Travelling Farsley fans couldn’t have asked anything more from their young side, who gave 100 per cent against more experienced opponents in County Durham yesterday.

The home side dominated the game throughout.

Corey McKeown opened the scoring on the 24^th minute, tapping home from a few yards out, before Matty Dolan thumped a fine free kick in off the post for Moors’ second of the afternoon.

Glen Taylor headed home for 3-0 just before half time. And substitute Aidan Rutledge found the net 20 minutes from time, prodding home from a Junior Mondal cross.

Farsley had goalkeeper Will Brook to thank for keeping the score down as the youngsters kept playing for their shirts until the final whistle.

Farsley have just seven games left of a disastrous season which has been plagued by off-field problems, including playing ‘home’ games 70 miles away in Buxton after an aborted attempt to lay a new 4G pitch at The Citadel.

Farsley Celtic sit 17 points from safety with just seven games remaining.

Line ups

Moors: James, Dyson, Ledger, Pollock, Staunton, Dolan (Myers 72), Shrimpton, Simpson (Harris 63), Ramshaw (Huntley 46), McKeown (Mondal 46), Taylor (Rutledge 46).

Farsley Celtic: Brook, Abankwah, Janneh, Polwarth, Bumkira (Newsome 61), Kondolo, Monteiro, Hyde, Mampala, Youmbi (Krubally 78), Iwobi.
Subs not used: Edmondson, Priestley-Standing.

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West Leeds licensing applications: 23 March 2025

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March 23, 2025

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Masons Arms Pudsey — Masons Arms, Pudsey. Photo: Google

very fortnight we publish a list of the latest licensing applications related to the seven council wards in the West Leeds Dispatch patch.

The council’s licensing department regulates activities that require a licence, such as selling alcohol, providing entertainment, event notices and taxi licence applications. They also ensure that licensed premises and individuals comply with the law and protect the public

The following licensing application was published on the Leeds City Council website in the past 14 days:

Farnley & Wortley ward

Premises Licence – DPS Change, Hanover Arms, 65 Lower Wortley Road, Lower Wortley, Leeds LS12 4SL.

Horsforth ward

Premises Licence – Minor Variation, Hoc Loco Ltd, 100 New Side Road, Horsforth, Leeds LS18 4QB.
Premises Licence – DPS Change, Morrisons, 69 Town Street, Horsforth, Leeds LS18 5BP.

Kirkstall ward

Premises Licence – DPS Change, One Stop Stores Ltd, 345 Burley Road, Burley, Leeds LS4 2PX.
Premises Licence – Minor Variation, Morrisons, 1 Savins Mill Way, Kirkstall, Leeds LS5 3RP.
Premises Licence Transfer & DPS Change, Cafe Enzo, 396 Kirkstall Road, Burley, Leeds LS4 2HQ.
Premises Licence – New Application, Alcohol Angel, Unit A023, Ready Steady Store, Kirkstall Road, Burley, Leeds LS4 2QD.

Pudsey ward

Premises Licence – Minor Variation, Masons Arms, Lowtown, Pudsey, Leeds LS28 7AA.

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In photos: Spring has sprung in West Leeds

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March 23, 2025

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Kirkstall Abbey spring — Spring in Kirkstall. Photo: Susan Tellum

Thursday was the Vernal Equinox and the start of Spring – hopefully we can look forward to some sunny days and the promise of long summer days is almost within touching distance.

Hopefully it’s the time to stop wearing thermals!

Our community reporters have been out and about in West Leeds to capture spring in their communities. Here’s a selection of their photos:

A view of Kirkstall Abbey. Photo: Susan Tellum

Spring skies in Kirkstall. Photo: Susan Tellum

The community orchard – planted by the Friends of Kirkstall Valley Park – is overlooked by the Abbey ruins. Photo: Susan Tellum

Flowers in Farnley. Photo: Community reporter

John Baron

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People power! Six-year battle to keep historic ‘Wortley’s Wembley’ is won

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March 21, 2025

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The TV Harrison ground off Oldfield Lane in Wortley.

By John Baron

Additional reporting: Katherine Turner

Community campaigners are celebrating after a successful six-year battle to prevent housing being built on a Wortley sports pitch.

Leeds United and the Leeds School Sports Association (LSSA) have agreed a proposal in principle that could see the TV Harrison Sports Ground transferred to Leeds United on a 250-year lease for £50,000.

The deal includes a covenant that mandates that the ground can only ever be used for sport and never used for houses, which secures the long-term future of the site often referred to as ‘Wortley’s Wembley’.

The proposal will also see Leeds United invest in the ground to improve the playing facility.

As revealed by West Leeds Dispatch in 2018 Leeds City Council proposed building up to 50 houses on the then derelict site.

Angry residents organised a campaign to save the historic ground. They took legal action and successfully prevented Leeds City Council from building on the site. They also restored the ground as a playing pitch and have been playing matches on it ever since.

The council withdrew its planning application in December and the sale to Leeds United by the LSSA, which owns most of the land, has this week been agreed in principle, although some details are still to be ironed out.

Michael Meadowcroft, Chair of the TV Harrison Sports Ground Association, said: “This is a great victory for the local community and it shows that with determination and solidarity it is possible to defeat the big establishment forces and to retain a historic local amenity.

“The success of the campaign and the bright future for the ground and its sports and community facilities is now assured.

“We no longer have to face the possibility of a fifth legal action to enforce the covenants that Harrison got inserted in the 1928 contracts to ensure that the ground remained as a facility for the children of Leeds.

“The committee is delighted that its long struggle has been crowned with success.”

Following the agreement of the initial proposal Leeds United will engage with the community to gauge support. There will then be a period in which any group is also permitted to submit their own equivalent bid for the ground, under the normal rules associated with an Asset of Community Value.

Leeds South West and Morley MP Mark Sewards helped bring all parties together to find a solution for the historic football ground.

Mr Sewards said: “I’m so pleased to announce that the initial offer from Leeds United has now been accepted by LSSA.

“There are still some small details to work out, but the next step will see Leeds United engage with the community to determine if this is what the residents of Farnley & Wortley want. Given that I’ve worked on this deal and that it will see investment in our community, I will be advocating for it in the strongest possible terms.

“I was elected as a councillor in Farnley & Wortley in 2022 on the promise that I would support the TV Harrison Action Group’s campaign and use my influence with the Labour Group on Leeds City Council to convince the council not to build on the historic site and consider other options.

“Once I’d completed that task, the next was to find a suitable solution that guaranteed the future of the ground.

“I have continued this work as a Member of Parliament and I cannot thank the TV Harrison Action Group, LSSA, Leeds City Council and Leeds United enough for the work and many, many conversations we’ve had over these last three years to secure this outcome.”

Campaigner Arron Lambert, who runs a business on Oldfield Lane, welcomed the news. He said: “The deal with Leeds United is massive. We have been waiting for it to be concluded for about two years.

“My daughter’s letter to [then Leeds manager] Marcelo Bielsa may have started all this off and got us a foot in the door with [Leeds United Chief Executive] Angus Kinnear. We have it pinned up in our shop.

“Leeds have said they want to work closely with the community – they’ve been on the ground numerous times already.”

Leeds United had no comment at this stage. WLD approached LSSA for comment yesterday.

Campaigners have cleared the site of years’ worth of undergrowth

Campaigners’ thanks

Mr Meadowcroft has thanked the people who supported the campaign to save the ground over the years.

He said: “Along the journey there have been key individuals.

“The initial petition to the City Council was led by Arron Lambert. The difficult research into key legal documents was done by Clare O’Keefe before she moved to Wakefield. Lea Westerman took on the important secretarial and treasurer roles. David Binns put together the Business Plan and maintained the website.

“A team of four – Mark Baum, Steve Housman, Dave Hewson and Simon Wintle – took on the week by week task of maintaining the football pitch and keeping the whole ground in good order, with help from all members of the committee when needed. And the continual fundraising was led by Nadine Cuddy.

“All this was supported by a committee that stayed together through the years and gained the Leeds United icon Peter “Stix” Lockwood as its Honorary President. I came in part way through to add my long years of political experience to deal with all the bureaucracy.

“We also had the solid support of the local Green councillors and, from 2022, the Labour councillor, now local MP, Mark Sewards, who achieved the remarkable feat of persuading his own party on the Leeds City Council to change its policy and to end its plan to develop the site.

“Finally Angus Kinnear, the Chief Executive of Leeds United, who understood the importance of a local ground for junior and women’s teams and was prepared to get the club to buy the ground, thus preserving it for the future.

“Throughout the years local residents have supported the retention of the ground whenever they have been consulted and The Queen pub next to the ground has always been a supporter of the campaign. Latterly the Leeds Civic Trust has agreed to place a blue plaque on the pub wall to commemorate Tom Vernon Harrison’s initiative in saving the ground in 1928 – almost a century ago.”

History

The site has been a sports ground from the 1850s when it was privately owned by the local Ingham family.

In 1928 Tom Vernon Harrison, a local headteacher, and very much associated with school sporting activities in the city, discovered that the Inghams intended to sell the ground for development.

With two colleagues he immediately arranged to purchase the ground in order to retain it for sports activities for the children of Leeds. He then set up an appeal to raise the funds for the purchase. With the active support of the Yorkshire Evening Post this was an immense success. Within three months the appeal raised £2,216 – equivalent to £118,000 today – sufficient to buy the site and for ancillary costs.

Harrison then entrusted the site to a local schools sports charity which became the Leeds Schools Sports Association (LSSA) and he ensured that covenants were inserted into the deeds to protect its use as a sports ground. He also recruited the Westminster Bank as “Custodian Trustee” further to safeguard its use. Sadly Harrison died in 1929 and as a tribute to his work, the ground was named after him.

In 2002 the LSSA abandoned the ground and it became overgrown. By 2006 the Leeds City Council and the LSSA agreed that the site could be developed for housing, despite the covenants.

The City Council then changed its zoning designation and soon after a local group was formed to campaign to retain the site for sports use. This campaign has now succeeded.

Further coverage

West Leeds Dispatch has been shining the spotlight on the future of the ground since 2018, and has featured over 70 articles on the issue. They can all be read here.

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Consultation starts on Richmond House council housing proposals

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March 21, 2025

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Farsley residents can have their say on initial proposals to build 33 apartments on the site of the former Richmond House care home.

The home, off Richmond Road, was closed in 2021 due to council cuts and the building was demolished in 2023.

Housing chiefs have now launched a public consultation into their initial ideas for the site, ahead of a formal planning application being submitted.

Proposals include a two to three storey block, providing 33 apartments and a lift. Apartments would be a mix of one and two bedrooms. There would also be 23 car parking spaces and a private garden for residents.

All homes would be let and managed by Leeds City Council.

The consultation includes two drop in events at:

Farsley Library on Wednesday, 26 March from 10am-12pm.
Pudsey Civic Hall on Thursday, 3 April from 5pm-7pm.

Councillors split on proposals

Calverley & Farsley ward councillors are split over the proposals, with two welcoming the principle of it and one calling it an ‘abomination’.

peter carlill farsley — Cllr Peter Carlill

Councillor Peter Carlill (Lab, Calverley & Farsley) said councillors had been promised that the site would be brought back as council housing following the demolition of Richmond House.

He said: “I am happy to support this proposed use, which meets some of the real need for affordable housing in the area. I have been asking that this provides smaller housing in line with the needs of people on the council house waiting list from within the local area.

“The Council Housing Growth team have now written to nearby residents ahead of any planning application being submitted to ask their views on a proposal for 33 apartments, including landscaping and a car parking area.

“Cllr Craig Timmins and I have provided some feedback around the scale and design of the property, and would welcome residents to have their say – especially those who live in the immediate area.

“This site could provide substantial affordable homes for people from our communities, allowing people to stay within the village, close to their friends, family and support network and the area they call home. We’re therefore very happy to see this progress.”

Cllr Andrew Carter (Cons, Calverley & Farsley) was very critical of the development as it stands.

“The proposal is an abomination,” he said. “It is a classic example of too many dwellings a very small site.

“I have told the city council on countless occasions that the site should be developed sensitively, as far as existing residents are concerned.

“A part three-storey block that looks like a factory is completely unacceptable. Whatever is developed there should be for older people on a local lettings policy. As it stands this proposal is unacceptable.”

Have your say

More details about the plans can be found here.

Follow WLD‘s ongoing coverage of Richmond House site here.

Pudsey man backs Wales Air Ambulance appeal after catastrophic fall

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March 21, 2025

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Richard Hunt, Pudsey — Support: Pudsey's Richard Hunt owes a lot to the air ambulance.

A Pudsey man whose leg was saved by the Wales Air Ambulance has thrown his weight behind a fundraising spring raffle to support the organisation.

Richard Hunt was visiting Wales for a friend’s birthday when an enjoyable day at Dyfi Bike Park soon took a dramatic turn for the worse.

On 23 March 2024 Richard, an experienced mountain biker, was enjoying his time in Wales when what appeared to be a ‘simple fall’ resulted in catastrophic injuries.

A call for help was made to 999 and sparked the interest of the EMRTS Critical Care Practitioner working on the Critical Care Hub.

The Critical Care Hub is a vital part of the Wales Air Ambulance and EMRTS service. 24 hours a day, every 999 call is monitored by a critical care practitioner and allocator, to identify where critical care interventions will be required.

When the road ambulance arrived Richard was lying on the mountain track awake and in extreme pain.

Due to the severity of his injuries, the Wales Air Ambulance were dispatched from their base in Welshpool. The crew on board were Critical Care Practitioners Carl Hudson and Mike Ainslie.

Richard said: “Despite it being a simple fall, the force of the accident resulted in my femur being ‘blown out’ of my knee and my leg was left at a 90-degree angle. This reduced blood flow to my leg, and I had a weak pulse in my foot. There was a risk that I could potentially lose my leg.”

Wales Air Ambulance is on standby to attend those suffering a life or limb-threatening injury or illness.

He continued: “The air ambulance arrived, and it was at that point I realised that it wasn’t a simple break or fix.

“They gave me strong medication, including antibiotics to prevent a wound infection. I was also sedated before they positioned my leg straight and placed it into a splint – improving the blood flow and pulse in my foot.

“Without the care of the Wales Air Ambulance I could have lost my leg or even worse.”

The treatments Richard received would usually only be available within a hospital setting, but thanks to the advanced medics and equipment on board Wales Air Ambulance he received them at the bike park.

Once stable, Richard was flown directly to the Major Trauma Centre in Stoke where he underwent two operations and spent ten days in hospital recovering.

The 40-year-old went on to receive support from the Charity’s Aftercare Service and was introduced to Patient Liaison Nurse, Hayley Whitehead-Wright, whose role is to support patients and their families after what is usually a life-altering and sudden traumatic event.

Richard said: “After returning home, the Wales Air Ambulance Aftercare Service contacted me – a service I didn’t know existed. Hayley, the Patient Liaison Nurse, was so kind and went through what happened with me. But she’s not just helped me, she’s helped my family come to terms with what happened and has offered support to my friend who was with me that day.”

Following Richard’s remarkable recovery, he is encouraging people to support this year’s Spring Raffle in aid of the lifesaving charity which helped save his life.

Tickets, which are £1 each, are available now with the closing date for postal entries being 9 May 2025 and online entries on 20 May 2025.

Tickets are available from the Charity’s shops, fundraising representatives and online. The draw will take place on Friday, 23 May and one lucky winner will win £3,000, with a second prize of £500 and third prize of £300.

A grateful Richard said: “Thank you will never be enough to the Wales Air Ambulance. I’m not from Wales, but to know the service is there in Wales, to call upon if needed is incredible, and I will forever be grateful to you for supporting this Charity.

“The Wales Air Ambulance Spring Raffle has the power to change lives, and whilst I hope you never need them, you never know what route life is going to take.”

Wales Air Ambulance is consultant-led, taking hospital-standard treatments to the patient and, if required, transferring them directly to the most appropriate hospital for their illness or injury. It is delivered via a unique Third Sector and Public Sector partnership. The Emergency Medical Retrieval and Transfer Service (EMRTS) supplies highly skilled NHS consultants and critical care practitioners who work on board the Charity’s vehicles.

More details about the raffle can be found here.

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Farsley Village Singers raise the roof for charity

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March 20, 2025

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By Susan Johnson

A presentation by Farsley Village Singers was held at St John’s Church on Wednesday, 19 March.

The recipients were MHA Communities Farsley and SEN Parents – special educational needs – both local charities. The cheques were received by Jess Grimes (SEN) and Olly Craven (MHA).

The brilliant choir director Jen Silvester-Killen devotes her spare time to rehearsing a group of volunteers for two concerts per year in July and December. July 5 will be the tenth anniversary of the summer concert. The Christmas concert alone raised £1,400, which was split between the charities above.

New people would be very welcome to come along and join the choir at St John’s. Rehearsals are Wednesday evening 7.30pm to 9.30pm.

New Horsforth beer marks International Women’s Day

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March 20, 2025

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By Jill Stocks

A new beer was launched recently to mark International Women’s Day and it has already been enjoyed by several locals.

Horsforth Brewery launched Blowing Raspberries, a 4% beer described as “sour, sweet and fresh”, with customers enjoying its fruity taste.

The beer also supports the charity Women’s Aid with a £150 one-off donation made by the brewery. Women’s Aid is the national charity working to end domestic abuse against women and children.

Cllr Emmie Bromley (Lab, Horsforth) was one of many prominent Horsforth women present at the launch.

“Horsforth is such a powerhouse of brilliant, strong women and with Horsforth Brewery as an ally, we can drink to that,” she said. “Blowing Raspberries to patriarchy, plus it tastes delicious”.

Mark Costello is from Horsforth Brewery.

He said: “Blowing Raspberries was a great opportunity to bring the amazing women we work with and around together.

“We wanted to include those that are directly involved in hospitality (even if they don’t or can’t stock our beer) and those that we just work with in and around Leeds and thought we might have a few people turn up.

“To have over 20 women come for the full brew day, plus some that joined at various points, was amazing and made for a truly memorable day.

“When we decided to do a beer for International Women’s Day we knew we had to involve as many women as possible and once we had our attendees for the brew day we threw it out to them – they decided the style and name for the beer and we think they did a great job.

“With spring coming, Blowing Raspberries will be the perfect sunny afternoon beer on the taproom patio!”

Claire Evans, Manager, Horsforth Community Assets Project said: “Being invited by Horsforth Brewery to be part of their International Woman’s Collaboration Brew Day with 20+ women from the brewing industry and our local community was an amazing experience.

“Mark was brilliant giving us full involvement in the style and name of the beer, as well as making it! And I can confirm that the finished product, Blowing Raspberries, tastes rather good! It was definitely a day to remember”

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Meeting hears of revisions to Armley Town Street revamp

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March 20, 2025

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Armley Town Street - Gelder Road junction visualisation — A visualisation of the junction with Gelder Road.

By John Baron

Parts of a £2.9 million scheme to revamp the Armley Town Street area have been revised, a meeting has heard.

A public consultation was held last summer into ambitious proposals to reduce bus delays while improving the street environment for visitors and shoppers with wider pavements, planting and landscaping and more crossing points.

People attending last night’s Armley Forum meeting heard that plans to close Wesley Road to stop vehicles rat running through residential streets were set to be shelved. And designers were looking at reintroducing more parking spaces on the northern part of Town Street following concerns from business owners and shoppers.

What Armley Town Street could look like at its junction with Theaker Lane.

Leeds City Council highways officer David O’Donoghue told the meeting, which was held at Armley Hub, that reaction to the scheme had been mixed. Out of 447 responses 46% were in favour of the scheme, 43% against and 11% neutral.

Mr O’Donaghue said that some elements of the scheme had caused concerns, which he was looking to address, but stressed that people were generally supportive of the objectives of the scheme.

“People want to use cars and taxis less,” he added.

Forum attendees spoke both for and against the blocking of Wesley Road, with some saying the road was dangerous and calling for a crossing, which the council agreed to look into. Mr O’Donaghue said Wesley Road proposals were “a difficult trade off” – and said traffic at peak times as a result of it bot being blocked.

Cllr Lou Cunningham (Green, Lab) suggested bringing forward plans to make Armley Town Street a 20mph zone.

The design team are continuing to review the feedback and finalise the design. It’s hoped a report will go to the chief highways officer within the next eight weeks.

A report capturing the full findings of the consultation will be released to the public shortly.

The scheme

The overall plans for the Government-funded scheme include:

Four new pedestrian crossing points, two located on Armley Town Street, one on Carr Crofts and one on Wesley Road, to improve safety
Wider pavements to facilitate pedestrians and shoppers, better bus waiting areas and greenery
New cycling and walking links from surrounding streets to Armley Town Street
Making Armley Town Street from Theaker Lane to Wesley Road a bus-only section that can also be used by black and white taxis, emergency vehicles and cyclists
New trees and landscaping, including rain gardens that help to remove surface water run-off
Better bus waiting areas, with upgraded bus stops
New pick-up/drop-off short stay parking on Theaker Lane, Stocks Hill and Crab Lane suitable for private hire taxis
Road closure at Theaker Lane to prevent motor vehicles rat running through residential streets
A reduction of speed from 30 to 20mph along Armley Town Street, to improve safety
Seven disabled parking spaces retained but relocated and additional loading bays.

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Public meeting raises concerns over Bramley phone mast plans

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March 20, 2025

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By Kelvin Wakefield

The location of a new 30-metre high “pylon style” 5G mast next to Bramley Fall Woods was the biggest concern when the Newlay and Whitecote Residents’ Association (NAWRA) held their AGM.

Residents said they are distressed that the new mast would stand 24m higher than the nearby streetlights and 6m higher than the tallest trees.

Unlike other 5G masts, such as the one on Newlay Lane, this construction would be a “lattice tower”, which more closely resembles an electricity pylon.

*The site off Pollard Lane. Photo: Kelvin Wakefield*

The proposed design was generally agreed to be of an industrial appearance, and out of scale and keeping with its urban green corridor location.

The group of more than 30 Bramley residents voiced no major objections to 5G masts in general, but stated their concerns over the specific location and proposed design. They expressed their wish to have direct discussions with Cornerstone, who are acting on behalf of O2 and Vodafone.

The residents’ group unanimously voted to oppose the new mast, stating that other locations, even within the same field, could potentially be acceptable to them.

Association Chairman, Roland Cross, said: “I’m proud of the environmental activities this group has carried out in the past. But it’s disgusting that so little consideration has been given to the location of this mast, and I urge them to reconsider.”

The new mast would stand 24m higher than the nearby streetlight. Photo: Kelvin Wakefield

Two Bramley councillors also attended the meeting. Cllr Adele Rae (Lab) said, “It was good that the meeting was well attended, and to hear the residents’ views on the suggested mast location. I’d welcome a direct conversation with Cornerstone.”

Cllr Kevin Ritchie (Lab) added: “This is a vibrant community and it’s good to see them come together on a matter of such importance.”

Bramley resident Caroline Clarke is objecting to the proposals. She said: “I’m impressed by the turnout. It’s great to have the support of our local councillors.

“The planned pylon styled mast is overbearing, and the scale and materials are not in keeping with its surroundings. It even dwarfs the lampposts. We just want Vodafone to talk to us.”

An existing Vodafone site on Pollard Lane provides local mobile coverage and capacity to the area. Applicant Cornerstone says there is now a requirement to upgrade this cell to provide the latest 4G and new 5G technologies.

In a letter to councillors it said: “However, the existing site is not upgradable, and a new site is required.”

The deadline to provide objections or support is 7 April 2025. Comments on the proposal can be added to the council’s planning website here.
NAWRA’s activities can be followed on their community Facebook page.
WLD first reported on the proposals here.

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Kirkstall cyclist raises thousands with 500km Vietnam challenge

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March 20, 2025

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Gemma and Daniel — Daniel is pictured with friend Gemma.

A Kirkstall man has completed an epic pedal-powered journey from Vietnam to Cambodia to raise money for Sue Ryder, which runs Wheatfields Hospice in Headingley.

Daniel Clark-Bland, 39, strapped on his cycle helmet and embarked on his incredible adventure in memory of his friend Gemma Sisson-Moore, who received care from Sue Ryder Wheatfields Hospice in 2020. 

Since then, he has taken on an array of fundraising challenges and events, everything from coffee mornings to a memorable trek up Machu Picchu.

Daniel has raised £20,000 for the palliative and bereavement support charity so far.

“When Gemma was in the hospice, I did a couple of quizzes, and it went from there,” he said. “I made a promise to Gemma and her family that I would do whatever I could to ‘pay back’ Sue Ryder/the hospice for their incredible care. Their support enabled her to leave us with such dignity, she was still Gemma right until the end.”

The 500km cycle ride, starting in Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam and ending in Siem Reap in Cambodia, saw Daniel powering through soaring temperatures and stunning scenery.

His achievement is even more impressive given his bumpy history with cycling: “I had a bike accident when I was a child so cycling didn’t feature much in my life after that.  I only started training for this trip in October, so this was definitely a real challenge for me!

“I now have such as sense of pride and achievement in myself, as well as knowing that I have done something amazing for charity whilst honouring Gemma’s legacy. She really was one in a million.”

Reflecting on what Gemma would have made of his continued fundraising efforts Daniel shared: “She’d be absolutely buzzing. I think she’d take the mick out of me for being so saddle sore, but she’d be really proud.” 

Daniel concluded: “I’d like to thank my family and friends, as well as Gemma’s family, for their continued support.  I’d also like to express my gratitude to the amazing staff at the hospice, I hope my ongoing fundraising efforts demonstrate how grateful Gemma’s family and I continue to be.”

Clare Humphreys, Community Fundraiser at Sue Ryder Wheatfields Hospice praised Daniel’s fundraising efforts. She said: “Daniel’s dedication to raising money for the hospice is absolutely remarkable. 

“We are so grateful that he keeps taking on these amazing challenges for us.  All the money that supporters like Daniel raise ensures that we can continue to provide care to people when they need it most.”   