Help put Otley'˜s Chevin Cross in place

It has become a well-known traditional Easter symbol of hope.
PIC: Bruce RollinsonPIC: Bruce Rollinson
PIC: Bruce Rollinson

Otley’s Chevin Cross, placed high above the market town will be hoisted into position on Saturday - and a call has gone out for volunteers to help put the cross in place.

The first cross, which was 36ft high, was installed for the first time in 1968 and was blown down in high winds and badly damaged the night after it was put in place. After hasty overnight repair work, it was put up again the next day - although it was six feet shorter.

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It has been put in place every Easter since and also at New Year at the end of 1999 to celebrate the millennium.

The cross, which was replaced after 31 years for the new millennium, was the brainchild of the Otley Council of Christian Churches.

When a new cross was built for Easter 2000, those behind the project reverted back to the original specifications, with wood used in the new cross coming from timbers salvaged from the bombed Arndale Centre in Manchester.

Organisers said yesterday at least 50 people are needed to help pull the cross into place at Surprise View above Otley - grid reference SE 203442. This year the cross is being put up on Saturday at 9.30am and all helpers need to be at Surprise View at around 9.15am to help put it in place.

In addition around 20 helpers are needed to load the cross onto the wagon down in Otley by the Courthouse Street car park at 9am.

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