South Leeds Life 100 September 2023

Covering Beeston, Belle Isle, Cottingley, Holbeck, Hunslet, Middleton, Riverside & Stourton

100 NOT OUT

by Jeremy Morton

Welcome to this 100th edition of the South Leeds Life newspaper.

Over the last nine years we’ve covered all sorts of stories, large and small. South Leeds has been affected by big national issues: the Boxing Day floods, HS2, street prostitution and of course the Covid pandemic.

But our bread and butter are the very local issues: residents fighting to save a bus route or a church spire; family activities for long summer holidays when

money is short. New schools and sporting facilities.

We have produced several special issues highlighting big issues such as homelessness, domestic abuse and male suicide and giving readers practical information about those subjects.

Our aims, going right back to the start of the website in 2010, were to help people become more active in their community. Whether that be joining a local lunch club, raising an issue with their Councillor, or starting a campaign to tackle a local

problem.

We have covered every election, giving candidates a platform so that you can make an informed choice at the ballot box. We’ve also reported on what your Councillors do for you, both locally and at a city level.

One subject that you tell us you really value is the local history and heritage articles.

One of these about an old Singer sewing machine became our top read story,racking up 27,000 views as it was shared around the world.

We have given opportunities to local people to become reporters, running community reporters courses. Several journalism graduates have joined our team and gained experience before finding full time jobs elsewhere in the industry.

When we started out we weren’t sure if we could last six months, but nine years later we are still going strong thanks to the support of our readers.

We were told “print is dead” but we found that you appreciate a newspaper much more than a website. In fact

going into print saved South Leeds Life, because you were prepared to put your money where your mouth was and sign up for sponsorships and subscriptions to keep the presses rolling.

That meant we could afford to pay me as Editor to manage the website as well as the paper - a full time job for a part time salary.

Thanks to all our volunteersBoard members and writers. And thanks to you, our readers, without whom there wouldn’t be a South Leeds Life. Here’s to the next 100 editions!

About

us

South Leeds Life is written by and for local people. People who live, work and play in the LS10 and LS11 areas of South Leeds.

The website and newspaper are produced by South Leeds Life CIC, a social enterprise registered with Companies House, No 9998695.

South Leeds Life is a member of the Independent Community News Network.

Vastint submits plans for residential blocks at Aire Park

Vastint UK, the developer behind Leeds’ highly anticipated mixeduse district Aire Park, has submitted plans for the first homes within its landmark scheme on the site of the former Tetleys brewery.

The plans which have been submitted to Leeds City Council, will see the development of seven buildings on the corner of Crown Point Road and Bowman Lane. The 421 build to rent homes will provide a mixture of studio, one, two and three-bedroom apartments.

Our aims

To inform people of events, activities, issues and opportunities taking place in the South Leeds community;

To encourage the involvement of the wider community in communicating their experiences;

To foster community spirit and involvement; and

To provide a platform for local people to contribute and respond to community life more fully.

South Leeds Life is pleased to publish views from across the political spectrum, provided they comply with our editorial guidelines. We remain a neutral publication with a diverse readership, as such we do not endorse any particular political party.

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Designed by Cartwright Pickard, the buildings look to balance modern design aesthetics whilst also relating to the area’s industrial heritage.

The residential areas, currently known as Plots R2 and R3, shape a diverse and inclusive place to put down roots at the heart of Aire Park. The 421 new homes will be surrounded by high quality landscaping, including woodland courtyards, designed to provide a welcoming space for residents and visitors.

The development’s unique landscaping will create a natural transition between the residential community and the new city park which will become one of the largest new city centre parks in the UK. This shared community asset will encourage a sense of belonging, give a boost to mental and physical

health, as well as increase biodiversity in this part of the city.

Simon Schofield, Head of Development at Vastint UK, said:

“Following the delivery of our first commercial and mixed-use buildings, this is the next major milestone in the future of Aire Park and we’re excited to be a step closer to our goal of creating a new and diverse community on Leeds’ south bank.

“These new homes will be the first of over 1,400 once Aire Park is complete, and will sympathetically balance modern urban design with accessible public spaces.

“As progress continues, we’re looking forward to seeing the Aire Park community grow and are keen to help it evolve and develop its own unique identity and place within the city.”

Luke Petty, Project Director at Cartwright Pickard, said: “R2 and R3 is a place where the city’s past meets the present. These low energy homes have been integrated into the park landscape, combining the foundation for climate resilience with homes that complement the diverse ways in which we live today and for generations to come.”

Designed to relate to local heritage buildings like The Tetley and Leeds Bridge House, Plots R2 and R3 are built using modern

methods of construction whilst acknowledging the local historic architecture of arcades and pubs throughout the city.

Enriched by beautiful, glazed tiles that provide a resilient finish and weather gracefully, the designs feature tiered vertical façade hierarchy, rich brickwork, and deep window reveals for a sympathetic design in keeping with the craft heritage of Leeds.

The residential planning application follows the successful structural completion of the first 200,000 sq ft of grade A office space and 20,000 sq ft of retail

space on the site in February and the start on site of a new sevenstorey, commercial building in May.

Alongside the residential planning application Vastint has also submitted proposals for a multistorey car park which will serve the occupants of Aire Park’s new commercial developments. The development will include 433 parking spaces along with a secure ground floor cycle hub with 516 spaces, locker provision, and bike wash / service stations.

Vastint is targeting to complete the delivery of Aire Park by 2032, at which point the area will be home to over 11,000 workers and up to 3,000 residents, all of which will be centred around an expansive, eightacre public park, one of the largest new city centre green spaces in the country.

To find out more about Aire Park, visit: airepark.co.uk.

South Leeds features on Architectural Awards shortlist

Three beautiful buildings and stylish structures in South Leeds have got designs on success after being shortlisted in this year’s Leeds Architecture Awards.

The Leeds Footbridge which crosses the River Aire from Hunslet, the ‘flat iron’ Globe Point building in Holbeck, and Stourton’s Park & Ride scheme are all on the shortlist.

Taking place for the first time since 2019, the awards are a collaboration between Leeds Civic Trust, Leeds Society of Architects, Leeds City Council and the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA).

More than 50 entries were received earlier this year across five categories – cultural projects, new buildings (up to £10m in value), new buildings (more than £10m in value), altered buildings and public realm & landscape.

Now a final shortlist of 15 has been announced, with the winners due to be revealed at a ceremony at the Howard Assembly Room on November 1.

Celebrating excellence in architectural design across the

metropolitan borough of Leeds, the awards were open to schemes completed between July 2018 and June this year.

Organisers included a cultural projects category as a nod to activity taking place in the city as part of LEEDS 2023.

Councillor Helen Hayden, Leeds City Council’s executive member for sustainable development and infrastructure, said:

“Leeds has a proud heritage of design excellence, and the architects of today are doing a fine job of maintaining that tradition in interesting and inclusive ways.

“The shortlisted buildings, public spaces and projects are all playing their part

in making our city a distinctive, thought-provoking, environmentallyfriendly and welcoming place to live, work, visit and spend time. Congratulations to everyone involved.”

Martin Hamilton, director of Leeds Civic Trust, said:

“I would like to thank all entrants for their submissions. The quality was very high, and the judges had a

very difficult decision to make in identifying a shortlist.”

Luke Sach, co-president of Leeds Society of Architects, said:

“The Leeds Society of Architects are honoured to be involved with this year’s Leeds Architecture Awards, helping to celebrate the very best projects, which over the last few years have positively contributed to Leeds’s ever-evolving architectural landscape.

“Thank you to everyone who submitted entries, we’re thrilled to have seen such a large number of high-quality applications. A huge congratulations to all the projects shortlisted and best of luck on November 1.”

The River Aire Footbridge at the Climate Innovation District in Hunslet

CGI of new blocks with Crown Point Road in the foreground

Hand grenade discovered in donations at charity shop

hours of the day. Certainly not the usual happenings of a Wednesday at the charity shop!

Staff and volunteers at St Luke’s CARES are doing a fundraiser on Saturday 9 September walking the Yorkshire Three Peaks to help towards the costs of delivering the work we do in the local area, such as RISE, The Shine Project and the First Steps retail/ESOL training courses at the charity shop.

As a charity we’re committed to the South Leeds area and the people here, we’re

passionate about our community and running different community projects and initiatives to see our community and the people in it thrive. Needing to shut the shop for a day due to the hand grenade was a bit of a blow (excuse the pun!) and has meant a loss of a day trading, income which usually goes towards running costs of these various projects.

So any donations to keep us walking next weekend would be greatly appreciated! Go to bit.ly/45S8xdz to donate.

OnWednesday 30 August

as staff and volunteers were sorting through donations at St Luke’s CARES cgarity shop on Dewsbury Road they discovered an

ancient hand grenade amongst a box of plates.

The items had been collected from the Reuse container at the Pudsey Recycling site.

Unsure as to what state the hand grenade was in the police

were called, two vans arrived quickly and shut the shop. Staff and volunteers left the premises and the building was secured. After the local police looked at the grenade they decided they needed to call in a specialist bomb disposal unit

who travelled down from South Shields (near Newcastle) to deal with the situation.

The specialist Ministry of Defence unit took the hand grenade away to detonate it and the shop was able to open again for the final couple of

The young people that are the future of Middleton Railway

“They are an absolute credit to the railway and to their families.

“Although we’ve got a few older volunteers working today, we are operating the railway today with an average age of 19.4 years. We might be the world’s oldest railway but we haven’t got the world’s oldest crew, which is important for the future.

“Not just our future here, but important for their future. Important for the skills it builds in them, it’s important for their employment, and it’s made a difference to the young people’s lives.”

Alex Smith has been volunteering at Middleton Railway since he was 14. Now 20, he is an intern at Network Rail and hopes to make his career on the railways. He told South Leeds Life:

“I felt very honoured to receive the award on behalf of the Youth group as a whole. It’s a major stepping stone for the group.

“It helps to get the word out there that we are here, we are doing things, and we want to encourage young people to do more and get involved.”

Sisters Ellen and Ailsa Sayles are also old hands. Ellen brought her sister along when she started her first volunteering role as an Elf on the Santa Specials, aged just 8.

“We came quite regularly, I like trains, I had my train set. I was that child that had dolls and trains” said Ellen.

They got more involved during the pandemic working in the workshop, painting, doing track work, helping to fire engines and generally learning about the workshop and how the engines work.

There are only a few young women in the youth team, but Ellen and Ailsa don’t see it as a problem.

“Everyone is used to us and the group is very friendly and well supervised by John (Linkins)” said Ellen.

The group was awarded their

runners up certificate in the Rising Stars category of the Heritage Railway Association (HRA).

Presenting the award, Noel Hartley, a Director at the HRA, said:

“It’s important to recognise

the achievements of young people and the achievement of the railway in organising a youth group to engage and nurture young people.

“It’s very impressive to be runners up given the size of the organisation.”

John Linkins, Youth Group Leader at Middleton Railway talked about how the group was established in 2017 and how they had established a system for young people to volunteer safely at a working railway. He said:

“I’ve been in the workshops, been on the footplate and I’m Guarding now. Guarding is very skilled work, we did our Guards Theory Exam and our Guards Practical Exam, plus all our route learning. Whilst it’s only a short route here, it’s important to have that knowledge, which you can share with the passengers.”

“I’d encourage anyone to have a go, come down and talk to people here, it’s a strong youth group and people are very welcoming. It looks good CV-wise, but it’s also just the enjoyment of doing it and meeting lots of new people, from lots of different places, different backgrounds. It’s a good experience.”

When asked about their proudest moment, like all railway enthusiasts, the sisters agree: riding on the footplate and helping to drive the train.

Find out more about volunteering at Middleton Railway at: www.middleton railway.org.uk/volunteeropportunities

Middleton Railway was celebrating its Youth Group who took over the running of the railway on Sunday 6 August.

The bomb disposal team arrive at the Dewsbury Road shop

Staff and volunteers from St Luke’s CARES

Members of the Youth Group with their runners up certificate at Park Halt station, Alex Smith far left, Ailsa Sayles holding certificate, John Linkins squatting at the front. Credit: Richard Croft by Jeremy Morton

by Kate Singleton

On the beat with

Insp Mark Lund

Business rates rebate will secure Hunslet jobs

IamMark Lund, your new Police Inspector for South Leeds. Firstly, I would like to tell you a little about myself.

I have been a police officer for 21 years. All of my service has been in the Leeds district working a variety of front-line roles. I was promoted to Inspector in May this year. Prior to that I was one of the Sergeants working within the South Leeds Neighbourhood Policing Team with responsibility for Middleton and Belle isle. I have also worked as a police constable in the old managed approach team within the Holbeck area.

including Leeds City Council and our elected members to problem solve and disrupt criminal activity and anti-social behaviour. We are working closely with the dedicated offroad bike team on operation Ashfield looking to tackle the anti-social use of motorbikes.

We will be running several initiatives and educational events for the upcoming Hate Crime awareness week which is running from the 14–21 October.

The assistance of the public is key to us being able to achieve our aims and I would encourage people to approach

other contact opportunities are advertised on social media pages on Facebook and X (formerly Twitter) and I would encourage as many residents as possible to attend these meetings. Details can also be found on the Leeds South Neighbourhood Policing Team website which can be found at www.westyorkshire.police.uk/ my-neighbourhood/leeds/ leeds-south

I aim to provide you with regular updates on the hard work that my team are doing. I will update you on the issues and concerns highlighted to us and keep you informed as to what we will be doing to address these issues and concerns.

I will work closely with the local community and partners to achieve our aims together. This is something that I am passionate about.

Sir Robert Peel, who established the first police service, famously stated: “The police are the people, and the people are the police.” This is something that I have embraced during my career and is even more pertinent for Neighbourhood Policing Teams.

Leeds City Council has agreed to give Schneider Electric, a strategically important business in Hunslet, a rebate on their business rates of £315,000 to help them expand their premises and workforce.

Schneider Electric operates from premises on Jack Lane in Hunslet where it currently employs 555 people. The firm, a French owned multination, specialises in digital automation and energy management and is a key supplier of Electric Vehicle (EV) infrastructure products globally.

The expansion plans will secure the existing jobs on site and are set to create a further 110 jobs by 2030. The new building will be within the boundary of the current site. You can read Schneider’s

planning application here.

The rebate is worth about 94% of Schneider’s current rates bill, but is justified because it will secure a £6-7 million investment in the city; securing and creating jobs; and

securing £335,000 rates income in future years.

Business rates rebates are financed 50-50 by the Council and central government, so the rebate will cost Leeds £157,500.

a tree planted outside your home

I feel my policing experience will be invaluable, as I work with the local communities and partner agencies to increase the quality of life and reduce crime and the fear of crime in South Leeds area. I have good working relationships with several partner agencies due to my time as a sergeant with a number of ongoing projects aimed at tackling youth related anti-social behaviour, which I will be looking to introduce across the wider South Leeds area.

As we move out of the summer months towards the Halloween and bonfire period, reports of anti-social behaviour (ASB) inevitably increase. We appreciate just how much ASB impacts on our communities, and we continually review our deployments as well as run proactive operations to target areas where we have significant issues.

Sometimes you will see a visible presence, sometimes our officers will work in plain clothes or under cover. We work closely with our partners

local officers to report incidents or pass on information or to attend local community meetings. We utilise this information to inform our patrol plans.

Community meetings and

Finally, staff volunteers, special constables and cadets all have a really important part to play in the delivery of policing to the communities. If you would like to volunteer in some capacity or would like some more information about the available opportunities this can be found at www. westyorkshire.police.uk/jobsvolunteer

Residents, businesses, and community groups now have the power to green their neighbourhoods, thanks to a new council partnership with Trees for Streets.

Leeds City Council has chosen to pilot the National Street Tree Sponsorship scheme in the city this year, with the purpose of unlocking urban greening and getting communities more involved in local tree planting and aftercare.

It means that Leeds residents can now request to sponsor and look after a brand new semi-mature street tree at a location with a grass verge of their choosing in Leeds for £150.

Neighbours can even choose to set up a crowdfunding page and club together to fund new trees.

Trees for Streets works in partnership with Leeds City Council to get the trees planted. The charity engages with the local community, whilst the council manages the planting of the sponsored trees at the requested locations.

During summer months, residents will take on the job of watering their sponsored trees.

The new scheme is the latest effort towards Leeds’ ambitious target of practically doubling the number of trees across the district by 2050.

Around 150 hectares of woodland has already been planted on public land with the help of volunteers since the launch of the council’s Woodland Creation Scheme. Meanwhile, private landowners are also being helped to access support to plant trees through the White Rose Forest initiative.

Increasing tree canopy cover will make Leeds a greener, healthier, and better place to live and is part of the council’s response to the climate emergency.

Tree cover in England is amongst the lowest in Europe. This impacts resilience to the climate crisis, rising temperatures and increasingly severe weather – particularly in towns and cities.

Street trees act as natural air conditioners, providing shade on hot days and cooling the air through a process called

evapotranspiration. They also help places cope with heavy rain and protect from flooding. Their roots absorb huge amounts of water, and their leaves and branches collect rainwater as it falls.

Councillor Mohammed Rafique, Executive Member for Climate, Energy, Environment and Green Space, said:

“Nobody knows our streets better than the residents who live in them, so I am pleased to launch this exciting initiative with the charity Trees for Streets to empower neighbours and individuals to be able to green their own communities if it is right for them.”

Residents can find out how to help plant and protect trees in Leeds at: www.leeds.gov.uk /trees. or go direct to the ‘Sponsor a Street Tree’ scheme page at: www.treesforstreets .org/leeds

Trees For streets

Photo: Google Streetview

Seized: an illegal off road bike

Insp Mark Lund

Games Night at Acre Court

by Ken Ingram

Iwasasked by Jenny (the Manager of Acre Court) if I would like to join the new Games Night, in the lounge at Acre Court sheltered housing where I live.

I believe it’s going to be every other week on a Wednesday.

The Games night started at 7pm, I got down just after then, and the lounge was already packed.

Around 20 residents were

down in the lounge, playing a number of games, such as card games, dominoes, darts and pool.

There were a couple of games being played, that I’ve never seen before. Next time I will take my Darts for a game.

Having been in a pools team and captain for a season for the Parnaby Tavern, Hunslet a good few years ago, I thought would see if I had lost my touch at playing pool.

It was hard going, but I

managed to win my first game. Although, I was told that the winner stayed on, I left it to other residents to have a go.

The new pool table was bought with Committee funds. Well done to the Committee.

I’m not really keen on dominoes, but I watched Mildred and Margaret and others play.

Steve and Lesley asked me if I wanted a hotdog and a drink. I’d already got a drink, but bought a hotdog at a very good price of £1.

I left after about 90 minutes, with another half hour to go, and edited the photos I had taken.

Thank you to Jenny, Steve and Lesley for the evening. Here’s to the next time.

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Welaunched our funding appeal last September in the face of a huge rise in printing costs and we have been humbled by your response.

We were worried that we might have to stop printing the newspaper, but a grant from our local Councillors on the Innner South Community Committee and the deal ICNN has struck with Google mean we should be OK for the next 12 months or so.

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Residents at Acre Court enjoying Games Night

Crackdown on ASB in Beeston

Police are cracking down on anti-social behaviour, such as quad bikes, speeding and stolen vehicles in the Beeston & Holbeck ward following complaints from members of the public and local councillors.

The Neighbourhood Policing Team from West Yorkshire Police recently held a public session inside Cross Flatts Park in Beeston and spoke to several members of the public.

Councillor Gohar Almass (Labour, Beeston and Holbeck Ward) said:

“My colleagues Cllr Andrew Scopes, Cllr Annie Maloney and I are grateful for this proactive, high visibility outreach approach by the Police as their presence acts as a deterrent to many crimes and reassures the public that our parks are a safe space for all.

“It was good to have a chat with them about local issues and also see them speak to so many people in the park. Not only listening to them, but also offering on the spot support

and advice, on a nice sunny day.”

Sergeant Chloe Spencer of the West Yorkshire Neighbourhood Police Team for South Leeds said:

“Cross Flatts Park is a real hub within the Beeston community. We recognise that the park can attract anti-social behaviour which can cause distress to members of the community.

“Such behaviour is not accepted by the Police and action will be taken. We are currently running a positive action campaign which will see extra patrols being carried out in the park to ensure the community feel safe.

“Myself and my officers from the Neighbourhood Policing Team attended the park with our engagement van. Holding such an event allowed for members of the community to engage with officers and discuss any concerns. During our time at the park, we were pleased to report we witnessed no anti-social behaviour.”

Getting Clean away along the canal

Cllr Ed Carlisle (Green, Hunslet & Riverside) co-led a charity bike ride on

Radon gas checks to be carried out across South Leeds

It has emerged that Leeds City Council is rolling out checks for Radon gas in Council properties in parts of the city including Belle Isle and Middleton.

The plans were discussed at a Council Scrutiny Board

Footpaths resurfaced thanks to Team Beeston

enough concentrations. Most of Leeds has a very low risk of Radon gas according to UK Health Security Agency, but areas of South and East Leeds have a slightly higher risk level of up to 5%.

Belle Isle and Middleton are in the 1-3% range.

meeting on 20 July after Cllr Wayne Dixon (SDP, Middleton Park) raised his concerns about the issue.

Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas, which can increase the risk of cancer if it is present in large

Officers from Housing Leeds told Councillors at the meeting of the Scrutiny Board (Environment, Housing & Communities) that a programme of testing and monitoring had begun in Morley and would cover Middleton and Belle Isle in due course.

Adam Crampton, Head of Property Mananagement at Housing Leeds, said a “robust, yet proportionate, approach to testing right across the city” was underway. The methodology had been agreed with the UK Health Security Agency. He explained that the majority (about 45,000) of council homes are in the 0-1% risk category, with 9,136 homes in the 13% or 3-5% risk categories. Homes in

Dawn Bailey, Chief Officer for Public Health, stressed that Radon was only one gas that impacts on health and that whilst long exposure to high levels of Radon can increase the chance of lung cancer, smoking which is the biggest cause of lung cancer.

Testing of Council housing will provide a good sample in terms of numbers and geographical spread for the whole city. Once that evidence is evaluated, the council will consider testing private rented and owner-occupied properties in higher risk areas.

Officers were asked to provide a more detailed report on their work and to contact other Councils in higher risk areas of the country to compare approaches. The Scrutiny Panel will then consider if a full investigation of the issue is needed.

You can read the report to the Board at bit.ly/3P4dWaG and Cllr Dixon’s paper at bit.ly/3L8WG2Z

You can watch a video of the meeting at bit.ly/45QE8wn (item begins at 1:18:00)

Abig

“Well done” to Team Beeston Citizens who have worked tirelessly over the last two years to get the pathway between Cardinal Road and the football pitch resurfaced. We listened to what the community wanted, we acted, and now work has begun. Hopefully we will be enjoying the footpath for many years to come.

It is amazing what can be accomplished when groups of people in a community come together to make Beeston a

place to be proud of.

Team Beeston Citizens is made up of people from St Andrew’s Methodist

• Church

• Church

St Mary’s Anglican

Beeston Festival

• Beeston in Bloom and

• Beeston Womblers

• There will be a celebratory event on the footpath on Tuesday 26 September where the Lord Mayor and councillors will be meeting footpath users.

Councillor Andrew Scopes

(Labour, Beeston and Holbeck) said:

“This is really great news. Money for work like this has been stretched tightly over the last 13 years, but it’s fantastic that we have managed to get this sorted. I know this is a well used route and its great to see it being brought back to appropriate quality.

“I know this hasn’t just been a priority for me and my ward colleagues Cllr Maloney and

Cllr Almass, but for the people of Beeston as well and I would like to give a big thanks to Team Beeston for their involvement. It may not be the biggest scheme the council is delivering, but I really think it’s going to be a huge improvement for local people’s journeys in their day to day lives.

“I’m looking forward to seeing the work being completed this summer.”

Cllr Almass with members of the Neighbourhood Policing Team in Cross Flatts Park

Friday 28 July all the way from Liverpool to Leeds, along the historic canal, in just one day. The team covered 127+ miles in just over 16 hours of nearly non-stop cycling, arriving back into Leeds just before midnight. They successfully raised over £2,500 for Getting Clean, a locally-led project supporting people recovering from drug or alcohol addiction to get involved in positive community work. For more information, or to get involved or to support them, visit gettingclean.co.uk, or find them on social media.

Cllr Dixon addressing the Scrutiny Board

Money matters with

Leeds Credit Union

Interest rate rises: what do they mean for you?

Work starts on historic Little Moor Park

Lastmonth physical work commenced on ‘Little Moor Park’, Leeds City Council’s new recreational space on Moor Road in Hunslet, which has been developed in collaboration with the Middleton Railway Trust (MRT), based opposite.

Four new information boards have been placed around the site, giving details of how the area once looked and how its residents lived. MRT has provided much of the information and photos for these boards and Vice President Ian Smith has been able to supply information about how the residents of the Gasholders (the streets now occupied by the Tulip Retail Park) lived and worked, having lived there as a child.

A fifth board describing the Leeds locomotive building industry will be installed later.

locomotive ‘Salamanca’ as part of a Heritage Trail between Hunslet and the city centre. There are funding possibilities available for this project and we’ll see what develops.

Even though it's a term most people regularly hear, many don't know what interest rates actually are, or how the extent to which they rise and fall impacts their lives. Greg Potter, Head of Member Experience at Leeds Credit Union, explains.

What are interest rates?

Interest rates indicate how high the cost of borrowing is and how rewarding saving is.

If you’re a borrower, the interest rate is the amount you are charged for borrowing money. This is typically shown as a percentage of the total amount of the loan. The higher the percentage, the more you have to pay back, meaning the lower the interest rate, the better.

If you're a saver, the opposite is true; your savings are generally worth more and earn more interest when rates rise as banks and building societies usually pass the rate rises on to customers.

Even a small change in interest rates can have a big impact, so it’s important to keep an eye on whether they rise, fall or stay the same.

What is the base rate?

Set by the Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) to keep inflation low and stable, the base rate determines the interest rate the Bank of England pays to commercial banks that hold money with them. This then influences the rates those banks charge people to borrow money or pay on their savings.

When base rates change, banks usually change their interest rates on borrowing and saving.

What do the recent rises in interest rates mean for families?

One of the biggest issues when interest rates rise is that it becomes more expensive to borrow money. Mortgages may become more expensive, for example, with those on tracker

and standard variable rate (SVR) deals usually seeing an immediate increase in their monthly payments.

The recent base rate rise from 4.5% to 5% means those on a typical tracker mortgage now pay about £47 more a month, while those on SVR mortgages are paying approximately £30 more than they were before the rise.

Anyone with a credit card or a loan will also have seen the amount they are being charged for them increase.

Those with savings accounts, however, may find their savings increasing in value, as they may be paid more interest as banks seek to ensure good deals for savers.

What help is available for financially vulnerable households?

The cost of living crisis has presented illegal money lenders and loan sharks with an opportunity to target more people than ever and, as interest rates rise, it is likely that still more people may be tempted to turn to them for financial help.

Under no circumstances should people turn to these unscrupulous lenders. Instead, anyone experiencing financial difficulties should contact their local credit union, who may be able to provide financially vulnerable households with access to a range of affordable loans and savings accounts.

Leeds Credit Union provides straightforward and affordable financial services.

In addition to these boards, new benches and a picnic table or two will also be provided and a much needed tidying up of the area will be carried out. One of these benches is being designed by the Leeds UTC on Hunslet Road and should feature the Middleton Railway in its construction – it will look similar to the bench on the railway’s Moor Road platform but feature the 21st century railway in its design.

In the longer term, the council and the Trust are looking at a piece of artwork to commemorate Murray and Blenkinsop’s pioneer

What is important, however, is that this is a successful collaboration between the MRT and Leeds City Council, led very much by local councillor Paul Wray, to whom we are grateful for his hard work in creating the park.

The name comes from the fact that Hunslet Moor was actually divided into 3 sections. The largest one was split into two by the railway itself, being either side of the line as it went up to the Hunslet Staithes and thence into town, the smaller part still seen opposite the Gardeners Arms pub. The third section was a tiny piece between the Balm Road Branch and the Gasholders which was always known as the ‘Little Moor’ and hence this

Instaplanta and Council settle competition case

“We are delighted to be part of this improvement for the local community and hope it will be appreciated by all who are able to use it in the future”.

Cllr Paul Wray (Labour, Hunslet & Riverside) added:

“Cllr Mohammed Iqbal and I are passionate about improving the ward’s greenspaces and protecting its rich history for future generations. It has been our pleasure to work with Middleton Railway to develop an improvement plan that will add value to the important work they do and create an area of community space for residents who want a quieter greenspace away from the playground on Hunslet Lake. The coming months will see more work take place, transforming the area by early next year.”

“I’m glad this is all over with and hopefully Instaplanta and the council can now move on to the future and work to create a positive partnership.

Local South

Leeds business Instaplanta (Yorkshire) Ltd has reached a settlement with Leeds City Council in their unfair competition dispute.

As we reported in July, the Council was denied a ‘Security of Costs’ order in the case at the Competition Appeal Tribunal, where Instaplanta were alleging that the Council has stifled its business model by unresonably denying it permission to site planters at roadside sites across the city.

Details of the decision were published earlier this month here. The report states that the settlement, worth over £500,000, avoided “significant, unrecoverable costs to the Council.”

The Council has settled the case without any admission of liability. The report states:

“After the Competition Appeal Tribunal decided not to provide the Council any protection on its costs, settlement represents the lowest cost option available for both parties.”

Speaking to the Yorkshire Post, Instaplanta co-owner Malcolm Simpson said he was happy with the outcome:

“It’s an amicable agreement. I think both parties are happy to put this behind them. It’s been eight years we’ve been fighting this so we’re glad it’s over.”

The agreement means that the Competition Appeal Tribunal trial scheduled for 6 November 2023 will no longer take place.

Malcolm Simpson of Instaplanta

Photo: Shutterstock

new park got its name.

MRT Vice President Ian Smith said:

A new information board at Little Moor Park

Ellis climbs Kilimanjaro on his 30th birthday

by Jeremy Morton

Last year we reported on Ellis Robinson’s charity climb of England’s tallest peak, Scafell Pike, this year he has scaled Africa highest mountain, Kilimanjaro.

The adventure started on his sofa in Belle Isle two years ago when he was looking for something special to mark his 30th birthday. Fast forward to 19 July this year and Ellis was flying out to Tanzania.

Ellis met Robert, his guide, and the porters who would look after him on the seven day adventure.

On the second day of the Lemosho route they emerged through the jungle to their first view of the mountain.

Hard work and fun at Trentham Park action days

by Tania Carlisle

TheFriends of Trentham Park held two action days this summer and were joined by residents and their children in efforts to keep the park looking colourful and loved.

The days centred around clearing out a previously flytipped binyard, which the friends hope will be used by residents for their bins as well as a possible raised bed. We are grateful to Groundwork who have now also levelled the floor. The back wall was painted in anticipation of some street art (yet to come). Children were asked to draw images of what they would like to see on this wall so watch this space …

Catherine Peacock from Kidz Klub Leeds and play streets also brought activities for the children and despite the rain lots of fun was had.

“All the way up to Barafu camp, the last before the summit at an altitude of 4,673m, the scenery was beautiful with plants that only grow on Kilimanjaro” Ellis said.

The plan was to rise early on 26 July, Ellis’s birthday, for the final push to the summit. They left camp at 12:15am after another briefing from Robert and praying together.

After a couple of hours of a slow and steady steep ascent, Ellis was really feeling the lack of oxygen. Checking their position he realised he was only 400m from Stella Point where the gradient eases to the summit.

Ellis and Robert reached the summit, Uhuru Peak, at 5:40am, the first to do so that

day.

Ellis commented: “It still doesn’t feel real that I’ve done it and if I’m honest I’m gutted it’s over, but what a way to turn 30. How many people can say they was the first person to summit Kilimanjaro, the Highest peak in Africa in -16° conditions with 48% oxygen in them on their 30th birthday?

“I’m truely grateful for this fun but life changing experience and will be back again to do the surrounding mountain. I’d like to thank my guide Robert, my team of porters and Trekking Hero who I booked through.”

Ellis has made a video of his trip which you can watch at: youtu.be/zVAESN1SnOs

A second day centred around painting insects that will adorn the newly built raised beds as well as sporting activities led by

Ellis

Green Flag award for Middleton Park

Middleton Park has been recognised amongst the best parks in the country, with the Green Flag Award denoting clean, safe and wellmaintained spaces. With more than 470 acres of green space, Middleton Park is a model of a major city park, with facilities including a café, playground, bowling greens, a heritage trail and Leeds Urban Bike Park. For visitors seeking to relax and enjoy some unspoiled scenery, it also has a fishing lake as well as a Nature Reserve containing the largest ancient woodland in Leeds.

Preparing for a DAZL-ing career

by Jeremy Morton

You’veprobably heard about DAZL – Dance Action Zone

Leeds, based in Middleton.

You probably know that they run dance groups for children of all ages, getting them active, giving them something to do, improving their health and wellbeing. Every day they are making an impact, using dance as a tool to deliver health outcomes, working with 6,500 children across the city. But did you know they are also fostering careers and helping young people become professional dancers?

DAZL’s Director Ian Rodley explained their DAZL Excel Training and Performance Programme:

“It’s not just about young people coming and having a

Elland Road an Asset of Community Value

Leeds United Supporters’ Trust confirmed that its application to make Elland Road an Asset of Community Value (AoCV) has been formally approved and listed by Leeds City Council. The AoCV is a decision that helps to protect fans’ interests in the long term and stop owners for using Elland Road as an ‘asset.’ To many Leeds fans this isn’t just a ground, it’s their home and their club’s legacy.

Beeston nursery judged ‘Outstanding’

The Little Owls Nursery City & Holbeck has been judged

Outstanding in all areas

following its recent inspection by Ofsted. Inspectors praised the staff’s reactive skills, adapting the curriculum to build on children’s expressed interests. They also praised the use of outdoor space including the vegetable garden.

lovely time doing a 5, 6, 7, 8 routine, it’s really looking at a pathway into professional dance training, getting a career in the arts.”

The programme is open to dancers aged 5-19, but to get onto the programme you have to pass and audition and submit a written application. Once accepted you can expect to work six hours a week over three nights covering commercial dance, street dance, ballet technique, acro technique as well as the core subject of contemporary dance.

The programme is successful with every member of the 1519 group gaining places at colleges, universities and dance schools this year. These include nationally prestigious schools such as LIPA (Liverpool

Institute of Performing Arts or the Paul McCartney School of Speech & Drama as its often referred to) and the Northern School of Contemporary Dance.

From there dancers go on to work professionally tours. Young people who started with DAZL are currently working with Drag Race, on pantomime tours, working with pop stars on world tours. Many also go into teaching dance. As Ian says: “They are all making a living and enjoying a career out of something they love.’

What we do to get them ready for all that – dance training, but also a dance leadership course that runs throughout it, 13 years level 1, 15 level 2, help apply to college

“When I say we’re not here just to do dance just for fun,

when you come to DAZL and you take part in our Excel programme – these are people who are going to go and get a job in the arts.”

Dancers on the programme are not just by doing competitions, but getting ready for auditions, learning how to prepare a CV, how to analyse their work, their strengths and weakness, and constantly reflecting on their practice. They work with external artists,

take a dance leader’s qualification, create digital and live showcases.

“We give them the experience so that when they go out into the industry they already know what’s expected of them.”

If you would like to join the DAZL Excel programme, auditions are coming up on Monday 18 September. Register your interest by emailing dance@dazl.org.uk

New Forest group enlist help from magnet fishermen for first litterpick

by Hazel Smith

OnMonday 17 July members of the newly formed Friends of New Forest Plantation convened to give the waterway areas around the Plantation a quick tidy up with the primary aim of removing a substantial number of abandoned shopping trolleys.

Key target areas were Throstle Carr Beck and the retention ponds.

Armed with grappling hooks and waders, along with the obligatory safety equipment and sheer brut strength members of the local amateur magnet fisher team (John, Joe and Lee) were enlisted to help with the removal of the metal

debris. Hopefully, there will be more engagement with this kind-hearted group of locals in the future to clear even more problem areas.

A veritable army of volunteers, consisting of 9 adults and 5 children spent an hour and a half around the waterways and managed to remove 3 trolleys, 4 chairs, several duvets, random items of clothing and a treasure trove of other litter filling about a dozen large litter bags.

Thank you to Cllr Wayne Dixon (SDP, Middleton Park) for providing some of the necessary equipment to the local team, which will be utilised well over the coming months.

Please do follow the Friends of New Forest Plantation Facebook page for further information on what they have planned.

Meg Burns has graduated from Urdang in London

Street Skating Together

by Machteld DeRuyck

Street Skate Together is part of Civic Skateboarding – a project by artist and skateboarder Harry Meadley produced for Leeds 2023 Year of Culture.

At its core, Civic Skateboarding is about forming better relationships between skateboarders and Leeds’ civic and cultural institutions with the long-term goal of making the city’s public spaces safer and more inclusive for all.

It is paying particular attention to the growing number of female and gender minority skateboarders who are disproportionately affected by the lack of safety in public spaces. It has been co-created, co-curated, and co-skated by many members of the Leeds skateboard community in partnership with LS-TEN Charity, Welcome Skate Store, Leeds Playhouse, BLANK_, Henry Moore Institute and more. Additional support has been provided from Leeds Beckett University and The National Lottery Community Fund.

Street Skate Together consisted of eight free, beginner friendly skateboard sessions at various street spots across Leeds throughout August, and four community sessions which have been more focused on bringing the community together through film, art, and building ramps together.

Every session has had female or non-binary coaches offering free beginner coaching, helping many first time skaters get on their way.

These sessions are targeted at marginalised genders, women and girls, but have also welcomed beginners and allies,

to encourage more skateboarders to go street skating, despite the barriers that often prevent this.

In particular, we noticed that many of our female and marginalised gender park users don’t go street skating, due to not feeling safe or still feeling intimidated by this. Therefore, this project attempts to tackle this by creating a safe space for us to take on the streets!

Then, we will all be ready for a full weekend of skateboarding at the mini-festival “Civic Skateboarding” in Leeds on 16 & 17 September.

One person who is very ready for the festival is 7 year old Nyla Bowyer, who has attended every single Street Skate Together meet up since it started. Her Mum stated how much it has done for her confidence, being around other women skating and supporting her, as it has been such an inclusive and friendly experience.

Nyla’s favourite quote is “I love skateboarding!” and when asked about her favourite part of the street skate together sessions, she spoke about how many friends she has made. Despite being a bit younger than the rest of the group she had no problems fitting in and has even made a lot of the other skaters feel more at ease from her high spirited attitude and enthusiasm to

skateboarding.

Nyla also discussed how she would not fit in as well with mainstream activities, and would sometimes get anxious when doing them, however, skating made her feel much more independent and confident.

Her best memory of the street skate sessions has been when she did a “kick flip” (with the helping hands of coach Elsie) at the Leeds Pride Parade which we all skated as a group. When Nyla landed the whole crowd cheered, it was a really magical moment.

Everyone who has attended has been amazing and helped to create such a supportive network so that these sessions can continue. The community is helping to make street skating more accessible and safer for everyone, while also having the best time skating around Leeds!

University of Leeds researchers are carrying out a study to explore whether volunteer peer mentors can help other people living with hip or knee osteoarthrits (OA) by providing weekly remote (online or telephone) support sessions.

We’d love to hear from you if you want to become a peer mentor and if you are living with osteoarthrits of the hip or knee

• you feel that you are disadvantaged because of your finances,

•

• educaton or social circumstances you can spare 1­2 hours a week for 6 weeks to support others.

If you volunteer you will receive: training in OA self­management

• training in mentoring skills

• £20 thank you payment for each support session you deliver

•

• additonal support with Wi­Fi and other enabling costs

This 2­day training and your lived experience will help you deliver 6 remote support sessions to other people who need help to manage their OA.

Contact: Liz Lavender (Study­Coordinator) or Amrit Daffu­O’Reilly by 30th November 2023 to be involved.

Email: mskprism@leeds.ac.uk or Phone: 07745 210126

7 year old skater Nyla Bowyer

Street skaters together outside the Henry Moore Institute

Many people living with hip or knee osteoarthritis have problems with pain, mobility or loneliness.

If you too are living with hip or knee osteoarthritis, you could support others to manage their condition better by becoming a peer mentor.

Hunslet Moor says goodbye to Headteacher Two South Leeds candida the Children’s Mayor elec

by Maria Read

In July, children at Hunslet Moor Primary School bid goodbye to their much loved CoHeadteacher Simon Crawford as he leaves to explore new challenges.

Mr Crawford joined the school in September 2014 from Allerton Primary in Bradford, as a Phase leader and Year 6 teacher. He quickly established himself, as a fantastic and well respected member of the team and quickly climbed through the ranks, before becoming acting head when Miss Darley was on maternity leave in 2019.

“It has been a real pleasure knowing Mr Crawford. He’s a very kind and understanding Headteacher. His hard work and dedication has been a great asset to the school.” (Fozia Arif, parent)

Suddenly, this new to the role Headteacher had to lead us through the challenges of the Covid lockdowns, ensuring vulnerable children and families were supported in the best way possible. He rose to the challenge and steered us through as guidelines changed

almost weekly. The school was kept open for vulnerable children, meals and computers were sourced and sent to vulnerable families and all staff and pupils at home and school were supported through those difficult times.

“Whether it be moral support, a friendly reassurance or professional assistance, Mr Crawford has always embodied a figure who one can approach regardless of circumstance. Speaking from personal experiences of facing difficulties due to Covid, I can assure you that Simon was the pillar that solidified our confidence and allowed us to function as smoothly as possible, maintaining our school’s incredible ethos. School was not the only place in which Simon held great importance, his presence and enthusiasm uplifted the community of Beeston, as a helping hand for the younger generation.

(Haleema Ali, staff Governor)”

When Miss Darley returned from maternity leave, the two heads worked together as CoHeadteachers and have worked alongside each other ever since

to create the best learning environment possible for all children.

“Mr Crawford is a very good Headteacher and he cares about all of us. He keeps us safe and always creates fun assemblies. Mr Crawford is very hard working and we will miss him.” (Emma, Year 6 and Debangsh, Year 1, school councillors)

On Tuesday 18 July a special assembly was held in Mr Crawford’s honour, attended by the whole school, parents, Governors and ex-pupils from Mr Crawford’s first year at Hunslet Moor Primary (now in their 20s!). Children entertained him with a special song that the whole school had been secretly rehearsing and video messages from all staff and children. Mr Crawford was presented with a beautiful scrap book that all classes had contributed to and an enormous cake made by our catering team. The morning finished with Hunslet Moor’s Got Talent featuring singing, dancing, gymnastics and a very special rap. The winner was Michelle from Year 4, who sang a beautiful version of Lift Me Up by Rhianna.

“Mr Crawford has been an inspirational leader during his time at Hunslet Moor. We will all miss his strong values which has kept the children at Hunslet Moor at the centre. His commitment and dedication to the pupils, parents and staff team has been unwavering in the face of numerous challenges as well as celebrations over the past 9 years.” (Emma Marshall, Chair of Governors)

Thank you for an amazing 9 years Mr Crawford and everyone at Hunslet Moor wishes you all the best in the future.

Voting is open in the election to decide who will be the next Leeds Children’s Mayor and South Leeds has two candidates on the 12-strong shortlist.

Elsie from Hunslet Carr Primary School is campaigning on the issue of food poverty, whilst Keyla from New Bewerley Community School in Beeston’s manifesto focusses on mental health.

Elsie explained her motivation and ideas:

“It’s not fair that some people have to go to a food bank to get food when lots of people can just buy it. I was thinking that we have the school allotment, so maybe we could grow food there and give it to the children that need it. Also, if there’s food left over in the dinner hall, instead of throwing it away, we can have a list of families that need food and we could give it to them. It’s better than wasting it, especially as the dinner staff have spent a long time making it.”

She is keen to see more

schools have allotments or growing spaces and would like to hold a big fun day in the city centre where she could raise more awareness of the issue and raise funds for foodbanks.

Keyla told us:

“There are lots of adults, teenagers and pupils suffering in school and out. I want them to feel calmer within school and learn about how to have an improved mental health, through learning whilst in school and take these skills out into the community – into their own life and that of others.

“Good mental health leads to happiness, more contentment and self-belief which enables you to progress in life.”

Keyla was inspired to put herself forward by the current Children’s Mayor Mason Hicks, who met the new King on his visit to Leeds last November.

Marcus Rashford is a big inspiration for lots of things at Hunslet Carr Primary School and his stand on providing food to families during the school holiday inspired Elsie. She’s also

keen on the school’s allotment:

“I like going to the allotment and planting and growing things, it’s a nice place to sit. It makes me feel happy with all the colours” she said.

Elsie was recently elected Head Girl and was presented with her prize by Hilary Benn MP. Asked about the Mayor election he told her:

“You need to do lots of campaigning and you need to be confident.”

Both girls have planned their campaigning for when schools restart this month. They have been approaching other schools to ask to go and speak to pupils. Family members are being roped in with older sisters spreading the word at their schools and Keyla is hoping her Polish campaign manager will get votes amongst the Polish community in Leeds. Elsie’s father is putting a Vote Elsie placard up outside their home.

Children and young people aged 5 to 18 years old who live and/or go to school in Leeds have till 5pm on 25 September

Greenmount Primary celebrate culture on their do

Rain couldn’t dampen the spirits or keep the crowds away on Friday 14 July as Greenmount Primary School celebrated their Culture on the Doorstep project.

In the hall amazing maps were on display along with photographs of important places; a poem about the area was read aloud by children (see below) and maps were handed out for an audio trail of a story written by the children.

On top of all of that there was food and sweets, football and taekwondo, and even a hook-aduck stall to entertain the

children and parents.

The school had been approached by the University of Leeds to be part of a project called Culture on the Doorstep.

They were assigned an artist to work with them to explore what’s on the doorstep, within a fifteen minute walk of the school.

The artist, Hafsah Naib, worked with a Year 3 class. They went out in small groups and she asked the pupils to tell her and show her what’s important to them where they live in

Beeston. The maps show where they took Hafsah to, places like the mosque, Nafee’s bakery and Yasin Catering.

Following on from the map work, the children wrote a story which anyone can follow by visiting the QR codes placed around the community at points of interest. If you scan the QR code at each location you will be able to hear the next instalment of the story.

Maps were handed out to help you find your way

around.

Headteacher Lisa Dixon said:

“It’s wonderful to see everyone come into school today. We saw this celebration event as the end of the project, but it’s not, this is the beginning of what lots of other classes could do.

“The project introduced a lot of teaching techniques that we wouldn’t necessarily know.

“It will probably change some of the ways we approach geography, especially in the Autumn term when the whole school does a topic called ‘Where in the World is Beeston?’ We’ve done that for the past few years, but it might take a

Pupils created a map of local landmarks in Beeston Hill

Mr Crawford working with pupils

Keyla from New Bewerley Community Sc

Elsie from Hunslet Carr Primary School by Jeremy Morton

by Jeremy Morton

Kyle Asquith Foundation 10 Year Celebration ates in ction

Everyonein the Cockburn School community, joined by members of Kyle's family and over 20 of his school friends, paid tribute in late July to Kyle and celebrated 10 years of the charity.

Despite some of the many July showers, the sun came out briefly and nearly 1,000 people gathered outside. Cockburn's newly appointed Student Ambassadors stood in the shape of the number 10.

On the stage, there were readings from the newly elected Head Girl and Head Boy and a

performance by the combined school and community choir who sang 'True Colours' beautifully. Words from senior members of staff and trustees of the charity were then followed by everyone counting from 1 to 10 before fireworks marked the moment. Red and white smoke honoured Kyle's love of Arsenal FC.

Kyle's mum, Tracey, sent the following message to the staff and students of the school following the event: "Thank you so much for today - truly an amazing but emotional

afternoon. The school has helped us so much in many ways and your support is phenomenal. Thank you for everything you do to keep Kyle’s memory in everyone’s hearts."

Kyle's friends, many of whom had not been back to school for 9 years, were given a tour of the school which brought back many fond memories.

If you would like to raise money for the charity or donate, please go to: www.cockburnschool.org/about -us/charity-work or www. justgiving.com/kyle-asquith

Burley Banksy helps Reach pupils repaint Holbeck Skatepark

Theskatepark on Holbeck

Moor has been brightened up in time for the school holidays thanks to a project initated by Cllr Andrew Scopes (Labour, Beeston & Holbeck) and delivered by pupils from Reach Primary Learning Centre, with a little help from Burley Banksy (Andy McVeigh).

Ali Elvidge, the Head of Centre at Reach Primary Learning Centre, explained:

them in building their confidence and self-esteem. They have an achievement that they can see whenever they visit and can celebrate this with their friends and family. We are really grateful to Cllr Scopes, Laura DowningGreen at Leeds City Council and Burley Banksy for giving Reach this opportunity.”

2023 to cast their vote and can do so by visiting tinyurl.com/LCMVote23, where they can read the manifestos of all 12 candidates. There are also pop up voting stations in Leeds City Museum and Leeds Central Library.

The newly elected Children’s Mayor is set to be announced by the Lord Mayor of Leeds, Councillor Al Garthwaite at a civic reception event on Thursday 5 October.

The Lord Mayor of Leeds, Councillor Al Garthwaite said:

“I’m overwhelmed and thrilled by the number of children and schools who have once again taken part in this fantastic programme.

“They are an inspiration, not only to their peers and other children, but to me, and to anyone working to help make Leeds the best city to live in. The quality of the manifestos this year is exceptional, and I am looking forward to the finals night in October to find out who will be our next Children’s Mayor – best of luck to all our finalists.”

Kyle Asquith Foundation Big Summer Raffle!

Backin May, Cockburn School and their charity The Kyle Asquith Foundation asked for donations towards their Big Summer Raffle.

The response from the south Leeds community was magnificent and prizes came rushing in. The £1 raffle tickets went on sale online and in school in July and nearly £1,000 was raised in the first week. The target is to raise £2,000 so they need your help!

- Beauty and scent products

- DeWalt drill

And many more...

To buy tickets online go to: www.justgiving.com/campaign/ kyleasquithfoundationbigsumm erraffle

£1 per ticket. Minimum £2. You MUST leave your email address and tick the box to give permission for it to be shared with us. If not, your donation will not give you a raffle ticket. You MUST NOT opt for Gift Aid as this

is not allowed for raffles. Your name will be entered into the raffle once for every £1 of your donation - £5 will mean your name goes into the draw five times. If you win they will email you on the email address you have shared. You MUST leave your email address and tick the box to give permission for it to be shared with them. If not, your donation will not give you a raffle ticket.

Good luck!

“The pupils of Reach Primary Learning Centre wanted to help improve the skatepark as it is a busy area used by a number of local residents ranging from babies to adults. When they visited the site and met Cllr Scopes and Burley Banksy they were quite shocked by how it was a such cool place but looked very neglected and spoiled. They felt that they had the skills to brighten it up and make people feel happier if they were having a sad time. They also wanted to

As well as working with the children from Reach, Burley Banksy engaged with local children on Holbeck Moor who joined in with designing and painting in the evenings.

Cllr Andrew Scopes (Labour, Beeston & Holbeck) commented:

“I am so pleased to be involved with this project, which has been done in partnership! It was a pleasure talking to the young artists about the project on Holbeck Moor and then seeing them make Holbeck Moor Skatepark looks bright and cheerful, ably helped my Burley

different slant this time.”

Briony Thomas from the University of Leeds and Chair of the Cultural Education Partnership which initiated the project explained:

“This was an experimental, creative approach aimed at embedding the children’s voices into what they’re learning within school, what’s really relevant and engaging to them.”

You can find more photos from the event and the poem Chris Singleton from Brave Words CIC worked with the childrten to create at southleedslife.com/ greenmount-primarycelebrates-culture-on-their-door step/

Tickets are still on sale and the draw takes place on the official last day of the summer on Friday 22 September. The last date to buy tickets is Monday 18 September.

There are so many prizes - too many to list here.

To view the list of raffle prizes view the video they have made that shows them all off: www.youtube.com/watch?v=p9

H7mSPU-FI

Prizes include:

- Ride on Audi

- £50 Love to Shop Holiday voucher

- A range of pamper and edible hampers

- Signed Roma football shirt

see their design work on the ramps as it meant they could be like famous artists! The pupils were excited by the project as it meant they got to work with Burley Banksy.

“I am thrilled that the project has not only improved the skatepark, but it has also helped to include and engage all of the pupils enabling them to develop their artistic skills and support

Banksy. Myself and my ward colleagues, Cllr Annie Maloney and Cllr Gohar Almass, were very happy to commission this project.”

The project was funded by Councillors through the Inner South Community Committee with Reach Primary Learning Centre paying for Burley Banksy to work with the children in school to develop their designs.

Cllr Scopes (left) with Burley Banksy and pupils from Reach Primary Learning Centre

School and community choirs perform at the ceremony

chool

In our view

A dazzling performance

DAZL - Dance Action Zone Leedshas been on the ground working with children and young people for nearly 25 years. It does amazing and inspiring work working with every age group encouraging young people to get active and stay active and to express themselves. Now they moved up a gear and helping raise aspirations for people who might assume that growing up in South Leeds meant they could never grace a West End stage. By preparing their young dancers for a career in the arts, they are teaching them valuable life lessons that will serve them well.

Mayoral candidates

What brilliant role models Elsie and Leyla - our south Leeds candidates to be Children’s Lord Mayor - are. Not just to other children, but to all of us. Their first thought is for people less fortunate than themselves, whether that’s hungry families of people suffering poor mental health. We don’t know if either will go on to a career in politics, but these are the sorts of people we need as leaders in this country. They are a credit to their families and their schools: Hunslet Carr Primary School and New Bewerley Community School. Best of luck to both of them.

There’s a buzz around Hunslet

On and off the field, things are buzzing at Hunslet RLFC. On the field the team have had a terrific season and have a real chance to gain promotion to the Championship this year. Off the field the Foundation are doing great work in the community supporting PE in schools and getting people active in the community. There’s also a new energy about the hospitality team behind the scenes so expect to see a lot more events at South Leeds Stadium.

Your letters and comments

Trees For Streets

In 20 yrs those trees planted in verges will be a menace. The council won’t have maintained them, so they’ll want to remove them as they’ll be overgrown.

Richard

£150! You can get trees from the reduced section in garden centres for £10! Personally I’d love them in front of my house to hide the ghetto they built across from me.

Helen Kelly

Trees were planted on Brown Lane in Holbeck, the grassed areas were forgotten about and not touched since day one and are now full of rubbish and overgrown weeds.Ttwo trees have been snapped off a couple of feet above the ground by local feral kids.

All the so called improvements to pavements and streets and unused cycle paths etc have had no benefit to residents.

As usual it’s the Council deciding what we need, but not living in the area they haven’t a clue. They’re good at wasting money meanwhile drugs, prostitution, assaults, etc carry on. Perhaps the problem should be addressed first before the prettying up is put in place.

Henry

Some streets which years ago were always clean and tidy are a disgrace now and why some want to destroy newly planted trees is beyond me. It’s the same as the bear sculptures that are placed around the town centre some have been deliberately damaged and have to be removed and repaired. I’ve barely ever seen the cycle lanes getting used either, and fly tipping still happens because people don’t care about disposing of their rubbish properly.

Mike

100th South Leeds Life

Amazing! Congratulations to all involved - a remarkable achievement and an outstanding contribution to the community of South Leeds.

Andrew Wilson

Congratulations for reaching such a fantastic milestone!

Top Tweets

Keep up to date, up to the minute, by following South Leeds

Life’s Twitter feed: @SouthLeedsLife Twitter, now known as X isn’t as good as it used to be, but it’s still a good place to find the very latest news. It’s free and you can sign up at twitter.com. Here are some of our favourite recent tweets:

@mhasouthleeds

We had a fantastic day at the charity event at the South Leeds Conservative Club on Sunday!

John Baron

Congratulations 100 issues quite an achievement.

Neil Rhodes

Congratulations for 100 issues.

Noor Zaman

Homelessness

Homelessness has never been effectively tackled as long as I’ve known of it’s existence. And has disgracefully been allowed to become out of hand.

How so? Is it that there’s never been enough funding to deal with it? or more likely, handled by incompetents? Maybe it has remained a low priority and allowed to evolve whereby it’s seen as acceptable and the ‘norm’ (like all social problems here in the UK). Why are the people who are in positions to effectively solve and implement the necessary steps to make a difference and move forward incapable?

Time to get yer finger out and stick yer ego’s where the sun don’t shine and do us all a favour!

Denise McGann

actually care, also impliment a stratagy now.

Have mercy on these unfortunate souls.

Alexandra Cabral

Hunslet Moor Primary

Mr Crawford , you have been a blessing to myself and my granddaughter. You have always understood her difficulties and never ever raised your voice . You will be sadly missed by many. But we wish you luck in your new job and hope you continue with success.

Susan Brearley

Rail ticket offices

I am writing to highlight the proposed closure of rail ticket offices across England and Glasgow Central station, that will have a devastating impact on blind and partially sighted people’s ability to travel independently: stopping people getting to work, health appointments, and seeing friends.

A huge thank you to everyone at the club and all those who supported on the day, we could not do what we do without you all!

An Amazing £2000 was raised!

Your Leeds City Councillors

Beeston & Holbeck ward Includes Beeston from Cross Flatts Park to the Ring Road, Cottingley and Holbeck. The three councillors are:

Gohar Almass (Labour) 07445 878 333 gohar.almass@leeds.gov.uk

We are rapidly approaching the Autumn / Winter time in Leeds. My heart goes out to those facing difficulties, uncertainty and fear not knowing what’s ahead. Homeless is more than the title suggests. It’s loss, bereavement, breakdown of relationships and Mental Health. We as a compassionate, caring Universe must ask ourselves… How would we feel in their position?

Annie Maloney (Labour) 07554 969236 annie.maloney@leeds.gov.uk

Andrew Scopes (Labour) 07860 400645 andrew.scopes@leeds.gov.uk

Hunslet & Riverside ward Includes the city centre, Beeston Hill and Hunslet.

The three councillors are:

Ed Carlisle (Green) 07738 921277 ed.carlisle@leeds.gov.uk

Mohammed Iqbal (Labour) 0113 226 8796 mohammed.iqbal@leeds.gov.uk

Paul Wray (Labour) 07528 512649 paul.wray@leeds.gov.uk

Middleton Park ward Includes Belle Isle and Middleton. The three councillors are:

Sharon Burke (Labour) 0113 378 8814 sharon.burke@leeds.gov.uk

Wayne Dixon (SDP) 07852 311717 wayne.dixon@leeds.gov.uk

Emma Pogson-Golden (SDP) 07794 577586 emma.pogson-golden@leeds.gov.uk

It is distressing to see and experience.

I suggest Leeds City Council needs a new mindset and spokesperson to

Ticket offices are not just about selling tickets. They provide a reliable first point of contact for many kinds of staff assistance such as arranging sighted guidance through the station and safely on to the train, to advising on any changes to journeys.

Modernisation of our railways doesn’t just mean apps and touchscreens; modernisation means inclusivity and not leaving anyone behind. These proposals must be scrapped.

Liz Goodwill

Join the debate

Comment online; by email: info@southleedslife.com; or post to: 224 Cross Flatts Grove, Leeds, LS11 7BW.

Letters may be edited for publication.

@BITMO_LS10

Can you guess which member of staff from the Community Development team has been having fun on the new path painting activity on Belle Isle Circus?

@LFoodbank

** New Foodbank Centre **

This week we are opening a new food bank centre on Thursdays between 12pm and 2pm at The Ark Centre in Middleton. If you need a referral please contact Leeds Citizens Advice on 0808 278 7878

@MHPSG_HLPL

What a fantastic day we had. Joined by @HunsletClub and friends. Thanks to @HunsletHub for your help too.

Newly planted trees on Brown Lane East.

Photo: Google Streetview

MP’s notebook

with Hilary Benn MP

Ireally didn’t want to start my first column of the autumn writing about machetes and zombie knives, but I feel I must.

I’ve been campaigning for some time along with others, including the police, for the Government to take much more effective action to ban their sale and possession. We have seen them being used openly on the streets of Leeds, and tragically, people have been seriously injured and killed as a result.

Ministers have now finally announced plans to ban certain types of these weapons – I support this and they should get on with it as quickly as possible – but I’m not convinced that this will cover all the weapons that need to be taken off our streets. My argument is a very simple one. There is no justification for anyone in Leeds or elsewhere to be able to buy and possess a bladed weapon of this sort when we know what they are used for and what the consequences are for society. Enough.

We have all witnessed the off-shoring of jobs before –where roles that used to be done in the UK have been

moved to other countries – but we’ve recently seen a particularly bad example of this with the proposal involving Capita - who are working on contract for Virgin Media - to declare over 250 staff at the Arlington Business Centre potentially redundant. The plan seems to be to move their jobs overseas, probably to the Philippines.

Many of those affected live in South Leeds and I’ve been by contacted by people who have worked at the Centre on various contracts of employment for more than 20 years. As one person said to me in an impassioned email “there is no loyalty or respect towards people like me who have given this company the best years of our working lives.”

What a terrible way to treat people. I’ve been in touch with the CWU which is determined to provide every possible support to their members – a reminder of how important trade unions are - and Rachel Reeves and I have written to Virgin Media about this. They are claiming that it’s a matter for Capita but regardless of how pass the parcel is played with people’s jobs, those responsible should do the right thing and abandon their plans.

Loyal workers deserve much better than this.

A few reflections – inspired by watching the news (see below) - on some of the bridges that connect South Leeds to the city centre.

We are all familiar with Leeds Bridge where in 1888 the pioneer cinematographer Louis Le Prince filmed road traffic and pedestrians in one of the earliest moving films ever made. The film was shot from Hicks the Ironmongers on the southeast side of the bridge, and the site is today marked by a commemorative Leeds Civic Trust blue plaque. There was an excellent article about the history of Leeds Bridge by Ken Burton in 2021 in South Leeds Life (available online).

Then there’s the Knights Way footbridge that I had the privilege of opening some years ago. It crosses the river just downstream of Crown Point Bridge and was named by a ten-year-old schoolgirl who won a competition. As I recall, there was someone from the Armouries dressed in shining armour and wielding a sword as the plaque was unveiled.

The newest footbridge, connecting Sovereign Street and Meadow Lane, is named in

memory of David Oluwale, and close by is the bridge that inspired these thoughts - the Centenary Bridge at Brewery Wharf which now stars nightly in the background of the new Channel 4 News studio on the south bank of the river. It’s a bridge I have walked across many times and tonight - as I write this - it was bathed in the most glorious sunshine.

For several years, the bridge gradually accumulated more and more padlocks – symbols of romantic affirmation - before they were eventually removed. Their combined weight on the wires was causing concern. A few years previously, a section of the railing on the Pont Des Arts in Paris, which was festooned in these locks, actually collapsed.

I will always remember the police horse which rather unexpectedly crossed the bridge one day. Its hooves clanged loudly on the metal and the sound bounced off the walls of the surrounding buildings. And at night, if you stand in the middle of the bridge, you get a spectacular view all the way from Bridgewater Place to the Armouries, with the darkness of the river contrasting with the lights all around.

I’ll leave the last word to Martin Luther King, the great American civil rights campaigner, who once said “Let’s build, bridges, not walls.“ Hear, hear.

And finally, a big thank you. Once again, the summer

festivals and galas in South Leeds - Hunslet, Beeston and Holbeck - were a huge success and most enjoyable and the Middleton Park Show will soon be upon us. As ever, none of

them would happen without the hard work and dedication of the organising committees and volunteers who make it all possible. We all owe them a huge debt of gratitude.

Hilary Benn is our Member of Parliament

He represents the Leeds Central constituency which covers South Leeds as well as other parts of the city

Contact: hilary.benn.mp@parliament.uk, www.hilarybennmp.com

Constituency office: Unity Business Centre, 26 Roundhay Road, Leeds, LS7 1AB; Tel: 0113 244 1097

Disability not inability with Christine Smart

Access to Cross Flatts Park

Anyone with mobility problems will know that our streets are littered with obstacles.

They (mostly) have a good reason to be there, they serve a purpose and cause no inconvenience - provided you are able bodied. But once you need a stick, a wheelchair or mobility scooter to get around it’s a different story.

Here’s a tale with a happy ending, I’ll let Cllr Andrew Scopes (Labour, Beeston & Holbeck) tell it:

Since being elected as a councillor, I have become increasing aware of accessibility challenges that some people face an ablebodied adult I just don’t see. I had a real eye-opening

experience when I borrowed a mobility scooter back in 2021 initiated by resident Christine Smart and demonstrated to me the barriers to normal, daily, movement around the city that exist.

Getting out into our green spaces is a great way to improve health and wellbeing and combat social isolation, especially with wonderful community cafés are available, like the one at the Watsonian in Cross Flatts park.

When a local resident, Sue, got in touch with me recently to say she couldn’t access Cross Flatts Park on her mobility Scooter, I attempted to get through the frame on her scooter myself which was impossible and promptly

agreed to meet with her and a couple of people from the Council’s Parks team to find a solution.

It soon became apparent that none of the usual entrances allowed her access. The team agreed to widen the ‘A’ frames so she could get into the park. Pleasingly, the got in touch the day they were doing the work and the resident was available to ensure the adjustments worked! The Parks adjusted a couple so that you could enter the park on a mobility scooter from each side.

Some concerns have been raised about whether these changes will allow motorbikes into the park, which is one of the reasons for A frames. The

first point to make is our parks our for residents, so the priority has to be allowing people to use them! Secondly, and sadly, people on motorbikes get into the park anyway and so the A frames are clearly not 100% effective. The hope is they will continue to slow down motorbikes and therefore put off people from riding in the park.

I’m really encouraged by this story, how over a few weeks, the council and the public working together can make our area better!

Sue told South Leeds Life “I’m delighted it has been done, it means I can visit the café and accompany my husband when he walks our dog”

Hilary Benn MP with Cllrs Paul Wray and Mohammed Iqbal at Hunslet Gala in June this year

Sue and her scooter can now access Cross Flatts Park

Local history with Ken Burton

Murder in Hunslet

In August 1918 a woman, Annie Mayne, aged 29 was murdered.

Annie Mayne was married to Charles Washington Mayne but after eight years the marriage broke up after she was found in bed with Ben Hindle Benson and he took no further interest in her life; he moved into another house and took on a housekeeper. Although they acknowledged one another in the street and from what he had heard Benson was very good to Annie.

In the Great War (1914-18) Benson who was living with Mayne at 1 Atkinson Hill, Low Road, Hunslet, joined the Army before transferring to the Royal Flying Corps (Royal Air Force from 1st April 1918) as a mechanic serving in France. According to the next door

neighbour Benson and Mayne seemed on the best of terms up to Benson joining the Army.

Ben Benson came home on leave unexpectedly hoping to surprise Annie but instead he received a surprise. While sat in the chair waiting for her to come home he dozed off, Annie came in a little later and a little tipsy with a young serviceman and went straight upstairs with him to make love.

Benson gathered himself from the shock of seeing Annie and her lover going upstairs he followed them and found them in bed. This so enraged him that he drove the young man out of the house.

This was on 27 August and they had a terrific argument and both slept apart that night.

The next day two letters arrived for Annie who held them close

to herself. Ben asked about the contents but she just laughed at him, Ben struck her and Annie told him she would sleep with other men while he was away. With this Ben just lost the plot and dashed into the kitchen where he grabbed a razor and on his return he slashed at Annie’s throat, unfortunately he didn’t miss. The woman who found Annie in a collapsed state understood Annie to have said “Benny did it and thinks he has left me dead”. Annie died in hospital shortly afterwards.

The Post woman said that she had handed a letter on the Monday morning to Mrs Mayne addressed to Mrs Ben Benson. This letter was found on the table and was obviously written by Ben Benson who stated he was coming home on leave it

began with “Dear wife” and concluded with the words “so rest content that Ben loves you none the worse for this taletelling.”

In a statement voluntarily made by Ben Benson to the Police after he had given himself up, he stated the trouble between him and Annie was that he had been informed she had been carrying on with other men. Ben’s brother told him a man had asked for Ben’s address in order that he might write to him about Annie’s “Carrying on” with a man named Moody, another named “Brummagem Jack”, and a soldier wearing a ribbon.

Ben Hindle Benson on being charged with wilful murder on the death of Annie Mayne replied “Oh dear, I am sorry, it was done in temper and if she had given me the letter it wouldn’t have happened. She had everything that money could buy her.” Among the papers found was a cheque for £5 drawn by Ben H Benson in favour of Annie Benson.

At the trial the letter that had caused all the trouble began, “My dear Annie” and was written by a Private in the Guards Machine Gun Regiment who sent her his love. The Jury found Benson guilty of murder and the Judge pronounced the sentence of death.

In Armley Jail while waiting for the sentence to be carried out Benson sat in the condemned cell and a Gypsy’s prophecy kept returning to make him restless. She had told him that “He would die in his boots” and seeking to falsify it his chief concern on reaching the scaffold on the Tuesday morning he asked that he might be relieved of his boots and go to his doom without them. The request was granted and Benson sat coolly on the scaffold took off his boots and pronounced himself “ready”.

Ben Hindle Benson was just 41 years old when he was hanged at Armley Jail by Albert

Pierrepoint on Tuesday the 7th January 1919. A moment of temper and rage had taken away the future of these two people and affected the future of all the family members who loved them.

The family of Alfred Benson who was a fairly wealthy coal merchant and removal man lived with his family comprising of his wife Sarah Anne (nee Hindle), and six children Ben, Alfred, Gertrude, Eliza Ann, Hannah, and Martha lived in Brandling Street before buying Woodsley House on Woodhouse Hill Road, Hunslet. It is thought he may have been in the funeral business because in 1906 he was in possession of a hearse; his vans for removals and cartage were built by J. Wright of Bradford, a famous coachbuilder who was related to William Wright also a coachbuilder of Rothwell Haigh who specialised in Gypsy caravans. It appears that

Woodsley House was put up for sale by the Benson family and bought by a Mr Schofield but the house was later demolished and three new homes Nos.53A, 53B, and 53C were built on the site.

Footnote on Armley Jail: Armley Jail had 93 men and one woman hanged there and all had to be buried within one hour of their death. The last execution took place in 1961. The only woman was Emily Swan aged 42 who when along with her lover John Gallagher, aged 30, murdered her abusive and violent husband by beating him to death; theirs was a joint execution on 29 December 1903. On the day after Ben Benson was hanged two other soldiers, Percy George Barrett and George Walter Cardwell, who were convicted of the murder of Mrs Rhoda Walker, a jeweller, of Pontefract were hanged on 8 January. Theirs was a double execution, the first for 15 years at Armley.

A young Alfred Benson, his two sons were Alfred and Ben

Woodsley House, Woodhouse Hill Road, Hunslet

Pathways for positivity with

Shannon Humphrey

Anxiety and Caffiene

predicament. After eating the sandwich and hydrating, the tremors began to subside just enough for me to drive home.

I slept for an hour and a half, upon waking, I was greeted by a pounding headache and a dry mouth. I drank copious amounts of water, an attempt to flush the caffeine out of my system. Unfortunately, for the remainder of the day I felt unlike myself – a blend of queasiness, clamminess, and overall unease.

Later that night, while lying awake, a sense of impending distress started to take hold. Fortunately, my profession involves assisting individuals grappling with anxiety, and worry. As a First Aid for Mental Health Instructor, I've amassed practical techniques to prevent emerging anxiety attacks. Swiftly, I was able to divert these unsettling emotions and managed a restless sleep.

The following day, I prioritised hydration through water and soothing green tea, consciously avoiding caffeine in all forms, including chocolate for several days. Now, I proceed with careful consideration, learning from the experience and treading cautiously.

Moon Palace mobile observatory marks Smeaton300

Adazzling new artwork that is a mobile observatory takes LEEDS 2023 to the stars and back: Heather Peak and Ivan Morison’s ‘Moon Palace’ embarks on an epic tour of the city, inspired by Leeds-born, Father of Civil Engineering, John Smeaton.

‘Moon Palace’ is both a striking social sculpture and accessible mobile observatory, based on an original idea by East Leeds Project and inspired by the legacy of John Smeaton, and the observatory he had in East Leeds. Each element of the interior and exterior of ‘Moon Palace’, formerly a school bus, has been designed to spark audiences’ curiosity and stimulate their observational skills with a collision of creativity, art and science, inspiring visitors to look afresh at the world around them.

dome on the roof make way for a powerful telescope and a radio dish to enable ‘Moon Palace’ to function as an astronomical observatory. Audiences will be able to view the galaxy on a clear night and use the radio telescope built by students and staff from the School of Physics and Astronomy which will look at signals comings from different celestial objects from across the Universe.

Starting in East Leeds where life-long astronomer John Smeaton made the observations that continue to shape today’s world, including the oak trees that informed the design of the Eddystone Lighthouse, artists and scientists will lead audiences through daytime drop-in sessions and night-time galaxygazing events.

Itwas as though my big toe had been plugged into a high-voltage power source.

I was charged up, completely awake, and fixated on the ceiling, a gradual sense of discomfort spreading throughout my body. I recognised the symptoms well. The onset of an anxiety episode triggered by an excessive intake of caffeine.

The morning had been a whirlwind of errands, my determination to tackle tasks head-on prompting me to skip both breakfast and my usual generous mug of fragrant

jasmine green tea. I settled for a swift glass of water before rushing out.

By mid-morning, I found myself in a café, opting for a large cup of coffee to fuel my efforts. As I continued to check items off my to-do list, I rewarded myself with another huge Americano and a dash of milk, all in the spirit of maintaining momentum and getting my jobs done.

Soon after downing the second coffee and leaving the café, I was overcome by waves of queasiness, dizziness, and the jitters.

I held my hands up before me and saw that they were shaking uncontrollably. A twinge in my shoulder seemed to radiate down my arm, prompting a momentary panic about a possible heart attack.

I knew it wasn’t, but my gosh did it hurt. It was actually the repercussions of my excessive caffeine intake.

Struggling, I managed to buy a sandwich, albeit in a confused state where I almost grabbed a bottle of Pepsi before correcting myself –additional caffeine certainly wouldn't have aided my

I was aware that caffeine overload happens, but it wasn’t something I’d experienced before. An empty stomach, stronger coffee than usual, and a large quantity in a short amount of time will have contributed to my ill effects. It hasn’t put me off drinking coffee, but it has made me more cautious.

Shannon Humphrey is a First Aid for Mental Health Instructor working within the education sector, businesses and private clients. Visit www. pathwaysforpositivity.com for more information or to enquire about a booking.

Its interior is a fantastical, multi-sensory, tactile space evoking the surface of an imaginary planet, including: wood panelling using timber from Peak and Morison’s forest in west Wales; upcycled bus seating; printed silk screens; porcelain lunar lampshades; alien-looking mugs and a sculptural teapot will be put to use in the ‘kitchen zone’.

One huge and one small

Moon Palace will be coming to South Leeds this autumn:

Saturday 30 September | White Rose Shopping Centre LS11 8LU |11am-5pm | Free entry, drop in.

Sunday 22 October | Royal Armouries LS10 1LT | First session: 7:30-9pm (Relaxed), Second session: 9:30-11pm | Tickets required. Keep an eye on www.leeds2023.co.uk where more dates will be added.

Photo: Shutterstock

Moon Palace is coming to South Leeds

Home: Lost and Founda free concert

by Bruce Davies

Review: Noah’s Flood at The Warehouse in Holbeck

by Jeremy Morton

Whata privilege it was

BasementArtsProject

are dipping their toes in the world of classical music in September as we welcome guitarist Claire Angel Bonner to South Leeds.

Claire is an Australian classical music guitarist currently living in Italy; she has spent the summer touring France, Italy and Switzerland. Intrigued by our tiny little art project with big ideas tucked away in a South Leeds side street, Claire will be stopping off between London and Edinburgh to perform a series of works from the 19th Century, before heading for Australia.

Claire has generously offered to do a free performance for the community on ‘The Corner’ Pocket Sculpture Park opposite BasementArtsProject

Thursday 28 September at 1:30pm

The universal search for love is told in melodies from three of Italy’s most beloved and romantic opera composers: Donizetti, Bellini and Verdi.

This short programme presents three fantasies (each approximately 10 minutes long) by the 19th century guitarist and composer Johann Kaspar Mertz.

Later on in the evening there will a second performance at 7:30pm of related but different works at BasementArtsProject.

The cost of this performance will be £10 (£11.01 w/ Booking Fee) There will be free Wine, Tea, Coffee and a slice of homemade brownie made by another member of the Basement Crew. Book at: bit.ly/BAPconcert

The whole day will be dedicated to Sally Bagnall, an ardent supporter of BasementArtsProject who died in December 2022.

to be present at Slung Low’s Warehouse in Holbeck on Friday 7 July and be a (small) part of their joint production with Manchester Collective and Ingram Road Primary School, of the opera Noah’s Flood.

The show was a triumph, blending professionalism with community in a perfect mix as everyone joined forces to tell the story of Noah and the flood.

The children of Ingram Road were the stars of the show, wearing superb costumes as the animals that came two by two onto the Ark.

They also sang beautifully, from memory, some quite difficult lyrics. The children playing the ravens and doves, who were sent to look for dry land performed their dance impeccably.

The children were complemented by The Manchester Collective, professional classical musicians who are making quite a name for themselves. They were augmented by young musicians drawn from across the north of England.

The logistics of working with 180 children, the whole of Ingram Road’s Key Stage 2, were nicely managed with adults in ‘Two By Two Ltd’ vests with clipboards and light wands to help the children find their places on stage.

Another moving touch was the lanterns held aloft by the community choir members during the hymn ‘Eternal Father, strong to save’ also known as ‘For those in peril on the sea’ during the storm.

The story of the flood and Noah’s Ark is ancient and lies at the roots of three of the world’s major religions, but it

has a contemporary resonance. As Lemn Sissay, who played the Voice of God told me:

“This is a play about environmental disaster, the displacement of people, boats taking the survivors into a new world. This is a very contemporary piece.”

Benjamin Britten wrote his opera Noye’s Fludde in 1958, based on the medieval mystery plays that told biblical stories in communities up and down the land – hence the old English spelling. The first instruction on the sheet music is that the work is not to be performed in concert halls.

This work was written for communities to perform in the church hall or whatever space came to hand, in this case a warehouse in Holbeck.

The work is written for professional musicians and singers, but also for amateurs. Britten’s intention was that the whole community would be part of the performance. That makes it a very powerful work.

As we reported in April, there were opportunities for anyone

Free* tickets for Leeds Playhouse

Once again we are offering free* tickets to shows at Leeds Playhouse this autumn. What’s the catch? Well in return for two free tickets to the press night, we ask you to provide us with a review of the show. Don’t worry if you’ve never written a review before, we’ll give you some hints and tips.

This autumn’s season at the Playhouyse includes:

I, Daniel Blake (3 October)

Based on the Ken Loach film, I, Daniel Blake is one of the

most important stories of a generation. A glimpse behind the headlines and the stark reality of what happens when the political system is stacked against you. A touching and vital story of how people come together in the face of adversity, and how sometimes creating a family to support you just isn’t enough.

The Light House (5 October)

Love is a complicated business. It gets even more complicated when the person you love doesn’t want to be

alive. Tender, funny and defiantly hopeful, The Light House is a real-life story of falling in love and staying in love, even when the lights go out and you’re lost in the dark. It’s a love letter to life.

Beautiful Thing (19 October)

A touching, urban love story, full of warmth and humour.

This 30th-anniversary revival of Jonathan Harvey’s iconic, coming-out and coming-of-age story, Beautiful Thing is about community, friendship, rites of passage and what it is to be

in the community to get involved with mask and costume workshops, video and make up workshops, or to be part of the community choir helping the audience join in with three hymns during the show.

Declan Kennedy from Manchester Collective explained:

“What we’ve got here with Noah’s Flood is a professional cast, professional orchestra, professional production team –really best in class people coming together.

“The big thing we wanted to do was build a relationship with the children and the community and I think we’ve done that by really involving them in the show, they are the stars of the show. That will be unforgettable for them and have such a big impact.”

Alan Lane from Slung Low who directed the performance, was not sure about staging an opera when first approached by Manchester Collective

“I talked to the kids at Ingram Road and said ‘do you want to do an opera?’ and one

of the kids said ‘what’s an opera?’ I thought, well that can’t stand, we have to do this.”

Lemn Sissay agreed:

“The beauty of opera is that all of the arts come together to make it. So, there is poetry, there is song, there is visual art, costume and music. That’s why it’s good and that’s why it’s important that it’s here in Holbeck, because often places like Holbeck would not get to see opera.”

The production was commissioned by Leeds 2023 and Manchester International Festival and supported by Arts Council England, D’Oyly Carte Charitable Trust, The Earl & Countess of Harewood’s Charitable Trust, Granada Foundation, Lauriston Trust, Lord and Lady Lurgan Trust, Leeds City Council, and the Shears Foundation.

At the end of such an evening of superb music, singing, costumes, visuals and audience participation, it was no wonder it ended in a standing ovation for everyone involved.

sixteen and in love.

Oliver! (5 December)

Consider yourself one of the family at Leeds Playhouse this festive season for Lionel Bart’s award-winning musical, Oliver!

The Enormous Crocodile (7 December)

A new musical version of Roald Dahl’s picture book featuring tasty tunes and mischievous puppets suitable for those 4+.

If you would like free* tickets to any of these shows please email info@southleedslife.com and tell us why you’d like to see the show.

Classical guitarist Claire Angel Bonner

Children from Ingram Road Primary played the animals. Photo: Tom Arber

Heritage Open Days 2023 are celebrating creativity

Withits theme of creativity unwrapped, it’s no surprise that South Leeds has lots to offer as part of this year’s Heritage Open Days Festival.

Leeds Civic Trust has worked with organisations across the city to put on over 100 events for the festival which runs from 8-17 September.

We’ve picked out some local highlights, but you can find the full programme and booking details at www.heritage opendays.org.uk

For the more energetic there are four history walks; our local museums at Middleton Railway, The Royal Armouries and Thwaites Watermill all have special events; there are behind-the-scenes tours at Old Chapel music studios and DePuy Synthes factory in Beeston; and special events in Cross Flatts Park and at Skelton Grange Environment Centre.

‘Milling Around’ will be unpicking the hidden story of

disability and the textile mills of Leeds with a walk around Holbeck on Wednesday 13 Sept, 2-4pm from Globe Point on Globe Road.

‘Murray, Marshall and Harding’ will be walking in the footsteps of Holbeck’s creative giants with Dennis and Ian on Thursday 14 Sept at 1pm from The Holbeck club.

Friends of Middleton Park lead a walk looking at the creative Brandlings and their legacy to Park in terms of mining innovations and the birth of the railways. Sunday 17 Sept 1:30pm from the Visitor Centre.

There’s also a walk along the Aire and Calder Navigation from the City Centre to the Thwaite Mills area, discovering the rich history and heritage of

the area, returning by bus. Thursday 14 Sept 10:15am.

Middleton Railway is holding illustrated talks on, among other firsts, the creation of the world's very first successful, load-hauling steam locomotives in 1812 and the UK's prototype diesel loco in

Swarthmore’s Creative Communities project comes to South Leeds

1932. Talks on the hour, every hour 10am-3pm Saturday and Sunday 9-10 and 16-17 Sept.

‘Forgotten battles: gender in the Armouries’ is the title of a self-guided trail to uncover the

Saturday 9 and Sunday 10 September. Experience the force of the river turning the mighty machinery that ground chalk to make putty, seeds to make lubricants for the first locomotives, and stone for the early Leeds pottery industry. The Mill is open 12-4pm, tours on request.

Old Chapel music studios in Holbeck is holding a special open day on Sunday 17 Sept between 11am-4pm for a day of musical activities, live performances from Leeds musicians, song writing classes, recording opportunities and so much more.

14 Sept 10am-12pm

Members of the Friends of Cross Flatts Park and Beeston In Bloom are waiting to welcome you to Cross Flatts Park in Beeston on Saturday 9 Sept. Discover the history, and enjoy the beauty of the park which has been at the heart of the community in Beeston since 1891. A photographic archive of the Park's history will be on display in the Bridge Cafe. Talks and walks on the hour from 10am-1pm.

gendered and queer histories concealed within the Armouries collection, and experience an innovative creative display that reclaims the museum as an LGBTQ+ space. Everyday 10am-5pm.

There’s free entry at Thwaite Watermill in Stourton on

‘Thackray’s Legacy’ offers a tour of De Puy Synthes Research and Development Centre in Beeston. Discover the story of how Charles Thackray’s original 19th century surgical instrument factory in Beeston evolved into one of the world’s leading orthopaedic facilities.

Wednesday 13 and Thursday

Skelton Grange Environment Centre’s Open Day on Saturday 9th Sept, 11am-4pm. Come and enjoy nature walks, activities and refreshments with fun for all the family. Drop by to say hello, or stay all day to take part in a wide range of activities and events. There will be a wide range of family fun activities, crafts and games to help you explore and enjoy the wildlife area. The café will be open for tea, coffee, and other refreshments. Homemade cakes and other sweet treats will also be available. Many of these events require booking in advance so do check the website at www.heritageopendays.org.uk and search for ‘Leeds, West Yorkshire.’

Swarthmore

Education Centre, based in Woodhouse Square, announced their lottery success in May for a project based in South Leeds called Creative Communities.

They are delighted to be able to provide access to a range of arts to those who would not otherwise enrol onto courses and workshops already offered at the Centre.

Swarthmore’s Lottery funded project, Creative Communities, starts in September and the first launch events and sessions will be taking place in Belle Isle and Holbeck. The project will last for two years and will promote pride in place in the four targeted areas of Belle Isle, Middleton, Holbeck and Hunslet, through free arts/crafts sessions for the local community to attend and enjoy. The sessions will provide all materials and a free lunch for those taking part, with a wide range of creative activities available, facilitated by artists. Anyone is welcome to apply, regardless of artistic talents, so long as they live within the

targeted areas and are over 18. Come along, make friends, get creative, have fun!

Creative Communities will celebrate all things South Leeds and will be hosting exhibitions of the work produced by local residents in the local areas for everyone to enjoy.

The first launch events are now booked - there will be activities, an exhibition, music and food at these family friendly events – everyone is welcome!

Belle Isle – Saturday 16

September 1–4pm at Cranmore and Raylands Community Centre, Cranmore Drive, LS10 4AW, which will be supporting Health for All in their relaunch of the centre.

Holbeck – Wednesday 13th

September 3.30 – 6pm at Holbeck Working Men’s Club, Jenkinson Lawn, LS11 9QX

The events will be followed by the first 6 week projects, which are now open for anyone to apply.

Belle Isle arts sessions will start on Friday 22 September 11am–3pm at Cranmore and

Raylands Community Centre and will run for 6 weeks, each Friday.

Holbeck arts sessions will start on Monday 18 September 10am–2pm at Holbeck Together, St Matthew’s Community Centre and will run for 6 weeks, each Monday. Come along to any of the launch events and see what is going on in your area. The project will be launching in Middleton and Hunslet very soon.

If you would like to take part in the project, please email: penny.lewis@swarthmore.org. uk, or call her on 07438 666342 or visit the website www.swarthmore.org.uk

The project will also recruit and support volunteers to support the sessions, and welcome applications from anyone who may be interested in offering their time and energy.

If you would be interested in finding out more about volunteering, please contact honor.jeavons@swarthmore .org.uk for more information or visit the website to apply.

Thwaite Watermill © Leeds Museums & Galleries

IN BRIEF

Join the Pyramid Legends art group

The Legends group is a relaxed creative art group for people with a learning disability and autistic people aged 55+. It’s open to people who may not have any experience of participatory arts before. They don't expect any prior knowledge and people learn as they go, entirely at their own pace. The group meet every Wednesday (term time only), 10am-12noon at the Pyramid Studio at Unit 3, Croydon Street, Holbeck, LS11 9RT. Contact Alice Clayden on 07531 215999, info@pyramid.org.uk

Working on the highway

Are you interested in working for the Council’s Highways department? They currently have vacancies for manual labouring and office based roles. Pop along to the Job Club dropin session at Hunslet Community Hub & Library on Friday 11 September 11am-1pm to find out more.

Free Family Water Splash Run

This free fun run on Sunday 17 September in Cross Flatts Park is aimed at juniors and families, many of whom will probably be doing the junior parkrun first. This is an extra ‘fun 1 km lap’ - if you enjoy water pistols and balloons! - which people can walk or run. Cross Flatts Junior parkrun takes place every Sunday at the top of the park at 9am, the Splash Run starts at 9:45am and has been organised by Run Leeds and South Leeds Lakers. Everybody welcome.

Hunslet Club’s new activities programme

Each September The Hunslet Club introduces a brand-new timetable to match the interests of the community, and this year is no different. We have new sessions on the timetable including girls' football reception with years 1–2 on a Tuesday from 4:305:30pm and Dance, Tricks and Flicks on a Tuesday from 4:455:30pm. Newcomers are welcome, as we have sessions to suit every skill level. The focus is on creating a welcoming environment where young people can learn new skills, make friends, and have fun.

While the timetable might be slightly different, one thing will always remain the same – affordability. Most sessions are only £1.50, and our youth club sessions are free. With a massive 115 evening activity sessions per week, young people can try a new sport/hobby with no commitment or booking needed.

All you have to do is sign in at the reception and fill out a 5minute membership form if you haven’t been before (membership is free). For further details call (0113) 271 6489 or visit www.hunsletclub.org.uk

Skelton Grange Environment Centre Open Day

Enjoy nature walks, activities and refreshments at our award winning eco building and nature area at Skelton Grange Environment Centre’s Open Day on Saturday 9 September.

This is the centre’s biggest event of the year, with fun for all the family. Drop by to say hello, or stay all day to take part in a wide range of family fun activities, crafts and games to help you explore and enjoy the wildlife area. The Friends of Skelton Grange have secured funding from the National Lottery Platinum Jubilee Fund to develop a new area of the Skelton Grange site and open it to the public. The open day is part of a series of events to involve the wider public in this exciting project. The fantastic Skelton Grange café will be open for tea, coffee, and homemade cakes.

Slung Low presents ...

The Manchester Collective return to Holbeck to perform Steve Reich’s Different Trains in a programme that also contains Barber’s famous Adagio for Strings. The concert is on Sunday 17 September at 5pm at Slung Low’s Warehouse in Holbeck on Crosby Street.

Then on Friday 22 September at 7:30pm School of Night Celebrate the 400th Anniversary of Shakespeare's Folio in an evening of improvised daftness as they recreate one of the bard’s plays with the help of the audience.

This show is on the outdoor stage at Slung Low’s Temple base, off Water Lane.

As ever, both shows are pay-what-you-decide once you’ve seen the performance, but booking is essential. Go to www.slunglow.org/shows for full details and bookings.

The Great Middleton Park Show 2023

Middleton’s Country Show

is the theme of this year’s Great Middleton Park Show, which takes place on Sunday 10 September.

Organised by the Friends of Middleton Park, the show started life in 2009 and whilst it has grown considerably, it remains true to its original aims:

To encourage all local • residents to enjoy and take pride in their community, their gardens and their park, By encouraging all people • -including children – to garden, grow their own food and visit the park and its woodlands, Whilst raising • environmental awareness and encouraging local or homegrown consumption.

The Produce Show is the heart of the event. In the marquee you will find entries in over 40 classes of fruit, veg, flowers, baking, art and craft.

All entries must be brought to the Show marquee on the day of the event between 8:30am and 11am.

Beyond the produce tent you will find a market street of

stalls, refreshments and entertainment spread out around the lake, visitor centre and bandstand.

Attractions this year include live music from South Steel and Yorkshire Imperial Bands; Bhangra and Line Dancing,

compered by DJ Danny.

Animal attractions include birds of prey, ferret racing and donkey rides. There will also be inflatable play, trampolining and pop up sports.

The bowling green will be

The show runs from 1-4pm and you are encouraged to bring your own reusable beaker or water bottle for drinks –you’ll get get a discount at the cafe.

Show goers are encouraged to walk, cycle or come by bus. If you do drive, parking in the park is for disabled drivers only. You can park at Leeds Urban Bike Park or John Charles Centre For Sport overflow car park, a short walk from the site. For full details including how to enter the produce show go

South Leeds Green Film Festival

by Sally Thums

Comeand join us for the launch of the first South Leeds Green Film Festival on Saturday 23 September at 6:30pm.

The evening will take place at St Luke’s CARES Community Cinema on Dewsbury Road and will feature the film Together We Grow - a film about a thriving community hub helping to build resilience into its local community, sewing, repairing, growing and sharing.

Also at the launch will be organisations from Leeds involved in the circular economy such as Seagulls, Library of Things, Repair Café, Big Bike Fix and Compost Collective who will give short talks introducing their organisation. There will be opportunities to chat, ask more

and get involved after the film. We will also be presenting the full programme of the film festival’s screenings and events. But dates to keep free right now are:

Friday 29 September when

we will be screening The Migration Blanket by Salma Zulfiqar, who will be introducing the film and answering questions after. And Friday 6 October, when we will be screening The Oil Machine

introduced by Medical Action, again with an opportunity to ask questions after.

As always with Community Cinema events there will be food, refreshments, activities for children and it’s all free.

The Yorkshire Imperial Band at a previous show

Charity cricket match draws the community together to honour local gem

by Omar Mushtaq

Thepassing of Saeed Sharif, affectionately known as Sid, last year left a profound void in the Beeston community.

A charity cricket match held on Monday 28 August served as a heartfelt tribute to Sid’s legacy, reflecting his generous nature and strong community ties.

Sid, a cherished member of

the former Shaan Cricket Club, was not only an avid cricket enthusiast, but also a compassionate soul who left an indelible mark on those who knew him.

Beyond his jovial smile and knack for humour, Sid was revered for his selflessness. His contribution to building the ablution area and electrical system at the KMWA Centre on Hardy Street remains a testament to his dedication.

In an effort to preserve Sid’s memory, members of Shaan CC organised a charity cricket tournament on Bank Holiday Monday, at Kirkstall Education Cricket Club.

The day commenced with a poignant prayer led by Dr Qari Asim MBE, and also featured former county cricketer Amar Rashid and ex-England cricketer Kabir Ali.

The gripping 40-over match saw Sid’s XI – made up largely

of former Shaan CC players –chasing a target of 289. They mounted a spirited effort, but a late batting collapse culminated in a nail-biting finale, with Sid’s XI falling just 4 runs short of victory.

Beyond the cricketing excitement, the event embodied Sid’s sense of community, raising over £3,000 for St Gemma’s Hospice and other good causes.

It was a great day for cricket, but also for the community to join together to honour a Beeston legend. Sid would have been proud. Many thanks to all the volunteers, businesses, and sports organisations who helped us make it happen.

South Leeds girls are BJJ Junior World Champs

Tom‘The Viking’ Crosby took his daughters to this year’s Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ) Junior World Championships and once again they came away with Gold medals.

Blossom Crosby won Gold medals in the Gi and Nogi

categories, while Autumn Crosby won Gold in the Gi (she had no match ups for Nogi). Meanwhile Roman Annakin from

The match raised over £3,000 for good causes

Hunslet in pole position for promotion play offs

Continued from page 24 hooter it was the home faithful celebrating a famous victory.

Coach Alan Kilshaw payed tribute to his side’s scrambling defence, and although some of the game plan went awry the team work for each other and are always confident in their abilities.

Hunslet avoided a potential banana skin on 6 August at the Crown Oil Arena beating Rochdale Hornets 22-35 to cement their second place in the Betfred League 1. A second half fightback from the Hornets tested the Parksiders, but cool heads steadied the ship and a brace of tries from Joe Burton and Johnny Campbell saw the myrtle, white and flames home.

Hunslet were quickly 0-16 up through Harvey Hallas, Adam Ryder and Joe Burton and finished the half 4-20 ahead.

Rochdale hit back in the second half and were 22-20 ahead after 62 minutes.

Joe Burton scored his second of the match to put the Parksiders noses ahead once more before Jack Render

pulled a Lawford kick out of the sky to score. Neither try was converted but the lead was extended by a Berrahell drop goal, 22-29.

In added time Hunslet put the game to bed when another Beharrell kick was well taken by Johnny Campbell who scored his second of the afternoon, Beharrell converting 22-35.

From a 0-16 lead Hunslet should never have been in trouble, but a lively Hornets side tested their mettle and when backs were to the wall the Parksiders came out fighting, showing a spirit they will certainly need to gain promotion.

Hunslet rounded off their home season with a win against winless London Skolars on 20 August.

The Parksiders have not gone unbeaten at home in a League campaign since 1986/87, and this win secured second place and home advantage in the play offs.

Although never in the lead, the Skolars came to play and were only two scores behind at

the break, 22-10.

Johnny Campbell completed a hatrick on the wing in second half as Hunslet dominated the second half running out 56-14 winners.

The last match of the regular season was a long trip to fifth placed Workington Town.

The Parksiders hadn’t lost a game since 3 June, but were out of sorts against a

Workington side that have also scraped into the play-offs.

Missing wingers Jack Render and Johnny Campbell and front rower Harvey Hallas, the Parksiders started off well when Adam Ryder made a break and came close to scoring.

But mistakes invited the home side into the game and with both sides conceding penalties the game became a stop/start affair.

Town went ahead when Hanley Dawson stole the ball from Jimmy Watson after he fielded a kick and ran 30 yards to score.

It was still 6-0 at half time, but on 48 minutes Hunslet were cut open and Matty Henson scored under the posts. 12-0

On 60 minutes a long Myles Lawford pass went to Dan McGrath, who cut inside and found a gap in the Town

defence to score a lovely solo try. 12-6

Just as it seemed the visitors were coming into the game a broken play caught the Hunslet defence napping and Jordan Burns nipped through to score. 18-6 after 66 minutes.

Hunslet now saw the game slipping away and tried a few ‘out of the box’ moves to turn the game around.

Lawford and Beharrell tried early kicks and Ryder and McGrath nearly broke through on the right hand side, but it wasn’t to be.

Workington took the win on what was an off day for Hunslet, but the big picture is that the Parksiders have had a fine season and have finished second in the table, something that not many fancied them to do.

We are now into play-off Football and Hunslet will play Doncaster on Sunday 10 September (6pm kick off) at the South Leeds Stadium in the Play-off Semi Final. If they win that game they are a home win away from promotion.

You can read full match reports of every Hunslet match online at southleedslife.com

Myles Lawford scores against Oldham watched by Matty Berrahell.

Photo: Paul Butterfield

Blossom and Autumn Crosby show off their medals

Beeston who also trains with Tom at the AVT Mixed Martial Arts gym in Morley also won double Gold.

Hunslet in pole position for promotion play offs

drop out the Roughyeds kicked it out on the full giving Beharrell an easy 2 points and the lead became 20-2.

Connor Carr, helped by the unusual bounce of the ball, got a try back for the visitors before Michael Knowles sealed Hunslet’s victory with a drop goal. Final score: 21-8.

Two weeks later on 30 July the Parksiders faced Champions-elect Dewsbury Rams at South Leeds Stadium. The Rams were unbeaten in the League and would be crowned Champions if they beat Hunslet.

In front of a crowd of 1,064, The Parksiders mean defence was solid against a Dewsbury side that have been faultless all season. In a fraught last few minutes Hunslet held on with stand-off Matty Beharrell at the forefront of everything good about Hunslet.

by

Hunslet RLFC are just two matches away from promotion having won six of their seven games in July and August to finish second in BetFred League 1.

July started with an important home win against Doncaster who were sitting in second place, as previously reported.

A trip to Derby saw Hunslet leapfrog Doncaster in the League table as they dispatched Midlands Hurricanes 22-54 on 9 July.

A dominant second half for the Parksiders and a hat-trick for winger Alfie Goddard secured the win after the Hurricanes (who had pushed league leaders Dewsbury all

International success for Middleton’s Theo Kenward

the way the previous week) proved a tricky opposition in the first 40 minutes.

Hunslet gained revenge over Oldham for their 40-20 defeat in early June at the Vestacare Stadium with a 21-8 victory on 16 July over fourth placed Oldham at the South Leeds Stadium to keep the Parksiders second in the table.

Hunslet remained unbeaten at home in League 1 thanks to their mean defence which is winning them games.

It was a tight game and it took until the 32nd minute for the first points of the game. A Ridyard penalty giving Oldham the lead after a high tackle.

Sam Hallas sparked Hunslet into life with a scything run through the middle, Olly Burton continued it and although play

broke down, on-loan half back Myles Lawford stepped his way through the Roughyeds’ defence to score a now typical try. Beharrel converted 6-2.

With only minutes remaining in the half the Hunslet try demoralised Oldham and from the short kick-off Adam Ryder was able to bust a hole through the Roughyeds’ defence. Myles Lawford saw a long ball to Jack Render and the winger scored one of this trademark diving tries which with Beharrel’s conversion gave the Parksiders a 12-2 half time lead.

On 44 minutes Man of the Match Matty Beherrell sent a lovely ball for Joe Burton to stroll over for a try. 18-2 Oldham now started to concede penalties and after Matty Beharrell had forced a

Johnny Campbell, on loan from Batley, opened the scoring with a try in the corner after just two minutes. Dewsbury replied on 21 minutes, 4-6. Then late in the half, following a penalty, Beharrell found space to step through the defence to score a fine solo try, converting his own effort to give the Parksiders a 10-6 lead, which they took into the break.

The Rams levelled on 45 minutes but 10 minutes later Josh Jordan-Roberts powered through a gap to give Hunslet a 16-10 lead.

Then on 62 minutes Brad Graham leapt high to pluck the ball from the sky to score for Dewsbury. But crucially Paul Sykes missed the conversion leaving Hunslet still in front 1614.

The final quarter saw both sides go close, but on the Continued on page 23

13 year old Theo Kenward from Middleton helped England secure the Silver medal at the recent Junior Four Nations MMA (Mixed Martial Arts) competition in Cardiff.

Theo, who attends Cockburn Laurence Calvert Academy, was selected to represent his country and won his final fight by arm bar submission to secure a Silver medal for England.

Theo trains out of the AVT gym in Morley and regularly

trains in gyms around the country with team England. His main coach for England is Adam Venture from Liverpool’s Next Gen gym. Adam also trains the famous Paddy the Baddy (Patrick Pimblett) and Molly McCann.

Theo’s father Wayne said:

“A very big thank you to his head coach Tom Crosby of AVT and to Team England. Without Tom’s guidance Theo would never be in this position. I’m very proud of his achievements.”

Hunslet’s Summer Junior Festival another success

Hunslet Rugby Foundation’s second summer festival, which was again run in conjunction with Luke Gale’s ‘Kicking for Grassroots’ initiative, was a resounding triumph.

Hosted this time by

hospitable Leeds Corinthians RUFC following the 2022 success at Hunslet Warriors, the event on 6 August event attracted around 57 junior sides from around the north of England, with some 700 players enjoying themselves.

The Foundation’s General Manager Mikey Nuttall enthused:

“At one time there were around 2,000 people in the ground and everyone had a terrific time with not only the rugby to provide entertainment

but a bouncy castle, paint-yourface facilities, a tombola and other attractions.

“Luke Gale kindly attended prior to Wakefield Trinity’s game, while I have to pay tribute to the Corinthians, and their chairman Andrew Cassar

in particular. The grass needed cutting prior to the event but heavy rain during the week created a bit of a problem. But we had a ten-hour window on the Friday and Andrew and I jumped on a tractor and got the job done.

“I’m also very grateful to the many volunteers – including members of my own family –who gave up their time to ensure that everything went so smoothly. The festival was even bigger than last year’s, which is saying something.”

Theo Kenward

Matty Beharrell in action against Dewsbury Rams. Photo: Paul Whitehurst

Ian Pickles

Teams line up at Leeds Corinthians’ Nutty Slack ground