Help hoist Otley's Chevin Cross into place in time for Easter celebrations

The cross stands at around 30ft tall and will be installed at Otley Chevin on Saturday, April 1, at 9.30am.

At least 50 people are needed to pull the cross into place at Surprise View above Otley (Grid Ref. SE 203442). All helpers need to be at Surprise View at around 9.15am.

The cross was installed for the first time in 1968 and was replaced after 31 years for the new millennium and is the brainchild of the Otley Council of Christian Churches.

The first cross, which was 36ft high, was blown down in high winds on the first night it was put up. The badly damaged cross was worked on overnight and put up once again the next day - although six feet shorter.

It has been erected every Easter since (except in 2001 during the Foot and Mouth outbreak) and also at New Year at the end of 1999 to celebrate the Millennium.

When the new cross was built for Easter 2000, it reverted back to the original specifications. Wood used in the new cross was from timbers salvaged from the bombed Arndale Centre in Manchester.

For further details contact John Burland on 07400 601143.