South leeds life 10 sept 15

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Issue 10 | September 2015

What’s happening in Beeston, Belle Isle, Cottingley, Holbeck, Hunslet, Middleton & Stourton

Knife-edge

In this issue:

Future for Braime’s site

page 2

Overlapping issues in the Garnets

page 6-7

Summertime fun

page 6-7

Councillors visit the Ice Pak site with Planning Officers. Photo: Jeremy Morton

Beeston awaits controversial planning decision

by Jeremy Morton Residents in Beeston are still awaiting a decision on the controversial Aspiring Communities plans for the Ice Pak site on Barkly Road.

The Council’s South & West Plans Panel was due to consider the application at its 6 August meeting, but officers took it off the agenda just 24 hours before the meeting.

It is now understood that the plans, which involve converting the former factory into a sports hall with community and prayer rooms, will be considered at the Panel’s next meeting

on 17 September.

Explaining the delay, the Council posted the following statement on its website: “Following further internal discussion regarding representations from the applicants a decision has been taken by officers to withdraw the application from this Panel, as prior to consideration of the application by Panel further clarification is required on certain issues.The intention is to report the application to a later Panel, the earliest being 17 September.”

A site visit by panel members went ahead in August as planned and councillors heard that officers have no concerns about the look of the building;

they felt the project would benefit the community; and the closure of the rear entrance would benefit residents compared to its previous use by Ice Pak. However officers still had concerns about the works involved in creating the underground parking area and traffic issues on surrounding streets.

Commenting on Facebook, Sean Sturman from the Save Our Beeston group said: “We have requested that the panel hold another site meeting at a more realistic time of day showing the true congestion in the area and that this site meeting must be fully open to the public in terms of access to the

planners and the information which comes from the meeting. We at Save Our Beeston are very confident that this application will be refused even though Aspiring Communities are spending thousands on the application ... we will not back down on this development and will fight it all the way!”

Naz Marouf from Aspiring Communities said: “We are disappointed there has been yet another delay to the decision on our project, but we will continue to work with Planning officers and hope that they will be able to recommend approval when it finally comes to Panel.”

Get the latest news at www.southleedslife.com - new stories posted daily

Adam’s Olympic adventure

page 12

NEWS

FEEDBACK

PHOTOS

WHAT’S!ON

HISTORY SPORT!

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South Leeds Life | September 2015

2 News

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

The blog and newspaper are produced by the South Leeds Life Group, a constituted community group with elected officers.

Our aims are: 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 started as a blog in November 2010 and still posts news every day at: www.southleedslife.com

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The Assisted Dying Bill

by Hilary Benn MP I have had lots of emails and letters about the Assisted Dying Bill which will be debated in the House of Commons in September, and I am very aware of the sincere and strongly-held feelings on both sides of this difficult issue.

For a long time I have felt very torn about this. On the one hand, I am resolutely opposed to anything that might lead elderly or disabled people to be pressured by their families or others to bring their lives to an end; that would be wholly wrong. On the other, there are a number of cases in which people with terminal illnesses, often very distressing, want to be able to choose the moment of their leaving of this world. Reflecting on my own experience of members of my family who have been terminally ill, in truth I would have found it very difficult to know what to say to them if they had made such a request.

Sadly, as we know, a number of terminally ill people do take their own lives every year. Morphine, given for wholly compassionate reasons to ease suffering, can have the side effect, in some cases, of

hastening death.Treatment is ended where it can no longer make a fundamental difference to the outcome, even though it may shorten life. And currently people from the UK can travel to the Dignitas clinic in Switzerland to end their lives there. It is obviously a matter of their own free choice, but the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has looked at this issue and decided that it would not be in the public interest to prosecute relatives who help this to happen. I agree with this because I think it would be wholly wrong to take loving relatives to court in these circumstances, but it is no substitute for Parliament considering the law and reaching a view.

The Bill we will be considering proposes that a terminally ill adult who is of sound mind should have the choice, with strong safeguards and the alternative of good palliative care, to self-administer medicine to end their own life. The Bill would only cover someone aged 18 or over who was “terminally ill”; ie whose life expectancy was less than 6 months.

It would not apply to people with disabilities or people who are depressed or who suffer from dementia who are not terminally ill.

The person would have to be of sound mind and voluntarily (ie with no coercion) sign a declaration that they wish to end their own life. Two doctors and a High Court judge would then have to be satisfied about the requesting patient’s eligibility, and that he or she had made a fully informed decision, before assisted dying would be allowed. The patient would have to take the medicine themselves; no-one else – eg the doctor, Hilary Benn MP spouse or other family member - would be allowed to give hard about this, my intention is to it to them. For me, this is really vote for the Bill so that it can be important as there is no question scrutinised in detail. There is no of someone else administering the easy answer here either way. I drug. And there would be no deeply respect those who for requirement on any doctor to take reasons of religious or other part; ie religious belief and conviction are resolutely opposed conscientious objection would be to such a step, but equally I deeply respect the strongly held view of fully protected.

I realise, of course, that describing those who are facing the prospect the process in this way may appear of their own death to want to be shocking, but if the law is going to able to determine the timing and permit this then there must to be the manner of it, surrounded by those who love them and whom full and proper safeguards.

Having thought very long and they love.

South Bank: New college set to move into Hunslet’s historic Braime factory

by Jeremy Morton

The transformation of the South Bank area – the former industrial parts of Holbeck and Hunslet – is taking shape with more schemes coming forward.

A new University Technical College is set to move into part of the Braime engineering site on Hunslet Road. The college, which is backed by the University of Leeds and manufacturers including Kodak and Siemens, is currently seeking Listed Buildings Consent to convert part of the Braime building adjacent to Sayner Road. The remainder of the building will continue to be used by Braime as a warehouse and distribution centre.

UTC Leeds, as it will be known, plans to open in September 2016 taking 105 Year 10 and 120 Year 12 students.The college will eventually cater for 600 14-19 year olds students and will specialise in advanced manufacturing and engineering, providing a mix of vocational and academic courses.

It joins a cluster of educational establishments in the area with Leeds City College Printworks Campus and Leeds College of Building facing each other across Hunslet Road. They are soon to be joined by the Ruth Gorse Academy which will be built on the former Yorkshire Chemicals site on Black Bull Street and is also due to open

Braime’s listed factory in Hunslet.

Photo: Jeremy Morton

in September 2016.

As previously reported on South Leeds Life, the iconic Tower Works site in Holbeck is soon to be transformed into apartments, shops and offices. Last month seven sites in the area, referred to as the ‘Holbeck Portfolio’ were bought by developers the Commercial Estates Group (CEG) for £9.6m from RBS. CEG, the developers behind the Kirkstall Forge site,

promise to bring forward plans for these sites in the coming months.

Elsewhere, CITU who developed the Greenhouse in Beeston, have plans for a ecovillage of 300 houses on the north bank of the river at Low Fold, close to the Hunslet flyover.

They have been asked to fund a footbridge over the river to improve pedestrian and cycle routes through the South Bank area.

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South Leeds Life | September 2015

News 3

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Revamped community centre reopens

Councillor Debra Coupar joins local residents Dennis Howson, June Kirby, Brenda Riding and coffee morning organiser Christine Davies (standing)

Ingram Gardens community centre has undergone a major transformation ahead of nearby properties in Holbeck being refurbished as part of the council’s housing regeneration project.

The council’s partner sc4L and Keepmoat overhauled the centre inside and out, and local residents were able to enjoy their regular coffee morning in new surroundings for the first time last month after an official opening.

Work completed on the centre includes re-roofing, new central heating, kitchen,

laundry, disabled toilet, entry and security system, new windows and doors, insulation, floor coverings and lights as well as repointed brickwork and re-wiring and complete redecoration.

Outside, the building has new boundary walls, paths and landscaping.

Local resident Christine Davies said: “The makeover at the community centre is marvellous. It’s always been a popular place but now people will really be able to relax and enjoy their cuppa, meeting or event in much more luxurious surroundings.”

Digital help in Holbeck

End of the road for planned gypsy site

The sessions will also incorporate the Holbeck Work Club, which offers access to computers for job seeking, help writing CV’s and job applications plus beginners sessions on I.T. all of which is free of charge.

DASH has been funded by the Big Lottery Fund and will run for 12 months initially.

The group has now a team of professional tutors / trainers experienced in all things technical, plus a group of volunteers who can provide a service to anyone who needs support, guidance or training.

DASH runs every Tuesday morning from 10am to 12 noon at Holbeck Youth & Community Centre, 90A Elland Road, LS11 0AB For more information please ring 07754 391498; email: dash@gtt.org.uk or the website: www.gtt.org.uk.

A long-standing planning battle over a proposed Gypsy/Traveller encampment in Hunslet Carr looks to have come to a close, with a government Planning Inspector upholding the Council’s original decision to refuse permission for the site.

As previously reported here in South Leeds Life, Mr Michael Maloney – an established member of the Leeds Gypsy community – was looking to create an encampment for himself and his family on a 150m² space that he owns, on a former allotment site just off Woodhouse Hill near Hunslet Carr Primary School.

His original application was submitted in November 2012, but rejected – after long delays – by the Council’s planning panel in September 2014.With the support of local charity Leeds Gypsy and Traveller Exchange (GATE), Mr Maloney lodged an appeal against the decision – which led to a day-long appeal hearing last month, June 2015.

But the independent Planning Inspector (appointed by central government) Bern Hellier has now issued his official report, which supports the Council’s decision to refuse planning permission – although only by a whisker. In the report, he gives ‘little weight’ to several of the Council’s reasons for refusal, such as the effect of the planned site on the local provision of green space; and likewise, he questions the significance of issues such as increased traffic, and the impact upon other local residents.

Ultimately though, the report supports the argument that noise for the residents would be considerably above legally acceptable levels, as the site is immediately next to the M621. And it also argues that

DASH – Digital AccesS in Holbeck – is a new service to help people get online in the neighbourhood.

DASH provides access to on-line services, help and assistance with computers, tablets, smartphones every Tuesday morning at the Holbeck Youth & Community Centre.

News in brief Julie and Wayne on Radio Leeds Wayne Levitt and Julie Holmes from Belle Isle went into Radio Leeds to talk to Nick Ahad about family histories.

They discussed the Ancestry Group at BITMO’s GATE and how Wayne discovered he was related to a war hero.

You can hear the interview online at: http://www.southleedslife.co m/julie-wayne-discuss-familyhistories-on-radio-leeds/

200,000 visit Skelton Grange

by Ed Carlisle

Planning Inspector visited the site

whilst the need for Gypsy and Traveller residential sites in Leeds (and for Mr Maloney and his family in particular) is partly unmet, it isn’t so chronic as to require the overturning of the planning refusal.

Kenny Saunders – chair of Hunslet Carr Residents Association, who have opposed the planning proposal – told South Leeds Life: “We’re delighted with the result. We – the residents association, and local community – have come together and worked very hard to save this green space, which was always an unsatisfactory location for a travellers site. We’ve waited a long time for this decision – but I do think it’s a fair one. I’d like to thank everyone that has supported us during this time, and encourage people to stay in touch and help us develop all the positive projects we have planned for the local area.”

But Helen Jones, CEO of Leeds GATE, commented: “Mr Maloney and colleagues at Leeds Gypsy and Traveller Exchange are naturally very disappointed. Mr Maloney has done everything he possibly can to provide a suitable home for his family, ‘by the book’, throughout this long and arduous planning process.The refusal seems arbitrary and is

incredibly disheartening to any Leeds Gypsy or Traveller families seeking to provide a home for themselves. We are landing up in the situation where families perfectly capable of providing for themselves are forced to occupy sociallyrented pitches.”

The Conservation Volunteers at Skelton Grange Environment Centre are celebrating the news that they have seen over 200,000 walk through the doors of the much loved eco centre and wildlife haven in South Leeds.

The Skelton Grange project is also designed to be sustainable and stretch far on into the future, encouraging wildlife and increasing species diversity for the benefit of everyone.

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South Leeds Life | September 2015

4 News

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Meet the Middleton First Responders

by Ellie Taylor

The Community First Responders (CFR) scheme is a life-saving partnership between the Yorkshire Ambulance Service and authorised volunteers.

The scheme called Middleton CFRs consists of five volunteers; they cover Middleton and neighbouring communities including Beeston, Holbeck, Belle Isle, Cottingley,Tingley, East Ardsley and Thorpe on the Hill.

Community First Responder, Marc North says; “We’re the public at large, we have day jobs, and we volunteer our time to the slots that we see fit.”

The idea behind the scheme is that due to them being in close proximity, Community First Responders will be able to get to an incident within a few minutes. Community First

Responder, and Scheme Coordinator, Laura Johns says: “When people are really poorly like a cardiac arrest

to: Cardiac Arrests, Heart Attacks, chest pain, Strokes, fitting/convulsions, unconscious patients, difficulty breathing,

Trinity gets a Mitie refurb Users, contractors and guests enjoy a celebratory buffet lunch at Trinity Nework. Photo: Jeremy Morton

First Responders Marc North & Laura Johns

every second counts, so if we can get there in two minutes and start CPR then it’s a big boost for the patient and it could be the difference between a good result and a not so good result.”

They are trained by the Community Resilience Team at the Yorkshire Ambulance Service to be able to respond

diabetic incidents and anaphylaxis.

To find out more about Community First Responders contact the Resilience Team on 0845 120 3155 or email: responders@yas.nhs.uk or visit the Yorkshire Ambulance Service website at: www.communityresponders.ya s.nhs.uk/

New Nursery opening 21st September * Brand new building * Places for 3 year olds * Mornings or afternoons * Beeston Road LS11 6AA

Older people in Beeston can look forward to more activities at Trinity Network’s Dewsbury Road centre thanks to a refurbishment by Mitie.

The hall at the back of the United Reform Church was looking a bit down at heel before Mitie stepped in to redecorate, replace carpets and update the kitchen. The offer of help came through Trinity Network’s links with The South Leeds Academy whose building is maintained by Mitie. Students from the Academy have been helping with activities at the centre for the last four years and have plans to produce a newsletter for the project.

Mitie brought in staff from different parts of

100 year old Joe Morton

Call 0113 385 7910 for more details or email: laneendprimary@gmail.com

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the group as well as contractors including MG Builders, Aire Valley and Chartwell. Workers were kept fed and watered through the work by Trinity Network staff. In total the work undertaken was worth £12,000, but they promised this was just phase one.

Amongst those enjoying the re-opening launch was 100 year old Joe Morton. Joe left the farm he was born on and worked at Union Mills and Siddall’s Blinds and Shutters during his working life. He still has a good appetite and enjoys the lunches and bingo sessions.

Trinity Network is open Monday to Friday with a two course hot meal served every day. A new indoor bowls carpet is just one activity on offer to active older people in Beeston.You can join in with exercise groups, crafts, bingo, dominos, quizzes, day trips and outings.

Rev Tony Lee, Chair of Trinity Network said: “We’ve spent years agonising over how we could upgrade the building for users and staff, so we are extremely grateful to The South Leeds Academy and to Mitie for coming together and supporting us.

“This refurbishment is part of a wider attempt to re-energise things here and offer more activities and support to people in the area.”

Trinity Network is based at the United Reform Church on Dewsbury Road near the Fire Station (entrance on Oakley View). For more information call Sylvia, Julie or Trevor on (0113) 270 7458.

Community Committee to discuss young people

The Inner South Community Committee will be holding a workshop for residents to come together and discuss things for young people to do and how do we better engage with them.

As well as the workshop and formal committee meeting there will be taster sessions

where you can try out activities currently on offer in the area. The meeting takes place on Wednesday 9 September at Middleton Leisure Centre. * 3:30-5pm Activity taster sessions * 5:30-7pm Discussion workshops

* 7-8pm Committee meeting Refreshments will be served from 5pm.

The Inner South Community Committee is made up of the nine Ward Councillors for Beeston & Holbeck, City & Hunslet and Middleton Park wards.

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South Leeds Life | September 2015

News 5

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News in brief Alzheimer’s benefit at Corinthians

Rev Lindsey Pearson and her team serving match day burgers

Burgers replace loaves and fishes at St Mary’s

According to the bible Jesus fed the 5,000 with loaves and fishes and today parishioners at St Mary’s in Beeston are offering burgers to football crowds.

The start of the football season has seen a return of the St Mary’s Match Day Burger stand at the corner of Town Street and Wesley Street. Leeds United fans making their way down to Elland Road can buy burgers, children’s hot dogs or bacon butties prepared by members of the congregation at St Mary’s church.

Vicar Lindsey Pearson explained: “It’s a way for the church to connect

with the wider community. It’s not a fund raising venture so our burgers are very reasonably priced and we are supporting local business. For example all the meat comes from our local butcher Mark McDonnell.”

Fans certainly seem to appreciate the effort, there was a steady queue of customers ahead of the Sheffield Wednesday clash, many of them regular customers.

“It’s a brilliant idea” one fan told us as he headed down to the ground.

The church plan to run the stall ahead of every Saturday home game this season.

Could you be a school governor?

Are you interested in supporting and improving children's education in South Leeds? If so, why not consider becoming a school governor?

School governors come from all sectors of society, ethnic backgrounds and ages and are the largest and most important volunteer force in education. You don't need to be a parent or have any formal qualifications to become a governor, but you do need a willingness to listen and to contribute to a team, have time to commit to a local school and the desire to improve education in the community.

Being a governor is a fantastic opportunity to give something back to the local community as well as learning new skills. Meetings are usually in the early evening, last a

couple of hours and take place roughly twice a term. Free training is provided for governors.

Hilary Benn, MP for Leeds Central said "Volunteering to be a school governor is really important and worthwhile.

Our children deserve the best start in life and you can help them by getting involved in your local school. " Governing Bodies play a crucial part in raising school standards in three key capacities: setting strategic direction, monitoring school performance and ensuring the school’s finances are appropriately accounted for.

Governors offer a fresh pair of eyes, as well as professional knowledge and skills.

To find out more visit www.becomeagovernor.com or ring 020 7354 9805.

Claire Brownsword from Middleton raised over £600 at a charity fundraiser at Leeds Corinthians RUFC in honour of her Granddad Michael Ward who is in the final stages of Alzheimer’s Disease.

Young parents stay safe

A new group has been set up for young parents in South Leeds.

Called ‘Young Parents Staying Safe Together’, the sessions will look at topics such as positive play, first aid and baby massage.

For more information call Michelle Bronson on 07738 212 044.

South Leeds Life | September 2015

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South Leeds Life | September 2015

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South Leeds Life | September 2015

South Leeds Life | September 2015

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8 Opinion

In our view

Corporate Social Responsibility

CSR is the jargon for businesses putting something back into the community. It’s good to see teams of volunteers helping out groups like the Friends of Stank Hall Barn and firms like Mitie turning their skills to help an ailing church hall.

More sites needed

We are not at all sure that the site at Sandon Mount in Hunslet Carr was right, but it’s clear we need more small sites for Gypsies and Travellers to stop at. At some point a local authority has to take a risk and be the first to provide more sites. As gypsies and travellers have always visited South Leeds, maybe we should take that leap?

Having a gander at the Garnets

We gave over our centre pages to Toby and Andrewinstalled in the Garnets in Beeston by East Street Arts. It’s interesting to see the the area through a fresh pair (quartet?) of eyes.

They have done the community a great service by illustrating the various issues that face the area and the proposed new housing. If you’re a local please support them by continuing the conversation at their upcoming meetings.

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Your letters and comments

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Opportunity of a lifetime

In July 2013, The Beeston Community Forum voted overwhelmingly to work towards writing a neighbourhood plan.

Since then progress has been made. A steering group has successfully applied for designation (recognition) of the area and the Beeston Neighbourhood Forum. The designated area has a population of 16,000 residents and 6,500 dwellings plus around 200 businesses.

Beeston Neighbourhood Forum has talked with the Council on how it can work with the community to develop policies and projects that have been identified. A planning consultant has been appointed by BNF to help it progress.Task group leaders have been appointed. The numbers who have joined task groups have been disappointing. Housing and environment groups have sufficient numbers to make a start but the other five groups need more members.These groups are: - community - heritage - retail/business - opportunities for young people - integration and community cohesion Members are asked to attend a few meetings to give their views and the leaders will make recommendations to the Committee based on the discussions.

From these collective discussions, a Beeston Plan will be put together.

Through the neighbourhood planning process, thousands of citizens up and down the country are being given the opportunity to be the authors of change in their communities for the next 10 to 15 years. That is what is on offer here in

Beeston Neighbourhood Forum’s study visit to Wolverhampton

Beeston. I urge more to get involved to build the Beeston Community we are proud of. This is ‘the opportunity of a lifetime’. Failure to seize the opportunity could ultimately condemn Beeston to a spiral of decline.

If you are interested in joining a task group, please contact Mark Parry at BeestonPlan@gmail.com or on 07981 339558.

Greg Turton

Schools to convert Academy staus?

to

Let me take this opportunity to respond to your (website) article (about schools within the Learning Trust South Leeds to convert from local authority schools to independent Academies), correct in most cases, and set peoples minds at rest; at least clarifyt the process of consultation.

South Leeds Learning Trust, aware of the national context post election, discussed the Beeston & Holbeck ward process of academisation. Each of Includes Beeston from Cross Flatts Park up to the Co-op, Cottingley, old the Trust schools governing Holbeck. The three councillors are: bodies discussed the matter.

David Congreve 0113 277 7389 david.congreve@leeds.gov.uk Beeston Primary Governors Angela Gabriel 07946 632 468 angela.gabriel@leeds.gov.uk agreed to consult with Adam Ogilvie 0113 247 4578 adam.ogilvie@leeds.gov.uk stakeholders as did others.

Westwood at a similar meeting decided not to consult.

City & Hunslet ward This is a complex debate and Includes the city centre, Holbeck Urban Village, Beeston Hill and Hunslet. The the Draft for Consultation has three councillors are: taken time to put together. Our Patrick Davey 0113 261 0465 patrick.davey@leeds.gov.uk initial date of 15th July will not be Mohammed Iqbal 0113 294 1049 mohammed.iqbal@leeds.gov.uk met and Beeston Governors

Your Councillors and MP

Elizabeth Nash

0113 275 8594 elizabeth.nash@leeds.gov.uk

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

Judith Blake Kim Groves Paul Truswell

0113 395 1735 judith.blake@leeds.gov.uk 07891 741 832 kim.groves@leeds.gov.uk 0113 247 4472 paul.truswell@leeds.gov.uk

Leeds Central MP – Rt Hon Hilary Benn Hilary Benn is our MP. He represents the Leeds Central constituency which covers Hunslet, Belle Isle, Beeston, Holbeck, Cottingley in south Leeds as well as the city centre, Woodhouse, Little London, Lincoln Green, Richmond Hill, Osmondthorpe, Halton Moor and New Wortley.

Contact: hilary.benn.mp@parliament.uk, www.hilarybennmp.com Constituency office: Suite 7, Unity Business Centre, 26 Roundhay Road, Leeds LS7 1AB; phone: 0113 244 1097

agreed to extend the period of consultation to allow all stakeholders, parents and community forums are a key part of the planned consultation, to be fully involved.

By September we will have a draft model with articles and scheme of delegation for people to comment upon.

It will be later in the Autumn term that Governors will decide on the next steps.

All that has currently been agreed is to consult on the benefits or otherwise of Academy status.

Chris Lees (Beeston Primary School)

Well done

I have been reading South Leeds Life for the last couple of months and wish to congratulate you on your endeavour.Your website has got better during the last few months and so has your coverage of news in print. I am certain the paper and the website will have major role in community affairs as the years roll on.

I have an abiding interest in South Leeds having worked in Hunslet Carr for over 30 years.

Well done to all Dr Raj Menon, Retired GP

Keep up to date, up to the minute, by following South Leeds Life’s Twitter feed: @SouthLeedsLife.

Twitter is the 140 character ‘micro blogging’ site. It’s free and you can sign up at twitter.com. It’s a great place to find the very latest news.

Here are some of our favourite recent tweets: @GroundworkLeeds @HamaraCentre look how good the HALO project flowers are growing through Green for Go project:

@RunLeeds @SthLeedsLakers are thriving - the only mixed gender in the area. Check em' out! #runleeds @CB_FT Thank You Yet again to our fantastic volunteers who turn up week in week out to all our events also our service users who always help out @BeestonJrsFC We desperately need Players, Coaches, Managers, Volunteers at various age groups. Please DM or contact 07855 264654 for more details!! @CEO_HunsletClub It's the last day of our activity camp, over 100 members having fun and screaming loud! #hunsletclub @HunsletRugby Welcome to Cross Flatts Parkrun. #only in Beeston

Join the debate.

Comment online, email your letter to info@southleedslife.com, or post to: 224 Cross Flatts Grove, Leeds, LS11 7BW. Letters may be edited for publication.

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@SouthLeedsLaH 45 members going on a day trip to Elsecar Heritage Village today to enjoy a tour & cream tea! hope the sun keeps shining! #olderpeople #fun @AdamPOgilvie Thank you to @BreezeLeeds team & everyone who has helped run #BreezeLeeds in Cross Flatts Park in Beeston.

Enjoyed visiting this afternoon @T_S_L_A Congratulations to our post16 students on their results.

Our results are really impressive #TSLA #improvement

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South Leeds Life | September 2015

Summertime fun 9

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Sophie (Groundwork), Ellie, Charlotte, Nickie (Groundwork), Stacey (Mears), Phil & Keith at Cottingley Summer Fair - 15 August. Photo: Jeremy Morton

Keldon School

Gala rm at Hunslet of Dance perfo pson om Th e ev St 27 June Photo: udest bs who won Lo Amy with Crum Show og D rk on Pa Bark at Middlet lford Te a m Em o: 16 August Phot

Breeze in Cross Fla tts

Park - 12 August

What we did on our holidays ...

July entre - 29 ’s GATE C m O ra M g IT In B th t ya nne Sports Da Photo: Ke

Volunteers from Asha en

Children on their way down from the summit of Snowdon - 25 July

joy the gard

ens at Nort

hern College

Punch & Judy at Belle Isle Gala - 4 July Photo: Kenneth Ingram

Why not use the Search box at www.southleedslife.com to find more details and photos from these events

- 17 July

South Leeds Life | September 2015

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10 What’s On

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What’s On

Your guide to events and activities across South Leeds in September Every Monday Happy Chinese Families Group 9:30am-12pm Beeston Village Community Centre General fitness for the over 55's 11:30am-12:30pm St Andrews Community Centre, Beeston.

Walk and Talk 1:30-2:30pm Middleton Park Visitor Centre Keep Fit 4:15-5pm BITMOs GATE, Aberfield Gate, Belle Isle Women only running with South Leeds Sisters 5.45pm Beginners Phoenix Bar, John Charles Centre Zumba 7pm Middleton Parochial Hall Every Tuesday Keep Fit 9:30am Trinity Network, Belle Isle Over 55's Nesfield church hall community room Knit & Natter 10:30am-12pm Middleton Park Visitor Centre General fitness over 55's 10-11am St Anthony's church hall, Beeston Chair based mobility session 11.30am - 1pm tea and chat after session Cottingley Community Centre Beeston Village Singing Group 1-3pm Beeston Village

Community Centre South Leeds Lakers running group 7pm from Beeston Co-op HUB Choir (starts 15 Sept) 7-8:30pm Slung Low HUB, 67-71 Bath Road, Holbeck Every Wednesday Chair mobility 10-10:45am Trinity Network, Belle Isle Over 55's Nesfield church hall community room Breaklfast Club & Foodbank 10am-12pm Hunslet Methodist Church, Telford Terrace, Balm Rd CAP Job Club 10am-12pm Two Willows Children’s Centre, Cardinal Square, Beeston Community Craft Cafe 10am-12pm Church of the Nazarene, Hunslet Hall Road Walk and Talk 12-1pm BITMOs GATE, Aberfield Gate, Belle Isle Line Dancing 1:45pm Trinity Network, Belle Isle Over 55's Nesfield church hall community room Knit and Crochet Group 3-5pm Costa Coffee, Crown Point Retail Park Aerobics and Dance 3:30-4:30pm Cottingley Primary Academy Male only Sports Sessions 4-5pm Old Cockburn Sports Hall Self Defence for women 6-8pm Old White Hart pub

For up to date event information make sure you go online to

www.southleedslife.com and check the What’s On Calendar

Town Street, Beeston General fitness (suitable for beginners) 6-7pm Belle Isle Family Centre Zumba 6:30pm Middleton Parochial Hall Women only running with South Leeds Sisters 7.15pm Improvers Phoenix Bar, John Charles Centre Every Thursday Tea & Toast 8:30-9:30am Beeston Parish Centre, Town Street Middleton Park Estate Volunteers 10am-3pm Middleton Park Visitor Centre South Leeds Life News Cafe 10am-12pm Brew Coffee Shop, Beeston Road Chair based mobility group and games group 11:15am-12:30pm Beeston Village Community Centre Line Dancing 1pm Trinity Network, Belle Isle Over 55's Nesfield church hall community room Mashed up fitness session aerobic dance 1:45-2:45pm Beeston Village Community Centre Game Time 4:30-6pm Beeston Parish Centre, Town Street Cheer Fit 5:30-6:30pm South Leeds Youth Hub Women only running with South Leeds Sisters 5.45pm Intermediates Phoenix Bar, John Charles Centre for Sport General fitness (suitable for beginners) 6-7pm Beeston Parish Centre Indoor Bowls 7-10pm The Holbeck (WMC), Jenkinson Lawn Clubbercise 7:15pm-8pm Beeston Parish Centre Zumba 7:15pm Middleton Parochial Hall Every Friday Charity Shop, Tea & Toast 9am-12pm Beeston Hill United Free Church, Malvern Road South Leeds Life News Cafe 10am-12pm BITMOs GATE, Aberfield Gate, Belle Isle Ladies Singing Group 10am-12pm Tenant Hall, Acre Close, Middleton Krok Po Kroku (Polish Group) 12:30-2:30pm Beeston Village

Community Centre In Harmony Community Choir (from 11 Sept) 12:30-1:15pm Windmill Primary School, Belle Isle Friday Night Project 6-9pm Middleton Leisure Centre Friday Night Drop In 6:30-8:30pm Watsonian Pavilion, Cross Flatts Park Every Saturday Cross Flatts Parkrun 9am Run or walk 5km Watsonian Pavilion, Cross Flatts Park Police Contact Point 9:30-11:30am St George’s Centre, Middleton Zumba 10am Beeston Parish Centre, Town Street Middleton Railway 11am-4pm Moor Road, Hunslet Every Sunday Middleton Railway 11am-4pm Moor Road, Hunslet Circuit Training 4:15-5pm Beeston Parish Centre, Town Street Clubbercise 5-5:45pm Beeston Parish Centre, Town Street Tuesday 1 September Friends of Stank Hall Barn 7:30pm Tommy Wass pub, Dewsbury Road Beeston Neighbourhood Forum 7:30pm Beeston Village Community Centre Wednesday 2 September Hunslet Memories 12-2pm Garden Gate pub, Whitfield Place, Hunslet Hunslet Tenants & Residents 6:30-8pm Church of the Nazarene, Grove Road Potters Resort Bowls & Holiday Show 6:30pm Indoor Bowls Centre, John Charles Centre for Sport Thursday 3 September Pedal Powered Cinema 6pm Northern Monk Brewery, off Marshall Street, Holbeck Hunslet Carr Residents Ass 6:30pm Woodhouse Hill Community Centre, Woodhouse Hill Avenue Beeston Community Forum 7:30pm Beeston Village Community Centre Friday 4 September Bat Walk 7-9:30pm Middleton Park Visitor Centre

Manuelita at Slung Low’s HUB Theatre in Holbeck

Saturday 5 September Holbeck Neighbourhood Forum 11am-1pm St Matthew’s Community Centre Sunday 6 September Teas in the Park 2-4pm Middleton Park Visitor Centre Monday 7 September St Luke’s Tenants & Residents Assoc 6pm St Luke’s Church, Malvern Road, Beeston Tuesday 8 September Mostly Men 10am-12pm Northcotes Community Centre Survivors’ Knitwork (Women only) 5-7pm Watsonian Pavilion, Cross Flatts Park Wednesday 9 September Inner South Community Committee Workshop 5:30-7pm Middleton Leisure Centre Cottingley Hall TRAC 6:30pm Cottingley Primary Academy Friday 11 September Tour of Holbeck Cemetery 2-4pm Main Gates, Fairfax Road, Beeston Saturday 12 September Kite Festival 10am-4pm Middleton Park Clearings Holbeck History Walk 11am-12:30pm Meet at Leeds Bridge, Lower Briggate Stank Hall Barn Open Day 12-4pm off Dewsbury Road Craft Fair 1-4pm Beeston Parish Centre Sunday 13 September

Kite Festival 10am-4pm Middleton Park Clearings Police HQ Open Day 11am-3pm Elland Road Police Station, Beeston Middleton Park Craft, Flower and Produce Show 1-4:30pm Middleton Park Visitor Centre Wednesday 16 September Garnets Discussion 6:30pm 45 Garnet Terrace Thursday 17 September Comics Club!

3:15-4:45pm Dewsbury Road Library Saturday 19 September Leeds Young Archaeologists Club 10am-12pm Middleton Park Visitor Centre Sunday 20 September Autumnal Walk 1-3pm Middleton Park Visitor Centre ‘Manuelita’ 5-6pm Slung Low HUB, 67-71 Bath Road, Holbeck Wednesday 23 September Garnets Discussion 6:30pm Holy Spirit Church, Tempest Road, Beeston Sunday 27 September The Friendly Band 2-4pm Middleton Park Visitor Centre Community Meal 5-6:30pm Watsonian Pavilion, Cross Flatts Park Wednesday 30 September Hunslet Moor Residents Meeting 6:30pm St Peter’s Court, Dewsbury Road

Publicise your event with South Leeds Life Send full details of your event to: info@southleedslife.com, or post to: 224 Cross Flatts Grove, Leeds, LS11 7BW

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South Leeds Life | September 2015

Local History 11

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Teacher’s tales from Belle Isle in the 1950’s

My name is Kathleen Bok. My maiden name was Hobson. Since 1960 I have lived in Canada. I am the daughter of the Hunslet Carr teacher, Harold Hobson, who is quite frequently mention in your pages. Recently you have requested that people send information regarding Belle Isle since it is hoped to start a History of Belle Isle Society.

The following information might add a little colour to the scenario.

My uncle was a schoolboy , circa 1912-1917, living in the Old Village in Middleton. Belle Isle quarry was a magical playground for the children of the surrounding area. Lots of rocks, mud, water and frog spawn in season, plus all manner of dumped articles and old equipment.

Belle Isle Cottages Copyright: West Yorkshire Archive Service

The adjacent ancient terraced cottages were often the target of the visiting children's pranks.

Access to the chimneys of some of these dwellings was relatively easy if you scrambled up the nearby embankment. The aim of their forays was to plop live fluttering hens down the chimneys of the unsuspecting households below.

Within seconds the children's villainous efforts were rewarded by the shrieks, screams and squawks which erupted in the living rooms of the surprised families below.

Uncle's little gang of miscreants nicknamed themselves the 'Belle Isle Chimney Sweeps'.

Another prank he played was with a dray horse, which had been left standing at right angles to a quarry cottage which had its door wide open.

He gave a resounding slap on the animal's rump, whereupon the horse bolted into the house.

What a kerfuffle!

The gang later reported that the occupants of the house had had to remove nearly all their furniture outside so that the highly disturbed and nervous horse could be turned around and led out! I believe the kids' behaviour was known as 'making your own fun'!

Belle Isle Junior School (now Windmill Primary) was the first school I taught at in 1955 when I left College. Classes of 43 were common and books and supplies were almost nonexistent. Though the school was relatively new, it was already beginning to subside because of the underground workings of the nearby Middleton Broom Colliery.

One year it was my turn to occupy the dreaded subsidence classroom. Every time I had to access the blackboard, I had to bob under props which were supporting the blackboard wall.

A number of the families in the area suffered severe social deprivation and their children came to school under-nourished, dirty and unkempt and totally unready for the school experience. The school nurse was kept busy with cases of head lice, scabies and impetigo.

There was a cluster of 'problem' homes near the school.You would be hard pressed to find a scrap of wood in these houses as doors, cupboards and banisters were systematically ripped out to burn in their fireplaces. A gypsy 'part time' pupil had a huge piece of fatty bacon sewn into the chest part of his vest ostensibly to ward off winter flu and colds. Maggots were infesting the bacon before the stench emanating from the child was investigated and rectified.

Though today it would be thought to be nonPC, occasionally pupils with ingrained dirt and filth were encouraged to take a bath in an old zinc bath which was kept in the school. Their clothes were often scrubbed clean by their teachers who had provided the student with clothes from the Lost and Found box whilst their own clothes dried off. Happily most of the parents were doing a sterling job of trying to do the best they could for their children in those tough times.

After my three years of 'baptism by fire' at Belle Isle School, I went to teach at Clapgate School. It had just opened and it was a wonderful place to be. Mr Hargreaves was the Head Master, he was a great pianist and had a wonderful sense of humour.

A couple of days after the school opened a kindergarten pupil with his trousers around his ankles, wandered into the Head Teacher's office and shouted out, "Hey you! Who wipes bums around here?"

Ex-Middleton Infant School teacher, Mrs Sparks, was also was transferred to Clapgate.We lived near to each other on Town Street, Middleton and usually took a tram to where Belle Isle began, and then we trekked across open rough land to get to Clapgate.

Frequently there was a group of the old type wooden painted gypsy caravans and their horses encamped there . Sometimes we picked plants and wild flowers for impromptu Nature Study classes.

South Leeds’ mining heritage is remembered at Clapgate School today

Classes sizes at the new school numbered in the early 30's and the teachers had more supplies and better facilities than most of us had previously experienced. School meals were made on the premises and were fantastic.

Clapgate might have been a bit of a show school as we were always receiving visitors to look over the place. I believe that the 'good' tenants of the new housing estate surrounding Clapgate School had been hand-picked. The school uniform was silver grey and royal blue.

Great kids.

Barn opens for Heritage Days have carefully repaired damaged they have walls uncovered carved stone which hint at the importance of the site – it was once a Royal Hunting Lodge linked to Rothwell Castle.

“If you think the barn is impressive from the outside, you really must see inside.”

Explained Dawn Wood from the Friends. “Every visitor ‘Cathedral like’15th century roof beams is amazed by the cathedral like space produce is being given away to and the craftsmanship of the mitigate local food poverty.

The Friends have had great hand carved timbers.” support from Leeds businesses including B&Q, O2, Lloyds Bank, Business In The Community, Yorkshire Bank and Leeds City Council’s Marketing Team as well as from Land Securities who own the White Rose Centre and NG Bailey who manage the building’s maintenance.

Teams of volunteers have helped the group build raised beds from recycled pallets and wardrobes and planted them up. A range of vegetables have been grown including cabbages, cauliflowers, potatoes, tomatoes, kale, artichokes and fruit bushes.

Volunteers plant up As well as the gardening, the new raised beds group have uncovered archaeology on the site, At the open day you will be although no digging has been carried out. The site has been able to look around the barn continuously occupied for and find out about its history centuries and so stones have in more detail. There will also been recycled. As the group be the chance to sift through the archaeology pile and learn about medieval life.

If you can’t get the open day, the group will also be at the Middleton Park Craft, Flower & Produce Show on Sunday 13 September.

Find out more online at: www.friendsofstankhallbarn.w ordpress.com, on Facebook or pop along to their monthly meeting on the first Tuesday of each month at the Tommy The community garden takes shape Wass pub.

Stank Hall Barn will be one of three attractions in South Leeds taking part in the annual Heritage Open Days, when buildings around the country open their doors to the public.

The timber barn was built in the 15th Century and part of a site going back to Roman times and earlier. It lies between Beeston and Middleton across Dewsbury Road from the White Rose Centre.

As well as the barn, the site, a Scheduled Ancient Monument, includes two houses. Stank Hall is now believed to be the oldest house in Leeds with a timber frame going back to at least the 13th century.The houses are in a dangerously unsafe condition, but Leeds City Council, which owns the site is undertaking surveys and discussing with English Heritage how the buildings can best be protected.

The Friends of Stank Hall Barn have had a busy year, negotiating a licence with the Council to allow the creation of a community garden on the site and occasional openings of the barn itself. The group are keen to see more activity on site while a long term plan can be formulated to bring the buildings back into use.

The garden, which is being laid out in the style of a medieval kitchen garden, serves two purposes. Firstly it creates activity on site and has already attracted a number of local residents to get involved with the group. Secondly the

HERITAGE OPEN DAYS Friday 11 September Tour of Holbeck Cemetery 2-4pm meet at Main Gate on Fairfax Road

Saturday 12 September Holbeck - Cradle of the Industrial Revolution 11:30-12pm meet on Leeds Bridge for walking tour

Saturday 12 September Stank Hall Barn 12-4pm Park at White Rose Centre and cross Dewsbury Road

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South Leeds Life | September 2015

12 Sport

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Hunslet Hawks turn the tide

by Jeremy Morton Hunslet Hawks stopped a run of twelve defeats to end August with two victories away at London Broncos and Whitehaven.

July was not happy month at South Leeds Stadium where the Hunslet Hawks are battling to avoid relegation from the Kingstone Press Championship.

The month started with heavy defeats to the high flying Bradford Bulls (6-68) and Leigh Centurions (72-6). But more damaging to the Hawks’ hopes were defeats at Doncaster (34-26) and to local rivals Batley Bulldogs (45-28).

Hunslet threw away a 20 point lead to let Doncaster chalk up their only win of the season. The defeat to

Batley, another second half collapse, opened up a four point gap with the Hawks in the second relegation position.

The regular season ended with a limp performance against Workington Town, Hunslet losing 6-30 on 26 July.

And so we moved into the Super 8s with the teams of the Super League and Championship split into three groups of 8. Hunslet are in the bottom group, nominally playing for the Championship Shield, but in reality fighting to stay in the Championship.

Points were carried over from the regular season, so Hunslet were still next to bottom and four points adrift.

The Super 8s started with a trip to the Dewsbury Rams. A close fought game saw the Rams take a decisive during a 12 minute spell in the second

Walking & Talking around Belle Isle

by Kenneth Ingram

The BITMO’s GATE Walk and Talk group restarted on Wednesday 19 August.

The group meets every Wednesday at 12 noon and walks last an hour. If it rains on the day of the walk, please ring me on 0113 270 8213 to see if the walk is still going ahead.

I had a walk round the route I had

I looked at my watch, and we had already walked about 30 minutes. So we started to run out of time to make it to the Cottages. The Walk and Talk had only to last one hour, so we went along Lingwell Avenue and made our way back down the Ring Road onto Belle Isle Road and back to BITMO’s GATE. Back at The GATE, met up with Ben, Amanda and Simon who joined us now for the route chosen earlier.

Walk and Talk in Belle Isle

chosen first with Sam, who wanted to risk assess the route. Karim joined us who already had been on the Volunteer Health Walk Leader Training Course. I will attend this course on 4 September, until then I’m not allowed to run the group.

The route took us around the edge of Middleton Park, up Newhall Road and Aberfield Drive onto the Belle Isle part of Town Street. I wanted to go as far as the cottages where the Park workers employees used to live.

I had a story to tell about those.

Ben tells me I passed first part of test.

I must give my thanks to Carla of BITMO’s GATE who organised the event and got me onto the Volunteer Health Walk Leader Training Course.

Sam said: “It was really good to see members of the Belle Isle Community getting active and involved in the Leeds Let’s Get Active walking group. Special thanks to BITMO’s GATE and Ken Ingram for being the driving force behind the group.”

Join Ken and the other walkers every Wednesday at BITMO’s GATE in Belle Isle

half and finish 32-20 ahead.

There followed a return visit by Workington Town on 16 August and this was a much closer affair. Once again the Hawks lost momentum in the match conceding three tries in quick succession. This time they fought back in the second half, but were unable to overturn the deficit, losing 18-22.

A trip to Barnet to face the London Broncos didn’t look an easy excursion, but it proved to be a turning point as the Hawks came away 24-41 winners.

This time Hunslet put in a scoring spurt of 20 unanswered points and held onto the lead despite a London fight back.

The Hawks took their momentum to Cumbria on 31 August. They took the lead in the first minute and held it

Matt Gee in the tackle vs Dewsbury Photo: Paul Butterfield

through to the hooter against a lacklustre Whitehaven, winning 16-30.

Although still in the second relegation slot, the win put Hunslet on 14 points just 2 points below Batley who lost at Featherstone. The Hawks face Doncaster next followed

by Featherstone before the final match and potential relegation decider against Batley on 20 September.

You can read full match reports of all Hunslet Hawks matches at www.southleedslife.com.

stadium, then we were to told to wait at the side as the Olympic Champion pole vaulter was attempting a world record jump.

We eventually got to our start positions for the 4 x 100 relay, I had the 3rd leg (the top bend). As we were waiting to start I had the long jumpers just starting their

meters. I set off like a speed train and ran as fast and hard as I could, I was gaining on Mark every step, the commentator noticed this too as did the crowd, the roar from the crowd inspired me even more and as I came in to change over there was nothing in it. Jamie Theakston set off and with a slight advantage at this point, Lucy

From park running to racing at the Olympic Stadium

by Adam Blackburn

I entered a competition that was being promoted by Sainsbury’s and Heart FM London, they wanted runners to take part in a special relay at the London Olympic Anniversary Games.

To say I was over the moon, when I heard I’d got a place, would be an understatement. I was going to run at the Olympic Stadium in front of 50,000 spectators. Opportunities like that don’t come round very often.

The week leading up to the race I changed my usual training regime slightly to incorporate sprint training.

I’ve always been pretty fast since a very young age, and I do quite a lot of fitness training anyway serving in the Army.

I was fortunate to get tickets to watch the Anniversary Games on the Friday night. The highlight was seeing Usain Bolt and Mo Farah win their races.

I arrived at the stadium early the next day, got the nod and passes to go onto the track and into the changing room area with an official from British Athletics, walking past world class athletes like Jess Ennis-Hill and Katerina Johnson-Thompson on the way. We eventually got to our room to be greeted by Jamie Theakston, Emma Bunton, JK and Lucy Horobin.

At this point there were lots of cameras filming and taking pictures, it was very surreal to say the least. We changed into race T- shirts and official athlete’s bibs. We then moved to a holding area where most the athletes were warming up next to us. We got called forward walking out into the

Adam (3rd left) with Jamie Theakston, Emma Bunton and other runners in the Olympic Stadium

competition right next to me and Renaud Lavillenie attempting his second world record attempt in the pole vault. Looking round the stadium I stood there just taking it all in.

Then the moment came, the race started, our first runner John put up at valiant performance against the younger female Daisy, not much in it at this point. The second leg was probably the one where the race was lost. The young club runner Stu ran against Karen, this was definitely a miss-match, as he established a massive lead. Mark the long distance runner set off, as I waited for Karen to reach me. I think he had a 10 second head start and probably 50

ran brilliantly and I honestly thought she was going to catch him as he tired towards the finish line, we lost by 0.5 of a second. The race was over in a flash and both teams did brilliantly considering we only met an hour before.

After the race we got some photos as a group and went back to the changing areas. I think everyone was buzzing from what had just happened.

For me it probably took a few hours to sink in, as an amateur runner I don’t know if anything will ever beat this experience. I felt honoured to get the chance to run at the Olympic Stadium in front of thousands of people.