to Blackpool to mark 50 years of the annual outing. A programme donated by Margaret Cooper can be seen top left.

An advertisement for a pageant and regatta held by Yeadon Charities was donated to AHS by Brian Triffit and dates back to 1958.

Money for the trip is raised each year with the Yeadon Charities pantomime. An image of a pantomime cast taken in Yeadon Town Hall dates back to the 1950s and was donated by Gerald Long.

On it website Yeadon Charities says: “Yeadon Charities Association organises an annual trip to the seaside for elderly residents of Yeadon. Totally free of charge, this trip changes venue each year. With entertainment on the coaches, lunch and tea provided, and of course a fabulous seaside town to explore, this trip is one of our highlights of the year.”

The organisation also gives donations to Memory Lane which runs a dementia friendly cafe at Yeadon Town Hall as well as a respite centre.

Yeadon Charities Association provided a £5000 start up contribution to Memory Lane and continues to help with gifts of money.

It has also given money to two local care homes to help fund Christmas parties and to the Forget Me Not Café, based at Yeadon Cricket Club.