I’ve just received your email re. the new post, having returned home from hols this afternoon.
According to my records, the Town Hall fire happened on August 18, 1961.
Contrary to what I have read on the Morley Community Archives website (http://www.morleyarchives.ik.com/p_townhall.ikml), which says the fire happened on August 16, 1961, the fire caused considerable damage to much of the town hall. The dome was destroyed and the clocktower and contents were badly damaged. But water damage also caused huge damage to the rest of the town hall. Ceilings collapsed and walls, furnishings, pictures, paintings, etc were wrecked.
Incidentally, while reviewing some of former Morley Observer photographer Leslie Overend’s film negs recently, I came across more than 50 “new” images of the aftermath of the blaze (Leslie was in the Scilly Isles when the fire broke out).
Prints from any of Leslie’s negatives, taken in a career that spanned 1926-1983, are available via my website, http://www.leslieoverend.com

Belated birthday wishes Carole. Here’s to an even bigger celebration next August!

SteveW

I sent you some pix some time ago of Morley Town Hall fire, and you were good enough to publicise my Overend’s Morley book and website (www.leslieoverend.com).
I remember you showing interest in the Pavilion, and I looked for pictures of its interior for you – without much luck.
Back in October I was invited to give a talk at the Morley Lit Fest on Leslie Overend’s life and work. I illustrated the talk with lots of pictures – including some I found of Pat Phoenix (Coronation Street’s Elsie Tanner) visiting the Pavilion during its Star Bingo days.
Most of the pictures were taken inside the old Pavilion and although they used a stage and there is some bingo paraphernalia visible, the interior is largely as I remember it (in all its filthy glory) when I used to visit it as a kid to watch Saturday afternoon matinees in the mid- late-1960s.
One of the pictures was even taken from the balcony – I can’t remember ever being able to afford going up there.
If you fancy seeing/using the pix please email me – a computer failure means I have lost many of my old addresses.

Hope all’s well.

Cheers,

Steve White