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Miss Yeadon with samples from the history of dress, and the cup awarded for her compilation.

One of 85-year-old Miss Jane Yeadon's most treasured possessions is a national prizewinning book, "The History of British Dress," each item painted and embroidered by her own pupils in the 1930's. Miss Yeadon taught for many years at Todmorden Road Central School, and her students, of an average age of 14 to 15, each prepared a figure on a linen panel, which could be used as a wall plaque. About 63 of these pictures were compiled into a book by Miss Yeadon and together won a "Daily Mail" competition and cup in 1936. The items are beautifully executed, and of a very high standard, covering a period from 55BC until 1936. Some of the figures are men, others women. Romans, Saxons, Normans, Lancastrians, Tudors, Stuarts and the Hanovers, are all there.

During her working life, Miss Yeadon taught many subjects, including sewing and embroidery, at North Street and Abel Street, and when she began to compile her history of dress at Todmorden Road, from the Bronze Age to the present day, she had no idea it would hit the national headlines. She lives at the Arnold Homes, Glen View Road with her friend, Miss Ellen Eastham. In the little bungalow, drawers and cupboards are full of fine examples of needlework. Miss Yeadon compiled another book "Embroidery of Nations," showing work typical of 20 countries, and many of the samples include embroidered and painted figures in the national costumes of Europe and Asia. The years have not dimmed Miss Yeadon's love of handwork, for she still keeps her fingers busy with whatever fine work she can manage, and at 85 is still lively enough to get a lot of fun out of life.