Kettlewell Scarecrows
Kettlewell is probably best known as the setting for the film 'Calendar Girls' but its fame also rests upon the annual scarecrow festival, which has been running since 1994. As I have named my blog 'Wycoller Scarecrow' and have a scarecrow story lurking somewhere in my mind, it seemed almost a duty to attend this year's festival.
If you do go to Kettlewell on a tour of the Yorkshire Dales, don't miss the church of St. Mary's. The window above the altar is one of the most moving you will ever see. It is a memorial to Godfrey Cutliffe Hyne, who was fatally wounded at the battle of the Somme and died at the age of 18.
In the foreground, you see his uniform and belongings, flanked by Hyne's two closest friends. As your eyes grow accustomed to the light, you notice behind them the trenches with dozens of sleeping soldiers, their rifles stacked and a few fires burning under the stars. Central to the image is a portrayal of Christ surveying the scene. Whatever your beliefs, I'm sure you will find it an unforgettable experience.
