Arthur Aaron - Statue Eastgate

The above photo shows a detail from the much larger statue in memory of this brave young man.

Arthur Aaron VC DFM was a pilot in WW2 who was awarded the VC in recognition of most conspicuous bravery.

On the great many war memorials in the villages, towns and cities of Britain quite a few have an inscription which is a quote from the bible... "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends". John 15,13.

Born in Leeds in 1922, Aaron was a pupil at Roundhay School in the city, later he went on to study architecture in the city.

In March 1941, Aaron became one of 23 cadets who formed the inaugural Flight of Leeds University Air Squadron. Aaron learnt to fly in Texas in the USA at the Number 1 British Flying Training School at Terrell where he received his pilots wings.

Arthur Aaron was captain and pilot of a Stirling bomber of 218 Sqn RAF based a Downham Market in Norfolk when on a raid on Turin on 12/13 August 1943 the aircraft was hit and several crew members were wounded and the navigator, Canadian Cornelius A. Brennan killed. Arthur Aaron was badly wounded and so was the aircraft, but he guided the bomb aimer and enabled him to fly the plane to a base in Algeria.

With a crew of 7, less the navigator Arthur Aaron saved the remaining crew and his aircraft but died of his wounds a few hours after the aicraft landed safely at an airfield in Algeria.

Hell

Picture of stained glass window Leeds parish church.

This picture of a stained glass window in the part of Leeds parish church that is now the cafe I think is a representation of hell. I may be wrong, just with the people above the flames, that is what I think it might be. I am as always open to suggestions.

just about opposite this window but on the other side of Kirkgate is the memorial to police sergeant John Speed.

John Speed - A Brave Man

Picture of memorial to PS John Speed on Kirkgate in Leeds.

I never knew John Speed, he was a police officer, a sergeant here in Leeds and in 1984 he was shot and killed when he went to the aid of a colleague who had just been shot and wounded. This happened near the Leeds parish church on 31st October 1984 and today a marble memorial stands testament to the bravery of an unarmed officer who long before health and safety became an issue died in the service of the public.

The memorial was unveiled in a ceremony in 1986, the police never caught the man responsible and living in the city back then I remember it was a big story then.

Later when the investigation was going nowhere I was visited by a couple of officers who came to my home to ask me if I had done it. The police back then had decided that because it was someone with a firearm perhaps the killer had been in the forces. There was a problem with that theory, I had won a shooting competition, in a joint services competition. So yes I could have handled a gun and shot the officer but the killer shot at 3 officers, wounding one, killing one and missing the 3rd. I said sorry but dead men tell no tales, when they left they were not amused.

The killer of John Speed, David Gricewith, was only identified as the gunman after his own death, more than two years later in a police chase after an armed robbery.

My uncle was for many years a police officer and when I was a boy we lived across the road from the local police HQ so I knew quite a few policemen and women. In those days being a copper was about nicking the local ne'er-do-wells and the oath taken by officers included the words "without fear or favour, affection or ill will". Upholding the law was a lot simpler back then in the days before ACPO and political correctness gone mad.

In my book all three officers on that day in 1984 were brave men, armed with nothing but a warrant card, a wooden truncheon (that had not really changed since Victorian times) and a uniform.

Pathways

The above sign giving directions is at Brewery Place, on Brewery Wharf adjacent to the Leeds waterfront. The sign is adjacent to Oracle Bar and close to the Brewery Wharf end of the Centenary Bridge across the river Aire from the Calls.

On the sign there are 3 fingers pointing the direction of...
1. Royal Armouries and Riverside Walk
2. Brewery Place and Jurys Hotel
3. City Centre

Just behind the sign in the photo is part of "Steeped Vessels", a sculpture by Ian Randall.

There is a map fixed to a wall adjacent to the Calls just along the pathway from Centenary Bridge, this bit of Leeds is well served with signs for people on foot.

Female Mallard Duck

Picture of female mallard duck at Victoria Quays Leeds.

This picture is another photograph of the local wildlife, in this case a mallard duck that is at home in the water of the former dock at Victoria Quays adjacent to Brewery Wharf on the Leeds waterfront.

Victoria Quays Old Dock

Picture of view across Victoria Quays on the Leeds waterfront.

This is a view across the former dock that now is a very pleasant water feature and also home to some city wildlife too, at Victoria Quays.

The above photograph is taken looking toward Brewery Wharf in the middle at the back of the picture can be seen the grey coloured metal foot bridge across the river Aire from the Call to Brewery Wharf. I would be very happy to live in an apartment on this little waterside development.

In and on this small stretch of water there are yellow flag iris, bull rushes, water lilies, ducks and some moorhens. There is perhaps more wildlife that I have yet to see here in this little watery home of nature.

Here is another view of this water feature looking from Navigation Walk towards Calls Landing.

Moorhen - Victoria Quays

Picture of a moorhen at Victoria Quays, Leeds.

Walking down to the Calls for a coffee afterwards I strolled around the Brewery Wharf area on the Leeds waterfront and walked back to the city centre via Victoria Quays and Navigation Walk.

I love the small area around Victoria Quays with the former dock that is now a haven for wildlife here in the centre of Leeds. The yellow flag iris have now flowered, the bullrushes are in their prime and the was a moorhen and a couple of juveniles paddling around the dock.

You can see the moorhen (Gallinula chloropus) in the above photo in between lily pads that in places almost cover the surface of the old dock.

Leeds Train Station Rear

Picture of Leeds Train Station rear entrance.

The above photo shows Leeds train station from the rear, the station short stay car park and the motor vehicle drop off point.

The large brick and white stone building in the middle of the picture with a union flag is the Queens hotel seen from the rear. The cranes on the right of the photo are at the Trinity shopping centre development and slightly further right is the top of the bell tower at Holy Trinity Church on Boar Lane.

Expensive Parking in Leeds

Leeds station short stay parking charges sign.

Walking towards the side entrance to Leeds train station today I out of curiosity walked over to the short stay car park just off Aire Street opposite the Princes Exchange office building. I was interested to see what the charges are like.

You can see the sign with the charges on in the photo above and to be fair for parking up to 20 minutes it is a reasonable 50p, up to 40 minutes it jumps to £2. Stay an extra 20 minutes giving you 1 hour and it is £4. After the 1 hour period they mean business because for anywhere between 1 and 2 hours will cost you £12. Overstay the 2 hour point and it is £35 for between 2 - 3 hours.

All the above means I rarely travel into Leeds city centre by car and am quite happy to use the rail service. I realise there are cheaper places to park but for me it still quicker and cheaper to travel in using the local train.

Red Bull Flugtag Winners

Picture of Red Bull Flugtag Leeds Winners (courtesy Red Bull).

The last few days I have posted pictures from the Redbull Flugtag event here in Leeds at Roundhay park in the city.

This is I think the last post I will do from this great event,
thanks Red Bull and also Tom Kirkby at hŏl'ǝr who was kind and sent me some photos from the event including the one above.

The top 3 teams were:
1. To Infinity and the Pond
2. Come on Kes
3. My Whippy and His Team of Toppings

Much as I was cheering on the Yorkshire Spitfire team, I was pleased with the winners To Infinity and the Pond they really were a great creative team and deserving winners. Also I know that Anna and the guys will someday soon be soaring over the skies of Yorkshire and further afield with the Yorkshire Universities Air Squadron.

I could not help but notice the interesting wet weather protection the cameraman was using to protect video camera, looks to me to be bin bag!

Captain at Red Bull Flugtag

Picture of captain at Redbull Flugtag Leeds.

When is a captain not a captain? When he is on a Mini adventure.

The above chap may look at first glance to be a an airline pilot, but appearances can be deceptive! At the Red Bull Flugtag here in Leeds on Sunday BMW were promoting the latest mini cars and on hand they had some people dressed as either pilots or stewardesses. In real life this chap is an actor between jobs, living in London and came up to Leeds to play an airline pilot for the day.

I spoke with him earlier in the day and I entered the mini competition they were holding and later I saw him leaning on one of the cars and took this photo. I do not watch much TV, but I wish him every success in his profession and hope to catch him in some production.

Yorkshire Spitfire Team - Flugtag

Picture of Yorkshire Spitfire Team at Red Bull Flugtag Leeds.

At this weekends Red Bull Flugtag Leeds held at Roundhay Park there was a team from the Yorkshire Universities Air Squadron their team name was Yorkshire Spitfire.

The Yorkshire Spitfire team was Captain: Kristian Parry his team being Anna Christensen, Lewis Caswell, Euan McFalls. Each team member being a member of the Yorkshire Universities Air Squadron, hence the real flying outfits. The team pilot is Anna Christensen, seen here in the above photo, with both the "spitfire" and her team mates without whom there would be no flight. Although Anna is the team pilot the chap on the left is actually an officer and pilot who flies in the RAF.

Picture of Yorkshire Spitfire flying at Flugtag Leeds.

Despite the stirring music and a gallant effort the Yorkshire Spitfire was only airborne for a short while before crashing into the lake. In the above photo Anna can be seen in mid-flight on the "spitfire" whilst the chaps get ready to join her in the drink. Luckily Red Bull take the safety of the crew seriously and they were fished out and taken to dry land shortly after this photo was taken.

Red Bull Aerobatics Leeds

Picture of Red Bull Aerobatics display over Roundhay Park Leeds.

Another couple of photos from this Sundays Red Bull Flugtag event held at Roundhay Park in the city of Leeds in Yorkshire.

I was surprised when these two Red Bull aerobatic planes arrived overhead and performed for the crowd of around 15,000 at the lake in the park. I have only seen a few air displays in recent years but I thought these two guys were great. Because of the low cloud cover and also rain the above photo is I think the best of the shots that I took.

Picture of Red Bull Flugtag aerobatic display Leeds.

The above photo of the two aerobatic planes gives some idea of how close they fly together.

These two pilots were not the only real aviators at the Red Bull Flugtag Leeds event at Roundhay Park but more on that tomorrow.

To Infinity and the Pond

Picture of To Infinity and the Pond team at Red Bull Flugtag Leeds.

Yesterday Red Bull Flugtag Leeds was held at Roundhay Park here in the Yorkshire city of Leeds. Here are a couple more pictures from this event.

The above photo shows team To Infinity and the Pond, featuring characters from the film Toy Story. Buzz Lightyear the pilot was Jonny Heath with his team members Keith Perigo, Tim Heath I caught them as they were pushing their craft along the path towards the launching ramp. I loved there effort they had really put some thought and effort into their attempt at man powered flight.

Picture of To Infinity and the Pond team at red Bull Flugtag Leeds.

Flight may be simple if you are a pigeon but as Woody said to Buzz "That wasn't flying! That was falling...with style!" Nice try boys, I too thought you failed to soar with great style.

Tomorrow I will post post more about the 30 plus teams and some of the people I met at Red Bull Flugtag Leeds 2011.

Red Bull Flugtag Leeds

Picture of three spectators at Red Bull Flugtag Leeds.

Red Bull Flugtag came to Yorkshire today with the first ever visit to the city of Leeds held at Roundhay Park.

Flugtag is German for flying day, which in reality means teams of intrepid fliers designing and building human powered flying machines. In an effort to push the limits on human endeavour Red Bull awards three prizes to the best efforts of the teams involved.

The day here in the park at Roundhay was very overcast and rain was poring down when I arrived, by the end of the afternoon it had brightened up. Most of the thousands of spectators arrived with wellies, brollies and wet weather wear for the day, just as well too.

Picture of Red Bull Flugtag crowd Leeds at Roundhay Park.

As well as a good sound system there were large screens showing the action on the ramp and the lake, most of these people in the above crowd were watching the screens.

This is only the 3rd visit by Red Bull Flugtag to the UK, the two previous events were in London. I am not sure of the numbers attending but they issued just shy of 20,000 tickets in the run up to the event.

I will post more about the teams and the results over the next few days.

Rosebay Willowherb

Picture of rosebay willowherb in meadow at Kirstall Valley Nature Reserve, Leeds.

This is another picture from the Kirkstall Valley Nature Reserve at Kirkstall, Leeds.

This wild flower is Epilobium angustifolium, commonly known as Fireweed (in North America), Great Willow-herb (Canada), or Rosebay Willowherb (Britain). The rosebay willowherb is quite distinctive growing over 1m high with pink flower spikes and I guess most people would recognise it even if they did not know its name.

In Russia, its leaves were often used as tea substitute and were even exported, known in Western Europe as Kapor tea. Today, Kapor tea is still occasionally consumed.

There are many different types of wild flowers to be seen at the reserve in Kirkstall, this rosebay willowherb is just one of them.

Kirkstall Valley Nature Reserve

Picture of a heron at Kirkstall Valley Nature Reserve Leeds.

The Kirkstall Valley Nature Reserve is just 2 miles from Leeds city centre, but as I discovered on my first and so far only visit there are quite a few birds to be seen there.

There have been 65 different species of bird recorded on this small nature reserve, of these I only saw a few including the heron in the above photo. I have slightly cropped this picture of a heron that I saw on the other side of the river further up than I could get.

There are also amphibians in the ponds in the reserve, these being frogs, toads and newts. The meadows have quite a few wild flowers and are maintained with wildlife in mind. Sixteen varieties of butterfly have been recorded on the site including a few that I saw these being Speckled Wood, Small Tortoiseshell and a Cabbage White.

The Kirkstall Valley Nature Reserve is on of more than 80 managed by the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust across the county of Yorkshire.

How to get to Kirkstall Valley Nature Reserve:

The Kirkstall Valley Nature Reserve is about 9.7 Ha of land and is accessed off Redcote Lane from the A65 Kirkstall Rd. From the A65 Kirkstall Rd turn onto Redcote Lane across the bridge past the Fitness First Gym and the entrance to the reserve is on the right just before the railway bridge.

Totem Pole at Kirkstall

Picture of Totem Pole at Kirkstall, Leeds

Whilst walking through Kirkstall Valley Nature Reserve yesterday I came across something I never would have thought I might see in and around Leeds. A totem pole in a small clearing with a low stone wall partly around it.

At a guess perhaps the local scout troop meet here sometimes, but that is just a wild guess.

Big Butterfly Count

Picture of Speckled Wood Butterfly.

I walked through the Kirkstall Valley Nature Reserve this afternoon, did not know it existed saw a sign on Kirkstall Rd and went and had a look.

I saw more butterflies this afternoon than I have in quite some time. Normally I would write more about the Kirkstall Valley Nature Reserve, but since getting in tonight I have noticed that Butterfly Conservation have a campaign over the next couple of weeks.

Butterfly Conservation is running the annual Big Butterfly Count from July 16-31, they are asking people to spare 15 minutes in a sunny place and count the numbers of different butterflies that they see.

You can download and print out a Butterfly ID Chart to help you identify and record the butterflies you spot. You do not need your own garden but if you have one that would be a good place or you could go to a park, your local wood or maybe somewhere else that you see butterflies.

The above picture shows a Speckled Wood butterfly that I saw resting on a plant at the Kirkstall Valley Nature Reserve here in Leeds today.

Gatekeeper Butterfly

Picture of Gatekeeper Butterfly, seen at Calverley Leeds.

Its not often I see a butterfly and have to look it up to identify it. I grew up in a mostly rural area and was always interested in the natural world around me.

I saw a butterfly by a field edge adjacent to some woods, just on the outskirts of Calverley village yesterday, no idea what kind it was so I waited for it to settle and got a picture. Having looked it up, it is a Gatekeeper Butterfly also known as a hedge brown, scientific name Pyronia tithonus.

Common Foxglove

Picture of Common Foxglove.

With my love of the countryside and its wildflowers, I was a little surprised that I had not yet got a reasonable photo of the Common Foxglove.

I was walking through some fields along the banks of the Leeds - Liverpool canal just down from the village of Calverley this afternoon. I saw more dragonflies than at any time since I was a boy, but they were mostly in among the reeds at the edge of the canal, so not having waders I could not get a decent photo. This stretch of the canal the towpath is on the far side and on my side it was mostly muddy grass with no real edge.

Walking back up towards the track I passed a clump of Digitalis purpurea (Common Foxglove, Purple Foxglove or Lady's Glove). The flower was on the field boundary next to a rather broken down dry stone wall.

The entire foxglove plant is toxic (including the roots and seeds), although the leaves of the upper stem are particularly potent, with just a nibble, or a deep inhaled breath, being enough to potentially cause death. Digitalis is also used in modern medicine mostly in the treatment of heart problems.

Saddleback Piglets

Picture of Saddleback piglets in Leeds.

This is another photograph from Home Farm on the Temple Newsam Estate here in Leeds.

These two piglets in the photo are British Saddleback pigs, they were part of a bigger litter but because of the pen I found it easier to just get these two piglets in the picture.

I found out where there are some micro pigs not far from where I live, I hope to go see them sometime over the next few weeks for this blog and also because I have yet to see any.

Mallard Drake

Picture of mallard duck about to take off from Leeds - Liverpool canal.

Over the last 900 odd posts here on the Leeds daily photo I have featured several ducks.

With the river Aire, the Leeds - Liverpool canal and several lakes and ponds around the city of Leeds there are quite a few ducks in and around the city. I saw this mallard drake about to take off from the water of the Leeds - Liverpool canal a few weeks back.

Tamworth Piglet

Picture of a Tamworth piglet at home farm Temple Newsam Leeds.

Looking back for a picture to post tonight I found this pig, thought I had already used the photo but no.

The above photo is of a young Tamworth pig at Temple Newsam home farm here in Leeds.

The Great Yorkshire Show 2011 is held Tuesday 12 to Thursday 14 July at the showground at Harrogate. Next week will be the 153rd Great Yorkshire show, one of the largest agricultural shows here in the UK.

Jackdaw

Picture of a jackdaw.

The jackdaw is smallest crow in Britain, being smaller than the rook and around the same size as a jay. The jackdaws scientific name: Corvus monedula, this bird is spread widely across the UK and is quite common here in Yorkshire. They often build nests using twigs in chimneys on old buildings.

I may be wrong, not being any kind of expert on birds, but I think this jackdaw is not quite mature. I saw it standing on a wall adjacent to the Leeds - Liverpool canal here in Yorkshire.

West Yorkshire Playhouse - Birthday

Picture of balloon celebrating the 21 years of the WY Playhouse.

The West Yorkshire Playhouse at Quarry Hill in Leeds has just celebrated 21 years in the city.

I was at the WY Playhouse after calling in to the BBC Yorkshire building just around the corner. I have never seen a anything performed here at the playhouse and in all the many years I have been in the city of Leeds I think I have been inside the playhouse building twice.

On Saturday the playhouse had several events on as part of the Quarry Hill Festival. When the playhouse was designed no thought was given to how the building would look from any distance, I say this because the building is mostly surrounded by rather naff views. Hence I took a picture of a balloon celebrating the 21 years of the WY Playhouse inside the building.title="Picture of "

BBC Radio Leeds - Blue Plaque

Picture of Blue Plaque at BBC building, Leeds.

I happened to be in the BBC Yorkshire building here in Leeds over the weekend, never been inside before and I noticed there was a Leeds Civic blue plaque on the wall.

This blue plaque is one of many around the city of Leeds commemorating the heritage of the city of Leeds. This particular blue plaque marks the history of radio broadcasting here in Leeds including the ongoing BBC Radio Leeds service.

The wording on the BBC building blue plaque reads:

BBC RADIO IN LEEDS

In 1924 Lord Reith opened the Leeds – Bradford radio station. It broadcast national programmes and local talks on history, farming and humour, celebrity interviews, Children's Corner and religious services. The station closed in 1931 but local radio returned on 24th June 1968 with the launch of BBC Radio Leeds.

Just Jenny

Picture of Jenny of Just Jenny's Farmhouse Ice Cream.

Yesterday at Leeds Loves Food held in the city of Leeds here in Yorkshire it was a warm sunny day. Partly because of this and partly because I love real dairy ice cream I wandered around the various stands looking for someone selling proper ice cream.

I was in luck I found a stand selling farmhouse dairy ice cream, so I looked at the flavours on offer and chose banana. The company was Just Jenny's Farmhouse Ice Cream and Jenny herself was on hand to both serve me and pose for the above photo.

Just Jenny's Farmhouse Ice Cream is produced on the family farm at Barkisland near Halifax here in my part of Yorkshire. Jenny has one thing in common with me she is passionate about ice cream and this shows in the ice cream that she produces. The ice cream is made with milk from the family farm and is free from artificial additives and preservatives.

I am not the first and I will not be the last to say how delicious the ice cream that is produced by Jenny right here in Yorkshire. Hopefully before the summer is out I would like to pop over and meet the cows that Jenny and her family keep on their farm.

Leeds Loves Food 2011

Picture of food theatre at Leeds Loves Food 2011.

Today I spent some time at Leeds Loves Food in Millennium square, Leeds.

The above photo shows Georgey Spanswick talking with Alex Galantino of La Bottega Milanese. I have been meaning to feature Alex and / or his coffee bar for some time but until now have not. Alex owns La Bottega Milanese the first Italian espresso bar concept in Leeds. If you like coffee and you are anywhere near the Calls in Leeds I am very pleased to recommend it.

It is a long time since I last saw Georgey on TV, but I recall seeing her quite often when she was a roving reporter for Calendar at Yorkshire Television. Oddly I was in the BBC Leeds building this afternoon and there were some small postcards of the various presenters including one showing Georgey Spanswick who has a show on BBC Radio Leeds

Flowers in Leeds

Picture of flowers in a hanging basket in Leeds.

I walked past these flowers in a hanging basket on a wall adjacent to The Calls just across from Calls Landing a couple of times over the last week or so. I may be wrong but these baskets overflowing with flowers have to be some of the best in Leeds city centre.

The building these hang outside has in large letters at the top OVAL, I believe they are a financial services firm.