Memphis Belle 40's Singer - Leeds

This is 40's singer Memphis Belle, sitting on a 1941 Chevrolet truck in Royal Armouries Square, Leeds.

After watching the Leeds dragon boat races at Clarence Dock I wandered around nearby looking for anything to photograph and caught the last few songs by a singer called the Memphis Belle who performs a 40's USO show. This lady really can sing and she looks the part in her military coveralls.

Thanks Lorraine I appreciated that you were in keeping with the show and game for posing on the truck. I only suggested it and she was climbing with practiced ease onto the bonnet.

Tania and Girls Out In Leeds

Tania and girls out enjoying the sunshine outside in Royal Armouries Square Leeds.

I too was out in Leeds and had just watched the dragon boat racing when I saw several smartly dressed young women. On a hunch I asked the women what they were in Leeds for and was pleased to discover it was a sort of hen afternoon.

So, above we have Tania the bride to be (in gray print dress) and her friends out on the town in Leeds. Tania is from Latvia, now living in Leeds and she and her English boyfriend get married here in Leeds today, Wednesday 30 June. I wish Tania and her soon to be husband every joy and happiness together. Also thanks Tania, for sharing this with readers of the Leeds Daily Photo.

In case anyone is wondering in the background of the photo there are some military vehicles on display by people who collect them and like to dress the part too. More on that tomorrow.

Hilary Benn MP - Clarence Dock, Leeds

Picture of Hilary Benn MP, Clarence Dock, Leeds.

Whilst I was in Leeds at Clarence Dock photographing the dragon boat races I noticed a familiar face in the crowds. I say familiar, in the sense of known to me, but only through the media. I had never encountered Hilary Benn, local Leeds MP before and was pleased to chat with him.

In the photo above Hilary Benn is using his iPhone to take a photo of one of the participants of the dragon boat racing. I thought this was a nice reversal of roles, because I guess he is normally the person in the picture.

Dragon Boats at Clarence Dock, Leeds

Picture of dragon boats racing through Clarence Dock adjacent to the Royal Armouries museum Leeds, Yorkshire.

The nearest crew, the smartest crew at this years dragon boat racing in Leeds are powering ahead, shortly after the start line. Crew members of this team were wearing white shirts and bow ties. Their opponents in this heat, were dressed as Roman legionaries, but unlike the Romans, they did not appear to be all pulling together.



This team (above) were only too happy to pose when they saw my camera. Love the leopard print tights and skirts, not sure about the blonde wigs though! They still look pretty beefy though.

Dragon Boat Racing Leeds

Picture of portion of two dragon boat crews racing along Clarence Dock adjacent to the Royal Armouries museum Leeds.

Last summer I chanced upon the dragon boat racing held here in Leeds, today I went looking for it. These two crews were giving it their all, one crew were togged up as Noah and the animals in two by two.

Dragon boat racing is a great family day out, especially if dad or maybe mum is part of a crew. But just as a spectator sport it is great fun, some teams take it very seriously! Also it raises good sums for charity too!

Flower and Bee

I was walking past some wild flowers or at least the were flowers growing wild on some waste ground in the Woodhouse area of Leeds and photographed this little bee busy at work in this flower head.

Leeds City Cruise

This is a picture of the Leeds City Cruise boat just going under Leeds Bridge.

I have made a trip on this boat and very comfortable it is too! Throughout the summer you can travel in style along the river Aire.

Boat Route: Clarence Dock - Brewery Wharf - Granary Wharf leaving every hour on the hour. Sat - Sun 11:00 to 15:30.

Leeds City Cruises can be contacted on Tel: 0845 388 4901

Leeds Sightseeing Bus

This is a picture of the Leeds sightseeing bus, traveling along Cookridge Street and behind it is the Leeds Town Hall.

I have traveled around Leeds city centre on the top of this bus. I was invited by Welcome to Yorkshire at the launch of both this bus and also the new Leeds City Cruiser sightseeing boat.

The Leeds Sightseeing bus has a running recorded commentary of interesting detail along the trip that takes in the cities major visitor sites. Yes I learned something about the city of Leeds whilst on the bus... Leeds has, along with many other UK cities a Blue Badge tourist guide scheme. I met one on the bus and discovered that they operated in Leeds, I had just never come across one on my travels around the city.

I would recommend this sightseeing bus to anyone visiting our city. Tickets can be bought either on the bus or from the Leeds visitor centre (adjacent to the railway station).

Police Diver in River Aire at Leeds

Picture shows police diver at work searching the river Aire in Leeds city centre.

The Leeds daily photo had a picture of the police underwater search team at work on the river Aire.

Sadly the police have now confirmed that a body recovered from the river was Doug Fraser and they are not treating the death as suspicious.

Welcome To Yorkshire - Turner Trails

This picture is a detail of one of the more than 70 seats placed around Yorkshire for travelers on the Turner Trail by Welcome to Yorkshire.

This seat is at the ruins of the cistercian abbey, Jervaulx in the Yorkshire Dales.

Leeds has a connection to the Turner Trail with his view from Beeston Hill, across Holbeck and Hunslet. There should be a seat there and I will soon go and have a look at the modern day view from Beeston Hill and the seat.

Turner Trail - Jervaulx Abbey, Yorkshire Dales

Picture of Turner trail seat amongst the ruins of the 12th century Cistercian Monastery in the Yorkshire Dales, North Yorkshire.

On my way back from the launch of the Welcome to Yorkshire Turner Trail at Castle Bolton I dropped into Jervaulx Abbey to get a few photos and chanced on this seat. Welcome to Yorkshire have placed similar seats at the more than 70 locations on the Turner Trail. At each place on the trail there is a seat for travelers and an interpretation board along with the Turner painting of the location. I say chanced because I had only glanced at the Turner Trail booklet with map.

Bolton Castle - View From The Gardens

This view of Bolton castle in Yorkshire is from the garden.

Bolton castle, completed in 1399 this medieval fortress lies in Wensleydale in the Yorkshire Dales national park.

Bolton castle once imprisoned Mary, Queen of Scots (1569), but today it is open to visitors, you can even get married here!

I visited Bolton Castle to see the launch of The Turner Trail enabling people to walk in the footsteps of one of Englands finest painters, JMW Turner.

Artist Ashley Jackson at Castle Bolton Yorkshire

Picture of Yorkshire landscape watercolourist Ashley Jackson painting a view of Bolton Castle near Leyburn in north Yorkshire.

In 1816 the artist JMW Turner RA (1775-1851) came to Yorkshire for two months to sketch the landscapes, country houses, castles and abbeys of this England's largest county. Today Turner is widely lauded as perhaps the finest watercolourist of the British Isles.

I was lucky to be invited to the launch of the Turner Trails, taking in 70 of the locations which Turner painted and sketched. Welcome to Yorkshire has created a website and a booklet with information about the artist and a map of the locations across Yorkshire.

The locations on the Turner Trails have been compiled with the help of one of the leading Turner experts, Professor David Hill of Leeds University. I spoke with Prof. Hill and he was suitably modest about his Turner scholarship.

I photographed three of the locations on the Turner Trail and stumbled across a nice wooden seat with small metal plaque placed at Jervaulx Abbey on my way back from Bolton Castle.

I spoke to Ashley about his love of Yorkshire and his love of Turner he said he had done the Turner trail. Brought up in Barnsley and now working in Last of the Summer Wine country, Ashley said "I love the Yorkshire Dales, its a great county" "Turner chases light and I chase the light". When asked to explain by a journalist stood next to me he said "it was like having a torch at a large show, moving across the stage". I knew what he meant, photography is all about light.

I shall endeavour to visit many of the 70 locations on the Turner trail, mostly for personal interest and I shall post pictures of them here on the Leeds Daily Photo.

Wildflowers in Yorkshire

This picture shows a small field filled with wild flowers in Yorkshire, near Middleham.

I was driving towards Middleham castle in north Yorkshire when I saw a field of wild flowers, so I parked up and entered the field with my camera.

I cannot recall seeing so many buttercups, speedwell and other flowers in such profusion in one small meadow in many years.

Sylvie - Sandwiches With a Smile in Leeds

This is Sylvie who posed for me on Briggate in the heart of Leeds city centre.

I saw a young woman offering free sandwich samples to people walking by at the top of Briggate in Leeds. Never one to pass by a chance for a picture of life here in Leeds, I spoke with Sylvie and asked if she would mind her photo appearing on the Leeds Daily Photo.

As you can see Sylvie was happy to pose, but first she had to get more samples for by then her tray was empty. Silvie was offering samples of sandwiches from a new company on New Briggate called San Co.co.

I normally leave the Leeds food blogging to Katie at Leeds Grub but from the samples I tried they do great sandwiches!

Charlotte - Seen on Briggate Leeds

This young woman is Charlotte standing in Briggate in the heart of Leeds shopping district.

I had seen and spoken with Charlotte before, she was out in Leeds with her camera hoping to get a few photos of people with "Style". Charlotte has a Facebook page where you can find Styling Leeds.

Police Underwater Search Team - River Aire Leeds

This picture shows members of the West Yorkshire police underwater search team on the river Aire in Leeds City centre.

I was crossing the Leeds bridge over the river Aire in Leeds city centre when I noticed members of the police in a boat on the river Aire,just down from the bridge. Always on the lookout for pictures for my Leeds Daily Photo, I thought I would see what was happening. I asked them if it was an exercise and they said no they were working, so I watched and waited. Eventually a camera woman from Calendar news turned up and also someone from Look North the regional BBC programme.

These police divers were searching the river Aire for a well known horse racing commentator Doug Fraser, who lives nearby and has gone missing.

Band of Hope - Founded Leeds 1847

This brass plaque commemorating the founding of the Band of Hope here in Leeds in 1847.

The plaque reads:

In 1847 at a meeting on these premises the "Band of Hope"
movement was formed. Its title being suggested by the
reverend Jabez Tunnicliffe a prominent Leeds
temperance worker.

This brass plaque on the wall of this building is right next to a Leeds civic trust
blue plaque marking the filming on Leeds Bridge by Louis Le Prince in 1888.

The above brass plaque was what I was here to photograph when I noticed the police divers on the river Aire.

Owls On Railings Leeds City Centre

All over the city of Leeds in Yorkshire there are owls, because the owl features in the coat of arms of the city.

These little owls are on iron railings just across from the town hall.

The Kings Head? - Woodhouse, Leeds

This painted stone head is one of two on the front of the building in Raglan road, Woodhouse, the other being the head of a woman.

This building was I think constructed 1903-1904 and was used by Fred Hall who was a tailor.

I have two theories as to who these two heads are, either Fred Hall and his wife (my first thought) or possibly the new king and his wife. Edward VII was crowned in August 1902 and there is a photo of him wearing a very similar decoration hung around his neck.

The Victorians and indeed the Edwardians liked decoration on their buildings. I am no expert and would be pleased if someone reading this could perhaps give me their view on this.

Womans Head on Building - Woodhouse, Leeds

Picture of a womans head above an archway on a building on Raglan road in Woodhouse just north of Leeds city centre.

This painted stone head is one of two on the front of the building, the other being the head of a man.

I have no idea why they were placed there or what they might mean. The building had no visible date on the frontage, but I will go to The Leeds Library and see what I can discover.

I passed the building that these heads are on whilst walking back from the churchyard of the church of saint Mark which is nearby.

Blue Plaque at Tesco Supermarket Oakwood, Leeds

This Leeds civic trust blue plaque mark the life of Robert Blackburn and his company Blackburn Aircraft.

Robert Blackburn, OBE, FRAeS (March 26, 1885 – September 10, 1955) was an English aviation pioneer and the founder of Blackburn Aircraft who was born in Kirkstall, Leeds.

The Leeds civic trust blue plaque reads:

The Olympia Works

Robert Blackburn - aviation pioneer
built aircraft here including over 100 BE2C
army and navy biplanes and the famous
Kangaroo, Swift and Sopwith Baby planes.
He test flew the BE2Cs on Soldiers' Field
and from there, in 1919, operated passenger
flights to London and Amsterdam.

1914 - 1932

The factory shut when Blackburns moved production out to Brough, but re-opened prior to world war 2 and worked on the planes needed to fight the Nazis and closed finally in 1946.

I used to live behind the clock at Oakwood, quite close to this site but never knew the history. To think that the famous Swordfish aircraft of the Fleet air arm were built and flown from here in north Leeds. Although designed by Fairey the majority of Swordfish aircraft were built by Blackburns.

Today this site is now home to a Tesco supermarket and also Homebase.

English Daisy in a Lawn Leeds

These flowers are the common wildflower often found in lawns, Bellis perennis known variously as the English daisy, lawn daisy or common daisy.

Many gardeners think of daises as weeds, I much prefer to think of them as wild flowers. They may be quite small but up close or when there are a swathe of them they are quite pretty.

These small flowers have been used since the days of the Romans as a medicine with astringent properties. Today daisies hark back to childhood and making daisy chains with them

Social History Revealed in Leeds Churchyard

This photo of the gravestone in the churchyard of the church of saint Mark in Woodhouse Leeds of one James Henderson reveals a little of the social history of Leeds in the first half of the 19th century.

The headstone reads:

In memory of James Henderson of Woodhouse
who departed this life December 7th 1841,
aged 57 years.
He was the first member and the first president
of the Total abstinence society in this place.
In the promotion of this cause he zealously
laboured to the end of his days to free mankind
from the bondage & ruin of drinking intoxicating
liquors.

Also James son of the above who departed this life
January 15th 18343 aged 15 years.

Also Ann wife of the above who departed....

Drink and the perceived evils that lay in wait for innocents abroad was a big problem
at this period in the history of cities like Leeds. Dickens was writing in the hope of social reform and in Leeds temperance was a growing force.

The Band of Hope was founded here in Leeds in 1847, to teach and impress upon children the importance and principles of sobriety and teetotalism.

Yorkshire Churchyard in Summer - Saint Mark's Leeds

Picture of the wildflower Ranunculus acris the meadow buttercup in the churchyard of St Mark's, Woodhouse, Leeds.

I had reason to revisit this unused and semi derelict churchyard. Despite the snow of my previous visit to Saint Mark's church Woodhouse, Leeds I think that the vandalism was less noticeable then.

This photograph of the churchyard is deceptive, not shown in this picture is a scene of almost devastation amongst these mostly Victorian graves. I had not realised it but Saint Mark's church is a Waterloo church. Some of the remaining upright gravestones contain clues to the lives of these long dead citizens of Leeds. But I suspect that they will not remain upright and readable for too much longer, such is the apparent regular assault by local hooligans.

Canal Gardens Roundhay Park Leeds - Blue Plaque

This picture is of a Blue Plaque from the Leeds civic trust in the walled garden at canal gardens Roundhay park Leeds.

I originally photographed this plaque in the early spring and there was no plant life around the plaque and I thought it looked bare. On re visiting the park a short while ago there is much greenery as can be seen by the climber around the blue plaque.

This blue plaque reads:

Canal Gardens

These ornamental gardens were formed from a walled kitchen garden built c.1816 for
Thomas Nicholson of Roundhay Park. Inheriting the estate in 1833, his stepbrother Stephen added the canal, 350 by 34 feet, spanned by two rustic bridges and terminating in an arbour.

I have written this before, but I learn quite a lot about the city of Leeds from my exploration with my camera for my Leeds Daily Photo. I never knew that the ornamental canal here in Roundhay park was this old having previously believed it was a recent addition.

I hope eventually to have pictures and details of all the blue plaques around the city of Leeds here on my LDP.

Paul's Scarlet - Hawthorn Hybrid

These flowers in the picture are on a tree in Roundhay Park, north Leeds.

These dark pink flowers are on the hawthorn tree hybrid Paul's Scarlet and they can be seen on the many trees in parks and gardens all over Yorkshire at the moment. Although this hawthorn is a tree it can also be seen used in a hedge, much like the standard hawthorn. With its masses of pink flowers this tree is very distinctive, late in the autumn the flowers will have given way to the fruit, which are known as haws.

Fly Fishing on the River Aire - Yorkshire

This scene of a fisherman fly fishing on the river Aire here in Yorkshire is one that I never thought I would see and photograph less than a mile from my home.

I was walking along the riverbank looking to see if I could see the police divers in action on this stretch of the river Aire. The police here had spent a couple of days in and on the river nearby looking for remains or evidence. It was not a morbid thing me being there, my friend who is an editorial photographer was somewhere along this part of the river photographing the divers at work. So I thought I would stroll along and see if he was around.

I had never walked along this bit of the river bank, which is odd because I walk quite a bit. I had always thought that anyone fly fishing on the river Aire would be some miles further upstream. The above photo is slightly misleading because the rocks and grass on his left are a small island and not the bank of the river.

I saw a heron stood in the river Aire, a few hundred yards from this spot, but he was on the other side and my 70-200 lens is not really big enough for that. Also as I got nearer to the heron it flew off.