'Our Calderdale' - an ode to Calderdale, written and performed by Andy Rollins

We commissioned Andy Rollins to co-create a poem with attendees. 'Our Calderdale' brings the thoughts, feelings and experiences shared by our communities to life.

Join me as I travel through OUR Calderdale.

Feel the synergy as we - you the reader and me the writer - join our thoughts and hopes as we dream of our borough. We can scale the hills, traverse the moors, saunter and cycle the canal towpaths and drop into our towns from the comfort of our own homes.

Look out and ahead! Oh what beauty nature has deployed on our striking ‘Dale. The picturesque rushing of Lumb Falls, the tranquillity and splendour of Hardcastle Crags, the jutting pinnacle of Ladstone Rock and the majesty of Beacon Hill are just a few. You can and will now think of places that can remove our breath with their beauty, be it in summer sun, autumn rain or the white coat of winter.

Hey! We’ve built our heritage too; Wainhouse erected his tower that stands ‘soldier like’ ‘at attention’ on our skyline, keeping half an eye on its neighbour across the valley at Stoodley Pike.

We have a quirky tendency for the strange and mysterious here as well, we like our old tales. Visitors must wonder what is a ‘Churn Milk Joan’ who is ‘Eave’ and why has she a wood? This wander through nature and our attempts to elaborate on it can only lead to our other architectural triumphs, as throughout our history we saw the great and the good offer us an unrivalled feast of notable buildings to view: Dean Clough and its metamorphosis from mill to happening venue, Shibden and its house that now draws from each corner of the world - in some part due to a groundbreaking woman’s diary! And of course our now world famous Piece Hall, from a place to sell cloth to a place to sit, dance, enjoy and buy.

Commerce and necessity forced us to dam some of our valleys but think now of the summer sun’s rays shimmering on Ogden, Gaddings and Baitings, giving us a new reason to explore and enjoy nature. Among all this grandeur we remain though, simple folk and sometimes a track where I can walk my dog elicits as much pleasure as a stately edifice.

Such walks on our doorstep are one of the many reasons we love it here. Its communities exist and thrive in our vast green spaces offering a place where you can make a difference and be valued. As people, we are brave and not afraid to get stuck in and will argue our lot if others talk us down. Oh, but acceptance permeates, we’ll even make southerners feel like this is their spiritual home and this currency of kindness provokes our sense of belonging.

We’ve gone far now on our mental journey, does hunger and thirst pang even in the dream state? No true Calderdale-ite will ever turn down tea, cake or beer and as we offer everything you could want in nature and architecture we provide every possible sustenance. Again that diversity strikes home as Italian, Thai and Turkish mix with Indian, Korean and European. Whatever your culinary desire; coffee, tea or toast: lunch, brunch or roast. In hotel, pop-up or pantry; chippy, bar or café we cater.

Are we sated now? Let’s contemplate, settling our imaginary full bellies and look again out at our marvellous vista. What does this place mean to us? This colourful and kind rolling landscape, this unpredictable, beautifully bonkers wonderful juxtaposition of Yorkshire and Lancashire and its distinct history and elegance.

Come on dream more and look to our future, a time when our children are our age now and what we hope Calderdale is both to remain and to be. Will it continue to improve local lives? A place where hopes and dreams are realised? A place where we continue to empower young people to make a difference? Will it stay a welcoming environment to others? A region that’s socially integrated and aspirational? Where our diverse towns are woven together as one with true Yorkshire grit?

Wake now from our dreaming, dear reader, and rejoice in the knowledge that we share a magnificent area. now, tomorrow and in years to come, with all your joint passion and hard work we can proudly declare…

“We are Calderdale”.