South Leeds Life 23 Nov16

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Issue 23 | November 2016

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

Community solidarity

In this issue:

Apple Day in Cottingley

page 4

Park View’s new school slide

page 9

Community rallies round following tragic murder Beeston woke up on Friday 14 October to the tragic news that 17 year old Sophie Smith was dead and her six week old son, Harrison, was an orphan.

Police were called to an address in Tempest Road, Beeston, shortly before 5am following a call from the amublance service who were attending to a 17-year-old woman with serious injuries.

Sophie Smith was pronounced dead on arrival at hospital and Morgan Banks (18) has since been charged with her murder.

Now the community has rallied round to support the family, first raising over £2,000

for Sophie’s funeral via a Just Giving page.

Then holding a cake sale at Dewsbury Road Tesco on 22 October.

A fundraising evening has been organised by Leanne Mitchell and Leoni Boyes. The event takes place at the Tommy Wass pub on Dewsbury Road on Saturday 5 November, starting at 5pm.

As well as food, fireworks and face painter, there will be a prize raffle and an appearance from an X Factor contestant.

Back on Tempest Road, flowers, candles and messages have been left outside the house by friends, family and well wishers.

Neon Dolls light up rock scene

page 8

Flowers outside the property on Tempest Road. Photo: Jeremy Morton

Community co-ordinates refugee aid for Iraq This last month saw the third annual Samara's Aid appeal (formerly Leeds 2 Iraq) in Beeston.

Over 1,900 boxes of donations were gathered at the former Holy Spirit church on Tempest Road from across northern England.

They were sorted and loaded onto lorries by over 80 local volunteers, of all creeds

and races, and then shipped off to wintry refugee camps in northern Iraq.

Organisers recently heard from partners on the ground who said: “"I want to thank all these great people who gave, collected, packed and donated.

I am sure the clothes and blankets you sent us will warm our bodies this winter in Syria.

But what you did warmed our hearts with the love and care you put in this container.Thank you from the heart."

Image shows youngsters from the Beeston Space project who helped sort and load the donations. Photo by Ed Carlisle.

You can find further info at: www.facebook.com/ leeds2iraqappeal.

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

Cup final thriller NEWS

PLANNING SCHOOLS

FEEDBACK ARTS

page 12 p2-6

p8

p9

p10

p12-13

WHAT’S!ON p14-15 SPORT!

p16

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South Leeds Life | November 2016

2 News

Twitter: @SouthLeedsLife

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

Contact us Email: info@southleedslife.com Facebook: www.facebook.com/ southleedslife Twitter: @SouthLeedsLife Phone: 07894 583966

Local regeneration, local jobs and local history

by Hilary Benn MP It is not often that we get the chance as a city to decide on a major regeneration scheme on a really important site, but that is exactly what is happening on the south bank of the River Aire.

The South Bank Regeneration Initiative covers an area of land as big as 250 football pitches and according to the Council will “double the size of Leeds city centre.” Among the proposals being looked at are a new park and other public open spaces, a new station for HS2, improved public transport and proposals for 35,000 jobs and 4,000 much-needed new homes.

The type of development eventually chosen will not only have a huge impact on the area but will also be an important statement about the kind of city we want to be. I think it will be really important to have affordable family housing as part of the scheme and we must seize the opportunity to make this an exemplary low carbon and sustainable project.

The public consultation process is currently underway and the

deadline for comments is 15 November 2016. Anyone who is interested in contributing thoughts and ideas can fill in the online version of the survey at www.southbankleeds.co.uk or you can email the team at southbank@leeds.gov.uk

The announcement that OneSubsea, based in Stourton, is planning to lay off about two thirds of its workforce has come as a devastating blow to all the staff there. The company has been manufacturing hi-tech equipment for the oil and gas for nearly 60 years on the site, and the plan to end manufacturing means that around 600 highly-skilled jobs could go.

I remain in touch with both the union UNITE and the company, and there are a lot of questions the workers are asking especially as I understand that some of the work currently done in Leeds may transfer to other plants overseas.

The UK oil and gas industry has seen a huge number of job losses since the oil price collapsed as too much capacity chases too few customers, but I think the

Government should be looking at what it can do to help the industry.

Finally, a bit of history. I was having a conversation the other day with someone about the famous 1936 Battle of Cable Street in which anti-fascists in East London stood up against Mosley’s Blackshirts the 80th anniversary has just been celebrated when I was reminded that South Leeds had its Hilary Benn MP own Battle of threw stones.

Holbeck Moor a week before.

I should have been paying more On 27 September 1936, Oswald attention because the eagle-eyed Mosley and the British Union of Fascists had decided to parade among you would no doubt point hundreds of Blackshirts in Calverley out that the ever-excellent South Street and then marched down to Leeds Life website made reference Holbeck. There, on the Moor, they to the Battle of Holbeck Moor back were ‘greeted’ by a large crowd of in 2011. And the moral of this tale? protestors who sang the Red Flag Anything London can do, Leeds can to drown him out while some do earlier.

Homeshare to help young and old

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A new scheme called Homeshare is coming to Leeds and it is a really simple idea.

The scheme matches younger people looking for an affordable place to live with an older person with a spare room who needs a helping hand at home.

The Homesharer commits to give around 10 hours a week support with daily tasks: those things that can start to get difficult as you get older, like shopping for groceries, cooking and cleaning. Pet care and keeping on top of the garden are

also popular.

The Homeshare scheme can offer companionship and the security of someone else in the house overnight and can be a real solution to those struggling to manage alone enabling them to stay comfortably in their own home.

What about the younger Homesharer?

Younger people have been hit hard by a combination of rising tuition fees and an unprecedented rise in housing costs. At the same time career prospects are

hampered by a need to reconcile high rental rates with low income internships, apprenticeships or low graduate starting salaries.

Homeshare offers an ideal solution for students, weekday commuters, or those looking for a home away from home in a new town or city.

There are also times in life when a period of affordable settled accommodation can help you get back on your feet, such as after a relationship breakdown. It’s also an interesting life experience and adds something unique to a CV. Cath Ormerod, Leeds Homeshare Co-ordiator, offers reassurance on the safety of the scheme: ‘’We have put a lot of thought into making Homeshare a safe and supported scheme. In addition to application checks including DBS, References and Credit Checks we have a thorough assessment and offer ongoing support.

“I work with a team of social workers with a wealth of experience working with vulnerable adults and personally have ten years’ experience working as a consulting

manager in a Safeguarding context.

“Homeshare can offer peace of mind for families who are worried about an elderly relative when they can’t be nearby.’’

Homeshare has been running successfully across the globe since the 1970s from the US to Australia and there are loads of great European schemes.There are also a few Homeshare schemes in communities in the UK. A three year £2m national Homeshare Programme has now been developed by the Lloyds Bank Foundation and Big Lottery Fund to put Homesharing on the map as a viable solution to the parallel issues of a lack of affordable housing for young people and the growing number of older people who are lonely or isolated and in need of practical support and companionship.

If you are interested in finding out more about Homeshare, either for yourself or someone you know give us a call on tel: (0113) 378 5410 or email: homeshare@leeds.gov.uk Our application forms and FAQ’s can be downloaded at www.leeds.gov.uk/homeshare

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News 3

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Additional fencing for Holbeck Moor New fencing is set to be installed around Holbeck Moor to stop travellers gaining access to the site.

The new fencing will run along the edge of Holbeck Moor Road and a new gate will be installed to allow access for fairgrounds and other authorised users.

Bollards will be installed prevent footpath access points being used by vehicles.

The fencing will cost £31,000 to install. The Inner South Community Committee has contributed £20,000; £6,000

has come from the Housing Advisory Panel; and £5,000 from Housing Leeds.

Installation will take place in January 2017.

Councillor Angela Gabriel said: “Following the recent encampment by travellers we have listened to residents’ concerns and suggestions and moved quickly to implement this solution. I would like to thank the other funders for their co-operation.”

The site has been used by Gypsies and Travellers twice recently, firstly at Easter and then in August.

South Leeds Life revealed

last month that the cost to Leeds City Council of legal action to evict the travellers

and clean up after the second encampment was £2,964.

Hannah Begum, Children’s Mayor of Leeds, was amongst the winners as the White Rose Community Awards were handed out at a ceremony on 20 October.

Hannah, from Beeston, was rewarded for the work she has done to promote community cohesion during her year in office.

Others receiving awards included: - Dale Dixon of A E Yates and Dominic Gordon of CHY, who focused on local contractors, materials, and employment while developing White Rose’s new staff car park, ensuring more free parking spaces are available to customers.

- Auli Miles and Maxine Kelly of Child Friendly Leeds, who

kingfishers and safeguarding their future safety Each worthy winner has been gifted with a one-of-a-kind glass trophy, handmade by the Glassroom at Cockburn School, featuring a design created Hannah Begum recieves her award by Year 7 Student Nathan strive to put children and design, young people at the heart of Rayner. Nathan’s featuring an assortment of the city.

- Wild Thing ecologist Phil hand tools, was inspired by the Bolton, who supports the exciting new development White Rose team in currently underway at White understanding the biodiversity Rose.

Steven Foster, General of the centre’s environment, identifying species such as Manager of White Rose

Shopping Centre, said: “The Awards really highlight how wonderful and diverse our local area is. We’re delighted to pay tribute to these heroes of South Leeds, as well as reflecting such a unique part of the region under our roof – there’s something for everyone.We’ve been buoyed by the compassion and bravery that this year’s winners have displayed, and we know the rest of the community has, too.”

The White Rose Shopping Centre Community Awards are held annually and celebrate those who do outstanding work to benefit the local community, or who have shown courage in adverse circumstances.

by Jeremy Morton

Similar fencing in place at Hunslet Lake

Tidy Friday with River C’Aire hundred meters and also cut back overhanging vegetation.

John Cummins from Groundwork Leeds, who coordinated the effort with the Canal and River Trust and Leeds City Council commented: “I know that section of towpath quite well and have never seen it looking so well.”

This work builds on recent clean up days reported here in South Leeds Life and dubbed the ‘River C’Aire’ team.

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White Rose Award for Children’s Mayor Hannah

Volunteers from Stourtonbased One Subsea made a real difference when they turned out to help clear part of the riverside path and cycleway recently.

On Friday 7 October they cleared the dried silt, left by the Boxing Day floods, off the targeted areas of the cycleway and path near Thwaite Mills.

They also cleared litter and debris from the entrance to the cycleway and along the path and edges for several

November 2016 | South Leeds Life

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Volunteers from One Subsea help clean up the riverside

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South Leeds Life | November 2016

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Apple Day in Cottingley

Over 80 Cottingley Hall estate residents turned out on Saturday 22 October to celebrate Apple Day, the first community event in their orchard, which they planted in February 2016.

bicycle driven blenders which were peddled to create fruit smoothies.

For the less energetic, apple produce was available from the jam and chutney stall.

Neil Whiting of Cottingley in

(L-R) Alan Thornton, Lynne Scholes, Lord Mayor of Leeds Cllr Gerry Harper and Neil Whiting The Lord Mayor of Leeds, Councillor Gerry Harper, officially opened the Apple Day celebrations and joined in the festivities.

Traditional Apple Day activities included games for adults and children including apple bobbing, the longest peel competition, and biting apples on a string.

People were able to make toffee apples and try their hand at making fresh apple juice. Feet were put to good use on two

Bloom said: “Our Apple day celebrations were exceptional with over 80 people turning up on the day. They were most impressed by the apple pressing.

“It’s great to see people enjoying the orchards. They’ve created a lot of interest since we planted them. We’ve got quite a few volunteers checking on the trees to make sure they’re alright and help pick the apples, which all need to be removed in their first year.

The Lord Mayor of Leeds, Councillor Gerry Harper, said: “It was a real privilege to open Apple Day in Cottingley and see so many local people come together in the orchard.

“I want to congratulate everyone who has played their part in making this project and events like Apple Day such a success. I look forward to seeing this project grow and move from strength-to-strength in the future.”

Alan Thornton, Leeds project manager for Helping Britain Blossom, which is providing support to Cottingley volunteers, said: “The Cottingley community have really got behind their orchards. Apple Day is a perfect example of how an orchard can bring a community together including people of all ages and all backgrounds. The celebrations are fun and involve making and consuming apple products and doing something physical. In short it’s the benefits of orcharding in one event. Great fun and enjoyed by all!”

Cottingley resident, Emma Belt-Brown said: "I think the orchard is amazing for the whole community.

“The children are going to have fresh fruit available to them and the activities are going to be endless for them. It's something the whole family can get involved in. It's going to help toward healthy eating and will also help those less fortunate have access to fresh daily fruit. And where more convenient than an orchard on your own doorstep?"

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What a waste!

by Jeremy Morton

Gold lettering on black has been replaced by white lettering on navy blue as Leeds City Council has replaced heritage trail signs installed by Holbeck in Bloom with new corporate signs.

The black signs were installed last year as part of Holbeck in Bloom’s Matthew Murray Trail linking Holbeck Moor with City Square. The group received a grant to install the signs and produce an explanatory booklet (available from The Holbeck club) from City Connect.

As well as explaining notable buildings along the way, it marked a walking route that avoided the busy roads leading into the city centre.

Ian pickup from the group said “I just don’t understand it. We spoke to the people from the Council, we even had a walkabout to identify the sites for the signs. We were happy to use the same design they were using for Legible Leeds, but they didn’t share that information.”

Councillor Angela Gabriel, ward member for Beeston & Holbeck and a member of Holbeck in Bloom said:

Cllr Angela Gariel and Ian Pickup with a ‘Legible Leeds’ sign which replaced a heritage sign on Sweet Street “I spend my time time explaining how the Council’s funding has been cut and cut, but it seems we can afford to take down one perfectly good sign and replace it with a new one giving the same information.”

The group are concerned

that it sends a message to people in ‘old’ Holbeck, that they and their community projects are not as valued as those in ‘Holbeck Urban Village’.

Leeds City Council were unable to comment at time of going to press.

Fire at Petty’s in Holbeck One of the original Holbeck in Bloom signposts

Retirement Studio Flats to Let St Peters Court ‐ Leeds £275 PCM

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A dramatic image of the fire at the former Polestar Petty printworks on Whitehall Road in Holbeck, engulfed in fire on Friday 7 October. Ten fire engines attended the blaze, but no one was hurt. Photo: Andre from Holbeck (by drone).

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November 2016 | South Leeds Life

News 5

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Tip Top Pop Up HUB returns to Holbeck

L-R: Bryce Sweeney (West Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Service), Wayne Ranby (LCC Dewsbury Road Hub), PCSO Nick Smith, Paul Broadhurst (LCC Private Sector Housing), Liz lawrence (LCC Jobs & Skills) Dave Paul (Groundwork Leeds) and Cllr Angela Gabriel

A range of Council services are available on the doorstep for local residents as the Pop up HUB returns to Holbeck.

Thanks to the support of the local Councillors the Pop up HUB will be available every fortnight on Crosby Road (the Recreations side).

The HUB is offering support with Council benefits, council tax, issues with private and social housing, social care, anti-social behaviour, as well support with problem debt and budgeting.

Help can also be given if you are looking for work or training such as developing your skills for future jobs, creating a

winning CV and covering letter, setting up an email account, completing on-line and paper application forms, interview techniques, confidence building, job matching and careers advice.

The Neighbourhood Policing Team will also be available as well partner organisations who can offer health related advice.

The Leeds HUB works alongside the Leeds Neighbourhood Approach, which seeks to improve housing standards and safety in private rented homes and bring empty homes back into use across the city.

Councillor Adam Ogilvie said:

“The Pop up HUB offers Council services in the heart of the community. They really can make a difference, so if you do need to speak to someone from the Council or our partners make sure you come down!”

Councillor Angela Gabriel added: “Getting support finding work or developing your skills can help people into employment. It is really wonderful to see people’s confidence grow as they find work.

“If anyone in Holbeck is looking for work I really do encourage them to take advantage of this great service.”

The HUB will be located on the Recreations side of Crosby Road 10am-3pm on: Mon 7 November Mon 21 November Mon 5 December A Pop Up HUB is also available at Cottingley Community Centre every Wednesday 9:30am-2:30pm

Hundreds of families Celebrating Older People facing benefit cuts Hundreds of households in South Leeds face having their benefits slashed from 7 November as the Government’s ‘benefits cap’ is extended.

About 250 households in Leeds are capped under the current limit of £26,000 per year, but next month the cap will be lowered to £20,000.

These households face losing a further £60-£80 per week.

Leeds City Council estimate that a further 1,150 households will be affected, but campaign group Hands Off Our Homes say it’s more likely to be 1,800.

Leeds City Council has supported families affected so far through their Discretionary Housing Payment scheme. This funding, which also supports tenants hit by the Bedroom

Tax, is already under pressure and the lower benefit cap could see it unable to support everyone in need.

John Davies from Hands Off Our Homes said: “We want to hear from people who have received letters telling them their benefit is to be cut.

If you are concerned, we want Hands Off Our Homes you to know that campaigning in Middleton we are concerned 017322; email: too.

“We will do what we can handsoffourhomes@gmail support families and continue .com, or find them on our campaign to reverse these Facebook.

If you are a Council tenant, cruel benefit cuts.”

To contact Hands Off Our Housing Benefit surgeries are Homes call or text: 07504 held every Tuesday 1:30-

in Belle Isle

by Sonny Garewal

Belle Isle Elderly Winter Aid (BIEWA) celebrated the International Day of Older People on Wednesday 5 October.

Four organisations were invited to have stalls at the event: Age UK – Digital Angels – Morag Wright; Citizen’s Advice Service – Victoria Elmsley; Women’s Health Matters – Sally Blyth and Carers Leeds – Carrie Grey.

Victoria Elmsley from the Citizens Advice Bureau can help older people to find a cheaper energy supplier and she will handle the entire transition of switching suppliers so older people can rest assured all is going well.

Sally Blyth from Women’s Health Matters provided information on breast and bowel screening. Carrie Grey from Carers Leeds provided information and advice that was available to support those in our community who care

3:30pm at St George’s Centre, Middleton and every Thursday 1:30-3:30pm at Navigation House, Stourton. If you are a Council tenant in Belle Isle contact BITMO on (0113) 378 2190.

Beeston practice wins award

City View Medical Practice in Beeston has been praised for innovative approaches to patient care at NHS Leeds South and East Clinical Commissioning Group’s annual general meeting.

The practice has a bowel cancer champion, Clare Dean, who has used a wide variety of approaches to encourage more patients aged 60-74 to take the bowel cancer screening test. The practice was praised for “using innovative ways to address a ‘hard to reach community’ and should be recognised for its

Clare Dean receives the award from Dr Andy Harris (L) and CCG Chair Philip Lewer (R) commitment

to

achieving

significant improvements in

bowel cancer screening – one of the CCG’s key priorities.”

Dr Andy Harris, Clinical Chief Officer at the CCG, said he wanted to use the AGM to celebrate good practice across the 42 GP surgeries in Leeds South and East.

“Family doctors work hard to support their patients, including coming up with innovative ways to help them, whether it’s developing new methods of treating people with particular conditions, increasing uptake of vital screening, or reducing medication waste,” he said.

Morag Wright helping older people to get to grips with the latest computer technology Each guest organisation was tasked with promoting different aspects of improving older peoples’ lives and their understanding of current issues. Age UK will be holding computer classes for older people in the Belle Isle area.

They can also arrange for home visits to those people who are housebound. Please phone BIEWA on (0113) 277 8208 for more information.

for someone.

A buffet lunch with wine was enjoyed by all. This was followed by afternoon tea and cakes. BIEWA would like to thank all our supporters for attending, all four organisations for providing helpful information for older people to make informed choices, and all staff and volunteers who helped at the event.

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South Leeds Life | November 2016

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Putting the belle back into Belle Isle & Middleton

Belle Isle and Middleton have both seen vast improvements in their environment according to local Councillors Kim Groves, Judith Blake and Paul Truswell.

Councillor Groves recently went to meet the locality team responsible for the transformation to thank them personally for the difference they have made to the area, which has resulted in a massive reduction in the number of complaints received.

The area has seen a reduction in litter, dog fouling and fly-tipping and this has been due to the dedication of the team but also improved partnership working with local residents, businesses and schools with everyone getting involved in cleaning up Belle Isle and Middleton.

Cllr Kim Groves with members of the Locality Team Councillor Groves highlights that there is still work to be done with

Cameron kicks off a career in horticulture

Cameron Beresford’s career in horticulture started when his mum nagged him to help out the Cottingley in Bloom volunteers.

The group looks after raised beds across the estate, the community orchard and the garden at the Community Centre.

To his surprise, he found he enjoyed the work and took up advice to join a new course

starting at Temple Newsam.

The Level 1 course is run by Askham Bryan College.

Cameron is enjoying the course and hopes the one year course will lead to an apprenticeship next year.

His advice to others? “It’s so much easier if you find something you enjoy. It feels more like fun than work.”

He still volunteers with the group, but isn’t offering gardening advice just yet.

specific issues around privately owned land and ensuring problems continue

to be reported but the improvements that have been seen so far are fantastic.

Councillor Kim Groves said: “It is fantastic to see just what a difference has been made to the local area in a relatively short period of time. The Locality Team have been fantastic and not only have they been dealing with issues that are already in existence but they have been proactive in working with local residents, schools and businesses to help get the message across.

“We have seen such a huge reduction in the number of complaints that we thought the phones lines had gone down! I just want to pass on my thanks and that of my ward colleagues to the whole

Plan for wraparound care in Holbeck Members and partners attending the Annual General Meeting of HEA last week heard that the organisation plan to increase their support work to older people in Holbeck to include personal care.

John England, the Chair of Trustees at HEA said: “We are well placed to provide care and support to people in their own homes.We already help people to alleviate isolation and live independent lives by providing activities, hot meals, home repairs. We now aim to also provide personal care, providing a full wraparound service, within two years.”

The meeting had heard earlier from Philip Hewer, Chair of the NHS South and East Care Commissioning Group, that local organisations such as HEA were ‘building blocks’ for the NHS of the future.

“I’m very impressed with what you do for the funding you get” he said.

John England addresses the HEA AGM He explained the challenges of partnership working, saying doctors tend to be trapped in their surgeries and hospitals, but that services needed to be planned from the point of view of the community.

The meeting also heard about the progress HEA had made over the last year. There had been a rebranding of the organisation with new

literature produced to ensure people easily understood the services on offer. The organisation is also now financially secure, having been threatened with closure three years ago.

Elissa Newman was in tears as she emotionally thanked the service users – “our family”; volunteers – “without whom we couldn’t offer our

HEA Services include: Heart Cafe runs every Thursday 10am-12pm at St Matthews Community Centre. Hot Breakfasts from just £3 and a new Takeaway/Sandwich Menu option.

All are welcome to come along and enjoy the Cafe, whilst supporting a great local charity.

Cameron hard at work in Cottingley

team and the partners we have been working with to achieve this. A big thank you is also due to the residents of Belle Isle and Middleton for the pride they are taking in their area and the improvements everyone is benefitting from.”

Karl Sheldon, Team Leader said: “Since the implementation of zonal working in October 2015, Middleton and Belle Isle, has had its own dedicated team tasked with street cleansing and enforcing on environmental issues.

“We will continue to engage and help educate within the local community on environmental matters to give the residents of Middleton and Belle Isle cleaner & safer streets to live.”

Alongside the Cafe there is a weekly Health and Well-being

services”; and her “great, passionate, small staff team.”

The meeting ended with news that member Wilf Woodhouse and his wife had just received a card from the Queen celebrating their diamond (60th) wedding anniversary. Members then joined with the HEA choir to sing the Abba song ‘Thank You For The Music.’

We HEAr You Out of Hours Helpline

Clinic which is attended by HEA's Outreach Worker, Claire and is designed to help people get the support that they need to encourage a lifestyle change and to help manage long term conditions.

Are you worried, feeling lonley, struggling to cope and need to talk to someone in confidence?

For Out of Hours advice call our Confidential helpline on 0113 244 4742 Monday-Friday: 5-9pm Sat-Sunday: 9am-8pm Bank Holidays: 9am-8pm

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South Leeds Life | November 2016

8 Planning

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Plans submitted for St George’s Retail Park

Plans have now been submitted to Leeds City Council for St George’s Retail Park, just off Middleton Ring Road, that could create around 140 jobs and result in a £15 million investment in the area.

The former Benyon Centre site, was previously owned by Tesco, but their plans were turned down. Prior to that the site was a Co-op depot.

The planning application has been made by joint developers CDP Marshall and Rothstone Estates and the site will be anchored by a new Lidl store and a B&M Homestore, alongside seven other shop, café or restaurant units.

Artist’s impression of new shops in Middleton

New eco-homes plan for Hunslet

Leeds developer Citu has submitted plans for 204 homes on a site between Clarence Road and the River Aire, close to The Royal Armouries museum in Hunslet.

A final desicison on the planning application has been delegated to officers by the City Plans Panel.

The plans are part of Citu’s attempt to create a ‘Climate Innovation District’ within the ‘South Bank’ area.

The site will be linked by a new footbridge across the river to Citu’s existing site at Low Fold on the north bank, where they are currently building 312 homes.

Citu has another live planning application to extend their off-site manufacturing facility for the ecohomes directly across Clarence Road.

Like the Low Fold homes, the flats and houses on Clarence Road

will be built to a high environmental standard with very levels of insulation to eliminate heating costs. They will combine a mix of one, two, three and four bedroom properties.

In line with the Council’s vision for the South Bank, the site will allow for public access with routes through to the riverside Trans Pennine path, the footbridge and public green spaces.

The site was flooded on Boxing Day 2015 and the plans include raised ground floor levels and flood barriers to the underground parking areas.

You can read the full report here: http://democracy.leeds.gov.uk/d ocuments/s150462/MultiLevel%20Development%20at%2 0Clarence%20Road%20Hunslet %20Leeds%20LS10%201ND.pdf

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transform this site that has been vacant for many years into a vibrant new development that will provide many jobs for local people.

“We hope that this submission demonstrates our commitment to deliver this exciting project as soon as possible.”

From the completed feedback forms received as part of the consultation so far, 60% of people were supportive, 19 % were undecided and 21 % had concerns on the proposals.

Public exhibition sessions took place at St George’s One Stop Centre and at St John and St Barnabus Church Hall in Belle Isle.

Homes, offices and park for Tetley site

by Jeremy Morton

Artist’s impression of new homes on Clarence Road, Hunslet

This follows public consultation that started in September and will continue throughout the development process.

Mark Rothery from Rothstone Estates commented: “Since we launched the consultation in September we have had a lot of feedback and have been encouraged by the response.

“Our dialogue will continue on important issues including traffic and transport, flooding on the roundabout and the mix of businesses that people would like to see on the site, throughout the application period.

“We are very keen to

A pre-application report was presented to the City Plans Panel on Thursday 6 October by Vastint, the property wing of IKEA, who own the former Tetley Brewery site in Hunslet.

The site, along with the Kay’s site in Holbeck is one of the most important in the socalled South Bank area, and will be home to a new city park. The site is large and has a number of important heritage buildings both within and on the boundary of the site including The Tetley art

gallery, Salem Chapel and the Old Crown pub.

Its development will set the tone for future developments in the area.

The plans are for phase one of the site. This includes the car parks by the Tetley, the Carlsberg offices and the Asda depot. The site is bounded by Meadow Lane, Hunslet Road, Crown Point Road and Waterloo Street. A second phase will cover land between Crown Point Road and Black Bull Street.

Vastint’s proposals appear to follow the Council’s vision for the area.

They propose a mixed use

development including 1,000 homes, office space, retail and a hotel as well as park space.

The park will not be a single contained space, but linked green spaces running through the site amongst the buildings.

Whilst it is not quite the ‘Hunslet Stray’ proposed by LSDG, it preserves the original route of Hunslet Road from Leeds Bridge through to the Leeds City College Printworks campus as a walking cycling route.

The housing units will be a mix of one, two and three bedroom properties and Vastint are looking at a way enabling units to grow or

shrink to fit families’ circumstances as they change without them having to move property. It is expected that 50 of the properties would be ‘affordable housing’.

No final decision was made at the meeting but Councillors discussed the plans with the developers and generally supported the plans, although they stressed the need for high design standrards for buildings and the park on this key site.

You can read the full report on the proposals here: http://democracy.leeds.gov. uk/mgAi.aspx?id=59941&LL L=0

Block plan showing indicative layout across the former Tetley brewery site

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November 2016 | South Leeds Life

Schools 9

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Middleton St Mary’s wins outdoor play award Middleton St Mary’s Nursery in Leeds has been chosen to receive hundreds of pounds worth of new play equipment thanks to Sudocrem’s national campaign, called Play More.

One of the oldest nurseries in Leeds, established in 1971, St Mary’s is one of the lucky 10 to win after nearly 1,000 nominations were received from parents across the country that believed their nursery’s playground was in need of an upgrade.

Currently caring for 50 children aged 3 – 4 years old, Jenny Etherington, Nursery Manager is delighted to have won.

“We are very much looking

Ryan Ruscoe from Sudacrem helps children open their new Toy Shed forward to the Toy Shed being installed in our outdoor area to help enhance the children’s

experiences and learning. We want our children to learn to love the outdoors and we use

TSLA students win bugs’ eye photo prizes

our lovely environment to teach them, amongst other things, about keeping fit and

healthy and taking care of our world.”

The Play More campaign was launched in July and set out to reiterate the importance of outdoor play. New research commissioned by Sudocrem showed that 63% of parents in Yorkshire today are more protective when it comes to their children playing outdoors than previous generations.

Further research showed that children spend as little as 5 hour outside per week compared with 6.5 hours a day in front of a screen.

Consumer Healthcare Director for Teva, Ryan Ruscoe, hopes that these grants will enable the winning nurseries to reverse the trend of inside play

amongst their children and get them outside.

“We’re proud to have promoted the spirit of adventure with Play More. The staff at Middleton St. Mary’s show such enthusiasm for getting the children outdoors and learning about the world around them.

“Children love outdoor play and there are so many benefits for them – building friendships and helping them gain physical confidence are just two of the many! Part of the process of learning is also finding boundaries and if this results in a grazed knee Sudocrem is a great healer for cuts and grazes.

We’ve been healing skin for generations.”

Park View pupils’ play

Nursery pupils show off their new slide

Lucy Antrobus

Marta Zurawska

Year 9 and 10 GCSE Photography students at The South Leeds Academy have entered the British Exploring Society #BEabug competition.

The competition called for photographs taken from a bug’s perspective. You can see their brilliant work on the BES website: www.britishexploring.org/con tact/beabug-competition.aspx Lucy Antrobus won second prize and Marta Zurawska was awarded third prize the competition.

Children in Reception at Park View Primary Academy in Beeston are enjoying the benefits of new play equipment thanks to a grant from The Big Lottery Fund.

They play equipment is especially important as most of the school’s pupils live in the surrounding terraced streets with little access to outdoor play. Developing physically through play is very important to early years education affecting things like grip for writing; hand-eye co-

ordination and balance, which affects children’s ability to read words along a line.

The children themselves were involved in choosing the equipment. They drew pictures of items they would like with a slide and a wobbly bridge being the most popular. The bridge is particularly good for acting out the story of the Three Billy Goats Gruff.

Roxy Grant, the Early Years Lead at Park View explained: “Physical development plays a key role in the

foundations of other areas of learning, for example reading and writing. Improving pupils’ physical development will impact on their attainment.

“As many pupils have limited space at home, we are delighted to be able to offer this fantastic provision at school.”

Other children in school can access the area at break and lunchtime.

The school topped up an Awards For All grant of £10,000 with £2,500 to buy and install the equipment.

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South Leeds Life | November 2016

10 News

In our view

Solidarity forever

The the tragic death of 17 year old Sophie Smith has shown two sides of our community. Too many women in South Leeds face domestic violence. Help and support are available, but they weren’t able to help Sophie, or Harrison who must grow up without his mother.

But that’s only half the story.

People have rallied round to support the family in their grief and showed tremendous generosity, as people round here always do.

Small is beautiful

There is much coverage in the national press about the crisis in care. Underpaid staff with too little time to care for our frail old folk. It’s a long way from the days of ‘Home Helps’. So it’s good hear that HEA are trying to turn the clock back in Holbeck with their plans for wraparound care.

Transport

We all love to moan about about the state of the transport network.

Whether it’s late trains, expensive buses or traffic jams it just seems determined to stop us getting from A to B. Now we have a chance to influence how transport works in Leeds and where the money should be spent. If you can’t get to the Community Committee send your comments anyway.

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Your letters and comments

Top Tweets

Benefit cuts

A profit cap for private landlords would save billions and help close the rich poor divide. Mortgage plus 10%. Simple.

Austerity continues, although nobody thinks it's working any more, even the government, and the poorest suffer most.

Jon Gomm The government needs to help small businesses create jobs to get people off benefits.

Imposing draconian rules on people investing in property for a retirement nest egg wouldn't work.

Build more council housing and scrap housing benefit in London. That'd save a fortune and help create a more balanced economy.

I don't think tax payers in the north should subsidise people on more expensive welfare in the south.

Luke Senior

Middleton clean up

It’s a pity the Councillors for the lower end of Dewsbury Road, now known as Hunslet, don’t take as much interest in the area they’re paid to represent – it’s an absolute tip.

Dewsbury Road is a main thoroughfare for the White Rose and John Charles Sports Centre and is an absolute disgrace.

Whenever anything is said or mentioned the usual response is “Government cutbacks�, strange these cutbacks don’t seem to effect Cross Flatts and Holbeck – places where the Councillors for these areas actually live?!

Helen Kelly

Dewsbury Road - a disgrace?

When a pub dies

Best column yet! Who would be an exotic dancer in the Miggy Arms! I remember the wave of opprobrium that swept the village after a jealous local female went after a dancer with a broken bottle. It made the Evening Post putting Miggy on the map for 24 hours Darren Wilson Love it. Those lovely memories so sadly gone. Was always asked ‘What side of Leeds are you from’ ‌ and the shock if someone moved to ‘the other side’.

D Mc Fantastic moving piece.

Kath

City View award

Fantastic‌well done Claire Dean‌just a shame Dr Andy Harris wasn’t interested in The Poverty Truth Challenge as other business leaders were, saying‌ what benefit would it be to them!! Depression & Mental Health Andy Harris‌both can stem from living in poverty!

Yvonne Crowther

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

Grammar schools

In recent times (as everyone knows) the children going to grammars tend to be children intensively tutored to pass the entrance tests.Tutors don't come cheap so consequently most children are from wealthier familes. It will be very difficult to tutor-proof tests. This proposed re-introduction simply benefits rich people the most - school fees are rising and they are looking for a cheaper alternative that’s all. Let’s concentrate on making our existing schools better instead.

Suzy Grace I lived in South Leeds most of my life and my son attended Beeston Primary. It wasn’t until

the very last parents evening that we were asked if we’d considered sending him to grammar school. After a few enquiries we had missed the entrance exam days for most schools, fortunately GSAL allowed him to take their exam, we were offered a 40% bursary because of the late entrance, there is a Beeston bursary available every year, but rarely gets taken and will be used to fund other children from outside LS11.

Huge sacrifices were made and I can honestly say it was the best decision we made. He is now on his way to becomming a doctor and could have gone to any University of his choice. He was originally destined to go to Cockburn like I did, but Parkside many years before.

Do I think he could have achieved what he has by going to Cockburn? We will never know, GSAL gave him this platform and he never looked back...if your child as the opportunity to go a grammar school then seriously consider this choice as it could affect the rest of their life.

Ian Metcalfe Comprehensive education not only doesn’t negatively affect bright pupils but their presence improves the results of those who are less bright.

Grammars were of their time but with modern assessment, setting and different pathways comprehensive education is fine.

Removing the brighter kids or, more accurately, the kids whose parents have paid for 11+ tuition for the most part, from comprehensive education worsens social mobility.

There’s a bunch of evidence on this all over the place that can easily be found via Google.

Carl Thomas

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: @T_S_L_A A HUGE congratulations to our student, Ify Ofoegbu, on his professional footballing debut for Chesterfield! From a very proud Academy! @SouthLeedsLaH Big shout out for volunteers needed for all sorts of roles: day trips, befriending, social activities! Fully supported & trained! @CottingleyPA A beautiful view as we left school this evening! #rainbowđ&#x;‘?đ&#x;?ź

@leedsirish Plse take a look at our photos 'The importance of being Irish' highlighting needs of Irish community memory loss bit.ly/2ezLC1c @cycleleeds Free cycle training available for ages 16+ across West Yorks! From beginner up.

More info & to book: cycleleeds.eventbrite.com @SlateLeeds A BIG THANK YOU to Lloyds Community Program.

Yesterday 20 volunteers descended on SLATE Leeds to help decorate. @UTCLeeds Applications for those starting Y10 or Y12 in September are open. Download our prospectus for more info here: bit.ly/2cmRMlK @AdamPOgilvie Thanks @Clean_Leeds refuse for speedy response.

Reported unemptied bins on Heathcrofts walkabout.

Emptied 20 mins later @BeestonJrsFC Good luck to all our teams in action today. And remember players play, referee's referee, coaches coach and supporters support!!

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People 11

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Digging into a medal mystery

by Jeremy Morton and Julie Holmes Back in September we reported that the Wright family had been reunited with their grandfather’s World War 1 medals, thanks to Conrad Buckley from Middleton Primary School.

Intrigued by his story, we took the case to Julie Holmes who runs the Ancestry Group at BITMO’s GATE. Using various online resources and archives Julie has uncovered a bit more information about Walter Wright’s war experience.

Walter was born in Hunslet on 20 January 1899. We don’t have his full war record (yet) but it is likely he lied about his age when he signed up. This was a common occurrence

November 2016 | South Leeds Life

and in response to public opinion the Army held an amnesty ahead of the Battle of the Somme in July 1916. Young men under 18 could ‘hand themselves in’ with no repercussions and be returned to Britain. Few took up the offer.

Walter’s unit was the West Yorkshire Regiment 21st (Wool Textile Pioneers) Battalion, one of the so-called ‘Pals’ battalions made up on volunteers from a particular area. Pioneer battalions were the equivalent of sappers or engineers and the 21st saw action in the Battle of the Somme. Their job was to follow the infantry attack and create communication trenches across no mans land.

Although the Division took its first objectives, it came under heavy machine gun cross fire and had to withdraw sustaining

high casualties.

With Julie’s help we will try and find out more about Walter Wright’s war record and bring you more of his story.

If you want to find out more about your family history, why not join Julie’s Ancestry Group which meets every Monday from 10am-12pm or 1-3pm at the BITMO’s GATE centre, Aberfield Gate, off Belle Isle Road.

The sessions are free but if you sign up to any websites such as Ancestry.co.uk you will have to pay your own subscription fees. Julie says “It’s a fascinating process and you are bound to find out something about your family that you didn’t know. But beware, it is rarely as straightforward as portrayed on the TV programme Who Do You Think You Are?”

Community Theatre Group takes to the Belle Isle stage

by James Major

Rising from the ashes of the Belle Isle Writers Group is the newly formed Community Theatre Group created by staff and volunteers at Belle Isle TMO. The group are currently working with the Belle Isle History Group and pupils from Windmill Primary School on a Christmas play set in 1940s Belle Isle with rehearsals due to start at the beginning of November.

Based in the GATE Community Resource Centre the group aims to promote the arts, particularly playwriting and drama and to support community cohesion in Belle Isle and South Leeds.

The group are on the lookout for new members to support the growth of the group and are seeking people with an interest in all things theatre - from playwriting,

On stage at Belle Isle Gala directing, acting, costume design, set design – anything!

Since the Belle Isle Writers Group formed back in 2015 they have supported the development of new writing with numerous plays being performed in the GATE including Danse Macabre by local writer Tony Gaughan and

James Major’s A Princess in Belle Isle which was given its premiere at the Belle Isle Summer Gala in July.

If anyone wishes to be part of this exciting new project please contact James Major on 07712104210 or email james.major@belleisletmo. co.uk

Pop in for a chat at the ‘News Cafe’

Soldiers on their way to the trenches. Photo: Wikimedia Commons

BAFF’s pamper day Everyone enjoyed an afternoon of pampering and cream tea at Beeston Village Community Centre delivered by Better Action for Families (BAFF).

The event on Saturday 24 September 2016, offered hand massage, foot exfolliation, hot wax hand treatment, indian head massage and facials. Also on offer were cream & jam scones and a variety of cakes donated by

volunteers. There were tables of donated jewellery and fancy goods.

BAFF raised a brilliant amount of £414.18p and would like to say a massive thank you to everyone who donated goods, cakes, to everyone who delivered pampering, all the voluteers who made the day special and all the people who had a massage and enjoyed afternoon tea and cake. The monies will go towards the group’s Christmas activities.

South Leeds Life has been running regular News Cafés for the last year, but what exactly is a News Café?

As you probably know South Leeds Life is run by volunteers, on a shoestring budget. We work from our homes and don’t have an office. Which means if you want to talk to us you can’t come and knock on an office door. Instead we make ourselves available at venues in the community.

You will find Jeremy Morton most Tuesdays at the Brew Coffee Shop in Beeston. On Fridays Ken Ingram or Jeremy are at BITMO’s GATE Centre in Belle Isle.

You can drop in for a chat about anything, but in particular we are keen to talk to you about local news. Maybe you’ve got a story about something that’s happened, or coming up. It could be something at work, something in your family or that a neighbour does, in your sports

Jeremy, Ken and Lucy at the News Cafe team or community group.You might be surprised, but everyone has some news and we can help you tell it to the wider community.

We are also keen to help people tell their own story, so we are very happy to discuss tips on writing as well as more techie subjects such as setting up a blog, or getting the most out of social media such as Facebook or Twitter.

Don’t worry if money’s a bit

tight, we’ll stand you a tea or a coffee. In fact on Friday’s you can get a free breakfast as BITMO’s GATE runs a ‘pay as you feel’ Happy Friday Breakfast Club at the same time as the News Café.

Tuesdays: 10am-12pm at Brew Coffee Shop, 287 Beeston Road, LS11 7HX (opposite St Mary’s cemetery) Fridays: 9-11am at BITMO’s GATE Centre, Aberfield Gate, Belle Isle Road, LS10 3QH

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South Leeds Life | November 2016

12 Arts and Culture

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What happens Neon Dolls light up Leeds rock scene when a pub dies

by Nathan Robinson

by Frank Regan Everyone knows that South Leeds is the “real” Leeds. Even people who live in other parts of Leeds know it, although they might not admit it. Deep down, they know.

A few years ago I was having a drink in the Skyrack in Headingley with a friend of mine called Jason. He’d been sitting in silence for a few minutes, thinking, and I waited expectantly, knowing he was on the verge of saying something important. I knew this because while he was by no means an unintelligent man, he freely admitted to only ever having read one book – the autobiography of Wally Lewis, Australian Rugby League legend – quiet introspection was not the trait for which he was most notable. He’d been looking around the bar at the other customers and I waited for him to speak. Eventually he turned to me and said, “They’ve even got different bone-structures to us.”

I wasn’t necessarily expecting “It’s your round,” but it still surprised me until I looked for myself and almost immediately grasped what he was saying. Everyone else in the pub, bar none, was betterlooking than us.

A lot of them may well have been students, and thus from various parts of the country, but as we continued our pub crawl around North Leeds we observed the same phenomenon in every establishment we went in.

People’s faces were generally more symmetrical than our own and, as if to rub our noses in it, they nearly all had better hair and clothes. We returned across the river Aire – that narrow band of water but that awesome gulf – two CroMagnon men, chastened by our very bones, our identities betrayed. We were Of South Leeds.We would return to the safety of Our Leeds, and the pubs we knew – “so we beat on, boats against the current, borne ceaselessly into the past.”

Because that’s where the place we drank in those days, the Middleton Arms, now belongs. The past.

Generations of the same families went in that pub.

Groups of brothers, fathers and sons; for it was above all a Man’s pub and they were men who worked in scrapyards and who dug foundations, men who were scaffolders, roofers, concrete-finishers, former miners and men who worked in tanneries and foundries. It was a pub where thirsts were slaked after a hard day’s graft. I once took the members of my works’ five-a-side football team, men from all parts of Leeds, in there for a pint after one match and while one of the team said “Let’s just drink quick and go,” another said “Why are they all so big in here?”

I told them to relax. I knew the place. I loved it.

Photo: Bill Henderson via Creative Commons What happens when a pub dies? What happens to all the stories, the laughs, the first flirtations that turned into love, and yes, the fights too – what happens to all that?

I could talk to you for hours about that pub. About some of the silly things that made me laugh – a 17-year-old girl coming in with her friends one Saturday night on possibly their first visit, all dressed in short skirts and low-cut tops and a shout from the other side of the pub from her elder brother, “Someone throw a coat on our lass!” Or the time they decided that Sunday lunchtime would be enlivened by strippers and a customer answering the phone on the bar (a common practice because it was OUR pub), nodding, listening, and then turning to the pub and shouting in a hoarse, gruff voice “Exotic dancer’s on t’phone – she wants directions from Wakefield.”

But I prefer to think of another time when Jason’s Dad had come with us for the Middleton Marauders’ Rugby side’s end-of-season awards,

and after a couple more pints than he was used to, finding himself on the stage with the microphone in his hand, a break in his voice as he said with genuine emotion “They might think we’re nothing because we’re from round here but we’ve got hearts like lions.” I knew that he had lost the run of himself but I didn’t feel embarrassed – I agreed with every word.

A woman I worked with back then said she’d never go in there because of its reputation but for me its reputation rang other bells, those of friendship and brotherhood. Not long after the demolition process had begun, a friend called round one evening in his car and I asked him to run me up the hill from LS11 to LS10 so I could take some photos. I stood and looked at the half-chewed remains of the place as the light around us died and I could hear all those laughs, see the beginnings of those love stories, all flashbacks coming thick and fast as the sounds of the place were being silenced forever and I thought of all those people in our community for whom the place had been such an important part of their story, their past, and how a line had been drawn under it so that we could have another supermarket. It took every ounce of strength not to weep for all that was gone in the years and to know that the past would soon be halfremembered things fading away alongside those of us who had drunk there.

That woman who thought she knew the pub’s reputation lived in North Leeds. She didn’t understand us. That we’re different. I went home and fell into a dark mood.

To paraphrase Fitzgerald, I sat there brooding on the old, unknown world and how our dreams had seemed so close that we could hardly fail to grasp them but I knew they were already behind me, somewhere in that vast obscurity beyond the city.

Read Frank Regan’s ‘On The Buses’ column every Monday online at: www.southleedslife.com

Neon Dolls are a fourpiece Indie Rock/Alternative band from Leeds.

The band consists of Tom Axe (Vocals) who lives in South Leeds with the Frontman Robert Walker from Leeds based band named Phoenix Project, whom have their first gig at Verve Bar on Merrion Street on the 12th November.

Next up is Sean Hatherley (Guitars/Backing Vocals) originally hailing from Sheffield, Sean now calls Bradford home where he lives with his son Ethan and partner Amanda, both of which are huge Neon Dolls fans.

Michael Jarvis (Drums) is the rhythm holding the songs together with his funky beats and intricate fills, Michael is a quiet soul but his drums definitely are the polar opposite. Finally, we have Fernando Manresa (Bass) who, as his name suggests travelled to England from the beautiful country of Argentina and here he found the Neon Dolls.

Tom Axe of the Neon Dolls. Photo: Nathan Robinson Neon Dolls have gathered a large and loyal following in Leeds and every gig they play is full of friendly faces and an abundance of Neon Dolls Tshirts. Although they have not ventured very far outside Leeds, they have a winter tour coming up. The tour kicks off with a huge hometown gig on the Friday 4 November 2016 at the infamous Key Club to celebrate the launch of their Second Album “When It Strikes”.

As support they have handpicked some of West Yorkshire’s finest, Ormstons

are a Bradford based band fronted by Jess Huxham whom brings her soulful lyrics and powerful voice to ensure everyone attending is up on the dancefloor.

Edgar Duke are the next band on the bill and with their funky guitars and heart pounding drums they bring an essence of blues to this already diverse line up. Those Delta Wolves (Soon to be Skull) are the final act on the list before the Neon Dolls, their filthy riffs and dirty bass-lines get everyone fired up and ready to rock.

Welcome to my world Ian Pepper’s ‘A Feast of Beeston’

by Bruce Davies In January 2016 artist Ian Pepper was commissioned

by BasementArtsProject, supported by Leeds Inspired, to create an exhibition based on life in South Leeds.

Between January and April, Pepper walked the streets of South Leeds photographing and interviewing people whilst documenting the area more generally.

The images were then turned into portraits in pencil, pen and ink, or paint on board, while the documentation formed a large series of digital collages and an audio work.

This formed the exhibition ‘A Feast of Beeston’ at BasementArtsProject in May. The project expanded into

two one day workshops in the autumn based at Vale Circles on Tunstall Road.

The workshops involved members of the centre’s art groups alongside people from the surrounding community.

The workshops were designed for those who may have never before considered picking up a pen or pencil, along with those who may be seasoned artists already.

As a result of these workshops Ian Pepper will be Collaging

returning to BasementArtsProject once more for an exhibition entitled ‘Welcome to My World’.

This exhibition will involve work produced between the end of ‘A Feast of Beeston’ in May and now. This time his work will be placed alongside that of those who participated in the workshops.

Come and join Ian and the other participants for the opening of this exhibition at BasementArtsProject on the evening of Thursday 24 November between 7.30 and 9.30pm, and celebrate the creative life of the South Leeds Community.

A big thank you to Paul Digby,Will Morris and all of the other staff who welcomed the project with open arms at Vale Circles.

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November 2016 | South Leeds Life

Arts and Culture 13

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Peter Pan prepares to fly I went along to check how reheasals were going for the Hunslet Club pantomime Peter Pan. It was late on Saturday when I arrived and the Club was quiet, the lull between afternoon matches and evening entertainment. I found my way up to the dance studio where twenty young (and not so young) people were learning dance moves.

Everyone seemed to be very upbeat and thoroughly enjoying themelves.

Surely that must be a good sign for the

by Jeremy Morton

show.

The Director, Liam Robbins, told me it was a very easy group to work with.

“Usually on show it takes a few weeks to bring the cast together as an ensemble, but these guys already know each other from the club” he said.

Keeley Haigh is playing Peter Pan and tells me it’s going “really well.”

She’s worked her way through all of the club’s arts classes over the last six years, but was still shocked to be cast in a main role.

“I’ve done a little acting at school (Rodilian) and definitely prefer acting

“To the right”: practicing those dance steps

The Hunslet Club pantomime cast to singing, but all the songs are sung as a group so it’s OK.” I catch up with club stalwart Dave Sadler as the cast prepare to start their first full run-through.“It’s OK” he says “I’m not in the first scene.”

Dave has been cast as the baddie, Captain Hook. I ask about his acting experience: “This is the first time I’ve ever done anything like this” he tells me.

“I’ve been here 14 years, I love the job, I love getting involved in anything that’s happening at the club.”

“It’s important to get people out of their comfort zone and great to see their confidence growing” he added.

This pantomime really sums up the

spirit of The Hunslet Club: fun enegy and a great way to bring the community together. It’s the best way to get your christmas started, so get your ticket now!

The Hunslet Club presents a community pantomime:

Peter Pan Fri 2nd & Sat 3rd Dec - 7pm Sun 4th Dec - 2pm Tickets: £5 0113 271 6489

Scientific Method

The Scientific Method is the latest exhibition at The Tetley art gallery in Hunslet. It runs to 15 January.

How do we make sense of today’s information overload, from post-truth politics to mind-boggling quantum physics and neuroscience?

The Scientific Method shows how artists have revealed the structures and systems of knowledge that we consume daily, subverting the accepted and confounding the expected.

This exhibition brings together recent moving image works by artists such as Amelia Crouch, Patricia Esquivias, Sian Robinson Davies, Liz Magic Laser, Kate Liston and Yuri Pattison, alongside drawings by KP Brehmer and works

by John Latham, Semiconductor and John Smith presented in association with LUX.

www.southleedslife.com

South Leeds Life | November 2016

14 What’s On

Twitter: @SouthLeedsLife

What’s On

Dates for your diary

Your guide to events and activities across South Leeds in November 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 Bumps and Buggy Fit 1:30-2:30pm Middleton Park Visitor Centre Triathlon Training 4:15-5:45pm Middleton Park Bike Hub 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 Tots, Tea and Toast 9:30-11:15am St Luke’s Church, Malvern Road, Beeston 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, Hunslet Hall Road, Beeston Line Dancing 1:45pm Trinity Network,

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

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

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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 (6-12yrs) 4:45-5:45pm Watsonian Pavilion Cross Flatts Park, Beeston 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 Bike Hub, 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 Women’s Rounders 6pm Middleton Leisure Centre 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 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 Kidz ‘n’ Co 10:30am-12:30pm Beeston Village Community Centre Middleton Railway 11am-4:30pm, Moor Road, Hunslet Every Sunday Middleton Railway 11am-4:30pm, Moor Road, Hunslet Tuesday 1 November Mostly Men 10am-12pm Northcotes Community Centre Inner South Community Committee - Transport workshop 6:30pm Leeds Civic Hall

Christmas Lights Switch Ons: Beeston Co-op: Thursday 1st December at 5:30pm Holbeck Moor: Sunday 4th December at 5:30pm Belle Isle Circus*: Tuesday 6th December at 4:00pm Middleton Circus*: Wednesday 7th December at 4:00pm Holbeck Christmas Market: Saturday 3rd December 11am-2pm at St Matthew’s Community Centre * to be confirmed Friends of Stank Hall Barn 7:30pm The Broadway pub, Dewsbury Road Wednesday 2 November Hunslet Memories 12-2pm Garden Gate pub, Whitfield Place, Hunslet Women’s Cycling 6-7pm Middleton Park Club House, Ring Road Hunslet Tenants & Residents 6:30-8pm Church of the Nazarene, Grove Road Live Wrestling 7:30pm Belle Isle WMC Thursday 3 November 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 Friday 4 November Middleton Park Fireworks 7pm Bonfire; 7:30pm Fireworks Amateur Boxing Night 7pm The Hunslet Club, Hillidge Road Saturday 5 November Bonfire Party 2-4pm Sharp Lane Community Centre Sophie Smith Fundraiser 5pm-late Tommy Wass Pub, Dewsbury Road, Beeston Bonfire & Fireworks 7:30pm Hunslet Club, Hillidge Road Sunday 6 November Indoor Car Boot Sale 9am-1pm Middleton Leisure Centre, Ring Road Middleton Monday 7 November Pop Up Council HUB 10am-3pm Crosby Road, Holbeck Tuesday 8 November Social Run Group 10-11am Middleton Park Visitor Centre Beeston Local History Soc 8pm Beeston Parish Centre, Town Street

Wednesday 9 November Cottingley Hall TRAC 7pm Cottingley Community Centre Friday 11 November Remembrance Service 10:45 Cottingley Xmas Tree Saturday 12 November Ramblers 9am Beeston St Mary’s church Christmas Fayre 1-3pm Assissi Place, Hunslet Sunday 13 November Sunday Lunch 1-3pm Ingram Gardens Community Centre, Holbeck The House Behind The Lines 5-6:15pm Slung Low Theatre, 67-71 Bath Road, Holbeck Tuesday 15 November Friends of Middleton Park 7pm St Georges Centre Thursday 17 November Comics Club!

3:15-4:45pm Dewsbury Road Library Saturday 19 November Leeds Young Archaeologists Club 10am-12pm Middleton Park Visitor Centre Monday 21 November Pop Up Council HUB 10am-3pm Crosby Road, Holbeck St Luke’s Tenants & Residents 6pm St Luke’s Church, Malvern Road, Beeston Thursday 24 November Il Destino concert 7pm Church of the Nazarene, Hunslet Hall Road, Beeston Saturday 26 November Holbeck Feast Cafe 9-11am Ingram Gardens Community Centre, Holbeck Sunday 27 November BITMO Lunch Club 1-3pm BITMO’s GATE, Aberfield Gate, Belle Isle Maltings Lunch Club 1-3pm Maltings Court, Maltings Road, Beeston Wednesday 30 November Cop Shop Memory Cafe 1-3pm Elland Road Police HQ

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 Ring/text: 07894 583966

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Website: www.southleedslife.com

November 2016 | South Leeds Life

What’s On 15

Email: info@southleedslife.com

Join the transport conversation

Councillors on the Inner South Community Committee are inviting you to their next workshop on Tuesday 1 November to discuss the city’s transport.

Transport is a fundamental component of what makes a strong economy as well as a compassionate and liveable city.

The vision is for Leeds to be a fair, open and welcoming city with an economy that is both prosperous and sustainable with a transport system that helps all our communities to

be successful.

Getting our transport system right is a critical element of achieving the Council’s Best City ambition.

They want to know how you feel about transport in Leeds to develop the future transport strategy and plans for transport investment across the city.

To join in the citywide conversation on the future of transport in our city, come along and have your say on the 1st November.

The conversation began

following the government’s decision to turn down the proposed New Generation Transport (NGT) scheme for Leeds in May, but with £173.5million of funding for the scheme being retained to invest in public transport in the city.

The council hosted a transport summit in June

The West End comes to South Leeds South Leeds’ Church of the Nazarene are hosting a concert in aid of St Gemmas Hospice. Highly acclaimed music duo 'Il Destino' are bringing their world tour *Destiny* to South Leeds.

Il Destino are a professional duo, Jon Christos an international opera singer and South Leeds resident Adam Lacey, a Broadway and West End singer.

This will be the first time the duo have performed on home turf and have recently recorded their first CD "One Voice" They will be joined by guest singers featuring songs from musicals such as Les Miserables, Cats, Oliver and other well known songs.

Il Destino: Jon Christos and Adam Lacey The concert takes place on Thursday 24 November, 7pm till 9:30pm, at the Church Of the Nazarene on Hunslet Hall Road, LS11 6TT. Tickets are priced £6 each or four for £20 when booked

together. Tickets must be booked in advance, as the show is expected to sell out. Ticket hotline: 07402 191310. £1 from every ticket sold will go directly to St Gemma's Hospice.

Middleton Park bonfire Once again Leeds City Council are organising a free public bonfire and firework display in Middleton Park.

The event, sponsored by White Rose Shopping Centre, takes place on Friday 4 November. The bonfire will be lit at 7pm and the fireworks will start at 7:30pm.

For safety reasons, please do not bring your own fireworks or sparklers onto the site.

attended by leading transport bodies and key stakeholders, followed by the survey, completed by over 4,750 people so far, which has been running since the start of August and has now been extended to November 11.

Leader of Leeds City Council and Middleton Park Councillor Judith Blake said:

“We hope as many people as possible will be able to attend the session and join in with the thousands of people who have already joined the conversation on the future direction of transport in Leeds.”

The session is open to all to attend, but if cannot attend the survey can be accessed online

in all council libraries and onestop centrescurrent survey which is running at www.leeds.gov.uk/transport conversation.

The Workshop takes place on Tuesday 1 November, 6.30pm at Leeds Civic Hall.

Sandwiches and refreshments will be available from 6pm.

www.southleedslife.com

South Leeds Life | November 2016

16 Sport

A new era dawns

Hawks no more, a new era is starting at Hunslet RLFC. A new crest (above) and shirt have been unveiled, a new coach appointed and the core of the playing squad have signed contracts for the 2017 season.

Hunslet RLFC will play once more in the Kingstone Press League One. They will kick off their season against University of Gloucester All Golds at South Leeds Stadium on Sunday 5 March.

In June they will travel to Canada to face newcomers Toronto Wolfpack, the club’s first competitive game outside Europe.

Coach James Coyle returns to the club he helped take to the Championship as a player.

Commenting on Hunslet’s inconsistency last season Coyle said: “If we get our work ethic right and our training is good then we will be more consistent in the plays that we make on the field and the decisions we make during games. That will ultimately make us a better side.”

The club has resigned fans favourites: Jimmy Watson, Danny Ansell, Club Captain Liam Mackay and Mufaro Mvududu.

Jack Coventry, who was on loan from Featherstone Rovers for the second half of last season, has signed for Hunslet.

And the squad has been further strengthened through the signings of Jack Walton from Doncaster and former Keighley Cougar Gavin Duffy.

The club has brought out a range of leisure wear bearing the new crest including polo shirts, hoodies and gilets.

They make great Christmas presents and are guaranteed to get you in the mood for preseason rugby in the New Year.

Visit the club shop at South Leeds Stadium, Middleton Grove, LS11 5DJ or shop online.

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Cup final heartbreak for valiant Hunslet Parkside

by Ed Carlisle Hunslet Club Parkside suffered a cruel last-minute loss in the Conference Challenge Trophy cup final in Manchester last month (Saturday 8 October) – but it was a gutsy performance from a club with a bright future ahead.

Parkside – part of The Hunslet Club – came into the game (the finale of the top amateur Rugby League competition in the country) with incredible momentum. They only formed as an adult club in 1999, yet have steadily risen through the ranks, have just won successive league titles in the National Conference third and second divisions, and – against all the odds – beat Leigh Miners Rangers (the 2015 cup winners, and 2015 Premier League champions) 24-22 away in the first round of this competition.

Yet high-flying Rochdale Mayfield are one of the top amateur clubs in the country, this year finishing the National Conference Premier League in fourth place – so Hunslet were undoubtedly the underdogs. But could they pull off another giant killing?

The match – at the Manchester Regional Arena, in the shadow of the Etihad stadium – kicked off in bright sunshine, with a lively 1,300-strong crowd roaring their teams on.

‘Yorkshire’ and ‘Hunslet’ rung out from the terraces, drum beats filled the air.

A slightly cagey start saw Rochdale kick a penalty on 4 minutes, then Hunslet cancelling it out with their own, from the boot of Jamie Fields, 3 minutes later. (2-2.)

The lighter, faster Rochdale team forced Hunslet into some deep defending – but some hard tackling

Hunslet players leave the field in Manchester. Photo: Ed Carlisle from players including Andrew Hullock and Michael Waite kept them at bay.

Slowly though, the physically bigger Hunslet started to assert themselves, with some heavy running – especially from the ever-present Jamie Fields. And they eventually broke the headlock in the 17th minute with a high kick into the corner, expertly passed on by Kieran Murphy, and gathered up by Josh Murphy to run into the right-hand corner. It was too far for Jamie Fields to convert, but Hunslet led 6-2 for now.

It wasn’t long before Rochdale hit back though, putting their fast feet and neat handling to good use, and opening up the Hunslet defence and running a try in under the posts on 21 minutes.

Converted, Rochdale now led 8-6.

Momentum rocked back and forward, with Hunslet putting in a couple of surging attacks, and hustling Rochdale to prevent them building pressure – until the 30th minute, when Hunslet’s Craig Miles found himself sinbinned for 10 minutes, for high tackles.

A lapse in concentration and energy from Hunslet saw Rochdale break through for a second try near the posts, then convert it, to lead 14-6 at

half-time.

Hunslet immediately reversed the momentum after the break. Focused and strong, they were over the line within 2 minutes, via Jack Carville. A conversion from Jamie Fields saw Hunslet very much back in it, only 1412 down. And they nearly added another try almost immediately, but were just held off by desperate Rochdale defending.

A brawl saw Hunslet’s Craig Miles sin-binned again – but crucially, one of the Rochdale wingers was red-carded at the same time; and just minutes later, another of their players was sin-binned.

Rochdale were looking ragged, and Hunslet pushed on.

Jamie Fields added another penalty kick to level the scores at 14-14; then Hunslet’s Omar Alrawi added a third try on 54 minutes, again converted by Jamie Fields. 20-14 up, they looked like they were cruising.

But Rochdale picked themselves up, and started playing a patient, territorial game. Ill-disciplined play from Hunslet and overly-rigorous refereeing saw Rochdale awarded two penalties – both of which they converted, to claw

themselves back to 20-18, and set up a nail-biting finale with 10 minutes to go.

Hunslet found themselves playing deep in their own half, and struggling to break out – but seemed to be doing just enough to keep Rochdale at bay, successfully running two penetrating Rochdale breaks into touch. But then, with just 2 minutes to go, a high and deep Rochdale kick saw a moment of turmoil on the Hunslet tryline, followed by a breathless pause as the referee and touch judges consulted, followed by uproar as Rochdale were awarded the try.Adding the conversion, they now led 24-20.

There was time for one final desperate Hunslet push, and they nearly pulled off an astounding comeback try – but mishandled it in the final metres, and lost possession.

With Rochdale now assured of victory, they booted the ball into touch, and the Hunslet players sank to the floor at the final whistle. It wasn’t quite the fairytale ending to their remarkable season – but the Hunslet players had once again shown why the club is enjoying such a meteoric rise, and given a glimpse of the great things that hopefully lie ahead in the coming years.

Frankie Brown, secretary for Hunslet Club Parkside, commented: “This was the biggest occasion our club’s ever had, against an established and well-drilled side – and the lads were fantastic, playing with heart and soul. Discipline could have been better, but we enjoyed ourselves, we learnt a lot – and congratulations to Rochdale.

“Huge thanks to all the fans, not just for this final, but throughout this amazing season we’ve had. Rugby league at the Hunslet Club is bouncing, we’re going from strength to strength, and we look forward to the challenges ahead.”

‘The Viking’ victorious again

Local man Tom ‘The Viking’ Crosby was in action at this month’s WFMC (World Fightsport and Martial Arts Council) World Championships in Manchester, and picked up two more world titles to add to his collection.

As previously reported in South Leeds Life (here and here), 28-year-old Tom was born and bred in south Leeds, still lives in Middleton, works as a childminder when he’s not fighting, and just this month got married. He only took up Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) three years ago, but has already racked up multiple awards and competition victories around

Tom Crosby (L) with his gold medals

the UK and the world.

MMA, commonly known as cage fighting, is a sport made up of multiple disciplines including kickboxing, jiu jitsu, ‘grappling’, ‘grapple and strike’, and more.

This month (1416 October) saw him compete with the GB team at the WFMC championships in Manchester. And, even though he was competing in a heavier weight

class (85kg) than normal, he won both competitions in which he was competing – Mixed Martial Arts and ‘grappling’ – so came home with double gold.

Tom commented: “I had to step up in Manchester, because I was in a heavier weight class, so fighting slightly bigger guys; also, having two fights in one day was a challenge. But it was all good experience, a nice little warmup for Prague. I’m buzzing to have retained my place in the UK squad for that. And I’m still aiming to go professional next year, so want to be competing at the highest level before that.”

Junior Parkrun

Every Sunday at 9am starts Sunday 13th November Safe, free, timed, 2km run/walk Ages: 4-14 years Top of Cross Flatts Park, Beeston www.facebook.com/ crossflattsparkrun