KM100

KIRKSTALL MATTERS

The magazine of Kirkstall Valley Community Association Issue 100 Spring 2009 Free to members

£1

100th Issue!

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LOCAL ISSUES SHOOLS KVCA HISTORY LOCAL HISTORY

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SHAKESPEARE SCOUTS AND GUIDES THE ABBEY IN MEMORY OF A FRIEND

Can you help the Tate identify exactly where this picture was painted in the mid 1820’s? See Discussion Forums on Kirkstall On-line for details.

www.kirkstall.org.uk and www.matters.kirkstall.org.uk KIRKSTALL MATTERS issue 100 Spring 2009 PAGE 1

Kirkstall Matters email: kirkstallmatters@ntlworld.com EDITOR : Ken Stratford Contributors: John Liversedge, Carly Grimshaw, John Illingworth, Stephen Viles, Lesley Schofield, Scott Blakeney, Chris Furniss, Jan Furniss, Mick Orton, Sushila Desouza, Emma Furniss, Sue Brear, Catherine and Richard Simpson, Rachel Reeves, KF Group Project, Peter Lowe, Val Crompton, Ann Lightman, Kitty Ross, Richard Frank, Lesley Greenfield, Karen Naiman, Sue Barraclough, Bob Nicol, Maureen Tunnard

COPY DATES: 3 issues each year, 31st Jan, 7th May, 15th Sept.

Articles, readers' letters, poems etc. are most welcome. Our preferred format is Microsoft Word. We can also accept Works, or Microsoft Publisher. Kirkstall Matters is produced using Microsoft Publisher 2003.

Ideally please e-mail your file as an attachment to the address at the top of this page or deliver it on disk to our postal address (see below). If you can't provide your article in electronic form, you can deliver it to our postal address, 76, Morris Lane, LS5 3EN. The views expressed in KIRKSTALL MATTERS are those of the contributors. If not attributed to individuals, they are from The Editorial Team. They are not necessarily the views of the KVCA. KIRKSTALL VALLEY COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION, founded in 1978, with the aim ‘to promote the benefit of the inhabitants of Kirkstall and the neighbourhood'.

We are non-party political, non-sectarian and a registered charity.

KVCA is also responsible for organising events and activities, for example through the KIRKSTALL FESTIVAL COMMITTEE. KVCA acts as a pressure group and a watchdog on developments affecting Kirkstall.

KVCA campaigns and co-operates on a number of issues with certain other local organisations, as it decides.

It is open to anyone to join. See application form on page 46.

ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP IS £4. Membership includes three issues per year of KIRKSTALL MATTERS, delivered within Kirkstall and the immediate area.

If you live outside Kirkstall, you can still become a member, but we need a minimum additional donation of £3 to cover postage if you are to receive the magazine by post: c/o The Treasurer, 18 The Rise, Leeds LS5 3EP

Kirkstall websites: Kirkstall Matters Pictures in Colour You can now see some of the pictures taken for Past issues of Kirkstall Matters magazine in glorious colour!

At www.flickr.com/photos/kirkstallmatters Send Matthew Guy, news & photos: For the Kirkstall Community Website: see www.kirkstall.org.uk See also www.matters.kirkstall.org.uk

Useful telephone numbers Weetwood Police, front desk 0113 241 3459 Police (non-emergencies) 0845 606 0606

Libraries Local branches, with facilities available: Kirkstall Library tel. 214 4529 26 Kirkstall Lane Mon 1pm – 5pm Wed 10am – 5pm Fri 1pm – 5pm Sat 10am – 1pm facilities: Council Papers, Disabled Access, Photocopier, Fax

Burley Library tel. 214 4528 Cardigan Road Mon 2pm – 7pm Wed 9.30am – 5pm Fri 2pm – 6pm Sat 11.30am – 3pm facilities: Asian Language Books, CD Rom Multimedia, Meeting Room, Disabled Access, Fax, Internet Access

Bramley Library tel. 214 6040 Hough Lane Mon 10am – 8pm Tues 10am – 6pm Wed 10am – 5pm Fri 10am – 3pm Sun 11am – 3pm facilities: CD ROM Multimedia, Council Papers, Theatre Bookings, Disabled access, Photocopier, Study Area, Fax, Internet Access

Headingley Library tel. 214 4525 North Lane Mon to Fri 9.30am - 7pm Sat 9.30am - 5pm Sun 11am - 4pm facilities:Asian Language Books, UK Yellow Pages, CD ROM Multimedia, Computer Catalogue, Council Papers, Meeting Room, Theatre Bookings, Videos, Disabled Access, Photocopier, Study Area, CD’s, Fax, Planning Applications, Sale of Book Tokens, Internet Access

Cover : Lock on the River Aire by Turner KIRKSTALL MATTERS issue 100 Spring 2009 PAGE 2

Printed by

Editorial

March 2009

Contents

Issue 100

100 Issues Old! 100 issues on from the time that Chris, Jan and Karen write about on pages 30 and 31 is an opportunity to reflect on change that has taken place.

Issue number 1 was priced 5p and published in the Autumn of 1978. Contrast the hand duplicated publication with today’s magazine.

Desktop published on a home PC; given to the printer in the form of a file burned to a DVD; copy received from contributors from as far afield as Africa by instantaneous email and images used that were captured on mobile phones. A measure of how, in a short space of time, everyday communications have moved on.

We had hoped to do a review in this issue of the last 99 editions. It was too big a job. We will be returning in future issues to a regular feature entitled ‘30 Years Back’, where we will pick up reminders and contrasts from the past by reproducing relevant articles. It was a very different time back then. Yorkshire still had coal mines and lots of manufacturing. Global warming had not been heard of. Society was much less tolerant or inclusive if you were disabled, black or gay.

One constant has been the KVCA, the Kirkstall Festival and this magazine. They have worked to bring people together for the benefit of the common good of the community, to try to give local people a voice, even if only on a modest and local scale.

Editorial Events and Activities Chairman’s Letter Mystery Picture, Family History Shakespeare Festival Local Initiatives Vision for Kirkstall Development Trust for Kirkstall?

Kirkstall St Stephens School Beecroft Primary School Argie Avenue Regeneration Im memory of Dave Butler Kirkstall Forge Group Project Help and Advice Abbey Light Railway Old Leeds Photographic Exhibition Abbey Park Consultation Images from the Museum Kirkstall Scouts Kirkstall Guiding Kirkstall Matters early days Founding of Kirkstall Festival Abbey and Abbey House Events Inbox - your letters and Emails Douglas Alexander in Leeds Kirkstall Carols Advertisers’ Section

Page 3 4 5 6 7 7 8 9 10 12 16 18 20 21 22 23 25 26 28 29 30 31 32 34 36 36 37

Kirkstall Valley Community Association

That continues. But we must make sure that the pressures of modern life, that make individuals more self-centred and rob them of time, do not undermine this. We want our kids to be celebrating Issue 200 in another 30 or so years.

We need new input from a new generation. Let’s focus on encouraging this in the next year.

Ken Stratford

Annual General Meeting Tuessday, 14th April at 7pm in the Milford Sports & Social Club, Beecroft Street Followed by Festival Meeting

Kirkstall Valley Community Association Officers 2008/9 Steve Gradys Vice Chair

Rita Samuel Treasurer

Ken Stratford Secretary/ Editor

KIRKSTALL MATTERS issue 100 Spring 2009 PAGE 3

John Liversedge Chairman

Events and Activities …..

KIRKSTALL VALLEY COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION

General meetings are at 8 pm in Milford Sports Club, usually on the 1st Thursday of each month (except August & December). All are welcome.

Officers Chair: John Liversedge Tel. 0113 278 5987 Vice Chair: Steve Gradys Treasurer: Rita Samuel Secretary: Ken Stratford Tel. 0113 275 5413 NEXT KIRKSTALL FESTIVAL Saturday 11th July, 2009 Chair: John Liversedge tel. 278 5987 Stall Bookings: Roger Moran mobile 07802 922513 tel. 226 8098 76 Kirkstall Lane, Leeds LS5

KIRKSTALL LEISURE CENTRE Kirkstall Lane Open 8:30am to 10:30pm. Bookings Tel. 214 4555 Special activities for children during school holidays KIRKSTALL ABBEY TENNIS CLUB Jessica Fischer Tel: 07711 646991, email: jessica.fischer @ntlworld.com ABBEY HOUSE MUSEUM Opening times: Monday closed all day Tues to Friday 10am - 5pm, Saturday 12noon 5pm, Sunday 10am - 5pm Admission charges Adults £3.50, Children £1.50 (16 and under) Concessions £2.50 (senior citizens and students) Family ticket £5 (2 adults and up to 3 children) The Gate House: Licensed restaurant / café (accessible without museum entry).

ABBEY - GUIDED TOURS see page 35 Contact Abbey House Museum for details.

Tel. 230 5492

CARDIGAN CENTRE 145-149 Cardigan Road Resource Centre 9am to 8pm Mon-Fri. Tel. 275 9282 Youth Point; ‘Active for Life’ Healthy Living Project; Older Active People Scheme; Handy Person Scheme FORUM 2000 Town Street, Horsforth see page 38 HAWKSWORTH CENTRE Broadway, Leeds LS5 3BQ T. 0113 258 4507 / 0845 0457275 hawksworth@parklanecoll.ac.uk www.parklane.ac.uk HAWKSWORTH WOOD COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION Details - see page 39 HAWKSWORTH WOOD COMMUNITY SHOP 8 Broadway. Monday to Fridays 9 am to 3.30 pm.

HAWKSWORTH WOOD YMCA Lea Farm Mount Tel. 216 2970. Free ‘Connexions’ Access Point - Mon Thursday 3pm - 4pm and Fridays 6-8pm Lunch Club (age 50+) Fridays 11.30am - 1.30pm Parent &Toddler group, Thursdays 9.30 - 11.30am.

Park Lane College Courses, Tues - Thurs (Term time) Activity groups in Sports, Drama, Dance, Martial Arts etc.

HOLLYBUSH CONSERVATION CENTRE Broad Lane. Tel 274 2335 see page 28 MILFORD SPORTS CLUB Tel 226 3030 see page 41 POVERTY AID UK Collection Warehouse & Charity Shop, 165 Cardigan Road. Tel 274 4099/ 274 6349 VESPER GATE HOTEL Tel. 220 0961 Abbey Road.

Every Wednesday 'Family Fortunes' Quiz 9.30pm-11pm.

WEST END HOUSE - Food & Ale Tel. 278 6332 Quiz Nights every Tues & Thursday at 9pm see page 41 ST MARY’S CHURCH HALL Bingo Tuesdays at 8 pm (Doors Open at 6.30pm) Indoor Bowling Thursdays and Fridays,1pm to 4pm Beavers, Cubs, Scouts and Hall Hire - Tel. 258 2923 ST STEPHEN’S CHURCH Sunday Services: 8:45am. Holy Communion.

10am.Parish Communion 4pm Evensong, (Said) Midweek Holy Communion: Wednesdays at 11am.

Beavers, Cubs, Scouts, Rainbows, Brownies, Guides.

Contact: Revd Rosemarie Hayes, Tel. 258 2481 email: rosemarie@hayes2482.fsnet.co.uk

ABBEY - VISITORS’ CENTRE admission free WEST PARK UNITED REFORMED CHURCH Open 11am - 3pm Tues-Sun Closed Mondays Spen Lane, Sunday Service 10.30am except Bank Holiday Mondays Tel. 0113 274 8041 Contact : Church Secretary 225 9637 ABBEY LIGHT RAILWAY Trains from Bridge Road run at frequent intervals along to Kirkstall Abbey (and vice-versa) on Sundays from 1 pm to dusk (weather permitting) KIRKSTALL MATTERS issue 100 Spring 2009 PAGE 4

KVCA News...

Letter from KVCA Chairman What a milestone, 100 editions of Kirkstall Matters. Not bad for a community magazine run by volunteers!

As it is the 100th edition and knowing how difficult it is to put together a magazine be it eight pages or forty eight, I think we should thank those people who had the energy and foresight to get it off the ground. The editorial staff, contributors and of course the faceless few who deliver the magazine.

Names from the past spring to mind, the late Geoff Hodgson, Liz Minkin, Ray Booth, Gerard Roe and many more all did their bit to take the magazine forward. Val Crompton brought her own very professional style and we do miss her but she still helps. Ken and Shelia Waterworth, Mary and Stephen Rennie, very busy people but still involved.

One thing I would like to see is more people writing in to the magazine. You may just want to tell us about a local problem, you may have a poem, you may want to moan, perhaps share a joke or you could be telling us what we are doing wrong, we don't care what you say as long as it's printable!

Problem is we are all getting older and I do hope some younger people will come along and take the magazine forward, it would be nice to think there would be a 200th edition.

Speaking of milestones this year is our 29th annual festival. Planning is well under way and our theme for this year is "Kirkstall, Out Of This World".

If you know of any organisations or groups who would like to take part then please get in touch with us, we are easy to find. Of course 2010 will be our 30th annual festival, we on the committee are looking for ideas to make this a very special festival.

Have you any ideas? Every year we always struggle to find a theme, as you know we have a poster competition and the overall winner becomes the front cover for the festival programme.

The Parade and Church service also take up the theme.

Therefore the theme should be something children can draw, use for fancy dress etc. I think my favourite theme was "Kirkstall By The Sea" suggested by Mick Orton a few years back, sadly now a resident of the East Coast. The hymns at the Church Service were sea shanties, priceless!

Do enjoy our 2009 festival on Saturday July 11th and remember to put it in you diary. We will have free car parking again, I have booked the sun so come and spend the day with us.

Be safe, …. Oh, and buy a programme!

John Liversedge (Chair of KVCA)

Kirkstall Online is a community resource and information website for the residents of Kirkstall and those with an interest in the area.

Kirkstall Online is a corporate member of the KVCA. Matthew who is in Canada continues to maintain the website.

Please keep sending local news, views and pictures to: info@kirkstall.org.uk

♦ ♦

Discussion Board Back Issues of ‘Kirkstall Matters’

KVCA Meeting Dates 2009 April 14th (AGM), May 7th, June 4th, July 2nd, September 3rd, October 1st, November 5th All at 8pm, The Milford Sports Club, Beecroft Street. All local people are welcome.

KIRKSTALL MATTERS issue 100 Spring 2009 PAGE 5

A Mystery Picture Can anyone shed any light on the picture below that was given to ‘Kirkstall Matters’?

There is a date handwritten on the back that looks like July 24th 1948. The men in the picture dressed as clwns are holding a board that we think says Kirkstall Krazy Gang. They are holding what may be instruments made from bits of pipe.

What is the Shield that is displayed?

What is the location? Building with chimneys in the background?

Is this from the Kirkstall Gala? Was the shield some sort of fancy dress or procession award? Where is it now? Who are the people—if any are still living in Kirkstall, it would be nice to hear from them.

Do You Know Who You Are? As a city, Leeds has some excellent resources available to support people who want to research their family history.

In particular the Central Library facilities have a whole section on Family and local history, with a wide selection of transcript and microfilm records available for leeds and across Yorkshire. There is also free access available to material from Census and other records searchable on the Internet. Many people get lost trying to pick their way through records on their own, however.

Family History Societies are a good source of mutual advice, tips and support for people involved in researching their family history and can be a good spur to

the development of local history studies.

However, unlike other Yorkshire places, Leeds seems to have no Society that can help people collaborate and exchange information.

Are you trying to research? Would you like to start and get help? Would you be interested in getting involved in a local Family history Society?

If so, contact: Ken Stratford Telephone 0113 275 5413 Email: k.stratford@ntlworld.com

KIRKSTALL MATTERS issue 100 Spring 2009 PAGE 6

Kirkstall Shakespeare Festival As we go to press, the issue of whether there will be a Shakespeare Festival at the Abbey in 2009 still hangs in the balance.

Mary Rennie raised the issue on behalf of KVCA at the LCC Inner North West Area Committee in Feb-

to us to be unfounded and inaccurate to say the least.

We still have no response to what were the supposed ‘health and safety’ and ‘licensing’ concerns that were touted. We have had responses that indicated that the Festival reduced visitor numbers to the Abbey in 2007, compared with 2008. The figures in themselves seem massively variable and it is not clear how they were derived. However 2007 was one of the wettest summers on record and 2008 was better than average in terms of sunshine.

Is it not likely that this was the reason if there were indeed a drop in numbers?

The quality of the productions is of the highest standard, (as would be expected from an organisation with Sir Ben Kingsley as its Patron and which gets positive customer feedback from the likes of actor Tom Hanks).

It was the council’s decision only a few years ago to lock the cloisters during the day during the Festival. They were in the past always open and the Festival are happy for them to remain open as indicated in their proposal. The Shakespeare Festival will in fact only require closing the Abbey for 2 hours per week.

ruary. As a result, the Councillors on the Committee voted a resolution to support the Festival happening in 2009.

Our Chairman has been busy raising all sorts of questions and issues with Council Officers to get to the bottom of why the event is having such difficulty.

The British Shakespeare Company want to put on productions of ‘Midsummer Nights Dream’ and ‘Much Ado About Nothing’. KVCA is aware of their proposals, which would bring a significant income to the Council and would guarantee access to visitors to the Abbey.

Various issues that appear to have been raised as objections to it having gone ahead in 2008, appear

Overall the attendance of the festival has gone from around 1,400 in the first year to an average of around 12,000 over the last few years. 2009 will see an increase as Much Ado About Nothing and A Midsummer Nights Dream are far more popular than Henry V and As You Like It (2007) but we feel it is important to offer Tragedies and Histories as well as popular comedies. The box office figures are as high and higher than classical theatre at the West Yorkshire Playhouse and considerably more than the free Classical Fantasia that, whilst wonderful, costs the council tax-payer money, rather than pay its way as the Shakespeare Festival does.

KVCA will not be letting this matter drop. Our Committee meeting in March agreed to invite the British Shakespeare Company to our AGM to discuss pursuing a campaign on this if the matter has not been resolved.

You can add you voice, by writing to Councillor Proctor at the Civic Hall or by emailing him at: john.proctor@leeds.gov.uk Ken Stratford

KIRKSTALL MATTERS issue 100 Spring 2009 PAGE 7

Kirkstall Vision

Public consultation

The ‘Vision For Kirkstall’ group has been continuing its work. Below is a brief update.

23rd March at the Milford Sports Club — have your say

So far about 400 questionnaires have been received and will continue to come in until April. The target is a total of 500.

Carley Grimshaw from the LCC North West Area Management Team writes:

Several workshops are being organised with schools and older people through into May.

“Last year the Area Management team, other partner agencies and the public created an 'Area Delivery Plan' for the Inner North West area of Leeds, this plan maps out the key priorities people wanted to see the agencies (people including the police, Council, NHS etc) working on to achieve in the 2008- 2011 period.

A draft of the Vision document is due for 5th May, which will be followed by a sixweek period of consultation with key stakeholders.

The plan involves holding a Launch event on 25th June at 6.30pm at the Milford Sports Club.

This has already been running for a year and we are wanting to consult the public again to see if their priorities remain the same or if their are other things which they would like to see added or removed from it.

We are running an event in each of the political wards for the public to come along to 'have their say'. Also present will be various partner agencies who will be able to answer questions or give advice. “

There will also be an exhibition at kirkstall Festival on 11th July.

It is envisaged that the final document will be distributed in 10,000 copies throughout the area.

Street Lights A lot of concern has been expressed by residents on Morris Lane about the new steel street lights. These have been erected over recent months, but are not yet in operation.

Whilst they may give better light than before and be more energy efficient, concerns remain around a number of issues. Firstly, do they really need to be so high? They dwarf the old concrete lights. In some locations they tower over existing buildings and in particular at the Kirkstall Lane end, stand only a few feet away from houses. It is difficult to see how an unacceptable level of light intrusion into people’s living space can be avoided.

Consultation with local residents seems to have been totally absent. No prior information was delivered to householders. The sum total seems to have been a few notices affixed to lamp-posts saying that work would take place.

This needs to be done better. KVCA will monitor this issue. Let us know what you think.

Lamp Post Ads In the last issue we raised concern about an application for planning permission for illuminated advertisements on lamp-posts in Savins Mill Way. This was opposed at the local Council Area Committee, and also objected to by Councillor Bernard Atha.

The proposal has subsequently been withdrawn.

KIRKSTALL MATTERS issue 100 Spring 2009 PAGE 8

Local Issues Kirkstall Development Trust Inaugural Meeting A public meeting of local residents was convened on 20 February 2009 at Milford Rugby Club, Beecroft Street, to meet Jonathon Crewdson from the Development Trusts Association in order to consider the possible formation of a Community Development Trust in Kirkstall.

Councillor Illingworth welcomed those present and recalled a previously successful Community Program scheme operated in Kirkstall by the KVCA during a previous economic downturn in the 1980s. Jonathon Crewdson explained that he worked for the Development Trusts Association (DTA) who were commissioned by the government and the council to promote Community Development Trusts in the Leeds area as part of the Leeds "LEGI" (local enterprise growth initiative) scheme.

Although their primary focus was on the most deprived communities in Leeds, the DTA had a city-wide remit and were assisting residents in other areas. He outlined the advantages and disadvantages of the most popular types of community trading organization.

There were similar developments in neighbouring wards, such as BARCA (Bramley and Rodley Community Action) operating in West Leeds and HDT (Headingley Development Trust) in the Inner North West Area. He also outlined the government's "Quirk" Initiative, which allowed local councils to transfer public property to community organisations for "less than best" consideration.

The meeting considered that the best form of organisation probably depended on what the community wanted to do, and reference was made to the ongoing public consultation on local objectives organised by the Inner North West

Area Committee under the "Vision for Kirkstall" scheme. Specific mention was made to the West Park Centre, the Kirkstall Mills, and the need to return surplus student accommodation previously let by private landlords to beneficial family occupation. Cllr Illingworth circulated a draft business plan for the Kirkstall Mills, and explained that there was a possibility of a joint project with Leeds Canoe Club, East Street Arts (or a similar organisation) and Yorkshire Wildlife Trust. Cllr Atha spoke with enthusiasm about East Street Arts. There was general support for schemes of this type, focusing mainly on lowcost manufacturing or repairing workspace so as not to compete with the slightly more "up market" scheme being developed in Headingley.

There was a consensus that each project probably merited its own organisation, so as not to drag down the whole enterprise if one group got into difficulty, although it was anticipated that there would be a extensive cooperation between the various groups. The first priorities were the West Park Centre and the Kirkstall Mills, although there was also interest in the housing project in the longer term.

Cllr Illingworth said that he was happy to act as convenor to get local Community Development Trusts under way, but it was important to hand over as quickly as possible so that the resulting organisations would be seen to be democratic and broadly based. It was agreed to circulate the model constitutions recommended by the Charity Commissioners and the CIC Regulator for community organisations of this type, and to convene further meetings of all interested parties (including those who had sent their apologies) at mutually convenient dates.

If you want to get involved with this initiative, then write to Kirkstall Matters, or email kirkstallmatters@ntlworld.com

State Of Nature Reserve I took my 9 year old son on a walk. We went down Redcote Lane, to the nature reserve walk. We were faced with masses of rubbish and litter in all the edges approaching the walk. Graffiti and damage done to the entrance gates then more litter, bottles, cans and any thing that you can think of inside the nature reserve. When we got up to the wild life ponds we found the wood walk ways and fencing to be in a totally rotted and decaying condition.

There is obviously no maintenance or litter picking in this area. This is supposed to be a nature reserve and is a very precious piece of land more so than other parks in Leeds, as it is natural habitat land and supports our wild bird and butterfly population which cannot reproduce in cut grass type parks. We also found that the land is being damaged by trials bikes and quad bikes and there is someone living rough in the woods, he has made a large camp site and shack by cutting down trees and is scattering his rubbish every where. (Extract from a letter from Mr Owen). For pictures see www.kirkstall.org.uk

KIRKSTALL MATTERS issue 100 Spring 2009 PAGE 9

Schools Matter...

New Head at St Stephen’s

Message from the new Headteacher of Kirkstall St Stephen’s C of E Primary School I would like to take this opportunity to introduce myself to you as the new Headteacher of Kirkstall St Stephens C of E Primary School.

I take over this position from Mr Blackburn whose hard work, commitment and passion has helped Kirkstall St Stephen’s to become the successful school it now is.

My previous appointment was as Deputy Headteacher at Stanningley Primary School from where I gained a wealth of experience. It is my intention to build on the strengths of Kirkstall St Stephens to further improve and create real excellence and improved outcomes for all the children in school and to ensure that

every child is happy, healthy, safe and successful, where every child really does matter and that no child is left behind … whatever it takes!

I believe that it is possible to achieve these aims by working in close partnership with all the stakeholders in the school, particularly pupils, parents, governors, carers the church and the local community and I look forward to the challenge ahead.

Steven Viles

The Beach Rocks, Sea, Sand Crashing, Laughing, Swaying, Gold, Blue, Grey People shouting "HURAY!!"

Maisy Dutton Year 6 Kirkstall St Stephens Cupcakes Cupcakes Cupcakes small and round, Cupcakes Cupcakes pink and fluffy, Cupcakes Cupcakes a delicious treat, Cupcakes Cupcakes sweet and yummy, The best thing to fill your tummy.

Kirkstall Matters is pleased to welcome Steven Viles to the local community as new Head-Teacher of St Stephen’s School.

We also publish some work from pupils at the school on these pages.

By Megan Monaghan Year 6 Kirkstall St Stephens

KIRKSTALL MATTERS issue 100 Spring 2009 PAGE 10

Schools matter …

KSS Pupils’ work What should I do today

New year, New day, What should I do today, Maybe I could, Have a ride on the back of a shark or rebuild the Noahs ark, I could go to the shops and just eat ice pops, Maybe play with my cat nothing can beat that or, Just sit down and watch friends or why not look at the new fashion trends, Should I buy something pink but then use my brain and think, What about party with the stars lets go buy some sports cars, What about designing some shoes there’s nothing to lose, Lets keep a smile then chill for a while So what should I do today???

By Shanice Bagshaw Year 6 kss

The Mansion of Horrors I had finally walked up the hill to the mansion of horrors as i like to call it. It smells like the history room in a museum. There was an owl hooting on the tree branch. I felt a shiver down my spine as it gleamed at me like I had ate its lunch. It was the kind of place that you'd expect a sign saying "enter at your own peril", but all i got was "don't sit or lean on the fence". The man in the moon was out and he was giving me a frowny face. (That was even freakier!!) There was a statue of an angel on a cross. I've seen the movies, it would jump out at me and slaughter me.

The blood sucking vampire bats were flying around the roof top squeaking at everything they see. I was about to walk through the gate as a tear weld up in my eye. I heard a scream. The wind blew in my face.

"Nooo" I yelped as my heart almost stopped...

By Jessica Watson Year 6 Kirkstall St Stephens

Kirkstall Festival 2007

KIRKSTALL MATTERS issue 100 Spring 2009 PAGE 11

Schools Matter...

Down in the valley bottom, the beautiful black fox stood motionless as she scanned the ground searching for the faint movements of a minute mouse in the tall razor-like grass. While she waited, her nose quivered and her whiskers flicked impatiently. Sensing a movement to her right, her pointed, fluffy ears flicked forwards as she tilted her head to one side listening intently. Focusing her green-golden eyes on the spot, she lowered herself into the grass, until she was hidden like a mole in its hole.

Tom

Beecroft Primary At Beecroft Primary School Year 4 have been reading “The Midnight Fox”

By Betsy Byars Here are some extracts from our writing.

The Canal At Kirkstall

The fox crouched low with her tail like a plume curled round her leg, watching for prey. Her body was as thin as a cat’s body. When she trotted, her paws moved proudly and her fur flowed in the wind.

James As she strolled along the crest of the hill, she moved lighter and quicker than a cat. When she trotted away, at the same time, her furry, delicate tail curled up.

Leaping over the grass, the black, fluffy fox had steps lighter than the wind.

Emily

Down in the valley, in the depths of the emerald green grass, there was an oil-black fox, lurking in the darkness. Her steps, as she crossed the meadow, were lighter and quicker than a cat’s. Midnight moonlight was shining on her fur, frosting it. Her tail curled up like a spiral and her left leg was raised while she paused. I never saw anything like that fox, standing there with pale green-gold eyes.

“As the light beams sharply down, penetrating through the skeletal trees, reflections are formed on the deep, sinister water. (Cici Aged 10)

KIRKSTALL MATTERS issue 100 Spring 2009 PAGE 12

Schools Matter...

“Winter Wonderland” at Beecroft Primary School The Winter Wonderland Although the bleak sky looked downcast and dispirited the snow uplifted the children’s dejected spirits. Crisp, white snow whirled in a flurry like dancers pirouetting with refinement, finally falling elegantly without a sound. Etched on the trees, the perishing, bitter, snow clung on for dear life as the bare branches swayed in tranquil yet bitter breeze. A blank canvas covered the icy ground only to be drawn upon by artistic children’s paintbrush feet.

One solitary bird glided freely across the sky-line, still desperately trying to find a sultry shelter, whilst hedge-hogs hibernated, huddled in the warmth. Some lively children were sledging wearing scarves of contentment, while others more wisely snuggled up in bed drinking cocoa in front of the fire’s warm, glowing embers. Buildings proudly wearing their pelts of snow, stood tall, watching over the cars crawling along the road like sick cats with their tails between their legs. Then using all its strength the lonely, abandoned sun peeked one leg out from under its gloomy cloud quilt. But would it be able to spoil this winter wonderland?

Lydia Wren (aged 9) Beecroft Primary School

reflections on winter

A letter to Libya Dear Children of Libya, I am writing to tell you of my wonderful winter experience in England.

Have you ever imagined being so cold that your fingers might drop off? I know that you are used to being in the burning sun and eating ice cream but today you wouldn’t have wanted it in England because it snowed so heavily!

I was amazed when I woke up and opened my curtains at what I saw. The bleak sky was filled with tiny, white snowflakes gently pirouetting like elegant ballerinas to the ground. They covered the naked trees in a sprinkle of icing and the grass disappeared under a marvellous blanket. I rushed out to play with my friends but it was so cold the air bit my face and my hands were raw. If you come here to play in the snow bring lots of warm jumpers! I put on my thick woolly hat, scarf and gloves on but my nose was still as red as a tomato. The snow is wet and gluey and it disappears in your hand if you hold it too tight. Although my feet were soaked and my toes were numb I sledged for hours and threw a thousand snowballs at my friend Yazid. It was extremely fun and I wished that I could play all day but we had school.

Anyway, you must visit England soon and see the snow for yourself, but remember not to wear shorts!

From, Mohamed Elsallabi (aged 10) Beecroft Primary School

KIRKSTALL MATTERS issue 100 Spring 2009 PAGE 13

Schools …

Getting to know each other

Cooking

Learining About religions

Traditional Costumes

Mums, dads and grandparents cooked, read stories, talked about festivals and demonstrated traditional clothing in Beecroft Primary School’s “Getting to Know Each Other” project. Visits included a Mosque and Church. Making activity included Chinese Dragons!

Watching Performance

KIRKSTALL MATTERS issue 100 Spring 2009 PAGE 14

Photographs of the Local Canal Children from Beecroft Primary School have been exploring our local canal. We publish here some of their photography of the canal at sunset, with their descriptive commentaries.

“Shining brightly, the sun penetrates through the silhouettes of trees, catching ripples on the water.”

Connor (age 11)

“Glistening sun outlines brown skeletal trees, however, crystals scatter on the surface of the water because the sun seers through the thick, dull twigs.”

Jai (aged 10)

KIRKSTALL MATTERS issue 100 Spring 2009 PAGE 15

Argie Avenue regeneration project ….

Unipol, the Student Housing Organisation Has sent us this article about the accomplishment of its project for housing student families.

A regeneration project that was mapped out nearly 12 years ago is close to being achieved.

Words such as “partnership”, “stakeholders” and “sustainable communities” often can trigger cynicism borne of over use. The Argies Project has confidence in using these words with their true meaning.

Partnership This is a complex partnership involving numerous stakeholders: • Home provided the development expertise and attracted Housing Corporation funding into the family units • Unipol used its own funding for non grant-aided aspects of the development and paid for works on flats not occupied by families. Unipol also manages, and returns ongoing liability for all of the developments for students ,

•

Leeds City Council, using its less than best value considerations, made the buildings available at low cost and undertook other refurbishment and infrastructure work • The Housing Corporation supported the regeneration of the family units The University of Leeds provided the single postgraduate students and supported the whole Project from its inception and installed the internet in the development.

What is Being Achieved?

As well as improving the housing stock in this area, the project has seen a very run down housing estate being developed into part of a thriving community. Extending tenant mix and increasing the number of children in the area were two key output objectives. The number of children housed there has been increased by 105 at the latest count, most of school age who attend the local school.

The sheltered housing scheme has extended important housing choice in the area and as the area has become more desirable, other Leeds residents have wanted to live in surrounding accommodation. The average length of stay of those students with families is over 3 years, adding stability to the community. Many are involved in local activities and the families themselves are a mix of types from single parents, undergraduates to the academically higher powered postgraduate PhD students.

KIRKSTALL MATTERS issue 100 Spring 2009 PAGE 16

… Unipol

Peace Poems

12 Years On The Project (which is still ongoing), was conceived back in 1997, after a full public consultation, and has seen a consistent effort made to improve this important part of Kirkstall: • in 1997 Leeds Federated Housing Association demolished two blocks of Bell’s Marionettes (24 flats) in order to replace them with sheltered housing at the Kirkstall Hill end of Argie Avenue.

• in 2000-2001 Unipol and Home refurbished 48 fully furnished and serviced three bedroomed Bell’s Maisonettes for use by student families. The road was also relocated further away from the front of the building to extend the frontage of the buildings • in 2003 Unipol and Home refurbished a further 16 flats for student families • in 2005 Leeds City Council refurbished the remaining maisonettes (other blocks had previously been scheduled for demolition) • in 2007 Unipol and Home refurbished the Grayson Heights tower • currently Home are building affordable housing on infill space around the two tower blocks in 2009 West North West Homes Leeds will refurbish the other tower block, Grayson Crest.

The total investment by Home (in a project supported by the Housing Corporation) and Unipol has been £8.4m with an estimated £4m being spent by Leeds City Council on further refurbishment and road improvements and traffic calming.

Conclusion This is the first development in Leeds where postgraduate students have been brought together as a small community, with the intention of not only mixing between themselves but being an important part of the community in which they live.

The social outputs of the regeneration scheme have, if anything, outweighed the housing outputs. Tenant mix and affordability, in the context of community development have all been successful and that success is likely to build.

To be successful this scheme has needed strategy, support, vision and, above all else, hard work and consistent commitment across a number of years. All of the partners have provided this and the rewards now form part of the community for you to see.

From Scott Blakeway

These poems by Farrah Webster and Jason Harris of Beecroft School were two poems out of ten selected, from all Leeds’ schools, to be read in the Leeds Civic Hall as part of the Leeds’ Peace poetry competition.

Enter My World of Peace They locked up freedom, They locked up peace, They locked up respect And threw away the key.

It paints a picture of hateful, hopelessness All because of dreams and beliefs.

They locked up hope, They locked up light, They locked up passion and possibility And blew the candle out.

No more tolerance, No more care, No more peace, No more equality.

The cage started to crumble The bars fell down Hatred will end.

Now peace stays forever.

Harmony will be found.

Ring the bells to end the war, Now peace stays for ever.

Ring the bells to end the war, Now peace stays for ever.

Peace will reign forever.

Farrah Webster (aged 10)

Peace Peace, calm, quiet, no war, Everyone the right to live in peace.

Atmospheres quiet, all calm and well, Civil rights for all.

Everybody, treated equally, Respectfully.

Peace is the right to freedom.

This is the time to end separation, Everyone agrees to destroy segregation.

Light leads the way for hope and PEACE. Say goodbye to evil and racism, No fights, no fear, no arguments Peace will always be with you.

ENTER THE WORLD OF PEACE! Jason Harris (aged 10)

KIRKSTALL MATTERS issue 100 Spring 2009 PAGE 17

In Memory of Dave Butler It was with great sadness that we learned of the death of Dave Butler, in hospital of septicaemia on Saturday 31st January 2009 aged 59. Dave was well known in the Community Association and a friend to many in our community, widely loved and respected. He will be much missed. KVCA extends its condolences and deepest sympathy to his widow, Fiona and to their children at this time. As a way of remembering Dave, we are publishing some ‘memoirs’ on these pages that have been sent to us by his friends in tribute.

From Chris Furniss ‘Convivial, loyal, enthusiastically boyish, kind, loving, bristly of chin.

I cannot remember the first time I met Dave but I can remember arriving at Hubberholme bunk barn one afternoon many years ago and he was there.

The children were enjoying themselves and the women were happily talking and generally organising. As the latter was alien to both of us, we immediately announced that we had in mind a gruelling walk or possibly an inspection of the unique and famous reredos at the local church. Minutes later, we found ourselves in the tiny stone floored public bar of The George. In those days German lager was not generally available in the U.K. but Dave, having spent some of his undoubtedly mis-spent youth abroad, was an expert on the subject and in no time we were well into our second pint of draft Becks. There followed an enjoyable afternoon, the details or generality of which I am unable to recollect except that it stands out as one of the great male bonding experiences of my life.

Of course, it would have been an enjoyable experience because of those qualities which so illuminated Dave’s life. Not only was he a convivial companion but he was loyal - I cannot remember him ever uttering an unkind or critical word about anyone; he was also intelligent and informed and only too happy to talk or even, in his quizzical way, to argue about anything or nothing. His love for Fiona and the children was quite obvious; Fiona was the foundation of his life and he was immensely proud of her and of his daughters. He was boyishly enthusiastic throughout his life as demonstrated by his passionate search for a T-shirt at Le Mans last year.

You don’t think of friendship ever ending, even at our age, but it does and you wish you had seen more of each other or said that you hated that bristly kiss or gone to Le Mans again this summer, as Dave so much wanted to do, or had just gone out for another 7 pints of Becks and talked the world to bits.

It was not to be but we will all remember our friend – and I loved those bristly kisses really.’

Dave pictured here, together with Fiona in 2008 From Jan Furniss and family.

‘Chris and I regard Dave and Fiona amongst our closest friends. I guess, like so many parents, we met through our children when they were little, Laura Butler and Emma Furniss now 25 years old.

We shared the joys and agonies of child rearing all through playschool and primary school years. Also, we have so many happy memories of family holidays spent together in The Yorkshire Dales.

Dave’s company was always a pleasure. His mischievous grin was infectious and no one could possibly be glum in his presence. Despite any personal pain or anguish, he always presented a cheerful, happy and positive Dave to the outside world. His sharp intellect was ever ready to scatter harmless wit and warmth over all assembled company. His courage and stoicism are shining examples to us all. We still cannot believe he is no longer with us and fully expect him to turn up at the pub as usual ordering his pint, though his often repeated pet phrase to me was, ”Jan, you don’t need alcohol to enjoy yourself.” We feel the pain Fiona and the girls, Katie, Laura and Alice, are suffering. We will be there for them in the future weeks, months and years to come.’

We love you Dave. We miss you Dave.’

KIRKSTALL MATTERS issue 100 Spring 2009 PAGE 18

Dave Butler …..

From Emma Furniss ‘I regard Dave as my second Dad. I have so many happy memories of this kind, loving man.

I recall with fondness the countless family holidays in Hubberholme, then later Malham. I remember the many hours Laura and I spent waiting on the side of Wetherby Road, freezing cold in muddy jodhpurs and boots waiting for Dave to pick us up from the stables. Finally, Dave would turn up a casual 2 hours late but you would instantly melt at his cheeky, smiling face.

Every time I met him, he would greet me with the warmest, most sincere smile and give me the biggest bear hug I’ve ever felt, lifting me off the floor, while I wondered if my ribs were going to crack this time.

The love I feel for Dave, Fiona, Kate, Alice, and of course my oldest and dearest friend Laura, is matched only by the love I have for my own family.

How I will miss that hug.’

From Sushila Desousa ‘We first met Dave through the Saturday swimming club and subsequently got to know him better when Laura and Emma joined Laya to go riding at Mount Pleasant Stables in Shadwell.

My memories of Dave are that he was always very caring, kind and supportive, particularly when he knew someone was having a hard time. I recall his kind words on many occasions towards me and our family as well as to others.

The last time we spent together was at Malham when he had to return to Leeds to pick up his medication but returned to keep me company and then drove to Settle and back a number of times to pick up those who were not able to walk back.

Given the problems he had with his back and leg, this must have added to the strain but he was very upbeat and cheerful when doing so.

From Mick Orton ‘Like Sushila, I will always remember Dave’s kindness to people. I am also grateful to Dave for sowing the seeds that led me to teacher training.

And, could I ever forget the "Four Old Gits in a Volvo" trip to Le Mans 24 hour motor race 2008 - 3 days of Dave Butler wit and jolliness.’ (The four old gits were Dave Butler, Chris Furniss, Steve Gradys and Mick Orton.)

Tributes from friends From Sue Brear ‘Think we are still all in shock. My thoughts of Dave were he was always very friendly when you saw him and always made you feel welcome and good about yourself. He was as devoted to Fiona as she was to him and he was a good family man, who was very proud of all the girls. As mine were growing up, I got to know Dave and Fiona more and I have vivid and happy memories of the times we all went together in the Lakes or Malham.

I know things were not easy for Dave and Fiona sometimes, but what always shone through was their loyalty and love for each other. I know, healthwise, in the later years he was not too good, but you never heard him moaning or complaining about his pain.’

From Catherine and Richard Simpson.

‘We got to know Dave firstly in the 1990's when Jan organised the Saturday night family swim at Holt Park. We can remember Dave being there but funnily enough both Richard and I seem to recall him best being in the bar at the end of the swim session and not very often in the pool!

We remember Dave offering to look after Francesca whilst we went to watch the Rhinos. I think he thought the attraction of playing with Alice and also the pet rabbit would appeal to a 4yr old.....he was right.

Finally, both Dave and Fiona telling us to "bring the kids early" on New Years Eve when they held their parties and that they could always find somewhere for them to crash out later in the evening. Very thoughtful.’

From Liz Minkin ‘I was always so glad to see Dave. He had such a kind and considerate air about him.

I felt the love and regard he had for Fiona and his 3 lovely daughters.

He bore illness with such fine fortitude, and though it made him thinner, even gaunt at times, he still always had the bearing and look of the most handsome man.

The last time I talked to him was at a Christmas party when we shared a ciggie outside and his hair looked so gorgeous in the light from the doorway that I had to tell him so!’

KIRKSTALL MATTERS issue 100 Spring 2009 PAGE 19

Kirkstall Forge ….

Group History Project

Group Project – Kirkstall Forge Chris Carnegie, Ben Blakey, Richard Whitlock, Charles Cory We have received a very interesting write up of a group history project that has been undertaken by a group of students in Leeds. Unfortunately, it would be too long to print in full, so we have included the introduction here and a few photos. We will post the study in full on the Kirkstall community website at www.kirkstall.org.uk .

Buildings (Ordnance Survey, 1908-1934, West Riding).

The West Yorkshire Archives was the most useful source of publications on the Forge, with the collection including journals, diaries and a minute’s book taken from monthly meetings on the forge site. We also looked at various secondary sources on each topic in order to contextualize our findings.

The study in particular deals with: • The changing face of the Forge in the 20th Century • The impact of World War II • The role of women at Kirkstall Forge

The Authors INTRODUCTION The aim of this group project is to inform readers of how Kirkstall Forge’s changing industry occurred through out the early twentieth century. The project will look into three main areas of change, which have been seen to be the most important, these being women and the home front, the changing face of Kirkstall Forge’s industry and the impact of the Second World War on Kirkstall Forge in regards to industry, production and war damages. In order to carry out this investigation the group first visited the Forge to view the site in its present form.

This gave us a perspective of the size and scale of the site and also giving us the ability to view machinery, moulds and products used and sold during the period being investigated. From this visit we were also given maps of the site from 1858 and 1916. We have also obtained maps from the West Yorkshire Archives that show the Forge site in 1908, 1921 and 1934. This collection of maps gave us a visual representation of how the forge site changed over the years, for example, with the reduction of the dam and retreating away from waterpower towards electricity and the erection of new

Wartime bomb damage at the Forge

The earliest evidence of the Forge site is believed to have been located in the vicinity of the Abbey Mill in 1893. After heavy expansion and development throughout the following 100 years the ownership was sold to a family partnership, the Beecrofts and Butlers. As a result, development continued to increase with the production of axles taking priority as one of the few continuous processes undertaken on-site with the production of axles for commercial motor vehicles the most prominent process. The beginning of WWII triggered the final expansion of the site in order to meet the war demand. The Forge became a place of particular industrial importance during the war years and as a result the government introduced a complex detailed camouflage scheme designed especially for the Kirkstall Forge site.

Despite the threat of destruction, the site continued to operate successfully for the next 40 years.

KIRKSTALL MATTERS issue 100 Spring 2009 PAGE 20

Help & Advice...

John Battle MP - Surgeries

Kirkstall Ward Councillors Surgeries And contact details Help & advice from your local Councillors:

First Saturday in each month Cow Close Library, Butterbowl Drive - 9.30am Armley Library - 10.30am Bramley Library, Hough Lane - 12 noon Third Saturday in each month St Johns Church, Dixon Lane - 9.30am Kirkstall Housing Office - 10.30am Heights Library, Heights Drive - 11.30am Contact details: John Battle MP Unit 31 Whingate Business Park Leeds LS12 3AT tel. 0113 231 0258 johnbattle@leedswest.freeserve.co.uk www.johnbattle-mp.org.uk

Saturdays 10.30 -11.30am Kirkstall Neighbourhood Housing Office, 45 Kirkstall Lane LS5 3BE Thursdays 12.30 Hawksworth Wood Community Centre, 6 Broadway LS5 3PR Civic Hall tel. 247 4045 Cllr Bernard Atha home tel. 267 2485 Bernard.atha@leeds.gov.uk Cllr John Illingworth tel. 267 3735 John.illingworth@leeds.gov.uk Cllr Lucinda Yeadon tel. 217 7330 Lucinda.yeadon@leeds.gov.uk

Inner North West Area Committee The four wards of Inner NW Leeds are Headingley, Hyde Park & Woodhouse, Kirkstall and Weetwood. The twelve councillors make up the Area Committee, of the Council. This meets six times a year.

Meetings are open to the public.

Do you think you need the streets cleaned more often? Do you think there are enough things for young people to do in your area? Or do you have thoughts about local crime and disorder issues?

Area Committees are able to address all these things and more.

Area Committees give you the opportunity to have more influence on how services are delivered to your area. Your Area Committee

aims to improve the delivery and co-ordination of local council services, and improve the quality of local decision making. Area Committees give local people a local way of addressing their local priorities.

For meeting dates and times and details of Ward Forums, (that report to the Committee) - contact the North West Area Management Team on 0113 395 2826.

KVCA, the Kirkstall Festival and Kirkstall Matters, Kirkstall Online and Vision for Kirkstall need more volunteers Please contact : Ken 275 5413 or John 278 5987 To find out more.

KIRKSTALL MATTERS issue 100 Spring 2009 PAGE 21

Light railway ‌.

Still on track Sunday walks!

Enjoy short local walks in Kirkstall or at one of Leeds Parks on the first Sunday of each month. Free and open to all ages and all abilities! Come and get some fresh air and find out more about your local area (walks no longer than an hour): ALL SUNDAY WALKS START AT 1pm Hollybush Conservation Centre, Broad Lane, Kirkstall, LS5 3BP. (Buses 38, 91a, 15, 33, 33a, 670, 757 and 760 stop nearby)

For more information please contact:

Helen Parsons 0113 230 7060 J.Murricane@btcv.org.uk

The Abbey Light Railway Kirkstall The Railway is open for visitors every Sunday and bank holidays. The is a quarter-mile ride into the Abbey Grounds. The Abbey Light Railway was founded in 1976. It is a family run operation supported by

volunteers to restore and maintain vintage Narrow Gauge locomotives and rolling stock.

Work proceeds on the restoration of our O&K locomotive, dispite the major setback by theivs who stole the flywheel and bottom of the gearbox. The picture shows our Ruston locomotive 'Vulcan', which has just been repainted into our corporate colour scheme

by David Malton.

See Picture Below from Peter Lowe.

KIRKSTALL MATTERS issue 100 Spring 2009 PAGE 22

Leeds City Museum …

Old Leeds Photographs

Leeds City Museum From Saturday 10 January to Saturday 28 June An exhibition of recently rediscovered photographs of Leeds taken in 1954 by French photographer Marc Riboud, exhibited for the first time alongside images from his second visit in 2004, which highlight the sweeping changes in the city.

We enjoyed the preview on Friday. The excellent black & white pictures were taken 55 years ago and some of the children playing in the streets (now middleaged) were standing by their life-size photos, talking to us about growing up in Leeds. Many photos were floor to ceiling and you felt you could walk into the street.

There were some good photos of Kirkstall in 1954. The Kirkstall Power Station cooling towers were an impressive sight. This exhibition is well worth experiencing!

In May 1954, a young photographer, Marc Riboud, was sent to Leeds by Picture Post Magazine. His job was to photograph the city for a series the magazine was © Marc Riboud/Courtesy HackelBury Fine Art, running on 'The Best and Worst of British Cities'. He London spent a month in Leeds. Whilst unable at that time to speak English, he went about recording the lives of ordinary people going about their daily lives.

Exhibition admission is £2 Adults; £1 for Senior citizens & students.

Monday closed Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday 11am until 6pm Thursday 11am until 8pm Saturday, Sunday 11am until 5pm Val Crompton & Ann Lightman

Forum 2000 - Horsforth On March 4th Professor Michael Green, Emeritus Professor of Pathology and well known to those who attend the lectures at the Thackray Museum will look at some medical mysteries in the Old Testament eg did a whole army really die of Piles? This unsavoury disease features in “Priests Piles and Parasites” the title of Professor Green’s talk to Forum 2000. The following week on March 11th Joe Williams will present a dramatised account of Olaudah Equiano, the ex-slave who campaigned at the side of William Wilberforce in his fight against slavery.

Councillor Andrew Carter, who drew the largest audience of the last season, will examine: “More Big Issues for Leeds Citizens” on March 18th. Ecology is once more the issue when on 25th Dr Richard Etheridge, Late Dean, Department of IT and Engineering , Leeds Metropolitan University, will attempt to answer the question: ”Hydrogen- the New Fuel?”

Why not enjoy a stimulating morning with congenial company for £1 at Grove Centre, New Street, Horsforth? The session starts at 10.00am. For further information email hm.taylor1@ntlworld.com or ring 258 3521.

KIRKSTALL MATTERS issue 100 Spring 2009 PAGE 23

Hawksworth Wood Primary School The children in Y5 and Y6 at Hawksworth Wood Primary School have had an extra special late Christmas present. They have been working on Monday evenings with the 'Northern Ballet Theatre' completing the, 'Touch of Dance' initiative.

Sophie Alder (NBT Education coordinator) stated, “.... We love working with the children of Hawksworth Wood! They are so enthusiastic, they are so eager to learn new skills.... and they

Paige eagerly wanted to add that her favourite was the ‘step of the cat’ - the ‘tas de chat.’ “….

It was great as well learning French as we danced!”

Lee Barron, captain of the football team said, “Learning how to balance and turn will make me more nimble on my feet in matches...”

Victor Mputu added, “We are strengthening new muscles that we didn’t even know we had…. My leg muscles are a lot stronger now….” nce.... " All 20 places were taken by the children immediately and all the children thoroughly enjoyed the 1 hour session…… such was the impact the children made upon Sophie and her team at Northern Ballet that all the children were invited to attend the rehearsals of their new production “Swan Lake”. Who knows! One day we may see a Hawksworth Wood pupil taking a lead

Below: Young archers from the Year 6 at the Residential at Robinwood Activity Centre, Todmorden

work together in groups beautifully." She added, " We had to offer this initiative to Hawksworth Wood because of the way they embraced the Shaping Space Project which we had run to teach about the Earth, Sun and Moon through dance. The children loved the new moves they learnt, Chelsea said, “….It was so exciting to learn a ‘saute’ (jump) and a ‘jete’ (leap)….. but my favourite was the ‘port de bras’ , which in French means, ‘carry of the arms.’

KIRKSTALL MATTERS issue 100 Spring 2009 PAGE 24

More Local Issues A first meeting of the Abbey Park User group Forum took place at the Abbey House museum on 26th February.

BMX Track Progress

It was called by the parks and Countryside Department, who manage the Abbey Park.

The Park has recently been awarded the prestigious ‘Green Flag’ and the user consultation was being developed as part of meeting the standards associated with that award.

We have only had positive responses from readers regarding the BMX Track article in the last Kirkstall Matters.

People were present from Museums and Galleries, The Friends of City Museums, LCC Arts and events, Kirkstall abbey Tennis Club, the KVCA and the Abbey Light railway.

Various ideas were exchanged, including issues about maintainance of the Tennis Courts, whether the old Bowling Green could be put to some productive future use.

The issue is being pursued actively by our local councillors. We understand that Council Officers have suggested that there may also be other sites that should be looked at.

Whist this may seem un-necessarily complicating things, given that there is a perfectly good existing site, that no-one is suggesting be used for anything else, at least the idea has not received a negative response.

We look forward to the issue going forward and will keep readers informed of progress

KVCA raised the issue of the limited access hours to the Cloisters and the fact that there are no toilet facilities outside of visiting centre opening hours (including none on bank holidays).

Two ideas were raised that KVCA wants to promote: - If anyone is interested in being actively involved in a ‘Friends of Kirkstall Abbey Group’, please get in touch.

- The idea was begun to be explored that the access to the Abbey and facilities could be extended by an involvement of volunteers, with appropriate support and training.

Get in touch with ‘Kirkstall Matters’ if you are interested, or if you want to communicate any comments or views about the Park that we can take back to the next meeting. The Group meets again in September.

Do you have an event, activity or volunteering opportunity that you would like to publicise in Kirkstall Matters? Let us know before the copy deadline for the next issue—7th May.

KIRKSTALL MATTERS issue 100 Spring 2009 PAGE 25

Images of Kirkstall Abbey ….

Kirkstall Abbey: from romantic views to trade marks – a few images of the abbey from the Leeds museum collections.

often as part of a grand tour of romantic ruins, was of

Kitty Ross, Curator of Leeds History/Social History, Leeds Museums and Galleries 27th January 2009 Since the City of Leeds acquired Kirkstall Abbey in 1889 (thanks to the generosity of Colonel North), the museum and gallery services has been collecting material relating to the Abbey. As well as a very important archaeological archive, the collection now includes nearly 400 paintings, prints and drawings, as well as photographs, archive documents and ephemera, plus many souvenir ceramics, furniture and other items. Here is just a small selection.

Probably one of the earliest depictions of the Abbey is actually on an embroidered textile from the early 18th century, stitched by E.A. Dobbins “in the 12th year of her age”.

course J.M.W. Turner (1775-1851) who visited in 1812.

The earliest photograph of the Abbey in the collection dates from 1855 and is part of a remarkable set of photo-

The earliest dated print is a 1723 view of the “South Prospect of Kirkstall Abbey” by Samuel Buck, who came to Leeds in 1719 to visit Ralph Thoresby.

graphs taken by James Walker Oxley (1834-1928) and only acquired by Leeds Museums & Galleries in 2005.

On display at Abbey House museum you can find two 1830s clocks with painted views of the Abbey above the dial, one by Thomas Cordingley and the other by James Galloway.

Continued Page 27.

Among the many artists who painted Kirkstall Abbey,

KIRKSTALL MATTERS issue 100 Spring 2009 PAGE 26

…. From the Leeds Museum Collections For local firms, the Abbey was the most recognisable local land mark with which to promote their products as being genuinely from Kirkstall. It became part of the trade mark image for beer from Kirkstall Brewery and also Richard Gay’s mustard (1840s).

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For local firms, the Abbey was the most recognisable local land mark with which to promote their products as being genuinely from Kirkstall. It became part of the trade mark image for beer from Kirkstall Brewery and also Richard Gay’s mustard (1840s).

There are many more pictures of the Abbey on display at Abbey House Museum, and for a detailed introduction to the Abbey itself, visit the Kirkstall Abbey Visitor Centre. The some of the Oxley photographs are on display in the “Collectors Cabinet “ gallery in the new Leeds City Museum.

There are many more pictures of the Abbey on display at Abbey House Museum, and for a detailed introduction to the Abbey itself, visit the Kirkstall Abbey Visitor Centre.

Some of the Oxley photographs are on display in the “Collectors Cabinet “ gallery in the new Leeds City Museum.

KIRKSTALL MATTERS issue 100 Spring 2009 PAGE 27

Scouting Update

….

Local Scouts activity The Scout Movement is for young people from the age 6 upwards - and for boys and girls. There are 2 Scout Groups in the Kirkstall area, one based at St Stephens' Church in Kirkstall, the other is based at St Mary's Church, Hawksworth Wood.

Each Group runs Beavers Scouts (for the 6 - 8 year olds); Cub Scouts (for the 8 - 10 1/2 year olds) and Scouts (for 10 1/2 - 14 + year olds). The Scout District provides an Explorer Scout Unit for young people over 14 1/2 Each section is led by trained Leaders who have been CRB checked, and hold a current First Aid qualification.

The 5th North Leeds (St Stephen's) meets at the St Stephens Church Hall, Norman Street, Leeds 5. Beaver Scouts meet on Tuesdays at 5.30pm, Cubs meet on Fridays at 5.45pm, Scouts meet on Mondays at 6.00 pm. Full details can be obtained from Laurie on (0113) 2259234 Mob: 07798 730917: e-mail lawrence.wilson3@ntlworld.com The 43rd North Leeds (Phoenix St Mary's) meets at the St Mary's Church Hall, Hawkswood Crescent, Leeds 5. Beaver Scouts and Cubs meet on Wednesday evenings at 6.30pm, Scouts meet on Friday at 7.00pm. Details from Richard on (0113) 2673325: email richardfrank@phoenix43.fsnet.co.uk St Stephen’s Scout Group News The Troop has had a number of varied Troop nights including guest entertainers, a joint Troop meeting with the 43rd Phoenix St Mary‘s, and preparations for Halloween. In November, the traditional ‘Frosty Camp’ took place over one of the coldest weekends on record - so cold the tents were frozen rigid, and didn't need the poles!! Plenty of activities again including saw & axe work, cooking on open fires and trebuchet (catapult) construction!! In December we had another joint activity, this time a bowling competition with the St Michael’s Scouts, but, of course no one knows who won! To end the year a traditional Christmas Party was held with the Cubs and Beavers including lots of games, food and fun!!

In the next few months, the Troop will be joining in the District’s winter camp at the end of January at Sconce on the edge of Ilkley Moor, and this promises to be an interesting indoor fun filled event! We are going to ‘Wet n Wild’ - a water activities park at North Shields - with 43rd Phoenix St Mary’s Scouts in February., and planning for our camps in 2009 which we hope will include a week long summer camp in May or July.

The Scout Troop has now changed it’s meeting night to Monday nights - at the St Stephens Church Hall, Norman Street, Leeds Phoenix St Mary’s Scout Group News The Phoenix St Mary's Scout Troop has had a busy Autumn period - in October the Troop spent a weekend on a Narrow Boat on the Calder / Hebble Navigation. Unfortunately, heavy rain on the Saturday night meant a rising river level which meant that the trip had to be abandoned near Brighouse. We had to arrange transport home - ironically in bright sunshine! In November, we had a weekend based in the Youth Hostel at York, and spent part of the weekend cycling in the area. One Scout was invested into the Troop on top of the Central Tower of York Minster. In December, the Troop went to a Scout Hostel high in the Pennines above Hebden Bridge for it's annual winter weekend. The local moors were still covered in snow but the valleys were covered in sheet ice which made for an interesting hike on the Saturday!

In November, 4 members of the Troop won the District's 'Masterchef' competition, which was held at the Wike campsite. Earlier in the month, at the same venue, the whole Group enjoyed the Group's Bonfire Night party, and several Scouts camped over to help clear up the following morning. In December, some of the older Scouts went to see Andrew Newton at the City Varieties, and a week or so later, the Beavers and Cubs went to see the Pantomime there - and had a great time, particularly in the 'rock fight'! All the sections enjoyed the fancy dress Christmas party that was held just before Christmas - the theme this year being 'Superheroes'!

The Group has been successful recently in attracting some funding and beside some camping equipment, also intends to buy 5 new bikes in the New Year.

Plans are being made for 2009 - the Scout Troop's summer camp will be in North Wales, near Conwy, and activities being planned for the year include caving, narrow boating, crate stacking, biking, gliding, climbing, survival weekends. . . .and much, much more! The Beavers and the Cubs are hopefully going to enjoy a Nights away experience, and the whole Group will camp together in June at Bramhope.

Both Scout Groups always welcome new members, young and old (!) and enquiries can be made to either of the contacts above- or just come along to one of our meetings!

By Richard Frank

KIRKSTALL MATTERS issue 100 Spring 2009 PAGE 28

And Guides too! ....

The Girl Guide movement is for young girls from the age of 5 upwards.

We have 2 Rainbow units in the area 10th Leeds and 6th Kirkstall.

Also in the area we have 3 Brownie Packs: 10th Leeds, 1st Kirkstall and 3rd Kirkstall and a Guide unit 1st Kirkstall.

If you would like to know time and days for any of these groups please phone 0113 2784255.

The 10th Leeds pack is 85 years old in November.

We are an active pack,we go on trips to Eureka to do badges, have sleep-overs, go to the Fire Station, have the Police in to talk to us and we go to the Lbrary.

Last December we had a stall to raise money for Save the Children charity, We also in February had a concert with the other groups in Kirkstall to raise money for Water Aid, in which we did some songs and drama.

If anybody was a past member of the 10th Leeds either as a Brownie or a Leader, please get it touch as we could be holding a reunion. If so, please call on 0113 278 4255.

From Mrs Lesley Greenfield, 10th Leeds Brownie Guider and Kirkstall/Woodhouse Moor District Commissioner

KIRKSTALL MATTERS issue 100 Spring 2009 PAGE 29

Kirkstall Matters…

first beginnings

Chris and Jan Furniss remember the early days of Kirkstall Matters in 1978.

Research, compose, type up, edit and proofread each article. Type up final copy on carbon paper, add any hand drawn graphics, wrap carbon copy round the drum, apply messy ink to roller and stand for hours and hours turning the handle til hand drops off!

What fond memories we have of taking it in turns to rotate the handle of the antiquated reprographic machine in that cold, draughty basement of 54 Morris Lane, our family home in 1978. Looking back, the earliest editions of Kirkstall Matters were produced by methods from the dark ages compared with the slick digital, computerised techniques of today.

A hundred and fifty copies of each of the 12 pages were duplicated, the grainy text becoming more and more illegible with each turn, then placed in neat piles on the Victorian stone keeping table.

Next followed what must have looked like some weird country dance sequence as the ‘collators’ glided round and round the table scooping up the pages in the correct order, then passed each collation to the ‘stapler’ who then handed the magazine to the ‘counter’ and quality control person. The ‘bundler’ would then prepare the bundles for street by street hand delivery.

Some 40 years or so earlier in WW2, this same sturdy table would have served as extra protection in this makeshift air raid shelter for the soldiers who were billeted there. And 50 years before that, the careworn ‘below stairs’ scullery maids would have been scurrying round the table preparing delicious repasts for the masters and mistresses upstairs.

Obstacles to meeting the deadline: Carbon paper rips, stapler packs in, Geoff Hodgson regales us with another war time memory, Ken Walker nips off to repair Barbara’s lollipop stick, Chris feeds dog while Jan feeds baby, Dick Clay has music score to finish, Liz St David Smith (now Minkin) spots a spelling mistake, Katie Simpson has a tidy up, Pat Oddy puts the kettle again, Pam Holdsworth

Hand duplicated edition number 4 of ‘Kirkstall Matters’ from nearly 30 years ago.

and Karen Hauxby make sensible suggestions, Richard Simpson has to mend his bike, Elsie Skene has some embroidery to finish, not to mention Rhoda Bucktrout and Matthew Bamford, two colourful local characters in those days, have yet another blazing row over some obscure political point.

We have to say it was not as tedious as it sounds as the hardy Kirkstall Matters squad soon created a party atmosphere and much jocularity kept the team spirits up.

Issue no. 6 April 1980 was the first Kirkstall Matters to be printed professionally by Leeds Community Press. Our budget restricted us to 300 copies.

KIRKSTALL MATTERS issue 100 Spring 2009 PAGE 30

A memory from KVCA’s past …..

The early days.

A letter from Dar es Salaam in Tanzania.

Karen Naiman, formerly of Kirkstall, has emailed us with some memories of the early days of the Festival.

It’s almost 22 years since I left the friendly neighbourhood of Kirkstall and emigrated to Dar es Salaam, the coastal capital of Tanzania in East Africa. I used to live on Morris Lane in an old Victorian semi which had the name Brackenhurst carved into its gateposts. I moved into the house in the late 70s and soon got to know the neighbours.

When KVCA was set up I became involved and it was there that I met Liz Minkin (she was called Liz St David Smith in those days) and together we hatched a plan to revive Kirkstall Festival which had been dormant for many a year.

We had the full support of KVCA and we just brainstormed ideas, got going and it ended up with a successful festival 25 years ago. I always loved processions so I made sure that I was the organizer and that there was plenty of music and color. I particularly liked jazz music and so a jazz band would lead us through the streets. We also had a horse and cart and a festival queen and attendants chosen from the local schools – every year one junior school had a chance to supply us with a queen for the day.

We had fancy dress competitions in various categories and a great deal of effort went into preparing for this and there were many competitors who made the procession really interesting for those watching on the pavements. It was a chance for local schools, clubs and societies to get in there and show off in colorful costumes – some on floats and some walking. I led the procession as a clown one year, another year I wore the sort of costume that the girl wears in pantomime when she is playing the part of the handsome prince – you know the one with boots and a jacket and a big flashy hat with a plume.

I loved all that dressing up! Some years we had a brass band at the back and front. It was such fun to process past the museum and enter the park to signal the start of the big day.

We also made quite a bit of money for charity as we rattled our money cans as we walked along. After the success of this first year, we decided to set up a special festival committee in KVCA with members taking responsibility for all the various aspects of the

festival. One year I was in charge of the refreshment concession and it was there that I realized the cut-throat nature of business (being a primary school teacher I had been shielded from the business of making money). The hot dog sellers were at my door trying to be first to secure the concession and get right on in there. That would be in the darkest of January when the festival was far, far in the future.

My last festival committee year was 1987 and I can remember the committee were having their customary celebratory party at some Kirkstall venue. I was about to travel to Tanzania, having married a Tanzanian who was studying at Leeds University.

Steve Gradys (he was doing the field manager job then can you believe!) asked me how long I was going to be away for. I distinctly remember saying “oh 2 or 3 years…”. But that was not to be – one never knows for sure what is going to happen to you in this life.

But I am regularly drawn back to Leeds and whenever I can, I visit the festival and am happy to see that it is a thriving and happy event for the whole of Kirkstall and beyond. A few years ago I bumped into Liz Minkin and we ended up dancing to a band stationed outside the abbey church – we were elated to see that the festival was still going strong.

Last year the weather was kind and the Abbey grounds were absolutely full of people. I went along with my daughters Miranda and Ella (they were 4 and 1 when I left Kirkstall) and we introduced little Micah, my grandson to the wonders of the festival day. There is so much to see and do – I remember ending up in the tea dance marquee and bumping into a Morris Lane friend Jan Mann. Then there is Jan Furness and Richard and Cathy Simpson to name just a few of the stalwarts of the festival committee. There are others who have served the committee year in and out and they deserve praise for their service to Kirkstall community. Long live the festival. It is GREAT. Karen Naiman naimans@raha.com

KIRKSTALL MATTERS issue 100 Spring 2009 PAGE 31

Kirkstall Abbey ...

Easter Activities Easter Egg Hunt Find the hidden eggs before the bunny eats them all!

Trendy Tudors Guided Tours of Kirkstall Abbey 6 June to 30 August 2009 On Saturdays and Sundays 2.00-3.00pm.

FAMILY FRIENDLY TOURS Join one of our tour guides to find out about the history of the Abbey, the way of life of the monks, and what happened in each of the abbey buildings, such as the church, the refectory and the infirmary.

A chance to rummage through our Tudor Trunk of dressing up clothes and try some Tudor fashions. Model the latest monk’s habit, or Elizabethan ruff, become knight, a prince or princess.

Hunt for the Golden Chalice Abbot Ralph has lost the golden chalice that he is supposed to give to King Henry.

Follow the clues to help him find it.

No booking necessary.

Admission is FREE. Activities are FREE and take place every open day throughout the Easter holidays (Saturday 4 Sunday 19 April).

Cost; £3.50 per person (no concessions).

Booking essential. Sensible footwear recommended.

Kirkstall Abbey Summer Opening (April- September): Tuesday – Sunday 10.00am16.00pm Kirkstall Abbey, Abbey Road, Kirkstall, Leeds, LS5 3EH. Tel: 0113 230 5492 Email: kirkstall.abbey@leeds.gov.uk

KIRKSTALL MATTERS issue 100 Spring 2009 PAGE 32

Family Fun …

At Abbey House Museum

Tuesday 7th April, 1pm-3pm

Easter Fun Afternoon Family craft activities and a chance to meet the Easter Bunny.

No booking necessary, normal admission applies Tuesday 14th April, 1pm-3pm

Queen Victoria’s Family Fun Craft activities for all the family based on Queen Victoria.

No booking necessary, normal admission applies.

Wednesday 15th April

Queen Victoria crafts for playschemes and groups Exclusive hour long craft sessions in our Education Room with a Museum facilitator.

Minimum 5 children, Maximum 15.

Booking essential. £1 per person, includes museum admission Thursday 16th April, 10am-12 noon and 2pm-4pm

Be a Victorian Could you help the widow washer woman with her washing or mix a potion for the chemist?

Dress up (costume provided) and be a Victorian in our streets.

No booking necessary. Normal admission applies.

Friday 16th April, 10am-12 noon

Queen Victoria’s Family Fun Craft activities for all the family on the theme of Queen Victoria.

No booking necessary, normal admission applies.

Abbey House Museum, Abbey Walk, Kirkstall, Leeds, LS5 3EH. Tel: 0113 230 5492 Email: abbey.house@leeds.gov.uk

Leeds Guild of Singers Harry Gration, popular newsreader and anchorman from BBC TV’s news programme “Look North” will join the Leeds Guild of Singers for a concert in the “ Music at St Matthew’s” concert series, in Chapel Allerton, Leeds on March 21st at 7.30 Harry will provide the narration for the choir’s programme Singing for God” – an illustrated journey through the History of English Church Music .

The programme will feature music by some of the most noted names in the choral repertoire, including Byrd, Gibbons, Purcell, Stanford Vaughan Williams Howells and Leighton. A further attraction will be the performance of the choir’s invited organist Nick Seddon. Tickets cost £12, £10(concessions) £5(under 16) Family £25. Details can be found on 0113 268 0600 or www.leedsguildofsingers.org.uk

KIRKSTALL MATTERS issue 100 Spring 2009 PAGE 33

INBOX …. Letters and Emails Dear editor, “I read the article in Kirkstall Matters about the dirt track for bikers in Batcliffe Woods and I must write in support of this excellent facility. It has been created for youngsters by youngsters. It is well-used and wellmaintained. I am a middle-aged dog walker who frequently passes this spot and I do not think that the track in any way detracts from the woodland setting. The lads are always respectful to dogs and anyone passing by; they do not interfere in any way with the existing pathways. It is great to see lads enjoying themselves creatively and getting physical exercise at the same time.

I am angry that (my) tax money has been wasted by ruining such minor earthworks in the past. The council wastes so much money on ventures for youth which they don`t really want; they should celebrate this innovative and popular leisure facility which barely inconveniences anyone. There is an alternative bikers` track across the park. This has been created by the council and is barely used. This is probably because it is too dangerous. I have twice seen lads hurt themselves whilst trying minor stunts on these ramps. It is all concrete and metal. One lad went over the handlebars of his bike and fell breaking both wrists; the other fell and banged his head and grazed his chest. How much safer to tumble onto damp earth.

By taking away this hard-earned and popular playground the council is simply forcing more youngsters into hanging about bored and tempting them to get involved in far worse ways of showing off their strengths and skills!”

Sue Barraclough Lea Farm Grove From Bob Nicol, Vesper Road “A couple of years ago in this magazine I asked West Leeds politicians if they would please explain why they were unable to attract the kind of expenditure on our roads that other politicians achieved in their wards. They are use these pages for self-promotion but declined the opportunity. Since then East and South Leeds have shared a further £50 million or so to our nothing.

I believe our ward is strangling all North West Leeds with its anti car luddite lunacy. I’m sick of politicians blaming car drivers for pollution, Chrysler spent a billion pounds developing a non polluting car to run on hydrogen, our government will take 60 billion in tax revenue from road users this year alone.

They choose to use that money to buy votes with rewards for people with children like £500 to open bank accounts or to fight wars which are nothing to do with us, or bail out banks that gambled and lost. They will spend next to none of it on solutions to traffic pollution. They even seem to want cars standing longer and moving slower.

They quietly changed Kirkstall Road from 40mph to 30 probably because they wanted to develop along the south side, which was virtually open land, it should have been used to improve this important arterial road instead they compound pollution with more development. The same will happen on Abbey Road to prepare for the massive forge site development. I thought it was to be a museum and a few restored cottages; it’s actually a new village.

With traffic spilling in and out on to the most congested single carriageway in Leeds.

The money put aside for access will not be enough for an over or underpass with decent slip roads, so they obviously expect to hold commuters up with traffic lights again. Already they have taken the only bit of dual carriageway on A65 and changed it to a single road, ready to make it 30 mph for five miles from the city to the 40mph ring road.

Once they have fully developed the south side their next well-worn excuse for doing nothing to improve congestion will be to claim improving the road will split communities. It’s looking like we will see the upgrading of the A6110-A6120 ring road shelved in favour of the new plan to spend the money in the East, in the form of a bypass around Seacroft. Who is there to stop them?” bobnicol@ntlworld.com

KIRKSTALL MATTERS issue 100 Spring 2009 PAGE 34

A trip down Memory Lane...

Maureen Tunnard visited Kirkstall last autumn after 70 years.

She writes...

Dear Kirkstall Neighbours of 70 years ago, (if any of you are left), and readers of Kirkstall Matters.

I returned to see the old stomping grounds where I lived and worked just before the second Worl War. I was the young nurse at Kirkstall Lodge on Morris Lane, which was then a ‘Dr. Barnardos’ home, the ‘ever open door’ for destitute children—in need for being orphaned or because of parents ill-health or other reasons. I did my best to make them happy in the short time between leaving their own homes and going on to Barnardo’s larger

If you were around in those days, you may remember us going from Kirkstall Lodge in crocodile, to and from St Stephens School, which I see is still there. I wish them every happiness, as they gave my children in those years leading up to the war.

Fears that the Germans would bomb the munitions factory (The Forge, ed.) lead to the home being disbanded and the children all moved to Ripon and elsewhere. So if any of you wondered where we disappeared to, that was the story. A pity we were not allowed to stay in our happy home.

Before I close, I must say ‘thank you’ to the people who kindly took a photo of me, on the same steps at Kirkstall Lodge, where I was standing 70 years ago (see picture on the left) at the age of 16 years. I’m now 86 and very pleased that such nice people still live in Kirkstall as did all those years ago.

My love and thanks to you all. God Bless.

Maureen Tunnard. (Then known as nurse Olive Young) Do any of you older readers remember the Barnardo’s in Morris Lane?

Anyone have any old photographs—maybe class pictures including children from the home you were at school with.

Maureen would like to hear from any of you.

Contact her through Kirkstall Matters.

Membership Application Form I wish to join the KVCA Kirkstall Valley Community Association

Name……………………………………...

Address…………………………………..

Postcode………………………………...

Annual Membership (inc. delivery of Kirkstall Matters within the Kirkstall area) is £4 Home, to live with lots of other children with similar tragedies. We kept them whilst they were given health checks and assessed. In large batches, they would be taken to Barnardos in London—sometimes going into big homes or to families that would give them a better kind of life, all over the country.

This explains part of why I felt the urge to return once more, to a happy part of my early career with the lovely people of Kirkstall.

U.K. Postal delivery (outside Kirkstall) for a year costs us £3. For postal delivery we welcome a donation.

I enclose cheque/postal order payable to ‘KVCA’ for £…..

Post this coupon to: KVCA Treasurer 18 The Rise Leeds LS5 3EP

KIRKSTALL MATTERS issue 100 Spring 2009 PAGE 35

Cabinet visit Leeds….

International Development Secretary meets local people and groups in West Leeds At the end of 2008 the cabinet met in Leeds for it's second meeting outside of London. Just before the meeting at the Royal Armouries, Douglas Alexander MP and Secretary of State for International Development visited St Michael's Church in Farnley, West Leeds. He was joined by John Battle MP for Leeds West, Rachel Reeves, Labour Parliamentary Candidate in Leeds West and St Michael's vicar, the Rev'd Derek Grasby.

Christmas Concert….

Kirkstall Carol Concert

7.30 p.m. 17th December 2008 In the run-up to Christmas one of the more recent traditions is that a group of Adel residents attend a carol concert at St. Stephen’s Church, Kirkstall. This vast city church would take a lot of filling, so there is always a warm welcome and ample room for us.

This year, the Lawnswood Singers presented “Welcome, yule” under the direction of Brenda Hawer.

The ladies of the choir really looked the part with their red and gold scarves, echoing the crimson accents in the ceiling paintwork and the seasonal candles. Their accompanist was Peter Reasbeck who treated us to a wonderful piano solo of Scott Joplin music and later did a duet with Brenda of a medley of popular carols.

It was a varied programme, with some familiar carols for audience participation, together with some new-tous pieces, some sung unaccompanied. Indeed, we seemed to do something of a world tour – including Gloucester, Wales, France, the Caribbean and of course, Bethlehem. Readings too were included adding to the variety.

As usual the refreshments served mid-programme were delicious and provided the audience with a chance to exchange Christmas greetings. It was a lovely warm and friendly evening inside the church but very cold outside! Parking nearby never seems to be a problem.

Church groups, credit unions, refugee groups, fair trade campaigners and others were invited to this special opportunity and were able to put questions to the Minister on issues including the Congo, Zimbabwe, credit unions and asylum seekers. The debate was excellent and shows that in times of economic difficulty we must continue supporting the poorest around the world.

Ann Lightman

One of those attending was Kirkstall resident Mike Winter, who has been involved in European / African reconciliation over the past few years. Mike asked a question regarding the role played by British and Western businesses in fuelling the conflict in the Congo region. He pressed the Secretary of State to re-examine the outcome of a UN investigation which named several prominent British companies whose trading policies and practice was encouraging conflict and contributing to the death toll, hardship and suffering in that region of Africa. Mr Alexander promised to give it his full attention. After the debate, Mike said “I found the meeting really constructive. It was good to have so many people from West Leeds who are so knowledgeable in a wide range of issues around development. I think many of us were impressed by the Minister’s willingness to listen and his awareness of many of the situations raised and how he communicated what the Government is doing to address them.

by Rachel Reeves

KIRKSTALL MATTERS issue 100 Spring 2009 PAGE 36

Our Advertisers: Abbey Guest House Abbey House Museum Workshops Accident Repairs - Branch Auto Bodies Alison James – Optician Bargain Booze B. Bex – Joinery Computer Help - Martin Lewis Computers - Steve Dunn PC Services CPS – Airedale, Quality Printing Doyle Roofing & Property Maintenance Electrical Installation - Tony Wilson Funeral Directors - John Holt Hawksworth Wood Community Association Home Support Services J.News Newsagents Kirkstall Abbey Tennis Club Kirkstall Leisure Centre Kirkstall St Stephen’s Pre School Kirkstall St Stephen’s Primary School Kirkstall Valley Primary School Nursery Kirkstall Valley Primary School Leeds Homestay Services Mark Johnson – Re-upholstery Milford Sports & Social Club Oddfellows Painter & Decorator - Piarais Tall Tails –Cattery, Vesper Road Therapeutic Counselling - Carole Anne Tiling - Brian Hurst West End House - Food & Ale WYAS, Sheepscar

Hawksworth Wood Community Association 6 Broadway, Leeds LS5 3PR Tel & Fax 0113 228 5550 Email: hw.ca@ntlworld.com

www.hawksworthcommunity.leedslearning.org Local Councillor Surgeries Thursdays 1-2pm Multi-agency Advice Surgeries 1st Wednesday each month 10am-12 noon Leeds City Credit Union Services

KIRKSTALL MATTERS issue 100 Spring 2009 PAGE 37

Birthday Parties at Abbey House Museum If you are looking for a birthday celebration with a difference, why not book a Birthday Party at the Museum?

Our parties give children a chance to be creative and explore the museum and its objects in a fun way. Party Planning Birthday Parties take place on Sunday mornings from 10am - 11.30 The party is suitable for children aged between 7 - 14 years. We can take up to 10 children per party.

We provide a party leader and the materials.

The Birthday Party costs ÂŁ30.

Pre-booking is essential tel. 0113 230 5492

Kirkstall Leisure Centre Looking for somewhere to hold a meeting or event?

We now have a Meeting Room Available every day one off or long term bookings Seats up to 25 people. Children’s Parties, local groups and businesses welcome Contact Reception for further details: Kirkstall Leisure Centre

Kirkstall Lane, Leeds LS5 3BE Tel 0113 214 4555/6

KIRKSTALL MATTERS issue 100 Spring 2009 PAGE 38

June — 30 August 2009

We run guided tours of Kirkstall of AuSaturSuns 2.000pm.

Suitable

•

Fami ndly

Kirkstall St Stephen’s Pre-School Kirkstall St Stephen’s C of E Primary School, Morris Lane Leeds LS5 3JD

Tel: 0113 214 4630 From 2½ to school age FREE from 3 years old.

Abbey from June until the end gust on days and day noon 3.0

Monday- Friday 9am to 12 A warm, safe and stimulating environment ly

frie

2m Where

3p

When

KIRKSTALL MATTERS issue 100 Spring 2009 PAGE 39

for

English Tourism Council

email: abbeyleeds@ntlworld.com

www.abbeyguesthouseleeds.co.uk

Steve Dunn PC Services For home PC users and small businesses PC & Laptop Troubleshooting and Repair Upgrading PC hardware or software Home/small office networks and general advice

Call me on 0113 2264567 for a free quote KIRKSTALL MATTERS issue 100 Spring 2009 PAGE 40

Housekeeping & Ironing/ Private Care & Home Support Services We provide a professional, reliable, experienced housekeeping and/ or home helping service. Friendly supportive care in your own home. Home-sitters, personal care, ironing, laundry, beds, shopping, cooking. Arranged to meet your own personal individual needs and requirements.

Additional services also available. Night-sitters, night-sleepers service by prearrangement (weekends & also bank holidays).

References available.

KIRKSTALL MATTERS issue 100 Spring 2009 PAGE 41

KIRKSTALL ABBEY TENNIS CLUB Playing at Kirkstall Abbey Free coaching for juniors and adults Tournaments

Social events

Membership: Adults £20 Family £40 Juniors £4 Concessions for Priority Leeds Card Holders New members welcome For more information contact: Jessica Fischer 07711 64699 Jessica.fischer@ntlworld.com

ADVERTISE HERE We welcome advertisements from local businesses and Organisations.

Next Copy date: before 7th May. For more information Contact: KVCA c/o The Treasurer, 18 The Rise, Leeds LS5 3EP

KIRKSTALL MATTERS issue 100 Spring 2009 PAGE 42

Quality Printing for clubs, local associations, Church Groups etc. at the keenest of prices ...

Tony Wilson Electrical Installations 16 Vesper Gardens

West Yorkshire Archive Services

WYAS, Leeds, Sheepscar Leeds LS7 3AP Tel: 0113 214 5814 Fax: 0113 214 5815 leeds@wyjs.org.uk Appointments recommended Some archives are held offsite and our search room can get very busy.

Monday: 9.30am to 5pm Tuesday: 9.30am to 5pm Thursday: 9.30am to 5pm Please note we do not produce archives

Kirkstall Leeds LS5 3NS Tel. 274 6027 mob. 07946 608 869

Is your business Kirkstall based?

Why not advertise in Kirkstall Matters?

Advertising is low-cost and effective Circulation of 1000 copies -only ÂŁ10 per quarter page Mail us at kirkstallmatters@yahoo.com We need you to support us and help pay for the production of our Community Magazine.

KIRKSTALL MATTERS issue 100 Spring 2009 PAGE 43

KIRKSTALL MATTERS issue 100 Spring 2009 PAGE 44

J.NEWS 1 MORRIS LANE, KIRKSTALL 278 6859

Newsagents

Sweets, Tobacco, Off-licence, Greetings cards Newpapers Delivered Major Credit Cards Accepted

KIRKSTALL MATTERS issue 100 Spring 2009 PAGE 45

KIRKSTALL MATTERS issue 100 Spring 2009 PAGE 46

Kirkstall Harriers Running Club meets at 6.50pm for a 7pm run, every Monday and Wednesday night (except Bank Holiday Mondays) at Kirkstall Leisure Centre. We are a friendly club and welcome all levels of ability. For more information please contact Jill on07732517292 or email stoxy78@hotmail.com.

Jill Stocks, Secretary, Kirkstall Harriers

Painter and Decorator - no job too small - residential or business - 30 years experience - always uses clean dust sheets and cleans up thoroughly - references available on request

Call Piarais 0113 295 8785

0772 995 8901

KIRKSTALL MATTERS issue 100 Spring 2009 PAGE 47

KIRKSTALL MATTERS issue 100 Spring 2009 PAGE 48