Dan Pearce from Dan Pearce Sells Holmes and Danny Peat from Synergy FM with some of the Park Spring children who received the hoodies.
By Barbara Glastonbury
Park Spring Primary School year six children have been raising funds to purchase their leavers’ hoodies.
In most schools the hoodies are received in June/July time when they are about to leave for the summer.
But Park Spring headteacher Rachel Horan said to the children: “If you raise the funds yourselves you can have them to wear as soon as you’ve raised enough to purchase them”.
They set about the challenge and now the children are excited to have their ‘Class of 2023 hoodies’ hoodies to wear every day – four months ahead of time.
The children did the usual fundraisers but to speed up the process decided they needed to collaborate with local businesses. They were fortunate enough to secure donations from two local businesses, Synergy FM donated £100 and ICH Service Pudsey donated £250.
That left a shortfall of £500. The children came up with an idea and approached Dan Pearce Sells Homes and offered to wear his company logo on the sleeve of their hoodies in exchange for the £500 shortfall. They invited Dan Peace and his team into school and three of the year 6 children presented a really professional pitch which convinced them to pay half the cost of the hoodies, in exchange for their company logo on the sleeve.
There is much excitement and a real sense of achievement, so much so that the current year 5 children are hot on their heels and want to have their hoodies for the whole of their time in year 6 and have already raised well over half the amount needed to buy their own Class of 2024 Hoodies.
Sapphia Cunningham-Tate, Leeds Museums and Galleries assistant community curator with specially created Lego figurines, each one capturing in minute detail one of the many changing faces adopted by the iconic singer, songwriter and actor David Bowie.
A one-of-kind collection of memorabilia charting the glittering career of David Bowie has gone on display in Leeds, 50 years after the legendary Starman dazzled in a concert on Kirkstall Road.
The new display at Leeds City Museum features an incredible array of objects spanning decades of Bowie’s unique life, all painstakingly collected by a local super fan and kindly loaned to the museum.
Taking pride of place is a handmade cabinet filled with specially created Lego figurines, each one capturing in minute detail one of the many changing faces adopted by the iconic singer, songwriter and actor, who sold an estimated 140 million albums worldwide during a trailblazing career.
Also included are rare editions of some of Bowie’s early singles from 1966, some of the artist’s most recognisable albums as well as a huge collection of pin badges and clothing collected from tours and performances.
The collector, who wishes to remain anonymous, has loaned some of his vast archive to the museum. His idea for a display was prompted by the upcoming 50th anniversary of Bowie’s two sold out Leeds concerts, which took place on June 29, 1973.
Originally scheduled for Leeds University Students’ Union, the venue for the gigs was changed to the former roller disco on Kirkstall Road, which was more suited to the theatrical style Bowie and his band, who at that time went by the name of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars.
For the collector, the museum’s display, entitled There’s a Starman Waiting in the Sky, is the culmination of a journey which began with him sitting in front of a TV screen at the age of just 12.
He said: “I got into David Bowie back in 1972 with his iconic first appearance on Top Of The Pops when he performed Starman. When he looked out of the TV screen and he pointed and sang the line, ‘I had to phone someone, so I picked on you’ it really felt like he was picking on you and asking you to come and join his gang along with all the other misfits who he appealed to.
“Being a gay kid, I felt that was somewhere where I wanted to be, indeed needed to be and his image and music was right up my street. So began my over 50 years obsession with Bowie and his artistic vision expressed through his lyrics, his music, his performance and much more.”
As previously reported by WLD, Bowie has family connections with West Leeds. His great grandfather, great grandmother and grandfather lived at Moorfield Road in Armley and Town End House in Bramley.
Robert Haywood Jones (Bowie’s grandfather) died in the Great War in 1916 and it was said Zillah (his grandmother) died of a broken heart just before Valentine’s Day in 1917. Robert’s name can be found on Bramley War Memorial.
The display, which also features a series of oral histories recorded with local Bowie fans, is open now in the museum’s Leeds Story gallery.
Sapphia Cunningham-Tate, Leeds Museums and Galleries assistant community curator, who has worked on the display, said: “Music and live performances can have such a huge and powerful cultural impact on a city and the people who live there and it’s clear that David Bowie left a lasting legacy to those who saw him take to the stage in Leeds all those years ago.
“It’s been a privilege to work on this display and to get a sense of how much Bowie meant to those who connected with his unique music, talent and personality.”
The Leeds display comes as London’s V&A Museum announced last month that they have acquired an extensive archive of Bowie-related material for display and study. Remaining elements of the collector’s trove of LPs are heading to London to become part of the archive.
Farsley Celtic put in a battling performance against a team which started the night as leaders of the National League North – with a sensational 94th-minute strike enough to earn a 2-1 win at King’s Lynn Town.
Farsley’s new loanee Theo Williams ran half the length of the pitch to shoot past Town keeper Sam Blair deep into stoppage time to earn the gutsy visitors a vital three points in their battle against relegation – and dent the home side’s title hopes at the same time.
Town’s Tommy Hughes had earlier cancelled out Frank Mulhern’s first half opener.
It was Farsley who started brightly against their more illustrious opponents. Carlton Ubaezuono’s shot came back off the post after just five minutes.
And The Celts took the lead midway through the first half as Kian Scales threaded the ball through to striker Mulhern, who held off a Town defender before finishing past Blair.
Farsley stopper Max Dearnley pulled off a couple of smart stops to deny the home side, but the visitors were good value for their half-time lead.
The second half saw King’s Lynn step up a gear and they were level on 52 minutes, Hughes firing home on the half volley.
Farsley had to dig deep but it looked like they had fallen behind when the home side netted on 61 minutes, only for the referee and linesman disallow the goal for offside after a lengthy discussion.
On 72 minutes Josh Barrett delivered a dangerous ball into the near post, but Dearnley and Butler deny Ponticelli between them.
Farsley held out despite Kings Lynn pressure – and it was Sheffield United loanee Theo Williams, on his first start for the Farsley, who grabbed the late glory to push his side up to fourth from bottom in the National League North.
The win is a welcome boost for the battling Celts, whose thoughts now turn to a trip to National League side Gateshead in the quarter finals of the FA Trophy.
Match reaction
Boss Russ Wilcox said it was an ‘amazing’ feeling to secure the late win and praised the team’s work rate, togetherness and shape. “We keep going and keep grafting,” he said. “It was an incredible performance.”
Match winner Theo Williams paid tribute to his side’s organisation on the night:
Armley could make the shortlist as a pilot '20-minute neighbourhood'. Photo: Neil Hudson
Councillors in inner West Leeds will hear of strategies to invest in the area’s transport network at a meeting next week.
The inner west community committee is made up of councillors from the Armley, Bramley & Stanningley and Kirkstall wards. Next Tuesday’s meeting will see them hear a presentation which will touch on a variety of initiatives – including the council’s new 20-minute neighbourhood idea.
The concept revolves around a planning policy which aims to ensure people can meet their day-to-day needs within a 20-minute round trip from home by walking, cycling or public transport.
A report to be considered by councillors next Tuesday (14 March) sets out the council’s aims to produce Local Area Transport Plans for each community committee area in Leeds.
It also features the Leeds Healthier Streets, Spaces and Communities project, which aims to strengthen neighbourhood connectivity for making shorter journeys more sustainably and healthily.
The report features the 20-minute neighbourhood concept, and highlights Armley, in particular, as a possible candidate to be shortlisted as one of ‘two or three’ pilot areas across Leeds.
“In terms of the Inner West area, existing investments on the A647 and A65 corridors provide good examples of complementary transport match funding,” the report says.
“Armley has potential as a candidate location for shortlisting, having benefitted from the thinking behind recent funding bids. Bramley and Kirkstall may be less suited as pilot schemes but both remain locations of interest as the project rolls forward.”
The report says early development and scoping of the project has already started to identify potential sites. It’s hoped pilot sites will be exemplars to build a strong case for Combined Authority funding to continue rolling out 20-minute neighbourhood transport schemes citywide.
Project lead at the council, Andrew Hall, will carry out a presentation for councillors at the meeting.
The inner west community committee is made up of eight Labour councillors and one Green councillor from the Armley, Bramley & Stanningley and Kirkstall wards. They are supported by community co-optees.
Next Tuesday’s meeting, at Burley Greenhow Community Centre, starts at 6pm. The full agenda and papers can be read here.
Councillors representing ‘outer’ west Leeds will decide whether to award thousands of pounds of grants to ‘in bloom’ groups, Christmas light switch ons and youth activities at a meeting next week.
Members of the Outer West Community Committee will meet at Farnley Hall next Tuesday to decide the applications, after deferring decisions at last month’s meeting due to uncertainty over the budget.
Here’s a list of the applications they will consider from Calverley & Farsley, Pudsey and Farnley & Wortley wards:
Calverley in Bloom – £6,777.97
To plant and maintain the village’s floral displays.
Farsley in Bloom – £3,141.08
New Farnley in Bloom – £1,000
Pudsey in Bloom – £5,306.34
Tyersal and New Farnley parks worker – £15,570.
Staff member will cut grass, prune, litter pick, remove fly tipping. inspect play equipment and maintain the parkland.
Pudsey Park Weekend Littering – £1,218.70
To employ additional litter picking over town summer weekends in Pudsey Park.
Pudsey Adult Band Project – £2,950
Participants will be able to take part in creating music by either forming a band or having the chance to learn about electronic music such as; DJing, Launchpads, and Ableton software.
Pudsey Carnival – £2,600
To support the annual parade and carnival at Queens Park.
Farnley Football Project – £1,000
Targeting young people on Bawns and Heights estates.
Rock up to do a mock up project (Pudsey) – £12,000
Funding will allow the project to continue working with young people aged 13-18, to reduce the numbers of young people not in education employment or training. Engaging with young people ninth community.
Mini Summer Sports Programme 2023 – £720
Sport sessions across the Farsley, Calverley, Pudsey Wards (Hainsworth Park, Calverley Park, Swinnow Moor and Farnley Rec).
Farnley Youth Project – £2,500
Weekly structured activities to young people around subjects such as health and wellbeing, cooking, relationships, self-confidence, crime and anti-social behaviour, community, internet safety, life skills, arts and crafts and careers.
Farsley & Calverley transition group – £1,530
To develop youth provision in the ward.
Summer Holiday Targeted Provision – Outer West – £1,440
To enable some of the hardest to reach and vulnerable young people to access positive activities.
Pudsey Youth Cafe – £4,120
The group runs each Wednesday evening from 6.30pm–8pm and is a safe space in Pudsey where young people can gain a positive social experience.
Breeze in the Park 2023 – £11,400
The grant will be used to deliver summer Breeze in the Park events in Farnley Hall Park, Hainsworth Park in Farsley, and Queens Park, Pudsey.
Dance Action Zone Leeds in Farnley/Wortley – £3,331
Creating a dance program in school holidays.
The committee will also discuss ring-fencing funds for Calverley and Farsley Christmas Lights (£6,959), £12,000 towards CCTV schemes, £7,699 to Pudsey Christmas Lights, and £1,840 for Rodley Christmas Lights.
It’s proposed a further £4,450 is ring fenced for Farsley Festival, £6,600 for activities at West Leeds Activity Centre, and £2,592 for Outer West Easter Holiday Activity Days 2024.
The Outer West Community Committee is made up of all nine councillors from the Calverley & Farsley, Pudsey and Farnley & Wortley wards. It’s made up of five Conservative councillors, Two Green and two Labour.
The current playground in Western Flatts Park in Wortley has been criticised. Archive photo from 2021.
By John Baron
A group of volunteers have helped secure better maintenance at Western Flatts Cliff Park Park in Wortley, following concerns over the unsafe condition of its playground.
The Friends of Western Flatts Cliff Park group has raised issues with slippy moss and leaves at the playground, which is surrounded by tall trees – and had called for action from Leeds City Council.
Neil Bonnington, from the Friends, said the group has been in constant discussion with the parks department about the poor state of the surface and its unsafe nature. He said: “Our local parks manager has been on site and they have advised me they will be on site tomorrow to jet wash the surface and brush with a machine. They also advise they are going to change the gate so they can get a sweeper in on a regular basis.”
The run-down play park could be set for a move away from its current location, which many deem unsuitable.
Section 106 money has been secured from housing developers by the council to revamp the play area, although a recent £20 million levelling up bid to government to revamp five West Leeds parks – including Western Flatts – proved unsuccessful.
“I have also asked for our group to be put in contact with the project team responsible for the playground development so we can work with them as representatives of the community on moving the project forward as soon as possible,” Mr Bonnington said this week.
“Our intent is to hold a meeting with them to determine the various options of the playground location and what’s possible with the more limited funding that is available.
“We need to firm up the location, if it’s practical to move it, so we are looking through the various surveys we have seen and once we have consulted with the project team we will come back to all to consult further with you.
“We appreciate we are going to have differing views so I ask for your patience a little longer until we are in a position to communicate further.”
The Friends group will be holding its AGM and a general meeting at a date to be confirmed in April. More information on the Friends’ Facebook group.
The post is a hands-on opportunity, learning through joining in practical farm tasks alongside Kirtkstall Valley Farm’s growing team. You will learn to grow veg at a commercial scale and in a way that respects the local environment and people.
The farm is run by community project Kirkstall Valley Development Trust. It supplies weekly fresh veg to members of the community, supporting the maintenance of the land and offering opportunities for people to get involved and learn new skills.
They’re looking for someone who can train two days a week from April to September, 15 hours a week, £11 an hour.
A small bursary is provided to help you buy suitable clothing and to visit other farms. Closing date for applications is 5pm on 20 March 2023.
See full details here and if you have any questions, e-mail kirkstallvalleyfarm@gmail.com.
Flood defences being installed at Kirkstall Bridge Inn. Photo: Keef Williamson
An extra £12.56 million has been injected into a scheme to build flood defences on the banks of the River Aire.
A council report blamed rising inflation for the increased costs of implementing the £105 million Leeds Flood Alleviation Scheme Phase 2 between Leeds train station and Apperley Bridge.
The funding has been secured by West Yorkshire Combined Authority from the government’s Department for Business Energy and Industrial Strategy.
A council report said: “This injection of funding enables the forthcoming LFAS2 programme of works to continue and to ensure the full scheme progresses to completion. The increased projected scheme cost is a result of hyper-inflation caused by unpredictable world events, as well as the impacts of; Covid, Brexit and Storm Dudley.
“If the funding is not drawn down this financial year (2022/23) it will no longer be available to the scheme. It is therefore crucial the necessary approvals are put in place swiftly.”
Leeds FAS2 is made up of a combination of catchment-wide natural flood management, as well as traditional engineering that stretches for 14km along the River Aire between Leeds Train Station and Apperley Bridge.
When it is complete in autumn 2023, Leeds FAS2 will reduce flood risk to a 0.5% probability of occurring in any given year (a 1-in-200-year level of flood protection) for 1,048 homes and 474 businesses.
This level of protection includes an allowance for climate change up to 2069 and will be effective for similar events to the boxing day floods in 2015, which cost Leeds an estimated £36.8m and the city region more than £500m.
A bucket collection was held before the first team's home game with Telford at the weekend.
A West Leeds football team for deaf people is hoping to raise £10,000 to enable them to compete in the Champions League in Poland this summer.
Farsley Celtic Deaf FC have qualified to compete for the deaf champions league title in Warsaw, Poland between 26 June and 1 July 2023.
It is estimated that this trip will cost in excess of £20,000 to get the team over there, and pay for hotel, food, transport, training kit and physio costs.
The club, who appeared live on BT Sport last summer when they won the EDF League Championship Final, has launched a £10,000 fundraiser to cover some of the costs – and are appealing for people’s help.
Assistant manager Matt Dixon said: “We have over 30 players registered in our hearing and deaf league squads. All of them are deaf. For many of the players who join us, it is their first time interacting with other deaf people.
“Many have felt isolated while attempting to play for hearing teams and end up leaving feeing frustrated and deflated. It is truly wonderful to witness young people be liberated and finally feel part of something that they genuinely fit in to, mixing with like minded people who understand them.
“Farsley Celtic is a family, all with different levels of deafness and communication methods. By being a part of the team they finally feel at home within a football club, where they feel they belong.”
Farsley Celtic Deaf have five players representing England Deaf Men, Joe Dixon, Harry Boorman, Will Palmer, Cavell Donaldson and Henry Bowe. Both Hashim Mahmood and Charlie Parker-Fairbaine are part of the England Development squad.
Matt added: “The boys are ready to give this their best shot and hope to be crowned as champions of Europe. The boys know this is a self funded trip, most of them are students or in low income jobs.
“We desperately need your help to fulfill their dream, the more money we raise via our Go Fund Me campaign, the lower the cost will be for the players themselves.
“FCDFC is run by volunteers, not one person involved receives any income. I’m one of the volunteers, I joined the club three years ago as a goal keeper for the hearing league games, then as goalkeeper coach and I now help out as team interpreter and assistant manager for Kris Burns, the gaffer!
“If you can help in anyway it will be greatly appreciated, with your help we can try and bring the trophy back to Yorkshire!”
Farsley Celtic Deaf won the England Deaf Football North league for the third time and last June won the overall championship by beating St John’s FC 3-2 in a thrilling final which was shown live on BT Sport. This was the first time a deaf football match had been shown on mainstream TV.
Farsley Celtic Deaf FC’s is in its seventh season, having changed from being ‘Leeds Deaf FC’. The side is under Farsley Celtic FC’s umbrella to share resources to safeguard and progress the club’s long-term future.
Similar lantern parades were held in Armley and Bramley earlier this year.
The popular Armley Lantern Parade returned to light up Armley Park yesterday evening (Sunday, 5 March 2023).
The event is run by volunteers from the Friends of Armley and Gotts Park group and sees participants make their own beautiful lanterns in workshops before the event.
The lanterns are then paraded through Armley Park by young and old.
Here’s a selection of photos, taken by the Friends, at the event:
Leeds United midfielder Weston McKennie was joined by and Andy McVeigh, a West Leeds artist hailed as the “Burley Banksy” to surprise students at Co-op Academy Oakwood with a visit to discuss the importance of allyship.
The workshop with Andy McVeigh involved collaborative discussions and activities around Black Lives Matter, LGBTQ+, Racism and important anti-discriminatory messages.
Pupils were surprised when Leeds United player, Weston McKennie, got stuck in helping them create posters about the topic, before announcing his favourite piece of art.
Mckennie joined the whole-school assembly to talk about allyship and later gave a speech touching on his own experiences.
The USA international footballer spoke to representatives from the Premier League during the visit and said: “We’ve been painting some pretty cool designs today in support of the LGBTQ+ community and Black History Month, it was really nice to see the kids expressing themselves.
“If we as players can help to bring awareness to important campaigns through the game they love and act as a positive influence, I think that’s really important.”
Andy McVeigh, the ‘Burley Bansky’ has painted countless electricity boxes around the city in a bid to cover up unsightly graffiti, using his home football club Leeds United as his inspiration.
He said: “The children were brilliant, full of enthusiasm and ideas. Their energy energises you. They came up with some super ideas, slogans and colours and were great fun to be around.
“Being an ally is more important than ever in my opinion. Discrimination seems to be more prevalent in the last decade or so than it was before. In most school classes, there is a mixture of race, colour, ability and heritage.
“In my experience, children don’t even ‘see’ these differences between people, they don’t care where you are from, what you look like, or who you love. Giving them the chance to express this through art is so important and means they can set good examples and values for others too as they get older.”
Rimah Aasim, Headteacher at Co-op Academy Oakwood, said: “Young people need to know that it is important to stand up to prejudice and support people no matter who they are. Inclusion for all is really important. The pupils were enthused about creating their street art. It was a useful reminder of the meaning of allyship and the groups for which allyship is important.”
The workshops hosted by Andy are in collaboration with the Leeds United Foundation. The workshops, which form part of the Premier League Primary Stars initiative (PLPS), offer engaging sessions to primary schools that help children to learn, be active and develop important life skills.
