LS26 Local - October 2020 Issue 26

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LET’S STAY CONNECTED!

IN THIS ISSUE...LOST LOCAL CINEMAS, HOME LEA’S SUMMER HOUSE PLANS, MORRISONS COMMUNITY CHAMPIONS... PLUS MUCH MORE

LS26 LOCAL YOUR COMMUNITY NEWSZINE

CALL US: 0113 328 0210 EMAIL US: ls26local@gmail.com VISIT OUR WEBSITE: www.ls26.org.uk

@LS26Local

LS26 Local Editor - Graham Ambler

LS26 LOCAL STOCKISTS:

ALLERTON BYWATER: Woodend Premier Store, St Aidans RSPB Nature Reserve CARLTON: Carlton Post Office, Rhubarb Triangle Farm Shop, The Unicorn Inn METHLEY: Methley Methodist Church, Methley Mini Market, Mickletown Store & Post Office, Pinfold Surgery, Rivers Meet Cafe OULTON: Holiday Inn Hotel, Leeds Physiotherapy & Pilates Centre, Oulton Surgery, Rothwell Sports Centre, Vintage In Oulton ROBIN HOOD: The Coach & Horses, One Stop Mini Market, Robin Hood Post Office ROTHWELL: Allens Newsagents, The Black Bull, The Chair Barbers Shop, Jail Yard Diner, John O’Gaunts Convenience Store, The Hare & Hounds, LHA Car & Commercial, Manse Surgery, Marsh Street Surgery, Morrisons Supermarket, Grays of Rothwell, Haigh Road Premier Store, Pavilion Cafe, Rothwell Community Hub, Rothwell Dental Care, Rothwell Methodist Church, Rothwell Sports Centre, Select Hair Salon, Swithens Farm Shop, The Rosebud Inn SWILLINGTON: St Mary’s Church, Swillington ‘Go Local’ Store & Post Office, Swillington Fisheries, Tesco Express WOODLESFORD: Brown or White Sandwich Bar, Beechwood Londis Convenience Store, CO-OP Woodlesford, LIDL Woodlesford.

Front cover image courtesy of Duncan - stock.adobe.com All information in this magazine is published in good faith and cannot be reproduced without prior permission.

We try our upmost to ensure all information in the magazine is accurate, but assume no responsibility for errors or omissionsandthusnoliabilitywillbeacceptedunderanycircumstancesshouldanyof thecontentsinthismagazine be incorrect. LS26 Local do not guarantee the services and products from any businesses featured or advertised.

The views expressed within the articles are not necessarily those of the publisher. We reserve the right to refuse any content which we deem to be offensive or inappropriate. All rights reserved. Company number 11965553

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Welcome to the October issue of LS26 Local, your free monthly community newszine.

It seems I am eating my own words just a month after writing I felt like we were starting to turn the corner and repair the destruction left behind from the Covid pandemic. The second wave we all feared seems to be rearing its ugly head and once again we find ourselves under new restrictions. Our message is ‘Let’s stay connected!’ as once again we need to look out for others and do our bit to ensure those less able and more vunerable than ourselves don’t feel isolated. It’s so important that we all feel together as one community during these times.

Hopefully this new issue has a good bit of reading material that is a bit more positive.

We have a nice historical article about the old cinemas in our local area, news about plans for a summer house at the Home Lea care home, and an article about a new TV series that are looking for Yorkshire residents to feature in.

We also have a message from the Community Champions at the Rothwell Morrisons Store, who have news about their fundraising for the local community, their help with the food bank and also information about their doorstep delivery service - definitely worth a read.

Despite the difficult circumstances we have found ourselves in over the past few months

we are actually delighted that so many groups and local charities are contacting us with news about their fundraising and plans to benefit the community more than ever. The ethos of our magazine to give these groups and charities a voice is really coming to fruition and we are absolutely delighted about it!

On page 7 we have an article from the LS25 & LS26 care partnership who are running a survey to find out how you have coped during the pandemic. This is something we would also like to hear about. If you have a hobby that you would like to share, maybe some local photography or even just a walk that you enjoy, then get in touch, we would love to publish your work.

Whilst we are on the subject, walking is great for your mental health and in the future we plan to publish a few walks that everyone can attempt and enjoy the beauty of our surrounding countryside and waterways - watch this space!

This leaves me once again to thank our advertisers, stockists and of course all our readers. We really appreciate your help in making this magazine a success and does show what a great community spirit we have in LS26.

Have a great October everyone, please take whatever precautions are required to stay safe and keep positive...

A PICTURE OF THE PAST

LOST CINEMA HOUSES

Before the dawn of multiplex cinemas, usually housed within modern shopping centres situated on the outskirts of towns cinemas across Britain played a valuable role in bringing communities together to engage with film, build relationships, combat loneliness and even to educate.

Our area was no different with a scattering of ‘Picture Houses’ reachable for most residents in the area.

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Not only were they a source of entertainment, but also one of the few ways of obtaining national and international news in times when such information was harder to come by, long before the modern times of social media and news alerts direct to the phone in your pocket!

Such was their importance that when the government closed picture houses in the United Kingdom for fear of bombing, that George Bernard Shaw in a letter to The Times asked ‘What agent of Chancellor Hitler is it who has suggested that we should all cower in darkness and terror “for the duration”?’ The order was soon rescinded and within a few weeks cinemas had reopened.

One such lost cinema in our area is the old Ritz Cinema, which has been a Woodlesford landmark for almost a century now. The Ritz was known locally as the ‘Woody Picture House’.

The cinema was built in 1919 by Mr Norman Hargreaves, of Woodlesford, who formed the West Yorkshire Cinema Ltd. It was taken over by the Star Group in 1948 and closed in the early 70’s. Since then the building has been a Bingo Hall (Lucky Days Bingo Hall), Snooker Hall and more recently a Childrens Party and Play business (Clown House). Some readers may also recall the ladies hairdressers ‘Sonia’ which occupied part of the ground floor.

During 1953 students from Woodlesford Primary School were taken to The Ritz to watch a film of the Queen’s Coronation and many people from the area have fond memories of the cinema as a staple part of the community and their weekend ritual of relaxation and socialisation.

Michael Craven contacted LS26 Local via the website with his recollection of the Woody Picture House: “I remember at the age of about 10 going to this cinema on what seemed like every Saturday morning, usually to see a cowboy film with stars like Roy Rogers and Hopalong Cassidy. When it was over we reenacted scenes from the film on the way home, starting around some large rocks that were somewhere quite near, probably at the entrance to some quarry or brick works” John Teasdale also has similar fond memories: “I remember Saturday matinee got in free with PG tips coupons. 60s. Then fish shop after”.

Noreen Pennock recalls those PG Tips coupons!

“I remember going to see the PG TIPS show with the monkeys riding round with their scooters and doing acrobatics. My mum emptied all her loose tea into a big bowl so all the kids on Holmsley Crescent could go and see the chimps with the tea packets as currency. No one remembers that, its nice to find someone who does”.

A great source of information is the Kinematograph Year Book which can be found online via the Internet Archive (archive.org).

Here The Empire and Palace are both listed in the year book of 1927(see below).

Just down the road in Rothwell there were another two picture houses. Firstly there was the Empire Cinema which opened in 1913.

According to cinematreasures.org each ‘show’ consisted of silent films accompanied by a pianist, together with a live act. This picture house had a relatively short existance and by the end of the 1930’s it had closed. A few years later, after a refurbishment the building re-opened as Blackburn Hall which has since served our community now for over 80 years.

Secondly, a short walk away was the ‘Picture Palace’ located on Ingram Parade and operated

by Rothwell Public Service Ltd. This cinema was opened around 1927 and had 1,000 seats in stalls and a circle. The Palace had closed by 1966 and prior to demolition had operated as a commercial building.

In Methley, just after the turn of the last century around 1912 stood on the location of the new ‘Firs’ estate was the Methley Picture House.

This was a wooden building with a few plush seats at the rear and some bench seats at the front. Electricity for the projector was provided by a generator driven by a gas engine which had a reputation for often breaking down, this would be met by a combination of hilarity and frustration by those in attendance. Saturday matinees were very popular with children, who often received a present of an orange or a comic.

The shows were silent black and white films.

If you have any memories of local cinemas or anything else of life in our area - get in touch!

Sources: Internet Archve (archive.org), cinematreasures.org, www.methleyarchive.org 5

KAREN BRUCE’S

COMMUNITY VIEWPOINT

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We all want to keep the spirits up during this additional lockdown for Leeds. It’s such a shame that the usual events around this time of year can’t take place, such as the community bonfires.

It even looks unlikely that ‘trick or treating’ can take place. But there are lots of fun things that families can do together. We were once away during Halloween and so couldn’t do the usual ‘trick or treating’ our daughter loves so much.

We still put up Halloween decorations, played a few spooky games, watched a mildly spooky movie, and still did the pumpkin and Halloween

sweets. A scavenger or treasure hunt is another fun idea, clues can be left as to where to find the Halloween treats around the house.

One of the oldest Bonfire Night traditions is apple bobbing, or apple ducking. Fill a basin or tub with cold water and fill it with apples. The objective of the game is to pull an apple out of the water using only your teeth – no hands allowed! Remove the stalks if you want to make the game even trickier. A successful bob earns you the apple as a prize, which is a great way to get little ones excited about eating something healthy. Our daughter always used to do this with her Grandad who we sadly lost earlier this year. We have the precious memories and it is a tradition to keep going. Let’s hope things are back to normal by next year so we can all enjoy all our usual festivities.

Sadly it is confirmed that the Springhead Park bonfire, along with all the other Leeds City Council bonfires, has been cancelled this year.

The annual Christmas carnival and Christmas Fair held on Commercial Street and at Blackburn Hall have also been cancelled. This was certainly expected and it is understandable given the circumstances, but still sad as these are part of life in Rothwell. Here’s hoping that by staying safe and having these measures in place that things can get back to some normality sooner rather than later.

The fire service believes that due to the organised council and other bonfire cancellations, celebrations are likely to be smaller scale with many more families having their own bonfires and fireworks in their own gardens. This will obviously be less controlled and potentially more dangerous. I wrote to the executive board member responsible for the council’s bonfires asking what can be done to raise awareness and to try to make sure this year doesn’t become even more unsafe than a usual year that it has the potential to do.

I believe a public awareness campaign is even more important this year not only to try to prevent accidents but also around animals, including pets, and to try to reduce the impact that fireworks have on them. This time of year can be really stressful for our furry friends who don’t understand what’s going on. The biggest problem is that fireworks are being let off well before bonfire night and well after. When it is for two weeks rather than a night it becomes a much bigger problem.

What many of us feared was recently confirmed and the government has imposed extra restrictions on Leeds. This will of course make life even harder for all of us, but we’re resilient in Rothwell and we’ll make it work once again.

Please stay safe folks and we’ll all carry on with the well-practiced routine of wash our hands, covering our faces (nose and mouth) and keep space between each other.

The rules around Coivd-19 nationally can be really confusing and constantly changing and there has also been some confusion around the Leeds local lockdown extra measures. It basically means that we can no longer mix with other households (although there is an exception for support bubbles). People have asked if they can travel outside the area. I understand you are allowed to travel within and outside of Leeds as long as it isn’t to meet up with people from another household or to visit their home.

Most people will be able to tell if they come under the Leeds lockdown measures because they pay council tax to Leeds City Council and get their bins emptied by Leeds City Council.

But, there has been some confusion, particularly amongst some local people living in the villages close to the border of Leeds and Wakefield, especially those with WF3 postcodes, where some are in the Leeds City Council area and some are in the Wakefield Council area. Some people have been asking if they are within the Leeds boundary and if the Leeds lockdown applies to them. I thought it might be helpful to share this link, you can put a full postcode in here to check if you are in one of the Leeds wards at https://kblab.in/wards.

I hope that everyone stays safe and has fun during the Halloween and bonfire period.

CARE PARTNERSHIP

NEEDS YOUR COVID-19 FEEDBACK

The survey aims to identify gaps in the health and care services, what is working well (that is already in place) and what can be improved.

Ideal for anyone with isolation issues or carers to make any issues known which can then be hopefully addressed.

Any information you share will be used anonymously and will not identify you.

To complete the survey please use the following link: www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/_LCP Alternatively you can scan this QR Code to access the survey.

The LS25 & LS26 local care partnership need your help to find out how Covid-19 has affected your lifestyle.

Due to the current conditions and restrictions it is not possible to speak face to face with health professionals, so they have created a survey hosted by Healthwatch Leeds for members of the public to fill in.

For anyone who does not have access to the internet you can pick up a paper copy from your local Co-op store, supermarket, Community Hub or GP Practice (please call ahead to ensure you are able to access the building).

You can also telephone Healthwatch on 0113 898 0035 and leave your name, contact number and request a call back

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A MESSAGE FROM...

MORRISON’S COMMUNITY CHAMPIONS

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We are writing to introduce ourselves as your local community champions at Rothwell Morrisons. It’s our job to help and support good causes in our local community, this could be a local school, nursery, care home, day service centre, local sport groups to name a few. We can help with arranging fundraising in store but only when safe to do so as this is on hold at the minute. We can arrange donations to help you fundraise for any local event you may be planning throughout the year.

We are always looking at new ways we can help and support in our local area to make it a nicer place for everyone to enjoy, so if anyone needs a lending hand please don’t hesitate to contact us.

Also, when it is safe to do so, we offer a Foodmaker and Shopkeeper tour of the Market Street for primary school children.

Since the pandemic hit we have been supporting our local area and other key workers with care packages to keep them going in these unprecedented times. We have also offered a service to help the vulnerable people of our community which in some cases became a lifeline for them whilst they were shielding.

This service is called Doorstep Delivery and is very much still going from strength to strength.

Should anyone require this service the details are below.

Lyndsay Connor

Alongside this Morrisons as a company has donated £10 million to help keep food banks going during the pandemic as the demand was so high.

Back in April alongside MHA and Councillor Diane Chapman we set up a community food bank at Blackburn Hall which again was a

Katie Wilks

lifeline to so many elderly and vulnerable people. We have very generous donations from Arla each week and there is also a donation station at Co-op which helps keeps us stocked up. This is now open every Wednesday 10.3012pm as a pay as you feel foodbank, please use the rear entrance and adhere to social distancing guidelines and wear a face mask.

Here at Rothwell Morrisons, as well as the company donations we now have a “Pick and Pack” stand at the front of the store (pictured right) which has a range of products needed each week to help keep our community foodbank stocked up. They range from 50p-£3,

all you need to do is pick up a pack and take it to a till to pay for it and pop it in our donation stand near the self scan machines.

If you should need any support or help please contact us on champion.rothwell@ morrisonsplc.co.uk or call us on 07811 715854

SUPPORT LEEDS UNITED

AND TEA COSY MEMORY CAFE

Local Leeds United fanatic Jay Stenholm has created his own ‘Rothwell Whites’ and ‘LS26’ Leeds United badges as well as a white and yellow retro style shirt to celebrate Leeds United’s championship winning season.

The shirts are £17 each or you can buy both for £30. The enamel badges are £5 each or 2 for £9. £1 from every badge sale will be donated to the Tea Cosy Memory Cafe / Dementia Friendly Rothwell, so it’s a great way of supporting two fantastic teams!

If you would like to purchase a badge or shirt please contact Jay via his Facebook page or email jasonstenholm@hotmail.co.uk

Find me a forever home!

Ozzy

Hi Guys! I’m Ozzy. I arrived at the centre after my owner was no longer able to care for me.

I am an 8 year old staffy cross, but please don’t let my age put you off! I am full of beans and love playing and long walks. • I can be left for short periods of time. • I am friendly and a typical staffy... lively, loyal and loving. • I am ok with calmer dogs but like my own space, so I will need to be the only pet in the home. • I can live with teenagers who are used to bouncy dogs. • I will need a private, secure garden with fencing of 5ft. • I am strong on the lead so would be best suited to an experienced owner. • I love my food so training is fun! • I would benefit from lead training as I just love life a little bit too much!

I am a fun loving guy and can not wait to find my forever home! If you are interested in adopting me, please email info@rspcaleedsandwakefield.org.uk or visit our website: www.rspcaleedsandwakefield.org.uk 9

LOCAL CARE HOME’S

SUMMER HOUSE PLANS

During these testing times fundraising has become a tricky proposition for many local charities and groups, of which most are dependant on this way of generating much needed funds. One such place is Home Lea House who have turned the problem on its head by making the pandemic work for them.

Sarah Bedford of Home Lea House kindly gave us a few more details about their situation.

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“Due to the Covid pandemic, Home Lea has been closed to all non-essential visitors since the 18th March. We have supported residents to remain in contact with their loved ones in other ways, for example, over the phone, video calling, visits through the window and visits in the garden, once the restrictions were lifted slightly.

On the 7th September, we were able to introduce indoor visiting but restrictions remained in place. Each resident is only able to have one visitor per week and visits need to be pre-arranged and screened.

As a service we are very conscious that we are heading toward the winter months and visits in the garden with loved ones will not be appropriate for our resident group.

So we decided to fundraise for a summer house, one which is big enough to be able to maintain social distancing.

Peter Smith from Rothwell Dementia Friendly kindly introduced us to a lovely lady called Judy Dyson who has been handmaking face coverings and selling them in the local community, she has kindly donated the proceeds from the masks and Peter has matched the donation from Rothwell Dementia friendly.

One of our residents relatives has also set up a

Go Fund Me page to also support the project.

We are hoping to raise £3000 to be able to purchase the summer house and to furnish it”.

Before the Covid pandemic, Home Lea House held many community events throughout the year as a source of not only fundraising, but also something the local community would be able to join in with and enjoy. The pandemic has not only cut off this income source but has also isolated the residents from the local community.

The summer house project is a great way to plan ahead if we do not see current restrictions lifted, but hopefully when all is back to normal in the future, the summer house will be a great assett to Home Lea. If you would like to contribute to this great cause please visit their Go Fund Me page via the following link: https://gf.me/u/yx2v9v

THE FAIR EXCHANGE

UPDATE ON GROUPS

As we go into Autumn and Winter and with new restrictions being announced by the government, The Fair Exchange groups are being reviewed so please check what the situation is with groups and activities.

If you are interested in any of the following groups: Carers Support Group, Copd Support Group, Weekly Evening Sewing Class, Computer Classes or `2 Wheels Good Cycle Club, please contact Pauline on 07780 601917 to register your interest or for any updates on the status of these groups.

In the next column we have listed our regular groups and the dates & times they should be

running, plus the alternative ways each group is communicating to ensure support is maintained.

REGULAR GROUPS INFO: MONDAYS WEEKLY ART GROUP 1pm at the Oulton Institute - Sessions are presently on Zoom (or telephone if you prefer) MONDAY MENZ OWN 26th October 6pm at the Oulton Institute Please give your ideas for future sessions when restrictions are lifted.

TUESDAY COFFEE MORNING 10-11.30am at the Oulton Institute Sessions are running as a chat over the phone.

TUESDAYS SALSA CLASSES 8pm at the Oulton Institute - Please give us a call for more information.

RESEARCH YOUR FAMILY TREE (Third Wednesday of the month) 21st October at Rothwell Hub (Library).

Contact us for info - venue not fully re-opened.

CRAFT AND CHAT Thursday 8th & 22nd October 2 -3.30pm at the Oulton Institute. Contact us for a chat.

COSY CORNER CAFÉ. (Third Thursday of the month) 15th October 2 -3.30pm, at Woodlesford Methodist Church We are supporting people by phone and using other methods.

FRIDAY HEALING MINDS SUPPORT GROUP Rothwell Fire Station 2pm. Community room closed, however funding is in place to use an alternative venue until it opens so contact us for an update. Courses and support continue by phone, email and other methods.

Introducing our new Postural Exercise Sessions to get muscles back into shape after Lockdown and isolation. New Support sessions for those with long term conditions. Please contact us for further details.

If you are in any doubt about any of the Fair Exchange groups, or have an idea regarding a groups content, or just need a chat, please contact Pauline on the below information: 07780 601917, info@thefairexchange.org.uk, www.thefairexchange.org.uk or www.facebook.com/TheFairExchange

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BIG CHANGES AT THE

CHAPEL IN METHLEY...

Methley Methodist Church is now fully established as a “Church without a Chapel” and for some years have offered vital activities and services to the local community. The Chapels Sunday Worship, ‘Easy Church’ and ‘Big Worship’, as well as functions such as the ‘Clueless Chorus’, regular open mic nights and recently their Covid inspired weekly Zoom chat named ‘Strong Together’, have helped bond the chapel with it’s local community, it’s fair to say that you always receive a warm welcome at the Chapel regardless of the reason for your visit.

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The Chapel intends to continue providing these activities and services, and as the COVID restrictions allow they intend to expand and offer them in different ways.

In the meantime the Church Council have made a very significant decision to put the current Chapel building up for sale and cease their use of it. This is for two main reasons.

Firstly, the building is in a poor state and structural repairs are essential for its longevity. During the next four years the required improvements are estimated at around £27,000, and it is clear from the assessments carried out that regular spending is likely to be required on an ongoing basis given the condition and age of the building.

The question the Church have been left with is do they feel that spending such a huge amount of money on the existing building is morally right, and with the amount of use the building gets it has become clear that it is no longer fit for purpose in the medium term.

Secondly, the Covid-19 situation has had a catastrophic impact on many community services and the Chapel is no exception. The Chapel building was in use on an average for 60 occasions every month and used by around 200 people each month, and once Covid restrictions were introduced, the useage and subsequent footfall stopped overnight.

The Church simply do not have the heart to open up under such stringent social distancing conditions which are currently in place, and as we have all found out these rules are subject to overnight change. Understandably the Church does not want to be in the position where they have to turn people away at the door.

The enforced closure has meant the Church have been unable to pursue their strategy to build a new Chapel simultaneously with selling the current building which would have allowed continuity of all their activities.

The Church therefore will continue as a “Church without a Chapel”, and aim to review this situation in the Summer of 2021 to assess if rebuilding remains a sensible and viable option when everyone can all see what the world looks like post-Covid!

The Church Council would like to thank those many people, groups and businesses who have supported them in all kinds of various ways over the last eight years since the Chapel refurbishment, and emphasise that they hope to see much more community togetherness in the future, whatever the state of their “premises” – real or virtual!

LS26 Local wish them good luck and of course our continued support.

RED SKY PRODUCTIONS

WANTS YOU FOR NEW BBC 2 SERIES

TV Production company Red Sky have been in touch to tell us about a great new BBC Two TV series and wants us good Yorkshire folk to get involved..

‘Saved and Remade’ (working title), brings together the multiple skills of a team of expert craftspeople to help solve viewers’ conundrums of what to do with treasured but purposeless items. Host Sabrina Grant (pictured left), herself no slouch in the upcycling department, will be helping contributors choose which of the experts has the vision and ability to convert objects that have meaning but are gathering dust, into items can take pride of place in their lives. The transformation from precious but purposeless will grant these pieces a new lease of life. The experts will respect the sentimental significance of each of the items brought in but will bring about incredible transformations that will be a fitting match for their owners.

Sabrina Grant says, “I’m super excited to front this brand new BBC Two series that creatively repurposes and brings a new lease of life to our guests’ treasures. I can’t wait to share the magic of our transformations with you.”

Executive Producer Jane Rogerson adds: “We’re thrilled to be working with Sabrina, and indeed all of our crafts people on this exciting new format for BBC Two. We cannot wait for everyone to see what the unused but much-loved pianos, cars, books and many other items that we all have in lofts and cupboard will become with the skills and imagination of our team of craftspeople.

Prepare to be surprised and delighted!”

So.. do you have an object that you love but never use? If you can’t face throwing it away this could be the show for you! You may have an old heirloom that could be re-purposed into a new fantastic item.

Recycling, or to be more on topic, upcycling is a great way of avoiding landfill and to boot, keeps items of the past alive! If this is your passion it could be great to get in touch and have your 15 minutes of fame!

If you are interested in this great new series please get in touch with Red Sky Productions with the following details: • Your name, age, location and contact number • Some info about your item; what it is, why it’s important to you and why you want to transform it • Please also send photos of your item Email : transform@redskyproductions.co.uk Phone: 0141 343 7782 To find out more about the show please visit the bbc website via the following link: www. bbc.co.uk/showsandtours/take-part/savedremade Please note, applicants must be aged 18 or over and be a UK resident.

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MIRANDA FOSTER’S...

LETS GET CONNECTED!

Over the recent months, I have been asking you, the readers, to tell us of the good news stories that you have experienced in your community and once again, you have not failed. Here is yet another of those acts of kindness and friendship.

A story of one street that has come together to help each other, people who have thought of others and how to reach out to them.

MINI LIBRARIES Two friends and neighbours, Amanda Ellis and Emma Wealleans, who often come together to engage in activities for their street have had yet another idea to help residents. Emma was given an old display case; she painted this and placed 14

it at the end of the street. She filled it with books and encouraged others to do the same. Amanda followed suit. All the libraries were shut at this point and, to encourage all readers, they had made their own mini library. The books are all different genres from children’s books to crime novels and biographies, suitable for all ages. They had this idea from the local Rothwell primary school who were also raising money for the school library.

Amanda said, “This was an excellent way to encourage youngsters to carry on reading during lockdown. It has also given me an opportunity to speak with some residents that I don’t always see and it’s a lovely way to check on some of the neighbours to see if they are ok.”

Amanda reassured me that all books that are donated are placed to one side for the correct amount of time to ensure that they are COVID safe before being put in the display case for people to take. So if you see the blue mini library on your street get involved by donating and swapping books.

PLAY DAYS Not only do the street come together to encourage readers, they also have street play days. They were one of the first to join the Leeds initiative to have a Play Street. This is where the residents agree to close the street for a few hours to let the children play. Leeds City Council sent Amanda and Emma a pack so they could put stickers on their bins and

use these to close the road to make it a safe place.

As one of the first to join the scheme, they were also given a bin full of goodies to encourage the children to play. Amanda thought this would be bats, balls, and other games but no this was made up from recycled equipment such as big cotton reels, tubes and string. The children loved this as not only was this different, but also let them use their imagination. They have made dens and put up rope swings together.

During the lockdown this wasn’t able to take place but now, they have been able to play again. The parents have been able to come out and chat to each other (physically distancing of course) to watch the children play but also to make those connections with each other.

Through the summer months, every few weeks Amanda would contact all the neighbours and inform them of when the next play day would be and at what time so everyone is prepared for the children to be out playing. The parents/carers

supervise at all times so if cars need to leave the street this is achieved safely for everyone.

The children on the streets during lockdown took the time to create chalk art on their daily walks.

They asked permission from their neighbours to draw in front of their houses to make a colourful walkway for all whilst out on their hours exercise.

STREET PARTIES The residents on this street love nothing better than a street party. Throughout the year, they have regular events. They hold a summer event where they all come out to enjoy each other’s company but the favourite one is at Christmas. Many of the residents both young and old come along.

They sing carols, drink mulled wine, and take the time to celebrate Christmas as a community.

Past Christmas parties have produced so much food by the residents that the leftovers have been donated to the foodbank in Rothwell. This street not only thinks of its neighbours but the wider community too!

This year’s events have been put on hold or cancelled due to COVID 19. However, they have still enjoyed VE day together where all came out to sing songs and eat lovely food. Everyone kept to their own gardens but they still managed to come together as a community to celebrate such a huge event as a street. They are still hopeful of the Christmas get together happening but are aware of the restrictions that may come in.

COMMUNITY SPIRIT This street shows us how a few caring people can bring neighbours together. Residents are always looking out for each other and thinking of ways to help and encourage the feeling of community.

Checking on all residents of the street is vitally important at this time. Not only the more elderly or the neighbours that live on their own but everyone. We all have periods of difficulty but knowing that there is a neighbour who cares is paramount as we go through tricky times. I would like to live on this street, it’s a street that plays together and cares together.

Thank you Alison and Emma for sharing your story, fingers crossed for your Christmas event.

MORE GOOD NEWS STORIES Do you have another good news story? Please don’t hesitate to get in touch and tell me what is happening in your street, who has made a difference to you and the way you live during these extremely turbulent times.

Do you have a new idea to bring the community together? This is still possible on social media or by using the guidelines of physically distancing.

Let’s use your ideas to make this happen! Please call me on 07394 566463 or alternatively email miranda.foster@communityfirstyorkshire.org. uk. You can also find me on facebook as Miranda Foster-Rothwell and twitter as @ABCDRothwell.

15

PETER SMITH’S

INSIGHT INTO DEMENTIA

As I mentioned in the last issue, there are currently over 100 diseases of the brain causing dementia. Symptoms vary, depending on which part of the brain has been damaged and which type of dementia has been diagnosed.

Each disease has it’s own symptoms, and each and every person is different, no two people are alike. 100 people can be diagnosed with a type of dementia on the same day, but each one will take a separate journey, there are never two journeys the same.

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The reason behind this is based on the type of dementia, the type of person, lifestyle, and how we all react and accept the problem. There is a common phrase “When you have met one person with dementia, you have met one person with dementia”. The question I am asked regularly is “What happens next?”, and it is a question with no answer, as each person takes a journey down a road they know not where to, and in a direction they know not where from.

Across the many types of dementia there are many differences, but also similarities, and there are many ways we can help. One of the first things is that short term memory is not existent, very recent actions such as a meal or a conversation can disappear within seconds, many conversations relate to memories from many years ago, repeating the same question many times is familiar to many, with the same question/statement said many times within minutes. With repetition, and it is so hard for a carer, that each time the question or statement is spoken, it has to be treated as if it is the first time. Never ever tell the person “You’ve just said that” or “That is the tenth time you have asked me the same question”, as a carer it does wear you down, but we all need to try and adjust to the situation.

When short term memory disappears, there is no memory of recent events, and no point in

trying to “persaude” the person of the same, but long term memory brings back all sorts of wonderous conversation and can create fantastic memories. Old photos, black and white are the best ones and are a great resource.

I show my mum in law photos on Facebook of old Leeds, buses, trams, streets and events, she loves to look at them and remember “the old days.”

Never argue over memories, always agree with the conversation, within seconds the person will have forgotten what they have asked and by continuing to ask, deny, or put right what we think, it can create other problems, remember the short term memory and that within seconds it has gone, disappeared never to return, so it is possible that within a sentence you could be in 3 or 4 different time capsules. Where ever possible always agree, never disagree, go with the flow of conversation, try to relax, remember

LS26 LOCAL

PRIZE CROSSWORD there are 2 worlds, the world of dementia and our world, sometimes we can jump from one to the other with ease, sometimes it is not that simple. Someone with dementia is not being difficult, but they are having a difficult time, and at a time when they need comfort and support it is all too common for family, friends and neighbours to “disappear” from the scene, and this is usually because of lack of knowledge, embarassment and education. We all need to support those with dementia and their carers, and as a carer or partner, they are with the person 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, mostly with no respite but need to take every opportunity to safe guard their own health, which is usually put on one side in order to support their loved ones...

If you would like any help or advice please contact Peter on 07845 935233 or email: peter.smith011@btinternet.com.

Complete the clues to find the hidden word(s) by re-arranging the letters from the highlighted squares.

Clue: Blackburn Halls former name (6)

THIS MONTHS PRIZE! £10 ‘ONE FOR ALL’ GIFT CARD

ACROSS 1 Smacked (6) 4 Riches (6) 8 Foundation (12) 9 Meticulous (10) 12 Wanted (6) 13 Like better (6) 16 Services (10) 17 Advanced society (12) 18 Hint (6) 19 Revolves (6) DOWN 1 Purchases (8) 2 Contemplated (8) 3 Deliberation (13) 5 Uncommon (13) 6 Male vocalist (5) 7 Contention (5) 10 Legitimate (8) 11 Gifts (8) 14 Stiff (5) 15 Male relative (5)

To enter the prize draw simply email your answer to: ls26local@gmail.com no later than 30/10/20.

17

HEALTH & WELLBEING

SHOULD WE WORRY ABOUT SLEEP?

During Lockdown, my sleep suffered. Like everyone else my anxiety levels rocketed, and I tossed and turned for hours. I dug out my Fitbit which I hadn’t worn since the start of Lockdown and began tracking my sleep again. I realised that my sleep score which had previously been 87-92 (good-excellent), was now languishing around 61-64 (bottom end of fair) occasionally dipping into the 50s (poor). No wonder I felt tired and tearful. Something needed to change.

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To optimise sleep health, we need to balance how long we sleep with how well we sleep.

For years, researchers recommended eight hours of sleep each night as optimal. Now professionals consider sleep quality to be of equal importance in reaping all the benefits of sleep. In fact, sleep quality is probably a better indicator of overall mental health, mood, and energy levels than sleep quantity. Prior to lockdown I’d been a 10:30pm-6am sleeper, occasionally 11pm-6:30am. Although that was 30 minutes shy of the perfect 8 hours I always woke just before my alarm, feeling rested.

During Lockdown, bedtimes had become later and later, and although I was ‘sleeping’ for longer, and not setting the alarm, my sleep was clearly not of the quality I was used to.

Fitness trackers like the Fitbit, monitor the quality of our sleep by looking at how much time we spend in the various stages. We cycle through the various stages each night and we each have a unique cycle. During light sleep our body unwinds and relaxes. This is always the first stage of sleep and we spend most of our time asleep in it. It’s important to our mental and physical health that we get enough light sleep. Deep sleep typically occurs within the first few hours of sleep. Our breathing is slower, our muscles relax fully and we’re harder to wake during this stage. Typically, we

spend about 13% of our night in deep sleep, and this is when our body repairs itself. Deep sleep aids learning, memory, and it supports our immune system. Finally, REM (rapid eye movement) sleep is when we dream. Our heart rate increases, and our breathing becomes more irregular. We also experience a form of paralysis (so we don’t start acting out our dreams!). REM sleep is important for mood regulation, learning and memory. It’s when our brains process and consolidate our experiences from the day.

A regular bedtime is an important factor in sleep quality. Avoiding stimulants like the blue light from electronic devices, or the caffeine in coffee are also a factor, as is making sure we have enough gentle exercise during the day.

I decided to take an hour-long walk every day and moved my bedtime back to 10:30pm. I avoided checking my phone for 30 minutes before bed and didn’t drink coffee after 7pm.

I noticed improvements almost immediately and within a week my sleep had more-orless reset to normal. Within a fortnight my sleep score was back up in the 80s and hasn’t dropped since.

If you’re feeling stressed and tired or are struggling with a low mood its worth looking at both the quality and quantity of your sleep.

SIMON’S GUIDE TO...

THE WORLD OF WEBSITES & APPS

The Internet is a huge resource of knowledge and information where you can find virtually anything. But, very often there are situations where you aren’t able to find the answers to your questions. Sift through search results?

Scour similar questions on social networks to find an answer? Your question may require local knowledge or particular expertise. And when you find an answer, how do you know it’s the correct one?

Fortunately there are sites out there that can not only be used to find peoples thoughts and

opinions about a particular topic, but will also help in finding experts in various fields. A swathe of sites exist where you can ask questions and get answers from real people online.

Yahoo Answers is probably the most popular community Q&A powered site with millions of users and thousands of questions asked and answered every day. All the questions are categorised in such a way that you can easily search for a related question in a category or place you question in a relevant category.

Answers are rated by visitors and the best rated answer will be displayed as the best answer for a question.

One concern about such sites is whether this type of crowd-sourced information is actually factual, or at least, completely correct. One place which aims to ease such concerns is Quora, which uses industry experts to provide answers.

Described as, “a more organised Yahoo Answers, a classier Reddit, [and] an opinionated Wikipedia”, the end of 2019 saw 400 million active monthly users on Quora. The site feels part search engine and part social network, but its purpose is to both give you answers and allow you to answer questions for others in subjects you’re knowledgeable about.

Once you sign up, you’ll be presented with a screen that asks you to choose 10 topics

that you’re interested in - they will be used to generate your feed.

Your feed has a lot more to offer than just the topics you follow. It’s also a great place to discover other people on Quora, as well as Spaces to follow. In addition to these, you’ll also see suggested questions for you to answer, in which you can easily answer, pass, or follow each of them. You’ll be presented with questions that have already been answered, and you can then up vote, share, and comment on them. Furthermore, you can see a list of the topics you’ve followed on the left for quick access. Last but not least, at the very top of your feed you’ll find a shortcut to ask a question or share a link with others.

Thank you for reading; I hope you enjoyed the article. If you have any questions about anything else web-related please email me: simon@sipat.co.uk.

Links https://www.quora.com/ uk.answers.yahoo.com

inc

Article courtesy of SiPat.inc website design www.sipat.co.uk

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MARJORIE QUINN’S

MONTHLY RECIPE

The Cinder Toffee recipe is what I would call, part science experiment and part sweet treat!

This is great fun for everyone and something the kids can help with - perfect for Halloween and Bonfire Night!

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CINDER TOFFEE Preparation time: 5 minutes Cooking time: 15-20 minutes (plus cooling).

Serves: Depends how sweet your tooth is!

Ingredients ~ 165g demerara sugar ~ 165g caster sugar ~ 60ml golden syrup ~ 4 tbsp water ~ 15g butter, diced, plus extra to grease ~ Pinch of salt ~ 1 tbsp bicarbonate of soda You will also need a kitchen thermometer!

Method Generously grease a square tin, ideally this needs to be approximately 24cm in size but anything similar will do the trick.

Put the bicarbonate of soda within easy reach of the hob as you will need this at hand in the later stages of the cooking process.

Place both sugars, golden syrup, water, and butter in a deep, heavy-bottomed pan with a pinch of salt. (Make sure it is a deep pan or the ‘science bit’ will go horribly wrong!)

Heat gently whilst stirring the mixture, until the sugars and butter have dissolved, then turn up the heat slightly and bring to the boil.

Simmer until it reaches 138C (that’s why a kitchen thermometer is essential), the colour also turns amber and starts to bubble - this will take about 10-15 minutes.

When the mixture gets to temperature, remove it from the heat and quickly and thoroughly whisk in the bicarb. It will foam and grow alarmingly. The kids will love it!

Pour the foamy mixture into the tin and leave to set. When cold get the kids to smash it into pieces, of course you can do this yourself, why should the kids have all the fun!

An optional idea is to pour melted chocolate over the shards for the ultimate cinder toffee experience!

Facts Cinder Toffee is believed to have been invented back in the 1940’s. It’s history is however quite vague as well as the actual original recipe and it’s inventor.

In the United Kingdom we know this sugary treat as Cinder Toffee, but elsewhere it is known by a variety of different names such as Honeycomb, Puff Candy (Scotland), Sponge Candy (USA), Sponge Toffee (Canada), Hokey Pokey (New Zealand) and Gulali (Indonesia).

MRS FLOWERPOT’S

ROOTS & SHOOTS

October is a beautiful month of Autumnal colours, with the first frosts after Spring as well as crisp blue sky days. It’s the perfect time to tidy up your garden.

If you grow fruit and veg, there is still plenty to harvest and to store for the cold winter months ahead. If you have a glut of fruit you can always make tasty crumbles and pies, then freeze them for the cold winter months ahead, nothing is better than a fruit pie with warm custard on a cold winter’s day.

Protect your half hardy plants with fleece, or if you have a frost free greenhouse you can tuck them away in there, but before you do make sure you have given the greenhouse a good clean.

It’s a good time to lift Dahlia tubers, Begonia tubers and Gladioli corms to store dry over the winter, remember to take off any dead foliage before you store them.

Prune climbing and rambling Roses and tie in the stems to prevent strong winds causing damage to them. Cut back perennial plants which have died down and clear all overhanging plants from pathways to keep them clear from any leaves.

When all the boarders are tidy and neat finish off with a good mulch of bark chips, well rotted manure, leaf mould or spent mushroom compost to keep plants roots warm in the winter and also to check weed growth.

October is the ideal time to plant hedges, trees and shrubs.

This month is always noted for Halloween so here is some folklore to leave you with...

We all know that Hallowe’en, as a festival, is not an invention of the trick-or-treating of children, but it is far older than many people realise. Its origin can be seen in the ancient festival of Samhain, a Gaelic celebration which marked the end of summer and the beginning of winter.

The festival celebrated a successful harvest but, more importantly, marked the time when cattle were led back from their summer pastures and preparations for a safe and secure winter were begun. But it did mark a definite end to the summer growing season and so was a time for celebration. The word Samhain is derived from the Gaelic word for November – sunset of the last day of October was the beginning of the celebration, which would last til sunset the next day.

The Chair MALE GROOMING 0113 282 9761 98 Haigh Road Rothwell Leeds LS26 0LP OPENING HOURS: Wednesday 8.30-6.30pm | Thursday & Friday 8.30-9.00pm Saturday 8.00-2.00pm | Closed Sunday, Monday & Tuesday

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A BUSY FEW MONTHS...

AT OULTON MANOR

© Kristen McCluskie www.kristenmccluskie.com

Life at Oulton Manor has remained busy over the last few months. We arrange daily, weekly and monthly activities to suit our resident’s interests.

Our choir continues to rehearse each Tuesday and gives everyone involved a boost. We enjoy being part of the Oulton community and have previously supported our local community church by holding an 80’s themed day to raise funds. We are also proud to work closely with Dementia Friendly Rothwell.

For our residents who have enjoyed birthdays, we’ve helped them celebrate their special days 22

with a cake, gifts and a buffet tea as they’ve requested. Many of our residents have enjoyed visits to our in-house hair and beauty salon. It’s lovely to see the smiles on their faces as they leave after they’ve been pampered.

During October, we’re planning our Autumn Show and our staff and residents will be celebrating Halloween with a party, including activities and food. We’re looking ahead to Bonfire Night and other fun events over the next few months. We have a home newsletter that provides updates and details of forthcoming events to families and friends.

Our up-to-date technology enables Skype or Zoom calls with family and friends. The NHS generously donated a Facebook Portal to our care home. This has enabled more of our residents to video call their loved ones, which has made a positive difference to them and provided reassurance to their families. Technology has also enabled us to participate in a regular virtual quiz with other Anchor care homes and virtual bingo. We’re pleased to say that we’ve done well and enjoyed seeing our colleagues and residents in other homes.

Our care is complimented by our state-of-the-art environment, which include a fully equipped bar, elegant dining rooms and cosy quiet areas. We are welcoming new residents to our luxurious

admission suite. We understand that a home from home is important, so we provide a warm welcome with little touches like welcome gifts, including fresh flowers and daily newspapers.

Our friendly carers spend the settling in period getting to know our residents, ensuring that our care is tailored to their interests, preferences and lifestyles.

Our highly qualified staff team have implemented robust guidelines around PPE and precisely adhere to required policies. Our cleaning procedures are also comprehensive, to ensure our residents maintain a great quality of life, and more importantly, are safe.

Oulton Manor is operated by Anchor, who were named Residential Care Provider of the Year in the Larger Organisation category at the prestigious LaingBuisson Awards in 2019.

Anchor is part of the Anchor Hanover Group, which is England’s largest provider of care and housing on a not-for-profit basis.

We provide residential and dementia care and we are here to answer any questions you may have. You can arrange a virtual show round, simply by contacting us on 0113 282 8222 or visiting our website www.anchor.org.uk/ OultonManor . We are located at Oulton Manor care home, 3 Wakefield Road, Oulton LS26 8EL.

More than a care home

Immaculate surroundings and meticulous attention to detail underpin the warm, person centred care that sits at the heart of everything we do. personally tailored care specialist dementia care short breaks Find out more about the choices Oulton Manor offers our residents, call 0808 102 4296 www.anchor.org.uk/OultonManor

Oulton Manor care home, 3 Wakefield Road, Oulton, Leeds LS26 8EL

LS26 COMMUNITY

GROUPS IN OUR AREA Our comprehensive list of local charities and community groups in the area.

If you would like us to list a community group or charity on these pages just get in touch!

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DEMENTIA FRIENDLY ROTHWELL - A continuing project making Rothwell a dementia friendly community. The group holds various groups and cafés throughout each month.

FDM - FOR DISABILITY MOBILITY - Social Club for those unable to get out or would like to meet new people. For more info contact 0113 288 9000 or visit www.fdmbus.org.uk FORCE - Friends of Rothwell Civic Enterprise. A group working towards saving the Rothwell Civic Building. Visit their facebook page ‘FORCE Friends of Rothwell Civic Enterprise’ for more info.

FRIENDS OF ROTHWELL COUNTRY PARK - A group of volunteers who help manage, protect and promote the wildlife and heritage of the country park. For more info call Countryside Ranger Heather Wagstaff on 07562 439631.

MARIE CURIE- East Leeds fundraising group, based in Rothwell. For more info please contact Faye Waters on 01904 755260 or email faye. waters@mariecurie.org.uk.

MELODIA - Ladies choir based in Methley.

Rehearsals on Monday evenings 7.30pm at Methley Working Mens club. Contact Shirley Wright on 01977 554142 / 07900 953720 or Val on 01977 514535 / 07779 373068.

METHLEY ARCHIVE - Historical society with over 7500 photographs of the Methley area. methleyarchive.org METHLEY METHODIST CHURCH - ”Living the Gospel and serving the community with a BIG HEART” www.thecentremethley.co.uk METHLEY WOMBLES - Volunteer group from Methley and Mickletown who get together to keep their village clean and litter free. Contact via Facebook @methleywombles METHLEY YOUTH CLUB - Based at Methley Village Centre. For further info please contact Chloe Canning 07712 216071 MUSIC FROM THE ATTIC - METHLEY - Dust off your old instruments and join the group at Methley Methodist Chapel. Contact: Ben 07748 673116 bendenison@mac.com NET - Neighbourhood Elders Team, caring for older people and their carers. Serving Swillington, Great Preston & Allerton Bywater. www.netgarforth.org.

P@SS - Parents At Swillington Primary School.

Contact Miriam on watsonm01@brigshawtrust. com or telephone 0113 286 3220.

ROTHWELL BAPTIST CHURCH - Welcoming the community with many activities each week. Wood Lane, LS26 0PG. www.rothwellbaptist.org.uk

ROTHWELL COMPETITIVE MUSIC FESTIVAL Group running a competitive music festival in March each year in Rothwell town centre.

The Syllabus is produced in September and available from the Rothwell Library or on their website rothwellmusicfestival.shutterfly.com ROTHWELL CLUSTER - Provides access to local facilities, out of school hours and holiday activities and specialist support. www.facebook.com/ rothwellcluster

ROTHWELL & DISTRICT GATEWAY CLUB - Meets every Wednesday during term time at Rothwell Windmill Club for adults of all ages with learning disabilities to reduce social isolation. For more information please call 07545 933748 ROTHWELL & DISTRICT LIVE AT HOME Charitable cause to reduce social isolation for older people. For more info call 0113 288 0887 or visit www.rothwellliveathome.btck.co.uk ROTHWELL & DISTRICT SENIORS CLUB - For over 55’s. Holding Raffles, Bingo, Tea and Coffee and regular Parties and Trips thought the year. Contact

Chris Neale at cbneale89@gmail.com for more information.

ROTHWELL FOOD BANK - Rothwell area food bank.

For more info visit: www.leedssouthandeast. foodbank.org.uk or telephone 0113 345 0850 ROTHWELL IN BLOOM - The group meets every Thursday morning in Rothwell from 9.30am. To join them please speak to a member of the team in their hi-viz tops.

ROTHWELL LADIES CIRCLE - Rothwell Ladies Circle is a group of girls who like to have fun whilst fundraising and supporting the community www. facebook.com/rothwell.circle ROTHWELL LIONS - Community group who organise fundraising and charity events. Tel 0845 833 2765 or visit www.rothwell-lions.org.uk

ROTHWELL METHODIST CHURCH Running various meetings and charity events.

Please see our ‘What’s On’ pages for details. aireandcaldercircuit.org.uk/churches/rothwell ROTHWELL NORTH AND SOUTH WARDS AGED PEOPLES WELFARE. To combat social isolation in the over 60’s. Meeting on Thursdays at Blackburn Hall, from 1-3pm

ROTHWELL RHUBARB TARTS WI - Meetings on the 2nd Thursday of each month at Haigh Court, at 7.30pm-9.30pm. Please contact June Holstead via facebook.(new WI group)..

ROTHWELL SCOUT GROUP - 7th Rothwell Scout Group based on Haigh Road, Rothwell. www. rothwellscouts.com

ROTHWELL T.A.R.A - Rothwell tenants and residents association, a group to discuss concerns within the local community. Visit facebook ‘rothwelltenantsandresidents’

ROTHWELL YOUTH CLUB - Based at the Rothwell Windmill Community Centre, Marsh Street, Rothwell. Please contact Mel Taylor 07891 279116. (See ‘Whats On’ for days/times) SOWHAT - Campaign group opposing HS2. Please visit www.sowhat.org.uk or their facebook page for more info.

SPRINGHEAD PARK VOLUNTEERS Volunteer group of local residents committed to maintaining Springhead Park. For more info email springheadparkvolunteers@gmail.com

ST RAPHAEL SINGERS - Local choir whose main aim is to help churches and charitable organisations raise funds. Based at Trinity Methodist Church, Norton Road, WF1 4LH. email: straphaelsingers@ gmail.com.

#SAVEOURHOMESLS26 - Residents action group fighting the demolition of homes on Sugar Hill Close and Wordsworth Drive. Please visit saveourhomesls26.org or to sign the petition: www.change.org/pemberstone

SWILLINGTON ELDERBERRIES - Group for over 50’s who meet in the Swillington Village Hall on Fridays 12 - 2,30pm SWILLINGTON IN BLOOM - Group of volunteers who plant and maintain the flowerbeds and boxes in Swillington. For more information email swillingtoninbloom@hotmail.co.uk THE FAIR EXCHANGE - Champions inclusiveness through the exchange of skills, knowledge and experience. Contact Pauline on 07780 601917, email info@thefairexchange.org.uk, or visit www.thefairexchange.org.uk.

TIME TO SHINE PROJECT - Fun and excercise for the over 50’s. Run by D. Dance Theatre, 0113 282 6211 or email jenny.oulton@yahoo.co.uk WOODLESFORD IN BLOOM - Making Woodlesford a great place to live by enhancing the environment with floral displays. More volunteers needed! Contact via Facebook or email www. woodyinbloom@btinternet.com WRITING FOR PLEASURE - A newly formed group of writing enthusiasts meeting in the Methodist Chapel in Methley each month For further info please contact Mally on 07592 580946 or email philip. mally77@gmail.com PLEASE NOTE: Many groups are running reduced activity or currently suspended due to Covid19. Please contact the group of interest in the first instance.

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STANLEY RODILLIANS...

THE FORCE IS WITH THE RODS

Another month has passed by and the RFU in England have again stepped a stage closer to full contact rugby as we moved to Stage D of the 6 stage plan. The main changes allow 15 minutes of training to involve contact and the possibility of clubs playing each other in a touch and pass format of the game. As the autumn months approach I am sure challenges will lie 26

ahead, we need to keep positive and adapt to to the changes.

Rods were able to hold their NatWest Rugby Force day on Saturday 5th September. Funding of ÂŁ500 from NatWest enabled a small group of extremely dedicated volunteers to DIY the day away. The funding helped provide amongst other things, a new heavy duty strimmer and a substantial hedge trimmer both these items will find a great deal of work for many years to come. The club would like to thank those who attended, without this kind of generous donation of time, sports clubs would not exist. To the NatWest we also give a big thank you, in conjunction with The English RFU they have made funding available for the event for many years now and gives us a fantastic opportunity each year to progress the club and its appearance.

So what of on field events, there are no matches but there is definitely not a shortage of activity.

Stanley Rodillians Juniors as usual are still training on Tuesday evenings 6.30pm to 7.30pm. They are now also stepping up to add Saturday morning sessions as the kids head back to school and the darker nights close in.

I had the pleasure of watching the kids train recently and it has certainly changed from when I was that age. The focus is not just on Rugby

but on the development and interaction of the kids, quite simply the coaching team inspire and the kids flourish in this positive and fun environment.

For further information on Junior Rugby at Stanley Rodillians please get in touch. You can follow us on Facebook - @StanleyRodsJuniorsRUFC or visit our website stanleyrodilliansrufc.rfu.and follow links for the junior section.

Stanley Rodillians Senior Rugby Union side continue to training on Tuesday evenings between 7.00pm and 8.30pm. Good numbers are up each week and Head Coach Gary Demaine is adapting and developing training around the Coronavirus guidelines to keep it interesting and fresh for the players. It would be great to have a date for the resumption of fixtures, but this is still some way off at the moment.

If you are new to the game or have played before we would love to welcome you to our club. If you are interested please get in touch.

More information can be found on the club website or social media pages.

FOLLOW THE RODS ONLINE! Website: stanleyrodilliansrufc.rfu.club Facebook: @StanleyRodilliansRufc Juniors Facebook@StanleyRodsJuniorsRUFC E-mail Ian Stout: secretary@rodillians.co.uk

LS26 SPORTS...

CLUBS IN YOUR AREA

If you run, or are involved with a local sports club, who you would like listing on this page, just email us at ls26local@gmail.com with a contact detail that we can list and we will include your club.

BOWLS METHLEY BOWLING CLUB 01977 518279 ROTHWELL BOWLING CLUB upthetrap@hotmail.co.uk WOODLESFORD BOWLING CLUB 0113 2827928 CRICKET CARLTON CRICKET CLUB www.carltoncricketclub.co.uk METHLEY CRICKET CLUB methleycc.play-cricket.com ROTHWELL CRICKET CLUB www.rothwell.play-cricket.com FOOTBALL CARLTON ATHLETIC FC Contact via facebook - @carltonathleticfc CARLTON & ROTHWELL GIANTS JFC giantsjfc.club

METHLEY UNITED AFC www.methleyunitedafc.org ROBIN HOOD ATHLETIC AFC 07970 345945 ROTHWELL JUNIORS www.pitchero.com/clubs/rothwelljuniorsfc ROTHWELL JUNIORS GIRLS dazmillard2011@hotmail.co.uk ROTHWELL OLD BOARS WALKING FOOTBALL Chris Bird 07860 890383 SWILLINGTON SAINTS WELFARE JFC Contact via facebook - Swilly Saints Junior Football OULTON ATHLETIC FC Ethan Braggington 07852 930245 MULTI-SPORT OULTON SPORTS & COMMUNITY CLUB 0113 2822356 MARTIAL ARTS CHULDOW ROTHWELL MARTIAL ARTS 0113 2824935 / info@chuldowrothwell.com.

COOL KICKS 07450 673553 / kickboxing@coolkicks.uk.

ROTHWELL KARATE CLUB 07754 195625 / admin@rothwellkarateclub.co.uk ROUNDERS ROTHWELL ROUNDERS Contact via facebook - Rothwell Rounders.

RUGBY LEAGUE METHLEY WARRIORS Contact Andy Ward on 07769685756.

OULTON RAIDERS ARLFC www.pitchero.com/clubs/oultonraidersarlfc.

OULTON RAIDETTES UNDER 8s 07540 063778 OULTON RAIDETTES GIRLS U12s Kelly 07576 924350, U14s Kathrine 07780 498409 and U16s Vicky 07972 200280.

OULTON VIKINGS UNDER 7s James Crow 07898 861247 STANLEY RANGERS ARLFC www.stanleyrangers.org.uk / 01924 870508 SWILLINGTON ARLFC U10’s & TOTS Kyle 07397 859344 RUGBY UNION LEEDS CORINTHIANS RUFC www.pitchero.com/clubs/leedscorinthiansrufc STANLEY RODILLIANS RUFC Jordan Platt 07804 470382 (juniors), Gary Demaine 07776 353892 (seniors). www.stanleyrodilliansrufc.rfu.club RUNNING METHLEY STRIDERS methleystriders@gmail.com ROTHWELL HARRIERS www.rothwellharriers.org.uk RODILLIAN RUNNERS www.rodillianrunners.co.uk SQUASH ROTHWELL SQUASH & RACKETBALL CLUB 0113 2822276 / www.rothwellsquashclub.co.uk 27