Review of the year 2014: November

The Mirfield Remembrance Day parade included the West Yorkshire Fire Service Pipe Band, Royal British Legion’s riders branch and was led by Falklands and Gulf wars veterans. The parade was among dozens of special events held to mark the Remebrance Sunday and Armistice Day in our district.

Batley Grammar School revealed that it may close its sixth form because there were not enough pupils to make it viable. A letter was sent to parents from headteacher Brigid Tulie and chairman of the governors Alistair Hartley asking for their views on plans to stop sixth form provision in September 2016. The sixth form has never had more than 85 pupils.

Michelle Goodhall, 35, was robbed of £7,000 she had put aside to cover her funeral costs when thieves broke into her Dewsbury Moor home twice in two days. But the National Federation of Funeral Directors stepped in and offered to cover the cost, ensuring she and her family could afford a perfect final Christmas.

Heckmondwike’s branch of the Salvation Army announced its plans to provide a free lunch on Christmas Day for anyone who would otherwise have to spend it alone. Major Sharon Furlong, from the charity, said: “The media constantly promotes Christmas as a time to spend with family and friends, a time for fun and merriment. So for those with family either far away or passed on loneliness becomes especially intense.”