Keighley Old Contemptibles' Association Standard

Ian Walkden and Mick Hastings with the standard at Keighley Drill Hall
We'd heard this standard in it's glass case had been removed from the wall at Keighley Shared Church and was being stored under a sheet. We managed to get permission to take it to Keighley Drill Hall in order to have it installed there in pride of place along with other standards in similar glass cases. However, the future of the Drill Hall looked in doubt at the time with the withdrawal of the Territorial Army from Keighley and we moved the standard to the Civic Centre for safe keeping.
Our Director Ian Walkden successfully negotiated funding from Keighley Town Council to have the standard conserved and an expert in textile conservation from Cliffe Castle declared that the standard was fit to be put on display but needed some work to mount it properly in its case. For example, it was held up in the case by four rather rusty drawing pins, which were damaging the cloth.

Andy Wade describes the standard of the Keighley Old Contemptibles' Association
We paraded the standard in August 2014 when we commemorated in Keighley, the centenary of the start of the Great War. We read out the names of the Old Contemptibles who had returned home and been members of the association in Keighley and several relatives of these men came along to see them honoured in this way.

Peter Karkoszka carries the standard for it's final parade in Keighley
We also paraded the standard in Keighley in the Remembrance Day parade and it was given lead position in the parade. The standard was carried with great pride and honour by Army veteran Peter Karkoszka. After this parade the standard went to the conservator for the work to be carried out on it.
The work included lining the case with a backing cloth and support sheet to mount the standard properly and it was sewn in place very carefully with each tassel being individually sewn in position.

The fully conserved KOCA standard set in its case with full support from the new back board and cloth covering.
3 Responses