By James Bovington & John Baron
A new sculpture celebrating inspirational Leeds women has been unveiled at the heart of the city’s cultural quarter.
Created by artist Pippa Hale, ‘Ribbons’ features nearly 400 women from across the city in a sculpture at the top of the gardens between Leeds City College’s Quarry Hill campus and Leeds Playhouse.
The women have all been nominated by members of the public.
Developed by Leeds West and Pudsey MP Rachel Reeves, and led by Leeds Arts University in partnership with Leeds City Council and Leeds City College, the project aims to celebrate women past and present who have contributed to the city.
The unveiling ceremony programme explained that the sculpture is ‘made up of five intertwined courten steel ribbons showing the names of 383 women nominated by members of the public.
‘Ribbons as a title is fitting as ribbons often decorate women’s clothes or hair and can denote allegiance to a particular cause such as the Suffragettes. Ribbons can also bind parts into a whole together and the women honoured are thus linked through space and time in a celebration of womanhood in Leeds.
‘The dual aims are to champion the achievements of local women and provide a more balanced gender representation in the city’s public sculpture.’
Farsley-based wildlife photographer Rosie Dutton is delighted at her name appearing on the newly unveiled Ribbons.
“I had such a lovely day finally seeing the sculpture unveiled,” said Rosie, 28.
“It feels surreal to have my name featured in recognition of my work in wildlife filming. It was an honour to meet some of the other nominated women. I’m grateful to whoever put my name forward and I appreciate it so much that you believed I was worthy to figure on this permanent sculpture located adjacent to Leeds Playhouse in Quarry Hill.
“I hope that this sculpture will encourage many other girls and women to believe that they too can do useful, even inspirational work.”
Rosie Dutton lives in Farsley and is a nature photographer and filmmaker whose film about St Aidan’s nature reserve showcased at Millennium Square. She now works as a visual communications editor for the EIA, an environmental and wildlife investigation organisation which aims to protect the world’s oceans, forests, wildlife and climate.
Alongside well-known names such as Armley’s Barbara Taylor-Bradford, the sculpture also pays homage to the unsung heroes of the city and those who have dedicated their lives to helping others.
Dawn Newsome, the CEO from Armley Helping Hands, said: “It’s a great honour to be among so many inspirational and strong women who have delivered remarkable intervention and services across the city of Leeds.
“I am grateful to everyone who has always been a part of my journey and made Armley Helping Hands where it is today, from my fantastic Board of Trustees, staff, volunteers, community partners in both statutory and third sector and – most importantly – our older people and the residents of Armley and West Leeds.
“This recognition is to each and everyone of you, male and female who have joined me on the Armley Helping Hands journey and ensured we deliver the best service for our older people, their families and our community.”
Women who live or work in West Leeds who have been included in the list include:
- The late Denise Atkinson MBE, who represented Bramley as a councillor over four decades.
- Burley singer Corinne Bailey-Rae.
- Irene Bashan, an inspirational teacher and Headteacher at Fairfield infants Farsley (1980s).
- Emma Bearman, of Pudsey, is the founder of Culture Vulture blog and Playful Anywhere, which promotes play for everybody, regardless of age, background or wealth.
- Lisa Farrar dedicates her time keeping the streets of Pudsey free of litter and graffiti.
- Melanie Brown, singer
- Margaret Cliff (1923-1993), former county councillor for Bramley and Stanningley.
- Violet Mary Crowther (1884 – 1969) was a pioneering museum curator at the Abbey House Museum in Kirkstall for more than two decades retiring in 1949.
- Jane Earnshaw, who ran the I Love West Leeds Festival.
- Lorraine Fearnley works at Crawshaw Academy supporting school children and six form pupils with severe learning difficulties and disabilities.
- Mary Gawthorpe (1881 – 1973) Bramley socialist and suffragette.
- Norah Gibson, founder of West Leeds Debt Forum in 2004. Norah also holds various church positions including Secretary of Churches Together LS13 and establishing interfaith work resulting in the Lights for Leeds events at Kirkstall Abbey.
- Jayne Greensill is the founder of Jayne’s Joggers and chairperson of Pudsey Runners.
- Diane Harkness is an asset to her community, especially in her support for Stanningley Albion Junior football club.
- Ailith Harley-Roberts, co-founder and Service Manager at Sunshine and Smiles – Leeds Down Syndrome Network. Swimming sessions are held at Bramley Baths.
- Jan Holdstock (1940-2017) was a musician, a gifted lyricist and a noted composer of music for young people. She was a senior lecturer in music, at first at the James Graham College in Farnley, and later at Beckett Park.
- Jean Hollings is a retired nurse and community health visitor. Event director for Bramley parkrun and regular volunteer at charity sporting events in the district.
- Sue Ingle is currently a consultant for Stanningley Slimming World Group. Sue also organises an annual event on Boxing Day for 30 elderly and isolated people.
- Olive Jakusz (1919-1999), Headteacher Burley St Matthias Infants where she worked for 14 years, retiring in 1979. Olive taught thousands of inner-city Leeds children in a career spanning 40 years.
- Sue Jennings is Director at Left Bank Leeds and has been a resident in Leeds her entire life.
- Manjit Kaur, founder of Manjit’s Kitchen, a food truck that sold vegetarian Indian food, and moved to Kirkgate Market in 2016. She used to run a restaurant on Kirkstall Road.
- Alison Lowe is a British Labour politician. She was the first black woman Leeds city councillor, serving Armley Ward from 1990 to 2019.
- Vicky Milner, runs Stanningley Albion under 13’s football. Sue also fundraises and contributes greatly to the community.
- Lucy Moore, Project Curator at Leeds Museums and Galleries with a passion for uplifting and ensuring the voices of marginalised communities have their stories told.
- Kate Moree is co-founder of Seagulls Reuse, an environmental social enterprise.
- Angela Morely (1924-2009) was a Kirkstall Road-born composer, she was the first openly transgender woman to be nominated for an Oscar and won three Emmy awards for her work in music arrangement.
- Dawn Newsome is CEO of Armley Helping Hands, an organisation supporting older people.
- Alice Nutter (born Anne Holden, 1962) is a musician, singer-songwriter, activist and playwright. Founding member of Armley rock band, Chumbawumba.
- Pat Oddy (1933-2018), founder member and Lifetime President for Hawksworth Older People’s Support. She was Lady Mayoress, set up community associations, worked as a neighbourhood warden and served on school committees in the local area.
- Janet Page, a member of Leeds Amateur Operatic Society and working backstage utilising her skills as a professional barber. She is a member of Farsley in Bloom and a foodbank volunteer.
- Cat Hyde is co-founder of Seagulls Reuse, an environmental social enterprise.
- Barbara Ratcliffe (1927 – 2003) One of the few lady publicans working with Joshua Tetley & Son Ltd. Barbara forged her way in a male dominated environment and managed several pubs in the city including The Oddfellows (Melbourne Pubs) in Kirkstall and Tetley’s flagship pub, The Ancestor (on Armley Ridge Road, Leeds) in the 1960s.
- Rachel Reeves (born 1979) is Labour MP for Leeds West and Pudsey and is Chancellor of the Exchequer.
- Andrea Selkirk works as a Sessional Youth Worker at Cardigan Centre, which facilitates social welfare, recreation, education and economic regeneration.
- Linda Stansbie was the teacher in residence at Leeds Industrial Museum at Armley Mills for nearly 20 years.
- Barbara Taylor Bradford OBE (born 1933 in Armley) is a best-selling author.
- Valerie Ainley (former teacher Bramley St Peter’s school).
- Gillian Hunter, LCC community safety officer.
A full list of names included on the sculpture can be read here.