Cliffe Castle Museum is currently exhibiting the lively and characterful art works of Keighley born artist, Stanley R. Boardman, thanks to the loan of a collection now in the safekeeping of the Keighley & District Local History Society, to mark the 50 years since the last exhibition of Stan’s work at Cliffe Castle.

It was this first block buster exhibition in 1973, as well as Stan’s genial personality and sense of humour, that launched Stan into a late career of art shows, television appearances and even his own half hour BBC programme, as well as making him a popular local celebrity. Keighley Library is delighted to have been chosen by the society to showcase more art and craft work by Stanley to supplement the big exhibition at Cliffe Castle. You can now see these new displays of his work on both the ground and first floors of the library, including “1920’s Boy” signage, greeting cards, wood carving and other demonstrations of art techniques that Stan mastered throughout his life.

One of the characters that Stan created was “1920’s Boy” and he appears in a number of cartoon like paintings that were based on Stan’s memories of growing up in the Keighley area of Fell Lane in the 1920s. They were not such roaring 20s’ party times for many people, including Stan’s family. Instead, many who lived in the area faced real hardship and poverty. According to an interview by the Keighley News in 1972, Stan wanted to paint this life as he saw it and included himself as a boy using his face to illustrate the feelings of the time. There were comical pictures of children playing but also pictures of people queuing for a bed at the workhouse and visits to the pawnshop to get money for food. Stan was one of eight children and the family sometimes had to pawn their clothes to eat.

Nevertheless, Stan was from a happy family and people locally pulled together. One of those kind-hearted people was Mrs Harker. The family had an allotment and grew their own vegetables and so on “chicken-broth” days she always invited the local kids, “6 Harker lads, 3 Boardmans, “Broggy” Bryden, Billy Ward, the lot”, Stan said. “When tha’s seven kids of thi’ own, two or three more dooant mak mich difference!”, Mrs Harker would say and just laugh. The Harkers also had one daughter and wonderfully, last week, her own daughter, Mrs Harker’s granddaughter, Monica, unexpectedly came into Keighley Library with her husband to look at the display here. She pointed out her grandma, Mrs Harker, and some of the boys around the table, her uncles, some of them illustrated in the book of the original exhibition, “1920’s Boy” that the library holds. It was great to see her delight as the book pages in the display cabinet were turned to show her grandma serving the famous broth.

In 1975, the Holycroft Youth Theatre (HYT) collaborated with Stan Boardman to put on “Stan” the rock musical comedy (with elements of music hall and local documentary), based on the “1920’s Boy” exhibition. It was such a success that an LP was cut of the songs. Keighley Library is displaying cuttings and posters from the production from its own collection as well as copies of the photographs from the production itself, kindly loaned by a relative of a member of the original cast.

On Saturday, 9^th September 2023, Keighley Library holds its annual Heritage Day celebrations. This year’s theme is art and crafting and we are delighted that Tim Neal of the Keighley & District Local History Society will be once again giving his great talk on Stan Boardman’s life and works from 2pm. There will also be Stan Boardman themed crafts for children in the afternoon and Simon Wilkinson telling stories with crafts in the morning for children, other art talks by author Colin Neville (Not Just Hockney) and an art demonstration on a Brontë theme by local artist and author, Ray Vintner. We will also have a craft session for adults with Jean McEwan of Create Connect Make and a special appearance from the ever popular Library’s “Knit and Natter” group who have a stand this year. There will also be Heritage family and local history stands including Queen’s Award-winning Men of Worth. Keighley & District Local History Society are also planning to display one or two more past local artists. Please come along for a fun packed day that will take you “reyt up Stan’s street”.

Poster with full programme, out soon.