South Leeds Life 94 February 2023

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

A SILENT EMERGENCY

Special Report: Male suicide and how we prevent more tragedies

by Kushmina Begum

How many times have you responded to the question

‘How are you?’ with ‘I’m fine’ on autopilot without even thinking about your genuine mental and emotional state?

This month we are running a special feature on male suicide and the devastating impact it can have on loved ones.

Over the last few months there has been a number of young men mainly aged between 20-40 years old taking their own lives in South Leeds. On top of that we regularly report on men who have gone missing.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) reported that 5,219 people took their own lives in 2021. 74% of those were men. The suicide rate in Leeds has risen from 13.3 to 13.9 per 100,000 people (2018-20 - 2019-2021), above the England average of 10.4 per 100,000 people.

1 in 5 of us will have suicidal thoughts at some point in our lives. Suicide remains the biggest killer of men under the age of 50. The facts are scary, but what they highlight is how prevalent suicide is, and how we must urgently tackle it.

There has been a silent

mental health crisis for years made worse by underfunding of mental health services in the NHS, while socioeconomic factors which make accessing private psychological or alternative therapies near impossible for many residents in South Leeds.

Long waiting lists and short appointment times mean that mental wellbeing appointments make many feel like they are not truly being listened to. Complicated language and quantitative questionnaires do not make ‘opening up’ easy at an appointment.

In this edition we will hear from families affected by male suicide. All the stories featured are real lived experiences from families in South Leeds, but names and anything identifiable have been changed to protect their anonymity.

Mental health self care is equally vital as physical self care – you have to check the ‘pressure and speed’ of your brain to avoid a burnout feeling.

Men face a host of pressures; financial expectations, family pressures, becoming a new dad, lack of self care (no sports or exercise time), worries about big issues

like climate change, or the difficulties transitioning from adolescent to adulthood to fatherhood. Pressures from social media of the ‘perfect family’ or ‘perfect home’ can erode a man’s self esteem and worth. The reality of day to day life, living in South Leeds can seem duller, hence why we are publicising a number of free, accessible and local community services and organisations that any man can go to for a friendly face and

a short respite. A safe space to listen, share or not do anything for an hour or two.

Preventative care and intervention is one of the key messages in this special edition and you will find local groups, organisations, helplines and websites to help.

Society has perhaps socially conditioned young men that they have to appear ‘strong on the outside’ in front of their family and friends. We are encouraging our readers to

check in with a family member you might be worried about this Winter.

Actively listening, sitting down face to face and creating a safe space where all problems do not need solutions. The old adage ‘a problem shared is a problem halved’ really is true sometimes and positive self talk can break stigmas passed down from the previous generations.

Now turn to pages 4 & 5

Covering

‘It’s good to talk. Photo: Shutterstock

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Funding secured for Hunslet’s ‘town square’

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Councillors

Paul Wray and Mohammed Iqbal (Labour, Hunslet and Riverside) have welcomed the news that the Hunslet Public Realm Improvement Project has now secured £150,000 from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.

The project, a long-term ambition of theirs and their former Labour colleague, Honourary Alderwomen Elizabeth Nash, aims to improve the large public open space outside the Hunslet Community Hub & Library, off Church Street. The master plan for the paved space was costed at just over £300,000, but the project had been hit by delays due to the ongoing challenges faced by the authority as it worked to balance its budget.

But now, with a significant amount of funding having been safely secured, design plans can be updated, and the hope is that work will start on site quickly.

Cllr Paul Wray said:

“Despite some misinformed claims early last year, this project has never been scrapped as it is a key element in our plans to improve public space in Hunslet. Council officers have been working hard in the background to secure other sources of funding so we could deliver on this promise to the people of Hunslet. I’m extremely happy we can now deliver the first phase of work.”

Work will continue to secure more funding so that later phases of the master plan can be completed –

‘Back Our Buses’

llr Andrew Scopes, Cllr Annie Maloney and Cllr Gohar Almass (Labour, Beeston and Holbeck) are warning of disastrous cuts to bus services in our area if the Government fails to extend vital funding in the Spring.

Last Autumn they campaigned alongside Mayor Tracy Brabin and Labour’s Northern Mayors to secure a six month extension of the Bus Recovery Grant – a financial lifeline

for bus operators to keep services running after the Covid pandemic. However, three months on, the Government has failed to guarantee that this emergency funding will continue after March, putting essential services in the region at risk. While bus patronage has recovered more quickly in West Yorkshire than other areas, reaching over 80% of pre-pandemic levels and 100% amongst young people,

delivering a transformed public space for the main civic and commercial space in Hunslet.

“This is good news for Hunslet: it’s a key local space, currently going to waste, but with bags of potential. As ever, it’ll be crucial to put residents at the heart of the redevelopment, with all their insights and ideas – so that it becomes somewhere that’s useful and uplifting for the whole community.”

this recovery will be put under threat if Government withdraws its funding prematurely.

In our area services such as 55, 65, 75, 86 and 87 could be at risk of reduced frequency, or being scrapped altogether.

Cllr Andrew Scopes said:

“I support the Labour Mayor in her recent announcements working to get more people using buses and protect the network from cuts. The ‘Mayor’s Fares’, launched in September, capped the cost of journeys at £2 and the price of an

New service as bus route extends to Hunslet

Monday 23 January saw a new bus service for Hunslet, with the 29 bus – previously just linking Leeds Dock with the city centre and the universities – extending into Hunslet, and also further into north Leeds.

As previously reported, the 29 bus was due to be scrapped altogether in October, with First Bus no longer able to maintain it. But local residents worked with Cllr Ed Carlisle (Green, Hunslet & Riverside), and with local independent company Yorkshire Buses and other partners – and the service resumed after a short break.

And following further feedback from residents and users, this month sees the service expanding. It will now run to and from Church Street in Hunslet, along Atkinson Street (for Hunslet Victoria Mill and the H2010 development), through Leeds Dock and the city centre, past the LGI and universities, and up to Hyde Park.

Buses will run Monday to Saturday (except bank holidays), on an hourly basis each way from 7am,

then half-hourly between about 9am-2pm, then hourly again until 9pm. Fares are capped at £2 per journey, or there are passes available. Full details at: www.facebook.com/yorkshirebuses.

Cllr Ed Carlisle commented:

“There’s lots of bad news about public transport, but this is good news for our community – and a good story of local people speaking up, being heard, and things changing for the better. Public transport is key to building a sustainable city – so thanks to the fantastic team at Yorkshire Buses, we now have this service, right on our doorstep. Please let’s all use it, to help make it a success, and safeguard it for the coming years.”

Steve Carr from Yorkshire Buses said;

“Following many requests we will altering the 29 to serve Hunslet Shopping Centre taking in Atkinson Street which will provide the growing community there with buses

direct to Leeds.

“We are also pleased to now be able to serve Leeds Dock direct into Leeds without a lengthy wait at the student accommodation centre with buses travelling both ways through Leeds Dock.”

Cllr Paul Wray (Labour, Hunslet & Riverside added:

MCard DaySaver ticket at £4.50 cutting fares for passengers in our area.

“But while our successful campaign for funding saved services from the axe last Autumn, operators are warning that without further, sustainable funding from Government they will be forced to make further cuts this spring.

“This will have a damaging impact on our communities and we need the Government to take urgent action to keep our communities linked together and able to get around the city.”

“I welcome the news that Yorkshire Buses have listened to the feedback of residents at H2010 and Victoria Riverside and restored the full previous route of the old 29 bus service. It is even better to hear they have taken the decision to extend this service to the Penny Hill Centre in Hunslet. This will hopefully strengthen the sustainability of the route further, ensuing its long-term future. It is also an indictment of the larger bus companies who abandoned the route due to an apparent lack of passengers unless they were provided with public subsidy.”

Public space outside Hunslet Hub

Cllrs Carlisle and Wray welcome the 29 bus to Leeds Dock

Hongkongers celebrate the Lunar New Year

by Jeremy Morton

OnThursday 19 January

Hongkongers from across Leeds came together in Beeston to celebrate the Lunar New Year with excellent decorations and an exquisite lunch.

Health For All set up the project in partnership with Migration Yorkshire to support new Hong Kong migrants to settle in the UK and help them integrate with local communities.

The project has supported over 200 people in the last two

years offering a range of practical support including English language courses, helping young Hongkongers to link with youth groups, connect Hongkongers with local community projects, support with housing, job search and setting up their own business.

Hong Kong was formerly a British colony and many Hongkongers hold British National (Overseas) passports, which allows them apply for a five year visa allowing them to live and work in the UK.

I spoke to one man who managed three large municipal warehouses in Hong Kong. He told me was looking to settle down and then look for work. He said he was keen to integrate into the community and had found people in Beeston very friendly and helpful.

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I also spoke to two students, Peace and Lokyee, who volunteer with the group, primarily as translators. Peace got them involved after needing legal advice herself from Migration Yorkshire for her British National (Overseas) visa application.

“Helping with interpreting and doing activities with people from Hong Kong is a way of giving back” she said. She went on to explain how even in something like a conversational English class, which is led by a native speaker and conducted in English, having a translator in the room can be helpful to overcome blockages.

Health For All project worker, Huazhu Liu, had attended a reception at 10 Downing Street to celebrate the Lunar New Year the previous evening and was able to bring greetings from the Prime Minister to the group. He extended a welcome to Hongkongers living in the UK and wished everyone a Happy New Year.

With that we raised our glasses of green tea and

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This edition of South Leeds Life has been paid for by your Councillors of the Inner South Community Committee: Beeston & Holbeck

Preventing suicide

Suicide is a devastating event, that has wide implications for the families, friends, and all associated with the victim.

Whether it be male or female, young or old, for those left behind there is a very complicated grieving process and for those lost a sense of a life cut short.

The West Yorkshire Health and Care Partnership, which includes Leeds City Council and the NHS, has a Suicide Prevention Programme which has been carrying out intensive work and aims to reduce the suicide rate by 10% before 2027.

Recent measures include rolling out a targeted training programme to workforces across health, care and beyond, including frontline workers such as in job centres and GP practices, which will equip thousands with the skills to save a life.

The Partnership’s ongoing ‘Check In With Your Mate’ suicide prevention campaign, launched in May 2021, aims to normalise conversations around suicide and mental health, particularly among young men.

Developed by and featuring local men, from their experiences, it includes downloadable graphics and

posters to help spread the word, with messages including:

‘Is your sporty mate suddenly off his game?’, ‘Does your mate always want to have one too many?’ and ‘Has the mate who’s always got something to say gone quiet?

You can download free resources and join the campaign at staffcheck-in.

co.uk/campaign-toolkit/males

Other initiatives include the Leeds Suicide Bereavement Service, which offers support to individuals, families or work places. The service provides 1:1, peer groups, family support and counselling. Whether you were affected by a suicide that was a few days, weeks or decades ago. They can support you whoever you have lost – this may be a parent, child, partner, sibling, other relative, friend or work

colleague.

You can use the service if you believe someone you care about has ended their own life, even if this has not been officially recognised or you haven’t had an inquest. They also support people who feel affected by a suicide but do not identify as bereaved, for example if you witnessed a death. Leeds City Council commissions Leeds MIND to provide the service. Go to www.leedsmind.org.uk or call (0113) 305 5800

Suicide Prevention Training is being targeted at workforces where those with higher risk factors are employed. In addition, Mindwell is the mental health website for people in Leeds where you can find out about support and services in Leeds, understand common mental health

problems and understand how to take care of your wellbeing. The website, mindwellleeds.org.uk, also includes support for professionals and a list of training opportunities including free online suicide prevention training.

Free, 20-minute online suicide prevention training is also available to all at the Zero Suicide Alliance, to gain skills and confidence to help someone who may be considering suicide. Go to: www.zerosuicidealliance.com/ training

Grants are available to third sector organisations to; support empowerment and engagement with local people; build capacity and help emerging groups develop; support innovative ways of connecting with those who may be socially isolated; and address stigma, discrimination and loneliness. Apply to Leeds Community Foundation leedcf.org.uk

South Leeds stories

Itwas a normal day when

Sue (not her real name) brought her children home from school.

Her daughter went to the toilet and found her daddy’s dead body. That moment, seven years ago, unleashed a trauma that the family are still dealing with to this day.

In shock, Sue took her children to the home of a family member. They couldn’t use the bathroom on their own and still can’t.

When they were eventually rehoused Sue let the children choose the bedroom they were most comfortable with in terms of how near it was to the bathroom. But they still ended up all sleeping together in the living room downstairs.

Pathways for positivity with Shannon Humphrey

The man behind the smile

There are few of us who haven’t been touched by the untimely death of a male friend, family member or workmate to suicide.

Suicide is the biggest cause of death of men under the age of 45 and around three quarters of all deaths from suicide are male.

There’s the inevitable confusion and shock, ‘but he seemed fine the last time I saw him, he had everything going for him’ why didn’t ‘someone’ realise he was unwell conversations …

Truth is, men are good at hiding what’s going on in their head. They’ll laugh, make jokes, and make others happy while they’re living with inner pain, anxiety, turmoil, unprocessed worry, and suicidal thoughts. They’ll hide behind a smile, and say they’re

fine, even when they aren’t, because they don’t want to worry you or feel like a burden.

Have you noticed a partner, family member, friend, or colleague who just doesn’t seem themselves lately? It might be something they said or did, or a gut feeling that something isn’t quite right with them.

They laugh too loud, it feels false and phony, or maybe they’re overly stressed and anxious, tearful, angry, or displaying other emotions that are out of character for them. Perhaps drinking more alcohol than is usual, or misusing drugs.

Research shows a link between drug and alcohol misuse and the completion of suicide. The rational thinking part of the brain is affected by the drugs and booze, making

the user more susceptible to making impulsive decisions that can’t be undone.

Sometimes in life, we must have difficult conversations for the greater good. That means being very direct with the men in our lives. Choose a time and place to speak privately without interruption.

Don’t let them laugh it off or pretend everything is fine when you don’t believe it is.

If you are concerned enough to ask about their mental health, the chances are that your gut instinct is right, ask again.

Explain your concerns and ask them outright if they are having suicidal thoughts, asking someone who isn’t suicidal if they are, isn’t going to make them do it.

Let them know that what they tell you is in confidence

unless they’re a vulnerable adult or child or if they admit to an imminent suicidal plan, then you must call 999 for support.

And if they really are fine? That’s great. At least they know that you care, and they can confide in you, if or when they need to. Better to ask and be wrong than not ask and be right. Your actions could save a life.

Remember to check in with the men in your life, yes, even the loud, funny one who seem to be the life and soul of every party.

Be honest about your own mental health and don’t be afraid to seek help if it’s needed.

Shannon Humphrey is a freelance First Aid for Mental Health Instructor www. pathwaysforpositivity.com

Sue went into a spiral of drug and alcohol addiction, but eventually she pulled herself together enough to ask for help. She got support from Social Services and from Forward Leeds (the drug and alcohol service). Some of that was tough love – daily drug tests – but most importantly for her the family stayed together and are still together. The schools were also very supportive, but the children are affected in various ways. One daughter regularly ‘sees’ a man’s figure in her peripheral vision, another has behavioural issues that have impacted her education.

Sue has learned to manage the trauma her family has suffered, but doesn’t think they’ll ever get over it.

an overwhelming moment that is acted on and that the idea of leaving occurred once over a short period.

As a parent whose son has these feelings and thoughts, I now know this is something that can stay for a long time.

I know people that have lost people close to them or have attempted to take their life and the immediate response from loved ones is ‘if I had just done this, or if I had just said that’ it would have been different.

The idea that suicide is an option to some people comes with a lot of shame, not just for those close, but those who hold that feeling. An advantage, if you can call it that, is my son is able to explain these thoughts and absolutely clarifies that it is no-one’s fault. As hard as life may have been, as many mistakes as I have made as a parent, that is not the reason he doesn't want to be here.

"I have times where I experience feeling like I am just here existing, like I have no feelings, no enjoyment, no anger being numb and indifferent to everything. Existing isn't living so I don't see the point in being here. These feelings come around regularly."

We have open conversations about it regularly, I will sometimes ask him how much he wants to die today and he will respond

honestly. Some may presume if he hasn't tried then he doesn't really mean it, but he does, He has several plans of how to go and we make sure we know what they were.

If he feels certain things need removing (knives or pills say) we do that. He has a safety plan that he can use on his own to deescalate his thoughts and because we have an honesty policy we remove the shame of thinking these feelings need to be hidden.

"I have stayed because as low as I feel I don't want to upset my family or hurt my siblings, being able to say honestly how I feel and not feel bad for saying so helps me overcome the feeling."

We view feelings of suicide as a symptom of depression so we treat it like an illness. If he needs extra support some days he knows he can ask, if he wants peace likewise, this way we feel we can manage it and have done over the past few years.

We don't judge his feelings, as hard as they are to hear, but we respect them and deal with them. Our own feelings don't come into it when dealing his, he is who is most important and he shouldn't have to try make us feel better, he has enough to cope with. So we deal with our feelings about it separately. We have hope that the longer we are able to manage it the less and less he will have these thoughts.

The Suicide Bereavement team at Leeds MIND. “We get it because we’ve been there.”

Ialways presumed that suicidal feelings were

“It was the end of his pain, but just the start of ours”

“He has several plans and we make sure we know what they are”

A safe space for men to talk and listen

by Jeremy Morton

Talking about your problems, or how you are feeling, can be very difficult for men who have been brought up with the message ‘boys don’t cry’ and to ‘man up’ to problems.

ANDYSMANCLUB (AMC) was set up in Halifax after Andy Roberts took his own life in 2016. His family wanted to do something practical and that was to create a space where men could talk.

That year nine men met in a small room in Halifax with a

Help and resources

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simple aim of talking through their issues and helping each other deal with their mental health. All in attendance were agreed there was a magic in that room that had to be shared.The idea has been so successful that they have spread nationwide.

There are two AMC meetings in South Leeds: one meets at Leeds College of Building on Cudbear Street in Hunslet and another at the Vale Circles centre on Tunstall Road in Beeston. Like every meeting nationwide they take place every Monday evening from 79pm.

We spoke to Liam one of the facilitators. He explained that he, like all facilitators is a previous user of the service. The meetings offer peer-to-peer support, they do not offer advice, there are no mental health professionals involved.

“When you arrive, I’ll greet you and offer you tea and coffee and biscuits. I’ll explain how the meeting works and that you don’t have to say anything in the meeting unless you want to. I know what it’s like to come into that room for the first time so I’ll do my best to settle your nerves.

“Many men find listening to others helpful in itself. It’s reassuring, there’s a kind of warmth, a relief, that it’s not just me, that whatever you’re going through, whatever you’re

feeling, someone else is going through similar stuff.”

Some people think that only a certain type of man would use a mental health charity, but Liam says it can happen to anyone - you can be sat with a postman on one side and a solicitor on the other.

The groups are well attended with up to 40 at the Building College and 20 at Vales Circles, but there’s always room for anyone who needs to be there.

Comments AMC receive such as “Thank you for giving me my husband back” give a powerful endorsement to their work.

Another man wrote they had attended AMC Leeds for the fourth week in a row and this is the first time he got into his car afterwards and he put the rope that was in his car away, he put his pills away; he’d decided he wouldn’t take his own life.

“The real value that we add” says Liam, “is for guys like me that are not plugged into any other services or charities and if AMC didn’t exist, they wouldn’t have gone anywhere else.”

Liam also tells me of a user

whose son took his own life five years ago. He kept things going at home and made sure everyone else in the family was OK, but now needs to look after himself and finds AMC is the place to do that.

You can find out more at: andysmanclub.co.uk

Men In Need Together (MINT) are another local charity offering a similar safe space to talk and listen. They meet at BITMO’s GATE, Aberfield Gate, Belle Isle, LS10 3QH every Tuesday, 7-9pm.

You don’t need to book or register for these groups, just turn up. It’s OK to talk.

Other groups providing support to men include the Menspace Drop-in at Cranmore & Raylands Community Centre, Cranmore Drive, Belle Isle, LS10 4AW every Thursday from 9:30am; Men Behaving Dadly at Middleton Family Centre, 256-262 Sissons Road, Middleton, LS10 4JG.

Leeds Dads run play and social events to support dads with young (pre-school) children and dads to be. Full details at: leedsdads.org

ANDYSMANCLUB meets every Monday (except bank holidays) 7-9pm Leeds College of Building, Cudbear Street, LS10 1EF

Vale Circles, Tunstall Road, Beeston, LS11 5JF

MINT (Men In Need Together) meets every Tuesday 7-9pm

BITMO’s GATE, Aberfield Gate, Belle Isle, LS10 3QH

Samaritans - someone to talk to 24 hours a day, 365 days a year

Call free on 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org

NHS 24 hour mental health helpline for support, advice and information

Call free 0800 183 0558

Leeds Suicide Bereavement Service www.leedssbs.org.uk 0113 305 5800 sbs@leedsmind.org.uk

Free online suicide prevention training www.zerosuicidealliance.com/training

Links to support, information and training across West Yorkshire suicidepreventionwestyorkshire.co.uk / checkinwithyourmate.co.uk

Mindwell website for information about mental health issues, wellbeing and support services in Leeds - mindwell-leeds.org.uk

On the beat

with Insp Tom Perry

Iwouldlike to start this month’s column by wishing you all a very Happy New Year. I hope that the Christmas and New Year period was both enjoyable and safe for the communities of South Leeds.

2023 represents a challenging year for Policing, with some renewed focus on Neighbourhood Policing, in particular the staffing numbers of my teams. It is my hope that over the coming months you will start to see an increase in your dedicated neighbourhood policing team.

Despite some of the pressures on service delivery, your teams continue to work hard to tackle criminals, reduce risk of harm and to contribute towards community cohesion and projects aimed at promoting positive values and youth diversion from crime and anti-social behaviour. Much of this work has related to the latter, with your teams striving to support local sporting and musical initiatives that provide safe, inclusive and productive environments for young people.

The Premier League Kicks

programme via Leeds United Football Club is an excellent service that uses the power of football to help young people in high need area. More details of what is available can be found at: www.premierleague.com /communities/programmes/c ommunity-programmes/plkicks

Similarly, the Hunslet Rugby Club Foundation are providing services for young people in the area, focussing on four pillars of activity; Health, Education, Heritage and Social Inclusion. More details can be found at: hunsletrlfc.com /foundation

Other community projects are available and underway, and my teams will continue to support these projects in enhancing the local area and investing in its children.

I had the pleasure recently of hosting the High Sheriff of West Yorkshire and providing a tour around Elland Road Police Station. The High Sheriff is a historic position and whilst it is now more ceremonial than anything else, I was glad for the opportunity to discuss the

Councillors welcome new housing in Holbeck

Local Ward Councillors

challenges of the South Leeds area, and the work that my teams are engaged with.

I am writing this during Neighbourhood Policing Week, which is a really positive opportunity to discover more about your local team, their staff and priorities, as well as any upcoming events. You can visit www.westyorkshire.police .uk/my-neighbourhood to clarify which team looks after your area, and will find a summary of the current priorities for the areas. There are contact details for you to engage with your team should you wish to highlight matters that you feel need our attention.

West Yorkshire Police held a PCSO Recruitment event at the Carr Gate Police Training Centre in Wakefield on Saturday 28 January. Members of the public who are interested in joining West Yorkshire Police as a PCSO and part of a Neighbourhood Policing Team were able to find out more information about the role of a Police Community Support Officer and how to apply.

Andrew Scopes, Gohar Almass and Annie Maloney have welcomed new council housing in Holbeck.

This week, Leeds City Council have taken ownership of six new family homes at Meynell Approach, Holbeck. The homes consist of 4 two bed and 2 three bed houses, and completes the first phase of 28 new homes which will be handed to tenants over the next month under the construction contract with United Living North Ltd.

The tenancy agreements have been signed and the families are planning on moving into their new homes this week.

Key features of the homes include:

Inclusion of water saving • devices such as aerated taps, over bath showers and low capacity baths;

Good sized secure rear • gardens with patio area, metal sheds and water butts; and a number of biodiversity • measures which includes hedgehog highways, bat boxes and swallow nesting holes.

The project demonstrates a successful partnership approach between Leeds City

Council, NPS and United Living North Ltd.

Councillor Andrew Scopes, (Labour, Beeston and Holbeck) said:

“My ward colleagues, Cllrs Gohar Almass and Annie Maloney, and I are delighted with this new family friendly housing development in our ward. We hope that the new residents will be very happy in the area.

“It has been particularly

great to see the excellent cross departmental working within the Council between Planning, Highways, Land & Property, Legal, Procurement, Finance & Housing Management to deliver these new homes.

“We know there is a huge shortage of good quality affordable houses in our area and the Council needs to be given the power to build many more houses as soon as possible!”

New zebra crossing for Balm Road in Hunslet

Following the request of residents, Cllrs Paul Wray and Mohammed Iqbal (Labour, Hunslet and Riverside) highlighted to Highways Leeds officers the lack of a crossing facility on Balm Road at the Playfair Road junction in Hunslet.

This space is particularly difficult for mobility users to cross, who must instead travel up to the signalised crossing at Moor Road from Playfair Road to cross over safely.

Cllr Paul Wray said:

“This has been on the wish list for a number of residents for several years. The current cycle lane roadworks has now provided an opportunity to build this out of an existing budget and provide a muchneeded additional crossing point. But resident views on location are important, as the location will have some impact on how the road space is currently used.”

The site has been identified

by Highways Leeds as offering the best connectivity to the bus stop, with the least disruption to other elements of the road.

However, some of the current on-road parking on Balm Road would have to be removed and one blue badge parking bay currently located on Balm Road, would also have to be moved onto Playfair Road.

Local residents have beeen

written to ask for their feedback on the proposals.

If residents require additional information or wish to discuss the proposal further, they should contact Highways Leeds with any questions by emailing at connectingleeds @leeds.gov.uk, quoting reference TM-32-605-GA-07.

Please also send any other feedback to this email as well.

New council houses at Meynell Approach

Photo: Google Streetview

BITMO’s GATE: providing community services at the heart of Belle Isle

Council housing is Belle Isle is a bit different to rest of the city. Since the late 1980s it’s been managed by the tenants, first through the Belle Isle Estate Management Board and since 2004 by Belle Isle Tenant Management Organisation (BITMO).

The decision to be managed by BITMO rather the Council rests with the tenants. Ballots are held every five years, with 96% in favour of BITMO at the last ballot in 2019 (on a 48% turnout).

One impact of the tenant led board is a greater focus on providing community services to the people of Belle Isle. The Community Development Team work across a broad spectrum of projects from their base at the GATE Centre, or BITMO’s GATE.

With the Covid hiatus properly behind us now, BITMO’s GATE is once again a hive of activity. The centre is now open five days a week:

Monday, Wednesday and Friday 9am-1pm; Tuesday and Thursday 1-7pm.

Beeston Festival prepares for 2023

Beeston Festival held its Annual General Meeting (AGM) on 21 January, reflecting on another successful event in 2022 and looking ahead to 2023.

The Annual Report, which is now available to read and download on the festival website at beestonfestival .org.uk, details how the organising committee plan their work and reflected on the various attractions at the event including live animals, children’s activities, dance and music performances, stalls,

food, sport and the fun fair.

The 51 volunteers (not including the committee) who put in 240 hours work on the day were thanked. The festival couldn’t happen without them.

The accounts show that the committee spent almost £30,000 staging the festival, but raised slightly more than that from grants, sponsorship, stall bookings and the fun fair. The surplus will go into the festival’s reserves to ensure that if costs rise and/or fundraising is less successful, the festival will still go on.

Councillors on the Inner South Community Committe, National Lottery Awards For All, White Rose Office Park, DePuy Synthes and Building Blocks nursery were all thanked for their generous support.

A new committee was elected with Cllr Annie Maloney and Shaf Choudhary joining replacing Lindsey Pearson and Hannah Ward who were thanked for their hard work.

Angela Gabriel, Mark Day and Hannah Marshall we re-elected as Chair, Secretary and Treasurer respectively.

Angela Gabriel commented: “2022 was a great success, but we can’t rest on our laurels and there is a lot of hard work to do to make sure this year’s festival is as good if not better. We are always looking for new volunteers to step forward and get involved, both organising in advance and working on the day. If you would like get involved, please email beestonfestival@gmail.com.”

Beeston Festival will take place on Saturday 24 June 2023, 12-5pm in Cross Flatts Park.

Stall bookings will open in late February, watch out for further details.

and skills and you will find free access to computers with free wi-fi at all times, plus access to Digital Support and a beginner’s digital course. There is also support to access training and employment; help with CVs, job search and job applications. And the Educational Development Trust hold a drop in and appointments for young people aged 16–24 wanting training and employment advice.

BITMO’s response to the cost of living crisis has include evening opening as a designated Warm Space and free family hot meals every Tuesday and through the school holidays. These add to the long running pay what you can afford Friday hot breakfast. There’s also access to free winter coats and school uniform.

The team also run a range of groups and activities ranging from tea toast and craft mornings for pre-schoolers, free tutoring sessions for Year 3 and 4 pupils and family film shows; through to help to stop smoking, mental health themed craft sessions and MINT’s weekly men’s group. There are many volunteering opportunities available, ranging from cooking and gardening to helping people get the most out of their phones and tablets. The GATE is also part of the Belle Isle litter picking library, so you can borrow bags and equipment to tidy the local environment. If you have any questions or want to know more please contact either Peter, Tracey or Jo Telephone: (0113) 378 2190; Email: gate@belleisle tmo.co.uk; website: www. belleisletmo.co.uk

You can also follow Belle Isle Tenant Management Organisation on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter – search for Belle Isle TMO.

Please note while services are provided the whole Belle Isle community, some can only be provided free to BITMO tenants.

The team comprises Jo Wood and Tracey McGarry, managed by Peter Sutton and supported

by Lisa Clarke. BITMO’s GATE has always had a focus on employment

BITMO’s Community Development Team: Jo Wood, Tracey McGarry, Peter Sutton and Lisa Clarke

Entertainers mingled with the crowds at Beeston Festival

Money matters with

Leeds Credit Union

How to lower your heating bills

Union makes

available to help struggling members

Financial services provider

With winter in full swing, it's important for your health and wellbeing to ensure your house is adequately heated. But with the high cost of energy, how can you keep your house warm without breaking the bank? Stephen Porter,

retention by restricting air flow between warm and cold areas, preventing warm air from flowing out of your house.

Head of Member

Experience at Leeds Credit Union, shares some top tips.

The cold weather we're currently experiencing in the UK has seen temperatures drop as low as -10 degrees in some areas, so naturally most households have had the heating on.

With the cost of living crisis still ongoing, is it possible to keep your heating bills under control while still maintaining a warm home? The answer is yes - and here are a few ways of doing so.

Eliminate draughts

One of the simplest ways to conserve heat is by blocking gaps that allow cold air into your home, so check your doors and windows for draughts and use draughtproof strips to plug any gaps.

Use your curtains

Curtains help with heat

Experts advise drawing your curtains at dusk to reduce heat loss by as much as 17%. As a general rule, the thicker the curtain the better the insulation too.

Check radiator settings

Turning all your radiators to full blast will only cost you money as any empty rooms are being warmed to nobody's benefit. Instead, set radiator dials on a room-by-room basis, with living areas and bedrooms set to higher heats and spare rooms to lower - or even turned all the way down.

Check the thermostat

Ensuring your heating only comes on when temperatures drop below a certain level - and go off again when the desired temperature has been reached - could save more than £150 per year. For many households, setting the thermostat to 18 degrees is the perfect way to keep properties warm but not too hot.

Turn down your boiler's flow temperature

The temperature of the water that leaves your boiler to go to your radiators is called the boiler's flow temperature. If it's set too high, the boiler will run inefficiently, costing you extra money, so try to set it correctly.

To ensure this happens, turn it down to either 65 degrees for a conventional boiler with hot water cylinder, or 60 degrees if you have a combi boiler with no hot water cylinder.

Whatever you do, however, the Energy Saving Trust recommends you NEVER set your conventional boiler with hot water cylinder to less than 65 degrees or you run the risk of legionella bacteria growing in the cylinder.

Trap heat

Heat can escape from your home in pretty much every direction so do whatever you can to block off its routes!

Installing double - or tripleglazing will reduce the rate at which your home loses heat, as will insulating your cavity walls and your loft/attic.

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

Leeds Credit Union has begun 2023 by launching a new initiative to help its members consolidate their debts and lower their monthly outgoings.

By making £1 million available to its 37,000+ members across Leeds and other areas, plus residents of associated housing associations and select employers, Leeds Credit Union hopes to help them tackle the cost of living crisis by stopping them overpaying on interest for store cards, overdrafts, credit cards and high interest loans.

The organisation has taken the decision in response to feedback from its members in the runup to the recent festive period, who revealed that 48%

of them were unsure how they would afford Christmas, raising concerns many would turn to high interest loans or rack up credit card debt.

Stephen Porter, Head of Member Experience at Leeds Credit Union, said:

“With the cost of living crisis continuing to affect communities across the region, many households are falling into debt, often to multiple lenders.

“Making a significant amount of money available to our members so they can consolidate their debts makes it easier for them to pay off their existing debts in one easy, monthly payment. Because we offer lower interest rates than most other lenders, our debt consolidation package also

helps members reduce their interest payments, further improving their financial situation.

“To try and make 2023 less financially stressful for our members, we’ve also launched this year’s Christmas Club saving account. This means they can start saving for Christmas 2023 today, gradually building up a pot throughout the year rather than having to try and find money in a mad rush come December. Savings will be available from 1 November.”

To apply for a debt consolidation loan, members can visit one of Leeds Credit Union’s highstreet branches or the company’s website: www. leedscreditunion.co.uk/loans/ debt-consolidation-loans

Waltzing Emma is a Dance Floor Hero

by Jeremy Morton

Ed Sheeran.

Emma

Wishart from Beeston will soon be waltzing across the famous floor of the Empress Ballroom in Blackpool in the arms of a professional dancer.

She has reached the final of Dance Floor Heroes, a national competition for ordinary people to get a bit of the Strictly experience. Originally conceived during the Covid lockdowns and targeted on NHS workers as a thank you, the competition now raises funds for the Tia’s Crown charity.

Tia stands for Therapy In Action and funds raised will support people with mental health problems receive dance therapy. Their strapline is “changing the world one cha cha at a time.”

Emma has always enjoyed

dancing from self-taught Riverdance to freestyle classes at with Cynthia Coleman at the Plaza Club. When Strictly Come Dancing started she was hooked and signed up for ballroom and latin classes. But she hasn’t danced seriously for ten years.

She remembers watching her grandma dance with her twin sister at Burnamtofts Working Men’s Club. Emma asked what sort dancing that was and her grandma taught her the basic waltz box step over and over while everyone else waited for the bingo to start.

Emma’s old dance partner took part in Strictly NHS and encouraged Emma to apply for Dance Floor heroes.

“I filled in the form when I was feeling very low after my grandma died and thought no more about it” she explained.

She was invited to a regional heat at Leeds City Museum with scores of others. Over the course of a day they learned two dances and were interviewed.

She was then one of just 50 nationwide invited to submit a one-minute video. After a bit of a panic, Emma opted for clips of her singing badly, falling off a hoverboard, etc and called it Emma’s Got No talent. At each stage she expected to be rejected, but then she got the phone call saying she was one of the twelve finalists going to Blackpool - the judges clearly appreciated her sense of humour.

The producers have teamed her up with a professional dancer who she has been rehearsing with in Stockport. They also chose the dance –the Viennese Waltz and the song to dance to – Perfect by

Not only does the waltz remind Emma of her grandma, but she’s since discovered it was also the favourite dance of her other grandma, who was originally from Vienna.

“It’s as if it was actually chosen for me. I’ll be thinking about both my grandmas, but especially my little grandma who taught me the steps all those years ago. I’m doing it for them definitely” she said.

“If I can do it justice, my goal is to make my family cry.”

The final takes place on Friday 24 February in Blackpool with a judging panel made up of professional dancers from Strictly. The show will be hosted by Shane Nolan.

The event is Tia Crown’s main fundraising activity and tickets are available at bit.ly/DFHtickets

Emma is fundraising for Tia’s Crown and you can support her by going to www.justgiving .com/fundraising/emmawishart6

Headed for Blackpool: Emma Wishart

Credit

£1m

There’s Real Hope at this Beeston café

by Shannon Humphrey

to say about Real Hope Café? Well, the facts are I had a rather tasty, spicy chicken, salad sandwich and a good hot cuppa coffee. It was delicious, good value for money, and you should all go.

What

But that’s only a fraction of what happened, and it really wouldn’t do justice to the time I spent with the people at Real Hope, the ethos behind the café and what makes this space a real jewel in the crown for the local community.

Since it opened late last year, the social enterprise based in the recently extended church building at St Luke’s, Malvern Road, LS11 8PD, has given pride, purpose and of course hope, to 20 asylum seekers and refugees from 7 different nations, by providing training and volunteering opportunities.

Inspired by the desire to help others, founders chef, Arash Kourjani, along with friend and mentor, Phil Thomas, used their combined knowledge of volunteer management, and cross-cultural communication to create a safe space for

refugees and asylum seekers to integrate with the local community. An opprtunity to develop new friendships, gain confidence with the language, learn transferable skills, and build self-esteem, leading to paid work.

Refugees and asylum seekers often have to resort to cash in hand jobs, with little or no long-term prospects. They’re frequently taken advantage of, working long hours for little pay.

The ambition of Real Hope is that the support system they

New monthly foodbank collection points launch

St Lukes CARES charity shop on Dewsbury Road between 9:30am-4:30pm

Sunday 26 February:

The Hunslet Club on Hillidge Road between 9:30am-2pm

The Bay Horse pub on Woodhouse Hill Road between 11am-5pm

The Crooked Clock pub on Sussex Avenue between 125pm

The donated food will then be collected on the following Monday and delivered to the Leeds South and East Foodbank Distribution Centre.

Most needed items:

Dilute / Long Life Juice

Tinned Custard

Tinned Rice Pudding

offer will be a happier route to employment for many.

Before the café came along, some members of the team hadn’t had much interaction with British people, and they felt isolated which affected their mental health and

wellbeing. One young man, staying at a hotel for asylum seekers, catches two buses to volunteer, and his enthusiasm for good customer service shines through.

While I was there, it was encouraging to see a member

of staff being helped with a job application form. It’s clear, Arash, Phil and Alistair, the vicar at St Luke’s, want people to thrive and progress, and that’s the overarching sense I got.

And of course, they want you to enjoy the great selection of food and drink. Chatting to regular, Greg, he described Arash as “an artist with food!” and as I looked around, there were many clean plates, mine included.

For those of you, who want to get out of the house, meet friends or new people while supporting a local enterprise Real Hope could be just the place for you.

Although based in a church, people of all faiths or none, are welcomed. There’s always someone on hand to have a chat with and pass the time of day.

Take away, outside catering, and small events can be accommodated in-house.

Enquires: realhopeleeds @gmail.com

Opening hours:

Monday 7:30am-2:30pm

Tuesday: closed

Wednesday: 12-12:30pm

Thursday: 7:30am-2:30pm

Friday: 7:30am-2:30pm

Saturday, Sunday: closed

The first phase of a network of foodbank collection points across Hunslet and Riverside Ward was launched at the end of January.

The project has been launched by Cllr Paul Wray and Cllr Mohammed Iqbal (Labour, Hunslet and Riverside Ward) to help support the area’s largest foodbank, South and East Leeds Foodbank, acquire more vital donations.

Cllr Paul Wray said: “Foodbanks provide a vital support to those in need and

the demand for their vital service is only rising. But as this demand rises, at the same time, more and more people are moving to home delivery for their shopping – reducing instore donations at supermarkets. This project is a start of trying to help correct this and ensure vital support keep flowing in.”

You can donate food and other items (see list) on the last Saturday and Sunday of each month:

Saturday 25 February:

Tinned Potatoes

Tinned Vegetables

Tinned Spaghetti

Cooking Sauces

Coffee

Tea as well as toiletries, santiary products and pet food. Please do not donate frozen or fresh food.

More locations are due to be added during February.

You can also donate money to the foodbank by visiting their website at: leedssouthandeast .foodbank.org.uk

Donations will be taken to the Foodbank’s distribution centre

The team at Real Hope Cafe are ready to serve you

Deadly discoveries in Hunslet’s danger room

Ablack widow spider found inside a box of supermarket grapes is among the hair-raising discoveries safely stored in Leeds’s hidden danger room.

The highly venomous arachnid is one of hundreds of specimens secured inside the unassuming Store 2 at Leeds Discovery Centre, on Carlisle Road in Hunslet, home to parts of the city’s collection designated so dangerous, they need their own room.

Museum records show the eight-legged stowaway, famed for its unusually potent bite, was found by staff at a Leeds supermarket in 1991, where it had hitched a lift inside the imported grapes.

Although it is not known if the surprisingly tiny spider survived its trip, its body was later donated to Leeds Museums and Galleries, where it has since been preserved in a jar of concentrated alcohol.

The black widow is stored alongside hundreds of other creatures collected from around the world, including notorious Brazilian wandering spiders, large scorpions, deep sea fish and an octopus.

The liquid in which the animals are preserved means they must be kept in a specialist area which is appropriately ventilated to prevent the build-up of potentially harmful fumes.

But those fumes are not the only hazard in Store 2, which also houses the Leeds collection’s radioactive materials, each of which is regularly assessed using a Geiger counter.

They include a number of gigantic teeth from prehistoric apex predator Megalodon. An extinct species of shark which roamed the world’s oceans more than 20 million years ago, Megalodon grew to more than 50ft long and weighed in excess of 60 tonnes.

Because of the very specific strata of rock they are fossilised in, Megalodon teeth can give off trace amounts of radiation which can be harmful if exposure to it is prolonged.

Other radioactive materials housed in Store 2 include Victorian glassware with a beautiful green tinge which belies a dangerous secret. The colouring was on trend in the 19th century as it helped ornaments stand out in the early evening light.

But the aestheticallypleasing effect was achieved using small quantities of uranium, the radioactive element used, in much larger quantities, to power nuclear submarines.

Clare Brown, Leeds Museums and Galleries’ curator of natural sciences, said: “There’s a natural sense of mystery and curiosity around Store 2 and the objects inside, and they’ve certainly been safely locked away for good reason.

“But each object has also been collected and kept safe because they tell us something important about our history and the world around us.

“The black widow, for example, is a fascinating creature with a fearsome reputation.

“But the story behind this particular specimen also demonstrates how the scope and scale of global food production and transportation has affected the lives and behaviours of native species all over the world.

“Studying these hazardous objects very carefully can offer curators a unique insight into everything from natural history and geology right through to mass production and social trends, and hopefully, we can pass some of those fascinating lessons on to our visitors.”

Because of the nature of its contents, access to Store 2 is

restricted to trained members of staff and is off limits to the public.

But visitors to the Discovery Centre, which is open for tours by appointment, can still see an astonishing array of insects and arachnids which were also discovered in supermarket produce.

They include a banana spider which arrived from the

West Indies along with an egg sac containing 350 tiny spiderlings and a number of fearsome-looking Indian scorpions of various sizes.

Councillor Jonathan Pryor, Leeds City Council’s executive member for economy, culture and education, said:

“Every year, our museums host an incredible array of events, displays and

exhibitions which welcome hundreds of thousands of visitors.

“But it is this painstaking, behind-the-scenes research and work which goes on every day that makes those exhibitions possible and which ensures Leeds is home to a truly world class collection of objects.”

The Leeds Discovery Centre

is home to more than a million objects and is used to store parts of the Leeds collection which are not currently on display, spanning tens of millions of years of world history.

The centre is free to visit by appointment. For more details on how to book, visit: museumsandgalleries.leeds. gov.uk/leeds-discovery-centre

Beeston trees planted to replace those lost at Armley Gyratory

Work has started to plant the first of over 600 trees in the local community as part the Armley Gyratory highways scheme.

A total of 21 fruit trees were planted in Brickfield Park, next to the Lady Pit Lane allotments in Beeston by volunteers, councillors and organised by Leeds City Council’s parks and countryside rangers. This follows 96 trees planted at Hunslet Moor Park and Cross Flatts Park in this planting season.

The council has engaged with local community groups and councillors to develop locations and designs for offsite planting. The ideas for trees and locations were formed from a community request for a communal orchard and planted as part of a community planting day on 14 January.

As part of the wider Armley Gyratory scheme, approximately 220 trees were to be removed to accommodate the new gyratory

alignment, road and foot path widening. Tree removal will also provide greater visibility for pedestrians and cyclists travelling through the area. This is important to improve both the safety and personal security of pedestrians and cyclists travelling around the gyratory. The council plans to re-plant new trees at a three to one ratio.

Councillor Helen Hayden, Leeds City Council’s executive member for infrastructure and climate, said:

“I am thrilled to have been involved in planting the first trees in connection to this major scheme and thanks to all the other volunteers, council officers and their families for helping with this.

“The 600 plus trees which are set to be planted across Armley, Beeston, Holbeck and Hunslet, including 200 next to the gyratory itself aim to have a lasting impact. They will help to reduce carbon, encourage wildlife and act as habitats for many species.

“The gyratory’s location constrain planting many more trees there and so we have worked with the communities to identify more suitable locations, such as Brickfield Park. We are also working with local schools to maximise opportunities to plant over 200 more trees within their grounds and other new locations.

“I would like to thank people for their patience while the ongoing works are carried out on the Armley Gyratory and in the City Centre. I can’t wait to see our ambitious Connecting Leeds plans start to come together later this year.”

Councillor Salma Arif, Leeds City Council’s executive member for public health and active lifestyles, said:

“I am pleased to see that work to start planting trees on the Armley Gyratory scheme has started. We have an ambitious target in Leeds to plant 5.8million trees over the next 25 years and this new greenery will be so important in capturing carbon, improving air

quality and increasing biodiversity along the scheme.”

Speaking about the tree planting in Brickfield Park, Councillor Ed Carlisle (Green, Hunslet & Riverside):

“Many thanks to all those who joined this tree-planting, and who made it happen. It was hard work, but we made a real impact: it’s so good seeing Brickfield Park developing and flourishing. And the long-term benefit for local people –having free food to pick, in the heart of our community – is priceless. It’s good for our health, and our wallets, and it’s good for the planet: wins across the board.”

The fruit trees, which include apples and plums, are located at the edge of the park so their is still plenty of open space to enjoy, for example at the free weekly ParkPlay family exercise session every Saturday 10:30am. A Friends of Brickfield Park is in the process of forming, if you would like to get involved please contact

tania@stlukescares.org.uk

What’s behind the locked door at the Discovery Centre?

Volunteers of all ages took part in the tree planting

David Oluwale Bridge links city’s past, present and future

Astunning new bridge

honouring the legacy of a man who died after being racially harassed was officially opened in Leeds on 26 January.

The David Oluwale Bridge was hailed as a symbolic link between the city’s past, present and future as a ceremony marked work on the landmark project being formally completed.

Spanning the River Aire between Sovereign Street and Water Lane, the bridge, which will be illuminated every night, has been named in honour of David Oluwale, who travelled to the UK from Nigeria and was targeted because of his mental health, homelessness and race.

He tragically drowned in the river in 1969 in a raciallymotivated incident which left a lasting and poignant imprint on the city, inspiring a number of books, plays and a recently-

installed blue plaque.

The project to create a bridge in his memory has been a longterm partnership project between Leeds City Council, the David Oluwale Memorial Association (DOMA) and key stakeholders across the city.

Emily Zobel Marshall,

DOMA’s co-chair, said:

“The new David Oluwale Bridge is deeply symbolic. It represents a bridging between our present and our future as a city.

“It is a physical emblem of our commitment to confront historic institutional failings

Holbeck included in policy to limit alcohol sales

Holbeck Councillor Andrew Scopes has spoken about his support for the inclusion of the area in the Council’s Cumulative Impact Policy when it comes to licensing the sale of alcohol.

Cllr Scopes has worked alongside his ward colleagues and local residents over a number of years to highlight the problems the area experiences due to anti-social behaviour attributed to alcohol. The inclusion of Holbeck in the Cumulative Impact Policy means that the Council can apply the policy to applications for a licence to sell alcohol in the area, potentially making it

more difficult for such a licence to be obtained in the future.

Cllr Scopes used his speech at the meeting of Full Council on 18 January to ‘amplify the voice’ of a local resident who had raised concerns about the impact of excessive alcohol consumption on the wider community.

Cllr Andrew Scopes, (Labour, Beeston and Holbeck) said; “I have worked alongside local residents to make the case for Holbeck to be included in the Community Impact Policy as I have heard so many times the devastating impact alcohol can have not just on individuals but also on communities.

“The woman I quoted in my speech spoke about being unable to allow children to go to the local shop as it didn’t feel safe, how they then couldn’t play in the park as that is where the people drinking had gone.

“What the inclusion of Holbeck in the Cumulative Impact Policy will mean is that the Licensing Committee can give extra weight to objections to new applications to sell alcohol. There is still much that we need to do to address the problem but I am pleased with this step in the right direction and hopeful that local Holbeck residents will benefit from it.”

safe and welcome in Leeds.”

Engineers BAM Nuttall began construction on the 40-tonne bridge last year, with the structure fabricated locally in Yorkshire, less than 20 miles from the site.

Contractors then used huge specialist equipment to transport the 30m long bridge to the riverside before carefully installing it with a crane.

Now fully open to the public, the bridge will be used by pedestrians and cyclists as well as being a key element of the ambitious South Bank regeneration programme.

It will also fulfil one of the project’s long-standing priorities to ensure better pedestrian and cycling connection between the city centre, the train station, Aire Park and other green spaces around the city centre.

today.

“By acknowledging the city’s past as we look forward to what lies ahead for Leeds, we are ensuring that we pass on the lessons we have learned to future generations while encouraging them to continue to strive for a brighter future.

“This bridge will be a proud symbol of that ambition and of our commitment to diversity, inclusion and a Leeds which is better connected in every way.”

Alison Lowe OBE, deputy mayor for policing and crime, added:

“I was honoured to help open David’s bridge.

“It’s a moving tribute to a life so cruelly cut short and an important reminder for us all to do better.

and prejudices which led to the death of an innocent man, as well as a representation of renewal; of our commitment to aim for a future where people from all cultural and economic backgrounds are made to feel

Councillor James Lewis, leader of Leeds City Council, said:

“This beautiful bridge is a truly inspiring monument to David Oluwale’s tragic story as well as a powerful and positive statement about everything that we want Leeds to stand for

“Whilst the situation has improved since his death, there is more to be done and we continue to work towards a West Yorkshire which is safe, just and inclusive for all.”

The project complements several other improvements in the area, including the transformation of Crown Point Road, as part of the upcoming Aire Park.

The foot and cycle bridge over the Aire will be illuminated at night

Cllr Andrew Scopes addresses Full Council

by Jeremy Morton

Beeston Primary School has

been rated ‘Good’ overall and ‘Outstanding’ in its early years provision in its latest Ofsted inspection report published on 13 January.

Ofsted grades schools on a four point scale from Outstanding, to Good, Requires Improvement and Inadequate.

Primary Schools are graded across five categories:

Edensor and Lauren Hutchinson, Leader of Early Years Foundation Stage, about the inspection and its findings. Nick said:

“We’re really pleased. We’ve maintained our ‘Good’ rating which is really good in this climate, but we’re really impressed with the Outstanding judgement for Early Years.

invested £100,000 last year to transform the outdoor play space to support the children’s physical development which was lagging due to the Covid lockdowns.

“If you get the foundations right, you reap the benefits throughout school” he said.

Lauren added:

are amazing and the report reflects them as well.”

Another finding the school was pleased to see reported was the lack of bullying:

Cockburn Lauren Academy buildin ‘Good’ rating from Ofsted as Beeston Primary School heads for Outstanding

“Pupils report that there is no bullying and they are confident that adults would deal with any issues should they arise. Pupils describe school as a safe and happy place to come to.”

Nick explained that they work hard to promote respectful behaviour and use restorative methods to resolve problems.

• Behaviour and attitudes

The quality of education

• Personal development

• Leadership and

• management

“Lauren has been with us for two years and has transformed Early Years, she is an exceptional leader and deserves this recognition.

Early years provision

• The report’s opening sentence says:

“Children are at the very heart of everything at Beeston Primary School.”

The report is very positive throughout, finding very little that the school needs to do to improve.

I spoke to Headteacher Nick

“The children in our Nursery and Reception classes are our ‘Covid babies’, these are the children who were stuck at home under lockdown, who weren’t allowed out, so these are the children that we really wanted to get the provision absolutely right for.”

Early Years has been a priority for for the school since Nick was appointed in 2016. He reorganised a large communal space into three classrooms. As well as appointing Lauren, he

“For us as an Early Years Team; right from teaching assistants to lunchtime staff, to us as teachers and leaders, we were so happy with the phrase ‘children get off to the best possible start of their education’. Because of the context of our school and the opportunities that our children have in their home and social environment can be so different from one another and unfortunately not all we would hope it to be, for us to know that we are doing everything we can to give them that best start is really important.

“We are thrilled, and thrilled for the children, because they

Inspectors found examples of Outstanding practice across the school, but these were not felt to be fully embedded in practice. The staff and leaders are not complacent however, and are already working on making improvements.

Chair of Governors, Cllr Andrew Scopes (Labour, Beeston & Holbeck), commented:

“Beeston Primary School is a fantastic place for children in our community, including my own! I’d like to thank all the staff that work so hard to make it a great place and also my fellow governors.

“We will continue to put children at the heart of everything we do at the school and I was delighted that Ofsted recognised that focus right at the start of their report.”

To read the full report go to: bit.ly/BPSOfsted

Students at the newest member of the Cockburn MAT community are excited to move into their brand new building in September 2023.

Cockburn Laurence Calvert Academy, named after a former Cockburn student awarded the Victoria Cross for bravery in WW1, opened in September 2021 and is currently in temporary accommodation opposite the St George’s Medical Centre in Middleton.

The new building is being built on the site of the former LCC Highways offices. The main access to the academy for visitors and deliveries is from Middleton Ring Road. A staff car

park will be accessed from Acre Road.

Cockburn Laurence Calvert Academy has an admission number of 210 per year group and the full capacity of the academy will be 1050 students across Years 7-11. The first cohort of Year 7 and Year 8 students have been the founding members of the academy, creating a real family feel. The new multi-million pound building will feature state-of-theart teaching and sports facilities. As well as their modern classrooms, there will be specialist subject specific rooms across a range of subjects including drama and dance

Cockburn MAT’s commitment to staff wellbeing

For all schools and academies in the Cockburn Multi-academy Trust, supporting students to have good mental health and resilience is vital, particularly in the current economic and Covid climate.

In addition to providing support from all staff, they have employed early intervention therapeutic workers and also have two members of staff who are currently completing Department for Education quality assured mental health lead training to support students.

However, the Cockburn MAT also places great importance on promoting good mental health for the hundreds of staff that work tirelessly for the young people of south Leeds.

They are proud of their commitment to become a

Mindful Employer and celebrate their investment in training staff to become mental health first aiders. Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) is internationally recognised training, designed to help adults to spot the signs and symptoms of mental ill health and provide help on a first aid basis.

MHFA teaches how to recognise those crucial warning signs of mental ill health, different mental health issues and disorders and gives the confidence to guide to appropriate professional support.

Cockburn School, Cockburn Laurence Calvert Academy, Cockburn John Charles Academy, Middleton Primary School and Cockburn Haigh Road Academy all have MHFA trained staff. There are currently

The new school building is on schedule to open in September

Headteacher Nick Edensor and Lauren Hutchinson with children from Reception classes enjoying their new outdoor play equipment

nce Calvert ng work on track Sharp Lane showcases food social enterprise at White Rose Centre

studios, science labs, ICT suites, Design and Technology workshops and a large hall/theatre.

Building company Algeco, based in East Yorkshire, is using its steel frame modular solution. A total of 192 modules will be supplied along with a hybrid build for the sports hall areas. The works involve construction of the whole school block and associated external works.

Executive Headteacher, David Gurney, said:

“Building an academy from scratch is a rare opportunity and Cockburn Multi-academy trust has already brought its tried and tested track record of excellence

12 accredited members of staff who have completed the training with a further 9 members of staff currently being trained. Leading the training has been Cllr Sharon Burke (Labour, Middleton Park), who is also a Trustee of the Cockburn MAT. This is a two-day engaging and interactive course and the feedback received so far is that Cllr Burke is a really personable and inspirational trainer and that it has been wonderful to have her supporting Cockburn MAT staff.

Originally founded at Cockburn School, now all Cockburn MAT schools and academies have Staff Wellbeing groups who meet regularly. These groups have shared information and guidance on a range of issues including menopause, bereavement, health and fitness. The groups also organise staff social events and find opportunities to bring staff together and to welcome new staff.

Another way that staff are supported is through innovative workplace support scheme and all Cockburn MAT staff have access to counselling, mental health support, physio and virtual GPs. This year they have

trust which are all now oversubscribed. I am extremely proud that all of the families in south Leeds will be able to access an excellent secondary education for their children.

“The new Cockburn Laurence Calvert Academy building will be at the heart of the community for both current and future generations and a superb environment in which to learn as well as providing the community with facilities outside of the school day.”

Head of School, Victoria Smith, said:

to Cockburn Laurence Calvert Academy. There continues to be a high demand for places across all three secondary academies within Cockburn Multi-academy

“Our students and staff are excited to see their new building near its completion and they cannot wait to move in from September. From then, we will have three full year groups accessing high quality education in a fabulous building. Excellent teaching and excellent facilities are crucial to ensuring excellent outcomes for every child. I feel privileged as we continue on our amazing journey of ‘Transformation to Excellence’.”

by Jeremy Morton

Pupilsat Sharp Lane Primary School in Middleton have worked in partnership with Rethink Food to set up their own social enterprise in a mission to improve social, environmental, and educational outcomes.

also signed up to the Department for Education Wellbeing Charter as they strive to achieve their ambition to become a mentally healthy organisation for both staff and students.

David Gurney, Executive Headteacher, believes that working in this way will benefit the whole community in south Leeds: “Despite the many challenges our students and staff face, I am extremely proud that within the Cockburn MAT they have such a positive and

engaging experience and that they are so well supported” he said.

“We believe that by embedding positive mental health in our schools and academies, it sets a child up for success in their future education because they can be positive, calm and ready to learn.

“Our children feel safe and nurtured by a team of adults who are dedicated to their wellbeing. This will undoubtedly lead to them leading successful lives and contributing to society.”

On Thursday (19 January 2023) the Lord Mayor of Leeds, Cllr Robert W Gettings MBE JP and the Lady Mayoress, Cllr Lesley Gettings, officially opened their enterprise at a celebration event held at the White Rose Shopping Centre.

The work, part funded through Asda’s Better Starts programme, has inspired young people to become entrepreneurs, creating their own business name, logo, and slogan before applying for different job positions within their newly formed organisations.

The Sharp Lane enterprise is called ‘Deals On Wheels’. The children, members of the School Council, told me

“Our plan is to use stuff that’s about to go off so instead of it wasting it still gets eaten. We’re right next door to Asda, so we’re going to take what they would throw away and sell it in school.”

Miss Owens, Learning Mentor, added:

“We are only a couple of weeks in, so we are still trialling different locations around school, and the stall will be at parents’ evenings and other school events.

“They’ve got lots of ideas of how we can take it forward such as giving away meal recipe cards to encourage people to try new

ingredients. The project is very much child led.”

The children are already learning lessons about pricing. Having set a price of 50p for anything you want, they told me they are now considering limiting it to 50p for up to five items. Profits from the stall will be used for School Council projects at Sharp Lane.

The project is one of 70 in schools across the country with each new enterprise distributing surplus food (approx. 75kg each week) to their own school community and support food security for children and their families by improving immediate access to food.

At the same time this work will help to save the planet by offsetting CO2 emissions created through food waste.

Alongside the market stall enterprise, the Rethink Food

Education programme provides access to a series of educational food-based modules. The lessons are underpinned by the United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals and will empower children to make informed choices around food and sustainability.

Kevin Mackay, co-founder of Rethink Food said:

“The pupils have been inspirational to work with. They have shown that through positive action even in these uncertain times we can make a huge difference to people’s lives and at the same time protect our planet.”

For further details about Rethink Food visit www.rethinkfood.co.uk or @RethinkFoodUk across social media platforms. Tel: Kevin Mackay 07854 844179

CGI showing the layout of the new school building

Members of the Sharp Lane School Council with Miss Owens and the Lord Mayor of Leeds, Cllr Robert W Gettings MBE JP and the Lady Mayoress, Cllr Lesley Gettings

In our view

It’s time to talk

We produced our special report on male suicide following a spate of deaths in our community. The sad fact is that this is not just a South Leeds problem and the figures do not show a higher rate of suicide locally, although both Leeds and West Yorkshire are above the national average. The reasons why people take their own life are complex. The pressures of life in South Leeds are well documented in terms of low incomes, poor housing, poor health, historic poor educational achievement. And the current cost of living crisis isn’t helping.

But when it all feels too much, it’s important to know that there is help out there. Mental health services may be overstretched like the rest of the NHS, but groups like ANDYSMANCLUB provide simple but effective help.

If you are struggling, please talk to someone about how you’re feeling. And please check in with your mates - not just a quick “Alright?” ask them how they’re feeling today.

Real hope

Having fled danger and persecution in your homeland, most refugees and asylum seekers just want to get on with building a new life in Britain. But however skilled you might be, convincing an employer can be difficult. So it’s great to see the Real Hope Cafe giving that opportunity to allow people to build up an employment, or volunteering, record that can help them move on in their lives. Oh, and by the way, the food’s great too!

We all need a mirrorball

For many of us Strictly Come Dancing is the highlight of our television year. So how great is it that some of that glittery magic is going to be experienced by Beeston lass Emma Wishart. Good luck Emma, enjoy the experience and ... keep dancing!

Your letters and comments

Henry Rowland Marsden

Great story Ken. Nice to see the extra information you have discovered since I wrote an article about him. Keep up the good work.

Eve Tidswell

It’s a shame that when Henry Marsden’s statue was moved from the city centre it went to Woodhouse Moor and not Holbeck Moor. What an inspiration he could be for young people growing up in the area.

I’m guessing that Marsden Avenue, etc and Rowland Road, etc are named after him. You can find a lot of history in street names.

Sue Talbot

The old houses of Hunslet

I found this article extremely interesting as some of my relatives lived in Hunslet in some back to back houses many years ago before the slum clearance. Also the history of the long gone mansion houses was something I hadn’t known about. Thank you for taking the time to write this article about Hunslet.

Mike

Buy the book ‘The Remarkable Story of Hunslet’ mentioned in the article, it’s an excellent read.

John Sutcliffe

Don’t feed the birds

I feed the birds in bird hangers in my garden, I never give them bread. I, too, am fed up with people just throwing scraps for the birds in public places. My dog gets them before I can stop her and she suffers from pancreatitis and this could make her ill.

Mollie

Clements

Rats don’t spread anything

Jan

Sorry but they do and they will attack. My neighbours’ little boy was attacked by a rat on his way to school and needed a tetanus shot as a precaution.

Andree

Parker

Are you for real? Of corse they spread disease and even if they didn’t who wants them running around when you think of

Top Tweets

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:

@lucyajmmoore

Another neat book haul from #BeestonLibrary

where they go down the sewers and in woods. What do you think they spread!

Linda

FACT:- rats DO spread disease

FACT:- bread and human food generally is NOT good for birds

FACT:- dogs need more than just leashed walking exercise and as long as they are well trained and under the supervisionof responsible owners, they should be allowed to run around.

Tee

The Taliban and women’s rights

Thank you Mr Benn for your comments. I feel even though we in Britain are under pressure the poor women of Afganistan need our help somehow. As you comment this cannot be about religion, but the Taliban are using laws invented by men and ‘tagging’ it under Islam. Both Christianity and Islam have been and are still let down by the bigots. I do feel the leaders (Imams etc) could hold the key to a solution. Cannot you set up a meeting with whoever is thought of as ‘top Imam’ if there is such a thing ? I think if the Islamic leaders protest to the Taliban then they will take more notice and they won’t be able to hide behind Islam as they are doing now. Best of luck in all your endevours in the coming times.

Ron

Your Leeds City Councillors

Revell

Beeston & Holbeck ward Includes Beeston from Cross Flatts Park to the Ring Road, Cottingley and Holbeck. The three councillors are:

Gohar Almass (Labour) 07445 878 333 gohar.almass@leeds.gov.uk

Annie Maloney (Labour) 07554 969236 annie.maloney@leeds.gov.uk

Andrew Scopes (Labour) 07860 400645 andrew.scopes@leeds.gov.uk

Hunslet & Riverside ward Includes the city centre, Beeston Hill and Hunslet. The three councillors are:

Ed Carlisle (Green) 07738 921277 ed.carlisle@leeds.gov.uk

Mohammed Iqbal (Labour) 0113 226 8796 mohammed.iqbal@leeds.gov.uk

Paul Wray (Labour) 07528 512649 paul.wray@leeds.gov.uk

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

Sharon Burke (Labour) 0113 378 8814 sharon.burke@leeds.gov.uk

Wayne Dixon (SDP) 07852 311717 wayne.dixon@leeds.gov.uk

Paul Truswell (Labour) 0113 378 8811 paul.truswell@leeds.gov.uk

Tree planting

We should start lobbying for parliament to make Highways England re start pruning and stop chopping down every tree in sight, then you would not have to plant so many. If it’s so good to have trees (and we

all know it is) why are Highways being allowed to destroy them?

Linda

Meikle

Hunslet ‘town square’

Great news that it going to be improved, it really could be a lot nicer. One free upgrade I’d suggest. The Morrisons wall with barbed spikes on top and bolted toilet doors - could this be transformed into a graffiti art wall. There is one not too far away under the flyover on the canal towpath. Some of the art on that wall is exceptional and since it lasts a week before the next artist covers it; then it is very well used.

Barry

Fencing in Hunslet Carr

It’s about time fencing was put up to stop anti-social motorists. I am a parent who drives my child to school and I have complained about anti-social behaviour. This area is notorious for speeders even though it’s a dead end. There’s dog muck continuously, as soon as it cleaned up it’s back. School tell parents but nothing changes. We need CCTV for a suprise amount of time to catch the culprits. It’s amazing how such a quiet area can become so dangerous for residents and the children of the school. If you confront them they threaten to get out their cars and shout and spit out the windows. These are grown ups and some are probably parents of children in the school too, or friends to a neighbour on the street.

Emma Robinson

Join the debate

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

@MayorOfWY

It was great to visit a new waste-to-energy hub construction site in Leeds this week, which is set to open in 2025. Projects like this help to boost our local economy by attracting and retaining skilled workers, and creating green jobs for the future.

@WestwardCare

For #BurnsNight, our creative ladies at Pennington Court had fun designing and creating their own tartan! They also learned about the history of Burns Night - and read some of Robert Burns's poetry.

@wadescharity

Leeds based charity requiring funding? - grants available from Wade's Charity - see our website for how to apply and funding criteria wadescharity.org

@laneendprimary Year 6 learning how to ride bikes safely and enjoying every minute of it!!!

#Bikeability

Statue of Henry Rowland Marsden on Woodhouse Moor © Leeds Libraries via leodis.net

MP’s notebook

with Hilary Benn MP

Every year on the 27 January the world marks Holocaust Memorial Day. It is the occasion when we remember the six million Jews and others who were murdered by the Nazis, and all those who were killed in more recent genocides in Cambodia, Rwanda, Bosnia, and Darfur. It is by continuing to remember that we can ensure that we never forget.

Given the scale and monstrosity of these crimes, it may seem extraordinary that there might be any possibility of forgetting. But those who can speak about what actually happened in the Holocaust are getting fewer and fewer in number and as they pass away, their truly shocking first hand testimony about how new arrivals at the concentration camps were separated into two groups - those who would be set to work and the rest who were marched direct to the gas chambers – dies with them.

And sadly, as we live in a time of denial and distortion of the Holocaust, as some choose to doubt the evidence of those who were there. More recent genocides are also denied or disputed.

As we read the history books, listen to the accounts of survivors and visit places where these terrible events occurred, we struggle to understand how people could have done these things to their fellow human beings.

Populism, political extremism, hatred and searching for scapegoats bear principal responsibility, but it is also true that genocide is made possible by ordinary people who look the other way, believe the lies or simply say “I was only carrying out orders.” And those who are murdered haven’t done anything; they have simply been made the target of someone else’s hate.

In 1994, over a period of about three months, around

600,000 members of the Tutsi community were killed by armed Hutu militias and others. When I was the International Development Secretary I visited a prison in Rwanda that was full of genocidaires - as they're called – who had carried out some of the killings. A man told us he had been a school teacher and was one day forced to participate in the murder of complete strangers in fear for his and his family’s life. “ I took part in the killing of three people” he said.

I will never forget that moment. Did I believe his story? What would any of us have done in the same circumstances? Where did this terrible hatred of friends and neighbours come from?

A few years later I visited Yad Vashem, the Holocaust Remembrance Centre in Jerusalem. Three memories of that day stand out. The exhibition about the Holocaust which made me weep with

sorrow and boil with anger. The Avenue of the Righteous Among the Nations which remembers non-Jews who risked their lives to save Jews by hiding them in their homes or giving them false papers. And the Children’s Memorial, hollowed out from an underground cave, which remembers the approximately 1.5 million Jewish children who perished during the Holocaust. As you walk through it, you hear the names of the murdered children, their ages and where they came from in the background. No parent can stand there without thinking of their own children.

I have been to Darfur and talked to villagers who were burned out of their homes and I have heard testimony from a young man who was in Srebrenica in 1995 when his brother and father were led away with around 8,000 other men and boys to be murdered by the Bosnian Serbs under the command of Ratko Mladić Mladić was later convicted of war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide by the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia. And that is why the International Criminal Court is so important. It collects the

evidence and subjects it to thorough examination in pursuit of the truth which those who commit these awful crimes wish to hide away in the darkness.

All of these stories and many more are heart breaking but they are the reason why we must remember so that the history of some people’s inhumanity can be passed down the generations. Why is this so important? Because it is the best protection against it ever happening again.

So much for the worst of humankind. What about the best? 35 years ago a remarkable television programme was made about a man called Sir Nicholas Winton who had rescued 669 mostly Jewish children from Czechoslovakia before the outbreak of World War 2 and brought them to Britain. In the intervening decades he had barely spoken of what he had done. He was sitting in the studio with his wife when suddenly the presenter asked if there was anyone in the audience who owed their lives to Sir Nicholas. Everyone around him stood up. Unbeknown to him, they were the children he had saved 50 years earlier.

This unassuming, bespectacled man sitting in the front row was completely taken by surprise, and the childrennow adults - gazed upon the saviour who had given them life. This is what humanity means and this is why it is only fitting that he is one of those remembered in The Avenue of the Righteous Among the Nations.

This may all seem rather far away, in time and distance, from South Leeds but in recent years our community has provided shelter to many people who have been forced to flee the land of their birth by war and political persecution. It is the very least we can do to help them as they make their lives and their futures among us. After all, if it was us, would we not wish to be taken in and welcomed in the same way?

Local history with Ken Burton

The Opening Of Holbeck Cemetery

Burials had previously been carried out in local Parish Church grounds but with the coming of the Industrial Revolution even things in the Church grounds were about to change.

was run as a Joint Stock Company (this was a business whose capital was held in transferable shares of stock by its joint owners, in effect falling between a partnership and a corporation) which was set up

Holbeck Cemetery consists of approximately 10 acres of land in area and, typical of many Victorian Cemeteries it is situated on an elevated site. It overlooks Leeds and a vast expanse of country beyond. The

provision for athletics and popular games. In 1852 he had his own book ‘The Theory and Practice of Landscape Gardening’ printed.

Cemeteries at this time were laid out very much in the style of parks with flowing paths of gentle curves and dry gravel for our Victorian ancestors to promenade on Sundays after church. They were very much the place to be seen, the Victorians had a very different attitude to death than we have today, some of the monuments are in fact works of art. There was no Cross Flatts Park at this time.

The cemetery was opened on 1 July 1857; this coincided with the closure of the graveyard at St Matthew’s Church near Holbeck Moor. This was a

consecrated until the Chapel was finished. There were two Chapels in the cemetery one for the Church of England (Rev Edward Wilson, BA) the other (Rev A Pickles) for NonConformists (Methodists, Primitives, Roman Catholics, etc), and the cemetery itself was divided into the two classes (divided in life and death).

This division was usually marked, in Holbeck Cemetery the only straight path runs from the Beeston Road gate to the site of the Chapels at the top and is marked by shin high posts with chamfered tops.

The first person to be buried in Holbeck Cemetery was three month old Ruth Mathers on 2 July 1857 and John Hutton Fisher Kendall (also buried here) the incumbent of St Matthew’s Church, Holbeck carried out the service.

There are 87 War Graves here, 21 of these being from World War Two, these graves are not laid out in a formal pattern but are scattered around the Cemetery. A Cross of Sacrifice stands at the Beeston Road entrance where the Annual Remembrance Service now takes place.

Friends of Holbeck Cemetery were formed to try and tidy up the Cemetery, that at the time was being used by drinkers and drug users, and was very successful. Over the years many people have visited from all over the world and much help has been given to all enquiries mainly from records found dumped in a skip outside the Civic Hall.

By the late 18th century with the vast increase in the urban population of the Parishes most churchyards had become extremely unsanitary and were beginning to present a major health hazard due to this overcrowding. At a time when there was increasing impetus for civic improvements the established Church had to acknowledge that a change in burial customs was inevitable.

Overcrowding in the Parish cemeteries in the early 19th century was so great, particularly after the many outbreaks of Cholera in the mid-century, when corpses in the urban graveyards were often buried at depths of only 18 inches to two feet (around half a metre) below the surface. St Matthew’s in Holbeck was a good example of this due to the ground being raised up until it touched the wall top, not an ideal situation because of the likelihood of spreading disease.

In 1833 the Leeds General Cemetery was established, this

to provide and maintain a burial ground in Leeds.

The site chosen was St George’s Field near Woodhouse Moor and close to the road for Headingley and Otley. The Cemetery was opened in 1835 and had cost £11,000; it was unconsecrated and intended for use by Dissenters.

This was the first cemetery in Leeds and can still be seen near the University, it was also known as Woodhouse Cemetery. Cemeteries approved by Burial Acts spread countrywide, and their number grew rapidly during the reign of Queen Victoria (1837-1901).

Following the passing of the Leeds Burial Act of 1842, Leeds City Corporation opened three cemeteries, Armley, Holbeck, and Burmantofts (Beckett Street), which opened in 1845. The Hunslet Parish Council opened their Cemetery, also in 1845, but slightly before Burmantofts, becoming the first municipal cemetery in the country.

land was purchased in 1856 for about £2,500, it cost another £7,000 to construct the cemetery, raised by rates levied on the people of Holbeck.

Included in this cost were two chapels whose foundation stones were laid on 28 August 1856, and two lodges at the Fairfax Road entrance, one of which still exists in private hands. The layout and design of the cemetery was carried out by Joshua Major (1786-1866) an English landscape gardener who had been born at Owston near Doncaster then came to live at Knowsthorpe, Leeds where he set up a landscaping business. He was awarded the contract for the original layout of paths and planting at Holbeck Cemetery in October 1857 and for his work he was paid the princely sum of £6.1s.0d (£6.05). Another of his landscape works in Leeds was Hanover Square as well as three parks which were opened in Manchester, Salford, and Birkenhead all of which had

period when other Municipal Cemeteries were being opened, the first two in Leeds were Hunslet and Burmantofts followed by Holbeck.

The consent of the Home Secretary, and the licence of the Bishop of Ripon having been obtained the cemetery was open for internments; but the portion set aside for the established Church was not

Poor people were either buried in unmarked Paupers’ Graves or Guinea Graves, many of which can be found in the Cemetery. These can be seen with names on both sides of the headstones, a solicitor or another person would invest in a plot or plots and make a charge of One Guinea (£1.05) for the privilege of being buried in the grave, originally they were only for seven persons but this soon went by the board. One of our graves is believed to contain 46 bodies.

The Cemetery contains a great many ‘Guinea Graves’ dating from 1857 to the closure for general burials in the 1940s.

To illustrate the state of the Cemetery before this the South Leeds poet Tony Harrison highlighted the problems in his poem ‘V’. To celebrate the new Millennium a Viewing Platform was built at the rear of the Cemetery with views overlooking Leeds and the surrounding countryside along with railings depicting the history of Holbeck and brass floor plaques. The children of Ingram Road Primary School taking part in this project. The theft of the brass plaques and later anti-social behaviour by beer drinkers led to the Viewing Platform being removed, a great loss. The railings depicting Holbeck history were however saved from being moved to Lawnswood Cemetery and were finally installed at the Fairfax Road entrance along with display boards.

The Millenium viewing platform

The two chapels at Holbeck Cemetery

‘Guinea Graves’ at Holbeck Cemetery

by Hon Ald Elizabeth Nash

Beforethe reorganisation of Local Government in 1974, many services including water, police, fire services and all health services outside of hospitals which included the ambulances, were run by the bigger city councils called ‘corporations’, or in rural areas their county councils. I was privileged to serve on the Leeds Corporation’s Health Committee 1972-74.

Some while prior to that I had suffered the awful experience in another city of a man collapsing with a heart attack. I telephoned for an ambulance which arrived, but quite clearly the job of the ambulance crew then was to get the ill or injured swiftly to hospital where treatment could be given and no attempt, therefore, was made to revive the unconscious heart attack victim.

that out of my mind and concentrated on why we were in Belfast.

Subsequently in the years following, I learnt that the Europa Hotel had been bombed nine times! On the first evening, when we were out walking in the town centre, we were stopped and frisked by security forces – my male colleagues on the pavement but I was ushered into a small wooden shed. I thought how ironical it was that there was the threat of death all around us yet Belfast had the best lifesaving system for heart attack recovery.

The next day we visited Belfast Royal Hospital and were shown into a ward for heart recovery. I will always remember the utter bewilderment on the face of one man who had been unconscious after his attack and had just woken up to find

abandoned.

In hindsight it is obvious that the ambulance crews should be qualified to deal with patients on the spot and stabilise their condition before removal to hospital. In the USA where the main cause of premature death was road accidents, it was the job of the police to take the accident victim to hospital as quickly as possible with their maxim of ‘scoop and scoot’! Unnecessary deaths resulted.

In the mid 60’s in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, Austrian-born Dr Peter Shafer, Director of Anaesthology at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, introduced an eight month intensive training course for emergency ambulance crews, in collaboration with the Pittsburgh United Negro Protest Committee. That Committee had founded Freedom House

ambulance crews to deal with heart attacks and strokes in 1971. Again, when their Area Health Authority took over, this was not pursued because the Department of Health would not recognise the benefit of training ambulance crews in resuscitation techniques. It took a medical conference in 1979 in Harrogate when eminent heart specialists spoke in favour of trained ambulance crews that the DoH relented.

Our Ambulance service The diary of a South Leeds Life news blogger

by Ken Ingram

At an early meeting of the Health Committee I raised the problem of no on-the-spot revival techniques. The only qualification for ambulance crews then to do their job was a first aid certificate and a clean driving licence. It was resolved that enquiries be made about the best ambulance service in the UK which could deal with heart attacks. We were advised that the very best ambulance service was in Belfast.

I was asked to visit Belfast along with Leeds’ Chief Ambulance Officer, the Leeds Medical Officer of Health and a heart specialist consultant from the LGI.

We were booked into the very posh Europa Hotel. I was a little concerned because then, councillors were not paid. We were allowed an accommodation fee if there were overnight stays on Council business but it was only half what the Europa cost! But I put

away from the life he was leading and what he was doing the day before.

We discovered the reason why Belfast was so good at saving life was that the ambulance station was situated immediately next door to the Royal Victoria Hospital. If the station received an emergency call for a heartattack then a doctor specialising in heart disease went out with the ambulance.

In Leeds the ambulance station was in Saxton Gardens a considerable distance from both the LGI and St James’s. We started the process of investigating a radio system (obviously before the days of mobile phones) so that at least the ambulance crew could be in touch with a heart doctor. But then local government reorganisation came and the ambulance service went to the Area Health Authority and the ambulance-to-doctor radio contact scheme was

Rather than visiting Belfast we should perhaps have visited Brighton but councillors can only take decisions on information presented to them.

Today, our emergency ambulance crews are highly educated in emergency recovery. It takes at least a year for a paramedic, as they are now called, to learn to do their job including residential courses. Some decide to go to university to take honours and masters degrees in emergency resuscitation and treatment before becoming employed. And, of course, like all other university students, they have to pay university fees and do not receive any income while they are students.

When the paramedics attend a patient they are able to stabilise the patient treating them for up to an hour. Sometimes their treatment is so successful that there is no need for the patient to be taken to hospital.

If hospitalisation is required, the paramedics stay with the patient in the back of the ambulance until they can be handed over to the hospital.

Ithoughtwould look back and forward to the various volunteer groups I have started or am involved with and to new friends and new beginnings.

I’m Looking forward to 2023, in April this year it will be 10 years since I took the South Leeds Life Community Reporters course, run by Jeremy to allow me to write and upload local stories to the South Leeds Life website. This will be my first personal blog of the year and I want to thank my many new friends and others I’ve known for many a year.

Nina Dales, Lee, Laura, Henri and Alfie. What a fantastic family they are and they’ve helped me more than I can say.

Nina and Laura came one day when things were getting on top of me (due to my poor mental health) and cleaned my kitchen for me, while I got on with other things. Nina also makes me occasional meals, when I’m down and don’t feel like cooking for myself. I hope in my own way, I help them.

more group leaders, so Walter and Christine were sent on a group leaders’ course at St George’s Centre, Middleton.

We walk from the MEA centre every Tuesday and Thursday at 1:30pm for two hours.

Stopping off at Leeds Urban Bike Park café for refreshments served by Nicola, Alicia and the staff. Nicola and her family have become good friends and always look out for me.

We had our second Arm in Arm Walking Group Christmas lunch at the café, last December, where everyone had a good time. Joanne helped out that day and has also become good friends over the last few years.

At Acre Court where I live, we have Jenny as the new manager while Alison (Warden) is on a course. Jenny has helped me a lot, and says her door is always open. I’ve got to mention Wendy the cleaner who does a fantastic job and always has a smile on her face.

jobs including running an ambulance service. Their ambulances were fitted with defibrillators and other medical equipment. They were so successful at saving lives that not only the black community but also the white community preferred to telephone Freedom House rather than the police if they had a medical emergency.

Eventually, this success was recognised by American State Governments which introduced state-run ambulances during the late 1970s. Scandalously, Pennsylvania never acknowledged what was owed to Freedom House and made it difficult to the point of being nigh on impossible for former Freedom House ambulance crews to be employed in the state-run ambulance service.

Unbeknownst to us in Leeds, Brighton Corporation, persuaded by local heart consultant Dr Douglas Chamberlain, had trained six

But we are now in a disastrous situation with ambulances queuing outside hospitals to transfer their patients. To be waiting, with patients after a long day or night shift not only is this not acceptable but also it endangers the lives of others waiting for paramedics to give emergency treatment which, at the moment, cannot be immediately available.

For too long our NHS has been funded to just get by with no slack in the system to cope if there are outbreaks of flu or other viruses. It is time that it is recognised by everyone that as we are living longer and medical treatments are more complex and invariably more expensive, that they have to be adequately funded as well as our overworked and demoralised hospital staff.

And, of course, in the meantime, ensure that all of us who qualify receive our flu and Covid jabs to, not only protect ourselves, but also help stop the spread of viruses to others. This will help to allow emergency ambulances to arrive promptly and save lives.

In February this year it will be five years since I started The Memory Café at Middleton Elderly Aid, after I’ve been part of many Memory Cafes in the area. The Memory Café is now looked after by Samantha Ely, the Chief Officer of Middleton Elderly Aid. I join the group on the last Wednesday of every month and also bring cake.

We all look back at memories in scrap books where we add photos and comments. Every time we open our scrap books brings back memories.

Another birthday will be The Arm in Arm Walking Group. It will be five years old this month. The group has around 20 members and it became clear after a while we needed

Jenny holds regular meetings to let all know what is happening at the Court.

I’m still hoping for a positive outcome for my driving licence this year. Because I have dememita, diabetes and eyesight problems I have to have a medical check every year. At the time of writing this I’m still awaiting the outcome, whether I’m allowed to drive for another year.

I had a few health issues in 2022 and hope 2023 is a better year for me.

While on that subject I would like to thank Nurse Practitioner Sharron Gill of Middleton Park Health Centre for all her help last year and Gwen on Reception who does her best to get me appointments when I need them.

A Leeds City Ambulance at Saxton Gardens ©Leeds Libraries via leodis.net

The Awakening, or L double-E D S wot wot!

by Jeremy Morton

Anyone who thought Leeds couldn’t put on a show should have been at Headingley Stadium on Saturday 7 January to witness The Awakening, a smorgasbord celebrating the many-faceted cultures of Leeds and kicking off LEEDS 2023 Year of Culture.

The audience was made up ten thousand artists who had submitted a piece of artwork in return for tickets. That artwork became part of the show, either hanging as an exhibition

in the stands, on the stage, or as part of a series of short films.

Songs born in Leeds from Something Good (Utah Saints) to Tubthumping (Chumbawamba) to I Predict A Riot (Kaiser Chiefs) all got an outing, but a makeover too.

I particularly enjoyed seeing the chorus of Opera North singing the repeated refrain “Pissing the night away” with broad grins on their faces in a team effort with Hope & Social and Dunstan Bruce from the band on Tubthumping. “I get knocked down, but I get up

again” really is Leeds’ semiofficial motto now.

I Predict A Riot was set off by a rock band of ten year olds and about a hundred young dancers (and was that one of the Kaisers at the back on tambourine?) before morphing into a Caribbean stylee complete with carnival dragon costumes.

Spoken word came from a number of artists including a piece by the Poet Laureate, Simon Armitage with his band LYR. He may not be a Leeds lad (he’s from and still lives in Marsden near Huddersfield) but he clearly knows Leeds. Other spoken word artists (poets? Rappers?) including Testament, Graft and Denmarc Creary also spoke about our city in way only locals can.

Nessun Dorma was a well chosen operatic aria, having been popularised by Italia 90, everyone knows the tune. The words “None shall sleep” and the concluding “I will win” were particularly appropriate. It was

performed beautifully by Opera North reminding me once again that you really cannot beat live music.

The show’s finale was provided by Corrine Bailey Rae, interrupted by a Look North report of a brick giant emerging from the River Aire and heading for Headingley. Sure enough he appeared over the stadium in the form of drone lights (I think). He was of course the sleeping giant that is the city and its culture.

Did the show finish with

pyrotechnics? Alan Lane

(Artistic Director of Holbeck’s Slung Low) was co-director of the event, so of course it did.

The show was inclusive and participatory. I don’t just mean the wheelchairs on stage, or CBeebies’ George Webster’s hilarious double act with his dad.

As well supplying the artwork, the audience were given what appeared to be white maracas, but turned out to be remote controlled lights for the finale.

The Awakening wasn’t the Year of Culture, it was a taster of some of what is to come this year. It was exciting, inspiring, funny and moving by turns. Those lucky enough to attend, and I spoke to a few excited families on the number 1 bus back to Beeston, were enthused and entertained. I must confess that I was prepared to be underwhelmed, but thoroughly enjoyed the evening. It was the perfect start to what promises to be an exciting year in the city.

Middle-tones Choir concert raises £300 for charity

The dementia day care is provided at Laurel Bank Day

is also a Middleton-based project and is entirely run by volunteers. Supported by the local branch of Greggs they provide hot food, drink and clothing for the homeless in the city centre.

The Middle-tones Choir meets every Tuesday night,

7pm, at Laurel Bank Day Centre, Middleton Park Avenue, LS10 4HY. It’s are open to all abilities (no need to read music and no auditions) and is free.

Caroline Cochrane said:

“We’re a nice friendly bunch, why don’t you come along and sing with us.”

The firework finale of The Awakening

Some of the 10,000 artworks. Photo: Zoe Mitchell

Aconcert by the Middletones Choir on 20 December 2022 at the Parochial Hall in Middleton raised £300 for dementia care and homeless outreach.

Centre. The homeless outreach

The Middle-tones sing every Tuesday evening

Sign up for our free Community Reporters course

Would you like to tell the stories of your community and learn new skills?

South Leeds Life is running a Community Reporters course starting this month. It’s fun, it’s free and it’s aimed at beginners, so no experience is expected of you.

The course will be run by John Baron. John is the Editor of West Leeds Dispatch, has previously worked for The Guardian, Leeds Weekly News and Health For All as well as teaching Journalism in Hull.

Over six, weekly, two hour sessions, the course will cover photos and videos, structuring a news story, headline writing, interviewing skills, as well as ethics and legal considerations.

The Holbeck club to host Any Questions?

Youcould be putting your question to leading politicians live on BBC Radio 4 when Any Questions comes from The Holbeck on Friday 3 March.

The veteran radio show, which has been running since 1948, long before TV’s Question Time, is recorded live each Friday evening in different locations around the UK.

Ready for some fun this February half-term? The Hunslet Club team are gearing up for their first activity camp of 2023!

Wednesday evenings, 6-8pm and is being held at Building Blocks nursery in Beeston Hill. The dates are 15 February to a place or have any questions please contact us, email info@southleedslife.com or ring 07894 583966

Kicking off on Monday 13 February until Friday 17 February, The Hunslet Club in South Leeds are determined to make this half-term entertaining for every young person that walks through the

transport

doors. Tickets for half and full days are available now!

Every young person deserves a memorable half-term, which is why this activity camp is so important. We want to provide days where they can kick

around a football, bake in our kitchen, play in the games room, and then go home with stories about how much they enjoyed their day.

At our activity camps, young people can make new friends, learn new skills, have fun, and participate in different activities throughout the day.

We provide plenty of daily options to keep young people entertained, such as baking, arts and crafts, dance, outdoor play, indoor play, dodgeball, a games room and more!

Plus, there will also be creative surprises this halfterm organised by our youth workers, so don't miss out!

All children are welcome to attend as long as they are in year one or above.

Tickets are available at www.hunsletclub.org.uk/ events. For each day, there is a choice of three tickets: you can book morning, afternoon or a full-day ticket.

Every child deserves to make positive memories this halfterm, so sign up now.

Any Questions? is broadcast live on Radio 4 on most Friday evenings of the year following the 8pm news. The programme is repeated on Saturday lunchtimes at 1.10pm, and is followed at 2pm by the Any Answers? phone-in which gives listeners a chance to join in the debate by calling or e-mailing Anita Anand.

The audience submits

questions on the day of the broadcast and these are then sifted by the producer who selects ten questions across a range of subjects. Normally, four to six of them are included in the actual broadcast. One of the stringent and unchanging rules of Any Questions? is that the panel never sees the questions in advance; the panellists hear them for the first time at the same moment the audience in the hall and at home does.

On Friday 3 March the show will be broadcast from The Holbeck club, Jenkinson Lawn, LS11 9QX

If you would like to be in the audience for this recording you can get your free ticket from the club, or by contacting 07739 045541

Any Questions?

Forsyth

John Baron will be leading the course. Photo: Sara Thornhurst

by Lisa Benfi

eld

Inner South Community Committee

The next meeting of the Inner South Community Committee, made up of the nine Councillors for our three wards: Beeston & Holbeck, Hunslet & Riverside and Middleton Park, is taking place, at Hamara Healthy Living Centre, Tempest Road, LS11 6RD on Wednesday 1 March starting at 2pm.

The meeting starts with an Open Forum, this is an opportunity for members of the public to ask questions or raise issues directly with their Councillors. At the last meeting residents raised problems with bin collections in Cottingley and the committee promised to invite the executive member responsible to this meeting.

Songwriters and songborrowers

Songwriters and songborrowers is an open mic come songwriters’ circle evening, hosted by Rev Pete Brazier at Hunslet Methodist Church, Telford Terrace, Balm Road, LS10 2HR. You’re invited to come with your own songs, come with songs you love, or just come to listen and enjoy. The sessions are on the fourth Wednesday of the month at 7:30pm.

St Luke’s Job Club

The Job Club at St Luke’s Church in Beeston Hill is restarting on Wednesday 22 February, 10am-12pm. The club is run by Christians Against poverty (CAP). It is a friendly place where people get practical help as they seek employment.

It’s an eight week course that gives people all the tools they need to find work, from writing a CV that employers won’t be able to resist, to brushing up on those all important interview skills. And it’s free. Call Mike Wrigglesworth on 07500 530250

Tough Talk at Middleton Park Baptist Church

Tough Talk, a group of men who used to work as bouncers in East End night clubs are coming to talk about their lives, their powerlifting, faith and what gives them inner strength. They usually spend their time touring prisons and gyms round the country but have agreed to stop off for an event in Middleton.

Tough Talk will be appearing at Middleton Park Baptist Church, Middleton Park Avenue, LS10 4HT on Sunday 26 February at 6pm. Everyone is Welcome and the event is free but for more details email info@middletonparkbaptistchurch.org.uk.

South Leeds Waste Film Festival

Following on from the Save Money, Save the Planet event held in October 2022 at St Luke's CARES charity shop, there are plans to hold a South Leeds Waste Film Festival later in the year. The aim is to show a wide range of films about rubbish, reuse, recycling, consumer issues, climate issues and more. Including documentaries, films, anime, short films, family films, comedies, dramas, everything!

Organisers hope to use venues right across South Leeds and are looking for volunteers to help plan, create and deliver the Film Festival.

Do you know somewhere that may be interested in screening a film, we can help with equipment etc? Could you help with publicising the films? leaflets, social media etc? Could you help with fundraising or administration?

Please get in touch with sally@stlukescares.org.uk

Winter walks and free play in Middleton Park

The Friends of Middleton Park will be running their regular school holiday free play sessions during half-term week. The sessions run from the Visitor Centre by the lake on Tuesday 14 and Wednesday 15 February from 1-3pm. There’s no need to book, just turn up and join in.

The Friends have also organised a guided walk around the park on Sunday 12 February, 1:30-3pm. Meet at the Visitor Centre and wear suitable footware as part of the walk will be on woodland paths.

Leeds City Council recruitment event

Leeds City Council are on the hunt for new staff in several different departments. Vacancies and apprenticeships include: admin, hospitality, cleaning, childcare, driving, schools and education, civil enforcement, fostering, adult care, children’s care, gardening and more.

The event runs from 11am-3pm on Thursday 9 February at Dewsbury Road Community Hub & Library, LS11 6PF. Book your free place at bit.ly/LCCrecuitDR

Stay well this winter with Holbeck Together

Themonths of January, February and March can be the most challenging, with the cold weather and cost of living crisis.

To support residents in South Leeds, St Matthew’s Community Centre, the community hub for Holbeck run by Holbeck Together, has been designated as a Warm Space this winter.

That means in addition to being open throughout the week we have got two afternoons (Monday and Wednesday) specifically dedicated to bringing people together at St Matthew’s as a warm space.

Funded by Leeds Community Foundation as part of their Stay Well This Winter campaign this means local people, of any age, can drop into St Matthew’s on Monday and Wednesday for a hot, nutritious free lunch.

Furthermore, the funding has enabled us to put on a monthly Tribute Act including a free three-course lunch. We hope this might entice people to pop out, enjoy some entertainment and catch up with some friends in safe warm space.

So make sure you get these dates in your diary – all taking

place at St Matthew’s: Elvis (31 January)

• Step Back Into the 60s

• (28 February), Elton John (14 March)

• Neil Diamond (28 March).

• To reserve your free place, please call Holbeck Together on (0113) 245 5553

Don’t forget St Matthew’s is open Monday to Friday for you to drop by as you please. It’s a hive of activity, with free events, classes and activities.

Holbeck Together’s friendly staff are also on hand to

ensure you can access support for fuel and food, get advice around finance or housing issues, and help to access the internet or use your digital devices.

St Matthew’s also has a warm café for you to get together with friends with coffee and cake, a social supermarket (Monday and Thursday) where you can pick up 12 items for just £3 and is home to Holbeck Together’s charity shop, reloved (Monday to Thursday), selling pre-loved

clothes and homeware.

For the full activities programme at St Matthew’s, please visit: www.holbecktogether.org

For further information about Warm Spaces in Leeds, please visit: www.leeds.gov.uk/ campaign/warm-spaces

Holbeck Together desperately needs more volunteers.

During the pandemic, Holbeck Together couldn’t have supported the community in South Leeds without the tireless efforts of their fantastic volunteers and businesses across the city. As people returned to work and life for many got back to ‘normal’ the charity has seen a significant decrease in the number of people available to help support their services such as meal deliveries to house-bound people and passenger assistants to help people on day trips out.

The charity are appealing to the people of South Leeds to consider if they can spare a few hours of their time each week or even each month to help make a difference to the vulnerable people in our community. No experience needed and all training will be provided.

Can you put a smile on someone’s face today by helping out?

Contact Laura on (0113) 245 5553 or email: laura @holbecktogether.org to find out more today.

Middleton Railway activities 2023

by Ian Smith

Middleton Railway will reopen on Saturday 1 April 2023 with our annual ‘Community Day’.

This is an opportunity for local groups to bring a stall and advertise their activities and we would like community groups to contact us: admin @middletonrailway.org.uk if you would like to bring a stand. Admission to this event is free to all, trains will be diesel hauled.

A major event takes place on 15 and 16 April. This is the launch into service of the historic locomotive ‘Sir Berkeley’, built by Manning Wardle in Hunslet, in 1891. Engines such as this built many other railways, reservoirs and even housing estates – a similar engine helped build the Middleton estate for Leeds Corporation. This particular engine also appeared in the BBC production of the ‘Railway Children’ which also starred Jenny Agutter.

On this weekend ‘Sir Berkeley’ will be formally

accepted into service at 10:45am on Saturday 15 April and will be joined by a fellow Victorian engine, NER 1310, giving an opportunity to ride behind two Victorian locomotives on both days.

Trains run from 10:30am to 3:30pm each day.

For Coronation Weekend, the Railway will be closed on Saturday 6 May, Coronation Day in order to allow our volunteers to watch this historic event.

We will operate a steam service on Sunday 7 and Monday 8 May as usual for Bank Holiday Weekends.

Full details of the railway and its activities can be found on our website, www.middleton railway.org.uk

The cost of living crisis has also affected Middleton Railway, alongside the difficulty of obtaining good quality coal. This means that all Saturday trains, unless specifically advertised, will now be diesel hauled, whilst in October, only Sunday services will operate, these being steam.

The Middleton Railway was

built in 1758 and is the first railway authorised by an Act of Parliament, the first to have commercially successful steam locomotives, in June 1812, and

also the first standard gauge preserved railway, opening in June 1960. It has operated trains every year since opening in 1758.

There’s always a warm welcome at St Matthew’s

Sir Berkeley at Park Halt on a test run last month

Majorettes set to represent England

by Rebecca Townesend

In a quiet pub on a side street in Middleton some magic is being made.

The Leeds Baton Rouge Majorette troupe meet to train there and three of their members are taking to the biggest stage their team sport has to offer in August. They are representing England in the first International Baton Twirling Federation Majorettes World Championship in Liverpool.

Charlotte, Ella and Chloe told us how excited and nervous they are about the event. They will be performing five routines in their age categories and are meeting once a month to practice with members from other troupes all around the country and then are practicing hard at home! They are waiting to hear about their costumes but are expecting a combination of military, dance twirl, with plenty of glitter too plus some surprises to come which are currently under wraps.

They will be performing over three days and will be there for

the opening and closing ceremonies with teams from all over the world. Charlotte and Ella are in the senior team and

Chloe is in the youth team. The participation for each majorette costs £1,000 and if any local organisations are

interested in sponsoring them or offering any help with travel you can email leedsbatonrouge @googlemail.com

The troupe which is affiliated with the British Majorette Sport Association train twice a week with their twenty-four members aged six to twenty- eight and they are also happy to welcome new members.

Twelve-year old Chloe has been attending since she was seven years old and she likes being out and being with other people and enjoys the challenges of learning new routines. Charlotte is a hospital doctor and finds the training to be a great release from work stress. The other participant Ella is one of the head trainers and she set up the troupe fifteen years ago with the other trainer Lauren.

Leeds Baton Rouge Majorette troupe are already award winners. Ella and Lauren won coaches of the year at the National Majorette Championship and Chloe has won star of the future. Majorette troupes would like their sport to be recognised as an Olympic sport. Maybe South Leeds Life will be reporting on our local Olympic medal winners one day in the future. Find out more and get involved search for Leeds Baton Rouge Majorettes on Facebook.

South Leeds amongst finalists for Sports Awards

The finalists have been announced for the 20th Annual Leeds Sports Awards to take place at New Dock Hall on Friday 17 March 2023.

After a record level of nominations, 51 finalists have been chosen, with World, European and National Champions amongst those short-listed including Georgia Taylor-Brown MBE, Tom Pidcock MBE, Jack Laugher MBE and Hannah Cockroft

OBE. The finalists include a large number of individuals and teams who have been selected for the very first time.

South Leeds is represented directly by The Ruth Gorse Academy, nominated for Active Schools category; and Holbeck Moor Football Club in the Participation Club category.

Other nominees have links to South Leeds such as Hannah Cockcroft who trains at South Leeds Stadium, Jack Laugher

and Tom Pidcock who train at the John Charles Aquatics Centre; and Lois Forsell who used to work for the Hunslet Rugby Foundation.

The awards celebrate the sporting achievements of athletes of all ages and levels, coaches administrators, volunteers and the Community Champions, who kept their communities active during 2022. A new award, the Inclusivity Champion, has been introduced to recognise those organisations who have created and developed programmes to demonstrate that diversity is at the heart of everything they do.

In addition to the 16 awards, the highlight of the evening will be the Sporting Pride of Leeds Award sponsored by Leeds Beckett University. The

Hunslet kick off their preseason with good hit out vs Batley

Continued from page 24 Championship team were never going to roll over and die.

winner of this award will be revealed on the night. Previous winners include Josh Warrington, Kevin Sinfield OBE and last year’s recipient, Rob Burrow MBE.

Peter Smith Chair of Sport Leeds said “The awards have grown from a small ‘invite only’ ceremony to one of the highlights of the Leeds Sporting calendar with an attendance in excess of 600 expected for this year’s event. We look forward to celebrating the sporting successes and commitment of all those involved in sport across the city.”

The 2023 Leeds Sports Awards are delivered by Sport Leeds along with event partners Leeds City Council and Leeds Beckett University with the support of Leeds Trinity University, Leeds Sixth Form College and the University of Leeds.

Tickets for the event can be purchased from Leeds Ticket Hub via the link here: bit.ly/3XiF5Kd

With plenty of ex-Hunslet men in the ranks Batley came into the game forcing Hunslet to clear the lines many times. One drop out found touch and relieved the pressure for a while, and by the hour mark Hunslet were starting to look good for the lead.

Experience is key this season for Hunslet and Michael Knowles was bringing that all over the park. His ex-Dewsbury team mate Adam Ryder will also be a handful for League 1 defences this season.

It’s no good having preseason games if you cannot test new players, so personnel was changed quite often, and after a mass change round for the Parksiders Batley snuck over from close range to regain the lead in the shape of Lucas Walshaw (grabbing his second of the afternoon). Morton converted 12-16 with 10 minutes to play.

Hunslet were still in the game, but truth be told Batley finished stronger and on 72 minutes from a neat little chip through Joshua Hodson pounced to score. 12-20

So the Championship side took the spoils, but Coach Alan Kilshaw will be thinking more of the minutes in his side’s legs

than the result. Hunslet go again on Friday against a Salford Reds 2nd team hoping to jell together quickly before that tough League opener at Doncaster.

Nathan Newbound (on debut) received Man of the Match whilst Michael Knowles, Sam Hallas and Joe Burton also impressed of the new men.

Hunslet are at home to Salford Reds this Friday (3 February 2023) kick off 8pm. Tickets £10, £5 concessions and children under 16 go free.

Hunslet RLFC: Jimmy Watson, Jack Render, Adam Ryder, Joe Burton, Kieron Lawton, Jake Sweeting, Nathan Conroy, Harvey Hallas, Sam Hallas, Steve Crossley, Josh Jordan-Roberts, Aaron York, Mike Knowles. Subs: Danny Barcoe, Nathan Newbound, Jordan Syme, Lewis Wray, Tyler Walton, Morgan Punchard, Dan McGrath, Jordan Bull. Batley Bulldogs: Aidan MaGowan, Dale Morton, Joshua Hodson, Elliott Kear, Jonathan Campbell, James Meadows, Benjamin White, Adam Gledhill, Ben Kaye, Keegan Hirst, Nyle Flynn, Lucas Walshaw, Luke Blake.

Subs:Alistair Leak, Martyn Reilly, Michael Ward, Samuel Kibula, Oliver Burton, Gregory Johnson, Tobias Richardson.

England call up for Charlotte, Chloe and Ella

Hunslet kick off their preseason with a good hit out vs Batley

by Ian Pickles

Afterthe disappointment of their pre-season friendly against Halifax Panthers being cancelled due to an icy pitch, Hunslet RLFC finally got a hit out on Sunday 29 January against a strong Batley Bulldogs side.

The Bulldogs (who were runners up in last year’s Championship) have already had a couple of warm up games this season and proved a good opposition to test 2023’s Parksiders.

Hunslet, sporting their new light green jerseys (in homage to the 70’s Greyhound Stadium team) got off to a great start when loose forward Michael Knowles went over after good running from former Bradford man and club captain Steve Crossley. Jake Sweeting converted, 6-0 after only 2 minutes.

The shock of a Hunslet try

jolted Batley into action, and although at first Hunslet were resolute in defence eventually on the 8th minute Dale Morton forced his way past in the corner, converting his own try to level up the scores at 6-6.

Both sides were rusty at first and mistakes came especially in the handling department. McGowan was a handful for Batley, whilst in his testimonial year Jimmy Watson held the line for Hunslet.

Eventually the game found some rhythm and after some considerable Batley pressure Lucas Walshaw found a gap to sprint through and score. 6-10 after 24 minutes.

New signing from Midlands Hurricanes Nathan Newbound was introduced and his strong running set Hunslet onto the front foot, but on the half hour mark tempers boiled over and both Dan McGrath and Samuel Kibula were sin-binned for fighting.

Although Hunslet finished stronger Batley had the lead at the break 6-10.

A good start to the second half was essential for the home team and only 3 minutes in Lewis Wray powered over from a Danny Barcoe pass, Sweeting converted to give the Parksiders a 12-10 lead.

Wray, on his second spell at Hunslet, ran strongly and Barcoe (a signing from York) was very lively, but the Continued on page 23

Cockburn John Charles Academy joins the Jr NBA

Students in year 7 and year 8 at Cockburn John Charles Academy have been working closely with representatives from Basketball England in partnership with the NBA. They aim to train and develop talented basketball players who attend the academy and across the wider Multiacademy Trust and to provide the opportunity to join the Jr NBA League. Entering the league has witnessed the

dramatic rise of the sport at the academy with the team currently sitting top of the Yorkshire South-west League with four victories from four league fixtures so far.

Head of PE, Ben Clark, said “We share the belief that sport can be used as a vehicle for the greater good and a platform for young people to showcase their immense talents. As a result a high number of academy students now have the opportunity to play for the LDM

match squads with training based at Cockburn Schools on Saturdays.”

Head of School, Siobhan Roberts, said “Our students benefit enormously from the opportunities provided by the PE department in partnership with other MAT schools, and external providers. This is a fantastic initiative which will provide our talented students with a pathway to achieve further excellence.”

Man of the Match Nathan Newbound on the charge. Photo: Paul Butterfield

Bowled over at Hamara

Adil Rashid, hero of England’s recent win in the T20 World Cup visited the Hamara Centre in Beeston on 31 December. The Yorkshire cricketer answered questions from children and was awarded a cup by leader of Leeds City Council CllrJames Lewis. Cllr Paul Wray, Cllr Mohammed Iqbal, Deputy Lord Lieutenant Mr Iqbal Bana, Deputy Lord Lieutenant Manoj Joshi and many other guests were in attendance