His Royal Highness, the Duke of York, as President of the industrial Society, visited the Kirkheaton mills of Broadhead and Graves on the 11th of March 1932. This visit, unprecedented in the history of the firm, enabled his Royal Highness to inspect the various processes used in the manufacture of fine worsteds. Broadhead and Graves Limited hope that the account of the visit, contained in the following pages, may convey to all friends of the company, in many parts of the globe the pleasure that this honour yielded to those present.

The Directors send to you, with their compliments, this reprint of the article describing the event.

Page 2 of 18 in the complimentary brochure issued to all employees. (a copy of this was donated to Kirkheaton history Group by Michael Hey, Nov. 2022)

The event was recorded in the Yorkshire Post March 1932-Arrival in a snowstorm

 The Duke of York yesterday paid an informal visit to the fancy worsted mills Messrs Broadhead and Graves, Kirkheaton, where the manufacture of fine worsteds, largely exported from the Huddersfield area, were explained to him. The duke arrived in Huddersfield on the 2-57 pm train from London and was received by the Chief Constable of the Borough (Capt. W J Hutchinson) and Colonel Brook (Chief Constable of the West Riding Police). His Royal Highness drove in the mayor’s car to the mills, where although snow was falling and the afternoon was bitterly cold, a large crowd awaited him. The duke cordially acknowledged the greeting of a number of tiny schoolchildren who lined the village street and waved flags. The car was driven into the mill yard, and the duke was welcomed by Mr. Frank Broadhead, Mr. E. M. Johnson and Mr. J. Wood, directors of the company.

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