Kirkby Malzeard & Laverton

Bing Crosby's Visits

In 1975 a group of nine American ‘hunters’ came to Yorkshire to shoot grouse on Dallowgill and Swinton Moors. Among their number were Bing Crosby, his wife, Katherine, and son, Harry. They stayed at the Moorhouse, on Dallowgill, shooting two days on Dallowgill and three on Swinton.
Godfrey Bostock, the present owner’s father, and Lord Swinton, owner of Swinton Estate, invited the great crooner and Harry to return in 1976, to stay again at the Moorhouse and to shoot again on Dallowgill and Swinton Moors.

Bing’s final visit took place the following year, only some 6 weeks before his sudden, tragic death in October 1977 on a Spanish golf course.
He had developed a great fondness for the Dales. On his first visit he saw the work on a new pavilion for the playing fields in Kirkby Malzeard and was so impressed that he donated to the High Side Playing Fields Association £1000, part of the fee for a television appearance. A sizeable sum in those days, it contributed greatly to the costs of the pavilion. On his return in 1976, he tested the pavilion and cricket pitch, much to the delight of Kirkby Malzeard’s young players. Further donations followed to the benefit of this and local charities.
Soon after Bing’s first visit in 1975, he presented to Mr Bostock, Lord Swinton and Joan Kirk (secretary to the Highside Playing Field Association) gramophone discs of a recording he had made to commemorate his first shot at the famous grouse. Entitled ‘An Ode to Yorkshire’, Bing sang his own lyrics accompanied by famous pianist, Joey Bushkin. The discs are now treasured possessions of the Bostock and Swinton families, and a reminder of the friendship of a very special man.
With thanks to Simon Bostock for information.