History Editor CJ De Barra (history@leftlion.co.uk)
Literature Editor Andrew Tucker (literature@leftlion.co.uk)
Food Co-Editor Lucy Campion (food@leftlion.co.uk)
Distribution Dom Martinovs
Leigh Woosey
Charlie Marks
David Hunter
Illustrators
Zhara Millett
Renata Christine P.
Raphael Achache
Jim Brown
Emily Catherine
Cherished Photography by Claudia
Sue Hartley
Laura Iremonger
Louise Bolderstone
Michael Swift-Homes
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Featured Contributor
Karl Blakesley has been writing about music in various forms for over a decade. Today, he can be found running his own music reviews website (New Music Central), hosting his own music podcast (5-9’s Album of the Month), as well as regularly contributing articles to music publications such as Clash Magazine
Having been making the trek over to Nottingham from Lincoln for gigs since his early teens, Karl’s adoration for the Nottingham music scene finally pushed him into moving to the city in February 2020. He began writing for LeftLion in late 2023 after being
supporters
featured in the magazine’s podcast issue, before then taking over music editorial duties alongside Phil Taylor in early 2024.
When he’s not at his day job in marketing or writing about music, Karl can often be spotted at gigs across Nottingham and beyond, while also attending festivals all over Europe during the summer months. You can follow him on socials for regular album and song recommendations, which pull from a wide variety of genres and cater for all tastes.
Q]@karlblakesley
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By George,
Ever wondered about the origins of the simian mascot at Wollaton
History
We delve into the science with Uni of Nottingham experts.
We catch up with local musician and Saltbox manager Sam Heaton, who earlier this year set about transforming the little known sports bar into a versatile, 500 capacity events space.
We speak to the co-founders of a local sustainable fashion brand and occasional wear rental service about how rented looks could supplement your wardrobe this festive season.
Life Outside
We get an update from local homelessness initiative Framework on the help they need this winter, and hear about their brand new festive gift range.
Nottingham Culture Review 2024
From the final days of beloved businesses to inspiring successes for local groups and individuals, we look back on 2024, a year marked by highs and lows in Nottingham arts and culture.
A Magician in Notts
From preparing tricks to dealing with tricky audiences, local events magician David Marshall gives us all the insider info on being part of the East Midlands magic circle.
Spinning Yarns
With fifteen years under their belt as professional storytellers, The Woolly Tellers talk to us about history, myth, fiction and the tricks of their trade.
Seasons greetings LeftLion readers, December has arrived quicker than a flick of Krampus’ tail and here we are at the end of another year. This month we’ve enjoyed putting together a medley of stories with no strict rhyme or reason, other than to celebrate some of the wonderful things happening in Notts.
As is tradition for our December edition, Editor-in-Chief Jared Wilson has compiled our annual culture review (p. 16-17), listing some of the most important happenings within Nottingham over the past year. I particularly enjoyed reading about the history of the very glamorous Parkside Club (p. 25), enjoying some haunting stories from raconteurs The Woolly Tellers (p. 23) and hearing about the wholesome events of Apple Day over at St Ann’s Allotments recently. There’s also a fascinating dive into the origins of George the Gorilla, resident of Wollaton Hall - turn to p. 13 to discover if George is in fact part goat or the full ape we all thought him to be.
Wollaton Hall cropped up a few times in our editorial plotting, so we thought it would make the ideal backdrop for this month’s cover
Working Man’s Kitchen
We meet the founder of Working Man’s Kitchen to find out more about his journey from pylon painter to nationally-known pizza maker.
In Cider Info
We visit St Ann’s Allotments to find out more about the celebratory ‘Apple Day’, which takes place each October at the community orchard.
Lap of Honour
Prior to their upcoming, headline UK tour, we chat to Notts indie crooners Victory Lap about inspirations, origins, and finding their sound.
Reclaim the Night
We recount the events of October’s Reclaim the Night march, and look ahead to how violence against women could be tackled as a recurring social problem.
illustration, which was brilliantly depicted by artist Marcus GIlmore. We wanted to bring together some of the more traditional and Pagan aspects of Christmas, from solstice celebrations to the festive connections between fly agaric mushrooms and reindeer (a rabbit hole worth researching if you enjoy such topics), and Marcus brought exactly what we wanted with a splash of extra magic.
However you are spending your festive season and end of year celebrations, I hope you manage to shed any tired old traditions that no longer serve you and instead celebrate in whatever way you choose. Make up your own carols and wassail through your neighbourhood while covered in fairylights, dowse your porridge in Baileys, ban Buble and Carey, or make toasts to all the weird and wonderful things that have made you happy this year.
Now, find yourself a hot tipple, chuck your phone in the bin, and enjoy this edition of LeftLion.
Best wishes,
‘Avenue been here before?’
Last Month’s answer: The Tree of Knowledge Mosaic, Sherwood
they’ve got it!
Hall’s Natural
Museum?
Salt of the Earth
Conscious Closet
(In the chip shop) "I'm not going to have chips - it'll spoil me dinner"
"You can't go wrong... as a beach ball"
“I've stoppedwatching Radio one”
“What happened to the word 'wazzock'? Where did the wazzocks go?”
“Why did you drag me here, the dresses are minging”
Pick Six
For this month’s pick we turned to
,
“He's like toxic masculinity without the masculinity”
“I can hardly spring a sentence together”
“She’s just shitting out kids. And that’s not fair. You just hate the kids”
Film - Se7en
Asking a film fanatic to choose one favourite film is so difficult, films are just too diverse, but for this I’ll go with Se7en. I spent my late teens and early twenties working at a video rental store consuming as many movies as possible and I feel Se7en was the first adult film that really blew me away. David Fincher is a master filmmaker and Se7en literally has every aspect a great film should have; you can’t stop thinking about it for days after you see it.
Notts Spot – Highfields Park
After long days stuck inside at work me and my wife love escaping for a walk around Highfields. You can simply walk around the lake or extend the walk through more of the university campus or even combine it with crossing the road and into Wollaton Park for a longer walk. We love seeing the ducklings in the spring and there are always squirrels and rabbits hopping around as well.
Meal – Phat Buns
Phat Buns on Hartley Road in Radford is our go to takeaway. They do amazing burgers and loaded fries. When you want to treat yourself to some naughty food instead of cooking at home it’s definitely one of Nottingham’s best places to go. It doesn’t help that it’s on my way home from work as well so the temptation is sometimes too strong. They’ve also opened one in Beeston, near Highfields.
When Santa is depicted doing his Christmas deliveries, he does one house then flies off into the distance. You’d think that going next door would be a good next move…
Book – Less Than Zero I discovered Bret Easton Ellis in my early twenties and he quickly became my favourite author. Something about the way he writes always draws me in. Less Than Zero is a scary look at the emptiness of privileged youth in LA in the 80s and the narrator Clay drifts through his life struggling to connect to any of the people or situations around him. It’s a short book but it always captivates me and I love getting sucked into Ellis’s worlds and the disturbing characters he creates.
Song – The Kids Aren’t Alright by The Offspring I watched the film The Faculty in 2000 when I was 16 and it opens to The Offspring’s The Kids Aren’t Alright. I absolutely loved it and it heavily influenced my music taste from my teens into adulthood. I loved their album Americana and from there I discovered Blink-182 and Sum 41, that whole pop punk sound I still love like I was discovering it yesterday.
Holiday – New Zealand
I’ve been incredibly lucky enough to visit New Zealand twice, once in 2011 and again in 2023, and both times were the most incredible trips. The landscape really is breathtaking and as a big Lord of the Rings fan it literally makes you feel at times like you’ve stepped into Middle-earth. I can’t recommend it enough to anyone and the Kiwi Experience tour bus that can take you from top to bottom is a great way of seeing a lot in a shorter period of time.
words: Dani Bacon
Paul Scotton
General Manager at the Savoy Cinema
In association with
I often see mallards gliding, in pairs Leather webs press beneath the water’s face. They don’t seem to want much fuss as they float. Thin, wide bills whether flecked green, brown or grey. Their little ducklings follow them around, unaware of trying empty in eyes; peaceful, stupid mates and their clan of quacks on every pond, river, lake and ocean.
But sometimes I do see one on its own vibrating its feathers into pom-poms screaming of a bothersome Hovis stomach. Maybe in a city garden somewhere. I wonder why it decided to fly there and whether its mate knows where it is.
by Bridie Squires
nottinghampoetryfestival.com
UNDERCOVER ARTIST
This month’s cover artist, Beeston-based Marcus Gilmore talks about his inspirations, staying creative,and capturing the spirit of Christmas in this edition’s cover art.
Tell us a bit about yourself…
Hi nice to meet you, my name is Marcus and I'm an illustrator, print-maker and designer operating out of Beeston in Nottingham. I'm a keen mediaeval enthusiast and horror film-fanatic. You may find me sleuthing around various historic points of interest in Nottinghamshire on the weekends with my trusty sketchbook in tow.
What is the story behind the cover?
a great help for your creative momentum/ energy. Working alongside other creativelyminded individuals, and collaborating on a big project is also an excellent way to stay inspired, learning from them and improving your craft.
I also consider it rather important to maintain a healthy balance between work and physical and mental health overall, so I do encourage walks, staying active and giving yourself breaks between projects.
Nottingham’s most opinionated grocers on...
What about the giraffe, they have one of those as well. With a hole in it! The hall was bought by the Willoughby family wasn’t it, with the profits from coal, then the Council bought it in 1925. We spoke to a man doing a PHD on it - God knows why you’d do a PHD on Wollaton Hall - anyway, it is almost but not quite (and our father would have been livid) completely symmetrical. That is why Batman used it for the film, which is fantastic.
The Ministry of Defence is getting rid of a load of drones, they want to save half a billion. We went to a wedding in Leicestershire, and instead of the cameraman hanging out a window he had a drone. We know someone who wanted to have a look at their roof, so instead of a man they sent a drone up to have a look. Those sort of things are great, but not for spying on people. Then it gets a bit sinister.
The Lord Mayor’s Rolls Royce
We want to know what’s happened to the Lord Mayor’s and the Sheriff’s Rolls Royces. They were green and used to be parked outside of the Council House in the 70s and 80s. Because now if you’re the mayor or sheriff, you’ve got to go on the bus home. Why don’t they have a proper state car, that’s what we want to know. We went to St Mary’s on Armistice Day and they had to have a hired Mercedes. If they had their own Rolls Royce it would be much more stately.
The cover is a celebration and homage of all the fantastical, magical aspects I associate with Christmas at this time of year. I decided to portray my friend Melvyn Rawlinson as St Nic/Santa Claus because he encapsulates all the joy, magic and charm. The backdrop obviously had to depict a snowy Wollaton Hall, with reindeers dotted about, perhaps on break from delivering lots of presents? The woman in the pink dress represents the Spirit of Christmas, her dress emitting snowflakes and is infused with magic and nature. I referenced some of Wollaton's previous night lights to provide a good starting point for this design.
What inspires you as an artist?
To be able to share my vision and ideas with the world that promotes a strong positive message. I take inspiration from a lot of myths and legends, folk art, Greek myths and mediaeval tales of past heroic deeds. History, I find, is a constant well of ideas and past events to draw inspiration from, not to mention insane armour and fashion design. I grew up watching the LOTR movies, Monty Python films and loving the work of artists like John Howe (one of my favourite fantasy artists) and Alan Lee.
Tell us about some things you’ve worked on in the past…
I've worked on a lot of self-initiated projects mostly to improve the quality of my work, consistency and speed. From painting a large fearsome dragon in acrylics for a local neighbour on canvas, painting a spooky Wednesday Day of the Dead canvas (that glows in the dark), to hosting and organising various lino printing workshops in Beeston and Nottingham. I take on new challenges and see them as opportunities to develop. At the moment I'm aiming to expand my range of lino prints with more curated animal designs, getting involved with more print fairs and further improving the quality of my workshop classes.
Do you have any tricks for getting started and staying inspired as a creative?
Having variety in whatever you do can be
Staying inspired for me would be having new experiences, going to museums, going to gigs, meeting new people, and challenging yourself with your art-goals or anything for that matter. I am inspired and motivated when I see progress regardless how little that may be, it spurs me on to keep pushing myself. Understanding that your whole life will basically be a long continual work in progress puts it into perspective, and that it is finite.
If you could sit down and chat with any artist in your field, who would it be and what would you talk about?
Hmm excellent question! I probably would love to speak to a few artists but one that is no longer living would be one of the great Art Nouveau artists such as Alphonse Mucha (1860-1939) the wildly renowned Czech painter and illustrator who is iconic for his beautifully illustrated hand-painted posters and decorative swirls and motifs. It would be quite a surreal experience, I'd probably ask him a lot of questions, examine his study and atelier and ask him about his life experiences, and his connections to other great artists.
Is there anything else you’d like to tell the LeftLion readers?
I'd say enjoy each day as it comes, as nothing is guaranteed in life, and remain curious as curiosity lends a way to learning and growth. Everyone has the capacity and ability to be creative, taking affirmative action gives you power, and confidence to excel in your pursuits. You can find my work for sale on my Etsy shop (Marcusgilmoreart) and also in The Planetree which is a gift shop on Beeston's highroad.
www.marcusgilmoreart.com Q @marcusgilmoreart
Wollaton Hall
Drones
Nadia on...
Disability
Despite having a public-facing job, I’m usually a very private person. So, when I had to take a leave of absence from my role as an MP three years ago, the last thing I wanted was for people to know why. Speaking publicly about my PTSD diagnosis was one of the most difficult choices I’ve ever had to make, but it was also one of the most important.
By being honest about my experience, I no longer had to keep anything hidden. Although there was some vile commentary from alt-right media, the strength and breadth of support I received helped reduce the shame I felt about needing to take time off work. I took comfort in the many messages I received from constituents saying that my openness and the reaction from others had helped them. However, I was also painfully aware that not everyone can take time off work when they are unwell or even access basic mental health treatment. There are sixteen million Disabled people in the UK, making up just under a quarter of the population. Many don’t get the support they need, so my experience has made me determined to use my public platform to push for systemic change.
PTSD is just one of my disabilities. I also have ADHD, something that my friends and colleagues are well aware of but which I’ve rarely discussed in articles or interviews. At the beginning of this year, I was also diagnosed with Crohn’s disease. I’m now choosing to speak about having multiple hidden disabilities, for many of the same reasons I previously shared my experience of PTSD.
Each of my impairments affects me in different ways, often making daily life and work challenging. Crohn’s brings severe pain and fatigue, with unpredictable flare-ups often causing last-minute cancellations that leave me frustrated as I learn to accept my body’s limits. PTSD, though caused by events completely unrelated to my role as an MP, has impacted my ability to work. ADHD adds further difficulties; even with extra alarms and notes, there are times I’ll be so focused on remembering an appointment that I’ll forget I haven’t stocked the fridge. It can feel like having a million tabs open in your brain at once, and while you flick between them, they all struggle to load.
Some days feel like a battle against my body, especially when all three conditions conspire to make me feel completely crushed, with physical pain, flashbacks, and executive dysfunction all at once. Hiding the extent of my disabilities
is increasingly difficult and exhausting and only compounds the sense of shame I’ve internalised about my body ‘not working’. No one should feel that way, and by being silent I’m not going to perpetuate it for myself or, by extension, anyone else. I know I’m not alone, 9 out of 10 Disabled people (87%) who had experienced negative attitudes or behaviour said it had a negative impact on their daily lives.
The causes of my disabilities vary. ADHD isn’t an illness; it simply means that my brain works a bit differently, and that I have different needs. In contrast, Crohn’s disease and PTSD are conditions that are hard to live with: Crohn’s is an autoimmune disease with no known cause or cure, although it can be managed to some extent with medication, while PTSD results from trauma inflicted on a person. Disabilities vary in how they’re caused, how they present, and they can overlap. We should build a society that reflects this, using the social model of disability – which focuses on tackling the barriers that society creates, rather than the impairment or difference of a person. These barriers can be found in the workplace, in public spaces and even at home.
We must accept that not everyone is able to work and that work isn’t the sole barometer of a person’s worth
After fourteen years of Tory governments that have victimised and scapegoated Disabled people – many of whom suffered the worst effects of austerity – I want our new Labour government to chart a very different path, one where Disabled people are not just protected but empowered, and where the right to dignity, independence, and equal opportunity is guaranteed rather than conditional. We could live in a society where the NHS is fully funded and accessible, providing quick, comprehensive support for both physical and mental health needs. A society in which social security genuinely offers security, with benefits that enable people to live, not just survive.
So how do we get there?
Firstly, we must accept that not everyone is able to work and that work isn’t the sole barometer of a person’s worth. Social security Benefits should be high enough for people
to live in comfort. But for those Disabled people who want and are able to work, employment must be genuinely accessible. This means dismantling the many barriers they currently face: workplace discrimination, lack of flexible working, unequal pay, and long NHS waiting lists. Labour’s New Deal for Working People and the latest injection of NHS funding are steps in the right direction, but these efforts must be matched by a complete overhaul of the DWP: no more sanctions, no more punishing people for being sick or Disabled, no more ‘strivers vs skivers’.
Secondly, our councils, gutted by cuts of 18% per person in real terms under the Tories – with Nottingham alone losing £100m per year under the Tories – must have their funding restored to provide essential social care, affordable housing, and community centres and green spaces for everyone. These aren’t luxuries; they’re investments in a society that values all of its people. Local plans for every aspect of life must address the specific needs of Disabled people from the outset, not as an afterthought. The truth is, we all stand to benefit from measures that uplift the most vulnerable and marginalised among us. Disability, illness, or hardship could come for any of us, at any time.
Finally, the Disabled People’s Manifesto, put together by a diverse and united collective of Deaf and Disabled peopleled groups across the UK, calls for representation across all political and public roles, with the required adjustments put in place. When Disabled people have a direct voice in decision-making, policies are more likely to address real needs and barriers faced by the community. All too often, policies are shaped without the insights of those most affected, leading to gaps in access, support, and equality. As it stands, while nearly a quarter of the population is Disabled, high estimates show that only 7% of MPs are.
A world where the lived realities of Disabled people are visible and valued at every level of society is one worth striving for. I don’t feel like my disabilities are a ‘superpower’, but I do feel that in many ways they make me a better MP. These are experiences shared by so many, and people should see them reflected by their representatives – whether at an advice surgery or in Parliament.
words: Nadia Whittome photo: Fabrice Gagos
By George! They've got it !
,
words: Caradoc Gayer
Most long-term residents of Nottingham will at the very least be aware of George the Gorilla: a well-loved taxidermy exhibit residing in the natural history museum at the heart of Wollaton Park. But what kind of animal is he, really, and where does he come from? A newly-formed collective of scientists and heritage specialists at the Uni of Nottingham set out to answer these questions. In doing so, they hope that visitors to the museum will see the exhibit, and the site as a whole, in a whole new light...
Autumn leaves crunching underfoot, I traverse across Wollaton Park in November, asking myself why exactly this is my first time visiting the natural history museum nestled inside Wollaton Hall: a beloved local treasure trove that houses over 750,000 natural history specimens. Nevertheless, with an exciting, ongoing collaboration between the University of Nottingham and the museum, uncovering the origins of the museum ‘mascot’: George the Gorilla, it seems there’s no moment like the present.
Meeting Sheila Wright, the Curator of Natural Sciences, I’m introduced to George, a taxidermied specimen who lives on the first floor with a porcupine and an orangutan. George is something of a local legend for people living in-and-around Nottingham: a highlight of most family trips to this loved green space.
“People in Nottingham love the museum, and especially the gorilla,” says Sheila. “He was one the earliest brought back to the west: first purchased in 1878, but we think he was taxidermied a lot earlier, probably in the early 1800s. We’d wondered for years how much of him, if any, was genuine, because in those days it was hard to preserve skin, so taxidermists would patch up the animals with things like goat hair.”
It was through getting in touch with a new partnership between the science, archaeology and heritage departments at the University of Nottingham, that Sheila had the chance to satisfy her curiosity.
Going under the moniker ‘N-MESH’ (Nottingham, Materials, Environment Science and Heritage), this brand new, collaborative partnership between departments took on the challenge of tracing George’s background back in September. Since then, they’ve made lots of headway, most notably in solving the mystery as to whether George is, truly, a gorilla, or something less authentic.
Following this line of inquiry (in N-MESH) was the ‘protein sciences’ team, headed up by Rob Layfield, a biochemistry specialist at UoN. Their job was to analyse the teeth and skin samples to discover what kind of animal George really is…
One day we’re studying a gorilla, the next day we’re looking at ancient bone diseases, and the history of medicine. It’s a great time to bring the disciplines together, and George is just one example of what we hope will be many
“From the analysis, the hairs we’ve looked at point to the fact that he is an actual gorilla and not, say, a gorilla-goat hybrid. Results suggest that the teeth are from a male individual as well,” says Rob. “The real killer information is going to come from ancient DNA analysis. From that we’ll know what subspecies he is: either an Eastern or Western gorilla. I imagine that information is going to come through before Christmas.”
George the Gorilla is just one of many subjects that N-MESH are applying their skillsets to, and for Rob there’s many possible research topics, spanning humanities and sciences, that they could investigate in the future.
“It’s transformative, because what we can do is take scientific approaches, which to us are fairly routine or trivial, and apply them to questions of historical significance,” says Rob. “It is one of the emerging areas where science is applying its methods to heritage and cultural science, and Nottingham has a growing reputation in that area. One day we’re studying a gorilla, the next day we’re looking at ancient bone diseases, and the history of medicine. It’s a great time to bring the
disciplines together, and George is just one example of what we hope will be many.”
And how will N-MESH decide what to research next? Well, Rob says, members of the team are all keen to leave this up to local people, businesses, and heritage sites, so that University research focuses on what matters to them, not just academics.
“We want to engage with the local community. This is a really nice opportunity to break down barriers, so that people can recognise that it’s not just an ivory tower,” says Rob. “We want it to be citizen-led, rather than the traditional way of working, where we say ‘This is important, we’ll do this’.” So far, there’s been no better example of this kind of partner than the Wollaton Natural History Museum, which for Sheila Wright has been a thirty-year-long focus of her career. An avid conservationist and regular visitor to Africa, Sheila enlisted N-MESH so that she could label George the Gorilla with information about eastern and western gorillas, both of which are critically endangered.
“In June 2023, I went to Uganda, and got photos and videos of mountain gorillas, which are a subspecies of the eastern gorilla. It would be nice to use some of that in the interpretation we’re hoping to do, about conservation, saying ‘this gorilla is the same species as George’. The more you know about him, the readier you are to talk about the specimen and its conservation needs.”
Outside of national, sponsored natural history museums, like those in London and Liverpool, the Wollaton museum is one of the UK’s largest and most varied. This is one of the many reasons why Sheila feels a big responsibility to engender a spirit of conservationism, when visitors arrive to have a look at the taxidermied exhibits.
“We’re aiming to show as many species from different groups of animals as possible, showing how rich the world’s biodiversity is, but also that it’s under threat,” says Sheila, adding, “We put labels saying which animals are endangered or threatened, and why, hopefully encouraging people to get involved in conservation, because habitat loss is still a huge problem, and there’s masses of poaching all over the planet.” With George the Gorilla set to symbolise the importance of protecting wildlife, however far away from us, in the East Midlands, it might be, it seems there’s no better time to visit the Natural History Museum, and absorb the spectacles that it has to offer.
Visit the Natural History Museum in Wollaton Hall, or keep up with the George the Gorilla project on nottingham.ac.uk/news
photos: Bright Spark Studios and Caradoc Gayer
Life Outside
As the days get colder and darker, it’s all the more important for people who lack life’s typical comforts and commodities to find help and support. Back in October, Notts homelessness charity Framework launched an urgent winter appeal for funds, alongside an autumn gift range, designed by their very own Iryna Fryner. This Christmas, they’re following that up with another seasonal gift range, released to help support their vital work of aiding Nottingham’s rough sleepers. To mark this occasion, Framework’s Communications Manager Chris Senior told us about where the charity is at and the help that they need.
Tell us a little about Framework's Winter Appeal and why it is so important?
We issued this winter appeal to maintain Framework's street outreach teams in Nottingham, Nottinghamshire and Sheffield. The number of rough sleepers needing support continues to increase, but the funding available is not sufficient. In Nottingham, the City Council is doing its best in very difficult circumstances, but there is still a £99,000 gap in funding which we need to fill to maintain existing staffing levels.
Framework's Street Outreach teams do vital work, especially as the nights become so cold. Can you tell us about how they help people who are sleeping rough?
Team members go out 365 days a year to support rough sleepers – conducting welfare checks in the early hours of the morning and, during the day, building and maintaining relationships, so they can work on finding them accommodation while addressing drug, alcohol, mental health or financial issues.
The people whom the public sees bedding down in shop doorways are a small proportion of those sleeping rough. Rough sleepers prefer to be out of sight because it is generally safer – they’re not at risk of physical attack by members of the public, including people who think that it’s a fun idea to urinate on a rough sleeper after a night out. So the outreach team also supports people in hidden places – car parks, building sites, abandoned buildings, wasteland, woodland, graveyards, quarries and the like.
One of the strengths of Framework is that the Outreach Team is supported by a wide range of colleagues in health, housing, and employment services. This includes the staff from Nottingham Recovery Network (NRN) who provide free support, advice and treatment for people facing drug and alcohol issues in the city. For rough sleepers, NRN has the Rough Sleeper Drug and Alcohol Treatment Team (RSDATT), who provide emergency treatment to homeless people, whose lives are often in chaos, rather than expecting them to turn up to appointments at specific locations.
The Outreach Team also works with Framework accommodation services like Akins House (made possible by funding from Beat the Streets 2023), which provides eight flats, or the prevention and resettlement hub at London Road, commissioned by the City Council and funded by central government.
There are many misconceptions around unhoused people, what is one thing you would like people to know about the realities of rough sleeping?
Sleeping rough is the tip of the homelessness iceberg. It is not a lifestyle choice. People sleep rough because they have suffered some major trauma – maybe early in life or more
recently. The impact of this trauma will be complicated for them to deal with, and for support services to address. They have not received the support that they need and are sleeping rough because they have run out of options. They are fellow human beings in a really tough place who deserve sympathy not stigma.
What were Iryna Fryer's inspirations for the designs of the autumn gifts?
She wanted to find creative ways to express the ideas behind Framework’s work: the importance of home as the basis for fulfilled life, while challenging preconceptions about homelessness and paying tribute to the vibrancy of Nottingham, expressing its ‘essence’.
You have the excellent Beat the Streets coming up next month, can you let us in on any plans and highlights for the festival?
The 2025 festival is set to be a landmark year, with the total raised across all seven editions expected to top the £500,000 milestone. Some of the acts playing include Evil Scarecrow, one of the UK’s foremost heavy metal bands, and Riding The Low, the musical side project of Nottingham actor Paddy Considine. Funds raised will no doubt go a long way to plugging the outreach team’s funding gap.
Sleeping rough is the tip of the homelessness iceberg. It is not a lifestyle choice. People sleep rough because they have suffered some major trauma – maybe early in life or more recently
Is there any other news you'd like to share with us about what's coming up?
In 2025/26 we have two major accommodation projects for homeless men and women, which will be opening in Nottingham to provide badly needed additional housing.
Support Framework’s Winter Appeal by donating at www. frameworkha.org/SOS.
If you find somebody sleeping rough, or find yourself on the street, contact Framework via their free 24-hour hotline number 0800 066 5356.
frameworkha.org
What you can do to help people sleeping rough this winter
● Donate to the winter appeal, on Framework’s website.
● Buy Christmas meals at £8 each for the people that Framework supports.
● Add £1 or more to the bill at Dan Coles’ new restaurant Piccalilli, at 1a Cannon Court.
● Download Don’t Want to Be Alone This Christmas – the new track by Nottingham musician Andrew Randell, written to support Framework.
● Send friends and family an e-Christmas card in aid of Framework via dontsendmeacard.com.
● Attend Framework’s carol service in Southwell Minster on 6 December.
● Say hi to anybody sleeping rough this winter and offer to buy them a hot drink, or food.
Welcome to 2024, a year marked by a national changing-of-the-guard from fourteen years of the Tories. On a local level, we saw highs and lows in Nottingham arts and culture, from the sad final days of some loved businesses to inspiring successes for individuals, artists, groups and charities….
January
We start the year with sweeping cuts to local libraries and culture organisations in the city, due to Nottingham City Council’s Section 114 Notice. Those most affected by this are Nottingham Contemporary, Nottingham Playhouse, Nottingham UNESCO City of Literature, City Arts, New Art Exchange and the Binns Organ Trust. All of them start the year on the back foot financially.
Notts-based online radio station MyHouseYourHouse says goodbye after 19 years with a big party at Poison bar. It’s announced that Splendour Festival 2024 will not take place, due to delays caused by a new Nottingham City Council tendering process, meaning that organisers DHP Family don’t have enough time to plan it. All in all, a bleak month, but to end with some positive news, Beat The Streets Festival takes place and raises over £80k to help local homelessness charity Framework.
February
Nottingham-born actor Samantha Morton is awarded a BAFTA Fellowship in recognition of her outstanding and exceptional contribution to film. In her acceptance speech she talks about her early life growing up in care homes here and thanks both the Television Workshop and Nottingham. This comes just a couple of months after local director Shane Meadows delivered the annual BAFTA David Lean Lecture. More about him later.
A petition to say ‘No To Nottingham Cuts’ is put together by a group going under the name of Resolve. It gathers 12,000 signatures and is delivered by a group of local culture representatives (including our very own Adam Pickering) to 10 Downing Street. Unfortunately Rishi Sunak doesn’t answer the door on this occasion.
A very public battle begins between Nottingham Forest and Nottingham City Council about the terms of the lease on The City Ground (which is on council-owned land). The authority is looking to increase its annual rent from £250,000 to about £1m per year or to sell the freehold to the site to the club. The club go public about this and lots of Forest fans start to get upset as rumours abound of a new stadium in Toton.
March
Rishi Sunak visits Nottingham. Sadly it’s not in response to the petition about local council cuts, but to promote his party in the May local elections. He makes a public appearance at TrentBarton’s Langley Mill depot to discuss new funding for electric buses. He also pops up at The City Ground, but definitely doesn’t discuss the £100k donation that club owner Evangelos Marinakis recently made to his party. The Chameleon, a live music venue on Angel Row, where bands like Sleaford Mods cut their teeth, closes its doors for the last time due to the owners selling the building.
Nottingham Television Workshop alumnus Bella Ramsey is shortlisted for the award of Best Leading Actress at the 2024 BAFTA awards for her extraordinary performance in The Last of Us. Bella doesn’t win it (it goes to Sarah Lancashire for Happy Valley) but having only just turned 20 there’s plenty of time for all that.
April
Nottingham Puppet Festival takes place across the city, putting on dozens of events for families and fanatics. Big scoops include performances from Rainbow’s Zippy (and his puppeteer Ronnie le Drew) and Sooty (and his puppeteer Richard Cadell).
Notts-based Jayahadadream wins Glastonbury Festival's Emerging Talent Competition. She is chosen by a panel of judges, including festival organiser Emily Eavis. Among the prizes is a set on one of the main stages at the 2024 festival.
May
Sneinton-based art gallery and studios Backlit receives almost half a million in funding from Arts Council England, thanks to its government-funded Capital Investment
Programme. They plan to use this windfall to buy and develop their building on Ashley Street.
Local elections take place for two roles. Claire Ward (Labour) becomes the first Mayor of the East Midlands, taking 41% of the votes in a six-way contest with a 27.5% voter turnout. Gary Godden (Labour) wins the Notts Police and Crime Commissioner election, gaining more than half of the votes in a 3-way contest with a 35% voter turnout. Incumbent Caroline Henry (Conservative) vacates her office almost as swiftly as the half dozen speeding tickets she racked up in post.
An account which appears to be from 90s R&B singer turned modern-day street beggar Whycliffe (aka Donovan Whycliffe Bromwell) appears on Facebook, showing signs of him getting his life back in order. As someone we interviewed way back in issue 2, he’s battled more demons than most. If the positive vibes from this account continue (and they do up until our deadline) then it’s probably the best news of the year for us. Local disco-lovers Soulbuggin’ celebrate their 20th Birthday with the release of a fanzine and plenty more besides.
June
We at LeftLion complete a National Lottery Heritage Fund project digitally archiving the contents of two important Nottingham football fanzines from the decades gone by. These are Brian (a Forest fanzine) and The Pie (Notts County) and it climaxes with a sold out celebration event at Metronome. Give it a google if you’d like to find out more.
Castle Rock is named ‘Pub Group of the Year’ at the National Pub & Bar Awards, beating off competition from big guns like Everards, St Austell, Adnams and Heavitree. We’re sure a few pints of Harvest Pale were sunk in celebration that night. The first ever Notts Trans Pride event takes place at the New Foresters pub.
July
Thursday 4 July is the date of the first UK General Election since 2019 and following the public vote our local results very much mirror the bigger picture. Labour holds all of its seats here as well as turning Bassetlaw, Broxtowe, Gedling, Mansfield, Rushcliffe and Sherwood Forest all from blue to red. Ashfield’s MP Lee Anderson turns himself from Conservative blue to yucky Reform turquoise, six years after his previous defection from Labour. Robert Jenrick keeps his seat in Newark and later in the year comes second in the race to succeed Rishi as leader of the party.
The stalemate over The City Ground ends after a deal for Nottingham City Council to sell the lease on the ground to the club, warding off the possibility of a move to Toton.
August
Nottingham’s World Service Restaurant closes its doors exactly after 24 years of exquisite cuisine in Castle Gate. The owners cite changes in the dining market as the reason, and it won’t be the only hospitality business that the city will say goodbye to this year.
The 2024 Olympics take place in Paris and Nottingham’s residents and university alumni turn up, including; Emma Wilson (sailing), Adam Burgess (canoeing), Becky Downie (gymnastics) and David Ames, Conor Williamson, Tom Sorsby, Nick Park, Kyle Marshall and Nike Lorenz (hockey). However, the biggest shout goes to Bulwell-born weightlifter Emily Campbell who brings home a bronze medal.
Talented illustrator and artist Emily Catherine launches her first major exhibition I Can Heal You And Give You Art at Richmond House. Former England football manager and Notts County FC Director of Football, Sven Goran Erikkson dies after a battle with cancer.
September
The 2024 Paralympics take place in Paris and Nottingham is represented by Sophie Hahn (athletics), David Phillipson and Charlotte Henshaw (canoeing), Abbie Breakwell (wheelchair
tennis) and Richard Whitehead (commentary). The biggest Notts winner, however, is Tully Kearney who comes back with two gold medals for swimming.
The Palais re-opens as a nightclub after being bought out by the owners of Rock City. It originally closed (as Pryzm) in February and its future looked bleak, but under new management it should now be open to celebrate its 100th birthday in 2025. Danielle Moore, the lead singer of disco, house and funk band Crazy P passes away at 52 in circumstances described by the band as ‘sudden and tragic’.
October
October is always the busiest month for events in Nottingham and this year we had public appearances from local legends like the Kanneh Masons (Royal Concert Hall), Young T and Bugsy (Rescue Rooms), Paul Smith and Su Pollard (Nottingham Playhouse) and Shane Meadows (LeftLion at the Library).
Obviously, we were particularly pleased to do the event with Shane as it marked twenty years since we’d interviewed him for our first ever printed issue. The night before we’d also seen him at a charity ball organised by the Television Workshop which helped raise over £35k for a brilliant local charity. Shane won the bidding to be an extra on ITV’s Midsummer Murders, so don’t be too surprised if you see him in front of the camera instead at some point next year.
Craig Chettle steps down from Confetti after 30 years of leading the charge for further and higher education in creative industries. Big round of applause from us for all your work. Hockley Hustle takes over Notts as usual, raising both the aspirations of our local creatives and money for local charities.
There are big moves in the world of independent food traders. 200 Degrees sell off their entire operation (including their 5 Notts-based stores and roastery) to Caffe Nero. Mixed feelings on this: happy for the owners on their success, but sad to see such a well-loved local institution now in the hands of a company notorious for tax-dodging. Much sadder is the news that Annie’s Burger Shack completely goes under. Its Derby offshoot closed in January and in early October the flagship Notts store on Broadway closed without any public statement (and from the sounds of it the staff didn’t know either).
November
The Bodega celebrate 25 years of gigs with gigs from Sleaford Mods and Pip Blom. Meanwhile, greengrocerturned-gig-venue JT Soar celebrates 15 years of gigs with a 2-day music festival over at The Old Cold Store.
Notts-born artist and LeftLion contributor Sarah Cunningham passes away. A talented painter and artist, she had exhibited her work internationally and at the tender age of 31 had so much life ahead of her. It’s tragic news and our thoughts remain with her friends and family.
December
It’s always hard to write December, as we publish this in November but we know there will be no Christmas at Wollaton Hall this year as the event organisers decide to call it off after a ‘difficult operating year’. Vicky McClure’s Day Fever disco takes over Rock City for a New Year’s Eve party that finishes early enough for you to stay til the end, get the bus home and watch Jools Holland.
Nottingham’s theatres turn themselves over to panto for Christmas as usual. The Playhouse is showing Jack and the Beanstalk. The Theatre Royal brings out the all-stars for Peter Pan, starring Gok Wan, Paul Chuckle, Denise Welch (Coronation Street), and Steve Hewlett (Britain’s Got Talent).
We at LeftLion wish you and yours a merry christmas and a healthy and prosperous 2025.
words: Jared Wilson illustration: Raphael Achache
A magician in Notts
At this festive time of year, many of us are prone to enjoying the more authentic, screenless types of entertainment, from parlour games to pantomimes. In the same spirit, this month we heard from magician David Marshall, one of Nottingham’s most well-established, about the day-to-day highs and lows of being part of the East Midlands Magic Circle…
For local events magician David Marshall, stage magic is not just an art form but a way to connect with people, sharing something special that goes beyond a simple trick.
He first discovered stage magic at five years old when his dad gifted him a magic set called ‘Hocus Pocus’, which he still has to this day. After practising with it for hours, he performed his first trick at a family dinner, making a loop of string pass through his fingers. It felt in short like performing a miracle. From that point onwards he bought many more magic sets and theory books, learning not just how to do magic but also how it impacts people.
At seventeen he secured his first professional magic job: a weekly performance at a local theatre, and worked weddings, private parties and corporate functions after that. Starting to make a name for himself, he even ended up performing magic on the radio, learning all the while that some valuable lessons can’t be learned from books; you have to live them.
In recent years David has started coming up with his own tricks. They start with an idea, one often inspired by movies, cartoons, TV shows, paintings, or conversations with people. After brainstorming different ways to bring it to life, he chooses the method and effect. After that, he builds any props that are needed, before writing the script, which should be as easy for the audience to follow as possible. Then, comes the music, lighting, and other theatrical elements, which often need knowledge of related fields like acting, stage lighting, makeup, and dancing.
After that it’s practice, refinement, and asking lots of questions like "How can I make this look more magical?" "Is this the best way to achieve this effect?" "What if I use different objects?" and so on…
After months, the final product goes on-show for an audience, during which time David will closely watch the audience reaction, taking mental notes for improving his performance. Like any other art, magic tricks need
continuous evolution and refinement.
His audience’s reactions to his tricks can range from the indifferent to the surprisingly emotional, like when he revealed a face-down card as the exact type that the audience member had said, on-the-spot, and they started crying. Other times, people get a bit unnecessarily angry, like when a gent grabbed the deck, chose a card, shuffled it back in and said “find my card now”. He turned red and threw the deck against the wall when David said “the four of clubs”, which was probably a good sign.
One time, a gent in the audience grabbed the deck, chose a card, shuffled it back in and said “find my card now”. He turned red and threw the deck against the wall when David said “the four of clubs”, which was probably a good sign
As mentioned, a magician needs to be a jack-of-all-trades, including the business side (show business baby!) so David always searches for new clients via whatever avenue seems pertinent. This might include setting up phone calls, handing out flyers, or just reading books on how best to promote himself, as an independent performer, in this hectic, frenzied modern age.
And what’s next for David? Well a whole lot, he tells us, in a suitably enigmatic, magician-y way. His aim now and always, he tells us, is to inspire people with his magic, and help them dream, in more ways than one.
Keep track of David’s shows over at davidmarshallmagic.com
illustration: Renata Christine P.
A Game of Drones
Over at Trent Bridge Cricket Ground this month, a festive event of a very different kind is taking place. Narrated by Matt Lucas, the classic Dickens tale A Christmas Carol will be told through a spectacular display of colourful drones lighting up the sky. But what on earth goes into planning this kind of event? We spoke to John Hopkins, Founder & CEO at Celestial, to find out more…
The upcoming Christmas Carol show you have coming up in Nottingham looks like a spectacular event. Can you tell us a little more about it?
Celestial’s A Christmas Carol drone show skillfully blends tradition with innovation. It reimagines Charles Dickens’ beloved tale with dazzling visuals created by synchronised drones, all set against a stunning winter backdrop - the night sky.
Accompanied by narration from the incredible Matt Lucas, audiences can expect a magical journey through Scrooge’s transformation, featuring vibrant imagery of the ghosts of Christmas past, present and future. It’s designed to be a heartwarming and unforgettable festive experience.
Drone shows are really taking off in the entertainment industry recently, but for many this show will be their first experience of this artform. Can you talk a little about how drone technology has emerged and how Celestial began working with drones creatively and for entertainment?
Drone technology has advanced rapidly in the last decade, evolving from simple flying gadgets to sophisticated tools capable of precise and creative applications. At Celestial, we saw an opportunity to merge art and technology, using drones as "digital fireworks" to tell purpose driven stories in the sky. Our journey began with a desire to create sustainable, visually stunning experiences, and we’ve worked tirelessly to refine this unique medium into a true artform.
There seems to be incredible precision in the execution of a show like this. How much work goes into it and is everything perfectly pre-timed?
A great deal of work goes into each performance. It starts with scripting and storyboarding the visuals, then programming each drone’s movements and testing the choreography extensively in simulation software. Everything is pre-timed to the millisecond, from the drones’ flight paths to the accompanying music, ground lighting and narration. This precision ensures that each element aligns perfectly, creating a seamless and awe-inspiring experience. We continuously push the boundaries from an innovation
perspective and are the only drone show company in the UK to be able to fully rehearse shows at our own flight base in Somerset, fondly referred to as ‘The Hive’.
As technology progresses, we see potential for even more immersive storytelling that inspires audiences in ways we can only begin to imagine now
Considering they can be silent and don’t emit particles or litter into the environment, drones are said to be a cleaner and greener alternative to fireworks - do you think they will one day replace fireworks altogether?
While fireworks will likely always have their place in certain celebrations, drones offer a compelling alternative that is safer, more sustainable and infinitely customisable. As awareness grows and technology becomes even more advanced, we believe drone shows could eventually become the go-to choice for environmentally conscious entertainment.
Would it be correct to say we are still in the early days of creating art with drones in this way, and what do you think the future of such shows might be like?
Absolutely, we’re still in the infancy of this artform. The future is incredibly exciting - imagine integrating augmented reality, interactive elements, and even larger swarms that fly for even longer. As technology progresses, we see potential for even more immersive storytelling that inspires audiences in ways we can only begin to imagine now.
What kind of training would someone need to start working professionally with drone shows?
Working with drone shows requires a mix of skillsets, including animation, piloting, production and programming. Formal training for licensed drone pilots is essential in line with the Civil Aviation
Authorities (CAA) stipulated qualifications, this encompasses learning both variants of drone piloting, which includes being competent in delivering both singular and swarm based drone deployments. In addition to this a knowledge of swarm programming, 3D design and animation is highly valuable. Many roles also require an artistic eye, so experience in creative fields such as visual effects or motion design can be a big advantage.
Back to the event - your previous performance in Nottingham told the story of evolution, which sounds a bit more abstract than a classic 180 year old novel. What was it like adapting a Dickens story through lights?
Adapting A Christmas Carol was a wonderful challenge. Dickens’ story is so iconic that it gave us a rich foundation to build upon. Our aim was to translate its timeless themes into striking visual moments - like Scrooge’s journey through the spectral visits - with drones acting as characters and scenery. The narrative’s structure lent itself beautifully to visual storytelling, allowing us to stay faithful while exploring creative interpretations through light and movement.
You have quite the narrator for this show - Little Britain’s Matt Lucas - how did he get involved and what was it like working with him?
Matt Lucas was an absolute delight to work with. We wanted a narrator who could bring warmth, humour and gravitas to this timeless tale, and Matt was the perfect choice. His expressive voice added an extra layer of charm and engagement to the show. He was enthusiastic about the project from the start, and his performance truly elevated the experience for audiences.
Witness Charles Dickens’ timeless Christmas classic come to life in the night sky at Trent Bridge Cricket Ground on Saturday 7 and Sunday 8 December. To book tickets, head to yuup.co
Q @celestial_drones
NOTTS SHOTS
Want to have your work featured in Notts Shots? Send your high-res photos from around the city (including your full name and best web link) to photography@leftlion.co.uk or tag #nottsshots on Instagram.
Towards the Light Michael Swift-Homes
Swirling Staircase at Bromley House Library David Hunter
Jubilee Sunrise Louise Bolderstone
an Orderly Queue
Form
Laura Iremonger
This way to Bridlesmith Gate Dani Bacon
Aurora Beeston-alis Leigh Woosey
Autumn sun at Notts Count Charlie Marks
Salt of the Earth
There are few people who live and breathe Nottingham music quite like Sam Heaton. From his ambient rock band Eyre Llew being one of our greatest exports, to a stint in charge of Rough Trade’s events, as well as independently booking and promoting local artists for two decades, his fingerprints are all over musical successes in Notts. Earlier this year Sam took on a tough new challenge – transforming Saltbox from a little-known sports bar into a versatile 500-person capacity music and events space. To find out more, we sat down with him to chat about his first seven months running the venue, the hurdles he’s overcome in that time, and his plans for the venue in 2025…
You took over management of Saltbox back in April, having previously been at Rough Trade. The changes and improvements to the venue can be seen already, it seems to have quickly become a key part of the local music scene. What’s been your ethos for building up the venue?
I’ve always been really interested in helping different local bands and promoters over the nearly two decades I’ve been booking professionally, so it’s just been leaning into that really. What we’ve seen is not just a big local calendar but, because of the size of the venue, we’re getting all sorts of agents and promoters wanting to use the space as well, because there’s not many others like it in the city that have the availability like we do.
In my first month here, I think we booked in something crazy like 92 shows in three weeks! So, we’ve seen phenomenal demand for a venue like this, and we’re doing everything from craft nights for seventy people seated, to movie nights for 100-120 people, to gigs where we’re having 200-300 people.
We’ve also got things like big Q&A events. Stuff like that is in my blood, having worked at Rough Trade for four years. I really enjoy those because it’s something different for the music scene. It isn’t a direct clash with other venues, so there’s a space to have that as well, around what other venues are doing.
We’ve also got some club nights booked in with like 600 tickets sold – I’ve got mild anxiety about how I’m going to handle that! But we’re so appreciative of it because those kinds of things keep our venue alive - I wholeheartedly believe you have to support the local scene as well as the national touring circuit. It starts local, so a lot of what I’m doing is offering local supports out from the Nottingham music scene. It’s tough for bands to get on support slots these days, so I’m booking in headliners then offering two supports for these shows. I love that we can do that.
It is great to see another live music venue in Nottingham, especially after The Chameleon shutting down. But now we’ve also got The Grove that’s just opened in Sneinton.
It’s positive that there are new spaces opening up and becoming available…
What I’ve seen, all over the 27 countries I’ve been touring in, is that Nottingham is – and I’m not biassed here – equivalent to any capital around the world with how many music venues there are in the city. Per capita, I think Nottingham has more venues than most. Whether people recognise it or not, I know and believe in my heart that Nottingham is a music city. We’re sometimes waiting for breakthrough artists to come out and prove to the world that’s the case, but you can see it in the daily life of what our city is enjoying in its entertainment and hospitality industry. It’s an exciting time to add another to that list.
Nottingham is – and I’m not biassed here – equivalent to any capital around the world with how many music venues there are in the city
You’ve had some incredible moments here already in 2024 since taking over – what’s been your personal highlight so far?
We got to host the Pride after-party here and we had 400 people in the room for that one, which was amazing. We had something like fifteen drag performers and artists - they just took over, it was incredible. The feeling was electric and we decorated it really lovely.
We’ve had countless bands here to do some amazing shows as well. Bands from Mexico, Japan, America, Italy, France, Canada – it’s becoming an internationally recognised venue as well as a local one, but still providing opportunities for local supports – which I’m really passionate about.
You also did the collaboration with Mollis Fried Chicken over the summer - it was originally meant to only be for three months but it’s now a permanent fixture in the kitchen. Has that collaboration been a huge win-win for both brands?
I think so yeah - everyday we’re learning. They’re now open every time we have an Arena event, and we’re open too. It’s really lovely to serve high quality food, the chef who started that whole thing is a Michelin star chef and he has his own proper restaurant, but this is his side hustle and a passion project.
It sometimes doesn’t have to be about the money, it can just be about playing to our strengths - booking shows and functioning as a venue - and letting someone play to theirs, before collaborating.
And finally, going back to Saltbox, do you have any big plans for the venue in 2025 and what are some of the longterm goals for the venue that you would like to see come to fruition?
I’m really excited, we’ve got all sorts of huge artists coming here. We’re also trying to turn our upstairs area into a dedicated second bar because right now it’s not functional. We’ll be developing that, and potentially trying to turn it into a space for Panthers fans, so they can have their own dedicated speakeasy of sorts, and use it for different events when needed. We’ll have that second room for things like all-dayer festivals and club nights.
I’m really proud of what’s going on, I just need to build the team here and keep the momentum going. I’m getting contacted every day from all sorts of promoters and bands wanting to use the space. It’s a really interesting time, I will definitely keep booking in heaps of events, as I want to have as many shows as we can.
We also talked to Sam about his band Eyre Llew, recording at Abbey Road, and more - to read an extended version head to the LeftLion website. You can also keep track of all the gigs, club nights and events coming up at Saltbox by visiting their new website.
www.saltbox.co.uk
words: Karl Blakesley
photos: Stephanie Webb & Sam Heaton
I always catch some bug or other over Christmas. When the first essayist Michel De Montaigne was sick, instead of making ‘peace overtures…’ and drinking his medicine calmly, he’d ask the doctors to postpone his treatment until he had returned to full health, so that he might stand a chance of withstanding the ‘hazards of their potion’. A particular sort of Catch-22: the cure was so painful that he must be healthy to take it.
What is that thing that ails us? ‘Not too bad,’ people say when you ask them how they are, which means ‘not too good’. Tory Britain, supposedly gone, squats in the lungs itself like a Long Covid, the tail-end of a hacking cough. And we’ve been rooting for America like a mad sibling - election nights can feel like holding hands in the hospital cafe overnight, waiting to see if your loved one will make it through the night. Sometimes they do and sometimes they don’t.
We’ve been putting that brave hospital face on for so long, you think - ten years of grey November, a feat of Narnian endurance. And still that feeling that for the powerful, no bad deed goes unrewarded.
I think though: if the illness and the medicine are often both so bitter, how would we know if we were living through the cure?
What I mean is - knowledge of the malady of the public world and that we have to heal it is burdensome - and that antidote will sting on the way down. But this is a town that could laugh off an amputation. Whatever we taste now at the back of the throat, there are small sugars around us too - in acts of daily mercy, in brandy butter, in the Secret Santa from your fit coworker. Merry Christmas, Notts.
Spinning Yarns
For fifteen years, storytellers Mick Whysall and Dave Brookes have brought history to life. As The Woolly Tellers, their atmospheric performances whip up scenes of misty cobbled streets, mysterious highwaymen, fen giants and deals with the devil. We met them for a chat prior to their event Dark Tales for Dark Nights at the Fox and Grapes, and heard all about the tricks of their trade.
The best stories are those that you continue thinking about long after, and the first story I ever heard from The Woolly Tellers perform has stuck with me ever since. The evening was called A Very Victorian Murder and centred on the infamous case of William Saville - a local man sentenced for the murder of his family in 1844 - and the disastrous events that occurred after his trial and execution. Having painted a ghostly picture over the topography of the Lace Market, whenever I walk along High Pavement, past Shire Hall or the Cock and Hoop pub, I can’t help but imagine scenes of chaotic carriages and crowds, hungry for a hanging.
Today we are so bombarded with entertainment that it’s easy to forget how long the oral tradition of storytelling has been part of our culture, especially compared to the movies, paperbacks or podcasts that we take for granted. Stories are integral to our understanding of the world; they can drive emotion, causing laughter or shivers; they can shed light on overlooked things, highlight a connection to the land you live on, and narrow the space between the past and present. Whatever the message of a story, the act of telling them has been a trusty antidote to dark nights for centuries.
Mick and Dave, who together comprise The Woolly Tellers, met through The Nottingham Storytellers, a group who gathered at the Trip to Jerusalem to share tales and give advice around the craft. Deciding to work together, the pair realised that, while they enjoyed each other's technique, they came at the art with different approaches.
Q @andrewtucker.uk
illustration: Jim Brown
“We don’t create stories the same way, we don’t rehearse the same way, and we definitely don’t perform the same way,” says Mick. “But we work really well together. We’ve been doing it for fifteen years and we haven’t come to blows yet.”
While Mick writes his own material and enjoys making up stories on the spot, Dave is “the scriber of the two”, and often uses traditional tales
as a background. “We both use a lot of history. I’m a researcher - I have newspapers going back to the 1800s,” he says. “So once we’ve got something accurate and relevant, we create characters around it. Historical lectures can be a bit flat, but once you start putting human emotion in there, or tying it into a place, that’s when you can start creating tales.”
It begins to feel as if time must have shifted outside of the pub. The pictures of a long gone era are painted so well that the cobbled passages and tightly packed tenements of Narrow Marsh must surely have re-emerged into our present
A decade and a half of spinning yarns later, The Woolly Tellers’ events include a range of themes, from local history, folklore and romance, to tales inspired by their upbringings, family memories or anecdotes from in-and-around Nottingham. Of the stories told at Dark Tales For Dark Nights, we are treated to some that take place just streets away from the pub we are in. Mick gives a short and poignant glimpse of his first kiss, on a cold night in mid-century Sneinton with a girl he’d never meet again, a memory with a universal softness that most can understand.
Was it true to life? Well, as Mick points out, a lot of what we think we know is rooted in fiction. “The person who has made us understand the Victorian world most is Dickens, and it’s all fiction. Fiction hits you hard and makes you care about the people,” he explains. “Real life is chaotic or boring - it doesn’t follow a clear sequence. So, if you've got a truth that you want to get across to an audience, you should construct something logical
and understandable. You have to fictionalise a basic truth and then layer two or three truths on top of the other.”
As the Dark Tales roll on, and the stories progress, it begins to feel as if time must have shifted outside of the pub. The pictures of a long gone era are painted so well that the cobbled passages and tightly packed tenements of Narrow Marsh must surely have re-emerged into our present. I can see women in draughty parlours finishing lacework by dusk and debt collectors’ faces shadowed by firelight in timeworn taverns. While many of their tales lean towards a darker nature, The Woolly Tellers’ stories are weaved with an understanding for the people from all walks of life, often with moments of humour and empathy.
Our conversation moves from these historic portraits of everyday people to how stories, folklore and traditions from different cultures have merged over the centuries. Their upcoming performance Christmas Tales takes a look into the spirit of the festive season, from the traditionally nostalgic to the association with Pagan festivals such as Saturnalia. Mick, who is a great lover of Christmas, assures me the tales are somewhat cheerier than their regular storytelling nights but no less compelling.
Whether heartwarming or harrowing, history is the centrepiece of each Woolly Tellers performance. I ask them what else they have coming up. “We’re working on something about resurrectionists - body snatchers,” Dave says. “It’s in the early stages, but we’ve got the bones of it.” I’m given a brief but detailed description of Nottingham’s own grim history of the practice, and once again I think that familiar spaces I often wander by will now be shrouded in stories of the past.
Christmas Tales takes place at The Fox & Grapes from 6.30pm on Sunday 8 December. Tickets are £10, including a hot buffet.
words: Sophie Gargett photos: The Woolly Tellers
Life is a Cabaret: revisiting the iconic Parkside club
Nottingham is well-known for having a vibrant nightlife that entertains a large student population, what with the countless clubs and bars, you are spoiled for choice. But did you know that this reputation has been in the making since the 60s? We chatted with Christine Fletcher-Noble to get a look into the suave and sexy Parkside club on Station Street and its booming business back in the day.
When it comes to the glamour of the swinging sixties, nothing reflected the era better than the Parkside Club. The glamourous club opened its doors in 1963 at 11 Station Street, under the management of Dennis and George Akins. The venue had previously been the rather seedy Victorian Commercial Hotel which, despite being next door to a police station, had been rumoured to be a brothel.
After an extensive, and expensive, makeover, the club became the premier place to see and be seen. It combined the best ideas from top London clubs with European casinos to create a mixture of fine dining, glamourous cabaret and gambling. A lot was riding on the casino being successful.
Smooth dark oak panelled walls, red velvet banquettes, oil paintings lit with discreet lighting add to the atmosphere of the luxurious club. Mirrors dotted around the room helped to give the impression of a much larger space.
One of the best parts of the club was the investment into bringing top cabaret acts to the city. This included accomplished singer Mimi Pearce, the Bert Hartley Trio and Miss Jackie Trent. Trent was having an illicit affair with Tony Hatch, a songwriter, while working at the club. After she left, the two married and co-wrote Downtown which was a hit for Petunia Clarke.
Christine Fletcher-Noble, a professional dancer, moved to Nottingham after the Shakespeare Club in Liverpool, where she had been dancing, burned down in 1963. There was no expense spared when it came to the acts, even their costumes which had elaborate headdresses had to be right. The Parkside dancers were a spectacular part of the show.
“We did different routines over two shows a night. We changed the show once a month because we had the same people coming in but we always had a star artist. There were four dancers on at once, one male singer, one female singer and a trio for the band,” she recalled.
“It was every type of dancing that you get in a cabaret club. The costumes we had were hired so they came from a firm in London. They changed every month when the shows were changed,” she added. “They were very ornate, beautiful with feathers.”
Fine dining and champagne accompanied the show. Produce would be bought in London and shipped to Nottingham where the elaborate meals were prepared by a Spanish chef. Dishes were certainly boozy. Fresh lobster was flamed with brandy, turtle soup had a splash of sherry, while sirloin steaks were given a red wine sauce.
There was, as you may expect, a dress code to get in. “It was very glamorous with a dress code. Most men wore bow ties and suits while the ladies were in evening dresses and gloves. You went to town. You couldn’t turn up in a pair of jeans as you wouldn’t have been allowed in,” Christine said. “In the 60s, people dressed up to go to the theatre or the cinema. Life is very casual now but back then it was a special occasion.”
It wasn’t long before the club began attracting the rich, the famous and those who liked a gamble. “We had people working there like Val Doonican (Irish singer), Adam Faith (singer and actor), Des O’ Connor (comedian) and Anita Harris (singer) who were all regulars,” Christine recalled. “We had Diana Dors (actor) there one night. Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor too. All of the people who worked at Theatre Royal would finish their shows at 10pm and then go straight down to the Parkside. We did a late show they would watch so we had all the stars there.”
Taylor and Burton came to Nottingham to promote their film Marlowe's Doctor Faustus at the Moulin Rouge cinema in 1967. Although this may not be their only visit, the couple sat in the club happily watching the Irish comedian Dave Allen performing his routine.
Christine met her husband, manager Roy Fletcher at the club. Although she left, Roy continued working at the Parkside.
What of the rumour that 1960s gangsters, The Kray twins once famously put in an appearance at the Parkside? We may never know. Some say other ‘hooligans’ would try their luck, claiming connections but were swiftly sent on their way.
One such character that contributed to the club’s atmosphere was Miss Kathy and her girls. Kathy, who was at this time in her 50s, ran a tight ship of hostesses who were to make the businessmen feel welcome while ensuring they spent money. She was a charming listener who had her regulars who would return to the club for a chat and attention. Her girls would sit dining and drinking champagne with the men who visited the club. It was said when she passed away, her funeral cortege stretched half a mile through the streets.
Eventually, the club changed direction, bringing in a slightly different act including exotic dancers. They even brought in a Miss Justine Starr, a fire-eating, snake act. This was also a trend in clubs across London including many in Soho so it may be that that is where the idea came from. George Akins purchased the Old Reform Club on Victoria Street, transforming that into the Victoria Club.
The club drifted into different names and ownership in the seventies becoming Churchills for a brief period in the late 70s. It advertised three bars, resident singers, visiting artists, and adult entertainment while boasting: ‘No lady will ever refuse an invitation to the Churchill’s Club.’ Christine Noble and her husband, Roy Fletcher even tried to reopen the club in the 80s but sadly it didn’t work. It also became the After Dark club in the 1990s. After a long period of being used as artist studios and left empty, the building was eventually demolished in 2021/22. It is now student accommodation.
Special thank you to Roy Fletcher, author of Nottingham Parkside Club: a Potted History and Christine Fletcher-Noble for the interview.
If you have any of your own photos of the club, or have memories of any of the places mentioned then please get in touch with History Editor CJ De Barra.
Email history@leftlion.com
Fine dining and champagne accompanied the show. Produce would be bought in London and shipped to Nottingham where the elaborate meals were prepared by a Spanish chef. Dishes were certainly boozy
words: CJ De Barra
photos: Christine Noble
working man's kitchen
Home of the viral Pizza Dog, Working Man’s Kitchen built a national reputation from a humble food truck. Now it’s starting a new chapter as an independent pizzeria with an important cause at its heart. Co-food editor Lucy Campion sits down with Paddy Sneath, the working man behind the kitchen, to find out more about his pizzeria and journey from pylon painter to pizza maker.
With so many pizza options available nowadays, it sometimes feels like there’s a pizza place on every corner of the city centre but, after visiting and learning about Working Man’s Kitchen, I’m confident that Nottingham’s newest pizzeria is something special.
Like many great independents, Working Man’s Kitchen started its journey as a food trader. Paddy tells me that his dream from the beginning (“other than to be a footballer!”) was to own a pizza van. “I always loved the theatre behind pizza, watching people throwing the dough about,” he says. “It was about more than just making food and serving it.”
After seven years of working as a pylon painter, Paddy took the plunge and bought a caravan-turned-food truck on eBay in September 2021. The following month he worked his first pop-up event at the Red Heart pub in Ruddington. Just two months later, Paddy quit his job to pursue Working Man’s Kitchen full-time.
The business secured its spot in the City Ground fanzone after a fateful enquiry with the Trent Navigation pub and Pizza Dog was born shortly after, which Paddy says “has more or less developed a life of its own.”
When I ask where the idea came from, Paddy laughs: “I get stick for this, but it was my wife’s idea! We had a single pizza oven in the truck and needed something quick we could serve at Forest. I was already serving hot dogs and pizza but it was my wife who came up with the Pizza Dog.” Although the pizza-hot-doghybrid made its name at the City Ground, it turns out the Magpies were actually the first to try Working Man’s Kitchen’s signature creation, as Paddy trialled the Pizza Dog at a Notts County event before taking it across the Trent to Forest fans.
Since then, the Pizza Dog has attracted national attention, featuring on the popular Footy Scran page on X and winning Amazon Prime’s Football’s Finest Food competition.
What I love most about Working Man’s Kitchen is that, while making the move from food truck to bricks-andmortar site, this business hasn't abandoned its roots or tried to become something it’s not. Looking around Paddy’s simple, fuss-free pizzeria, it’s clear that his day one supporters would still feel every bit as at home there as they would at the City Ground.
“When me and my wife were planning this site, we
knew we didn’t want it to be a restaurant,” says Paddy. “This pizzeria is somewhere anyone can come to just enjoy food. We created the kind of place we would want to go and eat ourselves. We bought almost everything off Facebook marketplace! Then I built the counter, while that table and chairs over there belonged to my grandparents.”
“It’s the same with the menu. I only make pizzas I would be happy to eat. We don’t serve vegan cheese because I don’t like it, instead we do a great marinarait’s vegan but still works for us.”
As well as onsite pizza making workshops, we’re going to start ‘SEN Sundays’ for families with SEN children to eat out in a judgement-free environment
Long-standing fans of Working Man’s Kitchen will be pleased to hear that they can still enjoy their Pizza Dog with a pint in hand, as customers are welcome to buy a bev or two from Nottingham brewery Neon Raptor (conveniently situated in the unit directly opposite) to go with their meal.
When I ask Paddy what he thinks of Sneinton Market Avenues, he says “I love being here. The environment and people are great - the guys at Neon Raptor, the guys at Montana [a street art shop] and Emma at Breadmill Bakery next door. I’m actually making tomorrow’s pizza dough using a percentage of the flour from Breadmill. We use as much as we can locally when making our food.”
Paddy’s pizza takes inspiration from both traditional Neapolitan and New York style pizza. The result is a dough that’s blissfully light and slightly charred with a satisfying crunch.
Alongside the Pizza Dog, three staple pizzas are served at Working Man’s Kitchen: margherita, marinara and ‘Paddy’s Pep’, featuring pepperoni, red onions and hot honey. There is also a changing weekly special pizza to keep regulars coming back for more.
The menu features a rotation of starters too, including the tasty spicy meatballs I had whilst there, as well as other classics like mac ‘n’ cheese. A dessert option will soon be appearing on the Working Man’s Kitchen
counter in the form of Paddy’s homemade muffins, which he already supplies locally.
Paddy’s eldest daughter goes to Nethergate, a SEN school in Clifton, where Paddy has voluntarily served pizza at the annual prom and led pizza-making workshops. His wife Amy also used to be a SEN teaching assistant and is a driving force behind the business’ work with SEN children and schools.
“It was our work with Nethergate that made us realise that, if we bought our own premises, we could do more than just make pizza. We could create opportunities for SEN children,” says Paddy.
“As well as onsite pizza making workshops, we’re going to start ‘SEN Sundays’ for families with SEN children to eat out in a judgement-free environment. We’re also hoping to provide work opportunities for SEN young adults on those Sundays. From our experience with SEN schools, there aren’t enough opportunities for school leavers.”
Although Working Man’s Kitchen normally operates on a walk-in basis, SEN Sundays will be bookings only so that families have the reassurance of a guaranteed table and time slot. Spectrum Slices has already received a lot of interest from families and schools, and Paddy and Amy are exploring fundraising and funding options to help SEN children who might not be able to afford to get involved.
Commenting on plans for Spectrum Slices, Paddy said: “It’s more than having a brick-and-mortar site, it’s more than Working Man’s Kitchen. Spectrum Slices has become a purpose - we feel we can do something to help, so we want to. It’s about giving back.”
As if Paddy wasn’t busy enough running a pizzeria and Spectrum Slices, he also has a host of exciting side projects in the pipeline, which include working with the University of Nottingham to launch his own hot honey and with Nottingham Trent University to market DIY pizza making kits. Watch this space!
Visit Working Man’s Kitchen at Sneinton Market, 9 Avenue A, NG1 1DT. Stay up to date with Spectrum Slices and Paddy’s other projects via Instagram.
words & photos: Lucy Campion
Fancy a Tiki one?
words: Caradoc Gayer photos: Adam Pickering
Are you pining for summery vibes and warmer climes as we approach the dark depths of the winter solstice, or just want to add a tropical flavour to your Christmas nights out? The ever-creative Fletchergate Industries are already a few steps ahead of you. This Christmas they’ve opened a brand new spot, Tahula’s Tiki Shack, located on the former lower floor of Hockley Arts Club, Carlton Street...
When the LeftLion team visits Tahula's Tiki Shack, newly opened in November, our first impressions are that the bar is set to reinvigorate that well-worn phrase ‘hidden gem’ as we head down a side street to find its portal-esque hidden entrance.
We amble through into a kaleidoscopic interior, adorned with all the expected Tiki Bar decor and more, from palm fronds, to bamboo to Tiki masks and varied artwork. We’re also shown the room-spanning, multi-coloured disco lights set to add all-the-more energy to many a night-out, especially on Fridays when the bar will host a regular live DJ.
With the varied nightlife in Hockley more buzzing than ever, Fletchergate Industries think that there’s no better time to provide Notts revellers with this transporting, SouthPacific experience
It’s certainly an impressive spot to behold, which isn’t surprising - Tiki bars are elaborately dressed affairs, and Fletchergate are responsible for most of the quirkiest bars in Notts, from Blind Rabbit to The Walrus.
"Opening a venue from scratch is always incredibly fun,” says General Manager Em Spray, longtime member of the Hockley Arts Club team. “It can be stressful at times, but once you open the doors, get people coming in, get to speak to everyone and see what they think of it, it's great. The team is also really excited to get started.”
After migrating from California to the UK in the 1960s, Tiki bars and their associated, Polynesian-influenced-partyculture saw a huge emergence across the nation, before declining in the latter 20th century.
Tiki is synonymous with vibrant decor, playful cocktails, and a carefree party atmosphere, and the resurgence of retro aesthetics and the growing demand for immersive experiences from today’s social media conscious revellers have brought them into vogue. Tahula's Tiki Shack offers a colourful antidote to boring modernist bars, an inviting mix of nostalgia and novelty that’s perfectly suited to its Hockley surrounds.
Across the 2010s, and particularly in recent years, Tiki culture has seen a revival as more people look for exotic, escapist spaces for their nights out. The colourful, classic Tiki cocktails like Mai Thai and Zombies, which lend themselves well to home mixology, are ever-popular adornments.
“We’re always passionate about delivering unique experiences that set our venues apart,” says Dan Ellis, CEO of Fletchergate. “Tahula’s will offer Nottingham something fresh—a space to unwind in a tropical escape with inventive cocktails, great music, and unbeatable beach vibes. We can’t wait to welcome everyone later this month.”
With the varied nightlife in Hockley more buzzing than ever, Fletchergate Industries think that there’s no better time to provide Notts revellers with this transporting, South-Pacific experience.
Visit Tahula’s Tiki Bar’s at 20A Carlton Street, NG1 1NN
en V iornment
in cider info
One of the many events and projects taking place at St Ann’s Allotments, Apple Day takes place each October in the Community Orchard. Katherine Monk-Watts went along to speak to STAA’s Community Orchard Project Worker Richard Arkwright, following his afternoon apple pressing workshop, to find out what’s at the core of this celebratory event.
St. Ann’s Community Orchard, as always, is bustling with life and harmonious green spirit. Their alluring outdoor space is laden with childlike curiosity, eco-conscious individuals, but most noticeably of all… apples! As the cosy harvest season has gradually crept upon us once again, it’s that special time of year where we shift and settle towards a new sentimental focus - of rest, appreciation and celebration: of what we have, what we have achieved, and what we have grown together. And Apple Day perfectly encapsulates all of that, in a single Saturday afternoon.
The beautifully scenic Community Orchard is made up of thirteen plots; with an abundance of fruit trees, ponds, vegetable gardens, a straw bale building, woodlands path, a welcoming campfire circle, and is home to seventeen different varieties of apples on the allotments. Established in 2001, the community project has been managed and looked after by the STAA charity, local associations, youth groups and volunteers on the historic heritage site.
If you’ve grown something, or if you’ve got enough food –you damn well celebrate it! So that’s what this is all about
Thank you, Richard, for speaking to LeftLion during this very lively apple afternoon! For anyone who isn’t familiar with STAA and their community events and projects – could you please describe what the charity stands for and what you do for St. Ann’s Allotments?
What STAA stands for in terms of values, it’s making this amazing 75-acre allhedged allotments site, available to local people. People who live in an innercity environment where maybe their gardens are small, or maybe they don’t have access to that kind of country-side type experience – so they can come here. We’re under the trees, we’re under the sky, and everybody’s level here and the same. We enjoy being outside, the fresh air, the fresh produce, and enjoy meeting in a different space.
That’s amazing. What was the eco-preparation process like for the apples in the Community Orchard?
Most of the trees here were planted here 23 years ago by local schools – St. Ann’s Wells, Sycamore, Sneinton C of E, and the Karimia Institute. They all came and planted the trees, but then over the years they have been looked after by the volunteers.
And the fruits of that, they just appear on the trees. Then it’s the rain, the sun and soil. And then we pick them, and we juice them. So that’s the ecopreparation: some humans coming together, and then just providing the right
conditions for nature to do what it does best, which is just to give beauty, and produce.
What would you encourage to young people, or to anyone who is interested in volunteering for STAA at the Community Orchard?
We have a Youth Project here. We’re always trying to involve young and local people in the allotments site – for people of all ages. We have toddler sessions, all the way through to some of our volunteers who are retired, and really wanting to put all of their energy into something positive.
We’re constantly trying to create opportunities to engage young people, but also to reconnect young people with the natural world. Come twenty years, come ten years when climate change becomes more and more real, they’re the ones who are going to have to work out how to bring and make their own food, or how to reconnect with the life support systems that surround us.
How many Apple Days have there been now? What makes it so special to you and the rest of the STAA Team?
So, the first Apple Day was in 2001. That was in The Chase Neighbourhood Centre, (because this place was pretty much overgrown at that point) and we’ve done Apple Days ever since. But how long have people come together and celebrated a harvest? Well, that’s thousands and thousands of years!
If you’ve grown something, or if you’ve got enough food – you damn well celebrate it! So that’s what this is all about. The fact that we have food, and we have the means to grow and gather our own food, which is a privilege really, considering the situations that some people are in the world, and how they will be, given climate change.
What do you love most about apples? What’s your preferred way of cooking, eating, or drinking them?
I love apples. You can plant a tree – once you’ve bought it, for £15, (or £20 now?) and that will give you apples for the rest of your life - and what a deal that is!
There are 3,000 different kinds of apples. And I like the variety, the taste. For me, I like a nice Russet apple. But that’s another thing, there’s an apple for everybody! It's celebrating diversity in everything – it really is what makes the world go round.
Find out more about STAA via their website staa-allotments.org.uk
interview: Katherine Monk-Watts photos: Ben Hemstock
Victory Lap are undeniably one of Nottingham’s breakout bands of 2024. Prior to their debut EP Torch Songs, which was released in July, they were already making waves. But now, they have reached new heights, with an upcoming UK headline tour in the diary - including a show at Nottingham’s very own The Bodega. We chat to Tomas Ponting and James Denham about the band’s early origins, how they found their signature sound, and a suspicious new Fanta flavour which has emerged onto shelves…
We have well and truly descended into the colder half of the year now, but back when I spoke to Victory Lap, it was somehow one of the hottest days of the year. It was 6pm and I had just finished my day at work, as had Tomas and James; “We’re very boring men. We both work in offices and do boring office jobs,” Tomas says. “Luckily, I work in an office with air conditioning!”
James was working from home, so he hadn’t been so lucky. “I've actually been going a little bit mental during the last 24 hours,” he admits, before explaining that the smoke alarm that his landlord fitted the previous day had been causing havoc. “It’s been beeping all day. I only mustered up the courage to text him this afternoon. If you take any lesson from this - just speak to your landlord!”
Based in Radford and Wollaton respectively, Tomas and James went to school together, along with the band’s pianist Jake. Drummer Lawrence came into the picture due to his dad’s friendship with Tomas' dad from Nottingham’s punk scene back in the day, while long-term friend and bassist Rory was the final piece of the puzzle, to form Victory Lap as they are today.
“It was all quite organic,” James says. “I suppose we kind of all knew each other for a long, long time. Then, we just started taking music a bit more seriously. We've always played music together. But we thought, rather than just leave this in our bedrooms, maybe we should actually go outside and get on a stage.”
That’s exactly what Victory Lap did. Before they’d even released their debut single Jealousy, let alone an EP, they had played a number of shows across the UK, including support appearances in London and Manchester and a headline show at The Chameleon (RIP), which is where I first discovered them.
But prior to their first headline show, the band spent time formulating their sound into what it is today. “James had a bunch of old crooner style love ballads, and I was listening to a lot of 50s doo-wop and 60s romantic ballads,” Tomas says. “So, we put those ideas together. I think that mesh formulated the rest of what we were going to go on to do as a band.”
James adds; “Post punk was the big trend at the time. We’re fans of that, but there was no point in us trying to be like other bands. So, we did the antithesis of it, using open chords. It made sense in the wider context. We were coming out of Brexit, there was a nostalgic feeling of what Britain - or life - used to be.”
At this point, James picks up a can and takes a sip. “What are you drinking?” Tomas asks. “Kombucha,” replies James. When I show my can of Rubicon on the screen, Tomas asks if I knew that Fanta have released a new pineapple and grapefruit flavour, “But it’s just Lilt! They’ve just put a new sticker on it,” he
exclaims. “But it is in a lovely blue coloured can, so there are positives,” he concludes.
Having been warned by James that the food and drink conversation needed to move on before they got onto their strong (seemingly, very positive) opinions on crisps, we shift back to talking about the EP, Torch Songs. “It’s a phrase I came across when I was listening to Édith Piaf and Jacques Brel, who bear everything with their heart about their lost love” explains Tomas.
The phrase reflected the persistent failure and upset in love that the band captured across four songs they ultimately selected for the EP. Before the tracklist was decided, Western influences crept more into their sound, but this has been shelved; “The ones we picked are more what we want to display, and the route we want to go down now,” James says.
James had a bunch of old crooner style love ballads, and I was listening to a lot of 50s doo-wop and 60s romantic ballads,” Tomas says. “So, we put those ideas together. I think that mesh formulated the rest of what we were going to go on to do as a band
They will be taking the EP on the road very soon, making the leap from support to headliner, across the UK. “Having the opportunity to go to London and do a headline show, it does feel like we are imposters,” Tomas admits. “But I always compare it to Ronaldo - we try to leave our hearts on the pitch! And make sure we do the best show we can. So, it's just a matter of doing that on a larger stage, I guess.”
The band’s approach to being a support act was to keep their set short and sweet, and not linger on things too much. But now they’ve got the headline spot, they can afford to be a bit more self-indulgent, and include some of their longer, five or six minute songs on the setlist. “I feel like we can flex that muscle now - we've done the bicep curls, so now we can do the rowing machine,” Tomas laughs.
Victory Lap are headlining The Bodega on Saturday 7 December 2024.
words: Gemma Cockrell photo: Natasha Koziarska Lap of Honour
The Chase Unbreakable (Single)
This song is characterised by that boisterous brass and plosive percussion that fires full-throttle throughout - although at a slightly mellowed, ‘plodding along’ nature, it’s unmistakably The Chase. Offering more proof of their helter-skelter songwriting, this latest single introduces us to an a cappella beat reminiscent of the band’s tight-knit musicianship; from cat screeches to flute solos, their arrangements are never flawed by their humour. The Chase are a band enriched with catchy nostalgia for ska and reggae inflections, and undeniably know how to make an ear-worm. Talia
Gender Envy Paper Planes (Single)
Luna & The Lime Slices If You're Sober, I'll Stay (Single)
This track arrives with a muted wail of guitars which slowly but surely forms into the opening bars of a restrained but forceful song. It's anthemic in pace, but soaked in angst as the guitars turn fuzzy and the bass line growls. The vocals are wonderfully enigmatic at first, but later roar with attitude and passion as the band's two lead singers really start to let go. The song is nicely structured, with a strong, long build layered across the verses, chorus and explosive bridge section. Luna & The Lime Slices are a relatively new addition to Nottingham's altrock scene but are quickly proving a force to be reckoned with (and in my opinion, our city's answer to Crawlers). Phil Taylor
Gender Envy are a pop-punk band packed with personality, delivering an upbeat sound with raw and introspective lyrics. Their latest single continues to drive this style. While the song is new, the feelings are all too familiar as the single manages to capture the bittersweet and strange nostalgia that comes with life moving on after losing someone. It goes to show that for a band primarily making music for the joy of it, they know how to put their heart on their sleeve in a way that is both sentimental and strikingly self-aware. Gender Envy continues to soar to even greater heights – so dig out the old photo box, strap on the boots you were gifted at fifteen, and check it out! Phillippa Walsh
The Junipers Imaginary Friends (Album)
Featuring their crispest and most refined sound yet, The Junipers’ fourth record is an album that feels at once fresh and familiar. Though unapologetic in its 60s psychedelic roots, Imaginary Friends oozes confidence and originality. From the delicious, distorted groove of album highlight While You Preside, to the plaintive lilt of Red Song, the Leicester quartet show the full range of their musical and lyrical abilities. Whimsical storytelling, spotless production and layered harmonies that Brian Wilson would be proud of — all these combine to make the album a joyful listen, start to finish. Sam Marshall
John Hardy
and Northern (EP)
I’m a huge fan of this five-track EP by John Hardy. It's a slow moving beast; a collection of Americana-influenced songs with a slow, almost menacing tempo and just perfect for the rest of autumn and the winter months ahead. Melancholy country pop music makes little sense but it's the best I can do to describe John Hardy's work. Strongly crafted and well recorded songs, my personal favourites are Portobello Road, Same Old Country Song, Old Bones, Enjoy The Show and Car Radio... and yes I know that's every track on the EP! Grab a bottle, light the fire, sit back and invest some time in this record. Bassey
If you’re from Nottingham and want to get added to our list of music writers, or get your tunes reviewed, hit us up at music@ leftlion.co.uk
Robinson
Country
conscious closet words & photos: Addie Kenogbon-Harley
With the season of glitter and cheer now well and truly here, Fashion Editor Addie Kenogbon-Harley caught up with Sarah Rockley and Lisa Holland, co-founders of Nottingham sustainable fashion brand and occasion wear rental service, Conscious Closet, to find out how rented looks could be the key to a more sustainable festive party season.
Each year during the festive season, millions of Brits hit the highstreet in the hopes of bagging themselves the ultimate Christmas party look or show-stopping piece to ring in the new year.
It’s a tale as old as time, with research conducted by Makers Mark last year revealing Brits were estimated to spend £6.7bn on new festive looks over the course of the holiday season. However, given that 7.8 million Brits admit to only wearing their new party outfits just once before they’re relegated to the back of the wardrobe, never to be seen again, and with over 12.7 million items cast aside after just a few wears, it’s a tradition which is taking its toll on the earth’s resources and environment.
According to research from Oxfam, the thrill of a new item of clothing wears off after just four wears. However, recent years have seen many in the fashion world take notice, and look for more sustainable ways for consumers to get their hands on new garms, while still enjoying the warm fuzzy dopamine hit of wearing something special during the most wonderful time of the year.
Clothing rentals are one of the latest trends to lend a hand, with 8.6% of UK clothing shoppers reported to have rented clothing for Christmas in 2022, and the apparel market currently experiencing growth year on year. Here in Notts, one such company who is trying to be the change they want to see in the industry, is clothing rental company and luxury occasion wear specialists, Conscious Closet.
Conscious Closet was launched by Sarah Rockley who, having began her career as a fashion designer, now also works as a Nottingham Trent University fashion lecturer, and Lisa Holland who also has a fashion background and alongside Conscious Closet runs her own textiles agency.
A success story born out of lockdown, the pair created Conscious Closet as a means to offer more sustainable clothing for fashion lovers.
“Lisa and I were friends who met through our children, and we both had a real interest in fashion. So we always ended up talking about fashion, how we hated
how much was being wasted and where things were being made,” Sarah says. “Over the last ten years, people have begun to know the impact that fashion's having. And we started to say we should do something here. So we started to put on clothes swap parties and they were just such a success but we thought, there's more we can do.”
While most people may be familiar with renting a car or even sportswear like ski gear, the clothing rental scene still has a way to go towards breaking down stigmas surrounding hired looks, but it’s a trend that has been rife in the celebrity world since the very invention of celebrities
And, the business evolved from there. Offering a sustainable and cost-effective way to get your hands on a luxurious festive outfit, Conscious Closet allows people to rent a premium party frock for just £45 and a refundable deposit of £100. Each person is able to keep the dress for four days and once the four days are over, and you’ve turned a few heads at your office Christmas party or New Year’s Eve bash, you simply return the item to Conscious Closet who’ll clean and press the garment ready for the next person.
“What's the thing that sits in your wardrobe the longest? It's those occasion-wear dresses that you buy for a wedding or a party because they're not day wear, and you don't wear them out and about all the time,” Lisa explains. “These are the things that are often just rotting in people's wardrobes. So we thought, let's set up a business where we can change that.”
They stock a wide range of evening wear in sizes 4 to 16 and, in a range of styles, including classic ball gowns and little black dresses, with people able to try before they rent, at the Conscious Closet studio in Southwell. There, the team also offers free styling advice with a range of dazzling accessories also able to be rented to
take the outfit to the next level.
“Whether it’s for balls, cruises, Christmas parties, New Year's Eve parties, music events or prom, we can help,” Lisa adds. “For example, yesterday we had a lady come in. She's been to see me probably five times now. Her husband owns an events company, so they go to a lot of balls. She said, “I don't want to buy a dress because it’s just going to sit in the wardrobe” because every time she has to wear something different.”
While most people may be familiar with renting a car or even sportswear like ski gear, the clothing rental scene still has a way to go towards breaking down stigmas surrounding hired looks, but it’s a trend that has been rife in the celebrity world since the very invention of celebrities. Sarah believes if celebrities are open about the fact that they often don’t own the spectacular wears they’re papped with on the red carpet, it will help others see that rentals are a feasible and sustainable way to look great.
In addition to the rental option, Conscious Closet does also offer a selection of new and pre-loved items including for proms which can be bought, with care given to where the garment is sourced from and the fabrics used, to ensure it still aligns with the brand’s core ethos of sustainability. Conscious Closet also offers a bespoke service where Lisa and Sarah will design and create custom made to measure garments using deadstock fabric.
If you’re still not convinced by the rental revolution, but still want to look great while looking after the planet, Sarah advises, “Buy classic and something you'll wear forever. If you are insistent on buying a dress, could you wear it in the future in another way? You can always dress it up with your makeup and your jewellery and shoes. Don't just wear it and throw it at the back of your wardrobe. Think, can you get more wear out of it?”
Find out more about Conscious Closet at consciouscloset.co.uk
Trigger warning: this article makes reference to sexual abuse and violence against women.
Beginning in Leeds in 1977 as part of the Women's Liberation Movement, Reclaim the Night is an annual march throughout the UK against sexual violence, calling for gender equality, and women’s right to be safe on the streets at night. Katherine Monk-Watts went along for the first time, and was not disappointed.
One night in October, a week before the clocks went back, an army of women marched through the city centre. Beginning at Sneinton Market, we moved through Hockley, through the centre, up to Shakespeare Street, and on to Nottingham Trent University Students’ Union. Shouting from the top of our lungs, there was a captivating atmosphere of powerful solidarity and sisterhood.
The Rhythm & Joy Drumming Project at When Women Gather led the march, hyping us all up with their lively rhythms, kept the energy going from start to finish. The talented Divina Songbird shared her beautiful poetry. Moving speeches from Mel Duffill-Jeffs, former CEO of Nottingham Women's Centre, founder of Reclaim the Night Nottingham and founder of the Misogyny as a Hate Crime campaign in Nottingham.
There were three types of men we encountered during the march. The first were the allies, nodding, smiling, telling us we needed to “shout louder!” and clapping along with genuine support. The second were the blatant misogynists, who angrily swore, sputtered and shoved past us. And the third were the silent watchers. Intimidated by hundreds of defiant women together, chanting for safer streets.
Each was a very telling response. Violence and sexual offences against women make up 32% of Nottingham’s crime rate, the highest and most common crime (for
Christmas Comparison
those reported.) According to Refuge, one in four women in England and Wales will experience domestic abuse in their lifetime, and the Cambridge Rape Crisis Centre reported that 71% of women of all ages in the UK have experienced some form of sexual harassment in a public space. One in thirty women are raped or sexually assaulted every year and most survivors don’t report it to the police. Here in Nottingham we’ve made headway in certain areas, with catcalling and other related misogynist behaviours classified as hate incidents since 2016. Our city, therefore, is certainly well suited for having these honest conversations and facing down the issues head-on, both now and in the future.
As we all tucked into the delicious soup and samosas, kindly provided by the Nottingham Women’s Centre, we had permission to feel and share our experiences in a safe affirming space: how we constantly have our guard up as soon as the sun goes down, dreading the darkness from 4pm. Never allowing yourself to feel angry, sweeping everything under the carpet. Planning on what times we would walk back to town together, before going our separate ways alone. The frustrations of how men don’t have to think like this. That we should all feel safe alone, as well as together.
I proceeded to ask how they found the protest - how did it feel marching through the City Centre at night, surrounded by like-minded chanting women, in
comparison to travelling home alone? These are some of the answers given:
Feeling seen: “When a girl lost her voice from shouting the chant and became quiet, I screamed louder for her. It felt like I was screaming the chants not just for the women at the march, but for the women and girls who are silenced.”
Feeling empowered: “Carrying my stark black and white sign: ‘My rapist walks free’ felt like an act of reclaiming my voice. It expressed a truth that’s often suppressed. The reality that I was raped, took my rapist to court, and watched him walk free, just like over 99% of other rapists in this country. While they walk freely, we are left carrying the weight of what they did. How can anyone see that statement, and not feel sickened by this glaring, unforgivable failure in our country?”
Feeling united: “I felt united by group action by women for the benefit of everyone. It was great to talk with women with the same aim for safer streets. Marching through the city centre at night, surrounded by strong, beautiful women, I felt none of the usual fear or vulnerability – instead I felt safe, seen and supported.”
Reclaim the Night took place on 19 October 2024.
Q]@rtnnottingham
With both emotions and shopping bills running high during the Christmas period, we hear from Nottingham Counselling Services who have a pertinent reminder about avoiding comparison during the festive season.
Look down Clumber Street on any day in December and the bobbing sea of shoppers can easily leave you feeling as if everyone around you has plenty of money for a lavish Christmas. If you’re not on the physical high street, the virtual one throws the same message, and you’re met with a tsunami of ads that have stalked your gift hunting. We feel the pressure to spend in the run up to Christmas. We want to make others happy and this generosity is an admirable goal, but when it creates a Christmas that stretches us beyond our financial limits, it takes more away from us than it gives.
Someone who really understands the impact of the festive period on our finances and relationships is Shoana Qureshi-Khan, Executive Director of Nottingham Counselling Services (NCS). January is the peak time that clients visit NCS with money worries and relationship strain, after expectations of the festive period have fallen through. “Christmas is not worth getting yourself into debt. It's not worth fighting and causing more conflict within the home,” Shoana says.
To add to the mix, children are off school, many adults are off work and having everyone at home can leave the household feeling like a pressure cooker. For those that live alone, having more services closed over the bank holidays can amplify isolation. The expectation to be jolly and loving, fuelled by warm, optimistic films, only adds to the tension.
What about those of us who don’t have big extended families of jolly uncles, siblings and grandparents? You don’t need a lot, says Shoana
So what can we do to have a genuinely happier Christmas? The answer doesn’t lie in abundance and overindulgence. “I think we want to give our kids everything possible. What we're seeing is they don't need it, they need us. They need their parents in a really stable position,” Shoana says. “It's about looking at what you can reduce. Maybe you don't have as many people around, you have less gifts, you cook
more things you like and not what other people like. And don't feel bad about it!” Planning, preparing and reducing expectations of ourselves are all key.
Adverts leave us feeling that the money we spend is correlated to the love we receive, but from years of experience of supporting people, Shoana knows this isn’t the case: “What people really yearn for is to be around people that care. That's ultimately it.” What about those of us who don’t have big extended families of jolly uncles, siblings and grandparents? You don’t need a lot, says Shoana: “If you've got one or two good people around you, that's an army. If you haven't got those people, there's people around that will see you through. There are great groups around Nottingham that will be doing things, so no one should be isolated. That’s first and foremost.”
Nottingham Counselling Service is a charity that believes good mental wellbeing should not be restricted by circumstance or background. One-to-one therapy: £18-£58 per session. Visit nottinghamcounsellingcentre. org.uk to self-refer.
words: Frances Danylec illustration: Zhara Millet
words: Katherine Monk-Watts
Stone Soup Academy, an alternative secondary school at Pilcher Gate, is pursuing a new addition to their business model, aiming to add a sixth form so that children who find mainstream education more challenging can have an easier transition from school to the world. Principal Kerrie Henton is ambitious to change the status quo, telling the BBC that she wants to “buck the trend” and enlist companies around Notts to give disadvantaged kids work experience, and prevent them from “falling off the edge.” Get in touch if you’re in a position to help!
Swimming Home for Christmas
At the start of November, England’s largest Fish Pass was opened in Colwick. After ten years of planning and two years of construction, this ‘motorway for fish’ is set to provide some massive ecological benefits for the region, speeding up and removing obstacles for the migration patterns of all types of fish, including critically endangered species. The result will be £18.6m of direct, environmental benefits, according to The Environment Agency. Here’s to healthy rivers!
All Eyes On Us
Here in Nottingham, the UK tourism economy is noticing what we’ve been saying for two decades: it’s where things are happening! In the last month, Marketing Nottingham revealed the value of tourism in the city and county reached £2.36 billion in 2023. In tandem, there’s been a 9.33% growth in tourism jobs, so all in all, this looks to be a good thing for carving out our city as an ever-bigger spot on the UK’s cultural map.
Toliet Humour
Something made you laugh in the lavs? Send your funniest quips to editorial@leftlion.co.uk
Can you guess the answer to this Notts themed riddle?
I am a place where ale is drunk,
My first is a rapper whose name has shrunk,
My second is dole, but that’s not quite right
I give rest to a knight for a night
My third is a stumble, a visit or fall,
Mon quatrième est je, my fifth is Queen Paul,
My last is a place where witches are known
They say you’ll expect if you sit on my throne. Did you solve last month’s riddle? The answer was of course Saturday Night, Sunday Morning
THE CASE OF The White Lady of Wollaton
December has arrived, and with the darkest months of the year approaching, it seems fitting to shed a light on the ‘White Lady’ of Wollaton Hall. This apparition has long entertained Nottingham folklore, earning the Hall the title ‘one of the UK’s most haunted locations’ and prompting an annual hosting of ghost investigations. Sightings of her span the orangery, the stable block, and, most infamously, room nineteen.
While the ghost is generally thought to haunt the ‘half-roof’ area of the Hall, room nineteen can be found underneath this ghostly section of ceiling. The chamber itself is the former boudoir of Lady Jane Middleton, which she was confined to, following a part-paralysis after falling from a horse. Former staff members at the site have provided witness accounts of a suspicious orange glow emanating from the bedroom window, fuelling the mystery.
In 1971, staff members Donald Wyatt and Richard Barlow decided to investigate that glow after public open hours, armed with rifles and axes. As they approached the locked chamber, the light quickly went out. The two men then looked to the mains to find the electricity turned off and the burglar alarm active, but
if the mains were off and the alarm was on, who had turned the light on in room nineteen, and how did they enter the property without detection? Of course, The White Lady’s glow needs no electric current, nor do her movements around the property need the opening or closing of doors…
Others are not so convinced of the legend. Ex-curator Mr Cyril Halton remarked on how Wollaton Hall casts strange shadows and lights, so guests could imagine ‘all sorts of figures moving about’. He also joked that the men on fire-watch at the Hall often had duties that would take them onto Lady Middleton’s haunted half-roof and often would avoid those tasks for fear of a chance encounter with the apparition.
In Britain, the legend of ‘The White Lady’ dates to the 14th Century. Originally referred to as the ‘Mulher de Branco’, this ghostly archetype is a rural wonder, often featured in stately homes. Some associate it with unrequited love and tragedy, while others, more morbidly, consider it to be a harbinger of death. Is the White Lady to blame for those bizarre happenings over at our beloved deer park? You can be the judge.
words: Charlotte Pimm-Smith
No Stone Unturned
best oF tHe montH
Jack and the Beanstalk
When: Fri 29 Nov – Sat 18 Jan
2025
Where: Nottingham Playhouse How much: £19
Nottingham Playhouse presents comedy chaos and Christmassy capers in this year’s most gigantic panto, the fairytale classic Jack and the Beanstalk. Expect magic beans, grumpy giants, dazzling costumes and lots of audience participation as Jack tries to change his family fortunes, featuring Nottingham’s favourite dame, John Elkington, as Dame Daisy Trott.
A Christmas Carol Drone Light Show
Where: Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club
When: Sunday 8 December
How much: £23
The sky is quite literally the limit with this spectacularly festive and futuristic rendition of the Charles Dickens classic. Narrated by Matt Lucas, this family friendly event fuses cutting-edge technology and creativity as hundreds of drones light up the night sky to tell the story of Ebenezer Scrooge, Tiny Tim, Marley and the rest.
Sheku and Isata
Kanneh-Mason
Where: Rock City
When: Tuesday 3 December
How much: £23
The Kanneh-Masons are busy on the road this winter, with dozens of dates around the world, including iconic venues such as Carnegie Hall and our very own Rock City. This is an awesome opportunity to catch cellist Sheku and pianist Isata perform together in what is bound to be a transfixing evening of classical music from two of our greatest homegrown talents.
The Burlesque Christmas Cabaret Show
When: Tuesday 10 December
Where: Royal Concert Hall
How much: From £28.50
Fancy a little ritz and glamour to kick off your Christmas season? Head along for a night of feathers, flirting, and festivities at the Royal Concert Hall. With international cabaret, hilarious speciality acts, and just the right touch of tease, expect mesmerising music, stunning choreography and stunning showgirls.
Zephyr’s Festive Fair
When: Saturday 7 December
Where: By Our Hands We Make Our Way How much: Free entry
Zephyr’s present their festive fair at their cosy Sneinton Market workshop to raise money to support families in Nottinghamshire through child bereavement and pregnancy loss. Come in from the cold and join them in front of the fire with a cup of something hot, with activities, wreath making, food and drink, craft stalls and friendly faces to greet you on arrival.
Candlelit Concerts
When: Sun 8 - Sat 21 December
Where: Nottingham Contemporary
How much: Various prices
Does anything say a cosy winter evening quite like a string quartet playing in twinkling candlelight? Throughout December Nottingham Contemporary are hosting a series of intimate concerts to warm the spirits and soothe the soul. Pick from pop classics, Christmas movie soundtracks and tributes to Adele, Hans Zimmer, Game of Thrones and Lord of the Rings. Goosebumps probable.
The Dark Arts Market: Creepy Christmas
Where: Old Cold Store
When: Sat 7 - Sun 8 Dec
How much: Free entry
For those who favour Krampus over Christmas, this is the chance to invite a bit of spookiness into your festive shopping! Hosted by the Dark Arts Market, head along to pick up jewellery, prints, decorations, bespoke clothing, oddities and more. With food, tarot readings and other crafty fun available, why not make a day of it with your fellow creatures of the night.
Christmas Covers Party
When: Saturday 21 December
Where: The Bodega
How much: £13.20
Now in its 22nd year, Nottingham’s legendary Christmas Covers Party returns! The ultimate night of musical fun, featuring Alex Hale & the Yule Lads, Cheap Dirty Horse, Content Provider, Family of Addiction, George Gadd + The Aftermath, Grain Mother / Deri Sharman, Tom Gensler, and Vanity Project and raising money for three great charities, Nottinghamshire Hospice, Zephyr’s and the Lucy Phillips Art Fund.
