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28
Apr
Life of Knaresborough cultural giant to be celebrated on his 100th birthday
The life and work of one of the towering figures of cultural life in Knaresborough will be celebrated next month, just days before he would have turned 100 years old.
The Yorkshire Dialect Society will use its annual general meeting on May 9 at Gracious Street Chapel, Knaresborough, to honour the life and work of Dr Arnold Kellett, historian, teacher and a leading authority on Yorkshire dialect, who died in 2009.
Dr Kellett taught for more than 30 years at King James's School, where he was head of modern languages, and also sat as an independent on Knaresborough Town Council. He served twice as mayor and in 1996 became Knaresborough's first ever honorary citizen. Five years later, he was made a Freeman of Knaresborough.
A former vice president of the Yorkshire Dialect Society, he edited its annual journal and was a popular speaker on dialect and local history. He also wrote about 40 books, as well as many historical articles.
He was held in such high regard that a section of the A658 running along the south-east edge of the town was named Arnold Kellett Way in 2019.
The Yorkshire Dialect Society has worked with Dr Kellett’s family and the Knaresborough Museum Association (KMA) to create a display on the town's history, accompanied by an audiovisual presentation drawing on the subjects Dr Kellett cared about most.
His daughter, Ruth Mann, will speak about his life and love of the town. She said:
Our dad would be delighted to know that the Yorkshire Dialect Society has decided to hold an event to remember him around his 100th birthday. He loved Knaresborough and devoted his life to the town, Yorkshire, the history and dialect. He also loved Gracious Street Methodist Church so it is fitting that his celebration will be held there.
Members of the Yorkshire Dialect Society will also read excerpts from Dr Kellett’s poetry and prose.
Folk tales and legends
Few people have furthered the study and appreciation of Yorkshire dialect than Dr Kellett. He spoke, read and wrote it with ease, and described it as a living language. His poems, stories and even Bible translations continue to be enjoyed by students of dialect, and he was a gifted teller of Yorkshire folk tales and legends.
His Yorkshire Dictionary of Dialect is the definitive guide for anyone exploring this aspect of the region’s heritage.
Colin Speakman, press officer for the Yorkshire Dialect Society, said:
Arnold Kellett was a great Yorkshireman, well known in his adopted town of Knaresborough – where, in 2019, a street was named after him.
Yet for someone who contributed so much to Yorkshire culture and identity, too few people beyond Knaresborough know the full story. He was a teacher, lecturer, preacher, author, historian and linguist, and his work still speaks to Yorkshire today.
The free event starts at 2pm at COGS (Centre on Gracious Street), where visitors will be able to view a small exhibition on Knaresborough’s history and Dr Kellett’s life and work.
There will also be talks from Kathy Allday, chair of Knaresborough Museum Association, on Dr Kellett's contribution to local history; from Ruth Mann, who will recount some personal memories of “Arnold Kellett – our Dad”; and from Colin Speakman on Dr Kellett’s major contribution to Yorkshire dialect studies.
The afternoon will conclude with readings of his entertaining poetry and prose in Yorkshire dialect, with refreshments available and a stall selling Knaresborough books and related items.
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