Pudsey Greenside School. Copyright Michael Ely and licensed for reuse under Creative Commons Licence.
A small primary school at the heart of the Pudsey community is appealing for new school governors to join their team.
The current governors’ team at Greenside Primary School has lost a few members recently and is looking for interested individuals to support the school in making sure children receive the best possible education.
As part of a team of six to eight fellow governors, successful applicants have a vital role to play in making sure every child receives the best possible education.
While it does take a bit of time (an estimated min of 10 hours/term, mostly outside of regular office hours) and is entirely voluntary, it’s a rewarding opportunity to develop new skills, meet new people and learn more about how education is governed. There are plenty of training opportunities.
While the role is voluntary, once appointed a Governor does have a statutory role to play including attending a minimum of 10–12 meetings over the course of the year and reading to prepare for those meetings.
A spokesperson said: “The particular skills that governing bodies need vary but include personal qualities and capabilities, such as the capability and willingness to learn, being a good listener and being a supportive member of a wider team as well as being curious, and offering respectful challenge where appropriate.
Community run Kirkstall Valley Farm is inviting everyone to join in its marathon weeding challenge to raise donations to help them build a second huge polytunnel.
The farm KVF is growing vegetables over three acres to supply up to 100 community vegetable boxes every week.
The sponsored weed-a-thon is aiming to raise £2,500 and will take place on Saturday 27 May, 10.30am-3.30pm. There will also be a barbecue and refreshments
A farm spokesperson said: “Having a second polytunnel will mean we can grow even more food and help us close ‘the hungry gap’ in spring when it’s hard to grow much outdoors in Yorkshire!
“We need to get a second large tunnel up to make the project self financing, and better able to serve our community both with veg and with opportunity for community development.
“There are so many reasons why joining in with an outdoor community activity is good for us, so we want to do more of that for our local community.”
Deputy Lord Lieutenant Kevin Sharp planted an olive tree in the Bramley Baths community garden, pictured with Baths CEO David Wilford.
By John Baron
Bramley Baths marked the King’s coronation with the planting of an olive tree in the community garden as a symbol of peace and tranquility.
The tree was planted by Deputy Lord Lieutenant Kevin Sharp as part of a Coronation Big Lunch event, which was attended by more than 160 people.
Attendees enjoyed fun swims, arts and crafts, plenty of food and even a bit of sunshine in the community garden at the side of the Grade II Listed Edwardian baths, which this year is celebrating 10 years of becoming community led.
Mr Sharp spoke of his fondness for Bramley Baths. He told the crowd: “We think you are all really special and it is fabulous to have a community garden like this where people can come in, relax, pick fresh food and utilise for themselves.”
He read a letter from King Charles, in which the monarch spoke of his gratitude to all families. neighbours and friends for coming together.
Photo: Betty Longbottom. Used under Creative Commons licence
Retailer Marks & Spencer has been granted planning permission to install eight electric vehicle charging bays at its Owlcotes Centre store.
Proposals approved by Leeds City Council planners this week include a substation enclosure and associated electrical equipment.
A planning statement submitted to the council by Marks & Spencer states: “The development is a key part of the move to a cleaner energy mix, and should be embraced by the local authority in these terms.”
It argues the proposals are entirely consistent with the site’s established land use as a car park.The plans can be viewed here.
WLD reported in March that the council was installing 24 new plug-in vehicle fast charging bays in West Leeds.
A special Coronation high tea for Neighbourhood Action members
Neighbourhood Action members marked the coronation of King Charles III with a celebratory tea and with a new commemorative flag which they made.
Members raised a toast to the king and enjoyed a high tea, including the new coronation quiche. Most of the members pictured have dementia and for some the weekly gathering is the only time they leave the house.
The weekly meetings could not happen without the hard work of the staff and volunteers.
A flag made by Neighbourhood Action members.
The flag made by some members who have dementia. It is currently on display at Neighbourhood Action, 307 Lower Wortley Road.
Community organisations and businesses across West Leeds have joined forces to create a week-long series of events as part of a national campaign to encourage people to talk more openly about death.
Dying Matters Awareness Week will take place from Monday, May 8 to Sunday, May 14 and Bramley-based Full Circle Funerals has organised a schedule of free events in partnership with other community groups who together have formed the West Leeds Dying Matters Week collective.
On Tuesday May 9 and Wednesday May 10, Armley Helping Hands will be hosting a Memory Box event at their HQ on Strawberry Lane in Armley encouraging older people to paint and design a memory box.
It will run from 1pm to 2pm on both days. the 9th and the 10th of May. Full Circle Funerals and Morrish Solicitors will be sharing information on planning for later life including probate, power of attorney, last will and testimony and funeral plans and wishes.
A Memories and Flowers event will be held at Pudsey Wellbeing Centre on Robin Lane on Wednesday May 10 from 2.30 to 3.30pm in partnership with Donna Nicholson of Flowers by Donna.
Donna will lead the session, which is aimed at those who enjoy being creative with flowers and would like to use this medium to explore the subject of bereavement, grief and loss in a gentle and artistic way.
There will be informal information stalls from Full Circle Funerals and Jordans Solicitors for anyone that would like to find out a little more about some of the more practical questions connected to bereavement. All welcome.
On Thursday, May 11 from 1.30pm to 3.30pm at Bramley Baths, Full Circle Funerals and Resin8 Keepsakes have teamed up to run a resin workshop to create a keepsake for an animal you have loved and lost.
This workshop will support up to eight individuals who would like to make a memorial keyring using an item which is important and connects you to this animal (eg, animal hair, ashes, laminated pictures, fabric, etc).
Helen Rimer of Resin8 will be leading the session and local charity Barca will also be there to support anyone who may like to have a private one on one chat. For more information and to book a place, contact david@fullcirclefunerals.co.uk.
On Thursday May 11 at 2pm there will be a variety of activities for prayer and reflection at St Peter’s Church, Bramley, focusing on the subject of Death, Grief and Hope. All are welcome to attend.
On the same date, between 3 and 6pm, Headingley Methodist Church will host an interactive retreat space in partnership with Leeds Sanctuary, where you can explore the process of grief.
Dealing With Death Through Writing is a special event being held at Farsley Parish Church, New Street, on Friday May 12 from 1 – 2pm. Through writing prompts and guided exercises, this creative writing class based around bereavement, run by Mark Gregory, will help participants gain ideas and inspiration for creating their own written works on the theme of death. To find out more and book a place contact david@fullcirclefunerals.co.uk.
David Billington of Full Circle Funerals, said: “Death and bereavement can be difficult topics for many people but we know that talking about death and grief can make it much easier to deal with difficult emotions around loss.
“We hope that by arranging a series of different types of events there will be something for everyone and we can facilitate conversations and creative processes that might not otherwise happen.”
Farsley Town Street. Photo: Google Maps/Street View
West Leeds will see a number of community events being held this bank holiday weekend to celebrate the Coronation of King Charles III. Here’s a selection of some of them…
Farsley Street Party
This is organised by Farsley Business Forum and the Main Street through Farsley will be closed from 1pm to 5pm on Monday, 8 may. The shops bars, restaurants, church will all be opening up for a Coronation celebration. Events are also taking place in Weavers Yard and Sunny Bank Mills, which is just off Town Street.
Take a break at St John’s Church Hall just off New Street where teas and coffees will be served.
Churches Together in Farsley will be setting up a table at the corner of New Street and Town Street for children to make a crown.
Olive and feta Restaurant will be open and we will set up a BBQ in Town Street.
Debra Austin will be setting up early outside Adrienne’s Florist. Look out for the blue Gazebo. Come see me for Face Painting and a dash of Coronation Glitter.
Kay from C&C Event Catering will be selling their delicious burgers by Farsley Cake Company on the day.
Farsley-based Yorkshire Pizza Company will be serving their pizzas in Andrew Square.
The Farsley Cake company (formerly Candied Peel Cake Company) will be launching their newly branded shop from 11am onwards, with giveaways.
Bash Khan and his ice cream van will be by Marsden Memorial Gardens.
Jaspers Coffee Bar will be open and will also have an outside bar selling Moretti and Fosters plus their Jaspers hot dogs. Inside they will be offering tea coffee, wine and homemade cakes, bakes and treats.
Farsley Working Mens Club will be open from 12pm.
St Jude’s and Grumpy’s Bar and Wood Fired Pizza will be open during the event
Croft Street Fisheries will be open during the event from 11.30am until 7pm
Box of Wiffs will have a stall up in Andrews Square and selling soy wax melts, soap filled sponges and lots more.
Starlights Cheerleading Team from Leeds West Academy will be having a stall in Andrew Square to help raise funds.
Ring for the King in Calverley
‘Ring for the King’ is taking place at St Wilfrid’s Church on Monday 8 May.
The bellringing team will ring a full peal, this will last about 3 hours but, if successful, it will be only the second peal this millennium! Whether or not they are successful is down to a large number of factors.
The peal band (in likely ringing order) will be: Cindy Maude (Wakefield Cathedral), Maurice Calvert (St Wilfrid, Calverley), Jane Lynch (All Saints, Bingley), Peter Kirby (St Matthew, Lightcliffe), Carole Kirby (St Matthew, Lightcliffe), Daniel Calvert (Emmanuel, Plymouth), Andy Sutherland (All Saints, Ilkley), Andrew Paterson (St Wilfrid, Calverley).
Armley Action Team is part of the national Big Help Out designed to encourage more people to get involved in their community. There will be painting at the Gelder Road Pocket Park and litter-pick bingo.
Volunteer in Kirkstall
Monday 8 May is a national day of volunteering. Join the Kirkstall in Bloom team at 10.30am at the Drink & Be Grateful Fountain on Abbey Road. No gardening experience or expertise needed. The team provide tools, guidance and encouragement. Come and help and see your efforts bloom in the community garden in the heart of Kirkstall.
Coronation Market at the Beulah
A Coronation Market is being held at The Beulah in Farnley on Saturday 6 and Sunday 7 May, 10am-3pm. There will be about 19 stalls including food, scents, craft and arts, and clothes and jewellery.
Bramley Baths
A tree to commemorate the coronation of King Charles III will be planted at Bramley Baths community garden during a special celebratory event.
The community led Baths is hosting a Coronation ‘big lunch’ event on Sunday, 7 May 2023.
Between 12pm and 3pm there will be a buffet lunch, fun swim, prize raffle children’s goody bag and arts and craft activities.
Special guest, Deputy Lord Lieutenant Kevin Sharp, will be joining the Baths at 1pm, to plant a tree to mark the occasion. All included in a entrance price of £2 per person. No need to book.
Rodley Social Club
Kids activities, food and watch the Coronation on the big screen, Saturday 6 May, from 10.30am.
Road closures
Saturday 6 May: South Parade in Pudsey, from 1pm to 8pm, Westdale Road in Pudsey, from 3pm to 9pm. Sunday 6 May: Bradford Road in Pudsey, from 10am to 7pm, Crawshaw Avenue in Pudsey, from 2pm to 5pm, Greentop in Pudsey, from 2pm to 5pm, Woodeson Court in Rodley, from 11am to 7pm. Monday 7 May: Farsley Town Street.
The Leeds local election count was held at the First Direct Arena today. Photo: David Spereall
By David Spereall, local democracy reporting service
The leader of Leeds City Council has hailed a strong day for Labour as the party increased its majority on the local authority.
Labour gained five seats and lost one to finish Friday holding 61 of Leeds’ 99 council seats. Its gains included a narrow win in Armley for Andy Parnham and a more convincing gain for Adrian McCluskey in Farnley & Wortley – both results at the expense of the Greens.
The party capitalised on a dire day at the polls for the Conservatives, who also lost their previously safe Wetherby seat to the Green Party.
Labour took Horsforth and Guiseley and Rawdon from the Tories in a repeat of last year’s results, while the Liberal Democrat seat of Weetwood also turned red, with former Bramley & Stanningley councillor.
The one setback for the party came in Middleton Park, where they lost ground to the Social Democratic Party (SDP) for the second year running.
Cllr Trish Smith held Pudsey ward for the Conservatives. Photo: David Spereall
Labour came within 159 votes of Conservative Trish Smith, who held Pudsey ward.
Bramley & Stanningley councillors Kevin Ritchie, Tom Hinchcliffe and Caroline Gruen. Photo: David Spereall
Cllr Peter Carlill (Lab, Calverley & Farsley). Photo: David Spereall
The Labour council leader James Lewis said: “It’s been a really strong performance for us here in Leeds today.
“We’ve taken seats from Conservatives, who nationally are having a meltdown, but we’ve also taken seats from the Greens and Liberal Democrats.
“It’s not just a rejection of the government’s policies, people in Leeds also see us a strong party to lead the city fairly and compassionately.”
The local Conservatives’ deputy leader Alan Lamb said his party had had a “mixed” day, but insisted the national picture showed “no wave of enthusiasm for Keir Starmer”.
“It’s always sad when good councillor loses their seat, through no fault of their own, whichever party they’re from,” he said.
“It’s been a tough time for people, so it’s not a huge surprise they want to give someone a kicking and unfortunately that’s what’s happened.
“What the results do show is that Labour are a long way from forming a government, so it’s all to play for as far as the General Election goes.”
The Tories’ loss in Wetherby was, on paper, the most eye-catching result of the day, given it’s the first time in 48 years a party other than the Conservatives has won a city council seat in the town.
Leeds City Council elections have been held this week.
Although the Greens dropped down four councillors to three, they performed strongly across the city, finishing a clear second behind Labour in a number of seats.
They were unable to oust Labour in target seats Hunslet and Riverside and Headingley and Hyde Park, however.
It was a difficult day for the Liberal Democrats, who comfortably held their Rothwell and Otley & Yeadon seats, but lost Weetwood.
They are now the joint third largest party with six councillors, alongside the Morley Borough Independents, who held both the seats they were defending, despite ultimately false rumours of a Labour upset in Morley South.
Lib Dem group leader Stewart Golton said: “We’ve been a party of protest for a long time, but we’ve also been a party of government and we’ve suffered the setbacks that can happen when local electors decide to punish governing parties.
“We’ve always had a varied support base and we’ve been very successful in the outer villages and towns who often feel left behind by the decision making at Civic Hall in Leeds.”
Elections: Leeds Civic Hall
Results in full
Adel and Wharfedale – Conservatives HOLD
Alwoodley – Conservatives HOLD
Ardsley and Robin Hood – Labour HOLD
Armley – Labour GAIN from Greens
Beeston and Holbeck – Labour HOLD
Bramley and Stanningley – Labour HOLD
Burmantofts and Richmond Hill – Labour HOLD
Calverley and Farsley – Labour HOLD
Chapel Allerton – Labour HOLD
Cross Gates and Whinmoor – Labour HOLD
Farnley and Wortley – Labour GAIN from Greens
Garforth and Swillington – Garforth and Swillington Independents HOLD
Gipton and Harehills – Labour HOLD
Guiseley and Rawdon – Labour GAIN from Conservatives
Peter Carlil held the Calverley & Farsley Ward for Labour at this year’s Leeds City Council elections.
The count was held this morning in the First Direct Arena in Leeds following voting on Thursday.
Cllr Carlill received 3,926 votes, 1,390 ahead of Conservative candidate Jas Singh, who had 2,536 votes.
“I am really proud to have held the seat,” said Cllr Carlill. “The ward is always interesting at election time but this result is more about a local candidate who works hard rather than just following party political lines. I have always tried to do my best for every area of Calverley & Farsley and people have seen the work and responded to that.
“I’m looking forward to continuing my work and delivering positive action in our community.”
Cllr Carlill was first elected four years ago with a 27-vote majority.
The result leaves Calverley & Farsley ward as it was before, with two Conservative councillors (Andrew and Amanda Carter) and one Labour (Peter Carlill).
Here are the results:
Peter John Carlill – Labour and Co-operative Party 3,926
Trish Smith narrowly held the Pudsey Ward for the Conservative Party at this year’s Leeds City Council elections.
The count was held this morning in the First Direct Arena in Leeds following voting on Thursday.
Cllr Smith, who was first elected in 2019, received 3,050 votes, just 159 votes ahead ahead of Labour challenger Riaz Ahmed.
“I am really pleased for Pudsey and that we can continue to build on what we have already started,” said Cllr Smith. “Despite the national picture, people have seen the value of what we do locally. This community means the world to me.
“Thank you to the Pudsey people who voted for me. I hope that we can all come together as a community and move forward together.”
The result leaves Pudsey ward with three Conservative councillors.
