Joseph Appleyard and The Otley Arts Club

The Otley Arts Club Logo

Joe was a founder member of The Otley Arts Club, along with Janet Rawlin's father, Eddie and Fred Walker.
If I've overlooked anyone, my apologies and please let me know.

Established in 1947, the club’s first base was at West Terrace, Beech Hill. The club later moved to the Old Grammar School – where it held it's summer and autumn exhibitions for many years. Since when it has been hosted at the Civic Centre, and is currently based at the Old People’s Welfare Centre.

Its first president, Major Le Gendre George William Horton-Fawkes, of Farnley Hall, addressed its inaugural exhibition with these words:

“I have inherited the works of the great artists.
You have inherited the talent of the artist.
You are immeasurably the richer.”

The Old Grammar School Otley, is a magnificent building and most appropriately was the birthplace of one master furniture maker, Thomas Chippendale.

Since The Millennium it has been both an Architect's Office and Art Gallery and now The Stew and Oyster Bar Group plan to turn it into a Restaurant and Cafe Bar.

Otley Arts Club is still in existence today and meets at The Old People’s Welfare Centre, Otley.