South Leeds Life 103 December 2023

Your FREE community newspaper

Issue 103 | December 2023

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

£15.9 MILLION FOR HEART OF HOLBECK Funds will refurbish St Matthew’s Community Centre and much else

L

eeds City Council’s exciting plans for the regeneration of Holbeck have been allocated more than £15 million, as part of the latest round of investment from the government’s Levelling Up Fund.

The ‘Heart of Holbeck’ plans will deliver transformative change through the renewal of the local high street, transformation of the local community centre and the delivery of improvements to traditional terraced homes.

A key strand of the £15.9 million investment is support to local charity Holbeck Together through improvements to St Matthew’s Community Centre where it currently delivers its vital services, and an expansion into the adjoining Old Box Office in partnership with current owner, Leeds Building Society.

The regeneration of both sites is set to enable a wide range of new services to be offered, including a gym, cafe, social supermarket, and space for local microbusinesses.

There will also be significant investment into the public realm and local environment, uplifting the look, feel, safety and accessibility of public spaces across central Holbeck.

This includes significant investment into local retail centre, cycle and pedestrian infrastructure and renewal of

the main community park, Holbeck Moor.

The investment will also help improve housing conditions for around 200 back-to-back homes, addressing their insulation, safety and external appearance, securing financial contributions from landlords to upgrade some of worst private sector housing conditions in Leeds.

Leeds City Council and Holbeck Together will now work with government on a validation process to confirm the funding award.

Councillor Helen Hayden, executive member for sustainable development & infrastructure, said: “This is fantastic news, which will allow the council to work closely with the local community to deliver transformative change across Holbeck, regenerating the neighbourhood, delivering 21st century infrastructure and supporting the delivery of services that are really needed there.

“There is still work to be done before we can put spades in the ground, but we are committed to working with the government and Holbeck Together to successfully deliver the Heart of Holbeck project.”

Elissa Newman, Chief officer at Holbeck Together, said: “This is such brilliant news for Holbeck and a real

In this issue:

Man of influence: Shamim Miah

page 3

Compost co-ordinators

page 10

Primary pupils remember

page 12

Obituary Dennis Kitchen

page 16

Cricket’s unsung hero

page 24

Holbeck Together’s office and St Matthew’s Community Centre. Photo: Google testament to great partnership work between the council and Third Sector. We were so disappointed when our original funding bid was not approved earlier this year, but we have continued to develop our project with business parties across the city and this announcement comes at the perfect time to allow us to plan for further growth in our offer to the community and to improve

vital local facilities. This is a game changer for the future of Holbeck.”

Local ward Councillor Andrew Scopes (Labour, Beeston & Holbeck) added: “We were so disappointed when the Heart of Holbeck project was rejected for Levelling Up funding earlier this year and so news that it may now be able to go ahead is very welcome.

“It sounds as though there are a few more hoops to jump through but we are hopeful that, working with the community and partners, we will see the investment needed in Holbeck come forward and we look forward to seeing anticipated improvements the funding would bring, in terms of health, quality of life and the economic benefits for local residents and businesses.”

NEWS

2-11

SCHOOL LIFE

12-13

COMMENT

14-15

LIVES

16-17 18

ART LIFE WHAT’S ON

19-22

SPORTING LIFE

23-24

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South Leeds Life | December 2023

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2 News

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.

Holbeck’s historic Grove Inn suffers arson attack

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.

Contact us South Leeds Life CIC 224 Cross Flatts Grove, Leeds, LS11 7BW Email: info@southleedslife.com Facebook & Twitter: @SouthLeedsLife Phone: 07894 583966

Photo: Google

T

he historic Grove Inn, which nestles under Bridgewater Place in Holbeck, suffered an arson attack on 21 November and has had to close its doors until repairs can be carried out.

In a statement, West Yorkshire Police said: “Police in Leeds are investigating

after an attempted robbery and arson of a pub on Back Row in Holbeck.

“Officers were initially called at 2pm yesterday to reports a man had entered the property with a hammer and made threats to staff. The man also damaged a window and a machine inside the property.

Officers attended and the man had left the area.

“At 10pm, a further report was received at the same location, reporting the man had returned and had started a fire inside the property. The fire was contained in one room and was extinguished. No one was injured during the incident.

Planning secured for Skelton Grange industrial development H

arworth Group plc, a leading regenerator of land and property for sustainable development and investment, has secured planning approval from Leeds City Council for the development of 800,000 sq ft of

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CGI of the new development

industrial and logistics space at its Skelton Grange site in Stourton.

The 50-acre site is adjacent to Junction 45 of the M1, to the southeast of Leeds city centre. It was formerly the location of the Skelton Grange Power Station and was

acquired by Harworth in 2014, with remediation and enabling works commencing shortly after.

In April 2020, Harworth sold 19.5 acres of land at the site to Enfinium for the development of an Energy from Waste facility, which is

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“A 42-year-old man has been arrested in connection with both incidents and remains in police custody at this time. Enquiries remain ongoing with Leeds CID. “Anyone with information that may assist the investigation is asked to contact Leeds CID via the online LiveChat function or by calling 101 quoting reference 13230645778.

Information can also be given to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”

The pub, which dates back to 1832 and retains its original four room and corridor layout, has been an important live music venue for decades.

Fi McMillan, the Grove’s Events Manager, told South Leeds Life: “We’re feeling pretty empty right now at The Grove, but we’re all believers in live music and all have a roll to play to keep live music live.

The Grove will need some repairs and will reopen as soon as possible with all those bands and followers eager to get back to normal. In the meantime I’m working with a couple of other Leeds venues to try and find a way to get dates for the bands who I’ve had to cancel til we’re back up and running. Follow the Grove Inn on Facebook for our constant updates.

“All our 3pm Sunday bands have been moved to The Duck & Drake, which is part of our company and will support us by putting on as many bands as possible.”

Moves are already underway to organise a benefit concert to help the The Grove get back on its feet. currently under construction. In August 2021, further plans were approved for the development of a 99-megawatt battery storage facility on a 5.4-acre parcel on the site.

The approved plans would see the development of up to 800,000 sq ft of industrial and logistics space across up to five units, ranging in size from 126,000 sq ft to 202,000 sq ft. The units would be built to Grade A specification, incorporating on-site renewable energy and the highest standards of environmental efficiency. Alongside infrastructure upgrades, the plans include a segregated cycle and pedestrian path that is proposed to connect to the Trans Pennine Trail and Sustrans Route 67, as well as tree and hedge planting and other ecological enhancements.

Lynda Shillaw, Chief Exectutive of Harworth Group, commented: “Skelton Grange demonstrates Harworth’s unique skillset in identifying and acquiring complex brownfield sites, devising a masterplan that realises their potential and then progressing this through the planning system to unlock value. This development will meet the growing demand for highspecification and well-connected Grade A industrial space across West Yorkshire, in turn supporting jobs and investment for the region.

It will also add to Harworth’s already extensive consented pipeline, which has a gross development value of around £2.4 billion.”

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December 2023 | South Leeds Life

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News 3

Campaigners call for buses to be re-regulated B

us passengers and councillors came together to highlight Leeds City Council’s support for plans to bring West Yorkshire’s buses into public control on 15 November.

Standing outside the Civic Hall before the council meeting began at 1pm, campaigners and councillors held up giant letters to spell out the message “Regulate for Reliability” Public control, the system used in London, is also sometimes called re-regulation or franchising. Currently, bus companies have powers over routes, fares, and standards but re-regulation means they operate under contract to the West Yorkshire Mayor, who sets the terms of service.

The action took place as the 2.3 million residents of West Yorkshire have been invited to take part in a vote on bringing buses into public control, with the consultation closing in 8 weeks.

Campaigners at the Better Buses for West Yorkshire group, which organised the event, point to public control as a way to start improving the reliability of buses and are encouraging the public to vote “yes” in the consultation at

weownit.org.uk/VotePublic ControlWY The councillors went on to vote on the motion proposed by the controlling Labour Group that said the council “fully supports a franchised bus system in West Yorkshire.”

Deputy Executive Member Cllr Paul Wray (Labour, Hunslet & Riverside) said: “Franchising the bus service and bringing back public oversight and control will transform the service by putting people’s needs before profit margins. This is why [we] are supporting the Better Buses for West Yorkshire campaign.”

Cllr Lisa Martin encouraged the public to support the plans at consultation pointing to the £1 billion in economic benefits expected from bus franchising saying “publicly controlled buses for the benefit of passengers and the Leeds economy.”

The passengers highlighted the impacts of unreliable services on them, from missed hospital appointments and shifts to children forced to wake up hours earlier to guarantee they can get to school on time.

Passengers also believe that

public control will support the bus labour market, citing evidence from Unite the Union that ending the current system of deregulation, which hands decisions over employment standards to operators, reduces the chance of driver shortages developing.

Matthew Topham, a Campaigner at Better Buses for West Yorkshire, said: “Reliability is a top issue across our region. If the bus

doesn’t turn up on time or at all, passengers are left scrambling to get themselves to work, school, or just to see family and friends.

“We know that areas with greater local control of services, like Blackpool, are the most consistently reliable services in the country. We deserve the same here.

“By taking our buses into public control, we’ll unlock new powers to regulate for

reliability: fines for bad service, rewards for rapid improvements, and timetables that are set with punctuality, not profits, in mind.”

Gerry Lavery, who lives in New Farnley and campaigns with Leeds Unite Community, said: “Too often late, always expensive, constantly losing services — we can’t expect people to go on with buses as they are. Public control is

clearly the first major step we need to fix our network. If we wrestle back control of services, we’ll be able to put the public’s priorities first.

“As campaigners, we won’t be going away until we have a decent bus service that enables people to travel easily to work, visit family and friends, get to appointments on time, go shopping and have a day out. In the 21st century, that’s not a lot to ask.”

Shamim Miah recognised in Top Lord Mayor urges Leeds to get winter strong 100 British Bangladeshi awards S

hamim Miah from Beeston has been recognised as one of the top 100 British Bangladeshis in the UK at an awards ceremony in London last month.

The event highlights talented and successful individuals in sectors such as business, politics, law and sports.

Shamim was nominated for his work within local politics and community work in Leeds, where he has worked to empower and enrich opportunities of young people through his many community roles.

Whilst still at college, he was elected to the UK Youth Parliament representing 180,000 young people in Leeds and speaking in the House of Commons.

Shamim was one of the youngest school governors in the UK, taking the position at 19. He has most recently advanced his passion for education, by being appointed as a Trustee of the Cockburn Multi Academy Trust. During this tenure as a Trustee of the five schools, Shamim has

helped facilitate improvements in education and soften the

impact of Covid by making work experience more accessible.

Influencer: Shamim Miah at the awards ceremony

Shamim is a big supporter and advocate of giving back to his roots and community.

Alongside members of his family, he co-founded a youth club for British Bangladeshi's called “The Bangla Square Youth Club”. This project aims to provide young people within the community access to extracurricular activities to improve their skill sets, culture capital, and experiences as British citizens looking to contribute to the wider society.

Holding a Master's in Law, he is now finalising his qualification as a corporate finance lawyer at a Top 40 Law firm, Shoosmiths. Utilising his network, he regularly hosts work experience days for students who have an interest in pursuing law.

Combined with his community work, this has led to him becoming a multi award winner. He was named the British Muslim Young Achiever of the Year, the Yorkshire Young Achiever of the Year and received a Princess Diana Award for his role as a community leader.

The Lord Mayor receives her jabs

T

he Lord Mayor of Leeds has urged residents to check if they are eligible for the free flu or covid-19 vaccine this winter.

Ahead of the winter month, the Lord Mayor of Leeds, Councillor Al Garthwaite visited Seacroft Community Clinic to receive her free covid-19 and flu vaccinations.

In winter flu and covid-19 spread more easily as people spend more times indoors.

Getting both vaccines ahead of winter are two of the most important things you can do, to get winter strong and protect yourself and those around you.

For more information on eligibility and where you can

receive the free flu or covid-19 vaccine this year, please visit nhs.uk/wintervaccinations.

Speaking after receiving both vaccines, the Lord Mayor of Leeds, Cllr Al Garthwaite, said: “I would like to thank the NHS for providing me with my free covid-19 and flu jabs ahead of the winter, and I would urge anyone across Leeds who is eligible to do the same.

“It is so important that as a city we come together this winter and collectively make sure we are all winter strong. If you are eligible getting vaccinated is an important part of that.”

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South Leeds Life | December 2023

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4 News

Suspected loan shark arrested in Beeston

On the beat with Insp Mark Lund

South Leeds Neighbourhood Policing Team update G

reetings everyone, as we come out of the busy bonfire period and approach the festive seasons I wish to update you all on the work the Inner South Neighbourhood Policing Team has undertaken.

The team, as you will appreciate, has been very busy helping to police a number of events such as bonfire night, remembrance parades and assisting with the protests/vigils in the city. They have however remained dedicated to the work on going in South Leeds.

The team has issued a number of public spaces protection order tickets (PSPO) in relation to the nuisance use of vehicles across South Leeds in particular the 'car meets' and use of off road bikes. The team are now all trained in the use of stinger/stop stick which gives them more options and contingencies (in certain circumstances} when dealing with nuisance vehicles.

Anti-social behaviour remains high on my agenda, and we have issued a number of anti social behaviour notices to problem individuals and issued tenancy warnings. I encourage the continued reporting of such things, if we don't know we cant help.

We have executed a number of warrants under the misuse of drugs act seizing a large quantity of drugs, in turn making an impact into the illicit drugs trade that continues to blight the area. Working in conjunction with our partners in the Leeds Anti-social Behaviour team and Housing

Issuing tickets at car meets

Working with partners to shut nuisance houses we have closed a number of addresses due to anti-social behaviour and rehomed the vulnerable tenants.

All of this is not possible without the help of the communities. I quoted before a saying Sir Robert Peel, the founder of the police, stated that ‘the police are the people and people are the police’ and that saying stands to this day.

Without the help of the residents and communities we are not able to do our jobs to the best of our abilities.

I reinforce the message to report, be it crimes taking place, suspicious activity or intelligence. This can be done

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via the 999 system in emergencies, 101 online system, 101 phone call, or if it’s not a live incident crime stoppers. We do listen and we do act, you may not see immediate action but that can be for a variety of reasons.

As the Christmas period draws closer the team and I will be attending a number of community events and meetings in which we welcome you to speak to us to discuss the ongoing issues you may have or just for a friendly chat.

The police and the partner agencies we work alongside all strive to make South Leeds safe and feeling safe.

A

59-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of illegal money lending following an operation in Leeds.

The England Illegal Money Lending Team (IMLT) worked in partnership with officers from West Yorkshire Police to execute a warrant at addresses in the Beeston area today (22 November 2023).

The suspect was taken into custody and is helping investigators from the IMLT with their inquiries. Officers seized electronic devices and documentation from the address.

The IMLT works in partnership with West Yorkshire Trading Standards to investigate and prosecute illegal money lenders.

Tony Quigley, head of the IMLT, said: “We are determined to tackle the scourge of illegal money lending in England and we will continue to work with our partners across the country to take action.

“If you think you have been targeted by an illegal lender, you can contact our team in complete confidence for

Stock photo of an IMLT officer specialist support and advice.”

The Centre for Social Justice (CSJ) estimates there are up to 1.08 million people in debt to loan sharks in England.

The signs of a loan shark include being offered a cash loan with no paperwork, being asked to hand over items like bank cards or a passport until the money is repaid, having interest or costs added so that the amount borrowed never

goes down and being threatened or intimidated if you can’t pay.

Anyone with concerns about illegal money lending can contact the Stop Loan Sharks 24/7 helpline in confidence on 0300 555 2222 or access support online at www. stoploansharks.co.uk.

Live Chat is available on the website between 9am and 5pm, Monday to Friday.

Delivering liver health checks to your community P

eople living and working in South Leeds can benefit from a new project focused on the early detection of liver disease and to prevent progression of the disease.

The ‘Liver Buddies’ team travels around the area in a mobile clinic offering fibroscanning (a type of ultrasound), to people to check their general liver health, as well as offering advice on taking care of their liver.

The NHS Mobile Coming to Middleton Leisure Centre This is because evidence Community Liver Health Check Clinic is operated by West suggests early diagnosis Yorkshire Liver Care indicates better treatment Operational Delivery Network outcomes. All types of liver and will also be travelling disease can cause cirrhosis throughout the wider West (scarring of the liver), not just Yorkshire area. Not everyone alcohol related liver disease. has the willingness or ability to Symptoms of early liver disease attend regular healthcare can be vague or there may be facilities and the hope is that no symptoms at all and there the mobile clinic, named ‘O- are no negatives to having a liver,’ will increase accessibility fibroscan, only positives.

If test results indicate to healthcare testing for all nothing untoward you have members of our communities.

peace of mind, if results indicate any abnormalities, steps can be taken to address the concerns identified. Only when you know, can steps be taken. It is for this reason that this service is being offered to anyone who would like to come along.

The Liver Buddies team will be at Middleton Leisure Centre, Ring Road, LS10 4AX on Thursday 21 December, 10am3pm

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News 5

Labour select candidate for Beeston & Holbeck ward O

n 31 October local members from the Beeston and Holbeck Labour Party selected Sharafat (Shaf) Ali as their candidate to face the 2024 Local Elections.

This comes following the resignation of Councillor Gohar Almass who announced he will be stepping down due to health reasons.

Sharafat Ali commented: “I am delighted to have been selected as the Labour Party candidate for the 2024 local elections in Beeston, Cottingley, and Holbeck.

“I am committed to serving

December 2023 | South Leeds Life

and representing the diverse communities. If elected in May, I look forward to working with Annie and Andrew to build upon the great work they have been doing.

“Together, we will work tirelessly to make our community an even better place to live. I am deeply grateful for the support of our local members and excited about the journey ahead.”

Cllr Annie Maloney said: “I’m really looking forward to working with Shaf. Having worked alongside him on Beeston Festival’s committee

as well as within our local Labour Party, I know he’ll be an asset to the team and have no doubt he’ll make a great Councillor.”

Cllr Andrew Scopes added: “I look forward to campaigning with Shaf and hopefully working with him after May in our amazing area.

Shaf is a local guy who will be an asset to the Labour team here in Beeston, Cottingley and Holbeck.

“I would also like to take the opportunity to wish Gohar, who is stepping down in May, good health and happiness.”

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Sharafat Ali (centre) with Cllr Annie Maloney and Cllr Andrew Scopes

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6 News

New Middleton council housing has “heart and soul” A

newly-completed extra care housing scheme in Middleton has been hailed as a warm and welcoming symbol of Leeds City Council’s commitment to providing quality homes for local people.

The flagship Gascoigne House scheme, on Middleton Park Avenue in Middleton, has

60 apartments for older people who need on-site care and support.

The new apartments, which have been made available for affordable rents, are augmented by a range of communal facilities and attractive outdoor spaces such as a courtyard and roof terrace.

The Gascoigne House scheme forms part of the council’s multi-million pound redevelopment and regeneration of a site formerly occupied by Throstle Recreation Ground and Middleton Skills Centre.

This wider work will, by early next year, also provide 100 new

family homes as well as 16 fully wheelchair accessible bungalows.

The redevelopment of the site represents one of the largest projects that has been carried out through Leeds’s Council Housing Growth Programme (CHGP).

And this week two senior

Gascoigne House extra care flats on Middleton Park Avenue

My move to Gascoigne House

by Ken Ingram

A

bout a year ago I was asked by Tracey of Middleton Elderly Aid and Sue of Gascoigne House if I would like to put my name down, and if passed by a panel, to move into Gascoigne House. It’s a new complex for over 55s built off Middleton Park Avenue.

A month ago I was told I was indeed lucky enough to be offered a place in the new flats.

I have been given a fantastic apartment on the first floor overlooking the beautiful

gardens. I have a massive balcony which I will make use of with friends in the warmer weather.

Moving home is down as the third most stressful event in life. It would have been for me, if I did not get the fantastic help of Nina Dales and her family.

They helped me move into my new apartment and Nina cleaned my flat at Acre Court before I handed over the keys for a new tenant.

Staff of Gascoigne House, including Sue, Sam, Laura, Steph and Nicola made my

The view of the gardens from Ken’s balcony

move to Gascoigne House as smooth as possible. Thank you ladies, sorry if I have forgotten any names.

The Health Care Assistants made me most welcome and I have had coffee with them in the lounge a few times. They have given me a lot of useful information. I also see them every day, as I go about my daily routine.

So thank you April, Rebecca, Debra, Emma and others, again because of my dementia I cannot remember every name.

I met up with Mavis, Rose and Stephen, new residents who I know from Acre Court, and Mavis from Middleton Elderly Aid. Frank Taylor, who has been a massive help to me over the years as I like to think I have been to him, came to visit me and as he knowsMavis we had coffee with her in the residents’ lounge.

Right, OK, to the complex itself. Gascoigne House has a bistro which I have made use of for breakfast and lunches. They

serve anything from a Full English Breakfast to a Bacon Sandwich.

Lunches are fantastic and there’s quite a large menu with anything from fish and chips to lasagne. I had a cheese and ham toastie with chips, it was lovely.

Gascoigne House has weekly activities including bingo, board games, dance and exercise, craft sessions and Friday, Coffee and Chat. They plan to introduce more activities as time goes on and more residents move in.

We where asked if we could think of any activities to add, so I suggested Play Your Cards Right and Day Trips maybe to a Christmas Market.

Gascoigne House also has an activity room, orangery and therapy hair and beauty salon.

There’s even a roof top garden on the second floor.

I went up to take some photos, but it was blowing a gale. I’m sure it will be OK in the summer.

I look forward to covering events for Gascoigne House in South Leeds Life.

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councillors visited Gascoigne House to see first-hand how it is transforming lives and making a positive difference to the local community.

Councillor Salma Arif, the council’s executive member for adult social care, public health and active lifestyles, and Councillor Jess Lennox, the council’s executive member for housing, met residents and spoke with staff during the visit.

They also took a tour of Gascoigne House’s communal facilities, which include a café/bistro and hair salon – both opening to non-residents – as well as a laundry room and assisted bathing.

The scheme has been designed to cater for older people with a range of care needs, giving them an opportunity to live independently while also benefiting from services including 24/7 on-site emergency support.

The wider redevelopment’s wheelchair accessible bungalows have been built adjacent to Gascoigne House so that their residents also have easy access to its facilities and services.

The new family homes, meanwhile, are a mix of two, three and four-bedroom properties, all built to energy efficient and eco-friendly specifications that complement the council’s net zero ambitions.

Around 80 of the bungalows and family homes are now finished and, like the Gascoigne House apartments, they have been made available at affordable rents.

The council is also investing in the wider site’s public open spaces, with planned improvements that will make them ideal for activities such as sport, informal play and dogwalking.

Footpaths and street lighting will enhance access and safety while the area’s bio-diversity will be increased with the help of wildlife-friendly measures like swift and bat boxes and hedgehog superhighways.

Councillor Salma Arif, Leeds City Council’s executive member for adult social care, public health and active

lifestyles, said: “Leeds City Council aspires to be the very best it can be in all the work it does, and Gascoigne House is a fine example of the results such an approach can deliver.

“It’s a facility I think the whole city can take pride in, with a commitment to quality that shows how we are investing in people and putting ourselves at the vanguard of providing exceptional care for those who need it.

“It was a pleasure to visit Gascoigne House and meet some of its residents – they are clearly enjoying life there and that is testament to the dedication and vision of everyone involved in the scheme.”

Councillor Jess Lennox, Leeds City Council’s executive member for housing, said: “The transformation of this site in Middleton is a flagship element of our Council Housing Growth Programme and underlines our determination to provide warm, welcoming and affordable homes for people across the city.

“I’m particularly pleased that it will be catering for a mix of needs, with family homes and wheelchair accessible bungalows standing alongside Gascoigne House and its hugely-impressive extra care facilities.

“The work here is creating a happy, thriving community – and, crucially, one that is also very much part of wider Middleton life.”

The project as a whole has created 32 new jobs, including four higher level apprenticeships, and has led to various other training and volunteering opportunities as well as a wealth of engagement work with schools and community projects.

More than 80 per cent of spending generated by the contract has been within 40 miles of the site, with 50 per cent happening within 10 miles.

The completion of Gascoigne House also means that, since 2018, more than 300 new homes have been built via the council’s CHGP, helping to ease local affordable housing pressures.

Cllrs Arif and Lennox chat with residents

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News 7

Creative Communities project is up and running

by Penny Lewis

S

warthmore Education Centre’s Creative Communities project is now well underway, with the first two 6-week blocks of creative workshops successfully delivered and some amazing artwork has been produced.

This Lottery funded project is taking place in Belle Isle, Middleton, Holbeck and Hunslet until Summer 2025 and aims to celebrate “all things South Leeds”.

Workshops have taken place at St Matthew’s Community Centre in Holbeck and Cranmore and Raylands Community Centre in Belle Isle.

Swarthmore would like to thank Holbeck Together and Health for All for their support and hospitality. Thank you also to Holbeck Together for their delicious baked potatoes and the Greedy Monkey (Belle Isle) for their wonderful sandwiches.

In each area, six talented artists introduced participants

December 2023 | South Leeds Life

to their practice, with the group experimenting with a variety of arts and crafts techniques.

Beginning with the theme of Pride in Place, different ideas and approaches were practised and explored.

Elnaz Yazdani facilitated sessions looking at maps of the area, using experimental embroidery techniques which incorporated found and recycled materials.

Hannah Platt led workshops in photography, collage and

Iconic: The Middleton Arms

zine making, again looking at the local areas. Images of iconic and popular buildings were created using markmaking methods and projection, facilitated by Rozi Fuller.

The people of Holbeck and Belle Isle used creative interpretation when the groups had the opportunity to craft intricate masks and draw charcoal portraits, as demonstrated by Tracy Lau and Boris Cruse respectively. In

Holbeck Blue Plaques celebrating local places and people were made using Lino Printing techniques, led by Leigh Bowser. Nicole Colbert introduced participants in Belle Isle to Rag Rugging, and a beautiful rug featuring Belle Isle Circus will soon be on display at Cranmore and Raylands.

Feedback from those taking part has been extremely positive with comments including: “I have learnt I am more creative than I thought and can't wait to try more at home and get my children learning them too” “We had fun and giggles” “I loved every minute of it and looked forward to it every week.”

We are currently delivering workshops at Hunslet Community Hub & Library and Middleton Family Centre.

These have taken place throughout November and will continue into December. We are delighted to be able to include pottery and oil painting in these sessions.

In January Creative Communities returns to Belle Isle and Holbeck: The Welcome Centre - St

Belle Isle Circus rag rug John and St Barnabas Church, Belle Isle Road, LS10 3DN. Mondays, 10am-2pm on 8, 15, 22, 29 January; 5, 12 February.

Jamyang Centre, Ingram Road, LS11 9RQ. Wednesdays 10am-2pm on 10, 17, 24, 31 January; 7, 14 February.

All materials and a free lunch is provided for those taking part. Everyone is welcome to apply, regardless of artistic talents, as long as they live within the targeted areas (Belle Isle, Middleton, Holbeck and Hunslet) and are over 18.

Come along, make friends,

get creative, have fun!

If you would like to take part in the project, please email: creative.communities@ swarthmore.org.uk or you can call me on 07438 666342, or visit the website www. swarthmore.org.uk/projects The project is also looking for volunteers to support the sessions, and we 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 me as above.

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8 News

Free food on your doorstep: who’s in?

Money matters with Leeds Credit Union

Enjoy Christmas 2023 For Less D

espite another financially volatile year, many people are looking forward to Christmas 2023, but how easy is it to make the holiday more affordable? Greg Potter, Head of Member Experience at Leeds Credit Union, takes a look.

selling their scents for more than £100 per bottle, finding cheaper alternatives can save you a packet.

The good news is that fragrances are technically recipes and so cannot be trademarked, meaning other perfumes can be made to

Photo: Shutterstock For many households, Christmas is a notoriously expensive time of year, with presents to buy, parties to attend and little ones to keep entertained while their schools are closed. Throw in the rising cost of living and this year's festive season could well prove to be prohibitively expensive for some.

The good news is that this needn't be the case. Plenty of handy hints and tips designed to reduce the cost of Christmas are readily available, so we've compiled some of the best ones here.

Gifts: Own brand perfume With many big name brands

smell like the more illustrious ones for a fraction of the price.

Channel's famous Coco Mademoiselle, for example, typically retails for approximately £100; Next's Eau Nude, which smells identical, can usually be picked up for around £16.

Gifts: Vouchers Reduce your expenditure on presents this year by giving your nearest and dearest the greatest gift of all - you!

Homemade, practical IOU vouchers can be personalised for anyone on your 'to buy for' list, and could include offering to babysit, doing the school run, walking someone's dog or

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doing some DIY. Best of all, they're unlikely to cost you anything but your time.

Food: Turkey Many of us clamour to pick up a fresh turkey in the days immediately before Christmas but there is a more costeffective option: frozen turkeys.

Frozen turkeys can be found for about half the price of fresh ones and they're likely to be tastier too, as the quality of fresh turkeys diminishes the longer they sit on supermarket shelves.

Food: Salmon Rather than splashing out for a side of salmon or expensive fillets, keep an eye out for salmon trimmings.

Taken from the edges of a main prime cut or an incomplete piece, trimmings are every bit as tasty but can be as much as 40% cheaper.

Entertainment: Free tickets For many of us, a festive trip to the local pantomime is an essential part of Christmas.

But with ticket prices on the rise, why not apply for free tickets to one of the BBC's numerous TV and radio shows this year instead?

A comprehensive list of available tickets can be found at: www.bbc.co.uk/showsand tours/shows - just remember to visit the website regularly as they tend to get snapped up quickly.

Entertainment: Staying in There are plenty of fun things for families to do at home that don't cost the earth, such as: • watching Christmas films.

Take it in turns to pick one, settle in on the sofa with a few treats and get cosy.

• having a scavenger hunt.

Simply hide an inexpensive prize - such as some chocolate - then place some clues that will lead your family to it around the house.

• playing games. Dust off your old Monopoly set if you want to get competitive; stick to charades if you'd rather keep it lighthearted.

Leeds Credit Union provides straightforward and affordable financial services to people in Leeds.

D

o you fancy free healthy food, on your doorstep, year round? Could you work with your neighbours to make it happen?

Residents in Hunslet, and across south Leeds, are being encouraged to get onboard with the growing ‘Incredible Edible’ movement – a national programme supporting people to grow food in unused spaces, in their communities.

Last month, local charity Hyde Park Source coordinated a volunteer day to tidy up the established edible garden on the Rocheford housing estate in Hunslet.

The garden features dozens of fruit bushes and herbs, in previously redundant flower beds – free for anyone locally to harvest and eat.

The project was initially developed in partnership with

local residents, but they have found themselves unable to remain involved; new local volunteers are therefore needed to adopt the garden.

Anyone doing so would continue to have the support of Hyde Park Source if they wish – and the commitment is likely to be as little as one hour per month.

Pete Tathan from Hyde Park Source commented: “Its great to be able to bring life back to these unloved small bits of land. There is so much potential in these spaces and we are just really happy to be part of the process.”

Cllr Ed Carlisle (Green, Hunslet & Riverside) said: “The Incredible Edible movement is … incredible!

Regular people coming together to grow free food in the heart of their communities.

Doing so could save us all money, help save the planet, it’s good for our health and wellbeing, and maybe even build community spirit.

Whether here in Hunslet, or anywhere, it’s more needed than ever. Could we stir up an incredible edible revolution here in south Leeds?”

The Rochefords edible garden was funded by the Inner South Community Committee and the Housing Action Panel (HAP) in February 2021, and local ward councillors Mohammed Iqbal, Paul Wray, and Ed Carlisle all remain supportive of it.

For more info on Incredible Edible, visit www.edibleleeds .org.uk. Support and advice is available to any local individuals or groups looking to join this steadily growing Leedswide movement.

Increased services at Stourton Park and Ride for festive period F irst Bus is increasing the frequency of services on the Stourton Park & Ride in Leeds to support growing travel in the lead up to the festive season.

From Friday 24 November 2023 services will operate up to every 20 minutes on Thursday-Saturday with a Sunday timetable also reintroduced, operating 10am4pm.

Evening services have been extended with the last buses from the city centre to Stourton returning at 9pm (Thursday and Friday) and 9:14pm on Saturday.

The increase in frequency will remain in place until Friday 22 December.

Kayleigh Ingham, Commercial Director of First

Bus in North & West Yorkshire, said: “We want to help ensure customers are able to travel easily and comfortably over the festive season. Parking is free at the site and we and have made this decision to increase frequencies to support

More services up to Christmas

everyone who’s planning to come into the city and experience its leisure and entertainment.”

Full details of the timetables can be found by visiting the Metro website www.wymetro .com/buses/parkandride/ stourton-park-ride-pr3

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10 News

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New Little Free Library launched in Belle Isle L

eeds’s newest Little Free Library and the first in Belle Isle was unveiled at East Grange Square on 23 November.

Staff from Octavia House and Belle Isle Tenant Management Organisation (BITMO) joined residents to toast the project which was a partnership between the two organisations.

Cllr Wayne Dixon (SDP, Middleton Park) commented: “Last November I met with Community Links and BITMO to discuss Octavia House’s idea to provide a Little Library to the community on East Grange Square.

“It’s fantastic to see it finally come to fruition with local children using the books already. I hope local people will embrace it, swap books and donate books to the little

Staff from Octavia House and BITMO toast the new library

library.

“Thanks to all the Staff and residents at both Octavia House and BITMO for making this happen.”

Leeds Little Free Library is a growing network of beautiful book exchanges across the city. Each box is individually painted – can you find the windmill on Belle Isle’s first box? Residents are invited to take a book or leave a book.

Octavia House is a residential recovery service which supports people with mental health issues to reintegrate into the community and live independently.

Jess Adcock, Team Leader at Octavia House said: “We’re very glad that we’ve had a chance to reach out to the community. We’ve been here a long time and we have had a little bit of friction in the

past, I think it was a lot of misunderstanding and also us not reaching out.

“So I’m really glad that we’ve had the opportunity and that BITMO has helped us to make ourselves known and do a little bit for the community that hosts us.”

BITMO’s Community Development Manager, Peter Sutton, explained: “We’ve worked with our tenants at East Grange Square to improve the public space.

Our caretakers have tidied up the beds and residents have added wooden planters and a hopscotch grid.

“It’s been great to work with Octavia House who do such a great job and help them reach out to the community. I would also like to thank the BITMO Board Members who agreed to fund the project.”

Hunslet Moor to have a ‘Compost Collective’ R

esidents in Hunslet Moor are setting up a ‘Compost Collective’ to turn their food waste into compost locally.

Compost Collective Hunslet will be located at the Friends of Hunslet Moor Hub at Hunslet Moor Park. Leeds City Council Hunslet and Riverside ward Councillors Ed Carlisle, Mohammed Iqbal and Paul Wray funded the project through the Community Committee Award. It is due to be set up in early 2024.

Compost Collective Leeds is

an exciting project setting up community compost projects around Leeds. Did you know around 40% of the average households’ food bin can be composted?

Social composting, when part of a group, can be really good fun. The Compost Collective system is clever as 3 volunteer monitors make sure the compost is working well.

This means the other members in the project don’t need to worry about the compost mix.

Why bother composting?

Composting enables us to recycle kitchen food scraps and reduce the greenhouse gases that cause climate change. So Take Action and do your bit! Composting is easier than most people think and is a great way to recycle material that would otherwise be discarded.

Feedback from Compost Collective projects already set up, has shown that people have made new friends after joining the scheme. Plus, the resulting soil is used by the

Compost Collective Monitors Sam and Brenda check out the space required for the bin

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volunteers, either individually, or for local communal flower beds.

Did you know if food waste were a country, it would be the third largest producer of greenhouse gas emissions after China and USA? So, composting produces a valuable material and helps us to collectively reduce our carbon footprint. Win win!

What is involved?

The volunteers build 3 big bins. All materials are provided and they are specially designed to be very robust to make them vermin and vandal proof.

Training is given and volunteers also receive a free kitchen caddy. The volunteer members collect food scraps and empty into the bins. When the third bin is full the first bin has become soil and is ready for emptying. Everyone mucks in with keeping the site clean and tidy and, if able to, turning the compost.

Compost is made by adding

‘greens’ (nitrogen) such as fruit and veg, flowers and egg shells to ‘browns’ (carbon) such as toilet rolls, egg boxes, autumn leaves and non-shiny paper or cardboard.

Air and water combining with this material makes the compost. With the correct recipe we get a happy compost ecosystem!

With a small amount of practice, making compost is quite easy. Volunteer monitors adjust the carbon/nitrogen mix and keep an eye on everything.

They also run a WhatsApp group to help the project run smoothly. Training is provided to all volunteers and the 3 monitors receive a second training session.

For more information contact Community Collective Project Worker Annie Whitehead on 07713 647770 or email her on annie.whitehead@zestleeds .org.uk or contact the Friends of Hunslet Moor team on 07443 911590.

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News 11

St Cross gives thanks for 90 years in Middleton the role of St Cross from the beginning was to serve all the people of Middleton.

“It was right the new St Cross was at the very centre of the new estate. That was where the Church should be.”

Rev Barrett reminded the congregation of the priests who had been at St Cross over the decades, including himself.

Starting with Father Pickersgill, who sounded rather a stern figure, through to Trevor

Stubbs who had an amazing youth group, Mike Hatton and Andy Myers who retired in 2021.

“But we all left” he said “and what mattered was the community who stayed, the Christian community who are rooted in this place.

“Over time, everything changes, yet nothing does. This community still needs St Cross at its heart. And we are to love God, love our neighbour and

trust in God’s promise.

“This place matters. St Cross matters. The people of Middleton matter.”

St Cross has a number of Christmas services coming up including a Service of Nine Lessons and Carols on Sunday 10 December at 9:30am; Christingle on Sunday 17 December at 4pm; and a Crib Service at 4pm and Midnight Communion at 11pm on Sunday 24 December.

The congregation gathers to cut the cake after the service

S

t Cross Church in Middleton marked their 90th anniversary with a service of Thanksgiving on 5 November.

Leeds Corporation purchased the land for new housing estate in Middleton around 1920 and in 1925 a

wooden church was built in the heart of the estate. In 1933 the foundation stone was laid for a permanent church to be built in an Italianate style – St Cross Church.

The service was led by Rev Dr Clive Barrett, who explained that there wasn’t a person

called Saint Cross, it was another way of saying Holy Cross. He went on: “The Church of England is for everyone. Everyone living in a parish has rights at the parish church, and the Church has responsibilities for their welfare. Nobody is left out. So,

Celebrating Diwali

The laying of the Foundation Stone on 11 November 1933 by Robert Armitage Esq JP

Changing your furniture?

Donate it to support people with Learning Disabilities

Celebrating the ‘Festival of Lights’ at The Spinning Wheel

T

he Leeds City-Walk community came together with Councillor Annie Maloney (Labour, Beeston & Holbeck) to celebrate Diwali on Sunday (5 November 2023) at the Spinning Wheel on Dewsbury Road.

The event, organised by Mr Suhas Pawar along with the organising committee, was a great success with over 200 attendees. The celebrations were kicked off with Councillor Annie Maloney lighting the Diya. This was followed by cultural performances including Bollywood dancing

and instrumental recitals from both local children and adults.

The celebrations continued into the evening with food provided by local sponsors and a firework display to round the evening off.

Cllr Annie Maloney said: “It was an absolute pleasure to attend and I was so honoured to light the Diya. The world can seem a very dark place, so I’m incredibly grateful we could all be together here in Leeds and celebrate the light. I commend and thank the organisers for such a brilliant evening and for their

hospitality. The entertainment was fantastic, and I’ve been thinking about the food ever since – I’ll be ordering panipuri at every opportunity from now on!”

Mr Suhas Pawar said: “Diwali is a festival that brings people together. The event set the tone for the Diwali festival which falls on 10 November 2023 this year and ends on 14 November. Being able to organise events like these enhances community bonds, diversity and peace, making Leeds a great place to live.”

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12 School Life

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CJCA student shines Hilary Benn MP visits at WKC tournament new Academy building in Orlando Florida S

I

n a remarkable display of skill and determination, Cockburn John Charles Academy (CJCA) student Savannah emerged victorious at the prestigious World Karate Commission (WKC) tournament held in Orlando, Florida.

The talented martial artist secured not one but two silver medals, showcasing her exceptional prowess in both solo and team competitions.

Competing against top-notch martial artists from around the globe, Savannah's standout performance in the solo category earned her a well-deserved silver medal.

Her precision, technique, and dedication to the craft were on full display as she navigated the intense competition with grace and skill.

Equally impressive was Savanna's contribution to the team competition, where she, alongside her teammates, displayed a seamless synergy that led them to another silver

medal.

The synchronised movements and coordinated efforts of the team highlighted not only individual excellence but also the strength of the camaraderie fostered at Cockburn John Charles Academy.

In a statement, Head of School, Siobhan Roberts, remarked, "Savanna's accomplishments at the WKC tournament are a testament to her hard work, discipline, and exceptional training. We are incredibly proud of her achievements and the positive representation she brings to our school."

The entire school community joins in celebrating Savanna's triumphs, recognising the effort and commitment she has invested in reaching such a high level of excellence. As a beacon of inspiration for her peers, Savanna's success serves as a reminder of the potential within every student at Cockburn John Charles Academy.

tudents and staff at Cockburn Laurence Calvert Academy (CLCA) were delighted to welcome Hilary Benn MP to the academy as part of UK Parliament Week, an initiative designed to foster interest in parliament among young people.

Mr Benn was given a tour of the academy's new facilities by eager students, gaining firsthand experience of the modern learning environment they enjoy.

He also visited several classes, engaging with students and gaining valuable insights into the curriculum at CLCA. In a lively Q&A session with students, Mr Benn fielded a range of thoughtful and insightful questions, covering topics such as the balance

between local and national responsibilities, the most and least enjoyable aspects of his role, and pathways for young people to enter the political arena and make their voices heard.

He emphasised the importance of political engagement, encouraging students to actively participate in the democratic process and to respect the views of others, even when they differ from their own.

Mrs Spencer-Hall, Assistant Headteacher at CLCA, expressed her gratitude to Mr Benn for his visit, stating: "We are incredibly grateful to Mr Benn for taking the time to visit Cockburn Laurence Calvert Academy. We were thrilled to showcase our new academy

facilities and to provide students with the opportunity to engage with a prominent figure like Mr Benn on issues that directly impact them.

“His visit was met with great enthusiasm from both students and staff, and his insightful responses to questions sparked stimulating discussions among our students."

Mr Benn's visit to CLCA proved to be a valuable experience for students, providing them with a deeper understanding of the political process and empowering them to become active participants in shaping their future. It also served as a platform for students to connect with an experienced politician, gaining valuable insights into his experiences and perspectives.

Primary pupils’ Act of Rem

Pupils from Low Road Primary School to pay their respects ahead of Remem which was laid at the Cross of Sacrifice two minute silence.

Cockburn MAT schools mark Remembrance Y

oung people and school staff came together across the Cockburn Multi-academy Trust schools to commemorate Remembrance Day with heartfelt ceremonies to honour those who have served and protected our nation.

The school communities came together in poignant displays of respect and gratitude.

Some students at the secondary schools that are involved in military training outside of school attended school in full uniform, showcasing their commitment to service.

At Cockburn John Charles Academy, in a touching moment

of unity, students from various backgrounds and grades gathered to pay their respects on Remembrance Day. The solemnity of the occasion was marked by a profound twominute silence observed by staff and students alike.

Events were organised to allow students to actively participate in honouring the sacrifices made by servicemen and women.

Creative displays of poppies were crafted, creating a visual representation of unity and remembrance within the school.

Middleton Primary pupils of all ages got involved.

Reception pupils made big poppies using a range of art

skills.

Year 1 pupils learnt about Remembrance and the significance of the poppy and all made a poppy using split pins and wore them on their t-shirts.

Year 6 pupils practiced handwriting, and coloured poppies in using coins to make a cool pattern.

Class 8 learned about Armistice Day and the poem 'In Flanders Field'. The children then worked in pairs to recite the poem and convey the emotion behind the words.

At Cockburn Laurence Calvert Academy, the whole school went outside and lined up before observing a two-minute silence.

Students were reminded about the history of Sergeant Laurence Calvert and those that had fought in wars past and present.

As The Last Post played the sun shone across their outdoor courtyard. A moving tribute to mark the first Remembrance event on the new school site.

At Cockburn School, a ceremony at their war memorial was attended by cadets, Student Ambassadors, Head Girl and Head Boy and members of the Senior Leadership Team. Rev Paul Ainsworth, from the Parish of Middleton, also attended and marked the occasion with a moving poem.

The ceremony was filmed and broadcast live across all classrooms after the whole school stood for a two-minute silence as the Last Post played through the tannoy system.

Executive Headteacher of the Cockburn MAT, David Gurney, expressed the significance of the occasion, stating: "Remembrance Day holds a special place in our hearts as we reflect on the courage and sacrifices of those who have served their country.

“The participation of our students, especially those in uniform, is a testament to the respect and gratitude we feel for our servicemen and women."

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membrance

in Hunslet and Windmill Primary School in Belle Isle visited the War Memorial in Hunslet Cemetery on 10 November brance Day. The delegations were made up of the Head Boys and Girls from each school. Each school brought a wreath e after the reading of the poems For The Fallen and In Flanders Fields. This was followed by an impeccably observed

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14 Comment

In our view Levelling up Holbeck £15.9 million from the Government’s Levelling Up fund is a “gamechanger for Holbeck” it is going to make a great difference.

Holbeck Together runs fantastic activities in St Matthew’s Community Centre, but struggles with a 200 year old building, which was last refurfished 40 years ago.

The plans for the building include proper insulation and modern heating as well as opening the upper floor, and include a cafe and gym. That will make a difference.

Modernising another 200 back to back houses and improving the Moor will make a difference.

But on it’s own it’s not going “level up” Holbeck. While we have a costof-living crisis and food banks, pensioner poverty and street prostitution, Holbeck will remain deprived.

The funding is to be welcomed, but we mustn’t fall into the trap of thinking it will solve all of Holbeck’s problems.

Another year over ...

It’s been a good year for South Leeds Life, not least celebrating our 100th print edition in September.

We are looking forward to bringing you the news in 2024 and in the meantime would like to wish all our readers, subscribers and sponsors a verey Happy Christmas.

The January issue of South Leeds Life will be out on Wednesday 3 January.

Your letters and comments 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:

Gaza As a concerned individual witnessing the escalating conflict in Gaza, I am compelled to issue an urgent plea for immediate action to halt the devastating impact on innocent civilians, particularly children, caught in the crossfire of violence.

The indiscriminate killing of innocent civilians cannot be accepted any longer. I call upon British government to urge international community to call for ceasefire from all parties involved in the conflict to declare an immediate ceasefire.

The continued loss of innocent lives is a tragedy that must end now.

Humanitarian aid is desperately needed to assist those affected by the conflict. The region is in dire need of medical supplies, food, and essential resources. It is imperative that aid organizations are granted access to provide urgent assistance to those under siege.

I call for the immediate release of hostages held on all sides of this conflict.

Families are suffering, and their freedom is essential to preserve the basic principles of humanity during this crisis.

The humanitarian situation in Gaza demands immediate attention. A ceasefire is necessary to prevent further loss of innocent lives, aid must reach those in desperate need, and hostages must be released. The time to act is now to prevent further escalation of this dire situation.

Cllr Mohammed Iqbal (Labour, Hunslet & Riverside)

Cockburn’s new gates Further to the letter in the November issue we have reviewed the timings for the electric gates.

The gates were installed to increase the security of the school site during the school day further to advice from the Department for Education to schools nationally. The gates are open before school so any parents that drop off are still able to drive through the school car park with no need to turn around on Gipsy Lane.

We do, however, continue to remind parents to avoid driving up and down Gipsy Lane for the safety of our students and local residents. We have again recently written to parents and carers to remind them to be considerate and within the law regarding parking or waiting on Gipsy Lane

@NewBewerleySch Con-grad-ulations to 6EK for completing your focus week at Into University! The children had a brilliant week learning all about sustainability & climate change. Week finished with a tour of University of Leeds! Well done

Photo: Hosny Salah, from Pixabay and to always avoid the side streets or the Links estate.

We have now amended the gate settings so they will be open for evening lettings and thus encourage parking in the school carpark on evenings rather than on the road.

Cockburn School

Has the integrity of the Hans Peter Kuhn’s “sounds of the city”, £4.6m sound installation been maintained? There’s no mention in the article whether the site has been compromised.

Pete Fisher

Road, Cottingley and Holbeck. The three councillors are:

07445 878 333 07554 969236 07860 400645

gohar.almass@leeds.gov.uk annie.maloney@leeds.gov.uk 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 Wayne Dixon (SDP) 07852 311717 Emma Pogson-Golden (SDP) 07794 577586

sharon.burke@leeds.gov.uk wayne.dixon@leeds.gov.uk emma.pogson-golden@leeds.gov.uk

Congratulations Mr Suhas for organising the event, looking forward to hearing more from you regarding such events which symbolise diversity, joy, peace and harmony for the entire community.

Punam Palekar

Cricket unsung hero

Voter registration

Your Leeds City Councillors

registered to vote which is good for our democracy.

I hope our local MP will support the calls for Automatic Voter Registration made by Unlock Democracy and other campaign groups.

Maggie Stead

Divali celebration

Neville Street artworks

The right to vote is the most powerful tool we have to hold our politicians to account.

Yet in areas like ours, it’s likely that over 12,000 eligible citizens will not be registered to vote. Nationally the number is around 8 million.

These voters are more likely to be young, The deadline for on low incomes, or be part of an ethnic minority group. All people who often feel let submissions is down by our politics.

Thursday 21 It’s time to register every voter.

December.

Citizens should be automatically registered to vote when they apply for things like a driver’s licence or benefits. It’s a scheme used in dozens of countries called Automatic Voter Registration.

It’s both secure and will save money.

Beeston & Holbeck ward Includes Beeston from Cross Flatts Park to the Ring It gets more people

Gohar Almass (Labour) Annie Maloney (Labour) Andrew Scopes (Labour)

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I was fortunate to meet Brian Calverley in the mid 1980s when I played briefly for Hunslet Nelson. He made me feel very welcome as a Lancastrian, a terrific man.

Congratulations on the award Brian.

Gareth Hudson Congratulations to Brian, a real gentleman and a wonderful servant to cricket. Very well deserved.

Nicolas Bradbury

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

@HunsletClub Our Monday Evening Project students are making fantastic progress! We chatted to one of our Construction students about our free construction course. “Since starting the course in September I have now applied to Leeds College of Building.” - Coby, Year 11

@HolbeckTogether We created some mini masterpiece’s to celebrate @BabyWeekUK at Monday's Parents and Tots Together group! Our Parents and Tots Together group runs every Monday 9.30 till 11am (all welcome) during term time.

Letters may be edited for publication.

Corrections & clarifications Stoma Support Group In our November edition ‘Suppport get together for Stoma group’ (page 19) we inadvertently printed the wrong contact email address.

To contact the group please email: lds.wy.stomsupptgrp23@gmail.com

Keep up to date with planning issues in LS10 and LS11 We publish a weekly list of all new planning applications online at: www.southleedslife.com

@BITMO_LS10 Need a Winter coat to keep you warm? At BITMO's Gate we have a selection of FREE coats that have been so kindly donated to this year's @zerowasteleeds appeal.

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Comment 15

MP’s notebook with Hilary Benn MP

T

he appalling suffering in Israel and Gaza continues, although at the time of writing a truce to allow for the release of some of the hostages is about to happen.

Many of my constituents feel very strongly indeed about the attack on Israel on 7th October and about what has happened to Palestinians since. The stories we have heard and the pictures we have seen are truly shocking, and the overwhelming and understandable cry is “make it stop”. I really hope that this truce can be extended to allow all the hostages to return home and for a political process to end the fighting.

The origins of this bitter and bloody conflict over land and displacement goes back many decades to the Holocaust and the Nakba (when Palestinians were forced out of their homes as Israel was created). Not surprisingly there are different and strongly-held views about how best to bring the fighting to

December 2023 | South Leeds Life

an end so as to achieve a sustainable peace. What I find more difficult is the bitterness and vitriol with which some of these views are expressed, the unwillingness to recognise any suffering on the part of others, and a belief that the only way forward is the complete destruction of one side or the other. It helps no-one because down that route lies only more bloodshed and suffering when what is desperately needed is peace, compromise, and reconciliation.

In a big surprise the Government has announced that - after all - it will fund one of Leeds’ levelling-up bids to improve Holbeck. The bid, which Leeds City Council, our local councillors, Holbeck Together and other partners have been working on for some time, aims to deliver big changes in Holbeck. These will include renewing local infrastructure, transforming the inside of St Matthew’s – our

local community centre – improving public and local green spaces and paying for green retrofit and property repairs. Holbeck will get £15.9m to do all this, and after all the hard work that was put into the bid and the strong support I gave it, it is good news that we can now get going, after a bit more inevitable paperwork!

It is poignant, however, that this good news came shortly after we learned that Dennis Kitchen had passed away.

Dennis moved to Holbeck from Beeston in 1986, and became involved in the Holbeck Forum, helped to set up Holbeck in Bloom and played a hugely important role with Ian Pickup in saving Holbeck Working Men’s Club when it got into difficulties. He believed strongly that history – both preserving and recalling it – helps to root us in our community. As Dennis put it “A lot of people in Holbeck don’t realise what the history of the place is. I think that

knowing that history can really be an anchor for local people.”

He also played a leading role in developing the Holbeck Neighbourhood Plan, a huge undertaking, that was all about the future of the area. He cared passionately about making things better and he will be much missed. All our thoughts go to Ian and his many friends.

Talking of the history of the Holbeck Working Mens Club, here’s my favourite story which I was told by someone. Long ago the Club committee were booking new entertainment acts to see how they went down so that they could decide whether to invite them again.

Apparently, there was a comedy duo who came along one day and performed. The secretary was not very impressed, and they were never invited back.

And who were they?

Morecambe and Wise! That's almost on a par, but not quite, with Decca’s decision not to sign the Beatles in 1962 because “guitar groups are on the way out." Decca’s loss was of course Parlophone’s gain, and the rest – as they say – is history.

I really enjoy visiting schools and especially answering questions from pupils. Recently

I have been to the Laurence Cockburn Academy and Westwood Primary School while Park View Primary Academy came to visit the House of Commons. There are some perennially popular questions - why did you want to become an MP, have you met the King, what does the Speaker do, or why is there a mace in the House of Commons – but also lots of others. I particularly like trying to explain the way we vote and the rather arcane language we use while doing so.

For example, when the Speaker says “As many as are of that opinion, say Aye” he’s saying “if you are favour of this, say Aye” or when he shouts “Division” he is calling a vote.

At which point we literally divide by going into different lobbies

T

he NHS is heading into another winter crisis.

Winter is always a difficult time for our health service.

There are extra pressures from winter illnesses, including amongst the staff. There will be a round of flu and Covid hasn’t gone away.

All these are to be expected, but then there are all the other problems that they have to deal with. It was reported recently that the numbers of children being admitted to hospital with respiratory problems has rocketed in recent years with damp housing and traffic pollution as the biggest drivers.

Emergency Departments are clogged. They can’t move patients onto wards because the beds are full of people who can’t be discharged because we have a crisis in undervalued and underfunded care.

Then there are the patients in mental health crisis who can occupy a cubicle for up to 36 hours, even though the A&E staff can’t treat them.

The Police also complain that too much of their time is taken up with mental health issues.

Their role is to detain people who are a risk to themselves or others, until mental health professionals can arrange

treatment.

A friend of mine rang me recently, she was recovering from one of her periodic mental health crises from a Psychiatric Hospital in Brighton. She lives in Manchester, but that was the nearest available bed. No doubt she was transported the 250 miles by an ambulance crew who struggle to meet their targets to reach medical emergencies. My wife, who works in the field, says it’s not unusual to have to place people hundreds of miles from home and family because of the shortage of mental health beds.

Schools are struggling to teach children who are hungry because of the cost-of-living crisis and may not have slept well because their bedroom is damp, or they have no bed, or both.

The courts and prison service are falling apart.

Prisons are over full and dangerous places for staff and prisoners alike. Part of the problem is that cases take too long to come to court. That’s because courts have been closed and Police and the CPS are understaffed so cases take longer to prepare.

All these extra problems faced by our services put pressure on the staff who

deliver them, but rather than give them a bonus for going above and beyond, the Government has effectively cut their pay over the last 13 years of austerity.

The result is that services cannot recruit or retain staff, whether that’s nurses, barristers, teachers, prison officers, doctors, the list goes on and on. That in turn leads to staff shortages, which means that the remaining staff have to work even harder to keep things afloat and are more likely to leave or just burn out.

It’s a vicious circle.

I haven’t even touched on local government. Leeds City Council has lost £2.5 billion since 2010. Perhaps you think the Council doesn’t really matter, it’s just cycle lanes and lighting up buildings in different colours. In fact, councils provide many of the services that hold the city together – collecting the bins, providing care for children and older people, libraries, sports centres, housing, planning, roads and so much more.

There’s a common thread to all these problems. It’s called austerity and it’s unravelling the social fabric that holds our country together.

My parents lived through ‘The Hungry 30s’ – mass

unemployment, the Great Depression. When I was growing up it was inconceivable that we would see such conditions again. My parents’ generation built a safety net to stop it happening again – the Welfare State.

The NHS might have been the jewel in the crown of the Welfare State, but there was always much more to it: benefits, housing, legal aid, care, education. Each sector has been cut and cut again until there’s barely a service left. And it doesn’t save money, it just creates new problems

And on the subject of life, as this is my last column of the year, may I take this opportunity to wish you and your family and loved ones a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

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

Austerity is unravelling the social fabric

by Jeremy Morton

on either side of the main chamber. We record our presence using a card reader and then we queue up to be counted by the tellers as we file out at one end. The figures are then reported to the Speaker and he says either “The Ayes have it” or “the Noes have it”.

It’s a bit strange at first but it’s been done like this for a very long time, apart from the card readers which are a recent technological innovation.

Anyway, the pupils seem to like acting the whole thing out because it brings it to life.

and moves the costs elsewhere.

The answer to all this is public investment to break the vicious circle.

Take housing, which actually underpins a lot of this.

Rebuilding the stock of Council houses, with truly affordable rents and security of tenure, would ease the pressure on the private rental sector and slow rent inflation, allowing renters to save enough for deposit to buy. It would give renters more choice and put pressure on landlords to sort out the damp and mould. And with proper

It’s not just about pay: Doctors on strike. Photo: Shutterstock

insulation we would cut CO2 emissions and reduce costs for tenants.

Building more hospitals will ease the pressure on beds, especially psychiatric beds, allowing A&E departments to work more efficiently and in turn allowing the ambulance service to run for effectively.

And we need to invest in our staff by paying proper wages for the work they do. If we learnt one thing during the pandemic, it’s that care staff and bin crew are worth more than bankers.

There will be a general election next year, I wonder if any of the parties will put this forward in their manifesto?

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South Leeds Life | December 2023

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16 South Leeds Lives

Obituary: Dennis Kitchen (1945-2023)

by Jeremy Morton

D

ennis Kitchen, who died last month following a heart attack, was known to many, especially in Holbeck where he was a tireless community activist over the last two decades.

Dennis was born in Belfast and adopted by a family in Mexborough near Doncaster where he grew up. Following jobs in a greengrocer and a record shop, Dennis joined the Methodist Ministry training at Cliff College in Derbyshire and worked as a minister in Wibsey, Bradford.

In a career change, Dennis retrained as a bus driver and worked for Metro out of Middleton garage until it closed

in the 1980s. He then moved to an office job in Metro’s data collection department until his retirement in 2010.

Dennis and his partner Ian Pickup started to get involved their community having been invited to a meeting to look at making improvements in the area. From there he helped establish Holbeck in Bloom and was Chair of Holbeck Forum and helped to run Holbeck Gala.

In 2012 Holbeck Dennis Kitchen

Pathways for positivity with Shannon Humphrey

A Farewell to Gary: Navigating the emotional landscape of pet bereavement I n the quiet moments of our lives, sometimes we’re lucky enough to stumble upon unforeseen moments brightness.

In my case, that beam of unexpected sunshine appeared in the shape of a stray cat I affectionately named

Gary. When he first entered my garden three years ago, I had no inkling that Gary would evolve into more than just a furry passer by.

He transformed into a treasured and dearly loved friend, bringing happiness and warmth into my life. However,

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as destiny would have it, our time together was relatively short-lived, and he departed when his journey reached its final destination recently.

Leading me to a challenging and unforeseen path of coping with the loss of a beloved pet.

Gary's story began on the streets, where hunger and uncertainty were his daily companions. As a homeless cat, he found his way into my heart by showing up at my doorstep every evening, a little fat Tom cat face peering over the wall in anticipation of a meal.

As he became a regular visitor we made a cat house in the garden for him to shelter during poor weather, uncertain if he was using it, one evening I popped my head in to check, really not expecting to see him, we each gave the other a fright as he bolted from his shelter into the night.

Fortunately he came back the next evening and the one after that. Weeks and months passed.

I began bringing his feeding dish closer to my front door, a testament to his growing confidence, or his hunger levels, he’d let me walk near him, without running away

while he ate. However the real breakthrough came when he cautiously entered my house and began to roll gleefully on a catnip-laiden blanket I’d prepared for him. A moment celebrated in excited silence with my mum, so as not to startle him.

Unsure of how to proceed I contacted a local cat charity who offered assistance in trapping, chipping, and neutering Gary. They returned him to me and despite the clear warning that Gary would vanish at the first sight of an open door, he defied the odds.

His return to me marked the beginning of a deep, meaningful connection that would last for 799 precious

Gary and Shannon

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was selected as a pilot area for Neighbourhood Planning and Dennis threw himself into the work of drawing up a plan for the area that met its residents’ objectives.

In 2014 a Neighbourhood Forum was formed and officially designated with Dennis as its Chair.

After a significant period of meetings and consultation events the plan was drawn up and voted on by the people of Holbeck in a referendum, allowing

Leeds City Council to adopt the plan as part of its planning policy.

As a member of Holbeck Working Men’s Club (as it was then known) Dennis was well aware that the club’s future was in doubt. He was part of the group who saved the club in 2013 by volunteering their time behind the bar, turning a big trading deficit into a small surplus in their first year.

Throughout this time Dennis was an active member of the Holbeck Christian Fellowship, who organised his funeral at St Luke’s Church. It was no surprise to see over 200 people attending and a collection raise almost £600, which was shared by Holbeck Food Bank and Friends of Hunslet Moor Christmas toy appeal.

Dennis is survived by his civil partner Ian.

days.

Gary wasn't just a cat; he was my fluffy bestie, my roommate, and my bed buddy, yes, bed buddy. I vowed I’d never let an animal sleep on the bed, but I did! I was such a pushover where he was concerned. Gary held a special place in my heart.

His presence was so impactful not just to me, but people who knew us, the little boy next door even made him a get well card when he heard that Gary had been to the vets.

I often joke that Gary was the unofficial street mascot, because of all the people who used to stop me in the street to ask about him.

Despite all of the love and care, harsh realities of life caught up with Gary, he was diagnosed with cancer and peacefully passed away last month.

The devastation I feel hurts my heart, I wanted more time with my friend. Yet in these moments of grief and despair about what feels so very unfair,

I find solace in knowing the real miracle was not in a cure or a prolonged life for Gary but that out of all the streets and all the doors, Gary found his way home to me.

The journey of pet bereavement is a challenging one, marked by deep sorrow and cherished memories.

Gary's story is a testament to the unique and profound connections we form with our animal companions. As I navigate the grieving process, I hold onto the gratitude for the time we shared. Gary will forever be remembered as more than a pet; he was a little miracle that brightened my world, even if only for a while.

For information and advice go to: www.bluecross.org.uk/ pet-bereavement-and-pet-loss 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.

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December 2023 | South Leeds Life

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South Leeds Lives 17

Local history with Ken Burton

Fire at Leeds New Station

The aftermath of the fire

L

eeds New Station was given Royal Assent in 1865 and it opened to traffic in 1869 and was situated off New Station Street and roughly occupied the area where Platforms 9 to 17 at the present station are situated.

This station was designed by Thomas Prosser the architect for the North Eastern Railway Company, the first to hold the position, and few would disagree with the comment of WW Tomlinson “that having no particular frontage, the station added nothing to the architectural embellishment of Leeds.”

The station was built on what became known, and still is, as

Leeds New Station entrance line of carriages and shunted into the hole in a bid to halt the progress of the flames and reinforcements were brought in from the local area to help fight the fire.

Unfortunately there was one life lost, that of a fireman attached to the brigade of the Liverpool, London & Globe Insurance Company named James Schofield who lived in Beehive Yard, Vicar Lane. He perished when the portion of the platform on which he was working from gave way and he plunged into the flames from the warehouse below. There was no chance of rescuing him from the inferno. One of the lessons learned from this fire was that it was impossible to fight fires of this nature with just water and without chemical substances.

By first light on 14 January the scale of the damage was very clear – no trains could enter or leave New Station by the western exit as the bridge and all the tracks running over

the ‘Dark Arches’ and it is said that 18 million bricks were used in the construction. It is an impressive array of vaulting that spans the River Aire and an underground arm of the Leeds & Liverpool Canal while designed to carry railway tracks over them and the gaps under them were rented out by the railway companies as storage areas.

One of these areas was rented out to Joseph Watson & Sons, soap manufacturers, to use as a works and storage area. Stored in the vault was some 1,700 tons of resin, oils, spirits, and other combustible materials, all giving off toxic fumes.

In the foggy early morning hours of 13 January 1892 a fire broke out in the Watson warehouse. As far as can be ascertained the fire broke out in the arch furthest from the station entrance. Soon no less than five steam fire engines were pouring water on the burning arches. Burning tallow and oil running from the fire soon provided an additional source of danger.

The ferocity of the fire was so intense that it caused the supports holding up part of the station to give way causing an amount of track and most of Platfoms 1, 2, and 3, to collapse. A number of burning wagons were cut free from a

The Dark Arches today

it had collapsed into the canal below. Even the tracks into Wellington Station at the side of New Station had been affected though it was possible for the Midland Railway to run trains over the main track with care; only the carriage lines and the shed had any appreciable damage.

Luckily both stations were unaffected structurally but services in and out of New Station had to be diverted to the Central Station further down Wellington Street, causing great inconvenience there, advantage being taken of a forty-odd year old running rights rule.

Within 10 days of the fire a large temporary bridge made from timber drawn from east coast merchants was erected and services to New Station had returned to virtual normality by 24 January. Apart from the unfortunate loss of the fireman the total financial cost of the fire seems to have been about £300,000.

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South Leeds Life | December 2023

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18 Art Life

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Artworks celebrate history, life, and culture of South Leeds

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en unique large-scale artworks are set to celebrate history, life, and culture in Leeds as a new outdoor exhibition opens on Neville Street, underneath the station.

The artworks, displayed on the eastern wall of Neville Street, are all produced by

locally based artists and focus on past, present, and future culture, industrial heritage, music, nature, and Leeds people with particular emphasis on communities within the south of the city.

In developing the artwork, each artist engaged with local communities, much of which is

reflected in the final designs, aiming to celebrate the cultural and historical links between South Leeds communities and the city centre.

A companion webpage for each artwork has also been developed, with access to information about the artist and a video explaining the

inspiration and methodology behind their work.

Amongst the artwork look out for: • Matthew Murray and Middleton Railway • Marshall’s Mill, Temple Mill and the Round Foundry • Holbeck Cemetery and the Nosters

• The Holbeck Club • Cross Flatts Park Commissioning for the exhibition came through a collaboration between Leeds City Council, the Leeds Civic Trust, Network Rail, the West Yorkshire Combined Authority, and local Councillors.

The exhibition forms part of

the improvements being delivered by the Leeds Station Sustainable Travel Gateway scheme and is being unveiled as part of Leeds 2023, the city’s year of culture.

The exhibition can also be viewed online by visiting: bit.ly/NevilleSt

Santa Must Die! New sculpture ‘Hibiscus R Rising’ unveiled in Aire Park ed Ladder Theatre bring a new production to BITMO’s Gate Centre in Belle Isle this month.

Nadia and Abed might just be the next big thing. They’ve started the North’s greatest band ‘Santa Must Die!’ and for one night only they’re playing their local.

But it’s Christmas Eve … and Santa is a bad boss.

Unending queues of demanding, entitled customers, minimum wage, no time off, unpaid overtime, zerohour contracts. It’s about time the elves staged a riot.

Santa Must Die! is a raucous new punk theatre show for the gig economy at the most difficult time of the year! A

different kind of Christmas story about it being really sh*t when Xmas is all work and no play, about finding joy in unexpected places and fighting against that which is meant to keep you down.

The show has been made in conversation with people who have experience of working on zero-hours contracts at Christmas time.

Age guidance 14+ Strong language and themes of an adult nature including references to sexual assault and racism.

You can catch Santa Must Die! at BITMO’s Gate, Aberfield Gate, LS10 3QH on Wednesday 6 December at 7:30pm. Tickets cost £5 from bit.ly/SantaDie

H

ibiscus Rising, a striking new 9.5m tall sculpture by international artist Yinka Shonibare CBE RA was revealed on 24 November.

A major part of the programme for LEEDS 2023, Year of Culture, ‘Hibiscus Rising’ is Shonibare’s first permanent public commission in the North of England and is sited in Aire Park on the former Tetley’s Brewery site in Hunslet.

Forming a powerful legacy in celebration of the life of David Oluwale, ‘Hibiscus Rising’ also acts as a symbol of unity and hope, and shows how far Leeds as a unified, inclusive city has moved from a less tolerant past. The piece was cocommissioned by LEEDS 2023 and the David Oluwale Memorial Association (DOMA) to honour the life of Oluwale, a British Nigerian Leeds resident who was hounded to his death on 18 April 1969, drowning in the River Aire as a result of systematic police harassment and violence.

Kully Thiarai, Creative Director and CEO of LEEDS 2023 said: “Our heartfelt thanks go to Yinka Shonibare for creating such a wonderful legacy for our Year of Culture, we are delighted with ‘Hibiscus Rising’ and the positive message this beautiful work shares with us.

LEEDS 2023 has been a year full of uncovering and revealing stories from all communities in Leeds, it’s been important throughout the year that we

use this time to hear from different voices and work with artists to tell those tales. It is an incredible privilege to be able to do this and highlights the importance of how art in our communities can help us to understand the past, shape our world and create change for the future.”

Like Shonibare, David Oluwale spent his childhood in Lagos, moving to Leeds in 1949.

Oluwale faced homelessness, mental illhealth and racism in the years

before his death, his legacy has since inspired protest, reflection and reform in Leeds and beyond.

‘Hibiscus Rising’ is inspired by the hibiscus flower, a plant ubiquitous in Nigeria where both Shonibare and Oluwale spent their childhoods, and features Shonibare’s Africaninspired batik patterns, which in-turn have their origins in Indonesian culture, and which explore themes of cultural and national identity.

Located at the heart of

Leeds’ extensive regeneration area of the South Bank on Meadow Lane within the new Aire Park development, ‘Hibiscus Rising’ is close to the river where Oluwale lost his life, the new David Oluwale Bridge and the blue plaque dedicated to him on nearby Leeds Bridge.

The sculpture will be at the centre of a landscape designed by urban and rural place design practice Planit whose vision of ruptured ground giving way to the growth of the sculpture creates a striking setting.

Yinka Shonibare CBE RA, Cllr Abigail Marshall Katung DOMA, Dr Emily Zobel Marshall DOMA, Kully Thiarai LEEDS 2023. Photo: David Lindsay

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What’s On 19

From the shadows to the spotlight: Hunslet Rogues present The Greatest Showman

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by Lisa Benfield

rphaned and penniless but ambitious with a limitless imagination, the American entertained PT Barnum rises from poverty and creates something extraordinary.

With themes of selfacceptance, individuality and community, this theatre performance of The Greatest Showman, is one to watch this December.

The Greatest Showman is a 2017 biographical musical that celebrates the birth of show business and follows PT Barnum as he embarks on a journey of wonder and dreams.

With singing, acting, dancing and some magic, you would expect this spectacular performance to occur in a location like the Royal Albert Hall. But residents of South Leeds and surrounding areas will be delighted to hear it takes place at the heart of Hunslet, at The Hunslet Club.

After months of rehearsals, The Hunslet Rogues Theatre

Let us entertain you: the cast of The Greatest Showman Company will step out of the shadows and into the spotlight on Saturday and Sunday, 2 and 3 December for their performance of The Greatest Showman!

Not only have these talented young people worked hard in rehearsals, but they have also fundraised at The Hunslet Club events, such as the Summer Gala and Halloween, to raise

funds for costumes, props, and a theatre programme.

The performance starts before these talented young performers take to the stage, as the main hall at The Hunslet

Christmas Lantern Festival brings light to Beeston park

by Alex Fleming

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eeston’s annual Lantern Festival is set to light up locations around Beeston on Friday 8 December 2023 … and you are invited.

The event begins at 4:15pm with three local gatherings at St Luke’s Church, Malvern Road, St Mary’s Church, Town Street and Rowland Road Social Club.

People are invited to join at each

December 2023 | South Leeds Life

location to meet real donkeys, and enjoy a Christmas activity, music, light refreshments and the start of the Christmas story.

At 5pm everyone is invited to parade through the community, led by donkeys, to a larger event at Cross Flatts Park.

The park will be sparkling with lights and includes free hot food for everyone and a gift for every child. There will be more activities (to be announced), the Christmas

story, a children’s choir and a Carol Service with the Salvation Army Band. The event will finish at 6:30pm.

As ever we would love people from all corners of our community to come together to celebrate Christmas in this way.

Please join us and share with your family, friends and neighbours.

You can find more information at Fb.com/LanternFestivalLS11

Club is due to have a circusthemed makeover to match the show, with rumours of a candy floss machine making an appearance.

We sat down with the Director Joe Biltcliffe and the Director and Choreographer, Adelina Sewell, to ask a few questions about this upcoming show.

As the creators of The Hunslet Rogues, how do you feel about them performing another show?

Adelina: We are so proud of Rogues and are always rooting for them to achieve their best.

From original members to new members, we have formed a family with them, and nothing is better than helping them chase their goals. Rogues is the highlight of our week, and the laughter and fun we have will always be happy memories for us.

Joe: Excited. We love running Rogues and seeing our member’s talent develop through our weekly sessions, but the lead-up to the shows is where our Rogues truly shine.

What has been the most memorable moment during rehearsals?

Adelina: I love seeing the passion these kids have,

working hard to do their best and moments where goosebumps form as they sing their hearts out – especially when it brought Joe to tears.

Joe: One of our most recent sessions stuck with me. It was a pretty intensive session in which our members were learning a tough and technical number – From Now On. They had put their all into it. Towards the end of the session, we did a run-through of the full song, and it was just such a beautiful moment where everything came together.

The performance standard was so high, and there was a real sense of unity in the group.

Why should people attend this show?

Adelina: Everyone involved has worked tirelessly to produce an exciting and entertaining production.

Everyone wants to show the work and effort they’ve put in, and we need an audience to do so!

Joe: If you are looking for some excellent entertainment for the whole family at a great value price, it’s a no-brainer.

Our Rogues have put their blood, sweat and tears into this show, and they deserve a great audience to display their work.

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South Leeds Life | December 2023

20 What’s On

What’s On Your guide to events and activities across South Leeds in December Please check that regular events are not affected by school holidays, 22 December - 8 January Full contact details can be found in our online What’s On guide at www.southleedslife.com/evens

Every Monday Tea & Toast Drop In 9-10am Beeston Parish Centre, Town Street Community Play Group 9-11:30am Little Angels Playzone, The Sugar Mill, Beeston Money Buddies 9am-12pm Dewsbury Road Community Hub & Library Parents & Tots Group 9:30-11am St Matthew’s Community Centre, Holbeck Trinity Network Tea, Coffee, Toast 9:30-11am United Reformed Church, Nesfield Road, Belle Isle Women Only Exercise (HFA) 9:30-10:15am Beeston Village Community Centre, off Town St MEA Crafts Group 9:30-10:45am Middleton Elderly Aid Social Centre, Acre Road Over 65s Group @ Hunslet RLFC 9:45-11:45am Phoenix Bar, South Leeds Stadium Holbeck Together coffee shop 10am-12pm St Matthew’s Community Centre, Holbeck Creative Communities Workshop 10am-2pm Welcome Centre, St John & St Barnabas Church, Belle Isle Road, LS10 3DN. Book: penny.lewis@swarthmore.org.uk. tel 07483 666342 Crochet & Knitting Group 10am-12pm Beeston Community Hub & Library, Town Street MHA Craft Club 10-11:30am St Andrew’s Community Centre, Old Lane Mums and Tots 10:30am-12pm Asha Neighbourhood Project, Beeston Chair Based Exercise 10:30am-12pm BISA 59 Club, 59 Belle Isle Circus Story & Rhyme (under 5s) 10:30-11:30am Dewsbury Road Community Hub & Library Lychee Red Chinese Seniors Lunch Club 11am-1pm Beeston Village Community Centre, off Town St Digital 121 support drop in 11am-12pm Dewsbury Road Community Hub & Library MEA Bingo and Hoy 11am-12pm Middleton Elderly Aid Social Centre, Acre Road Trinity Network Indoor Curling 11:30am United Reformed Church, Nesfield Road, Belle Isle MHA Soup & Sandwich 11:30am-1pm St Andrew’s Community Centre, Old Lane Cottingley Warm Space 11:30am-2:30pm Cottingley Community Centre, LS11 0HJ Dinner Jackets (baked potato) 12-1:30pm St Matthew’s Community Centre, Holbeck MEA Lunch Club 12-1:30pm Middleton Elderly Aid Social Centre, Acre Road Trinity Network Lunch Club, Bingo 12:30-2:15pm United Reformed Church, Nesfield Road, Belle Isle Drop In Technology Support 1-3pm St Luke’s Church, Malvern Road, Beeston Hill

Women’s Wellbeing (HFA) 1-3pm Middleton Family Centre, Sissons Road, LS10 4JG 50+ Women’s Friendship Group 1-3pm Asha Neighbourhood Project, Beeston Beeston Bookwormers Book Club 1:30-2:30pm Dewsbury Road Community Hub & Library Beeston Digital Inclusion Classes 1:30-3:30pm BISA 59 Club, 59 Belle Isle Circus Dancercise 1:30-2:30pm Middleton Elderly Aid Social Centre, Acre Road MHA Meditation & Movement 1:45-2:45pm St Andrew’s Community Centre, Old Lane Children’s Gardening Group 3:30-4:30pm Dewsbury Road Community Hub & Library Ultimate Dance Academy 4:30-7pm Cranmore & Raylands Community Centre, LS10 4AW Gateway 2 Sport 5-7pm Manorfield Hall, Newhall Road, Belle Isle Kickboxing 6:30-8:30pm Beeston Parish Centre, Town Street Youth Community Cafe 6:30-8pm Hamara Centre, Tempest Road, Beeston Legs, Bums & Tums 7pm Cranmore & Raylands Community Centre, LS10 4AW ANDYSMANCLUB 7-9pm Leeds College of Building, Cudbear Street, Hunslet LS10 1EF ANDYSMANCLUB 7-9pm Vale Circles, Tunstall Road, Dewsbury Rd, Beeston LS11 5JF

Every Tuesday Tots Group 9-11am Manorfield Hall, Newhall Road, Belle Isle Book: 07794 577586 Community Play Group 9-11:30am Little Angels Playzone, The Sugar Mill, Beeston Holbeck Together Boxercise 9-9:45am St Matthew’s Community Centre, Holbeck MHA Breakfast Buddies 9:30-11:30am St Andrew’s Community Centre, Old Lane Advice & Advocacy 9:30am-2:30pm Asha Neighbourhood Project, Beeston Book: 0113 270 4600 Trinity Network Indoor Exercise 9:45am United Reformed Church, Nesfield Road, Belle Isle Mobile Hub & Library 10am-3:30pm near St Matthew’s Community Centre, Holbeck Chair Based Exercise 10-11am St Matthew’s Community Centre, Holbeck Coffee and Connect 10-11:30am St Matthew’s Community Centre, Holbeck Grandparents Kinship Support Group 10am-12pm St George’s Centre, Middleton Woodwork 10am Cranmore & Raylands

Community Centre, Belle Isle MHA Exercise Class 10-11am South Leeds Conservative Club, Wooler Street, Beeston, LS11 7JH Craft & Chat 10:30am-12:30pm St George’s Community Hub and Library, Middleton Story & Rhyme (under 5s) 10:30-11:30am Beeston Community Hub & Library, Town St Story & Rhyme (under 5s) 10:30-11:30am Hunslet Community Hub & Library, off Church Street Job Search Club 11am-12pm Hamara Centre, Tempest Road, Beeston Bingo and Hoy 11am-12pm Middleton Elderly Aid Social Centre, Acre Road MHA Lunch and Social 11am-2pm Arthington Court, Balm Road, Hunslet MEA Lunch Club 12-1:30pm Middleton Elderly Aid Social Centre, Acre Road Holbeck Together Lunch Club 12-1:30pm St Matthew’s Community Centre, Holbeck Lunch Club and Social 12-3pm BISA 59 Club, 59 Belle Isle Circus Trinity Network Lunch Club 12:30-1:30pm United Reformed Church, Nesfield Road, Belle Isle Lunchtime meditation 12:30-1pm Jamyang Buddhist Centre, Ingram Road Holbeck Women Only Swimming 1-2pm Asha Neighbourhood Project, Beeston MHA Line Dancing 1-3pm St Andrew’s Community Centre, Old Lane, Beeston MEA Walking Group 1:30-3:30pm Middleton Elderly Aid Social Centre, Acre Road.

Learn Digital Skills Together 1:30-4pm BITMOs GATE, Aberfield Gate, Belle Isle Road Movie Afternoon 1:30-3:30pm St Matthew’s Community Centre, Holbeck MEA Line Dancing 2-3pm Middleton Elderly Aid Social Centre, Acre Road.

Free Kids Sports 3:30-4:30pm Grove Field, off Church Street, Hunslet Hot Meal (free to BITMO tenants) 3:30-5:30pm BITMOs GATE, Aberfield Gate, Belle Isle Road Mental Health Peer Support Group 4-6pm Salvation Army, Hunslet Hall Road, Beeston, LS11 6QB Women’s Make & Do Group 4:30-6pm Dewsbury Road Community Hub & Library Book: 07848 515528 Rainbows and Brownies 4:30-7:15pm Beeston Parish Centre, Town Street Cockburn Community Choir 5-6pm Cockburn School, Gipsy Lane, Beeston Free Kids Sports 4:45pm West Grange Courts,

West Grange Road-Winrose Crescent, Belle Isle, LS10 3AP DAZL Dance 5:30-6:30pm Cottingley Community Centre Girls-only Football 5:30pm Yrs 2-4; 6:30pm Yrs 5-7 The Hunslet Club, Hillidge Road, LS10 1BP Dance Fitness (14+) 6-7pm Middleton Community Centre, Acre Road Book: 07519 018675 Outdoor Yoga 6pm Top of Cross Flatts Park Book: 07576 113269 Inside Out exercise class (HFA) 6-7pm Tenants Hall, Acre Close, Middleton, LS10 4HX 51st Leeds (Hunslet) Guides 6:15-7:15pm Rainbows; 6:157:30pm Brownies; 7:15-8:30pm Guides St Mary’s CofE Primary Academy, Church Street, Hunslet Free Football sessions (8-18 yrs) 6:30-8:30pm Holbeck Community Centre, Old Elland Road NK9 Dog Training 6:30pm Hunslet Methodist Church, Telford Terrace Book: 07856 229909 Hunslet Nelson Women’s Rounders 6:30-7:30pm Hunslet Nelson Cricket Club, Gipsy Lane, Beeston Yoga (HFA) 6:40pm Cranmore & Raylands Community Centre, Belle Isle South Leeds Lakers Running Club 6:50pm Hunslet Nelson Cricket Club, Gipsy Lane, Beeston.

Book: bit.ly/LakersRunning MINT Men’s Support Group 7-9pm BITMOs GATE, Aberfield Gate, Belle Isle Road Middletones singing group (HFA) 7-9pm Laurel Bank Day Centre, Middleton Park Avenue, LS10 4HY

Every Wednesday One You Weight Management 8:30am-12:30pm Manorfield Hall, Newhall Road, Belle Isle Everyday Lives coffee morning 9-11am Beeston Village Community Centre, off Town St Active Communities 9-11am Welcome Centre, St John & St Barnabas Church, Belle Isle Road, LS10 3DN Happy Global Families (HFA) 9:15-10:45am Beeston Parish Centre, Town Street, LS11 8PN Open doors 9:30-10:30am St Andrew’s Methodist Church, Old Lane, Beeston Bacon Butty morning 9:30-11:30am Middleton Elderly Aid Social Centre, Acre Road.

Advice & Advocacy 9:30am-2:30pm Asha Neighbourhood Project, Beeston Book: 0113 270 4600 Brave Hearts peer support group for women whose children no longer live with them 10am-12pm Middleton Family Centre 256-262 Sissons Road

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LS10 4JG Holbeck Together coffee morning 10am-12pm Ingram Court Community Room, Holbeck Trinity Network Keep Fit with Julie 10am United Reformed Church, Nesfield Road, Belle Isle Anti-social Behaviour surgery 10am-12pm Dewsbury Road Community Hub & Library Creative Communities Workshop 10am-2pm Jamyang Buddhist Centre, Ingram Road, Holbeck, LS11 9RQ. Book: penny.lewis@swarthmore.org.uk. tel 07483 666342 Woodwork 10am Cranmore & Raylands Community Centre, Belle Isle Remember Together Group Young Dementia Leeds Hub, Cottingley Book: 07983 215865 email mcst@ageukleeds.org.uk Beeston In Bloom Gardening Gp 10am-12pm Millennium Garden, Cross Flatts Park Scrabble Club 10am-12pm St George’s Community Hub and Library, Middleton Rags To Riches Sewing Group 10am-12pm Tenants Hall, Acre Close, Middleton, LS10 4HX Beeston Remembered 10:30-11:30am Beeston Community Hub & Library,Town St Raising Vibes 11am-2pm Holbeck Moor Skatepark Hunslet Litterpicking Group 11-12:30pm Involve Centre, Whitfield Avenue, LS10 2QE Holbeck Together Lunch Club 12-1:30pm Ingram Court Community Room, Holbeck MHA Cottingley Lunch Club 12-2pm Cottingley Community Centre, 115 Cottingley Approach Trinity Network Lunch Club 12:30-1:30pm United Reformed Church, Nesfield Road, Belle Isle Sew It Seams Sewing Group 1-3pm Tenants Hall, Acre Close, Middleton, LS10 4HX Online Self Care Group 1-2pm Cranmore & Raylands Community Centre Book: amy.hallam@healthforall.org.uk Holbeck Together Craft Afternoon 1:30-3:30pm Ingram Court Community Room, Holbeck Parents & Tots Social 1:30-2:30pm Hamara Centre, Tempest Road, Beeston Walk and Talk (HFA) 2-3pm meet at Middleton Park main gates on Town Street Tai Chi 2pm Cranmore & Raylands Community Centre, Belle Isle Hamara Healthy Living Stall 3:30-4:30pm Dewsbury Road Community Hub & Library Brave Words Drama Group (4-17) 4-7:30pm Beeston Village Community Centre, off Town St Book: 07775 926166 Free Football sessions (8-18 yrs) 4:30-6:30pm South Leeds Youth Hub, Belle Isle. Book: richard.foye@leedsunited.com Ultimate Dance Academy 4:20-6pm Cranmore & Raylands Community Centre, LS10 4AW Bat & Chat Table Tennis 5-7pm Dewsbury Road Community Hub & Library Climate Hub and Energy Saving drop in 5:30-7pm Dewsbury Road Community Hub & Library 1st SLAM Beavers (6-8 yrs) 6-7:30pm St Andrew’s Community Centre, Cardinal Road, Beeston Yin Yoga with Amy

6-7pm Jamyang Buddhist Centre, Ingram Road, Holbeck Illuminate Dance 6pm Cranmore & Raylands Community Centre, Belle Isle Holbeck Moor FC: Inclusive adult football training 6:30pm Holbeck Moor Line Dancing 6:45-9pm Manorfield Hall, Newhall Road, Belle Isle Leeds Co-operative Photographic Society 8pm St George’s Community Hub and Library, Middleton

Every Thursday Tots Group 9-11am Manorfield Hall, Newhall Road, Belle Isle Book: 07794 577586 Music & Movement 9am-1pm Little Angels Playzone, The Sugar Mill, Beeston Parents & Tots Group 9-11am Beeston Village Community Centre, off Town St Mobile Hub & Library 9:30am-3:30pm near St Matthew’s Community Centre, Holbeck Advice & Advocacy 9:30am-2:30pm Asha Neighbourhood Project, Beeston Book: 0113 270 4600 Holbeck Together shopping trip 9:30am-12:30pm Book: 0113 245 5553 Holbeck Community Shop 9:30am-2pm St Matthew’s Community Centre, Holbeck Ping Pong 9:30-10:30am Middleton Elderly Aid Social Centre, Acre Road Holbeck Together Coffee Shop 9:45-11:30am St Matthew’s Community Centre, Holbeck Library Story Bus 10-11:30am St Matthew’s Community Centre, Holbeck Trinity Network Craft 10am United Reformed Church, Nesfield Road, Belle Isle Walk in Cross Flatts Park Meet 10am Hamara Centre, Tempest Road, Beeston Kushy Nana (HFA Elder Bangladeshi Women’s Group) 10am-12pm Building Blocks Nursery, Maud Avenue, LS11 7DD Women’s Friendship Group 10am-12pm Hunslet Methodist Church, Telford Terrace, Balm Rd Craft and Chat 10-11:45am Cranmore & Raylands Community Centre Woodwork 10am Cranmore & Raylands Community Centre, Belle Isle Craft Group / Digital Inclusion 10:30am-12pm BISA 59 Club, 59 Belle Isle Circus Story & Rhyme (under 5s) 10:30-11:30am St George’s Community Hub and Library, Middleton Inclusive dance 11am-12pm Watsonian Pavilion, Cross Flatts Park Walking Football 11am-12pm The Hunslet Club, Hillidge Road Leeds Dock Community Drop In 11am-2pm Royal Armouries Museum Cafe, Leeds Dock Bingo and Hoy 11am-12pm Middleton Elderly Aid Social Centre, Acre Road CV Writing 11am-12pm Hamara Centre, Tempest Road, Beeston Warm Space 11:30am-2pm Cottingley Community Centre

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Line Dancing 11:30am-12:30pm St Matthew’s Community Centre, Holbeck MEA Lunch Club 12-1:30pm Middleton Elderly Aid Social Centre, Acre Road Crooked Clock Lunch Club 12pm Sussex Avenue, Hunslet Book: 07470 167243 Free Soup and a Roll 12-2pm Church of the Nazarene, Lupton Street, Hunslet Holbeck Women’s Group (HFA) 12-2pm Ingram Gardens Community Centre, LS11 9SA LGBTQ+ Peer Support Group 12-2pm Cranmore & Raylands Community Centre, Belle Isle MHA Lunch Club & Social 12-2:30pm St Andrew’s Community Centre, Old Lane Trinity Network Lunch Club 12:30-1:30pm United Reformed Church, Nesfield Road, Belle Isle Bingo 12:30-2:30pm Watsonian Pavilion, Cross Flatts Park Women Only Swimming 1-2pm Asha Neighbourhood Project, Beeston Kushy Dil (Bangladeshi Women’s Group) 1-3pm Building Blocks Nursery, Maud Avenue, LS11 7DD Digital 121 support drop in 1-2pm Hunslet Community Hub & Library, off Church Street Online Computer class 1-2:30pm Middleton Elderly Aid Social Centre, Acre Road Conversation Club for asylum seekers and refugees 1:30-3:30pm The Holbeck club, Jenkinson Lawn Table Tennis 1-2:30pm St Matthew’s Community Centre, Holbeck Walking Group 1:30-3:30pm Middleton Elderly Aid Social Centre, Acre Road Digital Inclusion / Social Group 1:30-3pm BISA 59 Club, 59 Belle Isle Circus Guitar Class 2-3pm BITMOs GATE, Aberfield Gate, Belle Isle Road After School Games Club 3-4:30pm Hunslet Community Hub & Library, off Church Street Community Basketball 5-6pm 14+ women & girls Cockburn John Charles Academy, Old Run Road, Belle Isle Free Football sessions (8-18 yrs) 5-8pm Hunslet Moor.

Middleton Scout Group 5:30-7:30pm Manorfield Hall, Newhall Road, Belle Isle Book: scoutsmiddleton@gmail.com Yoga 6:30pm St Andrew’s Methodist Church, Cardinal Road, Beeston Book: 07512 393228 Hunslet Nelson Women’s Rounders 6:30-7:30pm Hunslet Nelson Cricket Club, Gipsy Lane, Beeston Boxercise 7-8pm Cranmore & Raylands Community Centre, Belle Isle

Affordable Breakfast 9-10:30am Cranmore & Raylands Community Centre, Belle Isle Menspace drop in 9:30am Cranmore & Raylands Community Centre, Belle Isle Women only Exercise (HFA) 9:30-10:15am Beeston Village Community Centre, off Town St IT & Computer Skills 9:30am-12pm Asha Neighbourhood Project, Beeston Toast & Games, Knit & Natter 9:30-11am Middleton Elderly Aid Social Centre, Acre Road.

Breakfast Club 9:30-11:30am BITMOs GATE, Aberfield Gate, Belle Isle Road Hunslet RLFC Breakfast Club 10am-12pm Phoenix Suite, South Leeds Stadium Holbeck Together Coffee Shop 10am-12pm St Matthew’s Community Centre Holbeck Together Dance On 10-11am St Matthew’s Community Centre, Holbeck Hobbies Together (HFA) 10am-12pm Tenants Hall, Acre Close, Middleton, LS10 4HX A Choir’d Taste (Women’s Choir) 10am-12pm Tenants Hall, Acre Close, Middleton, LS10 4HX Gardening Group 10am-12pm BISA 59 Club, 59 Belle Isle Circus Julie’s Ancestry Group 10am-12pm and 1-3pm 26 Belle Isle Circus, LS10 3AE MHA Stretch & Tone 10-11am St Andrew’s Community Centre, Old Lane, Beeston Green Team Volunteers 10am-3pm Skelton Grange Environment Centre, Stourton Beety Din Older Women’s Group 10:30am-1pm Beeston Village Community Centre, off Town St Bingo and Hoy 11am-12pm Middleton Elderly Aid Social Centre, Acre Road Fish & Chip Lunch 11:30am-1pm St Matthew’s Community Centre, Holbeck MHA St Mary’s Lunch Club 12-1:30pm Beeston Parish Centre, Town Street, LS11 8PN MEA Lunch Club 12-1:30pm Middleton Elderly Aid Social Centre, Acre Road Lunchtime meditation 12:30-1pm Jamyang Buddhist Centre, Ingram Road Holbeck Ballroom & Sequence Dancing 1-3pm St Andrew’s Community Centre, Old Lane, Beeston 50+ Gup Shup Group 1-3pm Asha Neighbourhood Project, Beeston Prize Bingo Afternoon 1-2pm St Matthew’s Community Centre, Holbeck Friday Social Club 1:30-3:30pm BISA 59 Club, 59 Belle Isle Circus Trinity Network Bingo 1:30pm United Reformed Church, Nesfield Road, Belle Isle Chair-based Exercise 1:45-2:45pm Middleton Elderly Aid Social Centre, Acre Road.

Free Football sessions (8-18 yrs) 3:30-5:30pm Holbeck Community Centre, Elland Road Active Communities 4-6pm Welcome Centre, St John & St Barnabas Church, Belle Isle Road, LS10 3DN Table Tennis 4:45-5:25pm (7-11yrs) 5:306:15pm (12-15yrs) St Matthew’s Community Centre, Holbeck DAZL Youth Club 5-7pm Middleton Community Centre, Acre Road

Every Friday Charity Shop 8:30-11:30am United Free Church, Malvern Road, Beeston Stay & Play 9-11am St Anthony’s Church Hall, Old Lane, Beeston Stay & Play 9am-6pm Little Angels Playzone, The Sugar Mill, Beeston Food Bank 9-11am Manorfield Hall, Newhall Road, Belle Isle

December 2023 | South Leeds Life

What’s On 21 Illuminate Dance 5-7pm Cranmore & Raylands Community Centre, Belle Isle South Leeds Lakers Juniors (Athletics) 6-7pm South Leeds Stadium Book: fb.com/juniorlakersleeds Suzaku Martial Arts Children’s gp 6-9pm Beeston Village Community Centre, off Town Street 1st SLAM Cubs (8-10½ yrs) 6:15-7:45pm St Andrew’s Community Centre, Cardinal Road, Beeston Ultimate Dance Academy 7-8m Cranmore & Raylands Community Centre, Belle Isle 5th Middleton Guides & Rangers 7:30-9pm South Leeds URC Church, Nesfield Road, Belle Isle 1st SLAM Scouts (10½-14 yrs) 8-9:30pm St Andrew’s Community Centre, Cardinal Road, Beeston

Every Saturday Cross Flatts parkrun 9am Top of Cross Flatts Park, Beeston, LS11 7NA Middleton Woods parkrun 9am Leeds Urban Bike Park Ring Road, Middleton, LS10 3TN Community Basketball 9-10:30am 8-12 years, mixed 10:30am-12pm Yr6-9 Girls 3:30-5pm U16/U14 Boys Cockburn School, Gipsy Lane, Beeston Debbie Heart Theatre School 9am-1pm Manorfield Hall, Newhall Road, Belle Isle Holbeck Moor FC Juniors (4-6yrs) 9am Ingram Road Primary School, Holbeck Saturday Breakfast 9:30-11am Middleton Elderly Aid Social Centre, Acre Road Middleton Railway Santa Specials Moor Road, Hunslet, LS10 2JQ Book: 07376 744799 Adult Cycle Training 10am Watsonian Pavilion, Cross Flatts Park, Beeston Book: bit.ly/CycleNorth Ultimate Dance Academy 10:15am-1:40pm Cranmore & Raylands Community Centre ParkPlay 10:30am Brickfield Park, Lady Pit Lane, Beeston Champions Soccer Saturday 10:30-11:30am Hunslet Moor Arts & Crafts Lunch 11am-12:45pm Hunslet Community Hub & Library, off Church Street Bingo 12-3pm Middleton Elderly Aid Social Centre, Acre Road Youth Club 7-9pm LS-TEN Skatepark, Kitson Road, Hunslet

Every Sunday Junior parkrun (4-14 yrs) 9am Top of Cross Flatts Park Recovery Runners 10am Lock House, Leeds Dock Middleton Railway Santa Specials Moor Road, Hunslet, LS10 2JQ Book: 07376 744799 Indoor Children’s Exercise 10am-12pm Hillside, Beeston Rd Healthy Minds Cycling Skills 10-11am Watsonian Pavilion, Cross Flatts Park Hunslet Community Litterpick 11am-12:30pm Involve Centre, Whitfield Avenue, LS10 2QE Big Bike Fix drop in workshop 12-4pm Harlech Avenue, Beeston Toning & Stretching with Julie 6:30-7:30pm DAZL HQ, Middleton Community Centre, Acre Road.

Book: 07783 786776 Zumba 7pm Cranmore & Raylands Community Centre, Belle Isle

December Friday 1 December Legal Advice drop in 9:30-11am Middleton Elderly Aid Social Centre, Acre Road Saturday 2 December Coffee morning 10am-12pm Church of the Nazarene, Grove Road, Hunslet Bangla Square Youth Group 1:15-6pm Beeston Village Community Centre, off Town St Film Night 4:30-6pm St Luke’s Church, Malvern Road, LS11 8PD The Greatest Showman 5pm The Hunslet Club, Hillidge Road, LS10 1BP Sunday 3 December The Greatest Showman 5pm The Hunslet Club, Hillidge Road, LS10 1BP Monday 4 December Middleton community Group 6-7pm Middleton Elderly Aid Social Centre, Acre Road Greenmounts & Surrounding Area Tenants & Residents Assoc 6:30pm Rowland Road Club, Beeston, LS11 6ED Tuesday 5 December Free Flu and Covid Vaccine 10am-4pm Dewsbury Road Community Hub & Library Santa Story and Rhyme Time 10:30-11:30am Beeston Community Hub & Library, Town St Wednesday 6 December Trinity Network Local History 9:45-11:30am United Reformed Church, Nesfield Road, Belle Isle Mobile Community Hub & Library 10am-12pm opposite Cottingley Towers and shops Santa Must Die! 7:30pm BITMO’s Gate, Aberfield Gate, Belle Isle, LS10 3QH Thursday 7 December Over 60s Coffee Morning 10am-12pm St Luke’s Church, Malvern Road, Beeston, LS11 8PD Christmas Market 11am-3pm Atrium, Bridgewater Place, LS11 5QT Hunslet Carr Residents Assoc 6:30-8pm Woodhouse Hill Community Centre Beeston Community Forum 7:30-9pm Beeston Village Community Centre, Beeston Park Place, off Town Street Friday 8 December Christmas Lantern Festival 4:15pm Rowland Road Club; St Mary’s Church; St Luke’s Church 5:30pm Cross Flatts Park Saturday 9 December Leeds Dads Soft Play 10am-12pm Little Angels, Beeston, LS11 7HL Book: leedsdads.org/events Middleton Makers Market 10am-2pm Middleton Park Circus Community Reflections Cafe 10am-12pm United Reformed Church, Nesfield Road, Belle Isle Slung Low Christmas Fayre 12-4pm The Warehouse in Holbeck, Crosby Street, LS11 9RQ Trinity Network Christmas Fair 12-3:30pm United Reformed Church, Nesfield Road, Belle Isle Sunday 10 December Sunday Breakfast 9am St Luke’s Church, Malvern Road, LS11 8PD Hunslet Club Christmas Party 12-3pm The Hunslet Club, Hillidge Road, LS10 1BP

Christmas Crafts 2-4pm Middleton Park Visitor Centre, off Town Street Wednesday 13 December Trinity Network Local History 9:45m United Reformed Church, Nesfield Road, Belle Isle MHA Kurling 10-11am St Andrew’s Community Centre, Cardinal Road, Beeston, LS11 8AG Holbeck Together Carers Group 1:30-3:30pm Ingram Gardens Community Centre MHA Singing Sensations 1:30-3pm St Andrew’s Community Centre, Cardinal Road, Beeston, LS11 8AG Festive Fun and Market 4:30-6:30pm Marshall’s Mill, Marshall Street, LS11 9YJ White Rose Speakers 7pm Jury’s Inn hotel, Brewery Wharf Thursday 14 December Leeds Baby Bank 10am-12pm Dewsbury Road Community Hub & Library Santa Story and Rhyme Time 10:30-11:30am St George’s Community Hub & Library, Middleton Library Social 12:30-2pm Hunslet Community Hub & Library, off Church Street Curry & Carols 7:30pm Mumtaz, Leeds Dock Friday 15 December Hunslet Moor Carols 6:30pm St Peter’s Court 6:50pm Crescent Grange 7:10pm Hunslet Moor pavilion Saturday 16 December Coffee morning 10am-12pm Beeston Parish Centre, Town Street Repair Cafe 1-4pm BITMO’s Gate, Aberfield Gate, Belle Isle, LS10 3QH Sunday 17 December Santa’s Grotto 11-4pm Hunslet Moor Pavilion Book: 07754 346 912 Wandering Nativity 2pm Church Street, Hunslet Monday 18 December Santa Story and Rhyme Time 10:30-11:30am Dewsbury Road Community Hub & Library

Tuesday 19 December Free Flu and Covid Vaccine 10am-4pm Dewsbury Road Community Hub & Library Meet your PCSOs 10am-12pm Hunslet Community Hub and Library, off Church Street Santa Story and Rhyme Time 10:30-11:30am Hunslet Community Hub and Library, off Church Street Adventures in Reading (7-11 yrs) 3:30-4:30pm Dewsbury Road Community Hub & Library A Winter’s Trail 4-6:30pm Skelton Grange Environment Centre, LS10 1RS Carols in the Community 5:30pm Fearns, Leeds Dock Wednesday 20 December Mobile Community Hub & Library 10am-12pm opposite Cottingley Towers and shops Meet Your PCSOs 10am-12pm Dewsbury Road Community Hub & Library Leeds Irish Health Group 10am-12pm Beeston Parish Centre, Town Street Film Club 12:30-3pm Middleton Elderly Aid Social Centre, Acre Road Book: (0113) 272 1050 Pie & Peas 5-7pm Middleton Elderly Aid Social Centre, Acre Road Book: (0113) 272 1050 A Winter’s Trail 4-6:30pm Skelton Grange Environment Centre, LS10 1RS Thursday 21 December Liver Buddies 10am-3pm Middleton Leisure Centre, Ring Road, LS10 4AX Meet your PCSOs 10am-12pm Beeston Community Hub and Library, Town Street A Winter’s Trail 4-6:30pm Skelton Grange Environment Centre, LS10 1RS Friday 22 December MHA Breakfast Bites 9-10:30am Woodhouse Hill Community Centre, Hunslet Carr Coffee Morning 10-11:30am Hunslet Community Hub & Library, off Church Street

Publicise your event with South Leeds Life’s FREE listings Call/text: 07894 583966 Email: info@southleedslife.com Post: 224 Cross Flatts Grove, Leeds, LS11 7BW

Merry Christmas!

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South Leeds Life | December 2023

Twitter: @SouthLeedsLife

22 What’s On IN BRIEF A Winter’s Trail at Skelton Grange Skelton Grange Environment Centre’s annual winter fundraising event is a magical celebration of light in our darkest month. Wander along a candlelit trail in the woods and gardens at Skelton Grange and catch a glimpse into the secret worlds of the little folk who reside there... Tuesday 19 - Thursday 21 December 4-6:30pm. Book tickets at: bit.ly/SkeltonWinter Skelton Grange Road, LS10 1RS

Christmas at Leeds Dock Leeds Sanctuary invite you to join their Christmas celebrations at Leeds Dock. Starting on Thursday 14 December with Curry & Carols at Mumtaz meeting at 7.30pm. You can enjoy a choice of curry with sundries, rice, naan bread and a soft drink for £15, while a live musician plays Christmas Carols in the background.

Then there will be Carols in the Community on Tuesday 19 December. Head to Fearns at Leeds Dock to grab a mince pie and a drink, in time to join in singing Christmas Carols along with the University of Leeds Wind and Concert Band from 5.30pm. www.leedssanctuary.org.uk or @leedssanctuary on socials.

Accessibility at the Armouries Direct Access and the Royal Armouries are consulting with D/deaf and disabled people to explore the accessibility within the facilities of the Royal Armouries Museum.

We are hosting an event on Monday 11 December, 2:30-4pm at the Royal Armouries Museum, Armouries Drive, LS10 1LT to which all D/deaf and disabled people are welcome. Sign language interpreters have been booked. Contact Direct Access info@directaccess.group, whatsapp/SMS 07957 789401.

Hunslet Moor Carols Hunslet Moor is getting festive! The Friends of Hunslet Moor – in partnership with St Peter’s Court, the Salvation Army, and Cllr Ed Carlisle – are hosting a Christmas Carols event on Friday 15 December: 6.30pm at St Peter’s Court, 6.50pm outside Crescent Grange and Towers, or 7.10pm at the Hunslet Moor pavilion. The Friends are also hosting a Santa’s Grotto event on Sunday 17 December: 11am-4pm, £2.50 per child, book in by 5 December on 07754 346 912. More info at: www.facebook.com/groups/friendsofhunsletmoor.

Adventures in Reading book club Adventures in Reading is a free book club for children aged 711. It will be taking place on 19 December, 3:30-4:30pm at Dewsbury Road Community Hub & Library. This is an event to discover great books, share new stories and explore important topics. From book reviews to group discussions to book themed activities, there is something new to try each month. Each free session is bookable at www.ticketsource.co.uk/ leedslibraryevents. Accompanying adults do not need a ticket.

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Leeds Co-operative Photographic Society

by Steve Bavill

A

re you interested in Photography? Did you know there is a club based in South Leeds? Why not take a look at Leeds Co-operative Photographic Society?

We meet every Wednesday night throughout the year at the St. George’s Centre, St. George’s Road, Middleton, Leeds, LS10 4UZ. The club has a reputation for being one of the friendliest in Yorkshire. We have a good mix of members, from all areas of Leeds, in terms age and gender from beginners to the more experienced. The club has a wealth of experience in digital photography and editing of images.

Members are always happy to share their photographic experience and knowledge and

give support, advice, encouragement and guidance to others.

Formed in 1962 as a section of the Leeds Industrial Cooperative Society’s education section. Our assosiation with the Co-op has since ceased, but we decided to keep the name of Leeds Co-operative Photographic Society.

We have a varied programme consisting of presentations by guest speakers and club members, studio nights, when we set up lights and have a model.

We also have practical nights, nights out, photo editing demonstrations and competitions where the winners receive trophies at our annual dinner and presentation night in early January.

We have an Annual

Exhibition which is on display throughout the year on floors 4 and 5 of the Bexley Wing at St James’s Hospital.

Over the last few years, except during Covid, we have put on displays of prints at the Great Middleton Park Show.

Members have also supplied photos for the Friends of Middleton Park and the

Middleton Elderley Aid Calenders.

The club is a member of the Yorkshire Photographic Union and the Photographic Alliance of Great Britain.

For more information please phone me, Steve, on 07913 635550 or visit our website www.photoleeds.com. You can also find us on Facebook.

Hilary Benn MP views the exhibition at Middleton Park Show

Hunslet mental health group moves home

by Stewart Walton

T

he mental health peer support group is pleased to be moving home. From 9 January we move into the Involve Community Centre, in Hunslet.

We have enjoyed our time and the hospitality of the Salvation Army on Hunslet Hall Road and would like to take this opportunity to thank Major Cliff Allchin and his team for making us welcome.

We are pleased to take up the opportunity to offer support to a different demographic and a different community.

Involve learning centre was a special provision and has recently taken the decision to

give the local community of Hunslet, a place to call home and become a community centre.

The opportunity came about to Move venues and offer a different part of Hunslet our help and support. The group and facilitators sat and discussed, and together decided that we would give a different area of Hunslet a try.

We figure it’s a good time isn’t to move home and support Involve with their new venture and hopefully we could grow as a group at the same time.

Claire, Involve Manager, comments, "Involve are very happy to welcome the mental health

peer support group to the centre. Involve wants to be a welcoming and safe space for all community groups and individuals and support groups making a positive difference to the lives of local residents."

“Access to services is a barrier for many people, especially when feeling vulnerable, anxious, alone so to have a peer support service locally helps breaks barriers, enables those with lived experience to support each other and challenges the stigma associated with poor mental health.”

The venue is an ideal place for us as a group. Claire, has been so accommodating and we have been able to choose a

room that is away to the side and is nice and snug, whilst being a safe and confidential place to have many discussions.

Since restarting the group last year, we have been able to train up two more fellow facilitators, bringing it to four, also bringing a wealth of personal knowledge and experience.

While we have our additional facilitators on board, we also maintain that this is a peer-led group, run by our participants.

We do hope you can come and join us.

Every Tuesday, 3:45-6pm, Involve Community Centre, Whitfield Avenue, Hunslet, LS10 2QE

Slung Low Christmas Fayre With market stalls full of festive gifts and tasty treats, carols with a brass band, a hog roast (and vegan alternative) it must be the Slung Low Christmas Fayre. Saturday 9 December, 12-4pm at The Warehouse in Holbeck, Crosby Street, LS11 9RQ

Free flu and Covid vaccine clinics Dewsbury Road Community Hub & Library will be hosting free Flu and Covid Vaccine clinics on Tuesday 5 and 19 December 10am-4pm. You're able to have your vaccine if you are: Pregnant; 65 years old or over; Have a long term health condition; Frontline health and social care worker; Aged 16–64 and are a carer; Aged 12–64 and live with someone with a weakened immune system. The healthcare professionals at the clinic will be happy to answer any questions you may have about winter vaccines.

Santa Story & Rhyme Times Festive storytelling and rhymes for children under 5’s and their families with a surprise visit from Santa himself bearing gifts!

• Beeston Community Hub & Library – 5 December • St George’s Centre Community Hub & Library - 14 Dec • Dewsbury Road Community Hub & Library – 18 Dec • Hunslet Community Hub & Library - 19 December All sessions are 10:30-11:30am

The kids are alright 40+ young people worked together on a volunteer action day in Beeston on Saturday 25 November, undertaking community tasks including gardening and flower arranging, baking, prayer, and murals. For more info to get involved with future events, contact www.kidzklubleeds.org.uk.

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December 2023 | South Leeds Life

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Sporting Life 23

Hunslet’s supporters Play Pickleball at JCCS Tennis Centre meet as club prepares

by Michal Cicvak for the future P

by Ian Pickles

H

unslet RLFC’s Phoenix Bar was packed on 15 November as supporters met to discuss where the Club stood financially, the IMG grading and their new Coach for the 2024 season.

CEO Neil Hampshire took on the task of explaining the IMG Gradings and League structure.

Hunslet’s score currently puts them as a Grade C club, but this was no surprise, and with some amendments already set in motion the club should raise the score to Grade B for this time next year. These include raising the South Leeds Stadium’s capacity (by utilising the grass banks) and securing ‘primacy of tenure’. None of this can currently stop them being promoted to the Championship if the team achieves this on the field.

The club would have liked to have merged League 1 with the Championship, but this was

supporter-run club we all have our part to play, therefore there will be price increases this year.”

Season Tickets for 2024 will be £130 (£80 concessions) Match Day Tickets will be £16 (£12 concessions) and under 16s free. Tickets bought online will be cheaper.

It was then the turn of Head Coach Dean Muir to meet the fans and he was joined by three of his players: Jimmy Watson, in his 11th season at the club, and new signings Billy Gaylor and Toby Everett.

Dean gave an insight into his background in Rugby League and what attracted him to coaching and Hunslet: “As a player I was never going to be fast enough to make it but I had the ‘smarts’ and that is the aspect of the game I love so coaching was the natural progression. I jumped at the opportunity to join Hunslet and am looking to building something. We are five sessions into pre-season and

ickleball … funny name isn’t it! But once you’ve played it you will be hooked for life.

Pickleball is one of the fastest growing sports in the world. It’s best described as a sport played with giant table tennis paddles and ball on a badminton sized court played over a lowered tennis net.

But to really get a feel for this game you’ve really got to see and come and have a go. This sport is of the most inclusive sports there is.

At sessions at the John Charles Centre for Sport (JCCS) Tennis Centre you will find some of the top players in the UK playing alongside people new to the sport. Ages range from 10 to 85 and there are wheelchair players too.

Everyone plays the same game. So come and give it a go.

You can play Pickleball at JCCS on Mondays 12-2pm and 7-9pm; Wednesdays 5-6pm (families) and 7-9pm; Thursdays 12-2pm.

For more information go to: bit.ly/JCCSPickle

Pickleball is for everyone

A successful month for Kenshin Martial Arts

by Stephanie Turner New Coach Dean Muir takes questions from the fans rejected. However, there was news that Newcastle may be back in for 2024 (making League 1 nine teams strong).

It was agreed by the RFL that there would be an extra 4 ‘Loop fixtures’ giving Hunslet 20 League games.

There will also be a revamped 1895 Cup in which one League 1 club will pair with two Championship clubs in a round robin, and the travel allowance to play at Cornwall has been increased.

Detailing the ‘health of the club’ Neil said: “We had our best season since 2014 last year, finishing second in the league. The playoffs were disappointing but overall it was a positive season” “However, recruitment comes at a cost and we ran at financial loss for 2023 and this is set to continue for 2024 as costs increase. We have budgeted for this and have reserves to see us through, but running at a loss is not sustainable and as a

I’m really pleased with how it’s going. We’ve got a group of really good people which is key to any success.

“The (job) interview was the hardest I’ve ever had, a real grilling. That demonstrated to me what the Club means to people. The Board, staff and volunteers are always on it, grafting away all the time. The players are doing the same, I’m really enjoying it.”

Attention then turned to the players, Jimmy Watson said that training three times a week was hard to get used to, but he was feeling fitter and thought it was a really well balanced squad.

The average age of the squad is 24 which is young, but there is some good experience there and with teams like Oldham and Keighley spending big money it’s felt Hunslet may go under the radar a bit, but Muir thought: “That’s OK, I’m confident we’ll be in the mix for promotion come the end of the season.”

A

s reported in October – Kenshin Martial Arts of South Leeds took a team of young martial artists across the pond to compete in the prestigious WKC World Championships and what a success the trip was!

Returning to Leeds with four new World Champions the group added to the impressive gold haul with four silver medals (see also page 12) and five bronze.

Alongside this amazing success Kenshin has a second team of students who travelled to the ICO World

Team of the tournament: Kenshin in Romania

Championships in Hull and the Judgement Day Weekend in Romania.

Students Jordan Imbusch, Kyle Findley, Carlton Dickinson and 8-year-old Theo Dickinson returned victorious!

The team picked up two Gold, four Silver and a Bronze in Hull and a fantastic 17

medals (7 Gold, 9 Silver and a bronze) from Romania including team of the day!

The team are now enjoying a well-earned break from competing and will be celebrating the success of the teams at their Annual Awards Night which will be held at the team’s Beeston base: Rowland Road WMC. Kenshin Martial Arts run classes daily in South Leeds for all ages (3+) and abilities.

For further information please contact kenshin.leeds @gmail.com or fb.com/ KenshinLeedsMartialArts

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South Leeds Life | December 2023

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24 Sporting Life

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Myers delighted Lakers’ Hunslet Handicap to retain title belt raises funds for Wheatfields

by Ian Pickles

L

Devin Myers with coach Tom Young. Photo: Julian Hudson

by James Bovington

B

oxer Devin Myers is delighted at his second successful defence of his Mark Holmes Promotions 61kg lightweight title belt in what he described as ‘an entertaining but brutal encounter’ at the show which took place midNovember at Hunslet Carr WMC. “This was the best I’ve ever boxed,” said Myers, “I was proud to demonstrate the skills I’ve worked so hard to develop reading the opponent and wearing him down to get the win as he quit at the end of the third round.

“He just couldn’t take any more of the powerful punch combinations I was directing at his body and head. It was obvious that by the end my punches were hurting him quite badly.”

Eighteen-year-old Myers boxes out of Morley’s Tj Evolve club and has now won five of his six semi-professional fights including three by stoppage.

Former Rodillian student Myers hails from Middleton and works as a roofing labourer but his passion is boxing.

“I want a few more good bouts under my belt before I turn professional. Boxing is everything to me. I love lacing up the gloves even when it’s just training.

“My dream is to be the next undisputed world boxing champion from Leeds.”

Joe Ford referees the bouts at the Hunslet shows. “Devin is a courageous young athlete,” said Ford, “and our promotion is allowing him to make rapid progress. We stage three quality events annually with younger and older fighters from a range of clubs competing in fair, well-matched bouts with absolute priority given to the boxers’ safety.

“The participants are mainly local including quite a few from the Golden Team Gym in Hunslet.

This time we welcomed a few from Gainsborough in Lincolnshire.

We also want our events to benefit the community.

“At the November show we raised over £300 for the family of local man Mark Bell and the Alzheimer’s Society.”

For those wanting to support him there are two opportunities in December to see Myers box.

“I’m on what will be a cracking show at Pryzm in Leeds on 1 December and then again at Lightwaves in Wakefield on 9 December. All support and further sponsorship is most welcome as I put South Leeds boxing firmly on the map.”

Devin Myers is best contacted via his Facebook page.

ocal running club South Leeds Lakers hosted a pie’n’peas and quiz night along with their club night to raise money for Wheatfields Hospice on 7 November.

The annual Hunslet Handicap is usually held at the South Leeds Stadium in conjunction with a Hunslet RLFC game (The Hunslet Rugby League Foundation were instrumental in helping form the Lakers), but this year it was moved to a club night.

75 runners split into four groups (a 5k, 7k, 9k and 11k).

The starts were staggered and the runners had to take a group photo at the half way point (outside Hunslet RLFC), but after that it was every man and woman for themselves and first back to the club was the winner.

The club also welcomed four young men from overseas, Alnazir, Haroon and Hassan from Sudan and Hussain from Eritrea who are staying with local runner Michael Melia. All four lads enjoyed the spirit of

The 5k group at the halfway point outside South Leeds Stadium the evening.

The club raises money for Wheatfields Hospice every year as three members, now no longer with us spent their final days at the Hospice with its wonderful carers.

John Metcalf, Kath Corah and Lynn Dyson all have family still at the club and are missed by us all.

The first back to ring the cowbell was Darren Briggs. Fittingly

Darren was best mates with John Metcalf and received the John Metcalf Trophy from John’s son Thomas.

Afterwards the runners enjoyed Pie’n’peas and then a bonfire night themed quiz.

The club has moved in with the Hunslet Nelson CC who kindly let us use their Pump Room Bar, making the Gipsy Lane site a hub of local sport including Cricket, Rounders

and Running.

By the end of the evening with online donations still coming in the total stands at £320 to send to Wheatfields.

South Leeds Lakers offer 4-5 free running groups every Tuesday night, 6.50pm at Hunslet Nelson Cricket Club, Gipsy Lane, Beeston for over 15s – please book on via Runtogethe.co.uk/South LeedsLakers.

Cricketing stalwart recognised with Unsung Hero award

by A Finn

I

t was a very special evening at the Bradford League Dinner, held at Headingley on Friday 17 November for Brian Calverley and Hunslet Nelson Cricket Club.

Brian picked up the Unsung Hero award for 2023, a brilliant accolade for all the hard work he has put in at Nelson. He has been at the club for 50 years, 42 as groundsman, 41 as a junior coach and 39 as club secretary. Quite incredible numbers!

As well as this he has coached his club’s under-18s, for 21 years, the under-9s for 17 years and the under-11s for 16 years.

Alongside his incredible efforts at Hunslet Nelson he has also been a member of the Heavy Woollen Junior League committee for 35 years and has coached the league side at different age groups for 25 years, coaching numerous players who have gone onto to play for Yorkshire and England.

If you were to ask anyone in Yorkshire cricket about Brian

there would only be a number of superlatives for him and his incredible dedication to league cricket. Everyone at Hunslet Nelson is aware of how lucky they are to have him at the club.

Chairman Anthony Ryder who attended the dinner had this to say about Brian: “I could not think of a more

worthy winner of this award due to Brian’s 50 years of dedication to Hunslet Nelson and enabling cricket to be accessible to the South Leeds area.

“We are extremely lucky to have him as such a vital part of Hunslet Nelson Cricket Club and his passion for moving the club forward is seeing our club

improve on and off the field.”

Brian ‘the unsung hero’ will continue to work alongside the number of volunteers at Hunslet Nelson for years to come.

A club that is on the up and has already held Bradford League showpiece (Finals) events at Gipsy Lane with many more in the pipeline.

Brian Calverley (holding the cup) with collegues from Hunslet Nelson Cricket Club