Morris Horsefield 1934 – 2021
Morris had been connected with the Robert Windle Foundation and the Old Grammar School Earby since the 1970’s.
He started being involved when the Earby Pothole Group took over the lease of the Old Grammar School in the early 1970’s with a view to setting it up as a lead mining museum. The pot holing group had moved from exploring pot holes to exploring the abundant lead mines in the area around Grassington and Kettlewell. During the course of their underground adventures the members accumulated a large collection of mining memorabilia which needed a permanent home.
The agreement with the Robert Windle Foundation was that in return for a peppercorn rent the group could lease the premises for 21 years on the understanding that they would maintain the crumbling building. So started Morris’s fascination with this fragile but beautiful grade 2* listed building. Having an engineering and building background he had the appropriate skills to do the work along with the rest of the pothole team. So they worked tirelessly to improve and turn the building into the lead mining museum. Through his involvement with the group he also became interested in the Robert Windle's Foundation becoming a trustee in 2005. When the lead mining museum folded in 2015 Morris continued as a trustee.
He was a great asset to the foundation with his depth of knowledge on the Grammar School itself and his enthusiastic personality making him a valuable member of the trustee team.
We will always miss his wicked sense of humour and his never failing enthusiasm to try anything to help the foundation. He happily badgered tradesmen into giving a good discount, talked local politicians into supporting us and spending their money at our events, he would do anything to ensure that we were a success.
In later years with failing eye sight and general health he was unable to do as much as he would have liked to have done, but he always attended our meetings and events where he would always join in discussions and help where he could.
He was a much valued member of the Robert Windle Foundation team, we hold great memories of him and will be telling his stories and misadventures for many years to come.
Morris's funeral will be on Tuesday 21st September at All Saints church 2.00 pm ( inside is limited to 70 sadly). A committal will be at Skipton Crematorium for family only. Instead of flowers, the family have requested donations that will be split equally between Robert Windle's Foundation and Earby Poppy Appeal.
Helping out at one of the many Robert Windle's Foundation Events
Enjoying a coffee at one of his many 'pit stops'
Here Morris and Margaret Brown were accepting a Mayor's Commendation Award
Helping to give Earby Guide Stoop a resting place in the grounds of The Old Grammar School
Fundraising in the 1990's up to 2005 when the Mines Museum recieved the English Heritage Grant
During the 1990’s The Earby Mines Research Group took on a major upgrade of the building
A young Morris here (second along from the left) with Earby PotHole Club.