South Leeds Life 22 Oct16

Your FREE community newspaper

Issue 22 | October 2016

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

New Free School for South Leeds

Cockburn School, Gipsy Lane, Beeston The Cockburn Multiacademy Trust has submitted an application to open a new free school to address the need for more secondary school places in the inner south of Leeds.

Many primary schools in South Leeds have seen expansion in recent years to accommodate the bulge in school age children. Now more secondary places are needed.

The new Ruth Gorse Academy in Hunslet (see p8), also a Free School, is part of the response.

The application has been supported by the local authority and a host of education leaders from across Leeds. The new school would create a minimum of 900 places when full, offering families living in the inner south of the city another excellent secondary school.

The bid for Laurence Calvert Academy is one of many free school applications which have

been submitted across the country.

If the bid is approved by the Department for Education, the free school would open in September 2018. There are no final decisions regarding the location of the new free school at the time of submitting the application.

David Gurney, Headteacher of Cockburn School said: “This would be fantastic news for south Leeds. Opening this free school would be a major step towards ensuring that there are enough excellent secondary school places in south Leeds.”

The Laurence Calvert Academy would be named in memory of the ex-Cockburn School pupil and south Leeds soldier who was awarded the Victoria Cross for bravery in 1918. If approved, the new free school would open 100 years after this in 2018.

David Gurney says he

believes the school would attract pupils from across inner south Leeds with many parents and carers being attracted to it because of the success of Cockburn School.

Cockburn School has been recognised by the Department of Education as one of the top performing schools nationally for student progress; and rated

by OfSTED as outstanding for Behaviour and Safety.

David Gurney said “the same ethos that has helped deliver the success at Cockburn would be replicated at the new Laurence Calvert Academy.”

He said this success was built on high expectations of all pupils regardless of their background with a vision of ‘Transformation to Excellence’ where pupils, parent and carers and staff work together to continually improve.

The application process for the free school is ongoing and the school are encouraging people to register their support by going to: www.cockburnschool.org/ free-school-application and click the link to register your support.

So far, the support from the local community has been positive with hundreds of people registering their support from all across south Leeds. The application has also had support from the local authority; Headteachers and governors from a number of local secondary and primary schools/academies, and University teacher training providers.

New school to be named after Cockburn VC hero Laurence Calvert Former Cockburn School pupil Sgt Laurence Calvert was awarded the Victoria Cross in September 1918 after he rushed a German machine gun post.

Sgt Calvert’s grandson stressed that he wasn’t a superman, just an ordinary person acting in extraordinary circumstances.

Laurence Calvert was born in Leeds on the 16 February 1892 at Selkirk Place, Hunslet and attended Cockburn High School between 1903 and 1906.

After leaving school Laurence worked as a van boy with the Midland Railway Company before moving to Conisborough, where he worked as a miner.

At the start of the First World War he joined the 2nd Battalion of the King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry and went to France in 1915. He was awarded the Military medal for gallantry in 1918, and in September of that year the Victoria

In this issue:

Bloomin’ marvellous!

page 5

How to solve Traveller issue?

page 6

Ruth Gorse Academy opens

page 8

Cross.

Single-handedly Calvert rushed the machine-guns, bayoneting three and shooting four soldiers.

After the war Laurence became a regular soldier and on the 11th November 1920 he was part of the guard of Honour at the burial of the Unknown Warrier in Westminster Abbey.

Laurence Calvert died in 1964, but his name lives on in his son, grandson and great-grandson, all of whom are called Laurence.

A full version of the story of Laurence Calvert’s life is online at www.southleedslife.com.

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

Messy Mile NEWS

ANALYSIS SCHOOLS

FEEDBACK ARTS

page 12 p2-5

p6

p8-9 p10 p13

WHAT’S!ON p14-15 SPORT!

p16

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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 South Leeds Life CIC, a social enterprise registered with Companies House.

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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No return to the 11 plus

by Hilary Benn MP Why bringing back the 11 plus would be a return to the bad old days.

I couldn't quite believe it when I read that the Prime Minister wants to bring back the 11 plus and grammar schools.

Where on earth had this idea come from, especially since her predecessor David Cameron had rejected it?

We are still none the wiser as to why she wants to do this, but the evidence that it is a very bad idea is overwhelming.

First, why did most of our grammar school disappear in the first place? Because parents wanted them to go. The majority of mums and dads had had enough of their children being told that they were failures at the age of 11 and then being shunted off into secondary modern schools.

That's why the comprehensive school revolution swept most of the country - including in Leeds - led by parents who wanted change for the better. And in the 50 years or so

since it began, nowhere has wanted to turn the clock back – until now.

Secondly, it was - and is profoundly wrong in my view to tell children of that age that they have failed. It damages their self confidence and their self esteem in a way that can profoundly affect their subsequent school career and their lives.

Indeed, as a country we are still dealing with the long-term legacy of the old divided system.

Thirdly, there is absolutely no evidence whatsoever that a return to grammar schools would improve all children's attainment. In fact the opposite is the case. In areas that still have selection at 11, educational attainment for those pupils who fail to get into the grammar schools is below the national average.

Fourthly, it won't help children from low income backgrounds to do better either. This is what the Chief Inspector of Schools Sir Michael Wilshaw says: "The notion that the poor stand to benefit from the return of grammar schools strikes me as quite palpable tosh and nonsense."

What's more if you look at the

proportion of children on free school meals that grammar schools admit it is much smaller than for other types of schools. In other words, where there are still grammar schools today, access to them is limited to the most well-off.

So much for social mobility.

My fundamental objection to this is that education should be about bringing out the talent that is within Hilary Benn MP every young person, and to do that we have to separated 11-year-olds into sogive every child the same called successes and failures using a opportunity. Some are very good at single, one-off exam would be to fly some subjects but not others. Some in the face of everything we have are early developers and some learned as a society since about come into their own later on. And how to raise educational standards.

And that is why I intend to fight all of us – whatever our age – do as hard as I can to stop the 11 plus best when we are encouraged.

Going back to a time when we from returning to South Leeds.

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Foodbank’s call for food & funds

Leeds South and East Foodbank has launched a new appeal, asking local people to take a different approach this Harvest by giving a ‘Combined Harvest’ donation of food and money, which will help the charity continue its vital work during the shift from Autumn to Winter, when the foodbank sees a significant rise in need for their support.

The foodbank, which is part of The Trussell Trust Foodbank Network, provides vital emergency support to local people when something unavoidable - such as redundancy, illness or even an unexpected large bill – hits and there’s no money to put food on the table. In the last financial year, 6239 local people in crisis were issued with three day worth of emergency food supplies by the foodbank. 2584 of these went to children.

Wendy Doyle, Foodbank manager said: “During previous years we’ve been incredibly humbled by the level of support local people have given the foodbank at Harvest time. We want to say a big thank you to

Foodbank volunteers: Jason White, Wendy Doyle, Amie Thompson, Steve Vincent & Denise Comer everyone who has donated food, time or money; your compassion and support means that people in Leeds South and East were unable to afford food after being hit by something like redundancy, illness or a delayed benefit payment, have had somewhere to turn.

“We rely on the support of the local community to make a lasting impact in South and East Leeds, providing emergency food but also helping people to break out of crisis more long term. All of the food we provide is donated, so food donations are really important.

But the foodbank also has lots of costs you might not immediately think of: we have to rent storage space for our

food, cover transport costs and pay for utilities and insurance.

“We are particularly grateful for extra help at Harvest as we prepare for winter, the foodbank’s busiest time of the year.

“That’s why this Harvest we would love for anyone considering helping the foodbank to ‘combine’ their donation and give both money and food – it will make a real difference as we continue to provide much-needed help to people in our community.”

People can make a financial donation to the foodbank at: The Donate section on our website. https://leedsouthandeast. foodbank.org.uk

A new Minister for the Church in Cottingley

Peter Clarkson has been invested as the new Minister for The Church in Cottingley an ecumenical project run jointly by the United Reform Church (URC), the

October 2016 | South Leeds Life

Methodists and the Church of England.

Peter is a URC Minister and will split his time between Cottingley and Wigton Moor in North Leeds.

“Cottingley is a long way from Wigton Moor, both physically and socially” commented Peter, “but I am so impressed with the energy on the estate and the great work being done in the community centre.”

Peter’s sees his role to “share God’s love” on the estate in the

widest sense. He is keen help with social activities and is already working on plans to support parents of young children and older men – both groups that can suffer from social isolation.

During his twenty years in Leeds, Peter has also worked as part of the Chaplaincy team at Leeds and Leeds Beckett universities. He is a trained counsellor and can help people with issues such as bereavement and loss in the widest sense, such as redundancy, or relationship breakdown.

You will find Peter at the church and community centre most Tuesdays and Wednesdays plus alternate weekends. As well as the Sunday service, he will lead an informal morning worship on Tuesdays at 10:15am.

Cautious approval for ‘managed approach’ The ‘managed approach’

by Leeds City Council and West Yorkshire Police to dealing with prostitution in Holbeck has been given a cautious thumbs up in a comprehensive survey of residents.

It was revealed at the Inner South Community Committee meeting that about a third of residents had rejected the scheme; a third approved the scheme; and a third approved of the scheme in principle, but wanted to see changes to the details of how it operated.

The managed approach attempts to limit the impact of street prostitution on residents and businesses by ‘turning a blind eye’ to soliciting in defined industrial areas at defined times when businesses are closed.

Speaking at the meeting,

Area Leader Martin Dean said: “Our aim is to move soliciting away from people’s houses.”

The managed approach has led to improved relations between sex workers and the Police with a number of serious offences being reported and offenders prosecuted.

Back in February, South Leeds Life reported on an angry meeting at St Matthew’s Community Centre. Whilst many people at that meeting opposed the scheme, the biggest complaint was that residents had not been consulted.

The Council put that right by commissioning a comprehensive house to house survey undertaken by an independent company, Qa Research, to find out how all residents felt.

Euromillions?

by Jackson Turner

A community partnership for South Leeds has submitted a Community Led Local Development Strategy to Westminster in a bid to secure £1.5 million for projects to support employment.

If given the green light it would support projects in South Leeds which foster greater employment and enterprise in the area, especially for those furthest from the labour market. The partnership has included representatives of community organisations, local business interests and the Council.

The strategy, which focuses on supporting people who face significant problems when it

comes to getting employment, including those with multiple disabilities and sex workers will help local people to engage with training, advice & guidance, employment and social enterprise. It would be implemented by a publicprivate-voluntary-community partnership, who will ensure the funding finds its way to the best placed projects and has the most impact.

If the bid is successful the partners intend to widen the partnership to allow more people to be involved in delivering the programme of expenditure which could bring more than £3million total investment to our poorest areas.

More news to follow in the New Year, and keep everything crossed!

Digital Images

Digital Image Online is a new group set up in South Leeds with the aim of bringing together people with an interest in all things digital.

It will help individuals gain expertise, practical skills, develop creativity and confidence in using digital imaging technology including Digital Cameras, Video Cameras, Mobile Phones, Tablets and interfacing with

computers, printers and the internet.

A range of activities is planned including trips, studio sessions and instruction on various photographic techniques.

Weekly sessions are on Thursdays 1-3pm at ‘Springboard’, a new Skills Centre which is located on the site of Cockburn School.

Please call (or text) 07754 391490 for more information.

News in brief Paving security

A state-of-the-art initiative to tackle the theft of Yorkshire paving stones is to be introduced in hot-spot areas

by Leeds City Council.

Working in partnership with crime-prevention company SmartWater®, public stone flags across the city will be sprayed with a forensic traceable liquid.

New 20mph zone in Beeston Leeds City Council have published plans to extend the 20 mph traffic zone to the residential streets in the Parkwoods, Southleighs and Allenbys around Cockburn School.

The zone forms part of the Council’s plans to reduce the speed limit on all residential streets in Leeds to 20 mph.

The work, which will cost £10,000, is subject consultation and proposed to take place during the current financial year.

SIDs will check your speed

Cllrs Groves & Blake Councillors have joined the community in condemning reckless speeding motorists in Middleton.

Cllr Kim Groves said: “Over the past month we have secured additional funding for CCTV on those roads with the highest number of incidents to monitor antisocial behaviour. Speed indicator devices will be implemented on six further roads as part of our plan to deal with this issue.”

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Borrow a bike scheme opens in Beeston

Children living in Hunslet, Beeston and Holbeck have the chance to ride a bike for free following the launch of a new Yorkshire Bank Bike Library.

The new library has opened at the Dewsbury Road One Stop Centre and will offer free bike loans for children and families. It follows the opening last month of a bike library at St George’s Centre in Middleton.

The scheme is sponsored by Yorkshire Bank and run in collaboration with Welcome to Yorkshire’s cycling initiative, Cycle Yorkshire. It aims to give every child in Yorkshire access to a bike, and sees unwanted bikes donated at one of the

Dean Downing cuts the ribbon with children from New Bewerley Community School and (L-R) Wayne Ranby (LCC), Jacqui Atkinson (Yorkshire Bank), Peter Dodd (Welcome to Yorkshire), Cllr Debra Coupar, Cllr Mohammed Iqbal, Cllr Angela Gabriel and Jas Holmes (LCC) county’s 46 donation stations, where they are then repaired and available to hire free of

Report every incident

charge.

The new bike library was officially opened on Tuesday

(20 September 2016) by former professional cyclist Dean Downing, and Councillor

Debra Coupar, Leeds City Council’s Executive Member for Communities.

Speaking at the opening, Dean Downing said: “I’m very excited to be involved in this project as part of the legacy of the Tour de France coming to Yorkshire.”

Addressing the children from New Bewerley Community School he said: “It’s great to see you in your kit. Enjoy your cycling, it can give you a lot freedom and a lot of pleasure and you can aspire to be the next champion.”

Cllr Debra Coupar said: “Families can now borrow a bike as easily as borrowing a book. Evidence from existing

bike libraries shows that families are taking the opportunity to borrow bikes for days out together.”

Opening times for the bike library at Dewsbury Road One Stop Centre are: Monday 9 – 3 Tuesday 9 – 3 Wednesday 9 – 3 Thursday 9 – 4 Friday 9 – 4 Saturday 10.30 – 12.30 (via the Library) If you have an old bike you could donate you can drop it off at the Middleton Bike Hub at the former golf clubhouse on Ring road Middleton, or in the city centre at the Great George Street One Stop Centre.

New homes and shops set for Middleton

by Jeremy Morton

A controversial planning application for 93 new homes in Middleton was considered by the South & West Plans Panel and plans new shops on the ‘Benyon’ site near Asda have been put forward.

The housing plans, which include 14 affordable 2 and 3 bedroom houses, are well supported, but plans for a new link road has caused concerns from residents and ward councillors. The new road would create a new link by extending Throstle Road, which is currently a cul-de-sac, through to Towcester Avenue. It is feared that this could become a rat run.

Cllr Paul Truswell told planning officers: “I have serious concerns

regarding the potential traffic issues that have been raised by Members and local residents, and the need to address these concerns as fully as possible through robust traffic calming and other measures.”

The development is due to take place on three sites released by the Council under their brownfield sites policy. The sites are close to Thorpe Road and Thorpe View and to the west of Towcester Avenue.

As well as the provision of social housing, the developer, Keepmoat, is likely to be required to pay a commuted sum to help improve local public open space and create work opportunities for local people.

Meanwhile, Rothstone Estates revealed plans for St George’s Retail Park at public consultation

Artist’s impression of the planned St George’s Centre events last month.

The development is set to include a Lidl and a B&M Homestore alongside other shops and could create up to 140 jobs.

The site which was formerly a bus garage and then a Co-op depot was bought by Tesco, but

they failed to obtain planning permission for a store.

Demolition work was carried out three years ago to create a cleared site.

A formal planning application is likely be submitted in the next few weeks.

Charlies Angels have a ball South Leeds Golf Club was a sell out for the first Charlies Angel Centre charity ball Saturday 17 September.

The 100 guests were treated to a three course meal, entertainment from singer Tom Bleasby and magician Francesco Mattiello. A prize auction was hosted by comedian Monty Burns.

The Middleton-based charity works to support bereaved parents via

telephone and email and was set up by Sam Key and

her family after her daughter lost her baby son

The charity ball at South Leeds Golf Club

four years ago. Over £3,000 was raised on the night, not only be helping them reach their ultimate goal of a 24 hour bereavement centre, but also supporting thousands of individuals and families who desperately need help.

Speaking about the evening, Sam Key said: “I can’t thank people enough for coming, plus all those who sponsored a table and donated their

time for free. It means so much to us and will help us to help even more bereaved families.”

A special prize went to two young ladies. Rhiann and Amy Curtis, pupils at Windmill Primary School, who were recognised as Star Fundraisers of the Year having raised £2,000 for the charity.

The ball was sponsored

by Picture The Print, Full Circle Funerals and AETC Ltd.

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South Leeds is bloomin’ great!

by Ed Carlisle

Green-fingered South Leeds groups this week won a raft of honours at the annual Yorkshire in Bloom awards.

Volunteers from the projects along with staff members from the Council’s Parks and Countryside team attended a glitzy event at York Race Course, to discover what the judges made of their yearround work – and they weren’t disappointed.

Beeston (represented by Beeston in Bloom) won a very impressive double Gold in the Urban Community category, for spring and summer.

Holbeck (represented by Holbeck in Bloom) got Silver Gilt in the same category, for summer. Cross Flatts Park (represented by the Friends of group, and the Parks team) won Gold in the Open Spaces

category.

Park Fisheries in Beeston won Gold in the Large Business category, alongside some pretty huge companies.

And Cottingley in Bloom was awarded ‘Thriving’ (level 4 out of 5) and Tempest Road Beeston (featuring the Holy Spirit garden) ‘Advancing’ (level 3 out of 5) in the It’s Your Neighbourhood section.

To get involved in the work of any of these groups, please obviously don’t hold back – they are all voluntary groups, always on the look-out for willing hands.You don’t have to be ‘green-fingered’ the groups have equipment and knowledgable members who can teach you.

In particular, the Holbeck in Bloom group is desperate for new members in order to keep going.They are holding a public meeting at 11am on Saturday 8 October, at the Holbeck (formerly WMC).

River C’Aire teams clear Christmas flood debris

Community charity Groundwork Leeds have been busy with corporate volunteers from Direct Line Group, ARUP, Skill Mill and Yorkshire Water as they have joined Canal and River Trust Staff, Leeds City Council Environmental Services Locality Team and Thwaite Mills Museum, to clear up the litter and debris that has collected in the area following on from Storm Eva in December 2015.

Storm Eva brought heavy rain which lead to severe flooding across the north of England and many areas left devastated by the after effects.

The clean-up day, dubbed River C’Aire, saw local businesses come together to improve a patch of the river for local visitors.This clear out forms part of a bigger river stewardship programme with similar days planned throughout the coming weeks.

Tim Baxter Leeds YOS Reparation Coordinator from Skill Mill said: “It’s been a great opportunity for Skill Mill to learn new skills in building a dead hedge and its purpose within the island environment at Thwaite Mills.”

Milly Hennayake Civil Engineer at ARUP “Arup staff

Volunteers clear flood debris had a really enjoyable and rewarding afternoon in the open air meeting new friends and contributing to nature conservation.”

John Cummins Senior Communities Co-Ordinator at Groundwork said: “It’s fantastic to see so many people here to help clean up the devastation left by flooding.

Within the first couple of hours we managed to clear two truckloads and by the end of the day the clear team effort by everyone involved was clear to see.

“There are so many projects that people can get involved with and with more companies adding Corporate Social Responsibly into their business plans it really has such a

positive impact on social and environmental wellbeing.”

Businesses taking measures to help reduce their carbon footprint or looking to become more involved in their communities by volunteering, are increasingly getting involved in Corporate Social Responsibility an area in which Groundwork specialise.

If you would like to get involved in similar projects you can visit www.groundwork.org.uk/ newy or contact the Groundwork Leeds office on (0113) 238 0601.

A second session saw residents, representing 8 different nationalities, from the H2010 development clear even more debris.

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Travelling over difficult ground

by Ed Carlisle The encampment of Irish Travellers on Holbeck Moor last month once again considerable generated debate about the presence of Travellers and Gypsies in the lives of the south Leeds communities. Here we explore the history, background, current set-up, and potential ways forward on this controversial subject.

have persisted that the travelling communities often demonstrate criminal or antisocial behaviour, are uncooperative, are dirty, and more. So as early as the 1500s, UK laws saw Gypsies and Travellers deported or even executed – a pattern repeated throughout Europe over the centuries. Most brutally, an estimated 250,000-500,000 died during the Nazi holocaust.

Nowadays, an estimated 300,000 Gypsies and Travellers

Travellers at Cottingley Springs. Photo: Harjinder Sagoo The communities now understood as Gypsy and Traveller emerged as distinctive groups about 1000 years ago. (Gypsies are of Romany heritage, originally from northern India. Travellers are most often seen as of Irish heritage, although they see themselves as distinct, and refer to themselves as ‘Pavee’.)

Gypsies and Travellers first starting arriving in the UK in the 1400s-1500s, and through the centuries typically took casual work including that of labourers, tradespeople – and most famously, as entertainers and circus hosts. They pitched camps at their places of work, sometimes on roadsides, or at long-established stopping places on the edges of towns and cities.

But their presence amongst established communities has often been contentious. From the earliest days, allegations

live in the UK. Of these, 50% are settled in permanent housing, 30% live in authorised encampments (either privately-owned or run by councils, where residents do typically pay council tax and utility payments), and 20% live on unauthorised roadside encampments.

As seen in Holbeck last month, it’s this final 20% who are largely ‘the problem’ – uninvited in communities, seen to create environmental impact (litter etc) and other problems including anti-social behaviour, and subject to costly court battles as local authorities seek to evict them.

Recent unauthorised camps in south Leeds have indeed seen local environmental damage, relatively high levels of litter, allegations of anti-social behaviour (including harassment, dangerous dogs, noise nuisance, etc), and more.

The legal position Legislation here in the UK has brought mixed fortunes for nomadic communities. Laws like the Turnpike Act 1822 increasingly stripped rights from travellers, until the midtwentieth century saw a greater move towards accommodating them, with the growing establishment of permanent encampment sites. The Caravan Sites Act 1968 obliged all local councils to provide sites for Gypsies and Travellers – although many allegedly never did, and the duty was

later repealed by the Criminal Justice and Public Order Act 1994. Then the Housing Act 2004 once again re-introduced a legal duty for councils to assess and cater for the accommodation needs of Gypsies and Travellers – the current status quo. Finally, Human Rights legislation obliges public bodes to ensure the needs of Gypsies and Travellers are balanced against those of settled communities; not, as is sometimes thought, to trump them.

For balance, it's worth adding that – whilst almost no-one supports the littering – some residents insist that they have positive interactions with the Travellers. Meanwhile, the authorities are often seen as largely inactive – or even accommodating. With the recent Holbeck encampment, it seems that the Police effectively supervised the arrival of the Travellers on the site.

Unlike at authorised sites, there's no mechanism for those at unauthorised camps to make financial contributions – so an added bone of contention amongst local communities surrounds the cost of these camps. The recent Holbeck encampment – consisting of about 70 people in about 20 caravans – cost Leeds City Council £2,964.16; and over the past decade, Leeds City Council have spent an eye-watering £3m dealing with unauthorised encampments.

Acclaimed local charity Leeds GATE, who advocate on behalf of the Gypsy and Traveller communities, stated baldly in a 2010 report to the Council’s Environment and Neighbourhoods Scrutiny Panel: “There is no disagreement that a reduction in unauthorised encampments… will lead to reductions in cost, environmental impact, unaddressed anti-social behaviour, and community tension.” It seems everyone

Traveller encampment on Holbeck Moor, August 2016 – largely because government guidelines encourage more smaller sites, rather than large ‘ghettos’ (a view echoed by Gypsy and Traveller groups), and also following local opposition to further building on greenbelt land there.

Indeed, planning applications for new sites – on Council or private land – are regularly challenged by local residents and businesses. Locally, there

Costs Leeds City Council has confirmed the costs associated with the recent camp on Holbeck Moor: Skip: £139 Toilets: £169 Legal fees: £1,265 Disbursements: £1,141 Caravan removal £250 TOTAL:

£2,964

was the lengthy campaign fought (and won) by Hunslet Carr Residents Association against a small site on Sandon Mount. Also in Hunslet, the Council – through their citywide Site Allocation Plan – recently identified a potential

But these sites are only half the story.They would meet the needs of Travellers based locally – but what of non-local groups passing through the city, whose unauthorised encampments (such as that in Holbeck last month) arguably create most problems?

Undoubtedly, part of the solution is prevention and policing. Indeed, the Beeston and Holbeck councillors are seeking to get railings installed on Holbeck Moor, urgently (at a cost of £21,000). And the Council are right now writing a clear protocol for themselves and the Police on how to handle unauthorised groups arriving in the city. (There are currently no agreements as to what actions can or should be taken.)

But advocates argue that this alone will simply push the problem around. So, as well as more permanent sites, groups

including GATE are arguing for a ‘negotiated stopping’ approach – whereby Gypsies and Travellers are given permission to create temporary encampments on 'non-sensitive' sites (ie not Holbeck Moor!), within mutually-agreed codes of conduct, timescales, and so on.

It apparently works well in Bristol and elsewhere.

There is much to iron out.

How much say would local residents get?

Might mechanisms be established to enable members of these temporary camps to make financial contributions? And more. But surely there's everything to gain from this approach, alongside the establishment of new permanent sites – to prevent the disruption and costs associated with recently unauthorised camps.

What's stopping us..?

Residents’ views:

Cheznie Johnson: We've repeatedly asked for (Holbeck Moor) to be blocked off, but some pen pusher wants the repeated expense of eviction, provision and clean-ups rather than prevention.

Susan Whittaker: They should be made to clean up their own rubbish and replant the flower beds before they leave. They get away with everything because the authorities are afraid of being accused of rascism. They should stop pussy footing around them, and lay down down the law.

John Dickinson: It's time the council upheld the law regarding common lands, where people are allowed to camp freely and legal.

Council staff move in to clear up the rubbish has much to gain from finding better solutions – but the obstacles are many.

First, Gypsies, Travellers and their advocates point to the ongoing lack of authorised places. The Council have publicly recognised a need for 62 permanent new pitches – but are struggling. Leeds' primary authorised site is Cottingley Springs off Geldard Road, established in 1969, which has 41 pitches and a long waiting list.

The Council recently applied to expand the site, but were rejected in the courts last year

Travellers site next to the Tulip Retail Park; this also generated opposition. Nationwide, 80% of all planning applications are granted – but 90% of applications made by or for Gypsies and Travellers are refused.

A rare success story has been the small (8-pitch) site at Kidacre Street, behind Crown Point Retail Park. Originally established in 2014 as a temporary site, it was recently granted a 10 year licence. (But its long-term fate is unclear, as it's on the likely route of the HS2 rail line.)

Gary Austerfield: What if they pre-planned with councils instead of storming onto sites? For example: 'Dear LS11. We are planning on going to our annual festival. Could you please find us a suitable plot for 20 caravans for so many days till we move on?' What's up with that..?

Luke Senior: If places weren't left in such a mess I doubt people would care. Something worthwhile will get cut by the council or we'll get taxed more to pay for this.

Carole Ababurko: Unless you live opposite this nuisance time after time, you have no idea how it feels. I blame the council for not thinking about this problem before they built the new houses.

Linda Anne Meikle: Do you really think the people near Golden Acre park or Roundhay would have them camping there? It's cos it's easy here, and nobody does anything about it.

Janet Pickersgill: I don't think people would bother as much if they made less mess and cleared up after themselves.

There are more comments on our letters page.

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South Leeds Life | October 2016

8 News

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Ruth Gorse: Leeds’ newest high school opens its doors in Hunslet

by Jeremy Morton 14 September was the first day at big school as students and staff at The Ruth Gorse Academy swapped temporary classrooms for their new purpose-built accommodation in Hunslet.

“Stunning”, “amazing” and “spectacular” were some of the comments from the group of school ambassadors.

“Before we were in claustrophobic temporary buildings. This place has a great atmosphere that makes me want to work hard.”

The ambassadors, whose job is to be a role model and to help other students, had been given a tour of the building the day before term started. They were particularly impressed with how well equipped the Design & Technology classrooms were, they liked the sports hall and chemistry lab with a stage for the teacher to demonstrate experiments.

Principal Rebekah Taylor was very excited to be in her new school building at last: “I do feel privileged, it’s been an amazing journey. We have gone from 95 to 550 pupils; from 6 to 89 staff.

“Our mission is to make a difference for disadvantaged young people in the city. We don’t see a difference of where you come from, we have the highest expectations of all our students.”

The student body is growing year by year and will eventually reach

some 1,200 pupils. The school is very aware that it is the first city centre high school since City of Leeds moved to Woodhouse over 20 years ago. Children have been briefed about staying safe in the city centre and Year 7 children will be chaperoned from the train and bus stations.

The bulk of existing Year 7, 8 and 9 children come from South Leeds, but now the school is established in Hunslet close to the city centre they expect applications from across the city.

“It’s very exciting to be part of this new education hub on the South Bank” said Ms Taylor. “We have the Building College, Leeds City College and the new University Technical College for neighbours.

“We have also received several approaches from local businesses who are keen to work with us, so we’ve certainly been made welcome” she added.

There will be a chance for Year 6 children and their parents to look round the Ruth Gorse Academy at the upcoming Open Day on Saturday 8 October between 10am and 1pm.

The school is named after the inspirational head of PE at Morley High School (Academy) who died in 2007 at the age of 35. Ruth Gorse carried on teaching throughout five years of treatment for breast cancer.

Morley High School went onto form an Academy chain:The Gorse Acedmies Trust which runs four high schools, three primary schools and a sixth form college in Leeds.

Ruth Gorse Academy Ambassadors (L-R): Vyshnavi Rao, Oliwia Rzadkowska, Dylan Ncube, Cara Goodridge, Holly Anderson, Lawson Assis, Luke Brennan, Mateusz Chetkowski with Principal Rebekah Taylor

They’ve got a lot of veg down at Hunslet Carr

Hunslet Carr Primary School cut the ribbon on their new allotment last month and showed off the vegetables the children have been growing.

The impressive display

included kale, courgettes, carrots,pumpkins and beetroot.

Martin Lumb, Headteacher commented: “The allotment has made a huge difference to the school. We want our school to

Hunslet Carr’s allotment: bursting with produce

be at the heart of the community. This has been a very positive way of building relationships with our neighbours.

“Working in the allotment has given a real confidence boost to the children, particularly those that struggle with English and Maths. They can see success in the allotment and see that their hard work pays off.”

He also confirmed that the vegetables will be used in school meals over the coming weeks.

Local residents Catherine Bennett, Baz Wilson and Margaret Harper have been on site over the summer holidays to keep everything watered and weeded. Catherine said: “We

grew al to of plants from seed for the children to plant out in the beds. It’s been so worthwhile and we’ve made a lot of new friends.”

Kenny Saunders from the Hunslet Carr Residents Association has been involved in the project from the start: “This was a wasteland. It’s taken a long time and we’ve had to be persistent, but now we have a real community asset. It just shows what a community can do, working with their school."

As well as the raised beds and greenhouse, the allotment boasts an outdoor seating area and a wildlife area. There are plans to create a shallow pond

Gladioli and pumpkins and to keep chickens in the future.

HCRA and the school were supported in the project by a

grant from local ward councillors on the Inner South Community Committee and by Groundwork Leeds.

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October 2016 | South Leeds Life

News 9

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New Bewerley gets In Science boost for Harmony with Opera North Academy students

With the start of the new school year, over 1,000 pupils each week will now be benefiting from Opera North’s awardwinning In Harmony community residency as the Company introduces the project into a third primary school in South Leeds.

In Harmony was created with the aim of enriching lives, improving social well-being and engaging the next generation through community-based music-making and professional instrumental tuition.

New Bewerley Community School in Beeston joins the two existing participants: Windmill Primary School in Belle Isle, who have been with the project since its launch in 2013, and Low Road Primary School in Hunslet.

New Bewerley Community School last worked with Opera

North in 2015 when they devised their own mini operas based on Donizetti’s Elixir of Love. The In Harmony Opera North residency will build on this partnership, placing music at the very heart of the curriculum and giving every child the chance to learn to sing and to play a musical instrument. The focus initially will be on Early Years and Key Stage One pupils culminating in a performance with the brass section from the Orchestra of Opera North in December. In the new year, the project will widen to include the remaining students, with the whole school taking part in a concert at Leeds Town Hall next summer.

Gary German, Headteacher at New Bewerley Community School, said: “We are really looking forward to welcoming Opera North’s In

Children from Windmill Primary School perform with Opera North at Leeds Town Hall Photo: Tom Arber

Harmony team to the school. The enthusiasm shown by our Year 5 pupils when we worked with Opera North before was remarkable. Even those who thought opera wasn’t for them were converted by the end.

Seeing the success of that project made us really keen to become an In Harmony school thereby enabling all of our students to enjoy music together.”

In Harmony Opera North involves the children participating in weekly choral, instrumental and orchestral sessions, as well as other creative projects throughout the year. Pupils also have the opportunity to join in arts-based after-school activities and work together to stage performances both within the community and further afield.

Jacqui Cameron, Opera North Education Director, said: “Having seen the remarkable difference which In Harmony has already made to the children’s concentration, emotional health and academic achievement at Windmill and Low Road Primary Schools, we are delighted to welcome New Bewerley Community School on board.

“We believe In Harmony is successful because we work with the schools on a long-term basis and also involve the wider community, ensuring that everyone in the locality benefits from the many pleasures engaging with music and the arts can bring.”

Cockburn celebrates excellent GCSE results

Pupils from Cockburn achieved excellent results this summer against a national and local backdrop that saw exams get harder and a fall in the number of students achieving the top grades.

The school is celebrating getting its highest ever exam results with

almost 58% of students achieving 5 A* - C including English and maths.

Progress students make at Cockburn is exceptional and continues to be much higher than national averages.

The Government's new measure of school performance is Progress 8 and current calculations indicate

that it is likely that yet again, the Department for Education will recognise Cockburn for their excellent progress compared to other schools nationally.

Some pupils in Year 11 achieved above and beyond with grade A* - A in at least 8 subjects this year. Special congratulations go to one student in particular, Nadia Begum achieved A* in 9 GCSE qualifications.

Dave Westwell, Chair of Governors at Cockburn School wrote to the staff at Cockburn praising their “true team effort in producing these results”. He went on to say “Thank you once again on behalf of all those young people who have benefitted greatly by being a part of Cockburn for the past five years. I'm very confident that your commitment and effort on behalf of the next year groups coming through will be just as great”.

Leeds City College has partnered with Young Enterprise and Johnson & Johnson’s Bridge to Employment initiative to deliver a three-year project with The South Leeds Academy.

The project will give 48 students the opportunity to experience a range of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) subjects, in partnership with Johnson & Johnson companies such as DePuy Synthes, Janssen Pharmaceutical, LifeScan and Noramco. aim of the The programme is to provide academic enrichment for students, encourage them to pursue health and sciences careers, whilst providing them with opportunities to explore further and higher education in an interactive

Students from South Leeds Academy with staff from Johnson & Johnson and inclusive environment.

The students will benefit from residential trips, master classes, museum visits and college tours to enhance their learning experience and broaden their understanding of educational options for the future.

Danielle Choma, Transition and Engagement Manager at Leeds City College, said: “We’re really excited about this project as it will give pupils a taste of life after secondary school and bring to light the many

different STEM routes they can pursue.

“We’ll be providing career lectures, introductions to higher education as well as fun sessions at our astronomy STAR centre and our engineering Fab Lab, all part of the state of the art facilities at Keighley College.”

Leeds City College has a strong relationship with South Leeds Academy and has worked closely with staff and students over the years to deliver a number of student events.

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South Leeds Life | October 2016

10 News

In our view

New schools

This month we cover two stories about new high schools.

Buildings are only one part of a school, but an important prerequisite to a good education.

The Ruth Gorse Academy now has the buildings to help them deliver the top quality education they promise. It’s early days for Cockburn’s new free school, but we hope they can find the right site and build to a similar standard.

Traveller encampments

As promised last month we have published a more in depth look at the issue of Gypsies and Travellers within the South Leeds community. We don’t pretend to have the answers, but this is an important issue that won’t go away. South Leeds Life is keen to help keep the debate going, so please send us your views and comments.

Treble Gold

Beeston went one better than Mo Farah, winning three golds in the Yorkshire in Bloom awards. Well done Beeston in Bloom, Park Fisheries and Cross Flatts Park.

Some people scoff that there are far more pressing issues than hanging baskets, but we say any group that brings people together, improves the environment and boosts community pride has got to be a good thing.

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Your letters and comments

Top Tweets

Travellers

It’s a shame that LCC seems not to take into consideration the rights of all, especially when it comes to the residents of the 'New Builds' on Holbeck Moor Rd. Why is it also that when planning the 'New Housing Project' that it was not taken into consideration any effects of the 'Travellers' visits would have on those now residing in the new homes.

I would be interested in their views as to why the encampment was allowed to take place in the first place, especially as it is a frequent occurance to the area.

It would also be interesting in their views as to why so much public money is spent on the 'temporary' court orders, cleanups, skips, portaloos but to not be able to direct these monies to an immediate solution of 'fencing' the area off to stop the recurrence of the encampments.

I believe it is up to each local council at the same time as protecting its residents to provide suitable stop points for 'Travellers'. Therefore why is it that I read in one post that LCC apparently knew of the last visit to the area due to a 'Horse Fayre'. If this is the case, why did LCC fail in its duty to provide suitable provisions for this visit.

Andy Head I have never had a problem with the Travellers: they are nice people, I've spoken to them loads.

But I do have a problem with the total mess they leave, and them destroying the hard work Holbeck in Bloom has done.

But it's not just Travellers: two days before they arrived, some Holbeck residents rode

quad bikes all over the 'Holbeck' flowerbed. And the moor is a total tip anyway, with rubbish and dog crap everywhere. I see both sides of the coin on this one.

Vicki Blake

Every time Travellers have taken up camp in the area, they have absolutely zero respect for anything or anyone. They are now having things like portaloos and skips provided on pop up sites (at OUR cost) but still tip rubbish all over, intimidate local residents, make loads of noise in the middle of the night and literally shit on your doorstep. There are no excuses for their behaviour time after time. And you wonder why people round here don't trust them or give them the benefit of the doubt?

Stephen Priestley

Harry Jepson

I am very sad to hear of the passing of Mr Jepson. He taught me at Cottingley School where he was an inspirational teacher. He gave me a love of books and of reading. He was really skilled at reading to the class and adopting various voices of the characters in the likes of The 39 Steps & The History of Mr Polly.

He also passed on his love of Rugby League and particularly Hunslet. His Monday morning ritual was cutting out the match reports of Hunslets weekend game from the “Green ‘un” for his scrap book “pass me the Gloy” was the cry!

I can still picture his green Austin A35 chugging past me on Cottingley Drive on our way to school. So many happy memories.

Thank you Mr Jepson.

Martin Teale

Your Councillors and MP Beeston & Holbeck ward

Includes Beeston from Cross Flatts Park up to the Co-op, Cottingley, old Holbeck. The three councillors are:

David Congreve 0113 257 1679 david.congreve@leeds.gov.uk Angela Gabriel 07946 632 468 angela.gabriel@leeds.gov.uk Adam Ogilvie 07969 680 024 adam.ogilvie@leeds.gov.uk

City & Hunslet ward Includes the city centre, Holbeck Urban Village, Beeston Hill and Hunslet. The three councillors are:

Patrick Davey 0113 267 1282 patrick.davey@leeds.gov.uk Mohammed Iqbal 0113 226 8796 mohammed.iqbal@leeds.gov.uk 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 247 7761 judith.blake@leeds.gov.uk 07891 741 832 kim.groves@leeds.gov.uk 0113 247 6922 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

My 100th Parkrun

Fantastic write up by Amanda, known to her friends as MiniBird. I have known Amanda and her husband for more years than I can remember going back when a group of us would meet up to watch Hunslet Hawks.

I went to Mini Bird’s party, when Amanda passed all her exams to be a Nurse, now a Nursing Sister.

I would like to thank Phil in organising the bunting and pictures, video on u-tube.

Thanks, Betty for making the cake and Ray her husband for taking some fantastic photos.

There are far too many people to thank personally you know who you are. Thank you all.

Week after that will be back at

Clearing up on Holbeck Moor Cross Flatts parkrun as a marshal and take photos for the annual Christmas party.

Take care see you all soon.

Ken Ingram

New shopping centre

I'm not against some development, but I don't see how a large retail park can be passed when a supermarket was rejected.

They would certainly need to plan further exits and entrances, the roundabout is already congested.

John Mace

Letter from America

Greetings from California. I used to live on Westland Road until I moved here in ‘79. I was wondering if you have any info on the mine that used to be at the end of Westland Road? It is now an industrial estate, but when I was a kid we would go up there and scale the walls and look down the shaft. The really brave kids would walk around the top of it. It was walled off, but not very securely. The office building were still up then too. This was the late ‘60s.

We also used to hop on the steam train that used to run. Now it is covered and filled. Used to ride up to the Rex cinema then walk home.

It all looks so different now. There is a sports centre where there used to be a lake, looking towards Bell Isle ? We used to go rafting on it.

Last time I was there, 2010 I was walking along the South Leeds Golf Club and noticed an old cobblestone road that was been taken over by the vegetation. Would it be possible to save it ? It runs parallel to the par 3 third hole. It is part of the history of the area.

Steve Thompson

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

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: @groves_kim Friends of Middleton Park another successful event.

Great turnout in South Leeds.

Thanks for all your hard work @LCC_employment Interested in Retail? 'Get Ready for Retail' starts soon at The Point @whiteroseleeds Call 0113 2776124 to book a place and find out more @T_S_L_A Are you an ex-student of TSLA? Is your career path interesting? Please let us know. @slunglowalan Signs cropping up all over Holbeck. Walk around the town and read it's tales @KidzKlubLeeds Lovely to be back in St Luke's Primary School today - talking about how we can make a positive difference in our city. #SouthLeeds @slpsleeds #Paralympic sport @JCCS_Leeds #welldone Sharp Lane Primary

@bitcsouthleeds So, my last day with @BITC as a #connector. It's been a privilege to work in #southLeeds. Thx for engaging with the project. Hope it helped! @LCC_employment Need any support with #jobsearch or developing your #skills? The Point @whiteroseleeds is the place to be whiterose.co.uk/thepoint @HunsMoorPrimary Was great for year 5 and 6 to hear all about @RGallantree's successes in diving. Some real inspiration, thank you!

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St Luke’s CARES is a registered charity (1097720) and all proceeds from the shop support our community based ac!vi!es. For more informa!on about our work, visit www.stlukescares.org.uk or find us on Facebook: St Luke’s CARES charity shops

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South Leeds Life | October 2016

12 News

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The butterfly and the bee

by Andrea Edwards and Jeremy Morton

It was that greatest of sportsmen Mohammed Ali who coined the phrase “Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee.” Now two young women at the Hunslet Club are epitomising that saying.

At age 11, Abby Briggs has already been boxing for six years. She has just spent the summer attending Yorkshire Boxing training camps and has been selected to join the Yorkshire Girls Team.

Abby took up boxing at the club aged 5 because her brother Jack did it. She also tried gymnastics, which mum Shelley coached, and rugby, which her dad Carl coached.

She won most outstanding player in the Under 7s rugby squad two years running, but it is boxing she has

committed to.

This year has seen her first competitive fight. Although winners are not declared at this age, it was clear that she had won the bout easily. In July she joined the rest of the Hunslet Club boxing team on their trip to Dublin to participate in the Monkstown Cup. Her skills bout was stopped after the

first round as she was too powerful for her opponent.

Life isn’t all about boxing for Abby, although she trains four nights a week, she also finds time to spend with friends and enjoys visits to the family’s caravan. She did well in her SATS tests at school and has just started at Cockburn School.

Her ambition is to be a professional boxer, but that doesn’t happen she would like to train as a physiotherapist.

Meanwhile, upstairs from the boxing gym in the dance studio you will find another young woman, equally as determined as Abby.

Darcy-Leigh Telford has been talent spotted by the Northern Ballet Darcy-Leigh Telford Theatre and recently

Abby Briggs hard at work in the boxing gym starred in their end of year show.

Her career at The Hunslet Club started even earlier than Abby’s. Darcy-Leigh took part in Football4Tots aged just 3. Again she was following in the steps of her brother Kieran and helped by football coach dad, Shane.

She tried Hip-Hop next and it was suggested she try ballet. She didn’t like it at first – it was “too girlie.” But by the time she was 8

most of her friends had taken it up so she gave a second go and this time she really enjoyed it.

She tried out for Northern Ballet Theatre after the Hunslet Club’s summer show was held at their theatre last year. She loves the great teachers at NBT and the advice they offer. DarcyLeigh’s sticking with ballet - she likes the elegance of the movement and she loves to

perform.

At school she enjoys writing and science and is looking forward to her time at Royds School. She would like to be a professional dancer, but if that doesn’t work out she would like to be a midwife.

Remember the names: Abby Briggs and Darcy-Leigh Telford, we expect to hear a lot more of them in the future.

A Belle Isle garden party

Belle Isle Elderly Winter Aid (BIEWA) held a Garden Party at their 59 Centre on Wednesday 21 September to celebrate the end of Summer.

The event was sponsored by Councillor Paul Truswell through his MICE money allocation, and we are most grateful to Paul for enabling us to host this event.

Paul reminded the attendees that this was BIEWA’s 30th Anniversary Year, and that we were proud to have been the first Elderly Aid Neighbourhood Network Charity to be set up in Leeds.

There were several games to play, a buffet lunch, and a singer Jeff Grayson to conclude the event. The weather was kind to us and everybody enjoyed the event.

Councillor Kim Groves also attended the event, and was pleased at the number of people that had come along to the Garden Party.

BIEWA will be celebrating the

Cllr Truswell chats to BIEWA members International Day of Older People on Wednesday 5 October at 59 Belle Isle Circus. You are invited to come along for stalls, games, activities and a buffet lunch.

Later in the month BIEWA will be holding their Annual General Meeting at the BITMO GATE centre (Aberfield Gate). The meeting takes place on 19

October from 10:30am, light refreshments will be served.

The group also organise Day Trips; Theatre Trips; Exercise Classes; Lunch Club; Knitting Group; Social Groups; Coastal Holidays; Home Visits; and a Befriending Scheme.

For more information or to book onto these events please ring 0113 277 8208.

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Arts 13

Email: info@southleedslife.com

Learn ‘How To...’ at Slung Low theatre

Hallowe’en arrives early in Holbeck on Sunday 2 October as Slung Low join in with the nation’s Fun Palaces by bringing you their 5th How To...Festival : Bride of The Fun Palace of Fear.

A day of macabre performances, demonstrations, activities and food with Nunkie Theatre, Harrison Richards, Joe Lidster, Handheld Arts, Doug and Manjit’s Thompson Kitchen.

And because it’s the How To... Festival you can learn new skills in £paywhatyoudecide

creative workshops though out the day; learn how to make the entertainment and the food.

No experience necessary!

11am Cooking with Manjit Wondering what to do with all those scooped out pumpkins? Back by popular demand, Manjit’s Kitchen lead a workshop where she demonstrates how to cook delicious vegetarian Indian dishes and curries, and you can then have a go at creating them yourselves – all ingredients and equipment are provided for you.

2pm Scripting Suspense Radio & TV writer Joe Lidster (Torchwood, The Sarah Jane Adventures, Wizards Vs Aliens, Hetty Feather) shares scriptwriting secrets. Learn how to create

October 2016 | South Leeds Life

intrigue, master suspense and find out how to make characters truly creepy!

3pm Horror-gami Lanterns with Handheld Arts Make a spooky papercut silhouette Halloween lantern with Handheld Arts.

This workshop is suitable for ages 10+ and will involve participants working independently with a craft knife. All materials will be provided. All creations can be taken home.

4pm “Zipper-Face” Horror Make Up Get a “head” start on your Hallowe’en fancy dress outfit, as theatre artist Douglas Thompson returns to the HUB to show you how to master the “zipper face” horror make up.

5pm Harrison Richards – The Perceptionist Harrison Richard’s skills will amaze and delight – taking you on a journey into the unknown that will leave you lucky, lucky

people genuinely open mouthed in amazement.

6pm Dinner from Manjit’s Kitchen and refreshments from the HUB’s £1 bar (free tea and coffee) and live music from Rory Scammell and his Hurdy Gurdy!

7pm The Time Machine Nunkie, the company behind the acclaimed M R James Project, brings H G Wells’ science fiction classic to life in another thrilling one-man show.

Slung Low's artistic director Alan Lane said: "Our regular How To...Festivals are extremely popular, and tying in last year’s Halloween-themed How To Festival with the nation’s Fun Palace initiatives proved so popular that it’s brilliant to be able to repeat the theme.

We are delighted to welcome back a wealth of national talent to Holbeck as well as hosting new artists for the first time.

www.southleedslife.com

South Leeds Life | October 2016

14 What’s On

What’s On

Your guide to events and activities across South Leeds in October Every Monday Swimming 9:45am Holbeck Elderly Aid Happy Chinese Families Gp 9:30am-12pm Beeston Village Community Centre General fitness for over 55's 11:30am-12:30pm St Andrews Community Centre, Beeston.

Lunch Club 12:30pm Salvation Army, Hunslet Hall Road, Beeston Men’s games group 1-3pm Belle Isle WMC Learning Disability Advice 1-3pm Connect In the North, Bridge House, Balm Rd, Hunslet Bumps and Buggy Fit 1:30-2:30pm Middleton Park Visitor Centre Triathlon Training 4:15-5:45pm Middleton Park Bike Hub Keep Fit 4:15-5pm BITMOs GATE, Aberfield Gate, Belle Isle Kickboxing 6-9pm Beeston Parish Centre, Town Street This Girl Can Run 6.15pm Middleton Bike Hub, Ring Road, Middleton St Matthew’s Youth Club 6:30-8:30pm St Matthew’s Community Centre, Holbeck Zumba 7pm Middleton Parochial Hall Prize Bingo 7-9:30pm Beeston Parish Centre, Town Street Middle Tones Singing Group 7-9pm Tenants Hall Enterprise Centre, Acre Close, Middleton Every Tuesday Keep Fit for over 55’s 9:30am Trinity Network, Belle Isle, Nesfield church hall General fitness over 55's 10-11am St Anthony's church hall, Beeston South Leeds Life News Cafe 10am-12pm Brew Coffee Shop, Beeston Road Singing Group 10:30-11:30am St Matthew’s

Community Centre, Holbeck Knit & Natter 10:30am-12pm Middleton Park Visitor Centre Chair based mobility session 11.30am-1pm Cottingley Community Centre Lunch Club 12:15-1:30pm St Matthew’s Community Centre, Holbeck Lunch Club 12:30pm Salvation Army, Hunslet Hall Road, Beeston Rainbows, Brownies, Guides 4:30-9:15pm Beeston Parish Centre, Town Street Skate Light 6-8pm Middleton Community Centre South Leeds Lakers running 7pm from Beeston Co-op Every Wednesday Parents and Toddlers 9:15am-12pm Beeston Parish Centre, Town Street Pop Up Council Services 9:30am-2:30pm Cottingley Community Centre Chair mobility 10-10:45am Trinity Network, Belle Isle, Nesfield church hall Breaklfast Club & Foodbank 10am-12pm Hunslet Methodist Church, Telford Terrace Computer Club 10am-12pm Holbeck Elderly Aid, Balm Walk Shopping Trip 10am-1pm Holbeck Elderly Aid, Balm Walk 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 Free Zumba 12-12:45pm Middleton Leisure Centre Lunch Club 12:30pm Salvation Army,

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

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

Hunslet Hall Road, Beeston Beginners Yoga 1:30-2:15 Building Blocks, Tempest Road, Beeston Line Dancing 1:45pm Trinity Network, Nesfield Road, Belle Isle Knit and Crochet Group 3-5pm Costa Coffee, Crown Point Retail Park Aerobics and Dance 3:30-4:30pm Cottingley Primary Academy DAZL Dance class 5-6pm Cottingley Community Centre Basic Bike Maintenance Class 6-8pm Middleton Bike Hub, Ring Road, Middleton General fitness 6:15-7:15pm Belle Isle Family Centre Cottingley Youth Club 6:30-8:30pm Cottingley Community Centre Zumba 6:30pm Middleton Parochial Hall, Town Street Martial Arts 7-9pm Beeston Juniors, Cardinal Square South Leeds Sisters running 7.15pm Improvers Middleton Park Club House, Ring Road Clubbercise 7:30-8:30pm St John & St Barnabus Church Hall, Belle Isle Camera Club 8pm upstairs at St George’s Centre, Middleton Every Thursday Charity Shop 9:30am-3pm Beeston Parish Centre, Town Street Heart Cafe 10-11:30am St Matthew’s Community Centre, Holbeck Middleton Park Estate Volunteers 10am-3pm Middleton Park Visitor Centre Chair based mobility group 11:15am-12:30pm Beeston Village Community Ctr Lunch Club 12:30pm Salvation Army, Hunslet Hall Road, Beeston Line Dancing 1pm Trinity Network, Nesfield Road, Belle Isle Digital Photography Club 1-3pm Tenants Hall, Acre Close, Middleton Craft Group 1:30-3:30pm Cleveleys Court, Holbeck Mashed up fitness session aerobic dance 1:45-2:45pm Beeston Village Community Centre Women only running with South Leeds Sisters 5.45pm Intermediates Middleton Park Bike Hub Indoor Bowls 7-10pm The Holbeck (WMC), Jenkinson Lawn Youth Drop In 7-9pm Watsonian Pavilion,

Cross Flatts Park Clubbercise 7:30-8:30pm Cottingley Community Centre Zumba 7:15pm Middleton Parochial Hall Every Friday Tea & Toast 9am Beeston Parish Centre, Town Street Charity Shop, Tea & Toast 9am-12pm Beeston Hill United Free Church, Malvern Road South Leeds Life News Cafe 9-11am BITMOs GATE, Aberfield Gate, Belle Isle Under 5s Storytime 10-11am Dewsbury Road Library Ladies Singing Group 10:30am-12:30pm Tenant Hall, Acre Close, Middleton Luncheon Club 12-1:30pm Beeston Parish Centre, Town Street In Harmony Community Choir 12:15-1pm Windmill Primary School, Belle Isle Fish & Chip Lunch Club 12:30-1:30pm St Matthew’s Community Centre, Holbeck Krok Po Kroku (Polish Gp) 12:30-2:30pm Beeston Village Community Centre Games Afternoon 1:30-3pm St Matthew’s Community Centre, Holbeck Vintage Teas 2-5pm Gipsy Rose Cafe, South Leeds Golf Club (booking req) Urban Dance 4pm Cockburn School Holbeck Skate Park 5-6:30pm Holbeck Moor Martial Arts 6-7pm Beeston Parish Centre Friday Night Project 6-9pm Middleton Leisure Centre Every Saturday Breakfast Club 8:30-11am Vale Circles Centre, Tunstall Road, Beeston Cross Flatts Parkrun 9am Watsonian Pavilion, Cross Flatts Park Coffee morning 9am-12pm Beeston Parish Centre, Town Street Police Contact Point 9:30-11:30am St George’s Centre, Middleton Middleton Railway 11am-4:30pm, Moor Road, Hunslet Every Sunday Middleton Railway 11am-4:30pm, Moor Road, Hunslet Saturday 1 October Macmillan Coffee Morning 10am-12pm St Andrew’s Church, Old Lane, Beeston Community Barn Dance 7pm Parocial Hall, North

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Lingwell Road, Middleton Sunday 2 October Indoor Car Boot Sale 9am-1pm Middleton Leisure Centre, Ring Road Middleton How To ... Festival 11am-9pm Slung Low Theatre, 67-71 Bath Road, Holbeck Harrison Richards - The Perceptionist 5-6pm Slung Low Theatre, 67-71 Bath Road, Holbeck Tuesday 4 October Mostly Men 10am-12pm Northcotes Community Centre Friends of Stank Hall Barn 7:30pm The Broadway pub, Dewsbury Road Wednesday 5 October Hunslet Memories 12-2pm Garden Gate pub, Whitfield Place, Hunslet Open Evening 3:30-6pm The South Leeds Academy, Old Run Road Bus Service Consultation 4-7pm Belle Isle WMC Women’s Cycling 6-7pm Middleton Park Club House, Ring Road Hunslet Tenants & Residents 6:30-8pm Church of the Nazarene, Grove Road Thursday 6 October Mountain Trikes 11am-3pm Middleton Park Club House, Ring Road Hunslet Carr Residents Ass 6:30pm Community Centre, Woodhouse Hill Avenue Beeston Community Forum 7:30pm Beeston Village Community Centre Saturday 8 October Open Day 10am-1pm The Ruth Gorse Academy, Black Bull Street Holbeck in Bloom 11am The Holbeck Club, Jenkinson Lawn Big Green Open Day 11am-4pm Skelton Grange Environment Centre Sunday 9 October Sunday Lunch 1-3pm Ingram Gardens Community Centre, Holbeck 64 Squares 5-6pm Slung Low Theatre, 67-71 Bath Road, Holbeck Tuesday 11 October Social Run Group 10-11am Middleton Park Visitor Centre City & Hunslet Neighbourhood Improvement Board 6-8pm Hamara Centre, Tempest Road, Beeston Beeston Local History Soc 8pm Beeston Parish Centre, Town Street Friday 14 October Holbeck Beer Festival

6-11pm The Holbeck club, Jenkinson Lawn Saturday 15 October Ramblers 9am Beeston St Mary’s church Leeds Young Archaeologists Club 10am-12pm Middleton Park Visitor Centre Holbeck Beer Festival 12-11pm The Holbeck club, Jenkinson Lawn Sunday 16 October Shooting With Light 5-6:15pm Slung Low Theatre, 67-71 Bath Road, Holbeck Monday 17 October St Luke’s Tenants & Residents 6pm St Luke’s Church, Malvern Road, Beeston Tuesday 18 October Learning How To Die 7:30pm Slung Low Theatre, 67-71 Bath Road, Holbeck Thursday 20 October Comics Club!

3:15-4:45pm Dewsbury Road Library Saturday 22 October Holbeck Feast Cafe 9-11am Ingram Gardens Community Centre, Holbeck Sunday 23 October BITMO Lunch Club 1-3pm BITMO’s GATE, Aberfield Gate, Belle Isle Maltings Lunch Club 1-3pm Maltings Court, Maltings Road, Beeston Apple Day 2-4pm Middleton Park Visitor Centre, off Town Street Monday 24 October Activity Camp 8:45am-3pm Hunslet Club Tuesday 25 October Activity Camp 8:45am-3pm Hunslet Club Free Children’s Activities 1-3pm Middleton Park Visitor Centre, off Town Street White Rose Residents Assoc 6pm Two Willows Children’s Centre, Cardinal Sq, Beeston Wednesday 26 October Activity Camp 8:45am-3pm Hunslet Club Middleton Railway 11am-4:30pm, Moor Road, Hunslet Free Children’s Activities 1-3pm Middleton Park Visitor Centre, off Town Street Cop Shop Memory Cafe 1-3pm Elland Road Police HQ Thursday 27 October Activity Camp 8:45am-3pm Hunslet Club Friday 28 October Activity Camp 8:45am-3pm Hunslet Club Sunday 30 October HP Lovecraft’s Polaris 5-6:15pm Slung Low Theatre, 67-71 Bath Road, Holbeck

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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Holbeck in Bloom are calling a crisis meeting, asking Holbeck residents to join the group and help out in their work improving the local environment.

The group has dwindled in recent years and few of the members now live in Holbeck.

“If we don’t get some new blood, I’m afraid we will have to call it a day” said Secretary Ian Pickup.

Over the last ten years Holbeck in Bloom has worked with Leeds City Council on a range of scheme’s including raised beds, bulb planting on

What’s On | Obituary 15

Email: info@southleedslife.com

Can you help save Holbeck in Bloom?

the moor and improving a green walking corridor into the city centre.

“You don’t need greenfingers to get involved” explains Ian. “You just need a sense of community pride and a willingness to get involved and give up a few hours of your time every month.”

The meeting is being held at The Holbeck club, Jenkinson Lawn on Saturday 8 October starting at 11am.

If you want to get involved but cannot attend the meeting, please contact Holbeck in Bloom via Facebook.

Your travel Harry Jepson OBE Your say Hunslet’s Mr Rugby

The West Yorkshire Combined Authority (WYCA) is holding a drop-in session at the Belle Isle Working Mens Club on Wednesday 5th October from 47pm.

Representatives from WYCA and First will be available to talk about your local bus service.

You will also be able to have your say on the future of bus services and transport throughout West Yorkshire. Full details of the Bus Strategy and Transport Plan consultation are available via our website www.yourtravelyour say.co.uk.

Join the Big Green weekend at TCV Skelton Grange

The Conservation Volunteers in Leeds have been very busy of late, working with a brilliant bunch of volunteers to create a new vegetable garden, a bare foot trail, new meadows, installing bee hives and bird boxes and generally having a fantastic time.

They plan to celebrate these achievements by flinging open the doors at Skelton Grange and inviting the people of Leeds and Yorkshire for an Open Day on Saturday, 8th October 2016 as part of The Conservation Volunteers’ Big Green Weekend.

This special open day is a great opportunity for the people of Leeds to find out what Skelton Grange has to offer and to get close to nature through a huge range of activities.

There’ll be green woodworking, bushcraft skills, campfire cooking, spoon carving, bike maintenance workshops, circus skills, fête games, locally brewed beer, dragon fired pizzas, homemade cakes, tea & coffee, music, art, craft activities, bee keeping, badminton, table tennis, pond dipping, minibeast hunting plus more activities to be confirmed!

October 2016 | South Leeds Life

Pond dipping at Skelton Grange Environment Centre Ralph Walker, Administrator at Skelton Grange Environment Centre said: “We’d like to take this opportunity to thank our amazing team of volunteers for all the hard work they have put into the project over the past year. We’ve been tremendously busy with new developments across the site and we’d like to invite the public to come and see what we’ve been up to and find out a little more about The Conservation Volunteers’ charitable work.

If you can’t make it on Saturday the

8th October for the Open Day, you can get involved by attending a training course, joining in as a volunteer, booking a child onto one of our very popular school holiday events or, If you have nerves of steel, you could even book a group onto our special Zombie Adventure nights running from the 27th October!”

The Skelton Grange Open Day will run from 11am until 4pm. Like us on Facebook to keep updated: www.facebook.com/Skelton GrangeEnvironmentCentre.

Hunslet Hawks have published the following obituary of Harry Jepson OBE: It is with much sadness that we learned yesterday of the death of former club secretary Harry Jepson OBE, aged 96.

Awarded an OBE for his long, distinguished service to the code, Harry Jepson spent a lifetime in the sport of Rugby League.

Harry was born in the heart of Hunslet and first visited his beloved Parkside in the late 1920s to watch the famous myrtle and flame, one of his earliest heroes being Jack Walkington.

work as Chairman Jack Myerscough’s right hand man and fixer with initial responsibilities for the second team.

He was a key presence in the newlyinstituted Colts League and was the Chairman of it until 1988, one of the highlights of his time in the sport being when he managed the sole Colts Tour to Papua New Guinea and Australia in 1982. He was elected as one of the inaugural members of the Rugby Football League Board of Directors, which took over the strategic running of the sport from the RL Council, on which he was Leeds’ representative from 1983.

Harry Jepson OBE As a schoolboy he won a Scholarship to the renowned Cockburn High School and, having passed his matriculations, went to work at Leeds City Council’s Education Department in their Medical section.

Enlisted at the start of the Second World War, he joined the Duke of Wellington’s Regiment and then the Royal Army Service Corps, seeing active duty in North Africa and Southern Italy.

Trained as a school teacher on his return, he was seconded to the famous League-playing Bewerley Street School where he came under the wing of the Headmaster there, Edgar Meeks, the Hunslet chairman.

He became involved in looking after the under 11s, then the under 13s and eventually the Senior side at the school while also becoming Secretary of the Hunslet Schools Rugby League Association and involved in County Rugby League at that level. He was also seconded by Hunslet Secretary George Richardson to lend a hand at Parkside, receiving an official appointment as Assistant Secretary and, in 1963, becoming Secretary.

His teaching work took him to Cottingley Junior Mixed School and then Rodley before ending his days in education as Deputy Head at Clapgate School for the final 14 years of his professional working life.

He remained at Hunslet for seven years, joining Leeds in the late 60s to

He became Football Director at Leeds in the mid 80s using his extensive knowledge and contacts worldwide to help rebuild the side, signing players such as established Kangaroo internationals Eric Grothe, Wally Fullerton-Smith and Peter Tunks while the likes of Andrew Ettingshausen, Tony Currie and Peter Jackson subsequently went on to represent their country.

He chaired the Council meeting that discussed the offer to implement Super League and was heavily involved in the formation of French club Paris St Germain, who entered the competition on its launch in 1996, his passion for French RL stoked by meeting Jean Galia at Headingley in 1934 when an impressionable schoolboy.

He was President of Leeds and a noted ambassador for the club and the sport, he was also Chairman of the Rugby League Conference, the competition which helped spread the game throughout England, Scotland and Wales in the summer, the sides in the Premier Divisions contesting the Harry Jepson Trophy.

Last month Harry was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Education from Leeds Beckett University, and received a standing ovation from the graduating students at the ceremony.

Our thoughts and prays go out to Harry’s family at this sad time. RIP

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South Leeds Life | October 2016

16 Sport

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Hawks final season fades away

by Jeremy Morton & Nathan Kirk Hunslet completed their last season as ‘Hawks’ with a heartbreaking loss to Toulouse, then bookended their season with a second loss at Rochdale.

Hunslet will be back next season as Hunslet RLFC, having dropped the ‘Hawks’ moniker in a back-to-thefuture rebrand that draws on the traditions of the grand old club.

In their second to last game Hunslet had the seemingly impossible task of beating the unbeaten Toulouse club to keep their season alive. Amazingly their push for the playoffs continued until the 79th minute. Then Toulouse ran the length of the pitch to snuff out Hunslet’s season.

The first half started well for Hunslet, Richie Barnett scoring a great try before Toulouse hit back with one of their own. But Toulouse ended the half well, Tony Maurel adding to Kuni Minga’s earlier try to mean they led 10-6 at half time.

The second half was points

Danny Ansell in action against Rochdale. Photo: Phoenix Photography wise all square, however Hunslet undoubtedly were the better outfit. Scoring very early through a George Flanagan scoot, Hunslet looked the more controlled side – Toulouse’s few chances being blighted by errors.

However, in virtually the final minute of the match, a fantastic try took Toulouse home with the points.

The final game was a trip across the Pennines to Rochdale on 11 September.

Hunslet fell short in the final match of the season and the last as the ‘Hawks’ against Rochdale Hornets at the Crown Oil Arena, losing 3418.

The first half started

perfectly for Rochdale and continued that way for them to post a 16 point lead through three tries. The score stayed at 16-0 for the rest of a bad- tempered half as 5 sin binnings saw Hunslet down to 11 men and Rochdale to 10 for part of the game.

The second period was more evenly contested, Hunslet looking at one point like making up the deficit.

Tries for Danny Ansell, Jack Lee and Richie Barnett meant Hunslet trailed by just 6 points half way through the second stanza before a Samir Tahraoui try turned the tide.

A strong period near to the end of the match gave

Rochdale the win before a consolation try from Danny Ansell saw Hunslet bow out in style.

Hunslet’s season has been characterised by inconsistency. They have shown real flair at times and the ability to manage a game, but then they’ve let the opposition back in and lost points.

The 2017 season will see a new (old) name, a new crest and strip and perhaps most importantly, a new coach.

James Coyle returns to South Leeds Stadium, this time as coach,having been part of the side that won promotion to the Championship in 2014.

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Hunslet Club’s ‘Messy Mile’ The Hunslet Club held their first ever Messy Mile on Sunday 18 September.

Parents and children were encouraged to run the mile cousre together and share the fun of getting messy, covered with powder paints.

It was a beautiful sunny day for the 70 participants who were raising funds for the club’s arts programmes dance, gymnastics, and pantomime. the exersion After afternoon tea served in the hall whilst the Hunslet Club senior dance squads performed to parents.

The club would like to thank Sainsburys Middleton Park who provided fruit and juice for all participants

Participants at the end of The Hunslet Club’s first Messy Mile

Ken’s 100th Parkrun Parkside promotion

by Amanda Binns

Ken Ingram is an active member of the community in South Leeds, he regularly attends charity and community events. He also organises a weekly walk around Belle Isle and Middleton. On a Saturday morning he can usually be found running and walking his way around Cross Flatts Parkrun.

On Saturday 17 September he completed his 100th parkrun. It was also his last parkrun due to a long standing injury. He won’t be stopping altogether though as he plans to continue attending as a volunteer.

There was a real party atmosphere at Cross Flatts with banners, balloons, cakes and chocolate. The run director included Ken’s

Ken Ingram

achievement in his pre run speech, Ken also said a few words to thank people who had supported him along the way.

Ken attended parkrun for the first time on 22 March 2014, he finished in 58 minutes 44 seconds. His fastest ever time was 44 minutes which is a great improvement. This week he finished in 49 minutes and 47 seconds. Ken’s achievements are made even more impressive due to him

having to cope with a number of health problems, he has soldiered through at times when I personally would have stayed in bed.

All the regulars at Cross Flatts know Ken and the faster runners could be heard to shout words of encouragement as they passed him. A lot of the runners waited at the finish line to greet him, he was cheered over the line by a crowd of runners and volunteers. The finish straight was lined with wellwishers all cheering for him.

That is the spirit of parkrun, friendliness and support and I’m sure the pioneers would be very proud to see the support given week on week.

With a 20-8 win in the playoff final against Shaw Cross Sharks, Hunslet Club Parkside secured a second promotion in successive

seasons.

Not only that, the club are aklso contesting the final of the Kingstone Press Conference Trophy Final against Rochdale

Mayfield in Manchester on 8 October.

The club have already filled four supporters coaches as rugby fever grips South Leeds.

Hunslet Club Parkside on the attack. Photo: Phoenix Photography