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Issue 71 | February 2021
Covering Beeston, Belle Isle, Cottingley, Holbeck, Hunslet, Middleton, Riverside & Stourton
NO EXCUSE FOR DOMESTIC ABUSE
In this issue:
Food For All Pantry opens
page 8
40 years’ service at St Luke’s page 15
Special report on domestic violence, abuse and coercive control
by Kushmina Begum
A
s we move into a second month of Lockdown 3, charities and organisations are predicting a worrying rise in domestic abuse, violence and coercive control behaviours. Households are spending more time together than ever before and the pressures of working, home schooling and being indoors throughout the cold, winter months has and will take its toll on many people’s mental, psychological and emotional health. The lockdown is predicted to last for at least the next few weeks, possibly until April, so we are running this special feature to expose a taboo and sensitive subject that is often silenced or pushed under the carpet. What is classed as domestic abuse or coercive control? How can you spot the signs for yourself or someone else you know? How can you take care of yourself during this very vulnerable peak in the pandemic? We will be illustrating this complex subject matter with very honest and real stories from South Leeds survivors although all names and any identification have been anonymised. The Government’s definition of domestic abuse and violence is: “Any incident or pattern of
Photo: Shutterstock incidents of controlling, coercive or threatening behaviour, violence or abuse of those aged 16 who are or have been intimate partners or family members’ regardless of gender or sexuality. This can encompass, but is not limited to the following types of abuse: Psychological; Physical; Sexual; Financial; and Emotional “Controlling behaviour is a range of acts designed to make the person subordinate and/or dependent by isolating them from sources of support, exploiting their resources and capacities for personal gain, depriving them of means needed for independence, resistance and escape and regulating their everyday behaviour. “Coercive behaviour is an act or pattern of acts of assault,
threats, humiliation and intimidation or other abuse that is used to harm, punish or frighten their victim.” Like Domestic Violence, controlling and coercive behaviour is now against the law and since 2015 can result in imprisonment. Domestic abuse is often a hidden crime that is not reported to the police. However, the Office for National Statistics reported last year that the police recorded 259,324 offences flagged as domestic abuse related from March – June 2020 (the first lockdown). This is a massive 18% increase from two years ago. The Home Office states that there were 1.6 million domestic abuse sufferers last year. So what can controlling or coercive behaviour look like?
One myth is that abuse is cultural or gender based. It is not. All perpetrators of abuse have common themes and patterns of behaviour. • Power and control is their ultimate motivation • Control your money – bank cards, checks bank statements with a fine tooth comb, checks receipts, gives you less money than you need for the household shopping so you are always worried “Will I have enough money to pay for the goods at the till?” • Your diet – makes the decisions of what you can eat, where, when depending on their own likes and dislikes. You are often nutritionally and vitamin deficient as a result of missing out on certain food groups. • Communication –
disapproves of friends and family members and finds fault in them, cuts the telephone line from the main socket when their temper flares in effect cutting you off from the outside world. This is because the perpetrator fears emotional intimacy (friendship, love, care) you may receive from genuine people in your life • Outside world – you are strongly discouraged from going out or socialising without him/her because of their own paranoia/fear of you speaking out • Timetable and daily regulation – you are silently expected to fit around their timetable to meet all their needs first • Non-verbal behaviour stern looks, follows you around the house, discourage you from having “a voice”, checks your mobile (they know your PIN code or you are not allowed to have one “What have you got to hide?”) Domestic abuse can manifest itself in so many ways from intimidation to coercion to verbal threats and physical violence. It is never the victim’s fault because “they asked for it”. Over the next few pages, individual circumstances are explored in “This is my story...” and self-care tips for victims assembled. Now turn to pages 5, 6 & 7
Your snow pictures pages 12-13
Hunslet prepare for new season page 24 NEWS SNOW DAYS SCHOOL LIFE COMMENT HISTORICAL LIVES
2-11 12-13 15 16-18 19 20-21
WHAT’S ON
22
ART LIFE
23
SPORTING LIFE 24
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South Leeds Life | February 2021
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2 News
About us South Leeds Life is written by and for local people. People who live, work and play in the LS10 and LS11 areas of South Leeds. The website and newspaper are produced by South Leeds Life CIC, a social enterprise registered with Companies House, No 9998695. South Leeds Life is a member of the Independent Community News Network.
Our aims To inform people of events, activities, issues and opportunities taking place in the South Leeds community; To encourage the involvement of the wider community in communicating their experiences; To foster community spirit and involvement; and To provide a platform for local people to contribute and respond to community life more fully. South Leeds Life is pleased to publish views from across the political spectrum, provided they comply with our editorial guidelines. We remain a neutral publication with a diverse readership, as such we do not endorse any particular political party.
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Plans for new waste incinerator at Stourton move forward by Jeremy Morton
P
lans for an Energy from Waste (EfW) incinerator plant on the site of the old Skelton Grange power stations are set to come to fruition this year, ten years after a planning application was first submitted. South Leeds Life first reported on plans for such a plant back in February 2012. At that time the scheme was brought forward by Biffa and was seeking planning permission for a plant that would take up to 300,000 tonnes of industrial waste a year. The plant was granted planning permission in September 2013. Work on the scheme has continued over the years, despite Biffa dropping out. Plans are now moving forward as a joint venture between Wheelabrator and SSE Thermal. The two companies run two similar plants at Ferrybridge near Castleford. In March 2020, the capacity of the plant was expanded with planning permission granted to extend the amount of waste processed to 410,100 tonnes per year. The plant is expected to produce 45 Megawatts of electricity a year, enough to power 100,000 homes. In December 2020 the plant was granted permission to operate by The Environment Agency. Under the permit the operators may process up to 410,000 tonnes per year of
Artist’s impression of the new plant to be built on the site of Skelton Grange power station municipal solid waste, commercial waste, industrial waste, sewage sludge and non-infectious clinical waste. Acceptance of sewage sludge would be limited to a maximum of 15% of the throughput. Wheelabrator and SSE Thermal have also signed a ten year deal with Associated Waste Management, who have a large materials recovery facility close by on Valley Farm Road in Stourton, to supply refuse derived fuel. The old coal fired power stations closed in 1983 and 1994 and were subsequently demolished. Skelton Grange Environment Centre which was created by The
Conservation Volunteers in 1992 on a corner of the site, will not be directly affected by the new plant, which is to be built on another part of the site. As well as the plant itself, the plans cover improvements to bridge that carries Skelton Grange Road over the river and canal. As we reported last year, this bridge also carries the transpennine cycle route and footpath, which suffers from a set of narrow steps on the north bank. Work on the bridge presents an opportunity to create a proper ramped access for cyclists and pedestrians. Wheelabrator claim the facility will
create hundreds of new jobs in the construction phase and will employ 40 full-time staff once operational. Speaking in April 2020, Wheelabrator Technologies UK Managing Director, Julia Watsford said: “Skelton Grange Multifuel will further improve the UK’s waste-toenergy infrastructure at this critical time –not only will it safely treat waste by-products and divert nonrecyclable waste from landfill, it will prevent the need for export of waste to Europe, reduce greenhouse gases, recycle metals that would otherwise go to landfill and generate renewable baseload energy.”
Asda loses court bid to stop new shops A
sda have lost their latest court battle to stop the redevelopment of the Benyon House site in Middleton. Plans for a new retail park on the site including new B&M and Lidl stores were approved by Leeds City Council in April 2019. As we reported at the time, Councillors on the South & West Plans Panel went against officers’ recommendations to reject the scheme on the grounds that it would have a detrimental impact on Middleton’s District Shopping Centre. Asda took the Council to court, claiming the decision was unlawful as it ran counter to national planning guidance. They lost in the High Court and have now lost in the Court of Appeal where Judge Lord Justice Sir Keith Lindblom ruled that Leeds City Council had made an “entirely lawful decision.” It is not clear if they will persue the case to the Supreme Court. Developers Commercial Development Projects first applied
for planning permission on the site in 2016, but were refused. They applied again with a modified scheme in February 2018 and permission was finally granted in April 2019. The scheme will provide a new home for B&M’s Middleton store which will move from the District Centre. Planning Officers had reported that B&M accounted for 42% of turnover at the district centre, and cited the economic
damage moving would do to the district centre as the reason to reject the planning application. But B&M had made it clear that they would close their Middleton store if the new retail park wasn’t built, saying their current premises were not fit for purpose. In a statement, Middleton Park Councillors Judith Blake, Paul Truswell and Kim Groves said: "We welcome the Court of Appeal’s decision to reject Asda’s
Artist’s impression of the new retail park in Middleton
case against the redevelopment of the Benyon House site. "It is very positive news and will now allow the new retail centre to be built which will help create much needed jobs for people in Middleton." The site was formerly used as a bus garage and then as the head office and warehousing for the Coop in Leeds, before being demolished in 2014. It has remained empty since then.
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February 2021 | South Leeds Life
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News 3
We’re backing the vaccine Local leaders and residents speak out to encourage Covid-19 vaccine take-up
by Ed Carlisle
C
ommunity leaders, representatives, and a wide range of South Leeds residents have rallied together to encourage everyone to take up the opportunity to get vaccinated against Covid-19 (also known as Coronavirus) in the coming weeks and months. Ten months on from the Covid-19 pandemic going global and turning the world upside down, nations and communities everywhere are battling to defeat the virus, and move on. The long-anticipated development of vaccines is seen by many as the single most significant step to do so. But at the same time, some people seem hesitant about whether the vaccines can be trusted – and in some places, like India, the whole vaccine programme is faltering. Barriers include: the fear of side-effects and allergic reactions; concerns that the vaccines were rushed through without standard checks, or contain pork or cow products; ‘needle phobia’; the
assumption that the pandemic is already subsiding; and other far-fetched theories that the vaccine is being used by powerful groups and individuals like Bill Gates to control or harm the world population. Vaccines though (also known as immunisations) have played a huge part in saving lives, since a British doctor – Edward Jenner – first started inoculating people against smallpox in 1796. Numerous major diseases - killers like polio, tuberculosis and measles - have been brought under control by large-scale vaccination programmes. Now medical professionals across the world are speaking out loud and clear to allay the fears people might have about these Covid-19 vaccines. Like every other major country in the world , the UK is undertaking a huge nationwide programme, aiming to offer accessible and free vaccination to every adult (50 million) by July, and the 15 million most vulnerable by mid February. World Health Organisation researchers
estimate that 60-70% of any given population need to become resistant to Covid-19 to develop so-called ‘herd immunity’, and stop the virus in its tracks. Some of those locally helping to push for vaccination take-up commented as follows… Minnie Rahman (NHS staff nurse, Beeston): “Cases are so high, I’m a complete advocate for getting the vaccination.” Serge Kouob (Academic researcher, Beeston): “I’m dismayed by the disinformation being circulated in my church, and other faith communities. Covid-19 has inflicted damage on every aspect of our lives, and the vaccine’s the only way to come back to normal life.” Hilary Benn (MP, Leeds Central): “Getting vaccinated is the best way to protect those we love, and get back to normal life.” Sanchita Doshi (Hunslet): “I’ve been suffering from Long Covid since March 2020, it’s taken away months of my life, and been very very stressful. Please get your vaccine, so we can all protect ourselves and each other from this horrible
Council services in Lockdown 3 A
fter the latest restrictions came into force last month, teams across Leeds City Council have been working to ensure access to services remains as accessible as possible for residents over the coming weeks and months. The council will also be working closely with health partners on a major rollout of vaccinations in a bid to get the city back on its feet as soon as possible and more than 65,000 people have been vaccinated in Leeds. While restrictions remain in place, the Government is asking people to stay at home, except for specific purposes; not to gather with others they don’t live with, except for
specific purposes and is closing some businesses and venues. This will mean that many council services will be operating differently. Full information on how all council services are operating check www.leeds.gov.uk/coronavirus /our-services for regular updates as operations are subject to change. Councillor Judith Blake, leader of Leeds City Council said: “The hugely encouraging news that vaccines are being rolled out across the UK means we now all have reason to feel more optimistic about what the future holds than we have for quite some time. “However, the recent rise in
rates in Leeds means we must continue to show the determination and tenacity that we have shown throughout the pandemic by adhering to the rules so that we can protect our health service and keep our city and its communities safe. “It remains vitally important that we follow the guidance in place if we are to reduce transmission, which includes staying at home as much as possible, social distancing, only undertaking essential journeys, regularly washing hands and wearing face masks. The recent mutation of the virus makes it much easier for it to spread and so we must now be extra vigilant to avoid our hospitals becoming overwhelmed.
virus.” Angela Gabriel (Councillor, Beeston and Holbeck): “I’m an ex-nurse, and the science says yes. You may not trust the government, but do trust the NHS.” Paul Mattison (city centre resident and business owner): “It’s essential we all stand together, and undertake this small sacrifice to protect our families, friends and loved ones from this horrid virus.” Pat McGeever (CEO, Health for All): “The vaccination programme is a light at the end of this very dark tunnel, and I’m embracing the offer of the vaccine wholeheartedly.” Mohammed Iqbal (Councillor, Hunslet and Riverside): “There’s so much unfounded negativity on social media about the vaccine, but it’s all myths. Listen to the NHS, protect yourself and your neighbours, and save lives.” Andy Gamble (Headteacher, Music Federation in Hunslet and Belle Isle): “We've all worked so hard to get this far: it is our duty to protect each other. This is the obvious next step!"
And Laura FranceHodgkinson (co-leader, Kidz Klub Leeds): “The vaccine offers an opportunity for families and different generations to be together again without fear. Activities and the things we've missed will be able to restart: there are good times ahead!” Other local supporters include: South Leeds Live at Home, Yanks Sawo (Leeds Gambian Association), Cllr Judith Blake (Leader of the Council), Cllr Gohar Almass (Beeston & Holbeck), Andrew Price (Hunslet Carr Residents
“There is hope that together, we are entering the final stretch of this incredibly arduous journey and we cannot afford to stumble now. We must continue to dig deep to keep the virus under control and protect ourselves and each other.” Details about how some key services are operating are below, but could be subject to change. Services planned to remain open: • Parks, playgrounds and the Arium, plus car parks and greenspaces • Waste services will remain operational but likely to be under pressures • Social care continues • Colleges, primary and secondary schools remain open for vulnerable children and children of key workers. • Funeral services will continue with a maximum capacity of 30 people. • Household waste
recycling centres will stay open • Street support for rough sleepers • Bulky waste collection and forestry continues and litter bins will be emptied as staffing allows • Essential computer use is available at libraries at some community hubs and libraries. • The contact centre will continue to operate • Civil Registrations Offices remain open • Parks and playground maintenance, responsive highway and winter maintenance, catering and cleaning to support those council venues remaining open; responsive and planned maintenance of council buildings. Services planned to close or see significant change: • Visitor attractions, including museums and galleries, and venues, will close for the duration of the lockdown period
Association), Karen Peters (Hunslet, Friends of the Aire), Dennis Robbins (CEO, Hunslet Club), Inderpal Sagoo (Guru Nanak Nishkam Sewak Jatha, Sikh temple), Irshad Hassan (H2010), Cllr Paul Wray (Hunslet & Riverside), Rebwar Sharazure (Kurdish House Leeds), Elissa Newman (CEO, Holbeck Together), Wayne Dixon (SDP), and Rev Alistair Kaye and Rev Lindsey Pearson (Church of England, Beeston). Still more are signing up as we go to print – please get in touch to lend your support.
Vaccination Wait to be contacted. The NHS will let you know when it's your turn to have the vaccine. It's important not to contact the NHS for a vaccination before then. The vaccine takes up to three weeks to become fully effective. Even then you may be able to carry and pass on the virus, so please continue to: • Wash your hands • Cover your face in shops, etc • Keep to 2m apart from people in other households • Leisure centres and golf courses and will close in line with Government guidance along with skate parks, outdoor gyms, multi-use games areas, golf courses, bowling greens, football pitches and tennis courts • Weddings and civil partnerships can only go ahead in exceptional circumstances with a maximum of 6 people attending (the couple and 4 guests). All marriage and civil partnership ceremonies due to take place during the current lockdown have been cancelled. • Face-to-face Welfare Rights service will cease. Doorstep visits can continue. • Market stalls selling nonessential items to close. Support If you are going to run out of food in the next 48 hours, call (0113) 376 0330. Support for businesses can be found here: www.leeds.gov.uk/coronavirus /business
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South Leeds Life | February 2021
Twitter: @SouthLeedsLife
4 News
Historic Holbeck pub damaged by fire
On the beat
by Insp Lucy Leadbeater
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his month I would like to give readers some information that is more relevant than ever. As Covid 19 restrictions continue and people are spending more time online it is important to ensure that people are going online safely. Many people use Facebook, Twitter or other social media sites to keep in touch with friends and family online. Talking to people online that you know is something that we all do, however people that you don’t know can also use social media to become your “friend”. You may feel the pressure to have lots of “friends” online, however it’s easy for someone to pretend to be someone else on the internet and you could end up having conversations on social media, with people who aren’t who they say they are. Being online makes it easy for people to lie and pretend to be someone else for a variety of reasons including online fraud and grooming. Below is some online safety advice about keeping your children and yourselves safe online: Keeping your children safe • Talk to your children about what they are looking at and who they are talking to online. • Remind them of the importance of not talking to, or accepting friend requests from
Image: Shutterstock
people they don’t know in real life. • Encourage them to keep all personal information such as passwords, phone numbers, friend, school address details private. • Remind them that people might not be who they say they are online. It is very easy for people to set up accounts, with fake names, identities and photos, to make us all believe that they are someone they are not. • Warn them that the things they write and the photos they post online might be accessed by people other than their friends, if they don’t keep their accounts private. • Set parental controls and privacy settings so that you can see and control what your child or young person is doing online via their device. We have produced instructions on how to do this. • Highlight the risks of meeting people in person that your child only knows online. Meeting people in real life, that children and young people only know from being online, can pose many risks and children and young people should be encouraged to be open and honest with you or a trusted adult, if someone is asking to meet up with them in real life. This can be very dangerous and children and young people should be encouraged to tell their parents or an adult they trust, if someone is asking to meet them. How can I protect my computer, tablet and smartphone? It's second nature to keep your valuables stored safely in your home and out of sight of burglars. But it's equally important to keep your personal information safe from criminals when you're online. As well as being alert to online scams, there are simple steps you can take to protect your
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Image: Shutterstock device: 1 Keep your passwords strong. Setting up strong passwords is one of the simplest, most effective things you can do to stay safe when you're on the internet. Avoid passwords made up of common words, numbers or keyboard patterns (such as 'password' or '123456'), and don't include personal information, like your name, date of birth or any family member's details. Use different passwords for different accounts. 2 Install security software on your computer. Anti-virus software will look for and remove viruses before they can infect your computer, and antispyware software prevents unwanted adverts from popping up, and stops programs tracking your activities or scanning your computer for private data, such as credit card numbers or bank details. 3 Protect your tablet and your mobile phone. You can check emails, shop and bank online on tablets and smartphones, so they need protecting too. Start by password-protecting any devices. You can download anti-virus and anti-spyware protection for tablets and phones and a lot of the apps are free. 4 Protect your wireless network. You need to protect your wireless network (also known as Wi-Fi) so that people living nearby can't access it. Read the instructions that come with your wireless router to find out how to set up a 'key' (a type of password)
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so that no one else can access the internet through your router. 5 Keep your device updated. Every device has an operating system, which is the software it needs to function properly. Computers will use Windows or Mac OS, and tablets and smartphones use Android or iOS. Your device can be better protected from viruses if you keep the operating system updated. You should receive notifications when new updates are available, but you can also update your system manually. Keeping with the theme of online activity, I am looking for your help for us to improve the way we connect and engage with the community. Engagement is a big part of Neighbourhood Policing and as I have said in previous articles both the team and me personally have found it challenging not being able to do the face to face engagement that we all enjoy. In order to improve our engagement through social media we are currently holding an online survey asking members of the public how they access our news and if they have any suggestions on how to boost our social media presence. If you would like to take part in this survey then full details can be found at www.wypcommunityalert.co.u k/OpinionGathering/c763c60 7e5e2251e2349e06cc5c857 d3. Your views would help us improve out communication and social media engagement. I would like to end by thanking you for playing such as important role in keeping people safe. Please continue to follow the rules and restrictions to ensure that keep yourselves, your families and your community safe. We all have a role to play and whilst it is incredibly challenging it is essential that everyone contributes as we look forward to more positive times.
he Commercial pub on Sweet Street in Holbeck was the scene of a substantial fire on 2 January. The fire damaged both floors of the derelict two storey building. West Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Service were called at 7:10pm and seven appliances from across Leeds attended the incident including one aerial unit. More recently famous for being owned by Leeds United
legend Peter Lorimer, the pub has a long history, but is not a listed building. The Commercial Hotel accommodated the first national office of the train drivers’ union ASLEF from 1881, being close the Holbeck Engine Depot. The blue plaque commemorating this fact was removed for safe keeping by Leeds Civic Trust some years ago when the pub was closed, it is currently in the care of Middleton Railway.
The Commercial pub on Sweet Street, Holbeck
Work starts on Beeston’s new Community Hub L
eeds City Council is excited to announce that building work has now commenced to create Beeston Community Hub and Library. The programme of works will lead to a much improved modern facility for the benefit of the local community. Local ward member, Cllr Gohar Almass commented “The refurbishment and the reopening of Beeston Library to create a Community Hub is great news and I look forward to seeing the larger modern space. The additional services that will be delivered there
such as Housing, Benefits advice, and other Council services are needed in our area. “The new space gives the community access to more services on their doorstep. The upgrading of the Library part of the building along with new computers is welcomed.” Plans of the facility show how the new layout will bring a larger and more open space as well as improved access, with an additional new entrance on Town Street. It is anticipated that work will be completed by the middle springtime.
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February 2021 | South Leeds Life
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Domestic Abuse 5
This is my story ... Domestic abuse wrecks lives, damages families and communities. On these pages we present the real life experiences of South Leeds women who have suffered various forms of domestic abuse. They make
for uncomfortable reading, but it is important that we all understand domestic abuse, how to spot it and how to stop it. We have kept the individuals anonymous. Where we have used names these have
My abusive son I
’m 51 years old, with 4 children (13-30) and have been in two abusive marriages. My story is a story of love, not love for a partner or spouse but the unconditional love a Mother has for her child. I have four wonderful children; I always thought I raised them the same, but they are so very different. My first husband was extremely abusive, almost drowning me at one point. The abuse was so bad that it pushed me to attempt suicide. This was the wake up call I needed to leave, how had it taken so long to see what was going on?
I tried to shout and make a fuss in the hope that a neighbour or one of the houses we passed would hear, but nobody did My eldest son blamed me, his Dad was no longer around, but he had no idea the hell our marriage had been. This is where it all started for my son. As a teenager he was a nightmare, once breaking my window to gain entry when I wasn’t home, my youngest son’s Moses basket was directly under where he’d come in. I look back now I think he may have been wanting attention, his Dad wasn’t around, and he blamed me. At 16 as he was gaining his freedom he started experimenting with drugs. He got into the wrong crowd and relationship. They had a child, but when things started going wrong the Mother wouldn’t allow him to see his son. It broke my heart to see my eldest sink deeper into addiction. As a Mum you want to protect and help your child in anyway you can. My decisions have not always been the best in hindsight, I’m not perfect, but I made them all with the best of intentions. My son had been struggling
for many years and had been in and out of prison 5 or 6 times convicted for burglary, dangerous driving and one time he was sentenced to 12 months for assaulting me. But that wasn’t him, it was the drugs. He always knew that I’d be there for him and I guess he used that. There were reasons for his addiction, I understood that but I just wanted him to straighten his life out. The drugs had taken hold, they were taking over who he was. Things got worse as the March lockdown came in. Initially I thought I was helping him, he said he’d started up a phone repair business and I wanted to support him in his new venture. Of course I found out the money wasn’t for tools and equipment. This was the first time I felt I had to give him money. He found it hard to cope with lockdown, his mental health was deteriorating and his drug taking increased (cocaine and spice). He’d ran out of money and I’m his Mum, so he came to me. I didn’t want to feed his addiction but I feared for him going outdoors as we tried to live through this pandemic, I thought if I gave him money he wouldn’t need to go out and it would keep him safe and out of trouble. I even got him food parcels, I was running out of money and hoped this was a better idea than giving him money. He wasn’t grateful though and even covered the front of my house with the foods he didn’t like. Over the next few months he took every penny I had, leaving me to struggle to afford food for my youngest and myself. My savings were gone. Over the years he’d taken £7,000 from me and during the lockdown around £2,500. He would randomly turn up at my home demanding money. It started off as £10 or £20 but over time I was forced to hand over sums of up to £250 and he’d often return to my house a number of times a day. Once in the middle of the night he forced me out of bed and to the mini bank to get him more.
been changed to keep everyone safe. The stories, information and advice have been collated by Kushmina Begum, Claire Carter, Linda Meikle and others.
I tried to shout and make a fuss in the hope that a neighbour or one of the houses we past would hear, but nobody did. This needed to stop but how? He knew when I got paid and when I received any money and coincided his visits around these payments. I knew the money wouldn’t last. Money wasn’t the only issue, the constant abusive, threatening phone calls, voice messages and texts. He’d become completely unrecognisable, he said unforgivable things. I knew it had got bad when he smashed my windows, I had nothing else to give him. That was when I knew he had gone too far, I was no longer safe in my own home, I was scared, for myself and for my other children (two who still lived at home). The abuse was constant and he wore me down. He threatened me on numerous occasions, but he was my son right? I was dragging my feet, I didn’t know what to do for the best. I hadn’t slept for weeks, I was panicky and anxious all the time, scared of a knock at the door. I didn’t want to leave the house in case I came back to find he’d broken in. I feared living in my own home. He said he’d kill himself if I called the police, he even came to the house and set himself on fire once.
I hadn’t slept for weeks, I was panicky and anxious all the time, scared of a knock at the door He demanded food and money, I’d often leave him these in my greenhouse so I didn’t have to see him. If he wasn’t happy with the amount or if there was nothing there he’d trash my garden. He used my bipolar against me, telling me I was crazy. Eventually I had a breakdown I just wanted it to end, I wanted to take my life. I couldn’t live this way any more. On the day I’d planned my suicide, I’d got everything ready, there was knock at the door, I feared it was him, I was angry it was him for even taking this away from
me. I opened the door, there stood my next eldest son, he’d come to take me (and my youngest) to stay with him. He saved me that day, I finally felt safe. My eldest didn’t know where his brother lived, the one time he’d been my other son blindfolded him so he wouldn’t be able to return. They didn’t see eye to eye for obvious reasons. My relationship with my other children had become strained, as had their relationship with their brother. It was difficult for them to understood, I hope one day they can, he’s my son, I’d do anything for him as I would for any of them. I returned to my home, I couldn’t stay away forever. I had mere pennies left to my name, I had given everything to him. I knew if and when he returned I had nothing left to give, he had no more windows to smash. What or who would he lash out at next? I couldn’t allow that unknown to plague my life, the safety of my other children was more important than anything. It was time, I had to do something. I rang the police as I often had before. I think he thought I’d drop the charges as I had so often done. I knew I couldn’t this time otherwise this would never end and he would never get the help he so desperately needed. I didn’t want the next knock on my door to be the police telling me the worst news a Mother could hear. I got him arrested, not just for my safety but his too. Lockdown meant I was isolated from friends, making it harder to tell someone. The combination of this and my son’s actions had a huge impact on my mental health. I didn’t want to admit my son’s behaviour. I’m thankful for my family and those friends I did tell for helping me through. Of course I didn’t want my child going to prison but as a Mum I had to do what was best for him, even if he couldn’t see that it was. He was recently sentenced to 3 years imprisonment and has a 5 year restraining order in place for when he is released. I love my son and I pray that this time in prison will make a difference and he will come out free from addiction.
Photo: Shutterstock
The problem with Claire ... I
was 28 years old and was working in mental health as a technical instructor, but always regretted not going to university and so I decided to go before I got too much older. I started my course and loved it. After being there I while I was at a party at one of my class mates house I met a girl called Clare. She was 5 years younger than me and was in her last year at uni while I was in my first. We hit it off straight away and before long I was pretty much living with her at the halls. Everything was great, but after 6 months it came time for Clare to finish her course and go home. Her family lived up north in Newcastle, we were both not wanting this so we decided that she would stay and we would get a house together, money wasn’t a problem because I was also working and Clare came from a very wealthy family. So we moved in together and I started my second year at university and she looked for a job. The first couple of weeks were fine, she got a job and I started back at university. But after a couple of weeks she got fired. She told me it wasn’t her fault and she found another job but the same thing happened. Also her attitude started to change. She started to become resentful towards me because while she was having to work
and was struggling and unhappy, I was still at university having fun. The arguments started and before long things started being thrown, as well as punches and kicks. She was only tiny and weighed just over 8 stone while I was a big chap coming in at 14 stone, but I’m against any violence towards women. She knew this and used it to her advantage. Sometimes I would just be sat watching TV and I would get a remote in the
The arguments started and before long things were being thrown face, of course she was always sorry afterwards. Things got worse and if I wanted to go out with my friends to the football, which I have done since we were kids, the night before she would start a argument on purpose and end up hitting me. It started to effect my mental health, it was my mum who noticed something was wrong and finally I told her what was going on and so I moved out and went back to my parents. This just shows you that domestic violence came happen to anyone and you have to find help and get out because they will never change.
Ask for help In an emergency call 999, if you can’t talk press 55 when prompted Call the 24 hour domestic abuse phone line on 0113 246 0401 Ask for “Ani” at any pharmacy offering a Safe Space Find more information overleaf
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South Leeds Life | February 2021
Twitter: @SouthLeedsLife
6 Domestic Abuse
Instagram versus reality D
erek was 25 when he met Ruby 21. He had graduated from university and was in his dream job. Meeting the right girl was his next step. Working in IT he believed he knew all there was to know about Tinder and Instagram. Little did he realise that Instagram was as fake as his now wife. He met his wife on Instagram, fell in love with her and the amazing pictures (that had been photoshopped a thousand times he now realises) and her fake family and friends. At first she seemed all sweetness and delight; well mannered, calm and caring. Three weeks after their marriage she had her first fit of rage after she found out he was meeting up with his old school friend (who was a very pretty and single lady). She did not want him to have friends that were female as she felt insecure. “Why do you have so many girls phone numbers in your mobile?” “Why can’t I come with you?” “Are you ashamed of me?” “Why are you trying to hide me?” Ruby was very good at manipulating Derek into thinking she was the victim. Years later, Derek realised this was a ‘learnt behaviour’ from her own parent’s dysfunctional and controlling marriage. Things got worse. She would throw the TV remote at me, cut up my best ties I wore for work, hide waistcoats, follow my friends on social media, stalking them. When I had reached the end of my patience and called her out on her behaviour she would start crying uncontrollably and
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like a child. This was done to make me feel uncomfortable and stop her from taking accountability and responsibility for her own actions and behaviour. I started comfort eating which was ironic because even after a fight she always ate four healthy meals a day. Never lost or put on weight.
My family members knew what was going on but were powerless to help me My family members knew what was going on but were powerless to help me because out of embarrassment I always stuck up for her, thinking it was my duty as a husband. At the worst point, every day she would do or say something to trigger a reaction from me or one of my family members. Her attention seeking behaviour got worse up until one day I had had enough and told her she was severely damaging my mental health and body. She would say the cruellest comments, “You’re fat, you need to lose weight.” “Well, who else is going to love you and put up with you?” “urgh, disgusting.” “You deserve it.” “I’m doing it for your own good.” Although I believed in marriage for life, her psychopathic behaviour was no longer tolerable. She went back to her parent’s home for a few weeks. We are on a trial separation. My mind is in bits. How can someone who looks so perfect on Instagram be so far from the truth in real life?
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The controlling boyfiend D
oes your head spin all day, every day, with what is true and what is not? Do you doubt yourself constantly, feeling unable to believe what your own eyes, ears and brain tell you? I do. Whilst for some this can be a profound lack of selfconfidence, for others it has come about due to being in a toxic, manipulative relationship. Like mine. I met C when he moved to the area. We became friendly, and it was hard not to be impressed by him. He was so different than anyone else. Handsome, charming, confident, with a really fascinating life. He wasn't shy with the compliments either, and who doesn't like to feel special? The relationship moved quickly, but I was keen not to seem like I wanted to “own” him. He was a “Free spirit” after all. So we agreed not to be exclusive. I just had one rule: Tell me if you meet someone else. I didn't want to get in the way of what could become a “real” long-term thing, and I didn't want to be “The other woman.” Imagine my feelings of betrayal, then, when evidence came piling up that he had not only met someone else, but he had been in a relationship with this someone for quite some time. On confronting him with this evidence, I was branded a crazy woman, a stalker, and told I had no right to feel hurt. But I did. I felt foolish, jealous and used. Somewhere at the back of those feelings, though, was the thought that perhaps I had over-reacted? Perhaps I was the one at fault? Maybe I wasn't firm enough with my initial rule? This doubt overtook everything else until I was desperate to make ammends. Imagine my relief when he made contact, and indicated I had been forgiven for “my” behaviour! Things took off again. He had “Let her go,” the other woman (his words). Like you would let go a member of staff. Little did I know at the time how accurate this phrasing was. When we were together, everything was wonderful. We would have deep conversations about our past, sharing secrets. He would tell me about his difficulties and I would tell him about mine. Every now and again, he would name-drop other women. Ex-partners, or female friends he was still in contact with. And always, always, he would look for a reaction. He once appeared delighted when he mentioned the ex-
girlfriend, going as far as to point out the way my whole body tensed up. “You're jealous!” he said, with a huge grin. Who takes such pleasure in the discomfort of others? When we weren't together, it was a different story. Not in the beginning. In the beginning, my phone would ping with sweet nothings from morning till night. “So what?” you say, that's a normal stage every relationship goes through, right? Indeed it is, but when someone suddenly becomes unreachable by a method of contact they have previously used to the full, that is a big, screaming warning sign. I noticed it. Days would pass, and my messages would be read, but not responded to. Or sometimes not even read at all. On the occassions where he would respond, the reply would be terse at best. Just as I was beginning to panic, as if by magic, the sweet messages would return again, drawing me back in to that wonderful feeling of love and security. Excuses of bad signal, a heavy workload, illness, forgetfulness, were all lapped up by yours truly.
There was a constant feeling of walking on eggshells I also began to notice that nothing was ever my decision. Everything was on his terms. When I saw him, it was because he had called and I had come. If, however, I asked for his company, it didn't happen. He would go where he wanted, when he wanted, and if I showed an interest, he would berate me for “Trying to control him.” So I stopped asking. I became scared to ask, scared to be seen as clingy and paranoid. If he knew I was visiting friends, he would ask me to see him instead. So infrequent was my time with him, and so relieved did I feel that he wanted to be with me, I would do just that! Then there was the rage. He would pick a subject I was passionate about, then he would rage on and on about how ridiculous my beliefs were. How he couldn't believe someone with my inteligence could be so stupid. This could go on for hours. In the end, I would just agree with him on any subject, even if I knew he was wrong. It was so much easier than having an opinion, and besides, I figured he must be having a
Photo: Shutterstock bad day to get so worked up. It was my job to make him feel better. There was a constant feeling of walking on eggshells. I questioned everything I ever said, did or wrote to him. I questioned everything he ever said, did or wrote to me. I looked for meanings in messages, spoken words, body language and actions. He was awake and online, so why wasn't he talking to me? I knew this was crazy, but I felt so unsure of where I stood with him and so unable to discuss it for fear of losing him. One instance stood out for me as the defining moment in how far he had come with his level of control. For three weeks, I had essentially begged for his company. For three weeks, he had deflected, giving a heavy work load and illness as a reason. Then, oh rapture! I was walking on air, he had sent me a message stating very clearly how we would be together as soon as he was able. Not long now. The following day, he proceeded to tell me his wonderful old friend (a woman, and avery attactive one at that) was going to be in town and would be spending the night at his house. I remember feeling physically sick. I remember the pain actually manifested like a punch in the stomach. I remember the anger. He didn't contact me for a week after that. I had tried calling that night, but of course his phone was off and he wasn't responding to my messages. When he did finally get in touch, he queried why I seemed so down. When I told him how hurt I had felt, guess who was at fault? How DARE I suggest there was anything going on between him and his sweet friend, a woman who he loves and cherishes so much? Really, the man did protest too much. I was punished. He blocked my messages for a time, until he decided I had learned my
lesson not to question him. Then it was business as usual. Of course, he now knows this woman gets a reaction, so she is name-dropped on a regular basis. I strongly suspect she is in the same situation with him as I am, as she has been doing her own research into me. What situation is that? We go back to his own words, “I let her go.” The situation is, I am staff. As are all the others. This man is my boss, my controller. He chooses how to treat me, when to see me, what I see and what I say and do. I am punished for my failures with silent treatments, comparisons to others who are all “So much better” than I will ever be, rants and indifference. All sprinkled with just enough crumbs of comfort to make me think otherwise. Whilst I am being punished, he looks to others for comfort. They then become flavour of the month, until they fall out of favour because of their actions. Then it's my turn to be invited back into the fold. This is my story of how domestic abuse does not always have to be physical. Sometimes, the manipulation of a person's mind, insidiously and over time, can turn someone into a different person. A person who no longer has self-respect or boundaries.
I began to notice that nothing was ever my decision A person driven so crazy with this gaslighting behaviour, that when the abuser suddenly decides to move onto a “shiny new toy,” leaving the initial plaything so broken that they scream in pain and try to resist by any means necessary, the abuser can then say to his friends (and remember, they are all walking the same tightrope of favour at all times) “See! I told you she was a nutjob.”
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Dawn’s story I
remember when I first met M. I was fresh out of a failed marriage, feeling low and vulnerable. He made me feel like a Queen, it was all so exciting. He had money, and I was treated to the best of everything. We agreed to take things slowly in mind of my last relationship, but what can I say? When it's right, it's right. We became inseperable in that first fortnight.
I gave up my job at his suggestion We rented a house within three months. He took care of everything, and he even took on all the finances singlehandedly when he realised my job was stressful. I gave it up on his suggestion. Within that first year, we had bought our own place. I say we, it's all in his name. A lovely detached house in a quiet area. There's nobody around, and because we were “Starting afresh” we had decided it should be in an area where neither of us have friends or family. It's a bit awkward to get to, but I don't drive so I guess it doesn't affect me. And like M says, if people want to come and see us, they'll make the effort. I'm a bit annoyed that my friends don't visit more often, none of them drive, but M's friends do and we tend to just hang out with this one couple he knows, so at least I have their company and it's nice that it's two couples together. We share everything. If something is bothering me, but I'm not comfortable telling M about it, he can always ask his friend's wife to have a little word with me. It's reassuring for him to know I have someone he trusts to confide in, and that he can always ask her if anything is bothering me that he might not know about.
He works away a lot, and his job is really stressful. That's why I strive to make the house as nice as possible, so that he knows how much I appreciate what he does for me. Friends have commented that it looks like a show home and I must spend all my time cleaning it, but I like doing it for him. There's not much else to fill my time with anyway, since he convinced me to get rid of Facebook and WhatsApp. He works in IT, so he's very concerned about data sharing. It seemed best just to get rid of them, I don't want to put us at risk. I'm not sure from what, but M knows everything about that kind of thing, and if he said it was dangerous, I believe he knows best. I miss my friends, and my family, but of course Covid has put paid to visiting anyone. I think I could have a bubble, but M says it's not worth putting us or anyone else at risk, he's done loads of research into the virus and made it very clear how dangerous it is. He doesn't even want me to go to the shops, so we order food to be delivered. We did see his friends in the summer because they were getting married and we were helping to organise their wedding, but M reassured me this was OK because they'd been so strict about not mixing with anyone else. I think he's secretly relieved my friends can't visit, sometimes he points out things I've been blinded to about them. Like my friend K, who he says is neurotic. He's picked up on the fact that she barely eats, and he worries she might have an eating disorder. Or my friend B, who he says drinks too much. That's true, every time she's visited, she's had too much to drink. Except for that one time we'd arranged for her to come round early. M and I had been
Domestic Abuse 7 to the pub in the afternoon, and I'm not sure what happened but I was steaming by the time she arrived at 5:30pm. I'd only had two pints! I knocked the toilet roll holder off the wall in the downstairs bathroom, and M screamed at me about it. Understandable, as he'd just spent a lot of money having it re-decorated, and like he said, I was behaving like a child so he had no option but to treat me like one. B really got upset with him, so now I'm careful what I tell her. I don't want her to dislike the man I chose to spend the rest of my life with, and he already thinks she hates him, so I try not to say anything that she might perceive as bad. I guess my friends were already suspicious about him because when I took my engagement ring to be re-sized, the jeweller told me the huge ruby (That M had gone to great lengths and expense to source) was a fake. It wasn't his fault, but I saw the look in their eyes. So it's the right thing to do for my relationship to distance myself from them. I did text B recently, but she was being so difficult. She had an opinion we didn't agree with, so in the end M took my phone from me and typed a response on behalf of both of us. It came from my phone, so then I had to
Self help strategies 1. Set boundaries and stick to them (this is a sign of a healthy relationship) 2. Write down any incidents that occur or speak to someone you trust implicitly straight away after the incident. Stick to facts - what was said, where were you(be specific), who else was in the same environment (witnesses or even just someone else who has to take accountability of the event occuring), how did it start (the reason) 3. Remove yourself physically from any potentially harmful environment or people create physical distance where you can breathe and think clearly. 4. Learn to spot the signs or patterns of behaviour: there is always a trigger and this over time turns into a pattern eg. Does he or she always start an abusive argument first thing when you wake up? Last thing at night? 5. Positive self talk: be kind to yourself and be mindful of how you speak to yourself because you are listening! What advice would you give to a friend in this situation?
Where to get help In an emergency call 999 If you can’t talk press 55 when prompted, the operator will stay on the line with you Call the 24 hour domestic abuse phone line on 0113 246 0401 Ask for “ANI” at any pharmacy offering a Safe Space, including Boots, Superdrug and many independent pharmacies. You will be taken to a private consulting room and offered support Leeds Women’s Aid run a refuge and offer advice a support: leedswomensaid.org.uk If you need to travel to take up a refuge place you can travel free by train on the Rail To Refuge scheme
I miss my friends and my family call B and explain it wasn't me that had called her selfish. She said it wasn't acceptable for M to do that, and I was my own person. I sort of agreed, but it's not the first time he's done that and it's all to protect me, really. He smoothed things over by saying we were all drunk, so I suppose that's OK. It's an apology of sorts. So now it's just me and him. I rely on him to be my eyes and ears whilst he goes out to work, and I repay him with my undivided attention and loyalty. It's the least I can do after everything he's done for me.
Other useful organisations: Behind Closed Doors: Leeds based support for peopole affected by domestic violence and abuse www.behind-closed-doors.org.uk Refuge: run a freephone 24-hour National Domestic Abuse Helpline: 0808 2000 247 www.refuge.org.uk Respect: run a helpline for male victims of domestic abuse 0808 8010 327 mensadviceline.org.uk Karma Nirvana support victims of honour-based abuse and forced marriages karmanirvana.org.uk
Councillors discuss the local situation O
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February 2021 | South Leeds Life
ur local Councillors discussed domestic abuse at the last meeting of the Inner South Community Committee in December. Gerry Shevlin from Safer Leeds presented a report about the current situation in South Leeds. There were 16,661 incidents of domestic abuse reported in the nine months January to September 2020, with Middleton Park ward amongst the top three wards in the city. Whilst this is higher than previous years, Leeds had not seen the sharp spike in
cases that other areas had. Of those reports, 55% involved physical violence. 26 people have died as a result of domestic abuse in Leeds over the last ten years. 22 (85%) were women and 11 were aged over 50. Leeds operates a multiagency action planning forum called MARAC where high risk cases are discussed and appropriate support is planned. The group dealt with 3,725 cases in 2019-20. The meeting also heard about local initiatives including
quality mark training provided to staff at Health For All, Hamara and other community organisations. This will staff offer appropriate advice and signposting to services to anyone who discloses they are suffering domestic abuse. Asking all women if they have suffered abuse has also become a routine question at GP surgeries, much like questions about drinking alcohol and smoking. Again anyone disclosing abuse will be signposted to services that can support them.
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South Leeds Life | February 2021
Twitter: @SouthLeedsLife
8 News
Dinner Jackets launches in Holbeck
Chef Julie is offering jacket potato dinners
by Bryony Redwood-Turner
H
olbeck Together is launching a new meal takeaway service for the Holbeck community. From Monday 1 February, you’ll be able to pick up a hot, nutritious takeaway jacket potato for only £2.50 from St Matthews Community Centre, Holbeck. In addition to the takeaway service, they will also be running a delivery service to older members of the community, to ensure those who can’t get out themselves can enjoy the service too. There’ll be a range of freshly prepared hot and cold, seasonal toppings such as beef chilli, prawn mayo, salad, tuna, beans and cheese. The service is available to all ages, though delivery is currently being prioritised for our older community living locally.
“Our meals on wheels service has been so popular and a real lifeline for many during the pandemic. We’re always trying to develop our services and wanted to extend our offer to another day and make it available to all ages. “When we’re able to, there will be a café-style option to dine in and enjoy a dinner jacket. It will be wonderful to welcome people back in person when it’s safe to do so” said Chef Julie Holbeck Together were delighted to receive funding for a new potato oven from the Leeds Building Society Foundation, which will also support our holiday club for local families. If you’re interested in picking up a dinner jacket or know of someone who’d benefit from a delivery, give Holbeck Together a call to place an order or find out more on (0113) 245 5553. Jackets meals are £2.50 each and available for collection every Monday from 12-1pm.
Food For All Pantry launches in Belle Isle M
iddleton based charity Health for All, which aims to help the poorest and most vulnerable communities in the city overcome the challenges of health inequality, poverty and isolation, has received a share of £9.5million of National Lottery funding to help recover from the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic. The £100,000 grant will enable Health for All to install facilities within its Family and Community centres to address the food poverty, digital exclusion and unemployment faced by the local communities the charities serve. The charity’s local centres will host a ‘Food for All Pantry’ space. Run by volunteers, local people will be able to access, for a small membership fee, a weekly shop of their choice. Each centre too will have an Access to IT point, providing free use of digital devices, internet access and support to improve digital skills to improve access to health, benefits, employment, training services. The centres will also provide a rolling programme of Training Courses to encourage and support local people to consider enterprise as an option. Pat McGeever, Chief Executive of Health for All, said: “We discovered from our delivery of emergency food parcels and essential supplies during the lockdown the pressures experienced by so many local people to simply feed their families. The ‘Food
Footpaths behind Beeston Asda set to be adopted by Jeremy Morton
A
historic set of footpaths behind the Asda store on Old Lane in Beeston look set to be adopted after a Public Creation Order was made by Leeds City Council on 12 January 2021. Notices have been posted along the footpaths which connect Cardinal Road and Redhall Crescent with Old Lane (see map below). If the order is not challenged during a four week period to 12 February the paths will become official Rights of Way and be added to
the Definitive Map. This is the first step to improving the footpaths which uneven in places and muddy during wet periods. The order has been made because the paths, although well used, are not official rights of way and their ownership is unclear. Apart from one section parallel with Moorhouse Avenue which belongs to Leeds City Council, the paths are unregisted with the Land Registry. The footpaths go back at least as far as the earliest Ordnance Survey map of the area in 1840, and probably a
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lot further, perhaps to medieval times. The costs of making the order were met by Beeston & Holbeck ward Councillors from their devolved budget. Commenting on the Order, Cllr Andrew Scopes (Beeston & Holbeck) said: “The ginnels behind Asda on Old Lane are well used by local residents. As local councillors myself and my colleagues Cllr Angela Gabriel and Cllr Gohar Almass have had a number of residents contact us about improving the footpaths, particularly from some of our
for All Pantry’ initiative will provide a community led, empowering and sustainable answer to this. The Pantries do not aim to replace the crucial services of food banks but rather complement them, offering a progression for people to cooperate together to meet this urgent, ongoing need. “Our delivery of numerous online courses, support and activity groups highlighted the digital exclusion many local people face due to low income, skills, poor digital access – hence our Local Access to IT initiative. We know that unemployment in the area has risen significantly. HFA have long supported local people to develop entrepreneurial skills and knowledge so the Enterprise offer is a logical progression in these times of increasing unemployment. “This grant will transform the services our local centres can offer and change peoples lives.” The grant has been awarded through the Covid-19 Community-Led Organisations Recovery Scheme (CCLORS). The scheme is led by independent trust Power to Change in partnership with Locality, The Ubele Initiative and Social Investment Business, and was part of The National Lottery Community Fund’s Coronavirus Community Support Fund, that launched in May last year. In total, 302 community-led organisations have received a
Karen Hargreaves welcomes you to the pantry total of £9.5million through CCLORS to help recover from the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic. The total includes 205 community organisations led by, or that support, Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) communities. Grants of up to £100,000 have been awarded to community-led organisations in England facing severe financial difficulties as a direct result of the coronavirus lockdown. It has helped them to launch health and wellbeing projects, develop digital education workshops and continue providing vital services for their communities. Vidhya Alakeson, CEO of Power to Change, said: “Whilst Covid-19 has had a devastating impact on people right across the country, it has disproportionately affected Black, Asian and minority
ethnic communities. By bringing together this strategic partnership, we’ve ensured this much-needed financial support is reaching those communities that need it most.” The first HFA Food for All Pantry has opened in the Cranmore and Raylands Community Centre in Belle Isle. Centre Manager Martin Brennan said: “This is a really exciting venture that will definitely enhance what the Centre offers to local people. There’s been lots of interest so far and we’ re confident it will go from strength to strength.” For more information, contact Martin on 07432 702911 email martin.brennan @healthforall.org.uk or Karen Hargreaves, HFA Food Pantry Coordinator on 07804 743826 karen.hargreaves@healthforall .org.uk
older neighbours living in Cardinal Court. I’m hopeful that this creation order is a step in the direction of the footpaths being improved.” Objections or representations relating to the Order must be made in writing by Friday 12 February 2021 to the Assistant Chief Executive (Corporate Governance), Leeds City Council, Civic Hall, Leeds, LS1 1UR. Any objections will lead to a Public Inquiry by the Planning Inspectorate. Council officers are willing to discuss the concerns of those considering objecting or making representations relating to the Order. Anyone wishing to do so may contact Claire Tregembo in the Public Rights of Way Section on (0113) 378 2875 between 8:30am-3pm, Monday-Friday. The historic paths near Asda need improving
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February 2021 | South Leeds Life
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News 9
Work starts on Dewsbury Road cycle lane W
ork has started on a new 1.5km segregated cycle lane, which will provide a further boost for West Yorkshire’s growing network. The construction of a new cycle lane on Dewsbury Road in Beeston, is part of a £6.9m package of new infrastructure delivered through the Combined Authority’s CityConnect programme, which is aimed at enabling more people to travel by bike or on foot, in partnership with Leeds City Council. The Dewsbury Road scheme will extend the existing segregated cycle route with a 1.5km section of new route between Garnet Road and Beeston Ring Road (Tommy Wass). The work will retain four lanes of traffic on Dewsbury Road, although there are separate plans to create an outbound bus lane on this section and extend the bike lane further to the White Rose Shopping Centre. Work is also well advanced on a new 3km segregated cycling route between Elland Road Park and Ride and the city centre. Cllr Kim Groves, Chair of the West Yorkshire Combined Authority Transport Committee, said: “Enabling increasing numbers of us to travel by bike and on foot is more important than ever, not only as we look to address the health, transport and economic challenges created by Covid-19, but also in helping us achieve our aim of becoming a net zero carbon economy by 2038. “These important schemes will provide communities in Beeston, Holbeck and Hunslet, as well as those in the north of the city, with high-
quality cycling and walking routes and the Dewsbury Road scheme will provide an important missing link in the existing network to create a continuous 4.4km segregated route for south Leeds. “From connecting people across our region, to reducing air pollution and congestion, and combatting physical inactivity and obesity, we know getting more people cycling and walking has a vital role to play in making West Yorkshire a great place to live and work.” Councillor Lisa Mulherin, Leeds City Council’s Executive Member for Climate Change, Transport and Sustainable Development, said: “During these difficult times, we’re working hard to make walking and cycling more attractive and natural everyday choices for exercising and commuting. “We’re delighted we are bringing the construction phase of these
schemes forward for new segregated cycle routes south of the city connecting Beeston, Holbeck, Hunslet and the city centre, as well as important work on Clay Pit Lane and Meanwood Road. “Every new piece of segregated cycleway in Leeds gets us nearer to the 500 miles of cycle network we are aiming to deliver across the city. “In this Covid-19 recovery phase, Leeds is creating many more new routes which offer improved safety for people who walk and cycle, offering convenience and championing health and wellbeing for our residents. “Alongside improved segregated cycleways the scheme will improve the environment for pedestrians. This work funded through CityConnect will improve environmental sustainability, better air quality and reduce pollution of all types in and around Leeds. We look forward to seeing the schemes completed later this year.”
These projects have received £6.5m from the Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership (LEP), delivered in partnership with the West Yorkshire Combined Authority, through the Leeds City Region Growth Deal – a £1billion package of Government investment to accelerate growth and create jobs across Leeds City Region. This work will build on the Bradford Leeds Cycle Superhighway, which opened in 2016, as well as the additional 4km of segregated routes that opened in summer 2019 connecting the eastern and western sections of the cycle superhighway with the city centre.It also plays a significant part of Leeds City Council Connecting Leeds “Cycling Starts Here” ambition to create 500 miles of safer cycling routes across the city. A public consultation on these schemes, including drop-in events at community venues, was held in summer 2019. The West Yorkshire Combined Authority is working in partnership with local authorities to deliver a package of measures, including new cycling and walking infrastructure, to help people move around the region safely in response to the Covid-19 pandemic. This work includes £12.5 million of short and longer-term schemes, which are being funded through the Government’s Active Travel Fund. From route information to support for businesses, find out how CityConnect can help you cycle and walk more at www.cyclecityconnect.co.uk.
NEWS IN BRIEF Call out for laptop donations The prospect of home schooling has raised a real issue for children without access to a laptop, tablet or PC. After seeing the success of a similar projects elsewhere local residents have decided to take action. The goal is to help children in the South Leeds area without access to a device for home learning to get one. Donations of old devices would be greatly appreciated as would volunteers to help clean and wipe hard drives, or in any way possible. For more information or to donate an old device please contact Ben on Twitter @ben_rdfn or by email rdfn@hotmail.com
Help from MindWell Anyone can struggle with their mental health. Especially in these difficult times. Why am I feeling unwell? What can I do to feel better? Who Can help and support me? Help is just a click away. Go to Mindwell, the mental health website for people in Leeds, for information and support. www.mindwell-leeds.org.uk
Thank you, our Leeds 10 heroes by Wayne Dixon
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he pandemic has proven one thing that nobody can deny: that we have outstanding community spirit in South Leeds. I want to take this opportunity to celebrate the groups and individuals who do not always have the spotlight shone on them – but very much deserve our recognition. They are the cornerstones of our great community, supporting us all, and I think it is time we showed them our appreciation. I hope you will all join me in offering heartfelt thanks to these South Leeds Superstars. St Cross and St Mary’s CofE Churches continued to run a food bank even when the Trussell Trust said it was too risky. They managed to
The Christmas Expess team
get their Youth Club running after the lockdowns; they provided meals to the most vulnerable families. And despite doing all this, they still managed to run a Toy Appeal to make sure no child went without a Christmas present. I know there are more who helped, but Sarah Markillie, Amy Jobling, Pagen Wheatley and, of course, Father Andy Myers all deserve our gratitude for their work. St Cross can be contacted via their new Facebook page (Stcross Foodbank). Emma Pogson-Golden, Carole Kindon and the team at Manorfield Hall set up a new food bank and offered help to those in need. Thank you! Middleton Elderly Aid staff and volunteers provided many of our elderly residents with hot meals,
socially distanced visits and phone calls throughout the pandemic. They will continue to do so. Well done to Sam, Adele, Walter and to the many volunteers who support their work. We appreciate your efforts. Friends of Middleton Park never gave up on improving the park, which is more important to our community than ever. Many local businesses also deserve credit for the way they have shown care for the communities they serve. Morrisons and Asda have responded to many calls for help: they have delivered when needed. I also think we should thank our retail staff in general. They have worked on the front lines of an essential service, and have done so with a good cheer that has set an example for us all. Of course, our local shops, cafés and pubs have had – and are sadly going to continue having – a tough time of it, but they have battled away. They are essential parts of our community and deserve our support. I want to single out The Falconers Rest, which turned itself into a food bank. A personal thank you to Jeffrey Clay, who supplied a local family a Christmas hamper. Well done to The Peggy Tub and Hunslet Club for
managing to develop Covid secure Christmas grottos. A special thank you to Ed Carlisle, who has been relentless in collecting, recycling and then distributing bikes to local families. We appreciate the kindness of everybody who offered him support in that campaign. We also need to show our gratitude to the staff at our local schools, who have done so well to stay open and have not once moaned about it. I cannot think of anything more important than educating our children. Thank you to the teams at LHA Car & Commercial and Sense of Occasion who spent their spare time driving Santa around South Leeds to distribute selection boxes to over 500 children (see photo). I am sorry if I missed anybody. If you think I have, get in touch, and I will write something more, because everybody who gave up their time to help others in this difficult period deserves our thanks. Perhaps there has been one positive to this pandemic: it has proved that the fraternal spirit in South Leeds is strong and runs deep. I feel proud to live among such people in this great community.
Interim CEO for Unity Unity Homes and Enterprise has appointed Cedric Boston as Interim Chief Executive. He will replace Ali Akbor OBE who has steppied down to serve as a member of the Grenfell Tower Inquiry Panel. Mr Boston has over 30 years of experience in social housing, including 25 years at senior executive level. He is a former Chief Executive of Arhag, a London BME association which specialises in addressing the needs of migrants and refugees.
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10 News
Call for artists Review of city’s blue plaques scheme B by Linda Stanley
eeston in Bloom have two new projects planned for 2021, but need some help to make them happen. Firstly, we are delighted to have been successful in the award of a bench from Leeds Civic Trust as part of their ‘Take a seat’ campaign. The trust provide the bench and funds for it to be decorated with a design to depict the events of the epidemic in 2020. We plan to install it near Sunnyview House, but need help with the art work. The money would be used to pay for the materials and the artist. Secondly, you can’t help but notice the rash of utility boxes
A decorated bench
that are popping all over Beeston. I’m sure you’ll agree with us that they aren’t very attractive. So Beeston in Bloom would like to change that, but again need the help of some clever, creative, arty person. We have limited funds, preferring to spend our hard earned cash on our planting schemes. The aim would be to make the boxes bright, colourful and reflect the heritage of the local area. If you think you can help with either of these projects you can contact me, Linda Stanley, at beestoninbloom@gmail.com or via our Facebook page. We look forward to hearing from all you budding artists. Thanks.
A
fter 30 years and 180 blue plaques, and in the light of recent controversies regarding the representation of history in physical form, Leeds Civic Trust has launched a review of its blue plaque scheme. Leeds Civic Trust is responsible for one of the largest blue plaques schemes in the country. Since 1989 the Trust has erected 180 plaques across Leeds commemorating significant historical figures, buildings and events in locations which are associated with them. Most blue plaques are nominated by members of the public. The Trust installs around 6 plaques each year. An independent review began late last year chaired by Public Relations and Cultural Heritage Consultant Susan Pitter. The review asks who and what the Trust represent in plaque form, how they make their decisions and what criteria they use – it is hoped
that the findings will support example, do they properly and the future development of the honestly address our city’s scheme. colonial past? Can a scheme in The 2020 global response to which more than 50% of our racial injustice, the 2020 plaques cover the Victorian era murder of George Floyd in the be a true reflection of the US and subsequent history of our city? Are the international Black Lives Matter Trust’s decision making protests demonstrated the significance and symbolism of public statues, monuments, and plaques. The recent announcement from the government that the removal of statues and plaques will require planning permission in future has brought added significance to this work. What are Leeds Civic Trust asking members of the The blue plaque at Marshall’s Mill in Holbeck public? processes transparent and our Via a quick and anonymous criteria appropriate? survey, they are asking if the Representation is important plaques scheme represents to the Trust and we are the history of the city. For committed to ensuring that the
Facebook: facebook.com/southleedslife scheme better recognises those who have been traditionally under-represented in history (and are underrepresented in our plaques scheme), including members of the black and BME communities. A link to the independent and anonymous survey can be found here: www.smartsurvey .co.uk/s/BluePlaquesReview Trust Director Martin Hamilton said “Leeds Civic Trust is proud to be responsible for the city’s blue plaques scheme, and although we have worked to increase the diversity of our plaques in recent years, much more needs to be done to ensure that the plaques scheme better reflects the diverse and rich stories we know this city has to tell. “To help us do this, we’re asking the people of Leeds for their thoughts by completing a quick survey available via our website. By sharing your reflections, you’ll be contributing to how we commemorate this city’s heritage.”
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News 11
Share your ideas to make Beeston greener by Rebecca Kellet
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Partnership of local organisations including Our Future Leeds, Voluntary Action Leeds, Together for Peace and Leeds Tidal, supported by a host of other Leeds community organisations have been successful in receiving a £2.5m award from The National Lottery's Climate Action Fund. The partnership has a goal of creating a 'Zero carbon, socially-just and liveable city by 2030'. Part of the project involves the setting up of 16 community hubs across the city, the project will also create around 40 local jobs and around £400,000 of grants will be shared to local community groups to help them to take action on the climate and social justice. Beeston has been chosen as one of the first four areas to have a community hub, and the project is looking for local people to work together to form a local strategy, and plan events and actions that meet the needs of their community. Later in the year two local people will be employed as
climate hub workers who will work in the local community. A central city-wide hub will be on call to provide any specialist expertise the group request, and there will be a community fund to support events and actions. The project will cover 8 main themes; transport, energy, housing, food, nature, climate justice, economy and education. You may not be primarily concerned with climate change, but you may care about buying local, litter on the streets and in the ginnels, safe places for kids to play, access to green space, traffic noise and air pollution, hard to heat homes, or saving money on food and fuel bills. The aim of the hub is to provide 'Local solutions for local people'. Do you care about your local community and have ideas on what we can do to improve things? Have you got a project that you would like to share? Are you interested in making your home more energy efficient? Do you care about the local environment? Are you keen to improve the local economy? If you answered yes to any of
those questions then please contact Beth Bingley – Beeston's Climate Hub Development Worker beth@t4p.org.uk I have lived in Beeston for most of my life and I now have a 4 year old who I am raising in Beeston. I am particularly keen to be involved in this project as I believe its us residents of Beeston who have the ideas and the determination to change the things we are unhappy with. I for one am keen to improve our local sports facilities and pitches and I'd love to keep up the amazing community spirit that we've witnessed over the last 12 months. We really are lucky to have the opportunity to become one of the first community hubs in Leeds and I urge as many people to get involved as possible. To find out more about the programme visit ourfutureleeds.org/intro-tocecap There are lots of ideas for small changes you can make to live a lower carbon lifestyle. Check out the 52 Climate Actions website for ideas: www.52climateactions.com /action-themes
Hunslet Sunset
Holbeck Cemetery: Remembrance Sunday 2021
The skies above Hunslet used glow red from the fires of the foundries. Now it’s just the occassional sunset such as this one captured last month by reader, Karen Peters
by Eve Tidswell
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or the last few years there has been a well attended annual Remembrance Sunday event taking place in Holbeck Cemetery. This has been supported by various community groups and local people with about 100 plus attendance. A simple service has taken place culminating in the laying of
wreaths, poppies and painted memorial pebbles on the Cross of Sacrifice. From the start it was also felt that a more visual approach could be made by displaying poppies around the cemetery. Councillor Angela Gabriel contacted various local ladies who were delighted to knit poppies through the year ready to be displayed in Holbeck Cemetery during the two weeks in November around the time of
Knitted poppies at Holbeck Cemetery. Photo: Richard Harrison
Remembrance Sunday. A few thousand have now been knitted by Angela’s Army and up to 2019 had been displayed around some of the trees and over the small gate on Beeston Road. Funding for the wool and other materials used was provided by a grant from LCC Inner South Community Committee and The Friends of Holbeck Cemetery. Then the year 2020 arrived with all its added problems. The Friends of Holbeck Cemetery were informed by the British Legion that there were to be no parades or mass gatherings that year because of Covid-19. The Friends felt it was even more important than ever to have a bigger visual presence in the cemetery and they were willing to provide the full cost of £500 towards the
project. The knitters were still knitting so we knew we could have an even bigger display than ever before and LCC works department made us some giant poppy templates to be positioned on the cemetery wall that faced onto Beeston Road. These templates were covered in the knitted poppies and included red poppies, a white poppy for peace and a blue poppy to remember animals killed in war. The display was gratefully received by the local people and many of them took their daily exercise to walk through the cemetery to view the displays. Others noticed them as they drove past or as they used the bus to go to work. People mentioned how it had meant a great deal to them in this difficult time. We do not know what the situation about groups meeting will be in November 2021 but we do know that we want to expand the displays and
installations in the cemetery. How can you help if you a local Company or Business? The Friends of Holbeck could apply for a Community grant towards some of the cost but we wondered if some local company or business would like to be part of this important community event and could contribute financially toward the £500 cost. Any small contribution would be welcome and you would be acknowledged. How to help if you can knit or crochet? Angela would love to add you to her regular Army of knitters. All materials and a simple poppy pattern are provided free and you can knit as few or as many as you can. Every single poppy is important and will be part of Holbeck’s Remembrance Sunday event in 2021. Let’s make it a truly local event. If you want to help in any way you can email us: Councillor Angela Gabriel: angela.gabriel@leeds.gov.uk Eve Tidswell of Friends of Holbeck Cemetery: roops73@aol.com
Please make sure that the email subject is: “Remembrance 2021” Linda Stanley adds: Following the success of the knitted poppy campaign, which resulted in a stunning display in Holbeck Cemetery, the crafters have now started another project! A group are recycling soft drink bottles and aim to fill the turning circle at the number 1 bus terminus with poppies in time for the next Remembrance Day in November. If you look at the bottom of a coke bottle (other brands are available!) you’ll see it resembles the shape of a flower, and with a few snips, 2 coats of red and black paint, hey presto you have a poppy. The activity is very therapeutic, an excellent use of recycling plastic bottles and as we aim to produce 1,000 poppies before November, it will keep us busy during the current lockdown. If you like to get involved you can contact head poppy painter AKA Angela Gabriel on angela.gabriel@leeds.gov.uk or 07946 632 468
South Leeds Life | February 2021
12 Snow Days
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South Leeds Sweeps Igloo Festival South Leeds families covered themselves with glory (and snow) last week, by scooping most of the prizes in the inaugural Leeds Igloo Festival. Sponsored by Leeds Green Party and local charity Playful Anywhere, the competition encouraged people across the city to get creative in the snow, and build their own igloos – with cash prizes for the best ones. Beeston resident Danny Moran won top prize, building an incredibly ornate igloo, with internal dimensions of 5 foot width and height, in the carpark by Elland Road. He told us: “We did sledging and built a snowman on the Thursday – but I wanted more of a challenge, and to make something for the kids to enjoy, so we made the igloo on the Friday. The kids were supposed to be helping, but they quickly got bored, so it was really just me – for 4 hours. I had to use my imagination, but it came together well, and everyone loved it!” Congratulations also to the Chadwick family (also in Beeston), and 10 year old Ella-Lloyd Crawford in Belle Isle – who picked up two of the three runner-up prizes.
Readers snow pictures
We asked our readers to send in their pghotos fr Here are some of the best. Thanks to: Becci Almo Lilija Kitkevič, Sharon Mann, Paul McHale-Webst
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rom the recent snow days. ond, Sarah Coates, ter and Marie Sallis.
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Snow Days 13
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School Life 15
Eric Whitehouse clocks up 40 years at St Luke’s by Jo Birch
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ric Whitehouse has just marked 40 years of service at Beeston Hill St Luke's C of E Primary School, having arrived at the school in January 1981. He is currently the School Manager having retired from his role as Headteacher in July 2011. Two ex-pupils Naomi and Nathaniel Birch (aged 14 and 11 respectively), and their expupil Dad, me, caught up with Eric with the current Headteacher, Louise Booth and the Chair of Governors Laura Hodgkinson. Why did you want to become a teacher? There is a politically correct reason which is you want to further the education of children, but then there is the other one, a little shallower: the holidays! I was part of a youth organisation with some teachers and I was getting a fortnight’s holiday a year and they were getting 13 weeks, so that was the actual prompt! That wasn’t the reason I stuck it out, but that was the initial reason. There goes my OBE! What did you want to be when you were a child? I think being a Policeman
February 2021 | South Leeds Life
appealed to me. I quite liked the idea of bossing people about! My Dad was in the army so being a Soldier quite appealed as well. Being a teacher never ever entered my head! To be fair, I wasn’t very good at school. Out of a class of 35 I would come about 31st in tests. And half of it was a bit lazy really. I couldn’t be bothered, and not always well behaved either! It was only when I was a teenager that I woke up to the fact that it I didn’t get my finger out I was going to be left behind, so I had to start working. How did you get your job at St Luke’s? I was working in a school in Bramley, and someone who was doing some supply work had had an interview at St Luke’s and she said how wonderful it was and I thought I’ll have a look because it was a promotion. I got an interview and I got the job. The role was what was called a Scale 3 class teacher, with extra responsibility for Boys Games and Science, which was amazing because I ran the football team and I knew absolutely nothing about football!
The school celebrated Eric Whitehouse’s 40 years of service
We heard that you instigated tree planting at St Luke’s is that right? Yes, absolutely. I have a little disagreement with Janet our Outdoor Activity teacher, because there is tree at the front of the school and I said “I planted that tree.” And I know I did, I planted it personally and she said “you couldn’t have done, it’s an oak tree and it’s a hundred years old.” But I know I did, 40 years ago. So I say “Fair enough Janet, it must be my memory in my old age!” But when I came, the only trees were the old ones by the entrance of the school, and people were walking through the school grounds so to encourage them not to we planted some trees. What is your favourite memory as a teacher? I have a funny one. I had only just started and I had my new class, and they were a little challenging. There were 35 kids in that class and about 28 of them were boys. I was laying out the rules and one of them was that we go swimming every week, at South Leeds Sports Centre and I told them what they needed. So I said “You need a towel, and you need your swimming trunks, and don’t forget when we go” and one of the children said “I can’t go swimming Mr Whitehouse.” I looked at him and asked “why not?” He replied “Because I’ve got this boil on me bum.” However, he didn’t use the word bum! The rest of the class were in hysterics. The child then came back to school as a parent and we laughed about it years later. What are you most proud of during your life at St Luke’s? I suppose the thing I’m most proud of is where we are now as a school as to where we were when I started. Over that time the school has got better and it’s built on successes. The school has grown from 12 teachers and around a hundred kids, to 80 plus staff and pushing 500 kids. We’ve made mistakes, of course we have, but looking back, we didn’t do a bad job really. Reflecting on it all I think “Wow, aren’t we lucky that we have this
school?” Why have you stayed at St Luke’s for so long? They just won’t let me go! When I first came to the school, one of the questions in the interview was “How long do you intend to stay?” and I very honestly said “About 3 years” and that’s 40 years ago! I just love the place. When I’m at home I get a bit bored sometimes. It’s not like I have to go to work, I go because I want to. I have friends there and people I love, things are always happening and it’s just a lovely happy place to be. I don’t want to paint it as being absolutely perfect, it’s not. It can be hard, and we have our problems, but we work through them. If you’ve got the right people, the right team and everybody respects and loves each other, you can do anything and that’s the essence of our school. That’s why I like to be there. Do you have any dreams for the future of St Luke’s? This sounds cheesy because I know Louise is listening to this, but I know that the school is in safe hands. As far as I’m concerned, and I might be a little bit biased, but I think it’s the best school in South Leeds and it just get better and better. The staff are fantastic and the head teacher is amazing. She is an unbelievably hard working and clever leader. The future of St Luke’s is assured, especially with the recent expansion. It’s such a popular place and I feel very fortunate to be a part of this school. Louise Booth commented: One of the great assets of having Eric on the team is the confidence he brings to the leadership. It can be a scary place being in charge and Eric’s not scared of anybody or anything, and that is really encouraging. Because he has been involved in education for so long his knowledge is profound. Not many people know the history and the legacy of situations in the way that Eric does. And he is in a unique place to give that advice. He genuinely has seen it all before! Laura Hodgkinson added: Parents love him, the kids love him and the staff love him. There are not many families in Beeston who don’t have a connection to Eric, and so many have warm thoughts towards him because of his commitment to the school.
Leeds United star supports Beeston Primary
Patrick Bamford recorded a message for the children
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atrick Bamford’s main concern is to score goals for Leeds United, but when he heard that some children at Beeston Primary School were struggling with their learning in lockdown he stepped forward to help. Patrick donated £5,000 of his own money to pay for children to get online and he also recorded a message for every child in the school. One parent told us: “The kids were so excited to see the message Patrick had recorded for them all. It certainly got my son motivated to get his work done.” In his message Patrick talked about the importance of school work, but also getting out to get some regular exercise, and he had these encouraging words: “I know it can be tough to concentrate at the moment guys, I'm sure there's a lot of distractions going on, whether you're at home or at school. Just keep going because the tough times won't last and we'll all come through the other side and I'll be here, all the way, supporting you all.” Patrick also launched a school competition to design a special certificate to be awarded to children who are nominated as Star Learners by their teachers each week. Patrick will judge the
competition and sign the certificates. The school overlooks Leeds United’s Elland Road stadium and has good links with the club. In a statement the school said: "We are absolutely blown away by his generosity. When he learned how many children and families are struggling to access remote learning at home he personally donated £5,000 for the school to invest in technology which can be loaned out. This will fund 20 new iPads. These have been ordered and will soon be on their way to those who are most in need. "Patrick’s generosity has not stopped there and he is really keen to keep a special link with Beeston Primary School. He has recorded a personalised message for our children and will keep in close contact to learn more about which children and families are doing their very best to be positive and keep learning during this lockdown. “Patrick knows how important it is to have a Growth Mindset and not to give up – even when times are tough and he wants to play his part in motivating us all. "Thank you so much Patrick Bamford; we are all so grateful for your kindness."
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16 Comment
In our view Domestic Abuse One of the most shocking things about our feature on domestic abuse was the discussion at our Editorial meeting. Within moments of suggesting we should cover the subject, four women in the meeting said they knew of a case they could write up - that’s how common this abuse is. Domestic violence is perhaps easier to spot, few believe the repeated excuse that “I fell down the stairs� to explain a black eye or a bruised wrist. But it’s not the only form of abuse. That’s why we chose to highlight coercive control. It may be harder to spot, even when it’s happening to you, but it’s just as damaging. Our feature may be an uncomfortable read, but if it helps one woman (or man, but it’s usually women) get out of a toxic relationship we feel we’ve done our job.
Please get the vaccine This year has been so tough for so many people, we really didn’t think we would have to encourage people to have the vaccine that will protect you from Coronavirus - Covid-19. And yet some people have decided to spread outrageous lies about the vaccine, for example that it contains animal products which might go against your religious beliefs - it doesn’t. Or that it doesn’t work - it does. Scientists have worked incredibly hard to develop these vaccines and they’ve been tested just as rigorously as any other medicine. When you are offered it please take it. Take it not just because it will protect you, but take it because if enough of us take it, it will protect our whole community. We often talk about the solidarity South Leeds folk show - let’s show it again now.
Better transport There’s a lively debate in the letters section of this page about how we get around our neighbourhoods and around the city. The roadworks on Dewsbury Road and Elland Road, where new segregated cycle lanes are being built have certainly focussed minds. Cycling clearly won’t be the solution for everyone, but then neither can the car be the solution for everyoine. Think back to before the first lockdown - almost every day the city became gridlocked because there were too many casrs on our roads. So we need proper cycle lanes for those that can use a bike to commute and we need better public transport. Hilary Benn pointed out last month that we need a rapid transit system and this month Eric Smith encourages us to look to Europe to see how a modern tram system can work for the benefit of everyone even car drivers!
Your letters and comments Transport Strategy To attract cyclists the Government should give electric bikes/scooters to each person. It’s the only way to get folk out of their cars. Also, there’s no mention of Leeds Bradford Airport in the Plan and the need to reduce flights to a minimum. Free bus travel would also be necessary and a much more frequent service on all routes. Beeston was, like many parts of Leeds, developed as a result of fantastic public, cheap transport from the 1900s onwards. It’s time to bring back public transport and move away from private cars. Stephen Johnston We all tend to forget that till the 60’s/70’s people in South Leeds worked mostly locally. Nowadays people have to mainly travel longer distances to get to work and a lot of moms have to get the kids to school before work. Electric cars are the way we should be going. It would be stupid and accidents waiting to happen to expect the majority of over 50’s to get on an electric bike or scooter especially in the yorkshire climate. Demonising the car is locking us away and anybody not able to walk as far as the bus stop or get on a bus will be prisoner in their home and unable to go to work. Shopping is one of the few activities left for a lot of elderly and they are being told they should order on line instead of going in their hard worked for car. Ms Meikle It’s a brilliant idea building cycle routes throughout Leeds, however it is annoying when you see a cyclist on the road and not in the specially built lanes. Shouldn’t the law work both ways? Powered vehicles are not allowed on cycle paths so cyclists should be forced to use cycle lanes for their safety and increasing traffic flow. N Tiffany Neither the government nor the local authority aim to do away with or demonise the private motor car, but merely to decrease our dependence on it as a society. A large chunk of physical ability is actually ‘use it or lose it’ – plenty of seniors in other parts of Europe or the world are active, flexible, have great balance and strong bones. As Ms Meikle quite rightly notes, it would be foolhardy (even masochistic!) to use an e-bike or e-scooter in driving rain, black ice or snow. Private car, taxi, pool or fleet car, modern tram or high-speed train depending where we live – all electric or otherwise low polluting and quiet, warm, comfortable. Decreased dependence on cars, not demonised or done away with. Jen Brook As a driver, cyclist and pedestrian living in South Leeds I recognise it’s impossible to undertake road works without some disruption. However I think we need to understand and accept this short-term inconvenience stands to bring long-term benefits to the area overall and to the physical and mental health of South Leeds residents – whether cyclists or not. Speaking with my cycling helmet on though, I hope that more effort will be made to segregate the cycle routes from both pedestrian and cars.
The view from Blakeney Grove after the trees were felled I’m a confident cyclist – at 63 I have been cycling since I was 6 in urban and rural areas. I use cycle lanes where they exist and the road where they don’t. One of the problems though is that many existing lanes are discontinuous and often they are actually shared spaces with pedestrians, who don’t always realise that they are on a shared path with cycles. In fairness, it can be quite confusing as a cyclist too. There’s also an issue with cyclists on shared paths going too fast and not having or using a bell. Cyclists riding on the pavement are intimidating and potentially highly dangerous for pedestrians. The biggest concern for cyclists, and people who would like to cycle, of all ages, is the behaviour of some drivers who seem to have no idea how much space they should give cyclists (at least 2 metres when passing, more if the cyclist appears at all unconfident and in windy weather), or who don’t see us (even when we’re lit up like Christmas trees) or – worst of all – are deliberately aggressive to cyclists using the road. It’s worth bearing in mind that cyclists do have a right to use the road, even when there is a designated path, and that advice for safe cycling is that cyclists should stay well away from the kerb . So I welcome the road works on Dewsbury Road. I’m quite sure that proper, safe, segregated cycle paths, with safe crossings, will encourage more people, including children, to cycle for business, school, commuting and pleasure. South Leeds stands to reap the benefits in improved air quality, quieter roads, and enhanced physical and mental health. Sue Talbot
David Miles
The proposed cycling improvements at Skelton Grange bridge would still involve walkers and cyclists having to navigate a bridge with greatly increased flows of lorry traffic. In addition it is doubtful that ramped acess to the bridge would provide access for wheelchair users, mobility scooters and people with disabilities or long-term health conditions. Level access via a dedicated pedestrian/ cycling bridge or a route diversion through Thwaite Mills museum seem to be the only long term solutions to the intractable problems of public access at Skelton Grange Road bridge. Leeds Cycling Campaign is actively campaigning for these changes.
This is great news, providing that the Council keeps them as footpaths. I used them when I was based at St David’s as an alternative route to Old Lane, which took me away from the noise and pollution on Old Lane. Well done councillor’s and people of Beeston. Rev James Turner
Thwaite Mills Going back about 22 years I took my brother-in-law to see Thwaite Mills. Unfortunately it was a Monday, when it wasn’t open to the public. However, there was a gentleman on site tending the machinery, who very kindly showed us round and described the history of the Mill. He even set the water wheels going, and showed us how, with clever linkage and gearing, all the machinery was powered by the water. He also let us into the Manager’s House to watch the fascinating video made by former inhabitants of Dandy Row. We felt so privileged to have our own private tour, and I still treasure that memory. Vivienne Bate
Looking for Brixton Street Re J Docherty’s recent enquiry for the location of Brixton Street and Brixton Place. From information dated 1908 these two streets were located behind what was Beeston Hill Council School which is now Hillside on Beeston Road. To access this area from the school drive up Beeston Road, turn right along Malvern Road then turn right again down St Luke's Road. The area previously occupied by Brixton Street, Brixton Place and Acton Street is on the right and redeveloped. It now displays the street names - St Luke's Green, Maitland Place and Moorville Court. I hope this helps in your search. Dave Howard
Paths behind Asda
Join the debate Comment online; by email: info@southleedslife.com; or post to: 224 Cross Flatts Grove, Leeds, LS11 7BW. Letters may be edited for publication.
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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: @HealthforAllLds HFA Community Transport are proud to support vaccination programmeđ&#x;‘?carrying local elders to Beeston Village surgery & Lingwell Croft. Signs of hope ! đ&#x;Œˆ @LeedsCC_News If you're experiencing grief, the West Yorkshire & Harrogate Grief and Loss Support Service offers practical advice and emotional support every day 8am-8pm, including bank holidays. Call 0808 196 3833 to speak to a trained specialist or go to orlo.uk/203HV @LeedsHospitals Are you due your cervical screening test? In Leeds extra measures are in place so you can be screened as safely as possible. Don’t delay, make your appointment today. Watch the full video at youtu.be/lrQUAG2bNeQ #cancerwiseleeds @CEO_HunsletClub We supported one of our partner schools today with food hampers for some vulnerable families. Many people are still struggling, if you know anyone who needs support give us a call and we’ll get an hamper to them
@The_Tetley In February 1911, The Tetley was responsible for Houdini's only known defeat. Joshua Tetley & Son's challenged Houdini to escape from a tank of Tetley's bitter ale. However, the alcohol overcame teetotal Houdini, who had to be rescued by his assistant. #throwbackthursday
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Comment 17
MP’s notebook by Hilary Benn MP
I
had a very useful catch-up recently with Elissa Newman of Holbeck Together, the voluntary organisation of which I have the honour to be Patron. Despite the lockdown, Elissa and her wonderful team have continued to support their service users with regular phone calls, help with shopping and prescriptions and providing meals, and on Christmas Eve they delivered over 100 surprise Christmas hampers. Holbeck Together is one shining example of the commitment and creativity being shown by lots of voluntary organisations across South Leeds. They too are heroes of this pandemic along with our NHS staff, care workers, council staff, emergency services and other essential workers who continue to do so much on our behalf. And a special thank you to
everyone who is working so hard at the moment to vaccinate the elderly and other priority groups. The Government is facing a big decision about whether to keep the £20 a week increase in Universal Credit (UC) that is currently due to expire at the end of March. I think they should, given the huge pressure on many families’ finances. The House of Commons voted recently in favour of keeping it and although it isn't binding, the pressure on ministers is increasing day by day. According to the latest DWP figures, the total number of people on Universal Credit in Leeds Central is currently 19,818 - an 86% increase since the pandemic began. This means that removing the increase would take around £20m a year out of the pockets of people on the lowest incomes in our community who
really need this help. Talking of which, there is also a big campaign to get the Government finally to offer financial support to those who have so far been excluded from both the furlough and selfemployed income support schemes. It is estimated that there are about 3 million selfemployed workers in all sorts of businesses who have lost out, and I have taken up their cause as many people affected locally have been in touch with me. It's unfair, and it needs to change. Amid the thousands of emails I’ve had from constituents over the last 10 months seeking advice and help, there have been quite a few that have questioned the way the pandemic is being handled. We should all welcome scrutiny, including the Government, and part of my job is to provide it along with other MPs, but there is a difference between that and denial of
what is going on. I’m referring to those who appear to believe that the virus doesn’t exist, that our hospitals are empty, that it’s no worse than the flu or that this is all a great big plot to abolish our rights and bring in a police state. I really don’t understand why some people think this way, but it is noticeable that in the last few weeks I have had fewer such emails. I hope that’s because people can now see with their own eyes the reports from inside hospitals as staff struggle to cope with an evergrowing number of Covid cases as the grim national death toll heads towards 100,000. So where do these ideas come from? The answer is social media and conspiracy theory websites. In a different context, the same is true in the United States of America where a very large number of voters believe that the Presidential election was stolen. It’s worth pointing out that there is absolutely no evidence to support this claim, all of the legal cases alleging fraud have been thrown out by the courts
Hilary Benn is our Member of Parliament. He represents the Leeds Central constituency which covers Hunslet, Middleton, Belle Isle, Beeston, Holbeck, Cottingley in south Leeds as well as the city centre, Hyde Park, Woodhouse, Little London, Lincoln Green, Burmantofts, Richmond Hill and Osmondthorpe Contact: hilary.benn.mp@parliament.uk, www.hilarybennmp.com Constituency office: Unity Business Centre, 26 Roundhay Road, Leeds LS7 1AB; Tel: 0113 244 1097
Rapid Transit for Leeds by Eric Smith
I
was very pleased to read in last month’s South Leeds Life that our MP, Hilary Benn, would like Leeds to have a tram system, and he makes a comparison with other cities that have one. This is an issue which goes back over thirty years to a time when, at long last, trams were being reintroduced in the UK. Plans were already in place for Manchester and Sheffield, and, for Leeds in 1987 West Yorkshire’s ‘Metro’ put forward a scheme for a line from the Town Hall to East Leeds. Leeds City Council scuppered it. Twenty years later the Minister for transport in Westminster turned down a scheme because it failed to be adventurous, allowed a similar scheme in Nottingham, then turned down Leeds’s enlarged scheme and suggested trolleybuses instead. This failed too. Current ideas in Leeds appear to me to be very vague: a tram line here, a trolleybus route there, a tram train eventually, maybe. Hilary Benn suggests that we look at comparable cities in
February 2021 | South Leeds Life
Britain and elsewhere in Europe. An excellent idea. But who should do the looking around? A decade ago, in the era of the trolleybus scheme, a delegation went to visit transport authorities elsewhere. In Karlsruhe, Germany they were shown the city’s tram network and its longestablished tram-trains (railway tracks, tram tracks and two different voltages). They went to Lyon in France, too, to see their trolleybuses and were also shown their ever expanding tram system, reintroduced in 2001. Afterwards I happened, on four separate occasions, to be in contact with people who had taken part. Not one of them seemed to know much about what they had seen except that it was “alright.” So I would suggest that a team of, say, ten people from transport, the Civic Trust and those interested in the environment, sustainability, urban renewal, etc be formed to look around, as Hilary Benn suggests, other comparable cities in Britain and in other European countries. They
should do this privately, without contacting the ‘authorities’ in the places they intend to visit. A real ‘see for yourself.’ In the UK there’s the everexpanding Manchester network, which makes good use of former railway alignments, as well as main roads and tram only locations.
Nottingham would be worth a visit too. Much of the original line (with a short branch) shares a railway alignment, it opened in 2004. In more recent years two very interesting extensions have been opened, south of the Karlsruhe Friendship Bridge, to Beeston and Clifton. Very many towns and cities in Belgium, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Germany and countries to the south and east have never been without
A modern tram serving Beeston ... in Nottingham
Hilary Benn MP and apart from anything else, it is a hurtful attack on the integrity of election officials in all of the states who simply did their job and counted the votes with diligence and commitment. I’ve seen the same dedication and professionalism from the great elections team in Leeds City Council over many years. It got to this point because a big lie was repeated over and over again and it ended up in the storming of the Capitol in
Washington in which five people died. How can a democracy function if we can’t agree on who won, and how can we function as a society if we cannot even agree on a common set of facts? Of course, let us to continue to debate, discuss, argue and disagree – all of these are the very lifeblood of a healthy democracy - but where we see big lies and false facts, I think we have a responsibility to call them out for what they are.
tramways and rapid transit links since the nineteenth century. In Belgium there’s Antwerp. Some lines have underground sections and new extensions have been made in recent years. In Germany Stuttgart, a very hilly city, is certainly worth a visit. Many city centre tracks went underground during the 1970s, but there are new extensions on the surface. There’s a network of local
railways, very similar to Leeds, except that they join to serve the city centre with underground stations. In France, however, the situation was much like that in the UK. Here, after 1962, only Blackpool still had trams. In France, after 1966, short lines remained in three locations only. Then in 1974, the French government, aware of the important role trams were playing in Germany and Belgium, advised cities to reintroduce them. Since 1985 trams have appeared throughout the country and now operate in 24 towns and cities. Great care has been taken. At the same time cities have been beautified and suburbs enhanced. I suggest that our Leeds group could visit Strasbourg and Bordeaux. In both cities much improved environments have been created along with the development of the tram routes. Trams have been a success, and are very popular, often immediately after the first route opens as these overheard comments attest: “Nanna, I love the trams” (little girl in Nottingham, 2004) “Maman, j’adore le tramway” (little boy in Bordeaux 2007). So what is the next step? “Leeds leads” they used to say.
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Councillors’ briefing W
e’d like to pay tribute to the Council’s bin crews. They faced the double hit of black ice (caused by freezing rain) which prevented many collections, quickly followed by snow and more ice – causing a second major backlog. In tandem with other Council teams, such as street cleaning, almost all the missed streets were recovered once the weather improved. It’s a hard, physical job at the best of times - made even more demanding by the weather.
to follow the rules. And if you’re offered a vaccine, please take it. The more of us who do, the more lives we will save and the sooner we can return to something like normality. Beeston and Holbeck Ward Update: The latest lockdown was unforeseen and started at the beginning of January. We would like to say a massive thanks to all key workers who continue to keep the city and our health services running. We would also like to pay tribute to the volunteers and third sector
improved as the council looks to ‘adopt’ them, formal notice was issued in January with four weeks for comments. • Further works on Cottingley Shops roof are being considered and we’re hoping that we can provide more details next time! Hunslet and Riverside Ward Update: Despite Government cuts to the Council`s budget, we have been able to retain £150,000 of the original £250,000 fund allocated for the creation of a Hunslet Town
Volunteers working with Slung Low in Holbeck to deliver food boxes to those who need them We also send our heartfelt thanks to the Highways teams who battled the snow to keep most primary and many secondary roads open, as well as access to doctors’ surgeries, hospitals, schools and Covid-19 testing sites. The gritting teams drove thousands of miles, almost round the clock for several days. Finally, we know the latest Lockdown is hurting people and businesses, but it is essential to save as many lives as possible until our most vulnerable citizens are vaccinated against this terrible disease. The months ahead will be challenging. We ask everyone
organisations around our ward who are doing such a great job delivering food parcels to those who need them, befriending the lonely and generally being fantastic! Particular thanks to: • Holbeck Together • Slung Low • MHA (formerly South Leeds Live at Home) • Holbeck Food bank While some things are put on hold due to lockdown, a number of things are ongoing, we’re excited that the work to improve the road signs in Holbeck has started! Other key updates are: • Paths behind Asda on Old Lane are a step closer to being
Square on the land between the Penny Hill Centre and Hunslet Hub and Library. The plans will be phased so we can use the reduced money to do initial upgrades, and then do more when more funds become available. Work to address the increase in fly-tipping on Beeston Hill and in Hunslet continues. Thank you to the residents who have been helping our enforcement teams identify who is dumping this waste so that we can take action with prosecution. The Government has responded to our Council motion asking for more support for leaseholders, mainly in the
City Centre, hit by the cladding scandal, but it has offered no new financial help. We will continue to lobby for proper support for our innocent victims. We are also starting to work with partners to look at new benches, litter-bins, cycle hoops and art along the towpath between Leeds Dock to Thwaite Mill. Formal plans for this will be presented to us next month for consideration. Middleton Park Ward Update: Councillors have worked with the police, Antisocial Behaviour Team, youth services and First Bus to tackle youths involved in antisocial behaviour. Over a dozen young people and their families have received legal orders and warnings. A “Trojan Bus” (a normal bus carrying police officers) has been deployed several times and has apprehended offenders. The lengthy legal action against the Council’s decision to grant planning permission for a retail park on the former Benyon House site (next to Asda) has now gone through the High Court and Court of Appeal. The courts found in favour of the Council.
Thanks to the bin crews who caught up with collections after the snow A planning application has been submitted to build 176 council houses on Middleton Park Avenue. This will provide urgently needed council housing, including 60 extra care units for older people, and accommodation for people with disabilities. Councillors have carried out public consultation about improving the green area between Sharp Lane and
Towcester Avenue. There will be a further consultation in February to feedback the results, and to plan the way forward. Following public consultation, plans for a bus hub at Middleton Park Circus have been significantly amended. The project will now improve existing bus stops and shelters, and provide real-time information.
Your Leeds City Councillors Beeston & Holbeck ward Includes Beeston from Cross Flatts Park to the Ring Road, Cottingley and Holbeck. The three councillors are:
Gohar Almass 07445 878 333 gohar.almass@leeds.gov.uk Angela Gabriel 07946 632 468 angela.gabriel@leeds.gov.uk Andrew Scopes 07860 400 645 andrew.scopes@leeds.gov.uk
Hunslet & Riverside ward Includes the city centre, Beeston Hill and Hunslet. The three councillors are:
Mohammed Iqbal 0113 226 8796 mohammed.iqbal@leeds.gov.uk Elizabeth Nash 0113 275 8594 elizabeth.nash@leeds.gov.uk Paul Wray 07528 512 649 paul.wray@leeds.gov.uk
Middleton Park ward Includes Belle Isle and Middleton. The three councillors are: Judith Blake Kim Groves Paul Truswell
0113 378 9000 judith.blake@leeds.gov.uk 07891 741 832 kim.groves@leeds.gov.uk 0113 378 8811 paul.truswell@leeds.gov.uk
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Historical Life 19
Jabez Tunnicliff and The Band of Hope by Ken Burton
L
ast month we learned about the film pioneer Louis Le Prince, but another famous man lived at the house by Leeds Bridge. Jabez Tunnicliff was born on 7 February 1809, his father John Tunnicliff had a family of 22 children and was by trade a boot and shoe maker in Wolverhampton. However, only Jabez and his older brother William along with six of their sisters survived into adulthood and he had scanty schooling. At the age of 13 he was apprenticed to learn the trade of Japanning but he used this skill to support himself as a painter and decorator in some pastoral situations. While he was still serving his apprenticeship he secretly married Mary Ann, a young lady in the church that he attended. Theirs was a good marriage, but their youth made it financially very difficult, and this also hindered his church work, although he did become a Sunday School teacher, and in the neighbouring villages he spent more time preaching the word of the Lord than attending to his trade of japanning. He became a village preacher before he was 19 and was somewhat popular through his youth for his ready and lively utterances. He commenced his first regular ministrations at the Baptist Chapel at Shifnal in the County of Salop (now Shropshire), on 22 November 1829. He soon had a good Sunday School going and earned a name as a zealous preacher of the Gospel. However, he began to question the Calvinistic teachings, and left in November 1833. In December 1833 he and about 30 others began meeting and
also preaching at branch churches at Bedworth and Stowe until 1842. Jabez resigned his Pastorate with a view to going to working in America but instead he found himself employed by the General Baptist Home Mission Society to establish an interest in connection with that denomination in Leeds. In 1843 he was firstly at the Stone Chapel before moving to Byron Street Chapel and it was at his Ministry here that he adopted teetotalism, he then became an earnest and very successful advocate of the Temperance Cause. On 6 January 1845, aged 35, he was appointed Registrar of the Burmantofts Cemetery for the Unconsecrated section. He was described as a kindly bespectacled man with a Midland accent who carried the first burial in the Unconsecrated part of the cemetery on the day it opened. It is said that Tunnicliff took up the Temperance Cause because in Leeds he came in contact with a young man who had been a Sunday School teacher, but had taken to drink on Sabbath outings and had brought himself, his wife, and children to ruin. The adherents of Temperance tried to persuade others to sign the Pledge of Commitment, never to touch strong drink, Jabez Tunnicliff believed in catching them young. In the house by Leeds Bridge on that August morning in 1847 the idea of a Temperance Organisation for children was put forward with the title ‘The Band Of Hope.’ In this he was ably assisted by Ann Jane Carlile - an Irish Temperance Pioneer and Philanthropist and one of the first women in Britain and
Two plaques on the wall of the house on Leeds Bridge formed the Cradley Heath Baptist Church but while fundraising for the new building at Cradley Heath he was offered a new post. In 1835 Tunnicliff was asked to become the Minister of the Longford Baptist Church this village was situated between Coventry and Bedworth in Warwickshire, he had a successful ministry here, and
February 2021 | South Leeds Life
Ireland to become involved in the Temperance Movement, but that as they say is another story. At the first meeting in November 1847 at the schoolroom of South Parade Baptist Church, Headingley, 200 children signed a simple promise to abstain from all intoxicating liquors: by the end of the year 1,000 had joined
the movement. Tunnicliff, a kind, sympathetic and cheerful man, convincing and charismatic in his preaching to adults, understood how to win the hearts of children. A quote
Sunday 18 June at Burmantofts Cemetery and an estimated 15,000 people attended there. The Leeds Express for the 25 June 1865 reports that about 1,100 Temperance supporters walked through the town following the coffin. His grave stone can still be seen here. There is no doubt that to some drink was a prosperous source of income, but in Tunnicliff's time it was a major social evil. "Drink has done it
Jabez Tunnicliff attributed to him is as follows: "Children are lost among great people … We bring them together, and make then see that they are the sum total of this society. It is their society. They speak, sing, clap their hands, and form the band, and great folks have nothing to do with it, except aid them." With his musical talent the minister enjoyed writing simple songs to catchy melodies: "They soon learn the words, and go singing in companies in the schools, their houses, and in the streets. Thousands who never will listen to our speeches, hear our sentiments in the dongs of our children, and are struck, convinced, and converted to our principles". Sometimes the children brought their parents to Tunnicliff in the hope that they could be convinced to change their ways. In 1855 his Band of Hope became a national organisation called the United Kingdom Band Of Hope, this was formed to help local Temperance groups. Jabez Tunnicliff was also one of the twenty-one Ministers who have served at the Hunslet Baptist Chapel (Tabernacle) in Low Road, Hunslet, along with Claude Wooster the joint founder of the Hunslet Boys Club. Unfortunately for the Cause, at 2:45pm on Thursday 15 June 1865 Jabez Tunnicliff died. His funeral took place on
all", the Town Missionaries were able to demonstrate unemployment, broken relationships, sickness, and death. In 1874 a meeting of the 'women of Leeds, of all classes and denominations' was held in the presence of the Lady Mayoress to organise a petition to the magistrates pleading for a reduction in the number of licensed premises in Leeds. At this time there were 1,067 such premises and a watch was kept on one of them during a Saturday from 7:30am until 11pm. It revealed that a total of 1,031 men, 947 women, and 237 children entered the doors according to the Leeds Mercury of the 9 July 1874. Fifty years later the Band of Hope numbered 3.5 million children and adults, Queen Victoria was its Jubilee Patron and it was part of Victorian Society and the Church. The organisation Tunnicliff started still lives on, but in 1995 it changed its name from UK Band of Hope to Hope UK inheriting 150 years of the tradition of putting children and young people first and encouraging them to "live life to the full". Hope UK is seeking to be at the cutting edge of alcohol and drug education, and harm prevention while developing new opportunities for young people.
Mill’s milestone exhibition is a breath of fresh Aire F
or centuries it helped swell the surging waters of British industry by harnessing the power of the River Aire. From making oil that powered some of the world’s first locomotives to manufacturing putty that repaired London after The Blitz, Thwaite Watermill played an important part in Leeds becoming a powerhouse of production. Today an online exhibition is taking a look back through hundreds of years of the site’s enthralling story as one of the country’s last remaining water mills marks 30 years as a museum. Through a series of historic images and archive information, the Thwaite at 30 exhibition charts the story of the museum through the ages, looking at its evolution from a bustling industrial hub into modern day haven for wildlife and a popular wedding venue. Built on an ideally-situated natural bend in the River Aire, Thwaite began life as fulling mill in 1641, where textiles were pounded in a mixture of human urine and Fuller’s earth to clean and mat them. More than 180 years later, the original mill buildings were demolished and rebuilt at a cost of £15,678, the equivalent of almost £1.9 million today and a new mill, workshop, stables and workers’ cottages known as Dandy Row were constructed. Over the next century-and-ahalf, the mill passed through a number of different owners, churning out huge quantities of lighting and lubricating oils, textile dyes made from imported wood and chalk used in pharmaceuticals. But it was the production of
putty, shipped to London to repair windows shattered by air raids during The Blitz, where Thwaite really came into its own, and by 1950, the mill was producing 800 tonnes each year. When the mill finally closed in 1976, a society of enthusiastic volunteers was formed to ensure it was saved from disrepair and, in 1990, it opened its doors to the public as a museum. Today the site features an eco-friendly nature trail as well as hosting weddings and events and is also home to Milly, its resident feline and chief mouser, who has proved a huge hit with visitors. Chloe Fowler, visitor assistant at Thwaite, said: “Thwaite has been part of the story of Leeds for centuries, undergoing many changes over the years as it adapted to suit the demands of British industry and the skills of the families who owned it, before being transformed into a visitor attraction. “Today, we’re very proud to be celebrating 30 years a museum and to be giving our online visitors a chance to look back at how the mill has evolved. “We hope the exhibition brings back memories and also shines a light on some of the lesser-known chapters in the mill’s fascinating history.” The Thwaite at 30 exhibition can be viewed online now at: museumsandgalleries.leeds. gov.uk/virtual-visit/thawite-at30-online-exhibition/ In line with government restrictions to prevent the spread of Covid-19, Leeds Museums and Galleries sites are currently closed to the public.
William Horn in the Mill Pond - Thwaite Mills Society Archive
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South Leeds Life | February 2021
20 South Leeds Lives
How to love yourself by Shannon Humphrey
I
don’t know about you, but to me it feels like no sooner is Christmas behind us than the shops become a sea of red and pink in anticipation of Valentine's Day. Long before 14 February arrives the shelves are heaving under the weight of anything and everything heart shaped. Boxes of chocolates, balloons, huge bouquets of flowers, jewelry, cuddly toys and soppy cards. Social media is a seemingly endless love fest, meals for two, marriage proposals, happy couple selfies and public displays of affection and appreciation, all to remind that special person in your life how thankful you are to have them around and just how much they mean to you. Yet as wonderful and romantic as Valentines Day can be, it’s the little moments that we share each day that matter more than the Instagram worthy grand gestures that might only happen once a year. Expressing love, appreciation and kindness for the ones we care about regularly is important, whether that’s romantically, or in friendship, with family members or even our pets. It brings us closer together and strengthens our relationships. We accept that giving and receiving love and appreciation can make us feel
all warm and fuzzy inside, but how often do we show that same love, kindness and thanks to ourselves? I accept that the idea of embracing self-love can be a struggle, for many people exploring emotions and feelings doesn’t come easily or naturally. Lots of people love to love others, and happily share their love and kindness with them, but can’t accept it for themselves. It’s the idea that self-love is selfish, that they don’t deserve to be loved or that they aren’t good enough to receive it. Some people think that selflove is telling ourselves that we are perfect or that we think we are better than someone else. It isn’t. It’s accepting who we are, faults and all, embracing the things that we do like and working on the bits we’d like to improve. But doing it in a way that’s kind and compassionate, it’s about being as nice to yourself as you would be to someone you love and care about. That means not putting yourself down with unkind words or hurting yourself physically or emotionally in the process. The way we treat ourselves becomes an indicator of how we expect other people to treat us. When you're constantly negative about yourself and being critical of everything you
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do, other people will think that’s OK for them to act that way towards you too. It isn’t. When you treat yourself with kindness, self respect, compassion and love, that tells people that’s the kind of person you are and that’s how you’d like to be treated by
them. As your understanding of self-love develops, so will your self-esteem, you’ll start feeling better about yourself, your opinions, and your abilities to accomplish the things you want in life. You will have more trust in yourself to make good, healthy decisions about your circumstances without having to seek approval or permission from anyone else.
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Your resilience, mental wellbeing and self-esteem will improve. Your positive relationships will strengthen, and the relationships that don’t bring out the best in you will subside because you’ve discovered what makes you happy and what doesn’t. The truth is that you do deserve to be loved, respected and appreciated. Not just on Valentines Day, but everysingle-day. When the love you feel for yourself grows, you'll have more of that loving energy to share with the people around you. And when you realise that, it doesn’t matter if you receive a card or not. Here are some of my favourite self-love suggestions 1. Don’t compare yourself to anyone else. You are a unique one of a kind person, there is nobody else like you, the only person you should compare you to is you. 2. Find one thing a day that you like about you, are you kind, funny, caring? 3. Celebrate your success, it’s OK to be proud of yourself. 4. Sometimes self-love is about doing something you might not want to do but you know that you’ll feel better if you do, exercise, eating
healthier, cleaning up. 5. Learn to be kinder to yourself, if you make a mistake don’t be so hard on yourselfwhat would you say to a friend? Be a better friend to yourself. 6. Make friends with people who encourage you to be your best self, friends who support and care about you. Leave friendships and relationships behind that don’t make you feel good. 7. Get plenty of sleep, everything feels better when you are refreshed and clear minded. 8. Don’t believe everything you think about yourself, we all have a voice that tries to put us down sometimes, you aren’t alone. 9. Step outside of your comfort zone and try something new. It’s incredible how good we feel when we realise we have achieved something we didn’t know or think we could do before. 10. Accept compliments graciously- accept that people see something good in you Shannon Humphrey is First Aid for Mental Health Instructor EFT & CBT practitioner for more information about the work she does visit www. pathwaysforpositivity.com
Art scores a century by Steve Peacock
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ast month Arthur (Art) Earnshaw, an old ‘Beestonian’, celebrated his 100th birthday. A lifelong supporter of Leeds United, he was proud and delighted to receive a birthday ‘card’ from the club, signed by Marcelo Bielsa and with team autographs too. His daughter Janis chatted to him about his life: Art was born in Meanwood on 7 January 1921 along with his twin sister Minnie. They were the youngest of seven children of parents William (from Hull) and Ann (nee Potts from Holbeck). Art went to Bentley Lane School in Meanwood and left at 14 years old. Even then he was a lover of sport and played rugby and cricket and this continued throughout his life. In the 1930s the family moved to Cross Flatts Avenue in Beeston. In 1939 Art met Joan Nash on a bus trip to Blackpool; Joan lived in Camberley Street, off Dewsbury Road. Two years later they were married and lived in a back-toback house in Leyburn Terrace, Beeston Hill. Art had several jobs throughout his 50 year working life, but hardly ever had a day off. On leaving school he swept floors for a tailor on the
Headrow (A. J. Spencer). He then joined Kershaws in Harehills as an apprentice engineer training to be a capstan setter. On completion of the apprenticeship he was paid the princely sum of £2 per week. He later worked at Yorkshire Copper Works in Stourton and Barnbow in Crossgates. Finally, he was a foreman at Waddington and Walker, an engineering company, but when he was 64 the firm went bankrupt so Art decided to call it a day and retired. During World War II Art was not initially conscripted because he was working as an engineer and was needed for
Art and Dorothy Earnshaw
the war effort at home. However, eventually he was called up and applied to be a rear-gunner in the air-force. Fortunately, for him, he failed his medical due to hearing problems – the posting had one of the highest fatality rates of the war! Instead, he ended up in the Home Guard patrolling the centre of Leeds during the blackouts. After their marriage, Art and Joan soon managed to scrape together enough money to pay for the deposit on a three bedroom semi-detached house on Robb Street in Beeston, the ”posh” side of Cross Flatts Park as he recalled, where he lived for the rest of his life until the
2000s. They had two daughters, Susan, the eldest, and Janis, who I know from our schooldays together at Cockburn High School in the early 1960s. Tragically, Joan died suddenly in 1976 aged 55 years. Some time later, in 1978, Art remarried his friend Dorothy Johnston, who had lost her husband, Leonard, a couple of years before Joan died. The four of them had been the best of friends in the past. The marriage lasted for another 34 years when Dorothy died at the age of 95. Art now lives in a care home in Denby Dale, not far from his daughter Janis. He has five grandchildren and two great grandchildren and is very proud of all his family. He still follows Leeds United.
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South Leeds Lives 21
Stephen ‘Rocky’ Whitehead by Richard Weaver
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adly, on Sunday the 27 December we lost a wonderful and charming man in Stephen ‘Rocky’ Whitehead. Rocky will be remembered by many for his enthusiasm and sheer love of life, never more apparent than in his 12 years at Health for All as an Active Clubs Experience (ACE) Coach conducting lunchtime and afterschool sports clubs in local schools. Rocky was a plasterer for the majority of his life before achieving legendary status as a rugby coach at his beloved Oulton Raiders. So, when I bumped into Rocky at the dentist just after he had given up plastering, I knew he would be ideal motivating kids in schools. It was the perfect job for Rocky who despite being one of the older ACE Leaders, aged 61 when he joined, brought energy and youthfulness to the Active Club sessions. He was truly young at heart. Rocky loved his job. He always said how lucky he was to be able to work with youngsters and hopefully change their lives, imparting his enthusiasm for sports and activity. In truth though, ACE was lucky to have him. He took to the position like a duck to water from day one, handling it with a blend of
February 2021 | South Leeds Life
professionalism and eagerness that rubbed off on every staff member he worked alongside and every child fortunate to work with him. Rocky had a big impact on the elderly he worked with as part of ACE, running a variety of Elderly Aid and disability sessions, his signature smile bringing happiness to the elderly, the young, his colleagues, friends and family. At Oulton Rugby League club, he led the way in encouraging children to adopt and enjoy taking part in sports as seen by his famous Rocky’s Giants, where youngsters got their first taste of rugby in a fun and enjoyable way. Many rugby league stars began their journey with Rocky. Two of the ACE staff CJ Sutcliffe and Cameron Pattison started at Rocky’s Giants, training even on the muddiest and coldest of nights. He lit up every staff night out at Health for All with his signature karaoke and never failed to convince someone to join him on the stage. And who could forget his famous Elvis impersonation? Rocky was recognised for his impact upon sport with the Unsung Hero Award at the BBC Sports Personality of the Year Awards in 2012 a year that also saw him given the chance to carry the Olympic Torch in
Sarbjit Rayat by Toshal Bhatia
Leeds. The character of this pioneer coach who inspired the youngest generations with the joy of sport was summed up by the volume and nature of messages Health for All received after his passing. One school said, “He was a lovely man, a true gentleman with a heart of gold. We will always have happy memories of the time he spent with us.” Another applauded his fantastic character and how adored he was by those he worked with: “What an amazing man. The children always loved him so much, even the staff loved his visits!” On the 27 December 2020 at Leeds General Infirmary, Rocky passed away at the age of 73 after testing positive for Covid-19, having been admitted to hospital several weeks prior, suffering from a heart attack. He led a full life in which he impacted the lives of everyone he came across in a kind and caring way. The term legend gets thrown about a lot in sport but no one better sums up the word than Rocky; a legend of sport, a legend of community and a legend of a man. Our hearts go out to those he leaves behind: his wife, two children and three grandchildren. He will be sorely missed.
Inspirational: Stephen ‘Rocky’ Whitehead
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ur dear colleague Sarbjit Rayat sadly passed away on Christmas Day night peacefully in her sleep, Sarb was a wonderful and longstanding member of staff known as ‘Sarb’ to all of us. Sarb worked for the Health for All Healthy Communities team as a community health development worker on the Better Together programme. She had worked for the charity for thirteen years establishing and supporting weekly support groups for local people, primarily minority ethnic frail older people but also people new to the country, families with young children and local women’s groups. Just a week before Christmas Sarb had been busy packing and delivering parcels of gifts for the group members. Prior to working for HFA, Sarb was the Administrator for ‘Amrit’ older people’s neighbourhood scheme based at Lady Pit Lane Gurdwara for four years. She was totally committed to her job and the people she served. Her warm smile and gentle manner successfully engaging people in enjoyable, supportive groups and activities. “Sarb was passionate about working with Sikh & Hindu elders. Everyone in the team loved her. She will always be remembered for her friendly, welcoming personality” says Vikrant Bhatia, her manager at Amrit. She was also loved by all her previous and current colleagues at Health for All. Close colleague Thahmina Begum says: “My beautiful friend and colleague Sarb was a truly a genuine, generous, kind person with an infectious smile! She epitomised true Community Development and always gave her time to talk to everyone she met in the community, she will be dearly missed.” Sarb leaves a loving family including her husband, teacher Jinder Rayat and four beautiful
AD Brown David Bushell Ed Carlisle SJ Carlisle Claire Carter Barbara Cavell Rebecca Chambers Alex Coleman Rachel Darton Bruce & Debs Davies Mark Day Clara de Diane
Much Loved: Sarbjit Rayat children – Gagandeep, Sandeep, Simarpreet and Simran (one at university, two working, one doing her MPhil). Sarb was a dedicated mother first and foremost, treasuring her children and so proud of what they have achieved! Remembering her with great affection, we will plant in her memory her favourite rose bush in the grounds of Beeston Village Community Centre where she was based. Sarb was well known in the local Community for her volunteering and dedication to others. She volunteered at the Punjabi school in Moortown, offering her time through ‘Seva’ to Sikh temples in Chapeltown and Beeston. She organised several summer camps at Chapeltown Gurudwara, helping children to participate in fun filled activities. She was a talented harmonium player from her childhood and a beautiful singer too, skills she has passed on to her lovely children. We remember Sarb as a dedicated and passionate member of our team. She always wanted the best for her
Audrey Dickinson C Fletcher Angela Gabriel Al Garthwaite Phil Goodfield Julie Harrison Linda Holliday David Howard Becky Howcroft Pat Jackson Frances Jones Sally Kincaid
groups, however challenging, from setting up a virtual exercise group or helping mums with free school meals or benefits. She was competitive in a fun way, striving to win, whether a sports challenge, staff Christmas quiz or a 5k funding raising run for Cancer Research. She was enthusiastic in taking part, trying new opportunities and never letting others down. HFA group members remember Sarb as loving, caring, joyful, sharing , smiling, helping and always there for anyone who needed help. She would go out of her way to help, one young mum recalling how touched she was by support from Sarb to help her overcome emotional difficulties she had struggled with from childhood. Close friend and colleague Bally says: “Sarb always had time for everyone, we loved our Chai & chats! I remember her calm and sensitive nature, she was passionate and worked hard to help older people, on trips, at Bollywood films, Christmas & Diwali. I will miss the time we spent together. Sarb you will be in our hearts always!”
Katrine Madsen Alys Marsh Dee Marshall Hazel Millichamp Adam Ogilvie Mark Parry Lindsey & Alan Pearson Terry Pratt Andrew Price Derek Ramsey Ruth Saxton
Andrew Scopes Alan Shaw Bob Shaw Mary Spencer Linda Stanley Sue Talbot Steve Thompson Eve Tidswell Rebecca Townesend Lauran Warren Andrew Wilson Paul Wray
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South Leeds Life | February 2021
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22 What’s On IN BRIEF Hunslet Tenants & Residents Assoc This month’s meeting of Hunslet TARA will take place online on Wednesday 3 February at 6:30pm. The guest speaker will be from Cleaner Neighbourhoods, Leeds and our main subject will be fly-tipping, so if you have any comments on fly-tipping from fellow tenants and residents, it would be a good idea to bring them along, also present will be a waste recycling advisor from Leeds City Council as well as our usual updates from the Councillors, the police and the housing. Full details of how to login to the meeting are on the group’s Facebook page.
Leeds in your lunch hour Leeds Civic Trust present their 14th year of free lunchtime lectures on the history of Leeds. These talks offer viewers the chance to be transported back to a fascinating era in the city’s past. This year’s illustrated lectures cover the white heat of the industrial revolution in our city, the city’s retail heritage through a look at markets and market halls, the grandest street in Victorian Leeds and a look at the Edwardian period where design, transport and housing came to the fore. The first lecture, on Wednesday 3 February at 1pm will be of particular interest to those of us in South Leeds. ‘Invention, Acumen and Espionage’: The Industrial Revolution in Leeds, 1780-1845 focuses on three factories: Benjamin Gott’s Park Mills; Matthew Murray’s Round Foundry and John Marshall’s Temple Mill. The online lectures are free, but you need to register via: leedscivictrust.org.uk/events
Community Hubs are open Dewsbury Road and Hunslet Community Hubs are open despite the Teir 3 restrictions. Public Access computers are available for general and Jobshop use. Pre-booking is essential, in person at the Hub, or by calling (0113) 378 5005. There will be light-touch support only for thiose using Jobshop computers. You can browse the library for up to 30 minutes, return and issue bokks using seld service and pick up reserved books. The Jobshop is available face to face, or by phone. Email your name and phone number to jobshops@leeds.gov.uk Customer Services Officers are available for the following enquiries: • Booking telephone appointments • Booking PC slots using Netloan for self service PCs • collecting LWSS vouchers • requesting Trussell Trust e-vouchers • Raising emergency repairs for Housing Leeds tenants • Arranging temporary parking permits • Receiving drop off documents • Hand in keys for tenancy terminations All other enquiries are dealt with via a booked appointment or over the phone. Dewsbury Road and Hunslet Community Hubs are currently open 10am-4pm Monday to Friday. Dewsbury Road is also open on Saturdays 10am1pm.
Planning Applications If you want to know what’s planned for your corner of South Leeds, make sure you read our round up of all the new planning applications in LS10 and LS11. We publish the list, with links to the Leeds City Council website so that you can find full details and comment on applications, every Sunday on our website at: southleedslife.com
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2021 Leeds Apprenticeship Festival O
ver 75 employers will be out in force at next month’s Leeds Apprenticeship Festival, which for the first time will be held virtually due to the continued challenges of coronavirus. Held during National Apprenticeship Week over five days from 8-12 February, a range of diverse and exciting apprenticeship employers and training providers will be showcased across a variety of sectors including, financial services, civil engineering, manufacturing, construction, leisure, beauty, hospitality and animal care. Amongst those employers set to feature will be Balfour Beatty, Leeds Manufacturing Festival and Network Rail’s Transpennine Route Upgrade , HSBC UK, West Yorkshire Police, Channel 4, KPMG and each of the three parts of the British Armed Forces; British Army, Royal Airforce and Royal Navy. The event will include a mixture of pre-recorded video presentations
from employers, and training providers and bookable live sessions where visitors will be able to interact with employers to find out more about their apprenticeship opportunities and ask lots of questions. Individual appointments for visitors to receive information, advice and guidance will also be available to book onto. Anyone wishing to find out more regarding any employer at the festival can also visit their own virtual exhibitor stand and if they wish, contact them directly with any questions they may have. The Leeds Apprenticeship Festival is an opportunity not to be missed for young people, parents and carers, upskillers and career changers that are interested in finding out about a range of apprenticeship opportunities. For more information regarding the 2021 Leeds Apprenticeship Festival and how to pre-book live sessions, please visit the website:
Kidz Klub aim for pancake world record
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idz Klub Leeds have set themselves the challenge of beating the world record for the most people tossing pancakes online. If you love pancakes, and who doesn’t? then this virtual challenge is for you! They are aiming to beat a Guinness World Record on Pancake Day for the most people cooking online at the same time! To be a part of the record breaker and raise money for children, book your ticket at: www.kidzklubleeds.org.uk/
South Leeds Laughs
Event/recordbreaker-pancake Tickets cost £5. All you need is... • Zoom (please download before the event) • a phone or a computer • good wifi • pancake ingredients You'll receive a guide pack containing all the information you need when you sign up. Please note in line with the rules, only one person can be on a video at a time. It all takes place on Pancake Day: Shrove Tuesday, 16 February at 7:30pm.
leedsapprenticeshipfestival.co.uk Councillor Jonathan Pryor, Leeds City Council’s executive member for learning, skills and employment said: “Despite the continued challenges of coronavirus, we have worked incredibly hard to ensure that a variety of apprenticeship information and opportunities will be available from over 75 fantastic employers as part of this year’s virtual Leeds Apprenticeship Festival.
“In this extremely difficult climate, we remain committed as a council and with partners to ensuring there continue to be meaningful apprenticeship opportunities for young people in our city and the wider region. “The Leeds Apprenticeship Festival is enormously popular and we’ve put together a programme of events, presentations and live sessions that will offer something for everyone.”
February activities with Your Space Y
our Space is a project which aims to support communities to support themselves and each other. We are very much led by its members – their ideas, their needs and (key to the success) their strengths. The project is a partnership between Touchstone, Womens Health Matters and Holbeck Together. The following groups are running, online, in February: • Food + Culture Mondays 10.45am-12.00noon • Learning at Home – Parents Peer Support Mondays 6-7pm • Discos Tuesdays Tuesdays 6-7pm • The Puzzle Room Wednesday 56.30pm • Winter Bakes ‘n’ Brews Thursdays 5-6.30pm • Elevate (Young Women’s Group) Thursdays 5-6.30pm Plus these training sessions: • Wellbeing in a world with COVID19 webinar Wednesdays 1pm • Wellbeing for Job Seekers – access in your own time 24/7 • Wellbeing for new parents webinar 4th @ 10am or 11am • Eating + Wellbeing webinar 4th @ 11am • Wellbeing for new parents
webinar 11th @ 10am or 11am • Talking about mental health and wellbeing webinar 11th @ 11am • Eating + Wellbeing webinar 18th @ 11am • Wellbeing for new parents webinar 24th @ 2pm or 3pm • Talking about mental health and wellbeing webinar 25th @ 11am To book onto any of these sessions or to find out more information contact (0113) 426 1141 or email yourspace@touchstonesupport.org.uk
Life is hard enough, so we want to feature a joke (maybe more than one) in the paper each month. If you've got a great joke you want to share (max 200 words), email it to us at info@southleedslife.com by the 15th of each month, with your name and address, and the best one each month will win a £5 prize. Here’s our starter for ten: Elton John has a home gym just for his pet rabbit. It's a Little Fit Bunny.
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February 2021 | South Leeds Life
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Artistic Life 23
Underpasses become a street gallery
New mural lights up the riverside I
Street art: the underpasses at Tunstall Road roundabout in Hunslet
by Hazel Millichamp
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ack Ellis, as an adult, is the co-founder of Leeds Street Gallery which feels not too far away from the teenage Jack who enjoyed scrawling on walls and forcing his version of art onto the public and often on private property. As he got older he explains, he realised that whilst street art is legitimate art and has a working class heritage of artistic youngsters with nowhere to go or express themselves, he had also gained respect for other peoples’ property. As an adult he has followed street art avidly and arranged holidays that allow him to view the best of it around the world. Jack has been furloughed from March and has been inspired by The Bankside Gallery in Hull, co-founded by Ollie and Kane Marshall:
Leeds the scene for Wilko Wilkes’ latest banger!
“Basically, me and Kain are part of Spray Creative and we’re also graffiti artists in Hull, so when Banksy came and painted it turned Hull upside down. Suddenly, everyone wanted to know more about the graffiti scene and we became the go-to guys to ask these questions. “All of a sudden, everyone became graffiti mad in Hull so we thought, well, let’s see. Nobody could deny the level of interest, the footfall, the hype and the media interest. “News crews got in touch, David Harrison – a BBC journalist in Hull – did a radio interview with us about whether the Banksy piece was changing attitudes in the city. Me and Kain [of Spray Creative] realised that to keep people in the area around the Banksy piece, there needed to be more there. It was a forgotten industrial area, we needed to
give some walls back to Hull’s graffiti scene. “2017 in Hull was all about drumming up interest and getting everyone on board, now we’ve found ourselves delivering a legacy project, almost by chance. In a way, Bankside Gallery is something that we can give back to the UK City of Culture.” The work of Ollie and Kane has attracted many visitors to a once derelict and industrial part of Hull. Jack approached private property owners first with his Leeds Street Gallery idea and ended up brightening up 3 or 4 sites around private homes in Woodhouse that had previously struggled with nuisance tagging and graffiti. His project helped save the property owners money in cleaning fees and gave street artists a place to be creative. Artists are able to upskill their
work as they have the luxury of time to work on their art without having to worry about being accosted for doing it. Jack approached Leeds City Council who have assigned several areas as Legal Street Art Zones. Jack and his team have most recently transformed the Tunstall Road Underpass and Richmond Bridge undercroft. Once Jack and his artist crew have started off and enlivened an area, they are happy for other street artists to use it. He only asks that new contributors are respectful when covering over a previous artist’s work (by not leaving half an original piece revealed, for example), not to put up anything derogatory and to make sure they leave the area clean and tidy. Apart from that Jack is more than happy to promote all types of art, typography and graffiti.
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centre and Woodhouse Lane car park, as well as local dialogue peppered throughout, this track has a strong local feel and is a great example of some of the fantastic creative talent we have up north. Wilkes is flexing his creative muscles here and has produced a very complete piece that will shock and delight. We won’t ruin the ending for you though – you’ll have to listen below to find out what happens! There is no swearing in the track but be warned, it’s not for the faint hearted! It’s availablke to stream now.
ocal rapper Wilko Wilkes keeps churning out creativity and is back with the sixth instalment of his collection with a thriller set in Leeds City Centre! Stalked by a Stranger is a story told from the first-person in which Wilkes goes to Leeds City centre to buy some clothes ahead of a big evening with his friends. All seems well until he realises he is being followed by a mystery man. A chase ensues and from there it’s frantic twists and turns until the saga comes to a shocking end. With mentions for local landmarks like Trinity shopping
n Good Company, a Wunderkind Group initiative, has unveiled a new 88ft-high mural designed by internationally renowned graphic artist Anthony Burrill in Leeds city centre. Located at 32-34 The Calls on an historic riverside building, the piece is Anthony’s largest ever work. “We started this project in the middle of 2019 so way before the pandemic, but Anthony’s design couldn’t feel more relevant for the current time,” says In Good Company founder and curator Laura Wellington. “From the start, the plan was that this piece will be here for the people of Leeds for centuries, but I think it’s the perfect message of unity to start 2021 – a year when continued connection and community will be so vital.” Anthony Burrill’s work has been showcased in galleries and museums including the Victoria and Albert Museum in London; the National Design Museum in New York and the Barbican. Despite Anthony having studied Graphic Design at Leeds Polytechnic (now Leeds Beckett University) this is the first time one of his works has had a permanent place in Leeds.
“Leeds is the city where I first studied graphic design. The people and the place left a powerful imprint on me and has shaped the artist I have become. It’s great to return the favour and make a piece of art that connects me back to the city. And amazing to have such a huge canvas to work with. Putting art on the streets is a way to give a place back to its community, and it means a lot that we’ve been able to do it on this monumental scale.” Burrill’s design was executed by multidisciplinary studio Bread Collective, but it also couldn’t have been brought to life without the funding and enthusiasm of local property company King & Co. “Trust is such an important part of a project like this,” says Laura. “You can’t do something this big and public for a city without property owners, but you can end up with design-bycommittee. It takes a partnership with someone like King and Co, who really trusted me to find the right artist and then trusted Anthony to do something brilliant, to create a piece this powerful.” In Good Company raised over £15,000 for the NHS with its Posters for the People public art initiative last year.
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South Leeds Life | February 2021
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24 Sporting Life
Give Bowls a try
Yorkshire Captain Charlie Varley bowled well into his 70s
by Hazel Millichamp and Claire Carter
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and the buzz of winning a game, especially against good players. Every green is different (flat greens and crown greens, crown greens can be very different from club to club). You get a drive to keep playing. Nothing better. A way to get exercise.” Keith’s main advice is “Give it a try.” I had the pleasure of speaking to Ernest Lundy who told me he began playing at 9 years old – the only interruption in his bowls career having been his time in the army and merchant navy. Despite being a professional rugby player and athletics competitor, bowls remains Ernest’s favourite. He says that it is a character building sport and is very safe for children. You get to be out in the open air and it is a very cheap form of entertainment. You exercise your body and your mind and make countless friends.
When I told Ernest I was thinking of trying out bowls for myself, his advice was very similar to Keith’s “Go to it!”. At the age of 94 Ernest regrets that his days of being active on the green are over. Ernest published a book “Crown Bowls – A Survey” in 1961 – the first book to deal with Crown Green bowling exclusively. Andrew Dewhirst has been playing on and off since he was 8 years old and began because his grandfather was a top ABA (Amateur Bowling Association) county bowler and his Dad was also a player. Andrew now plays at Holbeck Bowling Club but since Covid has sadly played very little bowls. He is a member of Leeds Parks Bowls Partnership that works with the Parks and Countryside arm of Leeds City Council looking at how council run greens are maintained and paid for. He is eagerly awaiting the outcome of a council consultation on the matter but is fearful that it will be not good news. Andrew thinks it seems incongruous that the council would like to reduce the money spent maintaining greens when there is also a huge national push to make us all more active and to benefit get outside and be active to help our mental health. When asked why a person should take up bowls Andrew said “It gets you outside, you meet friendly people. There are not many sports where an 8 year old can take on an 80 year old. It fosters relationships and respect between different age groups.” There are many clubs operating in South Leeds and Andrew tells me they would all be happy to let beginners use the equipment and get into the swing of things. I think have found myself a new postlockdown hobby!
s I was on my daily walk in Cross Flatts Park Beeston, I saw a sign at the Bowling Green stating that they have been part of the community for over 112 years and that they are looking for new members. I know absolutely nothing about the sport so thought that I would investigate. According to Wikipedia: “Bowls, or lawn bowls, is a sport in which the objective is to roll biased balls so that they stop close to a smaller ball called a "jack" or "kitty". It is played on a bowling green, which may be flat (for "flatgreen bowls") or convex or uneven (for "crown green bowls"). It is normally played outdoors (although there are many indoor venues) and the outdoor surface is either natural grass, artificial turf or cotula (in New Zealand).” My fellow writer Claire spoke to Keith Broughton to find out how he had got involved with bowls: “My father was a bowler for Cross Flatts and then South Leeds Conservative Club. I used to follow my Dad and from the age of 8 I became interested in the sport myself. I had no distractions as a child like kids do these days. I played in tournaments from the age of 16 and also played for the Conservative Club. It's the competition Crowd at the 1979 Yorkshire County Merit Final, Huddersfield
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Hunslet plan the new season with another first
Marquee signing: Brad Hey joins Hunslet from York City Knights
by Ian Pickles
H
unslet RLFC’s AGM took place for the first time last night on a virtual platform. After a strange year for Rugby supporters the club outlined how it has coped and is coping with the current Covid pandemic and Lockdown rules. After a disappointing 2019 season, 2020 looked to be starting on the right track with early friendly victories over Leeds, Bradford and Batley. The Club sat top of the League after only 2 games and had just lost their first game (in the cup at Featherstone) before the lockdown began. By midsummer the competition had been cancelled and threw everything up in the air. On Friday 22 January was a chance for supporters to find out what’s been happening. Chairman Kenny Sykes opened proceedings by thanking members for sticking with the club (many supporters refused refunds on their season tickets and continued paying monthly club memberships), and welcomed main sponsors 247 Blinds. Director Neil Hampshire welcomed new board members Damian Irvine, Kacy Mackreth, Steve Roberts and Phil Crampton and discussed the Strategy and Planning involved with running a lower level professional Rugby League Club. The RFL (Rugby Football League) puts high importance on digital marketing and metrics (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter likes and shares, and hits on the club website), improving this area also brings in a more youthful market. One idea raised was a Podcast series discussing all things
Rugby. The toughest job went to Phil Hodgson explaining the finance. Strangely though, not playing and having all the outgoing costs of putting on a match, and the players being on furlough has meant Hunslet have managed to save some money. Sponsors Clipper Logistics were faithful with their sponsorship making things even rosier. This has to be balanced though with no bar takings or paying punters, so although the finance is in a good position there is no reason to be complacent. The club wants a long term future not a short term hit and hope. One good news story was the increase in paying members and some quite substantial donations from supporters plus a good uptake on the new kit, which has quite a diverse range of items from replica jerseys to shell tops, hoodies, bobble hats and polo shirts. The Rugby League has now confirmed the season will not start until May, so supporters wondered about what sort of team Hunslet would field. Players have a relatively short career so will try seek the best deal and as a result the Parksiders have lost some talent over the close season. Zach Braham, Ben Heaton and Josh Tonks have moved on to pastures new leaving quite a hole to be filled, but although coach Gary Thornton has had his playing budget shrunk he was confident the players kept and the names added will make Hunslet very competitive in 2021. Popular winger Nyle Walker has returned along with Jamaican internationals Aaron Jones-Bishop and Jy-mel Coleman. Centre Will Cook has
rejoined from Keighley along with exciting young forward Lewis Wray, but the marquee signing must be former York favourite Brad Hey, highly rated by Thornton. One question asked was how come Hunslet have pulled out of this year’s Challenge Cup? The answer is that the Rugby League only wanted 3 teams from League One in the competition but 7 applied. This would have meant a preliminary round behind closed doors in March. With the season then suspended until May this would mean Hunslet would have to pay full wages (rather than furlough). In the end the club would make a loss either way, but for a historic trophy like the Challenge Cup they were willing to do so, but in the end a possible loss of up to £8,000 was not an option and so sadly decided to pull out this year. Another question asked was about local talent? Again, it is too expensive to run a junior team only to have players picked off by richer clubs. A club like Hunslet has to look for players maybe dropping out of Super League/ Championship Clubs or shining in the community game. Sadly the days of bringing players through the system are gone at this level of Rugby. Still, it’s all positive stuff at the minute as everyone is desperate to get back to playing matches. It is likely with Covid that there will be online tickets only (no matchday), but I’m sure getting out to a match will be much welcomed by everybody. Check out the club website hunsletrlfc.com for membership packages and details. So we shall again!