South Leeds Life 105 February 2024 by South Leeds Life

Your FREE community newspaper

Issue 105 | February 2024

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

YOUTH ZONE FOR HUNSLET

In this issue:

Community rally for Better Beeston

page 3

Happy 103rd birthday Mr Bostan

page 5

Jazz hands in the CLCA dance studio

page 13

New state-of-the-art facilities for The Hunslet Club

ew state-of-the-art facilities for The Hunslet Club to run activities for young people in South Leeds have moved a step closer with the awarding of a grant for feasibility work on the project. Leeds City Council has awarded the national youth charity OnSide £150,000 to carry out feasibility studies for the provision of a Youth Zone facility in South Leeds. OnSide’s funding model is to work with a local provider, in this case The Hunslet Club and the local authority and use their commitment to bring in donations from ‘high net worth’ individuals. A spokesperson for Leeds City Council said: “We want Leeds to be the best possible place for children and young people to call home, and our feasibility work on this project with OnSide and the Hunslet Club reflects that ambition. “OnSide’s Youth Zone model has, in other parts of the country, proved a successful way of attracting significant private sector investment that supports – in tandem with local authorities – the provision of high-quality youth facilities in communities where they have the maximum impact. “This grant from the council

will part-fund work to assess the viability of the proposed Hunslet-based scheme. “It would be premature, therefore, to comment on possible locations for the Youth Zone or potential effect on existing facilities. “There is no current financial commitment to the project from the council beyond the initial £150,000 grant, with a decision on any further backing due to be made once the feasibility work has been completed. “Should the plans come to fruition, the result would be a world-class centre that would enrich the lives of young people, not just in south Leeds but across the entire city.” Dennis Robbins, Chief Executive at The Hunslet Club said: “We have been working with LCC and OnSide for several years discussing our collective ambition to bring a world class youth facility to Leeds. We are delighted that we are now formally exploring the possibility of that happening.” An OnSide spokesperson added: “We are really excited to be working with Hunslet Club and Leeds City Council to explore options for a Youth Zone in the

Obituary: Sam Key

A Youth Zone facility developed by OnSide city. “Youth Zones are incredible spaces filled with a wide range of amazing facilities and trained youth workers who believe in young people. It would be brilliant to bring one to Leeds for the young people of the city” Cllr Mohammed Iqbal and Cllr Paul Wray (Labour, Hunslet & Riverside) said: “Although we can’t go into details of the proposal in full at this stage, this funding will allow feasibility work to commence on plans being put forward by the Hunslet Club

and OnSide. “Should the feasibility work be productive, the result would be an amazing centre for young people in the heart of Hunslet – providing a world class youth provision for not just South Leeds, but the whole city. “We look forward to work progressing and seeing the club’s vision made a reality.” Cllr Ed Carlisle (Green, Hunslet & Riverside) commented: “The Hunslet Club has a long proud record in our community, and are a unique local institution. However, they’re not

resting on their laurels, but instead forever innovating and forging ahead with new projects. “It’s great to be working with them, and to be supporting this proposal to create a new local state-of-the-art youth hub. It will doubtless have a big impact for our community and city.” Due to the public/private funding arrangement being unusual for LCC, funding for the feasibility works has been taken from the Council’s Innovation Fund and is not a call on general funding.

page 16

Remembering old Cross Flatts FC

page 24

NEWS

2-11

SCHOOL LIFE

12-13

COMMENT

14-15

LIVES WHAT’S ON

16-17

18-22

SPORTING LIFE

23-24

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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.

Our aims To inform people of events, activities, issues and opportunities taking place in the South Leeds community; To encourage the involvement of the wider community in communicating their experiences; To foster community spirit and involvement; and To provide a platform for local people to contribute and respond to community life more fully. South Leeds Life is pleased to publish views from across the political spectrum, provided they comply with our editorial guidelines. We remain a neutral publication with a diverse readership, as such we do not endorse any particular political party.

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White Rose station delayed T

he new White Rose station in South Leeds, which was due to open in “early 2024”, will not now open until later this year it has been confirmed. Construction work on the new station was due to finish in 2023, with the station opening to passengers in early 2024. Once open, White Rose will replace Cottingley station, which lies half a mile further along the trans-Pennine route. Cottingley station will not close until White Rose is open. A West Yorkshire Combined Authority spokesperson told the Yorkshire Evening Post: “Work on the new, fully accessible White Rose Rail Station is now expected to continue until later this year. “We have made significant progress on the project despite a number of challenges, which include managing building works next to a live railway line.

“We’re looking forward to welcoming passengers to the new rail station, which will improve transport links, connect people with jobs and opportunities, and boost economic regeneration.”

Works completed to date include the platforms, lift tower and two link bridges which were installed overnight over the course of two weekends in October. A 1,200-tonne crane was built on site, which had to

orthern Trains has launched a recruitment campaign to attract the engineers of the future. Engineering apprentices are being sought at five locations across the north of England, including Neville Hill in Leeds, to learn as they earn while working on and maintaining Northern’s nearly 400 strong fleet of trains. These rare and exciting opportunities are likely to attract thousands of interested applicants and Northern is looking for candidates that have a ‘can do’ attitude, are great at problem solving, have a questioning mind and enjoy working in supportive team environments. Modern trains are increasingly complex and full of advanced technology offering a rewarding opportunity in a multitude of roles for keen and talented individuals. The 18 Rail Engineering Apprentice roles will be spread across maintenance depots in Liverpool, Manchester, Leeds, Hull and Heaton in Newcastle and come with a starting salary of c£17,500 per year. The successful applicants while undertake a 4-year training programme and will achieve a Level 3 qualification, in Rail Engineering Technician on Traction and Rolling Stock. Jamie Wood, one of Northern’s engineering apprentices from last year said: “At Northern I can challenge myself to be the best I can and develop new skills in a supportive environment.” The apprenticeship scheme has been developed in partnership with the National Training Academy for

be transported in sections and took a week to assemble with more than 25 lorry deliveries of components. The new station, costing £26.5m, is being built at White Rose Park by owners Munore K in partnership with Network Rail, the West Yorkshire Combined Authority, Leeds City Council and the Department for Transport.

CGI of the finished White Rose station

Northern Rail seeks the engineers of the future N

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Rail and Myerscough College in Preston. For the first two years of the course, apprentices will spend three half terms living and studying in Myerscough College which offers a space to study, mix with your fellow apprentices but also a place for to relax and unwind with onsite facilities, a local shop and public transport to local Market Town and Preston City Centre. When not at college apprentices will be at their home depots gaining practical experience as part of a guided learning programme. Oliver Doyle, another current Northern engineering apprenticeship commented: “It’s not the typical 9 to 5 job. No two days are the same and I love the variety of jobs and roles that I do. I learn something new every day. As an apprentice I have a wealth of knowledge at my disposal allowing me to expand my expertise and improve my skillset. “As an apprentice engineer, my job involves servicing, repairing and maintaining Northerns fleet of trains along with learning and working towards my qualifications. I am most proud of being able to make a difference and getting trains out into service getting customers where they need to be on time.” On completion of their qualification, apprentices will be qualified with the necessary experience under their belt to be able to apply for a variety of different roles, including Maintenance Engineer, Team Leader or Technical Engineer. Jack Commandeur, engineering director for Northern commented on the apprenticeship opportunities:

“A regular in-take of apprentices is important to help nurture the next generation of railway engineers and engineering leaders. “In these roles, the apprentices can develop their skills and experience in an environment that speaks to their passion for science and technology. “We’re looking for people with a keen interest in mechanical, electrical and systems engineering and a strong desire to work hard to achieve success. We expect you to be passionate about your future career and be happy to carry on learning – our Apprenticeship

Scheme takes dedication, enthusiasm, and personal commitment to complete. “There will be a lot of permanent opportunities after you are qualified and many of our past apprentices are now enjoying rewarding and successful careers across our business. “These apprenticeships are a really great and exciting opportunity, and we are expecting thousands of applicants.” Northern’s engineering apprenticeships are open to anyone who is aged 16 by 1 September 2024. You must be aged 15 to apply. Northern is aiming to recruit apprenticeships on a 50/50 gender split. Applications are open until the end of National Apprenticeship Week (18 February 2024) and more information is available at www.northernrailway.co.uk/careers

Northern engineering apprentice Oliver Doyle

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News 3

This is what ‘community’ looks like! Stratfords and Trenthams helping keep the area tidy. However, it’s sadly clear to see why a campaign such as this is needed to turn up the temperature on the issue of waste and fly tipping. Of the residents I’ve met from attending these monthly litter picks there are clearly people who take pride in their local area and are passionate about making it a better place to be, but – of course – that can only come about when everyone does their bit. Turning up at Rowland Road, it was so heartwarming to see an immense turnout from both residents and volunteers alike! Thanks to the number

by Matt Rogan

unday 14 January saw the launch of the Better Beeston campaign. As previously reported, Better Beeston is a grassroots local campaign to focus on litter-picking, community engagement, competitions, art, and local ‘beautification’. After attending the launch, I’m pleased to say I have high hopes and optimism for not just a Better Beeston, but a better South Leeds! Volunteers have organised litter picks in Beeston Hill for some time now, although I myself have only been involved since summer last year. For me, it’s become a routine to visit Bangla Square once a month (the junction between Stratford Street and Lady Pit Lane, for those unaware) on the second Sunday of every month. It’s always a pleasure to be out and about on the

Volunteers meet up at Rowland Road club ready to make Beeston better

Former South Leeds Councillors made honorary Aldermen

of volunteers that turned out, we managed to disperse in teams and cover nearly all of Beeston Hill: the Westbournes, the Clovellys, the Sunbeams, Lodge Lane. With this many people, we managed to collect over 70 bags of litter – a great step towards the area being clean and tidy. This is just the first step though. If we’re to truly make a Better Beeston (or, indeed, a better Leeds altogether) we need to address the attitude and societal issues surrounding waste and fly tipping. It’s one thing for volunteers and passionate residents to play their part in litter picking, but it’s another to work collectively and catalyse the changes we need. This is a fantastic campaign that certainly inspires optimism for what sort of areas we can live in here in South Leeds. Massive thanks and credit to the residents who have organised this to bring the community together – this is, indeed, what community looks like! Long may it last.

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L-R: Alderwoman Kamila Maqsood, Tom Riordan Chief Executive of Leeds City Council, Alderwoman Dawn Collins, Alderman Paul Truswell, The Lord Mayor of Leeds, Councillor Al Garthwaite, Alderman Patrick Davey, Alderwoman Judith Chapman, Alderman Paul Wadsworth, Alderman Peter Harrand

ight former Leeds councillors received one of the highest civic honours the city can bestow at a special session of full council on 17 January. The group of former councillors, who have 170 years of public service between them and include a former Lord Mayor and a Deputy Lord Mayor, were made honorary Aldermen/Alderwomen at a ceremony in Leeds Civic Hall, recognising their exceptional contribution to the council and the city. The group includes former

South Leeds councillors Partick Davey and Paul Truswell. Patrick Davey served as a Labour councillor from 20022018, first in the old City & Holbeck ward and then in City & Hunslet ward. Following further boundary changes the ward is now known as Hunslet & Riverside ward. Paul Truswell served Middleton Park ward as a Labour councillor from 20122022, having served as a councillor in Headingley ward from 1981-1997 and MP for Pudsey from 1997-2010. The ceremonial position of

Honorary Alderman or Alderwoman is conferred on past members of the council who, in the eyes of the council, have given eminent service to Leeds in a public position. It does not entitle the holders to any special privileges; however, it does enable them to attend ceremonial events and actively support the Lord Mayor’s charity. Of those nominated Judith Chapman held the position of Lord Mayor of Leeds in 20152016 and Patrick Davey held the title of Deputy Lord Mayor of Leeds between 2010-2011.

Speaking after the ceremony the Lord Mayor of Leeds, Councillor Al Garthwaite, said: “It’s an honour for me to welcome back to the Civic Hall and honour a group of people who over a combined 170 years, have worked tirelessly for Leeds. “While their new roles are ceremonial, I am sure they will continue to support the city at every available opportunity, and I look forward to working closely with them as they continue to support the civic and charitable work of the Lord Mayor.”

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Plans for Blue Plaque to mark ‘Battle of Holbeck Moor’ P

lans are underway to commemorate ‘The Battle of Holbeck Moor’ when Holbeck saw off Hitler’s friends in 1936. Beeston resident Sam Kirk, who is leading the drive to have a Leeds Civic Trust Blue Plaque installed on behalf of Leeds Stand Up To Racism, explained the events: On the 27 September 1936, on Holbeck Moor a historic event took place that helped prevent the rise of fascism in Britain. This event is important not just to the people of Holbeck, but the Jewish community of Leeds and beyond. It played a part in the defeat of Oswald Mosley’s attempt to from an organisation modelled on Hitler’s Nazi party (The British Union of Fascists). Mosley was also an admirer and in contact with Mussolini in Italy. In the 1930’s the Jewish community of Leeds had many of its members living in the Leylands, near North Street and Sheepscar interchange. Oswald Mosley’s Blackshirts had intended to intimidate the community and march through that area. This was prohibited by the Leeds Watch Committee. The ban however only prevented him and his followers from

marching in that area. On the night of 26 September Nazi symbols (swastikas) and slogans were painted on Jewish owned shops in the Leylands. This event has been likened to Kristallnacht (Night of broken glass) which took place two years later, where Jewish owned businesses were attacked and smashed up in Germany by Hitler’s Nazis. On 27 September, Mosley assembled about 1,000 supporters in Calverley Street in the city centre. They marched from there down Briggate, along Meadow Lane, Dewsbury Road, Trentham Street, Tempest Road and finally Beeston Road to Holbeck Moor, the side nearest to St Matthew’s school, which stood on the corner of the moor across from St Matthew’s church (now community centre). However, a much larger crowd of anti-fascists were waiting on Holbeck Moor, 30,000 in fact. Mosley stood on a van to address his supporters, but the anti-fascists sang The Red Flag to drown him out. Such were the numbers of people opposing him that Mosley and his Blackshirts had to leave the area under a hail of stones.

Two weeks later a more famous event took place in the East End of London. ‘The Battle of Cable Street’ saw the Jewish community, anti-fascists, trades unionists and Communist Party activists again came out to show Mosley and his Blackshirts that they were not welcome. The 30,000 people that attended the Leeds event were successful in preventing Mosley from having a successful rally in our city. It no doubt inspired those in London to protect the Jewish area around Cable Street. Mosley did not attempt to hold a rally and march in Leeds again. He was imprisoned in 1940 and his organisation, the British Union of Fascists, was banned. Commenting on the plans, Sam Kirk said: “The Battle of Holbeck is a really important part of our history – both Holbeck’s and the city of Leeds. “We must never forget the dangers of fascism and the role our community played in stopping its spread in Britain. “A Blue Plaque will honour that history and inspire a new generation to oppose racism whenever it raises its head.” Cllr Andrew Scopes (Labour, Beeston & Holbeck) said: “I’m really pleased that this

Blue Plaque has so much support from across the community and look forward to joining others celebrating an important moment in Holbeck’s history. “I’d like say a special thanks for Sam Kirk for all the work she has put in behind the scenes to make this possible.“ The plans have already received support from: • Holbeck Together • Beeston Forum • Holbeck Moor FC women’s and men’s coach • Slung Low • Re-establish • Lord Mayor of Leeds, Cllr Al Garthwaite • Beeston & Holbeck Councillors – Andrew Scopes, Annie Malony and Gohar Almass (Labour) • Hunslet & Riverside councillors – Mohammed Iqbal, Paul Wray (Labour) and Ed Carlisle (Green) • Leeds NEU (National Education Union) • Leeds RMT (National Union of Rail, Maritime and Transport Workers) • Leeds Teaching Hospitals Unison branch A public meeting is being planned to build further support in the community. The plaque is likely to be unveiled later this year.

Debate over plans to make Tempest Road junction safer L

eeds City Council is working on plans to make the junction between Tempest Road and Dewsbury Road in Beeston safer after a spate of serious road traffic accidents. Most of the accidents have involved motorists either turning right from Dewsbury Road onto Tempest Road, or turning right out of Tempest Road onto Dewsbury Road, which is a dual carriageway at this point. The situation is aggrevated by car parking outside a parade of shops and a bus stop, which obstructs the view of motorists turning out of Tempest Road. Cllr Paul Wray (Labour, Hunslet & Riverside) explained that: “Highways Leeds officers’ preferred solution is to close the central reservation to stop right turns in or out of Tempest Road. This would remove a significant number of traffic conflicts without the need to alter access rights onto any road and thus creating a

redistribution of traffic elsewhere.” Motorists needing to access Tempest Road from Dewsbury could then u-turn further along

Dewsbury Road, return and turn left onto the street. Officers are currently undertaking a technical consultation with emergency

The junction between Tempest Road and Dewsbury Road. Photo: Google

services and other agencies, before going out to public consultation. However the Beeston Hill Community Association (BHCA)

The front page of the Leeds Mercury 28 September 1936 feel residents’ voices should be heard before the plans go any further. The group were due to hold a meeting on Monday 29 January to discuss the issue, after we went to press. Writing on our South Leeds Life website, Sarah Hutchinson from BHCA said: “Those of us living in this area can all agree this junction is dangerous, difficult and needs improving. Although various options could have been put forward to address these issues, the council and Highways are looking to close the right turn in and out of Tempest Road. This is a major junction and route for local people, any changes will have a big impact, especially for residents on the smaller, surrounding streets.” And another BHCA member, Natalie, said: “As a driver I use the junction every day since junction 2a [of the M621] was closed without any public consultation. I know it’s dangerous but feel very worried that the proposed changes will increase travel times and distance for me, but most importantly, it would restrict access for emergency services such as fire brigade who will also no longer be able

to turn right from Dewsbury Road up into Tempest road. That is a far more serious consideration than extra travel distance for me. That’s a matter of life and death. “Parking at the shops is a major problem. Cars park there and it restricts the visibility. The shops may attract a transient trade but most customers would be able to walk a few more metres if the parking situation was reconsidered as an alternative to this! There isn’t a shortage of shops in the area. There’s plenty of local choice if parking was to be reduced here.” Cllr Ed Carlisle (Green, Hunslet & Riverside) commented: “It’s taken us a long time to get action on this dangerous junction, but we’re getting there at last; and there’s a lot of interest and passion about it – which is brilliant. Thanks especially to the Beeston Hill Community Association for pushing this, and for creating space for local people to speak up on it. We’re unlikely to find a perfect solution that pleases everyone 100%, but let’s start with a positive debate about it, be willing to all listen and compromise, and see where we get to.”

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News 5

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103 not out Beeston resident Mir Bostan celebrated his 103rd birthday last month at the Hamara Centre where he is an active member as well as being the centre’s oldest member

e launched our funding appeal in September 2022 in the face of a huge rise in printing costs and we have been humbled by your response. We were worried that we might have to stop printing the newspaper, but a grant from our local Councillors on the Innner South Community Committee and the deal ICNN has struck with Google mean we should be OK for the next 12 months or so. However, for long term viability we still need to sign up more individual subscribers and more organisational sponsors. The reason is that this income avoids us being ‘in hoc’ to any vested interest. No one has tried to put pressure on us yet, but we

don’t want leave ourselves open to that happening in the future. We know the whole country is suffering from the cost of living crisis and we know many of our readers are facing stark choices about heating and food. We will never charge you to read the news, it’s very important to us that everyone in our community can access local community news. But if you are able to spare a few pounds each month, we need your help. You can help others read the news for free and ensure our independence. We would be delighted if you would become a regular subscriber at £3, £4, £5 or £10 per month. If you can afford to, please take out a monthly

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Nominate local heroes to food growing awards F

eed Leeds, the sustainable food growing network, is encouraging people in South Leeds to nominate people and projects for their inaugural Food Growing Awards 2024. Celebrate food growing in South Leeds and nominate your local food growing champions today. Nominations are open until Monday 12 February at: bit.ly/FeedAwards The award categories are: Most Enthusiastic Young Gardener – Feed Leeds wants to celebrate young people who are getting their hands dirty and learning to grow food. This can be in their own, or in a school or community garden. Tell us about the young people in Leeds making a difference. Outstanding Community Champion – We know that success of community gardening projects depends on the commitment of individuals who turn up each week with enthusiasm to learn, share, encourage and engage others in getting involved with food

looking for food growing projects that are helping communities become more sustainable and resilient. It could be a project that supplies fresh produce to local food banks or community kitchens, a community orchard or community garden that teaches people to grow and harvest their own fruit and vegetables. Tell us how your project helps others. Best Local Business Supporting Local Sustainable Food Growing – Local businesses and restaurants can play an integral role in supporting local food growing initiatives, helping them to grow and be financially viable. Feed Leeds wants to discover which businesses are supporting local food growing initiatives and celebrate their vision and commitment to supporting the Leeds local food network. Best Community Composting Group – Composting food scraps is a great way to reduce carbon

Protesting for peace A group of 20 Beeston and Holbeck residents, activists and trades unionists met at Cross Flatts Park on Saturday 20 January and walked together into central Leeds to join the Leeds Marchcalling fore a ceasefire in Gaza organised by Leeds Palestine Solidarity Campaign. Carrying a ‘Beeston for Palestine’ banner and ‘Freedom for Palestine’ placards, a number of passing vehicles tooted their support as the group walked through Beeston, into Holbeck and to the start of the main demonstration in Millennium Square, where they received a warm welcome.

Planning starts for Beeston Festival 2024 B

growing. Let us know who is your community champion. Best Food Growing Initiative – We want to celebrate food growing initiatives across the city and to celebrate their successes. Tell us about your community or school garden or orchards, your market garden, CSA or other food growing enterprise. Tell us what you have achieved so far and any future plans. We want to plant the seeds for local food growing in every community in Leeds! Best Food Growing Project Supporting Sustainability and Resilience – Amid concerns for the climate emergency and increasing inequality, Feed Leeds wants to showcase the very best in community food growing in Leeds. We are

emissions and return nutrients back to the soil. Community composting is on the rise and Feed Leeds is keen to find the best community composting group in Leeds. Composting groups can be with neighbours, via the Share Waste app, at school or a community gardening project. Let us know who is leading the way through composting! Feed Leeds is a sustainable food growing network – encouraging and connecting individuals, communities and organisations in Leeds. As part of our ambition to increase local food growing, we are celebrating the people and projects putting local food growing at the heart of what they do.

eeston Festival held its Annual General Meeting (AGM) on 11 January, reflecting on another successful event in 2023 and looking ahead to 2024. The Annual Report, which is now available to read and download on the festival website at beestonfestival .org.uk, details how the organising committee plan

their work and reflected on the various attractions at the event including live animals, children’s activities, dance and music performances, stalls, food, sport and the fun fair. The 50 volunteers (not including the committee) who put in 240 hours work on the day were thanked. The festival couldn’t happen without them. The accounts show that the

committee spent over £34,000 staging the festival, and raised almost £23,000 in the year from grants, sponsorship, stall bookings and the fun fair. The deficit was planned for and was in part due to a two year lottery grant received the previous year. The festival’s finances are secure with reserves to ensure that the festival will still go on. Councillors on the Inner

Entertainers mingled with the crowds at Beeston Festival 2023. Photo: Jeremy Morton

South Community Committe, White Rose Park, DePuy Synthes and Building Blocks nursery were all thanked for their generous support. A new committee was elected with Sophie Wright joining replacing Andrew Hewitt who was thanked for his hard work. Angela Gabriel, Mark Day, Hannah Marshall and Jeremy Morton we re-elected as Chair, Secretary, Treasurer and Event Manager respectively. The theme of the 2024 festival is sports to reflect the Olympics taking place in Paris this summer. Expect plenty of opportunities to get involved and try new sports and activities. Festival Chair Angela Gabriel commented: “2023 was a great success, but we can’t rest on our laurels and there is a lot of hard work to do to make sure this year’s festival is as good if not better. We are always looking for new volunteers to step forward and get involved, both organising in advance and working on the day. If you would like get involved, please email beestonfestival@gmail.com.” Beeston Festival will take place on Saturday 22 June 2024, 12-5pm in Cross Flatts Park. Stall bookings are now open at beestonfestival.org.uk/stallapplication.

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News 7

New arrival at Middleton Railway

‘Hararden’ being unloaded at Middleton Railway

he Middleton Railway took delivery of a 125 year old Leeds built steam locomotive on 26 January. ‘Hawarden’ was built in 1899

as works number 526 by the famous firm of Hudswell Clarke and Company of Hunslet and is a classic example of a late Victorian steam locomotive.

It will join two other later built saddletank locomotives from the same manufacturer to tell the story of this type of locomotive’s development.

Building neighbourliness on the Belle Isle estate by Jeremy Morton

elle Isle TMO are keen to support local people to link up and make a difference in the community. Do you have an idea for an activity, but don’t know where to start? Or perhaps you already link up with others but need a little extra help? This is where Ben, the Belle Isle Community Builder, can help. Ben is out and about on the estate talking to people all

February 2024 | South Leeds Life

the time. His job is to connect people, and their skills and knowledge. It could be anything from an informal walking group to a street WhatsApp group or even a fun day on your street – residents organised two last summer. Most recently Ben has spoken to three different women in the area who have all said they would like to go for local walks. He has now connected them and they are

Planting seeds at the West Grange community garden

planning their first walk together. There’s also a small urban foraging group that helped themselves to the free fruit that grows around the garden estate last autumn. Neither BITMO nor Ben will run your activity, but they will help you find the resources or people you need to make it happen. The fun days started with one resident expressing an interest. Ben then helped them talk to other people on the street and unlock a gazebo at number 23, an offer of burger buns from number 4 and some garden furniture and a barbecue at number 15. Other activities you could join include litter-picking, looking after a planter near your home, or helping with Belle Isle Gala. Ben says his work is about supporting people to use the power they already have and give them the confidence that they don’t need an outside agency – the Council, BITMO, school – to do it for them. So, if you haven’t already spoken to Ben in the street and you’ve got an idea, give him a ring on 07891 273843 or drop into BITMO’s Gate Centre.

‘Hawarden’ spent its working life at the John Summers Globe Ironworks in Stalybridge, Lancashire. It was saved from scrapping through the

generosity of the Summers Family and after restoration passed into the care of the National Trust’s railway museum at Penrhyn Castle, North Wales. Following a change in policy by the National Trust, the locomotive passed into the ownership of the Bahamas Locomotive society, based at Ingrow on the Worth Valley. The National Trust has had a long and successful partnership with the Bahamas Locomotive society. Middleton Railway Chairman, Charles Milner said: “The Middleton Railway is very grateful for the generosity and kindness shown by the BLS by placing ‘Hawarden’ on loan to us. “Visitors will be able to see the locomotive on display when the railway reopens in April 2024.” BLS Chairman, Keith Whitmore said: “We have worked with the National Trust since 1973 when LNWR Coal Tank Locomotive 1054 moved from Penrhyn Castle to our custodianship firstly at the Dinting Railway Centre near Glossop and now in our museum at Ingrow on the Keighley and Worth Valley

Railway. “We have been working with the trust for the last few years following their decision to reinterpret the story of railways at the Castle to solely tell the story of the Penrhyn Quarry Railway there, which meant that a number of objects there including locomotives became surplus to their requirements. “We are honoured that in addition to the gifting of 1054 to us we have secured new homes for other exhibits including ‘Hawarden’, a former Stalybridge working locomotive, and we are delighted that we have been able to work in partnership with the Middleton Railway to secure a new permanent home for a Leeds built Hudswell Clark engine.” Middleton Railway is currently closed but will reopen for the 2024 season on Saturday 30 March. The Middleton Railway was built in 1758 and is the first railway authorised by an Act of Parliament, the first to have commercially successful steam locomotives, in June 1812 and also the first standard gauge preserved railway, opening in June 1960. It has operated trains every year since opening in 1758.

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South Leeds Life | February 2024

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8 News

Money matters with Leeds Credit Union

Hints and tips for a financially stable 2024 W

ith 2024 already in full swing, the time for making new year's resolutions may be long gone, but it's never too late to take stock of your finances and start planning for the months ahead. Greg Potter, Head of Member Experience at Leeds Credit Union, explains how. As we head into February and officially consign Christmas 2023 to the history books, now is an excellent time to take stock of your finances. Whether your goal is to save for a long-awaited holiday, become debt-free or build towards a comfortable retirement, setting clear and realistic financial targets can help you on your way. At Leeds Credit Union, we're dedicated to helping people in our local communities make smart decisions about their money, so here are five key financial resolutions that will help ensure a prosperous 2024. 1. Assess your financial health It's important to understand your financial situation before trying to determine your financial goals, so start by jotting down your income, debts, monthly expenses and savings. By evaluating your financial picture, you can identify both areas of improvement and those in

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which you're already thriving. 2. Create a budget An essential tool for financial wellbeing, making a budget is one of the simplest ways to keep your spending in check, allowing you to earmark funds for necessary expenses while still saving for your goals. There are many budgeting tools and apps available that can help streamline this process, making it easier to keep track of your income, outgoings and savings. Try this free budget planner for starters. 3. Build an emergency fund Life is unpredictable so having an emergency fund that can act as your financial safety net, mitigating the impact of unexpected expenses or sudden unemployment, is an excellent idea. If you're able to, saving 3-6 months' worth of expenses in a separate savings account will help keep you on a stable financial footing in even the worst circumstances. 4. Pay off debts Having large debts to your name can incur heavy interest charges and increase your stress levels, so try to tackle any lingering debts head-on. There's no denying that clearing debts almost always takes time and discipline, but even making small strides toward debt elimination can

provide a great sense of accomplishment and will help ensure a debt-free future. 5. Boost your retirement savings Your 'golden years' might seem a long way away but it's never too early to start planning for them! Increasing your contribution to your pension plan - or starting one if you haven't already - will provide long-term benefits and help ensure a comfortable, secure retirement. How credit unions can help Setting and adhering to financial resolutions can seem daunting at first. But remember, big leaps start with small steps, so try to envisage your long-term financial goals, then break them down into attainable, short-term objectives. Here at Leeds Credit Union, we're committed to helping you on your financial journey. Our Money and Budgeting Service (MABS) team works with tenants of certain housing associations to help create realistic budgets that ensure their bills are paid on time and their money goes as far as possible - you can contact them here. Leeds Credit Union provides straightforward and affordable financial services to people in Leeds.

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White Rose introduces new facilities as part of ‘Boys Need Bins’ campaign

Bob Ferguson, Hard Services Manager at White Rose Shopping Centre shows the new bins

hite Rose Shopping Centre has installed new sanitary facilities in its men’s toilets throughout the centre as part of Prostate Cancer UK’s ‘Boys Need Bins’ campaign. The centre was alerted to the campaign by regular visitor Susan Childs, whose family has sadly been impacted by prostate cancer. According to Prostate Cancer UK, a survey of men living with incontinence found that 95% feel anxiety around the lack of sanitary bins in men’s toilets, leading to many reducing the time they spend out of the house, and nearly one third have been forced to carry used pads in a bag due to lack of facilities to dispose of them hygienically. In addition to feeling anxiety and distress, not having access to sanitary facilities can impact physical health too, with 64% of people surveyed sharing that they have suffered with rashes and infections as a result of not being able to change their incontinence products. One in three men over the age of 65 in the UK experience urinary incontinence – a significant amount of the population. Steven Foster, Centre Director at White Rose Shopping Centre, said: “A day out shopping and dining should be an enjoyable affair, and Prostate Cancer UK’s shocking figures show that barriers such as a lack of sanitary bins in men’s toilets

can hugely impact someone’s experience. “It’s important that all visitors feel welcome and comfortable at White Rose, and we’re pleased to have installed the new sanitary facilities and signage to support this and to help raise awareness of the Boys Need Bins campaign. “We’re thankful to Susan for bringing this need to our attention, and to Lubna and Prostate Cancer UK for helping us ensure the new facilities are fit for purpose.” Susan Childs, who brought the campaign to the centre’s attention, also said: “Having hosted prostate cancer awareness stands for more than ten years, and listened to the problems that some men face, I was determined to support the Boys Need Bins campaign. It’s vitally important that men affected can enjoy their time and be relaxed, without worrying about the toilet situation. “I am overwhelmed at how supportive the White Rose team have been during the whole process. It was just one initial conversation that got things started, and I find it incredible that such a large organisation listens to their customers and acts on their suggestions so quickly. Thank you!” Lubna Latif Curtis, Senior Health Influencing Officer at Prostate Cancer UK, added: “A man living with incontinence deserves the freedom to go shopping

without worrying about whether he can get rid of his used pads hygienically and discreetly. “Despite the fact that one in three men over 65 experience urinary incontinence, there’s a dire lack of sanitary bins in gents’ toilets and a taboo surrounding the issue. We’ve found that almost all these men feel anxiety about leaving the house, with many telling us they’ve had to carry their soiled pads around in a bag. “We’re delighted that White Rose Shopping Centre is backing our Boys Need Bins campaign and introducing sanitary bins in their men’s loos. While we’re pushing to get the law changed, so that every man has access to a proper bin, in the meantime it’s exciting that real progress is happening here in Leeds and across the UK.” White Rose has also recently introduced its stoma-friendly facilities throughout the centre, with shelves, mirrors, and hooks adhering to Colostomy UK guidelines to allow a safe, clean place for visitors to change their stoma bags. The centre also has Changing Places facilities for children and adults with profound and multiple disabilities, as sunflower lanyards for visitors with hidden disabilities, and sensory toys which can be collected from the Customer Service Centre. For further information on accessibility facilities at White Rose, visit www.whiterose.co.uk

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News 9

Sculpture starts conversations about knife crime in Leeds

The Knife Angel sculpture is made of 100,000 seized blades

he touring Knife Angel sculpture is coming to Leeds in February, to send a powerful message and spark conversations about knife crime in the city. It will be placed outside the Royal Armouries Museum in Hunslet as part of an intensification month on knife crime which launched on

Thursday 1 February. The Knife Angel, standing 27ft tall and made from over 100,000 seized blades, was created by the British Ironwork Centre to highlight the negative effects of violent behaviour and the need for change. Featuring messages from families of victims of knife crime it also acts as a striking

memorial designed to celebrate those lives who have been lost. As part of the city’s continued response to serious youth violence a free programme of learning opportunities will be running throughout the month. To engage and educate young people, secondary

Improved out of hours bereavement services C

ouncillors on the Adults, Health and Active Lifestyles Scrutiny Board received an update last month on out of hours bereavement arrangements in Leeds following an in-depth service review to improve the experience of bereaved

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February 2024 | South Leeds Life

families. South Leeds councillors Mohammed Iqbal, who has been engaged in this work for some time, and Andrew Scopes, the Chair of Leeds City Council’s Adults, Health and Active Lifestyles Scrutiny Board, have welcomed the

work done by Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust (LTHT) and its partners to expand service provision. Service provision has been expanded from typical working hours, to 8am-8pm, seven days a week, with an on-call model implemented from 4.30pm to

schools have been given the opportunity to book in for specialist learning sessions at the Royal Armouries Museum, supported by the West Yorkshire Violence Reduction Partnership. The Youth Service and other youth providers will also be targeting their discussions on knife crime throughout 8pm Monday to Friday and during weekends and bank holidays, 8am-8pm. Exceptional requests outside these hours will be considered on a case by case basis. This will support the timely release of deceased adult patients for ceremonial and burial purposes for religious and cultural reasons. Councillor Mohammed Iqbal (Labour, Hunslet & Riverside Ward) said: “I welcome this new way of working which can make a huge difference to the experience of those who are grieving. It supports a process that is more sympathetic to cultural and religious requirements. “I look forward to the continuing development of this work when it is reviewed alongside national changes being brought forward in the year ahead.” Councillor Andrew Scopes (Labour, Beeston & Holbeck Ward) and Chair of the Adults, Health and Active Lifestyles Scrutiny Board said: “I am pleased to see the progress made by the Hospitals Trust and its partners to improve the out of hours bereavement services in

February and will be offering a combination of activities based at the Knife Angel location and in communities. Councillor Debra Coupar, Leeds City Council’s executive member for resources with responsibility for Safer Leeds, said: “Although the rates of knife crime have been falling, it remains a serious issue and has a devastating impact on individuals, families and communities. “We’re looking forward to hosting the Knife Angel sculpture during February, both as a monument to lives we’ve tragically lost, and as a force to help reinforce the work we’ve been doing around how we can change these behaviours as quickly as possible. “As a city we take knife crime and violence in general very seriously and it’s something we and our partners work hard to address with young people and their parents or guardians. We’d like to encourage everyone to come down and see the sculpture for themselves and not be afraid to speak to each other about these issues.” Leeds District Commander, Chief Superintendent Steve Dodds, said: “We are acutely aware of the tragic consequences of youth knife crime, the young lives that have been senselessly lost here in Leeds and the families who are left to live with that. “While we have been working

hard alongside our partner agencies to tackle the issue and are seeing reductions, any incident of this kind will always be one too many. “The root causes and driving factors around young people involved in knife crime are much wider than policing alone and it is only through everyone across our communities playing their part that we will continue make progress. “The arrival of the Knife Angel and the work that sits around it over the coming month will be an excellent opportunity to build on the work we have been doing to reduce incidents and keep our young people and our communities safe.” West Yorkshire’s Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime, Alison Lowe OBE, said: “The Knife Angel represents our solidarity in confronting the issues of serious violence, ensuring that West Yorkshire remains safe, just and inclusive. “We each play a crucial role in turning the tide on knife crime and rejecting those behaviours that can lead to unimaginable heartbreak for families and communities. “It provides a fantastic platform to educate our young people, opening up new conversations, which can help change attitudes and cultures.” To report or pass on information about knife crime anonymously, visit crimestoppers-uk.org/fearless

Leeds. “It is really positive that despite operational pressures and other challenges impacting on services, improvements are being implemented. I’m keen that we continue to work together with our partners to understand and support this really important area for bereaved families.” Professor Phil Wood, Chief Executive at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, said: “Thank you to Scrutiny Board

colleagues for their insights and support as we continue to improve the out of hours bereavement services at the Trust. “It is an extremely sensitive area of care and it’s so important that we do all we can to ensure an appropriate and considerate service. “Thank you to our team driving forward these improvements, especially their focus on listening and doing what’s best for our people and communities.”

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Police seize off Leeds South and East foodbank road bike in welcomes delivery from Amazon A Middleton by Ken Ingram

hile on patrol in Middleton on Thursday 18 January officers from the Leeds District Off Road Bike Team apprehended a 17-yearold rider and seized his electric off road bike. They posted the following account on the Leeds South Neighbourhood Policing Team’s Facebook page: “Spotting a Sur-Ron rider having a casual chit-chat outside the shops, our team decided to join the conversation, albeit with a firm grip on the Sur-Ron. “The 17-year-old rider, however, had dreams of making a speedy escape but those dreams were temporarily placed on ice as our officers

Seized by Police

skillfully prevented a chilly sprint. “Enter one irate teenager, and a set of temporary cuffs. “As if the frosty encounter wasn’t enough, the rider’s mum arrived on the scene, summoned by the distressed rider’s phone call. “Riding a Sur-Ron requires more than just a fearless spirit. Road registration, a license, insurance, and an MOT are not optional accessories. “Therefore the bike was seized and the rider was reported for riding without a license and no insurance! “And here’s a pro tip: These two-wheeled rockets aren’t fans of cold weather. Consider this our friendly reminder that winter winds and Sur-Rons don’t mix well.”

team of employees from the Amazon sortation centre in Leeds visited the team at the Leeds South and East foodbank to deliver a donation of food and essential supplies worth £1,000. Leeds South and East Foodbank has been supporting the community since 2013, providing emergency food parcels with three days’ worth of nutritionally balanced food items. The foodbank, part of The Trussell Trust Foodbank Network, is supported by a team of volunteers working to reduce food poverty. Three Amazon employees from the sortation centre in Leeds visited the foodbank to deliver a donation of essential food items, including cereals, tinned vegetables and parcels of pasta. Dom Lee is an Amazon employee at the sortation centre in Leeds who helped with the delivery of the products. He said: “We had a great afternoon at Leeds South and East foodbank learning more about how the foodbank team support the community. I am pleased we could make this donation and meet with some of the foodbank’s volunteers.” Wendy Doyle, from Leeds South and East foodbank,

Amazon staff at the foodbank added: “We are grateful for the donation from Amazon in Leeds and on behalf of the team, I would like to say thank you to Amazon for this support. One in five people in the UK live below the poverty line and foodbanks are becoming a necessity for many people, so we really appreciate this support from Amazon in Leeds.” Last month, Amazon teams across the UK supported over 90 foodbanks, including in Plymouth, Daventry, Dartford,

Improvements underway to Hunslet’s ‘public square’ by Jeremy Morton

ork is set to start on the first phase of improvements to the area outside the Hunslet Community Hub and Library off Church Street to create a ‘public square’. Existing planters will be renovated and restocked to green the area, new lighting will be installed to make the space more welcoming and safer after dark and new concrete seating will be installed. Following public consultation, a new mural will be painted on the long brick wall that runs behind Morrisons and the Penny Hill Centre. The mural will be created by art students from the University of Leeds, with the involvement of local residents. It’s hoped the mural will soften this imposing

structure which runs along one The project is due to be the public space outside side of the space. completed by the end of March Hunslet Community Hub and It is hoped that the 2024. Library has been a long-time improvements, which follow the Commenting on the plans, commitment of both of us and refurbishment of Hunslet Cllrs Paul Wray and our former colleague Library in 2019, will encourage Mohammed Iqbal (Labour, Alderwoman Elizabeth Nash. more positive activities to take Hunslet & Riverside) said: “We have persistently and place in the space such as “Delivery of improvements to doggedly pushed this project markets or other public outdoor events. Funding of £184,300 has been allocated for this work. The bulk of this, £150,000, comes from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, a government funding stream delegated to local authorities. This has been topped up with £14,378 from the Local Centres Programme and £20,000 from the Community Infrastructure Levy, paid by developers of new buildings within the ward. Artist’s impression of the revamped public space

East Durham, and Thurrock, with combined cash and food donations worth more than £180,000. Community donations and employee volunteering are just two of the ways Amazon supports the communities in and around its operating locations across the UK. Amazon provides students, teachers and parents with free computer science and STEM education programmes through Amazon Future Engineer and has teamed up with charity partner Magic

Breakfast to deliver more than seven million healthy breakfasts to children at risk of hunger in disadvantaged areas of the country. In 2023, Amazon partnered with Comic Relief to become the official home of the Red Nose. Amazon employees across the UK hosted fundraising activities and together with their customers and partners, raised £2.7 million to support those going through the toughest time of their lives. Amazon will support Comic Relief again in 2024.

forward since 2019 as we believe strongly in the need for a high quality central public space for the people of Hunslet - a place to meet, greet, and be a community together. “There have been ups and downs along the way over many years as government cuts have hit the council hard, but our commitment to deliver this project has never wavered because we deliver what we promise. “But this is the first stage of a long-term project, and we will

be working with council officers and partners to secure additional funding to deliver a second phase of improvements to this public space as quickly as we can. “So, while we are pleased to be delivering new seating, lighting, greenspace, and other features in this phase of work there is so much more to come.” Cllr Ed Carlisle (Green, Hunslet & Riverside) added: “Many thanks to all who participated in the community consultation on this: the project was shaped by local input. And the improved space will create new opportunities for Hunslet – but it will depend on all of us making use of it, for events, sport and activities, markets, art, or just hanging out. Get in touch if you’ve ideas for things you’d like to see there, especially if you’re able to get involved – thanks.”

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News 11

Pavement parking From struggling student to thriving construction apprentice problems at F

or Ollie Harper Nash from Leeds, living with an undiagnosed learning difficulty made for a challenging journey through secondary school, with him teetering on the edge of expulsion. But after years of childhood unheaval, 18-year-old Ollie has finally found a new lease of life … in his role as an apprentice. Ollie had regularly moved from school to school, adapting to new environments and friendships when what he really needed was stability and consistency. At one point in Year 10, he had to be home-schooled as he waited to move to a new school. His anchor and source of strength through these upheavals was the steadfast bond he shared with his dad, as well as the support of his two older brothers. “It was a difficult time in my life, having to constantly change schools and struggling to fit in and make new friends. I don’t know how I would have coped without the support of my family, and my dad has been an absolute rock for me. Although I’ve always lived in Leeds, I would visit Wales during the summer holidays to spend time with him,” Ollie says. During this time, it became clear to his family that the school he was at could not provide the support he needed to cope with his unique learning style, and he was diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). The condition brought its own set of challenges, but Ollie has been managing it with ADHD medication for about five years now, which has considerably increased his productivity levels and concentration.

Ollie Haper Nash Although Ollie did not achieve his quest to attain his maths and English qualifications, he remained undaunted and began to explore various work placements, from healthcare to retail. Ultimately, he found his calling in the world of building materials when he secured an apprenticeship with Dewsbury Road-based commercial plumbing and pipeline merchant, Mathewson & Rosemond Ltd. Working as a builders’ merchant apprentice, Ollie has discovered a passion for hands-on, practical work. He wanted to do something that would challenge him beyond his comfort zone, and the apprenticeship has proven to be the right mix of practical learning and academic study. Ollie says of his working experience so far: “My responsibilities include overseeing document scanning, managing goods receiving, and providing valuable assistance to the warehouse manager. “Of course, I have ambitions

extending beyond warehousing and in due time I would like to explore other facets of the business, including sales, accounts, procurement, and ecommerce,” he adds. In his apprenticeship journey, Ollie is learning the value of paying attention to detail and maintaining accurate data, recognising that even minor errors can have far-reaching implications. He is demonstrating growth in teamwork and has acquired an understanding of the diverse skill sets of his colleagues and how to work and communicate with them effectively to deliver a great team performance. Ollie’s weekly schedule comprises three hours a week for his apprenticeship studies split between Mondays and Fridays. His mentors, Oliver Wilson and Cameron Smith – who are also his line managers – are guiding him through the intricacies of the business and patiently sharing their vast knowledge and expertise of the builders merchant sector. Their expertise provides a sturdy foundation upon which Ollie can build his promising career.

Ollie speaks highly of the advantages of the apprenticeship approach, saying: “I’ve always preferred handson learning over traditional classrooms. The apprenticeship approach allows me to learn and apply the skills in a real-world setting. I can see immediate results and make a visible impact on the business.” Ollie’s apprenticeship programme is delivered by LEAP, who specialise in the construction industry. Leading builders’ merchant buying society, NMBS, is working with LEAP and the BMF to train scores of builders’ merchant apprentices each year to help address the skills gap in the construction sector. Dean Hayward, NMBS head of sales and marketing, says: “Ollie’s journey exemplifies how practical experience can be a catalyst for personal and professional growth, and how this approach can greatly benefit the construction sector. His decision to opt for an apprenticeship over traditional higher education is a pathway that we are encouraging other young people to consider. It comes with no student debt and offers a solid and fulfilling career.” Ollie’s journey from struggling student to a rising star in the construction industry is evidence of the transformative power of determination and practical learning. His story is one of personal growth and a shining example of how apprenticeships can shape the future of the construction sector. National Apprenticeship Week 2024 runs from Monday 5 to Sunday 11 February.

Hunslet Carr shops by Ken Ingram

oncerns have been raised about pedestrian safety at the parade of shops on the corner of Belle Isle Road and Moor Road in Hunslet Carr. A new pedestrian refuge was installed to allow easier crossing of Moor Road in 2021, but then the nearby pedestrian barriers were removed during recent roadworks on Balm Road and Belle Isle Road. Some motorists have been driving across the pedestrian route to park outside the shops. Cllr Paul Wray (Labour, Hunslet & Riverside) said in a Facebook post: “Cllr Mohammed Iqbal and I have been actively chasing the

safety audit at this location following the crossing point rebuild and the removal of the highways barriers. “Following the removal of the barriers, there have been repeated illegal vehicle movements over the crossing points near Moor Road – putting pedestrians at risk. “Highways Leeds officers have now confirmed they agree with our concerns and of residents and will be providing plans about how they will prevent vehicles illegally crossing this point and putting pedestrians in danger. “The plans should be ready for the beginning of February. Should they be acceptable, work will then be commissioned.”

Photo: Jeremy Morton

Vaccination reminder issued as measles cases rise A

s measles cases continue to rise across the country, the NHS is urging parents and carers in South Leeds to make sure their children are vaccinated against measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR). The recent rise in cases, including in Yorkshire, has prompted theUK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) to declare a national incident. This is because measles, along with mumps and rubella, is a

highly infectious illness: one child with measles can infect up to nine other unvaccinated children, making it one of the most infectious diseases in the world. These are also potentially very serious diseases: complications from measles, mumps and rubella can be potentially life changing including blindness, deafness and swelling of the brain (encephalitis). One in five children with measles will need to be

admitted to hospital. Dr James Thomas, Medical Director at NHS West Yorkshire Integrated Care Board said: “There is a real risk of a measles outbreak in West Yorkshire – vaccination rates have fallen over recent years, and with 27 confirmed cases last year we had the highest number of cases outside of London and the West Midlands. “Measles is more than just a rash; it is a serious, potentially life-changing

condition that spreads very easily. It can lead to severe illness and even death in children. For pregnant women, it can cause premature birth, low birth weight and still births. “But measles, as well as mumps and rubella, is preventable, so if you or your child have not had your MMR jab, it is really important that you come forward.” Two doses of the safe and effective MMR vaccine are needed for

maximum life-long protection, with the first dose given around the child’s first birthday, and the second dose given at around three years and four months old. However, anyone can catch up at any age on any missed doses and it’s never too late to protect yourself. Getting the MMR vaccine is free and usually takes just a few minutes. If you’re not sure if you or your children have had the MMR vaccine, please contact your GP practice.

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12 School Life

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Sharp Lane Primary School Charity begins at celebrates ‘Good’ Ofsted report S

harp Lane Primary School in Middleton has been found to be ‘Good’ in all areas in an Ofsted report published in the Christmas holidays, following an inspection at the beginning of October. The report marked an improvement for the school which was found to ‘Require Improvement’ at its last inspection in 2019. Headteacher, Rebecca White expressed immense pride in the school’s achievement, noting that the ‘Good’ Ofsted rating is a reflection of a transformative journey Early Years provision at Sharp Lane marked by resilience, dedication, wider curriculum and provide and a passion for fostering rich and interesting cultural experiences that pupils might holistic student development. “Our success goes beyond the not have had before.” Early Years was recognised as inspection report; it’s about creating an environment where one of the school’s key every child thrives academically, strengths. Children achieve well emotionally, and socially,” said in the early years and make exceptional progress with Rebecca White. interventions While the Ofsted report personalised highlighted the school’s good where staff know pupils well and performance in traditional tailor the curriculum for all academic metrics, it also pupils. There are high staff to recognised Sharp Lane’s holistic pupil ratios, ensuring children receive exceptional care and approach to education. The school was commended attention. The Ofsted report for embracing a personalised states: “The school has designed an ‘journey’ of over 80 experiences, well-sequenced which include skiing, planting ambitious, bulbs, catching butterflies, curriculum in the early years. canoeing, and climbing. The Phonic lessons start straight away in Reception. Improving Ofsted report states: “These journeys enrich the children’s communication and

language skills is prioritised in Nursery. Staff prioritise highquality interactions between staff and children in the early years. “There are plenty of opportunities for children to receive individual or small group attention from adults when they are speaking, listening, and learning.” Neil Kinrade, Chair of Governors, commented: “On behalf of governors, we welcome this ‘Good’ judgement and are pleased with Ofsted’s findings. It is a testament to the expertise and commitment that leaders and staff have demonstrated in school since the last inspection in 2019. Inspectors noted that both SEND and the Early Years are a

strength of the school and that we have ‘an ambitious and well-sequenced curriculum.’ “I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone in the school community who contributed to the Ofsted inspection, particularly the pupils who inspectors spoke to during their visit. Our staff at Sharp Lane continue to work tirelessly for our pupils in the classroom and beyond. I very much look forward to seeing Sharp Lane continue to thrive in the future.” Looking ahead, Sharp Lane remains steadfast in its commitment to continuous improvement. The school is poised to build upon its success by further integrating innovative practices, expanding community partnerships, and nurturing the unique strengths and talents of every student. Ofsted grades schools on a four point scale from Outsanding, to Good, Requires Improvement and Inadequate. Primary Schools are graded across five categories: The quality of education Behaviour and attitudes Personal development Leadership and management Early years provision You can read the full report at: bit.ly/SharpOfsted

Cockburn students delivered their collection to Leeds South & East Foodbank

he Cockburn Multi-academy Trust schools in South Leeds have worked wonders to raise funds for a number of extremely worthy causes over recent months. This work plays a big part in developing the character of the young people in the community and all of the schools pay great importance to this. At Middleton Primary School, the theme for Children in Need 2023 was ‘SPOTacular’, and the children came to school dressed in all things spotty and of course Pudsey bear made an appearance too. There were various activities throughout the day to highlight

this fantastic cause and the children made a small contribution to the charity. Throughout the term they also raised money for breast cancer awareness and research by ‘wearing it Pink’. As well as wearing their favourite pink clothes, the children learnt about what the charity does and how their donations are used to support those less fortunate. Another wonderful charity that benefited from the fund raising in school was ‘Jeans for Genes’. The children wore denim on the day in return for a small contribution to the charity that supports children and families with genetic

Moon Palace bus inspires Academy Calvert careers i students with celestial education C I

n an unprecedented educational initiative, the Moon Palace bus made a celestial pitstop at Cockburn John Charles Academy, captivating students with an immersive cosmic experience. The mobile observatory, adorned with stunning lunar imagery and equipped with state-of-the-art telescopes, provided a rare opportunity for students to delve into the mysteries of the night sky. The initiative, aimed at promoting astronomy education, was met with enthusiasm by both students and departments alike. The Moon Palace bus, a traveling educational project, is designed to bring the wonders of the universe directly to schools and educational institutions. Its visit to Cockburn John Charles left a lasting impression on

students who were treated to a marvels of the universe up close session of stargazing and and personal.” cosmic exploration. Executive Headteacher, David Students engaged in a variety Gurney added, “Such of interactive activities, from experiences are invaluable in identifying constellations to sparking curiosity and nurturing observing the Moon's surface in intricate detail through powerful telescopes. The handson experience allowed them to connect classroom knowledge with real-world celestial phenomena, sparking a newfound interest in astronomy. The Head of School, Siobhan Roberts stated, "The visit of the Moon Palace Bus has been an extraordinary event for our students. It's not every day that they get to witness the Using a state-of-the-art telescope

a passion for science. We believe that encounters like these go beyond the curriculum, offering our students a broader perspective on the world around them." The Moon Palace Bus visit aligns with Cockburn John Charles Academy’s commitment to providing diverse and enriching learning experiences for its students. As the mobile observatory continues its journey, it leaves behind a legacy of inspiration and a lasting impact on the young minds, who are now more eager than ever to explore the wonders of the universe.

ockburn Laurence Calvert Academy students in Year 9 were inspired to continue learning languages by David Binns, Director of UK Operations at Sanako whose UK head office is in Leeds. They were enthused by David’s passion for languages and how a second language skill can make the difference in the ever-

An electrifying presentation

competitive world of work. David shared his story about how he met a Leeds United footballer from Finland who inspired him to work aboard that this was the turning point in his career with languages. CLCA students in years 7 and 8 enjoyed an energetic and engaging roadshow performance celebrating STEM

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t Cockburn December. Winners on each night won food hampers with items donated by the staff at Cockburn School. A group of Year 9 students focused their energy on collecting for the Leeds South and East Foodbank. This work contributed to them being awarded Platinum cockerel badges – the highest recognition of character, contribution, hard work and social action. These students, along with the Head Girl and Head Boy, travelled to the food bank to deliver the food they had collected. Cockburn John Charles Academy also had a raffle, this time for staff, with a selection of prizes donated by staff and a pair of Leeds United tickets donated by LUFC. This raffle raised £270 for their Verona McShane Foundation, a charity established by the school in memory of their teacher who sadly passed away in 2020 to support families in the south Leeds area who may be facing hardship or poverty. All three of the Cockburn MAT secondary schools had non-

uniform days on the last day of term before the Christmas holidays and raised £1,498 for the Save the Children Gaza Emergency Fund. Months of unrelenting fighting and deprivation in Gaza have left thousands of children dead, while those who survive face continued war, siege, hunger and unimaginable loss. £11 could help them buy 24 bottles of drinking water or a ‘School in a bag kit’. £38 could help them give a family a baby kit to care for a little one. £66 could provide a family with an essential food parcel or a first aid kit. David Gurney, Executive Headteacher, said: “I am extremely proud of all of the students and staff across the Cockburn MAT schools for their commitment to raising funds for charities, both near and far. “Our schools are in the heart of the community and developing the character of our students is a crucial part of what we do. Our students are very proud of their contribution to charity work and many wear their platinum cockerel badges as a result of this.” Total funds raised across the Cockburn MAT: £3,893.

conditions. The parents and families of Middleton Primary School are always so generous with their donations, and the children are so eager to learn and understand what the different charities do to support people. Finally, the biggest fundraiser of the term raised over £860 for Andy’s Man Club, a charity supporting mental health. The children took part in a sponsored read, where they were sponsored by their families at home to read as much as they could across the week. Cockburn School raised £716 for the Kyle Asquith Foundation from nightly raffles before the Mary Poppins performances in Spotacular: children at Mifddleton Primary

n action (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths). The theme of electricity provided students with a good insight into how it is generated, how renewable and non-renewable energies contribute to the grid, and how circuits work. Students were literally ‘shocked’ by the interactive demonstrations with two students leaving the performance with their hair standing on end after an entertaining demonstration of a Van der Graaf generator. The interactive shows by BAE Systems (Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force) highlighting exciting career opportunities in STEM subjects: science, technology, engineering and mathematics. BAE Systems provide some of the world's most advanced, technology-led defence, aerospace and security solutions. Students were engaged in the topic of electricity and its power.

The CLCA Student Council were the very first students to visit their brand new dance studio and sports hall facilities. The Student Council were invited to a breakfast with the Head of School and a tour of the new facilities before they were opened to all students and classes. The facilities were completed at the end of December 2023 and students are delighted to be using the new spaces.

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14 Comment

In our view Young people are our future The news that The Hunslet Club is on the road to getting state-of-theart facilities to continue its fantastic work with young people is very welcome. We have been reporting on the club’s work since we started in 2010 and are in awe of their sports, arts and social programmes. Youth work is crucial to integrating young people into the wider community and yet looking around the city where are the other Hunslet Clubs? The new Youth Zone will be a largely private investment, but shouldn’t a rich country like Britain be investing in a Middleton Club, a Beeston Club - a youth club in every neighbourhood?

The Apprentice We are not talking about the TV show, but celebrating National Apprenticeship Week 2024, which runs from Monday 5 to Sunday 11 February. It’s a reminder that Universities are not the only route to qualifications and a career. Whether it’s engineering our railways (page 2) or as an alternative route for those who find academic work difficult (page 11), apprenticeships offer a brilliant route for those who prefer to learn on the job, rather than study in the library. It also has the advantage of paying you a wage, rather than racking up debt as you move into adulthood.

The March issue of South Leeds Life will be out on Wednesday 28 February.

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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:

Safety in parks When a person is shot in Cross Flatts Park, wether it be an air pistol or a double barrelled shotgun, just yards away from a Primary school or children playgrounds further up the park, this is getting totally out of hand. I have lived in the Cross Flatts area all my life, I went to Cross Flatts School from 1955 to 1962, walked across the park every day to school, even as a youngster, played in the park with my friends and played football for my local team into my thirties without ever seeing a hint of trouble. Nowadays, how can anyone walk across the park, from one side to the other, knowing someone could be carrying a firearm of any description? The article(page 15) says more people should enter the park, but the culprit is still out and about. He, or she, could still be there amongst the park runners, the walkers and dog walkers. John Adamson I overheard a conversation that it was “Hood politics”, assuming it’s down to gangs, no doubt involving drugs. The council won’t put money into extra wardens into them as it’s too expensive for them and won’t have money coming in from central government to fund either. AP

The children’s playground in Middleton Park path whilst they go to the shops across the road, often parking next to a sign saying it is not allowed. Since few people use the cycle path for what it is intended I don’t suppose it matters really though. Stuart Taylor Traffic lights are the solution. Forcing a driver from Tempest Road to turn left down Dewsbury Road and then u-turn right to go up Dewsbury Road is nuts and dangerous. Equally, or more so, drivers coming up Dewsbury Road turning right after the barrier in the centre to u-turn to have access to Tempest Road is ridiculous and dangerous. If lives are the issue, then fit traffic lights. John Leckenby

I think Middleton Park should have more wardens patroling and visible Police to make everyone feel safe. A shooting is not something to be dismissed be it humans or animals. Middleton is a lot bigger space than Cross Flatts and more hidden parts for scallies to roam about. Residents know and visitors talk to one another there’s more gone on with wildlife being harmed than publicised, just ask in the Visitor Centre. Carol O’Brien

I spent over a year trying to get the £150,000 needed to put in traffic lights, but I also accepted that it’s a very hard ask when we can fix the problem for around £20,000 and we're facing extreme budget cuts. Councils have to demonstrate value for money for the project they deliver using public money. Everywhere where we put in a reservation it's stopped road traffic accidents, for example Trentham Street. Cllr Paul Wray

Tempest Road junction

Dog fouling

Outside my window on old Elland Road is a strip of grass that has become a dog toilet. Although a lot of people pick it up, a The deadline for lot more do not. My wife used to go to the submissions is local shop every morning. She had a walking frame and had to walk on the road Thursday 22 February. because of all the dog mess on the pavement. The biggest problem is that it is harmful to children and can make them blind. I think if more dog owners knew thety would Beeston & Holbeck ward Includes Beeston from Cross Flatts Park to the Ring that, pick up after their Road, Cottingley and Holbeck. The three councillors are: dogs. Then perhaps Gohar Almass (Labour) 07445 878 333 gohar.almass@leeds.gov.uk I will be able to open Annie Maloney (Labour) 07554 969236 annie.maloney@leeds.gov.uk my windows in the summer without Andrew Scopes (Labour) 07860 400645 andrew.scopes@leeds.gov.uk getting the smell. Hunslet & Riverside ward Includes the city centre, Beeston Hill and Hunslet. Stephen Chadwick The three councillors are: I fail to see how doing a u-turn on Dewsbury Road is any safer than crossing it as vehicles do at the moment especially when you consider the speed that some people drive at on Dewsbury Road. Perhaps while they are looking at this matter the councillors can also look at the problem of people parking on the cycle

Your Leeds City Councillors

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

Fireworks misery Since early September last year we have been subjected to these nightly fireworks being let off usually 10:30 pm late into the evenings. These boring moronic cretins are still clearly being allowed to not only buy these fireworks from greedy suppliers but also given free reign to continue to make residents’ lives a misery. Why is this noise pollution being tolerated and not tackled by the authorities? The so called anti-social behaviour campaign by South Leeds community police makes no mention of this. Tony Callaghan

@HolbeckTogether Are you an international resident living in Holbeck? Do you want support with accessing services, employment & filling in any applications? Or would just like a safe space to meet local people in Holbeck? If yes come along to our international community support sessions! Mondays 1-3pm @stjosephhunslet Y3 had a wonderful time at the @Royal_Armouries yesterday, enhancing their learning of The Romans from their current History topic.

Murder of Beecroft girls Re; your local history article (November 2023) my maternal grandmother Ann Corcoran was born in Fourth Court Holbeck in 1894. She lived with her parents James and Ellen and various siblings. According to Grandma (who died in 1980) the area was extremely impoverished and people lived very much hand to mouth. It’s hard to imagine how anyone could throw their children into the canal. A desperate act indeed. Jackie Reed

Battle of Holbeck Moor I had never heard of this battle before, so felt very proud when I read it as I now live in Beeston but l’ve lived in Holbeck. It certainly deserves a blue plaque as a great memory for all of those great people who stood up for the cause. Gyneth Aylott

@HunsletClub Free haircuts and beard trims. Our barbering students (supervised by an experienced barber) are available for FREE haircuts and beard trims at @thehunsletclub Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays. Various times.

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

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

@WestwardCare Carol and Avril singing Oh Carol! by Neil Sedaka this morning while we were doing knit and natter at Pennington Court

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Comment 15

MP’s notebook with Hilary Benn MP

he Horizon Post Office scandal is one of the most terrible injustices our country has ever seen. I don’t know about you, but I watched all the episodes of the excellent ITV drama ’Mr. Bates v the Post Office’ with increasing incredulity and anger. How could this have possibly happened? What really came across were two things. First, this was an organisation that did not want to admit that anything was wrong with its computer system, even when it started to become clear that there were problems. And worse still, they told each sub-postmaster that they were the only one who had ‘missing money’ when we now know that there were hundreds of them. And second, if you want to right a wrong, you need to keep going and never give up. That is how, in the end, the subpostmasters won their campaign.

February 2024 | South Leeds Life

The Government has finally announced that it will bring forward legislation to remove all of the convictions and to compensate all of those affected. This cannot happen soon enough so that justice can finally be served. And there is a wider issue here about organisations that won’t admit to mistakes and then try to suppress the truth. It should not be the case that people have to wait for years for the facts to emerge. One thing that would help would be better protection for whistleblowers those brave people who are prepared to speak out. Apart from the loving care of our parents and families, it is going to school and learning that helps to give us selfconfidence and aspiration. I was really shocked, therefore, to read recently that in the spring and autumn terms of last year over 1.5 million children (that’s one in five) were persistently absent from

both primary and secondary school. This was more than double the number who were absent during the same terms five years ago. A child is deemed persistently absent if they miss 10 per cent of lessons or more. These figures are awful. How has this absence crisis in schools been able to spiral out of control? There are many reasons, including the aftereffects of Covid, but a really sensible first step would be to put together a list of children who are being taught at home by their parents. We don’t have this information at the moment, so we don’t know which children ought to be in school. Furthermore, the health of our children and young people is determined by a range of factors. Education of course, but also family income, housing and the presence of a stable and loving family all influence young people’s wellbeing. Children and young people from the poorest 20% of

households are, however, four times more likely to have serious mental health difficulties by the age of 11 than those living in more affluent households, and poverty levels in West Yorkshire are much higher than the England average. The Child of the North report also indicates that our children missed more schooling during lockdown, as well as being more likely to be in care and lonelier, than children in other areas of England. These are all reasons why going to school every day really is good for our children. I had a very interesting visit to Vallely Tankers the other day. They have recently moved to Pepper Road and I had been invited to open their new premises. They design and make specialist vehicle tankers for the waste management and environmental industries. I learned a lot as I saw how the tanks themselves are made out of a rolled sheet of stainless steel which is then welded. It’s precision engineering that is true to the industrial heritage of Hunslet, and another example of what you find out when you walk into a building that you’ve driven past many times, and discover

what actually happens in there! “Out of the mouths of babes”goes the saying. In this case, it was out of the mouths of a group of wonderful children from Ingram Road Primary School who recently came on a visit to the House of Commons. They had been looking at how legislation is made so I explained that for a Bill to become law it has to receive what’s known as Royal Assent - ie when the King approves a piece of legislation. Nowadays this is a formality no British monarch has vetoed a Bill since Queen Anne in 1708 - but the words spoken are in Norman French - “Le Roy le veult” which means “The King wishes it.” This then got us on to a discussion about William the Conqueror, the Battle of Hastings, and the Domesday

Hilary Benn is our Member of Parliament Contact: Email: hilary.benn.mp@parliament.uk Website: www.hilarybennmp.com Constituency office: Unity Business Centre, 26 Roundhay Road, Leeds LS7 1AB; Tel: 0113 244 1097

People provide community reassurance by Jeremy Morton

here have been two nasty incidents in two popular parks in South Leeds in recent months. First, the two swans were shot in Middleton Park at the end of November. Then a man, who almost certainly knew his attacker, was shot in the leg in Cross Flatts Park earlier this month. What should our reaction be to these events? Some people are suggesting that we should stay away from the parks, but I would argue the opposite, that we need more people in the parks to make these incidents less likely. I was struck, as I arrived at Cross Flatts parkrun last month to hand out newspapers, that a Police van had turned up in the park. Obviously, organisers spoke to officers to see why they were there and explain that there was a live event going on. Apparently, the Police had turned up to offer community reassurance following on from the shooting. I’m afraid they didn’t offer much reassurance. Unable to drive around the park the officers declined to get out and walk around the park, but

that’s not my main criticism. Their presence drew attention to an isolated incident. Several visiting runners asked why the police were there and no doubt left thinking Cross Flatts Park was not a safe space. Meanwhile 150 people running and walking around the park did offer reassurance to other members of the community. The park, or any space, is safest when it’s busy. People who want to carry out antisocial or illegal acts do not want to be seem, so the more eyes in the place, the better. Cross Flatts Park is mostly a very safe space especially during the daytime. It is patrolled by dog walkers; by the squadrons of Asian women taking their exercise after the school run; by the café in the Watsonian Pavilion; by the Parks staff removing litter and carrying out maintenance; by the people learning to ride a bike; and on Saturday and Sunday mornings by parkrunners. Meanwhile in Middleton, the Yorkshire Evening Post published an article this week amplifying the concerns of a couple of un-named residents who are “too scared to walk their dogs” in Middleton Park

anymore and say there’s been a “drastic” reduction in wildlife. I walk my dogs in Middleton Park several days a week and I can assure you there are not hoodie-clad youths hiding behind every tree and that with the exception of the swans, the park still bustles with wildlife. It may not be as busy as

Cross Flatts (one its attractions for me) but I usually see other dog walkers and at the weekend I see cyclists in the woods. Have I seen motorbikes and quadbikes? Yes, but not often. On the wildlife front I regularly see or hear jays, robins, wrens, blue tits, coal

A police van provides ‘reassurance’ during Cross Flatts parkrun

Book. Somehow we moved on to the German bomb that destroyed the chamber of the House of Commons in 1941 which led to an an explanation on my part as to what the World War II was all about. It wasn’t quite what I had been expecting, but the pupils sermed really interested. The highlight, however, was towards the end when one pupil put her hand up and said very quietly. “I don’t mean to be rude, but how old are you?” I said it wasn’t rude at all and asked her to guess. She hesitated for a moment and then said “34?” I was deeply flattered. Lots of other guesses followed including one pupil who thought I might be 80. When I eventually revealed that I’m three score years and ten, I got the distinct impression that anyone over the age of 20 seemed old to them.

tits, long-tailed tits, great tits, nuthatches, woodpeckers and buzzards. The ancient woodland is also home to a myriad of fungi species including jelly ears, chicken in the wood and birch polypore bracket fungi to name just a few. I don’t doubt the residents’

genuine feelings towards Middleton Park, but the problem with the YEP article is that it just scares people from visiting. What we need to make the park safer, and particularly to make visitors feel safer, is more visitors. So, if you haven’t visited one of our beautiful green spaces lately, make some time and go for a walk. But go when it’s likely to be busier and don’t go after dark.

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South Leeds Life | February 2023

16 South Leeds Lives

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simple satisfaction to the start of your day, like making that first cup of tea in the morning, listening to your favourite radio program while getting ready, waking up the children, and packing your lunch. Regardless of what your morning routine looks like, these rituals can provide a comforting sense of purpose when approached with purposeful intention, rather than resisting their necessity. In essence, Carpe Diem invites us to break free from the cycle of weekend thinking. That’s not to say, weekends aren’t wonderful opportunities to spend more time doing what

you want, when you want with who you want, but it's challenging the idea that happiness is only allowed to happen on certain days and times. It invites us to embrace the present, and discover the richness of each moment, regardless of the day of the week. So, let's seize the day, appreciate here and now, and seek joy in the journey of life. Shannon Humphrey is a First Aid for Mental Health Instructor working in the business and education sectors. If you have a suggestion for an article, contact her at shannon@pathwaysfor positivity.com

Obituary: Sam Key (1970-2023) by Jeremy Morton

e are very sad to report the passing of Sam Key, the founder of Charlies-Angel-Centre Foundation child bereavement charity. Sam was born in Leicester and lived in Nottingham before moving to Leeds where she worked as a carer. Sam’s life changed in 2012 when her daughter Carrie gave birth to a beautiful boy called Charlie. Tragically Charlie had a rare and untreatable condition, Potters Syndrome, and died just 18 minutes after he was born. Having lost her own son Tyler, who was stillborn in 2003, Sam was dismayed that there was still very little support available for people who had lost babies and children. With

her husband Clive she offered herself as a person for bereaved parents to talk to. They were inundated with calls and emails from across the country and around the world, but remembering how isolated they felt, they answered every request for help, signposting to local services where they can, offering an empathetic ear to everyone. The service grew into the Charlies-Angel-Centre Foundation charity. As well as individual support, the charity lobbied for better statutory provision and held events including an annual memorial service for children who had died each Christmas at St Cross church in Middleton. After years of fundraising the charity opened their own premises off Parkside

Lane in Beeston in July 2019. Here they could offer one to one counselling in a tailor-made space, with each room named after a local child who had died. The new building was opened by the Lord Mayor of Leeds Cllr Eileen Taylor. The following year Covid hit and lockdowns not only interrupted their work, but severely hindered their fundraising efforts, but the charity struggled on and continued to provide its valuable service to bereaved parents. However, the difficult decision to close the charity was taken in February 2023 when health problems in the family proved to be the final straw. In a statement on Facebook they said: “We have been reflecting over what we have achieved over the

last 10 years and the thousands of families we have supported. We know we have made a difference to bereavement support and changes have begun. We are sure that Charlie is very proud of what we have all achieved and we are so very grateful for your support throughout the journey.” Sam passed away on 28 December 2023 having never fully recovered from contracting sepsis 18 months previously. Sam is survived by her husband Clive, four children, two step children and seven grandchildren. A fundraising page has been set up to help the family meet the costs of Sam’s funeral which was due to take place on 31 January, after we went to print. You can still donate to help the family at: bit.ly/SamKey

Sam Key

Pathways for positivity with Shannon Humphrey

Life is for Living I

’m typing this month's article from the comfort of my bed, electric blanket on full pelt. It’s a bitterly cold January evening and frankly, I’m glad the only plans I have are, writing this, an hour with the telly and an early night. Which is irony itself, when what I want to talk to you about is the principle of Carpe Diem, which is to seize the day in Latin! The expression, first coined by the Roman poet Horace (23BC) literally means to “Pluck the Day” though it’s often translated as seize the day, meaning to enjoy yourself while you can. It encourages us to relish every day. In fastpaced lives, dominated by routine and responsibilities, the importance of living in the moment becomes increasingly apparent for mental well-being and inner calm. It's fascinating how many of us tie our happiness to the calendar, almost as if we are programmed to endure Monday to Friday as a necessary hardship until the much longed for weekend arrives. I heard a radio host grumbling the other day that it was ‘only Wednesday’ and if he stood on his chair, he could

of the people in our lives, our surroundings and the experiences we create. Yes, even at work, on a Tuesday! Being fully engaged in our tasks and present in our interactions can enhance our efficiency, creativity and our effectiveness. It makes us more chilled, more self-aware,

almost see the weekend … Yep, I rolled my eyes. The reality is that we all have responsibilities and obligations, and sometimes, we need to do things we'd rather not just to keep the lights on, the fridge stocked, and the bills paid. However, this doesn't mean we can't find pleasure in the midst of our daily lives. The philosophy of Carpe Diem challenges the notion that our happiness should be reserved for weekends or special occasions. Instead, it encourages us to embrace the present and find fulfilment in the now. Practising mindfulness is a powerful tool in this pursuit. By bringing our attention to the present moment, we can cultivate a greater awareness Photo: Shutterstock

a better team player and more approachable. It reduces stress, anxiety, worry and places a barrier between us and burnout. Living in the present is to appreciate and acknowledge the significance of small, everyday moments. It involves establishing routines that bring

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South Leeds Lives 17

Local history with Ken Burton

Job Day & Sons

A 1929 tea packetting machine

ob Day was born in 1840 at Ulceby a small Lincolnshire village and his father was Thomas Day a farm labourer and his mother was Mary Day. The family comprised of John and Job Day and in 1861 at the age of 21 Job had a career as a Tea Dealer and was still living in Ulceby. In 1874 there was a patent to Job Day and William Wells Osgoby both of Brigg, Lincolnshire, taken out for the invention of “An improved composition for the removal and prevention of incrustation in steam boilers.” In 1881 Job Day is seen as a Dry Soap Manufacturer living in Glanford Brigg, Lincolnshire with his wife Betsey Day and their children William, Charles, Adie Alice, Sarah Jane, and Albert. But three years later his dry soap business of Job Day & Sons in Brigg, Lincolnshire was liquidated. 1885 saw Day leaving Lincolnshire and moving to Leeds where he started a new business in Ellerby Lane. This was just east of the River Aire

just below Fearn’s Island in an area known as “The Bank” with its streets of back-to-back houses with small companies in industry and manufacturing not now seen in the west. The Company was to eventually become once again Job Day & Sons. In the 1891 census he is shown living at No.4 Glossop Terrace in the Woodhouse area as an employer in a dry soap manufacturing business and a widower with his five children, William Henry (clerk), Charles Herbert (manager at the dry soap works), Adie Alice, Albert (foreman), and Sarah Jane, the last three were born in Leeds. In 1901 he is shown as being remarried and living in North Leeds with his wife Ada Ellen Day and still a dry soap manufacturer while at the age of 71 in 1911 he is shown as the maker of patent bag packing machinery and a chemical manufacturer and still living in North Leeds with his wife Ada also 71. Six years later, in 1917, his death was

announced at Knaresborough leaving his sons to carry on the business. In 1901 Jacob Day invented a machine for packing soap; they also made the world’s first bacon slicer, and a motor cycle as well as packaging machinery before becoming Job Day & Sons. Another intriguing advance was made in the in the area of bag making, packaging and labelling that was patented in 1908 by Job, Charles Herbert, and Albert Day, the machine was described in 1924 as being “apparently complicated” but actually “simple and almost human” in the way it was able to create a finished product in 90 minutes. The success of this machine can be drawn from the knowledge that the firm were able to sell a similar device to Japanese Company in 1966. The “Eclipse” motor cycle was produced in 1912 and was designed by HA Smith and built by Job Day & Sons and was powered by their own 499cc engine that had overhead inlet valve and a special lubricating system. It had an Edlin frame (motor cycle produced in Birmingham 1911 to 1912), Druid Forks (spring forks for early motor cycles), Bosch magneto, Belt drive, and a halfcompression device for starting. Production of this lasted until the First World War. Ellerby Lane was the main factory but there were two more, one in Great Wilson Street and in 1910 they set up a factory in Hunslet Lane next door to the Elementary School and this seems to have been where the main car production was

centred. In 1912 they made their first car, the start of the “DayLeeds” a cyclecar powered by a 998cc v-twin engine they had built themselves, the tubular steel chassis had half-elliptic springs all round. Drive was through a cone clutch, three-speed gearbox with differential and finally a belt or chain drive to each rear wheel. The basic car was an open two-seater and cost £110 or £120 with windscreen, lights, and horn. It was no longer being advertised in 1913 so production may have ceased. For 1914 a completely new and more conventional light car was shown at the 1913 London Motor Show. It was fitted with an 1130cc engine made by Turner but this was soon replaced by a 1286cc watercooled side valve engine made by themselves. This engine had been designed by WL Adams of the Laxtonia Engineering Works, Peterborough. The car had semi-elliptic leaf springs, rear wheel only brakes, with a wheelbase of 7’ 9” and drive was to the rear axle by a cone clutch and a separate three-speed gearbox and

The Day-Leeds cyclecar torque tube. The First World War stopped all production. After the war this model was revived and it was fitted with electric lights. The body types were a two-seat open car or a coupe with a body made by Lockwood & Clarkson based at Sheepscar Grove and Sheepscar Street South, Leeds. The price quoted for the UK market in 1919 was £400 for the open two-seater, this seamed to be uncompetitive because by the time all production stopped in 1926 the price had dropped to £225. It is thought that 300 cars were made in the post-war period, some being exported overseas (only two cars are thought to survive, one in England and one in Australia). In the 1930s there were three production factories in Leeds but in 1935 the Company moved to their new Beeston Royds Works, Leeds, this stood roughly at the Junction 1 (M621) trading

estate where B&Q and Iceland now stand. This was where they concentrated on the production of their range of packaging machinery. In 1960 they were acquired by Rose Brothers Limited of Gainsborough, Lincolnshire; this take over only lasted for twelve month before they too were acquired by the Baker Perkins Group and were considered the most prominent manufacturer in the UK of machines for packaging tea and granulated materials. With the formation of Rose Forgrove Limited in 1967, Job Day became one of the three divisions of the Company specialising in packaging machines for tea and coffee. All this lasted until 1970 when Leeds City Council purchased their Beeston Royds property for a road improvement scheme, the works were demolished and the business was moved to the Rose Gainsborough works which had been reorganised and expanded in 1970. It was then that the name Job Day & Sons started to disappear and became slowly forgotten. In 1980 and 1981 Rose Forgrove obtained three large orders for over £15 million from Russia for tea packing machines, LC 150, these were developments of the original Job Day machine, 18 of which had been supplied to Russia by Job Day in 1907.

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18 What’s On

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Warm welcomes in Belle Isle and Holbeck by Jeremy Morton

taying warm this Winter may be a challenge for some with rising utility bills. So it’s good to know that the Belle Isle Welcome Centre at St John & St Barnabas Church is now providing a warm space Monday to Friday 9am-1pm. You’ll find a welcoming smile and free hot drinks, as well as, free phone charging, free wi-fi, games, books and good company. On Tuesdays £5 hot meal and pudding 12-2pm. Wednesdays you can get a

Circuit training

bacon sandwich for £2 The church has been keen to get more community activities into the space and has recently set up a charity to run the centre, separately from the church. On Thursdays and Fridays young people take over after school with sessions run by the Hunslet Rugby Foundation. The Thursday session, 4:306:30pm is targeted at 10-18 year olds who are offered a range of physical activities from dodgeball, table tennis and cricket, to boxercise and circuit training.

Mandy Nuttall provides hot food for Aidan and Simon On Fridays younger, school age, children are also welcome and the session is slightly earlier, from 4-6pm. Again, there is a lot of sport and games on offer as well as crafts and dancing. On both nights the young people are offered a hot meal for £1 and parents can eat for £1.50. As well as the health benefits it’s hoped the project, which has been funded to run for three years, will have an impact on anti-social behaviour in the area by offering a positive alternative.

St John & St Barnabas Church is on Belle Isle Road, just above the Circus, LS10 3DN. Four community partners across Holbeck and Beeston have joined together to provide welcoming and warm spaces over winter. You can join Holbeck Together at St Matthew’s community centre, on the corner of the moor, LS11 9NR every weekday between 1-3pm for a warm drink and some social activities, such as reading, or table top games. The project is supported by

Leeds Community Anchor Network. Other spaces opening up for free include: Joanna Project, 1 Sydenham Street, Holbeck, LS11 9RR Monday to Friday (9:30am4:30pm) The Gambia Welfare Society, Oak House, Balm Walk, Holbeck, LS11 9PG. Open to drop in every Friday afternoon and Saturday evenings. Kidz Klub at Beeston Hill United Free Church, Malvern Road, LS11 8PD. Drop in every Tuesday evening 4-7:30pm. St Luke’s CARES charity

shop 246 Dewsbury Road, LS11 6JQ also has a warm space on a Wednesday afternoon from 1-3pm, offering craft, drinks, biscuits and jumble sales as well as free school uniform. Leeds City Council’s Community Hubs & Libraries at Beeston Town Street, Dewsbury Road, Hunslet and St George’s Centre in Middleton all offer a warm space. You can find details of warm Welcome Spaces near you online at www.leeds.gov.uk/ campaign/welcome-spaces

St Matthew’s Community Centre in Holbeck

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What’s On 19

Creative Communities Art Workshops by Penny Lewis

ould you like to take part in fun, inclusive and relaxing art workshops? Swarthmore Education Centre’s project, Creative Communities, continues to deliver weekly art workshops in Hunslet, Holbeck, Middleton and Belle Isle. Over six weeks six different artists introduce participants to their art practice to explore the theme ‘Pride in Place.’ Workshops have included rag rugging to create compositions inspired by local landmarks in South Leeds, lino printing to create Blue Plaques celebrating local places and people and mask crafting to represent features of special people or areas. Guided by the artist you will be shown how to work with the materials, taught arts and crafts techniques and provided with the opportunity to experiment yourself. Those who have already taken part interpreted the theme in a variety of ways and enjoyed different aspects of the workshops, including

discovering their creative side, making new friends and doing something for their wellbeing. Participants have said: “I loved all the encouragement as I am not naturally artistic but felt that the different mediums were exciting and inspirational. Wonderful facilitating weekly guest artists.” “Having time away from the pressures of home life to do something I enjoy.” Everyone is welcome, whether you have practised any art before or not, as long as you live within the targeted areas of Belle Isle, Middleton, Holbeck or Hunslet and are over 18. All materials and a free lunch are provided. To register your interest in attending, or if you’d like to volunteer to support the project, visit our website and fill out your name and contact details www.swarthmore.org .uk/projects. You can also email us at creative. communities@swarthmore.org .uk or call Penny, Project Coordinator on 07438 666342.

Middleton Mondays 10am-2pm Dates: 19 & 26 February; 4, 11, 18 & 25 March Location: The Ark Family Centre, 80 Throstle Lane, Middleton, LS10 4EY

Hunslet Wednesdays 10am-2pm Dates: 21 & 28 February; 6, 13, 20, 27 March Location: Involve Learning Centre, 4 Whitfield Avenue, Hunslet, Leeds LS10 2QE

IN BRIEF Support with parenting skills Are you a parent who would like some help and support to understanding your child and their development; identify factors that influence behaviour and strategies to support it; and build a better relationship with your child? A new 10 week Strengthening Families, Strengthening Communities course is starting at the Clapgate Primary School in Belle Isle. The course will run on Wednesdays, 9:30am12:30pm, starting on 21 February. To register, or find out more please contact sophie.carroll@jesscluster.co.uk or call 07703 567487.

Leeds Apprenticeship Recruitment Fair The Leeds Apprenticeship Recruitment Fair returns to the first direct arena on Monday 5 February 2024, 1-7pm. With over 100 major employers from a wide range of sectors, including construction, catering and hospitality, care services, hair and beauty, accounting and much more; this is a chance to get information, advice, guidance and live vacancies. Book your free tickets at: bit.ly/49avwlN

The New Leeds Rock’n’Roll Club

Decorative masks

The Light House at the Gate Centre, Belle Isle R

ed Ladder Theatre present The Light House at BITMO’s Gate Centre in Belle Isle on Thursday 22 February at 7:30pm. Love is a complicated business. It gets even more complicated when the person you love doesn’t want to be alive. Tender, funny and defiantly hopeful, The Light House is a real-life story of falling in love and staying in love, even when the lights go out and you’re lost in the dark. It’s a love letter to life. Join the emergency response as we dance in the kitchen, sing in the streets and try to turn the lights back on. It gets lonely, muddling through these days and nights. So why don’t we do it together? Age guidance 13+ with trigger warnings for references to suicide & hospitalisation. Tickets cost £5 plus a booking fee from bit.ly/LightHousePlay The Gate Centre is at Aberfield Gate, off Belle Isle Road, LS10 3QH.

Two friends from South Leeds, Paolo Griffiths and Steve Hicky, who both love 1950s and 60s rock’n’roll music have teamed up for The ‘New’ Leeds Rock’n’Roll Club. Their first gig of 2024 will feature Jack and the Real Deals on Saturday 24 February. They aim to “bring together a rocking crowd from the whole of West Yorkshire and beyond.” Doors open 7pm, all welcome, 16+, £5 on the door. The Spinning Wheel is located on Admiral Street, Dewsbury Road, Beeston, LS11 5NG.

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20 What’s On

What’s On Your guide to events and activities across South Leeds in February Please check that regular events are not affected by school holidays, 12-16 February Full contact details can be found in our online What’s On guide at www.southleedslife.com/evens

Every Monday Community Play Group 9-11:30am Little Angels Playzone, The Sugar Mill, Beeston Money Buddies 9am-12pm Dewsbury Road Community Hub & Library Warm Space 9am-1pm Belle Isle Welcome Centre, St John & St Barnabas Church, LS10 3DN 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 Holbeck Together coffee shop 10am-12pm St Matthew’s Community Centre, Holbeck Creative Communities Workshop 10am-2pm The Ark Family Centre, 80 Throstle Lane, Middleton, LS10 4EY (from 19 February) 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 Monday Breakfast Club 10:30am-12pm Involve Centre, Whitfield Ave, Hunslet, LS10 2QE 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 Free Football sessions (8-18 yrs) 4-6pm Blenkinsop Field, Acre Road, Middleton, LS10 4JQ 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 Warm Space 9am-1pm Belle Isle Welcome Centre, St John & St Barnabas Church, LS10 3DN 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 Aasra Unpaid Carers Group 10:30am-12:30pm Hamara Centre, Tempest Road, LS11 6RD 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 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 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 Warm Space 9am-1pm Belle Isle Welcome Centre, St John & St Barnabas Church, LS10 3DN Open doors 9:30-11:30am 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

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10am-12pm Middleton Family Centre 256-262 Sissons Road 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 Involve Learning Centre, 4 Whitfield Avenue, Hunslet, LS10 2QE (from 21 February) 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 Warm Space 1-3pm St Luke’s CARES 246 Dewsbury Road, LS11 6JQ 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 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 Warm Space 9am-1pm Belle Isle Welcome Centre, St John & St Barnabas Church, LS10 3DN 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

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CV Writing 11am-12pm Hamara Centre, Tempest Road, Beeston Warm Space 11:30am-2pm Cottingley Community Centre 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 Youth Sports Club 4:30-6:30pm Welcome Centre, St John & St Barnabas Church, Belle Isle Road, LS10 3DN 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

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 Affordable Breakfast 9-10:30am Cranmore & Raylands Community Centre, Belle Isle Warm Space 9am-1pm Belle Isle Welcome Centre, St John & St Barnabas Church, LS10 3DN 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.

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February 2024 | South Leeds Life

What’s On 21 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 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 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 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

February Thursday 1 February MHA Coffee Morming 10am-12pm Whincup Gardens, Hunslet Carr, LS10 2HL Meet your PCSOs 10am-12pm Beeston Community Hub and Library, Town Street Hunslet Carr Residents Assoc 6:30pm Woodhouse Hill Community Centre, LS10 2EF Panto: Treasure Island 7pm St Andrew’s Community Centre, Cardinal Road, Beeston, LS11 8AG Book: 07988 349985 Beeston Community Forum 7:30-9pm Beeston Village Community Centre, Beeston Park Place, off Town Street Friday 2 February Legal Advice drop in 9:30-11am Middleton Elderly Aid Social Centre, Acre Road Panto: Treasure Island 7pm St Andrew’s Community Centre, Cardinal Road, Beeston, LS11 8AG Book: 07988 349985 Hunslet RLFC v Leeds Rhinos 7:30pm South Leeds Stadium, Middleton Grove, LS11 5DJ Saturday 3 February Hunslet Cemetery Volunteers 10am-1pm Middleton Road Coffee morning 10am-12pm Beeston Parish Centre, Town Street 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 Panto: Treasure Island 2pm & 7pm St Andrew’s Community Centre, Cardinal Road, Beeston, LS11 8AG Book: 07988 349985 Film Club 4:30pm St Luke’s Church, Malvern Road, LS11 8PD Monday 5 February 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 6 February Holbeck Together Music Quiz 1:30-3pm St Matthew’s Community Centre, LS11 9NR Lego Club 3:45-4:45pm St George’s Community Hub & Library, Middleton, LS10 4UZ Wednesday 7 February Trinity Network Local History 9:45-11:30am United Reformed Church, Nesfield Road, Belle Isle MHA Bereavement Group 1-2pm St Andrew’s Community Centre, Cardinal Road, Beeston, LS11 8AG Adventures in Reading (7-11 yrs) 3:45-4:45pm Hunslet Community Hub & Library, off Church Street Thursday 8 February Wellbeing Breakfast Morning 10-11am St Matthew’s Community Centre, LS11 9NR

Open evening 4-7pm UTC Leeds, Sayner Road, Hunslet, LS10 1LA Friday 9 February Meet your PCSOs 10am-12pm Cottingley Community Centre, LS11 0HJ Saturday 10 February Middleton Makers Market 10am-2pm Middleton Park Circus Community Cafe 10am-12pm United Reformed Church, Nesfield Road, Belle Isle Leeds Dads Soft Play 10am-12pm Little Angels, Beeston, LS11 7HL Book: leedsdads.org/events Sunday 11 February Sunday Breakfast 9am St Luke’s Church, Malvern Road, LS11 8PD South Leeds Community Kitchen free meal 4-5:45pm St Luke’s Church, Malvern Road, LS11 8PD Tuesday 13 February Wild Play 10am-4pm Skelton Grange Environment Centre, Stourton, LS10 1RS. Book: www.tcv.org.uk/skeltongrange Free Play Den Building 11am-1pm Middleton Park Visitor Centre, off Town Street Pancake Party 5pm St Luke’s Church, Malvern Road, LS11 8PD Wednesday 14 February MHA Kurling 10-11am St Andrew’s Community Centre, Cardinal Road, Beeston, LS11 8AG Trinity Network 'Valentines Tea Dance' 11am-3pm United Reformed Church, Nesfield Road, Belle Isle Free Play Sports & Games 12-2pm Middleton Park Visitor Centre, off Town Street MHA Singing Sensations 1:30-3pm St Andrew’s Community Centre, Cardinal Road, Beeston, LS11 8AG Hunslet Tenants & Residents Ass 6:30pm Church of the Nazarene, Lupton Street, LS10 2QR White Rose Speakers 7pm Jury’s Inn hotel, Brewery Wharf Thursday 15 February SEN-tastic 9:15-10:30am St Luke’s Church, Malvern Road, LS11 8PD Leeds Baby Bank 10am-12pm Dewsbury Road Community Hub & Library Saturday 17 February Coffee morning 10am-12pm Beeston Parish Centre, Town Street Repair Cafe 1-4pm BITMO’s Gate, Aberfield Gate, Belle Isle, LS10 3QH Sunday 18 February Guided Winter Walk 1-3pm Middleton Park Visitor Centre, off Town Street Hunslet RLFC v Batley Bulldogs 3pm South Leeds Stadium, Middleton Grove, LS11 5DJ

Tuesday 20 February Meet your PCSOs 10am-12pm Hunslet Community Hub and Library, off Church Street Wednesday 21 February Meet Your PCSOs 10am-12pm Dewsbury Road Community Hub & Library Leeds Irish Health Group 10am-12pm Beeston Parish Centre, Town Street Adventures in Reading (7-11 yrs) 3:45-4:45pm Hunslet Community Hub & Library, off Church Street Thursday 22 February Meet your PCSOs 10am-12pm Beeston Community Hub and Library, Town Street Play: The Light House 7:30pm BITMO’s Gate, Aberfield Gate, Belle Isle, LS10 3QH Friday 23 February Coffee Morning 10-11:30am Hunslet Community Hub & Library, off Church Street Meet your PCSOs 10:30am-12pm Holbeck Moor Road, ouside St Matthew’s Beeston & Holbeck Councillors’ Surgeries 4pm Beeston Community Hub & Library, Town Street, Beeston 5pm St Matthew’s Community Centre, Holbeck 6pm Cottingley Community Centre Saturday 24 February New Leeds Rock’n’Roll Club 7pm The Spinning Wheel, Admiral Street, Beeston, LS11 5NG Sunday 25 February Leeds Dads Soft Play 10am-12pm Little Angels, Beeston, LS11 7HL Book: leedsdads.org/events Old Chapel Music Studio Tours 11:30am & 2pm Czar Street, Holbeck Book: oldchapelleeds.org Holbeck Together Sunday Lunch 12-2pm St Matthew’s Community Centre, LS11 9NR Book (0113) 245 5553 Wednesday 28 February MHA Kurling 10-11am St Andrew’s Community Centre, Cardinal Road, Beeston, LS11 8AG Holbeck Cemetery Volunteers 10am-1pm Fairfax Avenue MHA Coffee Morming 10am-12pm Cardinal Court, Beeston, LS11 8HP Memory Cafe 1:30-3pm Middleton Elderly Aid Social Centre, Acre Rd, LS10 4JQ Thursday 29 February Hunslet Remembered 10-11:30am Hunslet Community Hub & Library, off Church Street Saturday 2 March Hunslet Cemetery Volunteers 10am-1pm Middleton Road Coffee morning 10am-12pm Beeston Parish Centre, Town Street 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

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South Leeds Life | February 2024

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22 What’s On Do you need to advertise a licence application for your business? We can help if the business is in LS10 or LS11 Legal notices cost £200 in South Leeds Life Make sure you time your application close to our publication dates Email: info@southleedslife.com Call: 07894 583966 Notice of Application for a Premises Licence made under Section 17 of the Licensing Act 2003 Take note that Cycle Pathway CIC has made an application to Leeds City Council for the grant of a new premises licence under S17 Licensing Act 2003 in respect of premises known as Leeds Urban Bike Park, Ring Road Beeston Park, Middleton, Leeds, LS10 3TN The application seeks to authorise the following licensable activities: Sale of alcohol by retail both on and off the premises: Monday to Sunday 09:00 to 23:00 Any person wishing to make any representation to the application should write to Entertainment Licensing, Leeds City Council, Civic Hall, Leeds, LS1 1UR specifying the grounds for making the representation by 20th February 2024. For full details and to view a copy of the application please contact Entertainment Licensing on 0113 378 5029 or email entertainment.licensing@leeds.gov.uk It is an offence knowingly or recklessly to make a false statement in connection with the application. The maximum fine is liable on summary conviction for this offence is an unlimited fine.

Licensing Act 2003 Notice is hereby given that I, ANTONY CHRISTODOULOU, have made an application under section 17 of part 3 of the Licensing Act 2003 for the grant of a premises licence for the premises known as: GMI Distribution, Unit 1, Orbital Industry Park, LS10 1AG I intend to conduct the following licensable activities on or from the premises: Fulfilment and shipping of Alcohol products for 3rd party customers

Girls in pole position at Discover Your Drive Day I

n February Half Term TeamSport Leeds, an indoor karting track on South Accommodation Road, will host a Discover Your Drive Day: a fun and engaging first experience of karting for girls aged 8-12 years. Discover Your Drive Karting UK is a national programme acting as a gateway to motorsport, making young girls more aware of the opportunities available and removing the barriers that often inhibit them from competing. It is supported by Formula 1 Academy, the allfemale racing series established by Formula 1, managed by ex-F1 driver Susie Wolff. Discover Your Drive Days will

Photo: F1 Academy Ltd be delivered by skilled TeamSport Chief Instructors, trained by Motorsport UK, the national governing body for motorsport in the UK. The day

and will be supported throughout the day by the Instructors and TeamSport staff. If any girls show potential talent after the initial Discover Your Drive Day, they will be invited to learn more about the Discover Your Drive Race Academy, a series of five progressive instructor-led sessions. Building on the foundations of the Discover Your Drive Day, these five coached sessions will equip the girls with the skill and techniques necessary to compete in a junior level of karting, which could be the first step on the ladder to a long career in motorsport and, who knows, a Formula 1 debut. • Early-bird Price of £30 until 3 February, £40 thereafter. • The days will run from 8:30am–2pm, with lunch and refreshments included. • Book onto the Discover Your Drive Day through the TeamSport website: www.team-sport.co.uk/dyd

Classic confectionary and rogue traders on show at exhibition I

f you’ve always been intrigued by the painted advertising sign in Hunslet Carr, a new exhibition exploring the evolution of advertising and the suspect sales tactics employed by crafty companies through history may be of interest to you. The Power of Persuasion will cast a critical eye over the spurious claims made by firms of the past, which occasionally landed them in hot water and helped set the strict standards for advertising today. The exhibition, which will open at Abbey House Museum later this month, will also look at iconic brands from Leeds and beyond which have stood the test of time and cemented their place in history. Among the stories which feature in the exhibition are the fraudulent claims made by Leeds firm CE Fulford Ltd, whose appetisingly named Bile

Beans were on sale in the early 1900s. Supposedly capable of helping with all manner of minor ailments, the beans, which acted as a laxative, purportedly owed their amazing curative properties to a mysterious secret ingredient discovered by a fictional explorer in the heart of Australia. But when the company was taken to court for fraud in 1904, not only were the miraculous medicinal properties of Bile Beans found to be false, but the company was also forced to admit their “secret ingredient” was in fact nothing more than humble, locally grown rhubarb and liquorice. Another local exhibit will be a set of shop scales, once used to measure out different varieties of sweets at Dawes and Sons on Hunslet Road, Leeds in around 1900.

Licence subject to the following terms: Business to Business, non-sale on site, non-consumption on site, no public access Responsible authorities or any other person may make written representations to Leeds City Council about this application until 14th of February 2024 which should be sent to entertainment.licensing@leeds.gov.uk For full details and to view a copy of the application please contact Entertainment Licensing on 0113 378 5029 or email entertainment.licensing@leeds.gov.uk It is an offence to knowingly or recklessly make a false statement in connection with an application and the maximum fine for which a person is liable on conviction for this offence is an unlimited fine.

aims to leave girls feeling confident in a kart and wanting to continue. Girls need no previous experience of karting or motorsport to participate

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Recreating an old fashioned sweet shop

The renovated street advert in Hunslet Carr Curators and volunteers have been hard at work recreating a vintage sweet shop for the exhibition, showcasing shelves of vintage Yorkshire sweet jars, chocolates and toffee tins enjoyed by children and adults over the past 120 years. As well as sweets and confectionery The Power of Persuasion also features other objects which look back at hundreds of years of tried and trusted brands from across Yorkshire and beyond. Examples include vintage signs which once adorned the streets of Leeds such as a giant pair of spectacles which once hung outside the famous Dyons jewellers and which were rescued from a skip when the shop was renovated. Also on display is an eyecatching golden Tetley’s brewery sign and a huge wooden arm and hammer

which once advertised a Victorian gold beater’s shop in Leeds. he Power of Persuasion is open now at Abbey House Museum in Kirkstall. Kitty Ross, Leeds Museums and Galleries’ curator of social history, said: “The tactics companies have used to try and persuade costumers to part with their money have varied dramatically over the years in line with consumer trends, economics and the way in which advertising itself has been regulated. “What’s been a consistent, common thread has been the desire to convince customers that your product is the best and most dependable, and it’s the products which have achieved that which have developed that all important brand identity that’s withstood the test of time.”

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Sporting Life 23

Get Set gears up for 2024 by Karen Peck

et Set Leeds Local (GSLL) is a Sport England funded project led by Active Leeds (part of Leeds City Council), working alongside residents and partners across Hunslet and Riverside and Beeston and Holbeck, exploring how collaboratively we can break down barriers and enable more people to move more. Over the next 2 years we move into another phase of the project, continuing to build on the great ideas that local residents have for their communities. If you have an idea for something that may help you, your family, your school or street be more active

opportunities of connected working across areas. We’ll also be joined by Voluntary Action Leeds which are a great resource we have in Leeds for supporting new groups. Along with all of this there will be hot food/sandwiches and refreshments. Children are welcome. Get to Know Community Cycling Wednesday 21 February 9:30am-12:30pm. Register: bit.ly/GSLLcycling We know many children and adults within our communities have an interest on getting on a bike, either for health, fitness, to learn a new skill, for active travel, a desire to go out with their children etc. This event is relevant for anyone working South Leeds, who may want to develop their own cycle offer for children, adults or families, or know how to better signpost into what

Cycling lessons in Cross Flatts Park then get in touch. We have various bits of funding and support to try and enable some of those ideas to develop. Give us a follow on social media or contact me via karen.peck@leeds.gov.uk. We have a number of events/workshops coming up, all of which are open for anyone working or living within our Get Set Leeds Local communities. GSLL Community Connecting Event Wednesday 7 February 46pm. Register: bit.ly/ GSLLconnector As we move into the next phase of Get Set Leeds Local, we are inviting you to join us in connecting with others living and working in Holbeck and Beeston, Killingbeck and Seacroft, Hunslet and Riverside (inc Beeston Hill), Armley (inc. New Wortley), Gipton and Harehills. The event will celebrate the incredible work happening around physical activity in these areas, sharing journeys and learning from a range of projects. There will also be an opportunity to network, help shape our new toolkit resource, meet others to create further

February 2024 | South Leeds Life

exists already. We’ll be sharing information from partners including current offers, delivery, training/ upskilling opportunities and funding. We’ll have a workshop session on barriers, opportunities, solutions etc for cycling in communities. The session will finish with a chance to network, and meet some of the partners / providers through a marketplace session, with a chance to get on a bike/adapted bike for those that wish. Let’s Move: South Leeds Save the date: Event at Cross Flatts Park Saturday 11 May 12–3pm After a great first event last year, Let’s Move: South Leeds will return again in 2024 at Cross Flatts Park. In its first year, we aimed for representatives from a number of local providers to come together in a festival of fun, movement and community by sharing their sport/activity or group by providing a taster activity, a demonstration, mini challenge or a stall. Last year we had over 20 providers come together, a number we’d like to build upon for 2024.

If you’re part of an “active” group, whether that’s dance or martial arts, volleyball or archery, walking or climbing, we’d love for them to be part of this event. It’s a great chance for organisations to network, as well as showcasing and celebrating the breadth of what’s on offer in South Leeds to local residents. We want to help connect people to things already taking place across the area. We also want to raise the profile on the many different ways people can be active. • Please let me know if your group/club could be involved delivering an activity, demo, taster, stall or supporting in another way. • Share the information with others who may want to be involved (sports clubs, organisations, dance groups, martial arts groups etc) • Can your business donate a prize? • Would you like to volunteer or be part of the planning team? Get in touch with karen.peck@leeds.gov.uk for information or to be a part of it. Colour Family Fun Run/Walk Save the date: a new event being organised currently by our Run Leeds Activator: Date: Sunday 10 March Time: 10.30 start Venue: John Charles Centre for Sport Distance: 2 miles Contact: victoria.cusack @leeds.gov.uk or message on 07891 279778 Sign-up: bit.ly/GSLLcolour The event is aimed at families, women and girls, but not exclusively so. It would be great to see mums grandparents, sisters, aunties walking, or jogging the course together with children. The route is accessible by pram (but not a double buggy as there are a couple of bike

blocks to navigate as you enter Middleton Woods), but marshals will be there at those points to help. Participants will need to be aware that sunglasses/swim goggles are required for the colour stations, and to wear a light coloured old T-Shirt. Any children under the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult. If anyone would like to get involved as a volunteer/route marshal etc then get in touch. Lastly for this month a reminder of some ongoing weekly activities: Free Adult Learn to Ride Delivered weekly by Cycle North at Cross Flatts Park. Register: bit.ly/CycleNorth Do you have learning a new skill, or trying something not tried since childhood as a new years resolution? Learning to ride a bike or bike confidence sessions are free each week at Cross Flatts Park. There are sessions where you can learn to ride from scratch, get your confidence up in safe flat areas away from traffic, and then progress to public roads. Bikes and helmets for sessions all provided free via Active Leeds. If you’re after a tailored session for a group, then get in touch with karen.peck @leeds.gov.uk. Brickfield ParkPlay Every Saturday 10.30am – everyone welcome Whatever the weather each Saturday, ParkPlay continues weekly throughout winter at Brickfield Park (Lady Pit Lane, next to St Francis of Assisi) delivered by Aidan. A fun multi-activity session ideal for all the family, whatever your age. It’s a great way of getting the kids out on a Saturday to run off steam. Register via parkplay.com/parks/brickfield or pop along and chat to Aidan. Different games played each week.

Winter Junior Cricket Training H

unslet Nelson Cricket Club have recommenced their winter cricket training at Cockburn School (Gipsy Lane, Beeston, LS11 5TT) and they are on the look out for new players of all ages. Hunslet Nelson run group coaching sessions from U9s through to U18s led by experienced DBS checked ECB coaches. Sessions are fun allowing children to develop cricket and general coordination skills and are open to all abilities. All equipment is provided, with the first three sessions free (thereafter £4/session). Sessions are held at the

following times:• Under 9s (school year 2 to 4) Fridays 6pm - 7pm • Under 11s (school year 5 & 6) Fridays 7pm - 8pm • Under 13s (school year 7 & 8) Mondays 6pm - 7pm • Under 15s (school year 9 & 10) Mondays 7pm - 8pm • Under 18s (school year 11 to 13) Mondays 7pm - 8pm If you would like to bring your child along, please book via the club website at: www. hunsletnelson.playcricket.com For further information contact hunsletnelsoncc @gmail.com.

Indoor training at Cockburn School

Hunslet show promise in tough preseason matches Continued from page 24 questioning the decision. 6-30 Then on the hooter quick passing to the left sent Greg Minikin over for his second of the day. 6-34 at the break. The second half started off with both teams having chances, but soon settled into a stalemate. Matty Beharrell’s clever kick and chase opened up Featherstone for Jude Ferreira, but the move broke down and when Michael Knowles was sin-binned. The man advantage proved a hard ask yet again for Hunslet. Worse still on 60 minutes Josh Jordan-Roberts had to leave the field with a shoulder injury and although the game became scrappy Featherstone were next to score on 64 minutes when Jack Arnold reached over after Hunslet knocked on. Lacans adding the extras. 6-40 Hunslet hit back on 67 minutes when Beharrell and Orr combined to send Alfie Goddard over, Beharrell converting for 12-40. But it was to be Hunslet’s last stand as the Championship side started to hit the higher gears. Caleb Aekins squeezed in the

left corner before Gareth Gale registered his second try knocking off tired Hunslet defenders. Dean Roberts went over under the posts and Gale completed a hat trick after some good passing. Thomas Lacans adding these extras. 12-62 An injury to a supporter had held the game up and although Beharrell put a good kick in for Jack Render, Hunslet never got going again. In the end the score was a blow out and Coach Dean Muir thought sloppy play had gifted Featherstone points. But he did concede the visitors were a top side and was pleased that for long periods Hunslet matched them. “Hunslet want to do well in the 1895 cup and Harry Jepson Trophy but our main focus this year is the League when that starts in March” said Muir. The Sponsors (Barnsley Supporters Club) Man of the Match went to Iwan Orr, whilst the Phoenix Bar Supporters Man of the Match went to Matty Beharrell. There were also stand out performances from Ethan O’Hanlon and Jude Ferreira.

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South Leeds Life | February 2024

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24 Sporting Life

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Hunslet show promise in tough preseason matches by Ian Pickles

unslet RLFC’s first two preseason matches have been against tough Championship sides, Barrow and Featherstone. Hunslet RLFC took on Barrow Raiders as Storm Isha hit Craven Park on the Cumbrian coast on Sunday 21 January. In atrocious conditions, the Parksiders narrowly lost 16-6, holding Barrow to a six point margin until the 75th minute. For a first hit out against a team from a higher league playing their third game, this was not a bad result. Hunslet had the benefit of a strong, blustery wind in the first half and played most of the first twenty minutes in Barrow’s half. But they were unable to break through Barrow’s stubborn defence. It was the home team that opened the scoring when Greenwood latched onto a grubber kick to score, Shaw converted to give Barrow a 6-0 lead after 31 minutes. The Parksiders struck back five minutes later. Quick feet from Beharrell allowed him to break the line before moving the ball to the left for new signing Jude Ferrera to score. Beharrell kicked the extras and the teams went in all square 66 at the break. The Raiders got back on the board on 48 minutes following a penalty when Burke crashed over under the sticks. Shaw converted for a 12-6 lead. Costello scored the final try on 75 minutes, capitalising on a Hunslet errors, but Shaw

Alfie Goddard scores against Featherstone. Photo: Paul Butterfield couldn’t convert. And that’s how it finished, 16-6. A week later the Parksiders entertained Featherstone Rovers in the AB Sundecks 1895 Cup. The Colliers have been consistently at the top of the Championship over the last few seasons and are one of the

best sides outside of Super League, whilst the Parksiders were only on their second hit out of the year. The visitors took the lead on only the 6th minute after Gareth Gale proved too strong for defenders, and doubled it on the 11th minute when former Leigh Leopards man

Ben Reynolds dummied his way over after Jude Ferreira had been unlucky going for an interception for the home side. Reynolds’ conversions making it 0-12. Hunslet did settle into the game though and winger Jack Render scored a classic try in the corner after good work by

Matty Beharrell and Iwan Orr. 6-12 The Parksiders came close again, but the ball was spilled after a busting Toby Everett drive. Featherstone are a top side and after Hunslet spilled a kick Connor Jones punished them on the 26th minute, then 3

minutes later a Wacokecoke break on the right was shipped quickly to the left for Minikin to go over. 6-24 Early season legs saw Hunslet fall off tackles and Connor Jones pushed on to score a fine solo try. Jack Render was sin-binned for Continued on page 23

Cross Flatts FC remembered by John Adamson

Cross Flatts FC in the 1970s

t was refreshing to read about the new Cross Flatts football team being formed at the Hamara Centre (January 2024) to, hopefully, start playing in a league next year. Our community, in Cross Flatts, have been starved of a team representing our village for years now, the last team to play, also named Cross Flatts FC, was in the early/mid 1970’s, formed at the Cross Flatts Recreation Club, on Theodore Street, whose home ground was Cross Flatts Park, and attracted good crowds, (well, until the club

opened). The team eventually disbanded, and Cross Flatts was no more, so having the name registered once more will, hopefully, bring people back out to watch. It would also be nice to have the team playing in Cross Flatts Park if possible to rekindle old passions. The last team that played for the club is pictured. L-R Back row: John Adamson, Bryan Slater, Trevor Perry, Chris Perry, John Stevenson, Danny Connolly, David Brooke, Raymond Adamson; bottom L-R Melvyn Petch, Alan Shiel and Alan Kennedy.