WAKEFIELD Life FREE PAPER / August September 2020 / Issue 1
Inside
Dementia Connect
Walking Football Is Back!
A new personalised support service for anyone with dementia P11
Walking on together, walking football is alive and kicking in Wakefield P20
Restaurant Review
Historical Society
Post lockdown fish and chips reviewed at Calder Grove’s Kingfisher P16
We look at a new book that shows how Wakefield looked over 400 years ago P22
Disgust at the amount of rubbish along the canal and river Calder in Ossett prompted couple to clean up the area Disgust at the amount of rubbish along the canal and river Calder in Ossett prompted a local couple to clean up the area. Many people have found the recent lockdown period difficult, but for an Ossett couple, lockdown was the catalyst for an activity that has got them noticed. Having enjoyed long distance walking since their retirement, Malcolm and Yvonne Hall found themselves confined to the local area for their daily walks. Used to trekking such walks as the Pennine Way and Coast to Coast Walk, their regular route now took them down Healy Road in Ossett and along the canal towards Thornhill, and they were left shocked by the amount of
litter they found along the way. Armed with a long reach grabber, or litter picker, and a good supply of bags, they made it their mission to clean up their local walking route. Just about every day since the country locked down, Malcolm and Yvonne took it upon themselves to pick up other people’s discarded litter and rubbish along the canal whilst they enjoyed their permitted daily exercise, and they have carried on after restrictions were lifted. Malcolm said. “It’s disgusting the amount of rubbish we sometimes pick up along our walk. Some people seem to have no regard for the environment or their local area. I can’t believe how much rubbish is just
thrown down, spoiling walks and the locality for other people”. The items they’ve found cast away on the sides of the river Calder and the canal
include the typical cans, bottles and barbeques, but also towels, clothing and underwear. “I just don’t understand why, if people can carry things
here, they don’t take home their rubbish and empties”, said Yvonne. The couple have become a regular sight litter-picking along the canal side, and the area is so much better for their efforts. Their selflessness and determination to keep this corner of their local area clean has earned them a nomination to be the recipients of the Wakefield Life’s first ever Big Thank You beautiful bouquet of flowers. “We didn’t expect any thanks for what we’re doing”, said Yvonne, “We do it because we want to see our local area clean, and it’s something constructive we can do while we’re walking… but it is nice to feel that it’s appreciated”.
Bouquet donated to
WAKEFIELD Life’s Big Thank You
by Amaryllis Floral Design 11 Towngate, Ossett WF5 9BL
Tel: 01924 280077 www.amaryllisossett.co.uk