Brush up on your culture at Thackray Museum of Medicine

WITH ow open, and perfect for the summer holidays, is the latest exhibition at Leeds’s Thackray Museum of Medicine. ‘On The Bench’ allows visitors to learn the science behind sports from different perspectives and was launched by former Leeds Rhinos captain, Stevie Ward.

Stevie has shared his personal experiences with head injuries and how they have shaped his transition into a new career beyond the world of sports. Moreover, he recaps the inspiring story of his extraordinary comeback from a shoulder injury, culminating in his pivotal role in the Rhino’s triumphant 2017 Super League Grand Final win.

“It appears the injuries I had in my career are resulting in something I could never have imagined!” said Stevie. “I am so proud to be part of ‘On The Bench’.

With Thackray at the heart of such a huge sporting city like Leeds, I think it’s going to be the first remarkable insight and look behind the curtain into how athletes recover both mentally and physically in pursuit of glory.”

The exhibition, which runs until 3 September, features objects donated by athletes alongside medial and physiotherapy equipment routinely used to treat sports injuries, telling the stories of their careers, injuries, treatment and road to recovery.

The exhibit also includes photographs by the incredible Ian Beesley, showcasing his documentation of the Bradford Bulls during their peak of fame in the memorable 2001 season. It demonstrates the care people in sports receive from physiotherapists and doctors, alongside the personal and emotional support integral to mental well-being while recovering.

‘On The Bench’ also provides visitors with a rare opportunity to peek behind the scenes and onto the treatment table, where they can hear first-hand injury stories from the athletes themselves.

Alongside Stevie, another remarkable story showcased is that of Norman Francis, an ex-basketball player and the current coach of Mandela Warriors in Chapeltown. Norman shares his personal journey of resilience, recounting the challenges he faced after losing his leg and how he overcame this setback to continue coaching and nurturing the next generation of Leeds’ basketball stars.

While discussing the project, Norman said: “When I learned about the exhibition, I realised that it is about helping people. And that’s what I do, that’s why I coach. I try to help the kids who want to play basketball understand it, enjoy it, and succeed in it.

“The examples of other people who move on after their injuries inspired me during my recovery process. My own experience helped me understand that we all have some kind of barriers in our lives. But if you focus and believe, have hope and trust, then you can get over that, move on with your life and enjoy it. This is the message I aim to translate.”

‘On The Bench’ will also feature the Leeds Roller Derby Club, a women’s flat-track roller derby team. Players Catherine Robins and Vicky B will be sharing their inspiring tales of persevering in roller derby despite setbacks, a sport in which injuries such as severe bruising and sprains are commonplace.

Across the summer holidays, families are invited to take part in activities exploring how athletes prevent injuries and how they are treated if they do. From trying your hand at physical warmup routines used by your favourite sports stars to test your skills at sling and cast making, there’s something for every sports fan.

In addition, you can inspire your own future health and sports heroes with a new interactive science show, Thackray Science LIVE. Visitors aged seven-plus can join the Thackray Boffins as they uncover the secret science that sits behind medical innovation and discovery. What is the physics at play when someone breaks a bone? What are the limits of the natural elasticity in our bodies? And how do external forces affect an athlete when they’re hitting the track at full speed? Expect these questions to be answered with live demonstrations and explosive action, which take place on Wednesday, Thursdays and Fridays of the school holidays.

Thackray Museum of Medicine opened in 1997 in what was formerly Leeds Workhouse and is named after Charles Thackray, a pharmacist who opened a small, family-run chemist in Great George Street in 1902. He then grew this business into one of Britain’s principal medical companies – Chas F Thackray Limited – known for manufacturing drugs and medical equipment.

It houses a collection of over 47,000 objects from medical history, which date from Roman times to the present day, along with 15,000 trade catalogues and 9,000 books on medicine and healthcare. Highlights include Prince Albert’s personal medicine chest and Hitler’s blood transfusion kit.

The Grade II listed building in which the museum resides dates back to 1861 and is attached to the city’s St James Hospital. In May 2019 work started on a major £4million renovation of the museum, which was delayed due to the pandemic, eventually reopening in May 2021.

It now houses 11 different galleries, a new café and shop as well as the SPARKS! play area for under five, where children can explore the senses of sight, touch, taste, hearing and smell in the roleplay medical centre.

Perhaps the most popular gallery is ‘Disease Street’ which takes visitors back to the year 1842 and what life was like in Victorian Leeds. You can walk through a reproduction of slum streets, complete with authentic sights, sounds and smells, and are invited to follow the lives, ailments and treatments of Victorian characters, making the choices that determine their survival amongst the rats, fleas and bedbugs.

Tickets are priced £11.95 for adults, £8.95 for children aged 5-16 (under fives are free), or you can buy a family ticket (two adults and two children) for £35. To find out more, visit www.thackraymuseum.co.uk esti he Leeds International F ival of Ideas (LIFI23) returns to the city in impressive lineperformers and corners of the T Taaking place from 27-30 Sep festival will see McCall, , Dame Young, Yo , MattBa y Mahon, , Ja Bla Whelan,Ambe n September with an -up of speakers, d thinkers from all world. at Leeds Playhouse ,ptember the four-day ethelikesofDa ke avvina

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Antiques

The Northern Antiques Fair

28 September-1 October

The Garden Rooms at Tennants, Harmby Road, Leyburn, DL8 5SG www.northernfair.com

The unmissable Northern Antiques Fair, brimming with creative ideas, inspiration and fascinating works of art from all periods of history, is returning for the third year to The Garden Rooms at Tennants.

Presenting a wonderful mix of antique and contemporary works of art from the UK’s leading antiques and fine art dealers – selling period furniture, oil and watercolour paintings, glass, sculpture, clocks, silver, jewellery, ceramics, rugs and a wealth of decorative items, this event offers the ideal opportunity to catch up with family and friends as well as renewing or making new contacts with the dealers.

The fair brings together some 40 exhibitors with a sprinkling of new faces including Bink Fine Art from the Cotswolds who handle works from the Impressionist era through to Modern British along with a little contemporary, Frodsham Clocks owned by Simon Frodsham, a great-great great-grandson of the famous clockmaker William James Frodsham who established his firm in 1801 and McBain & Byrne from Co Durham showing a Regency period rosewood credenza in untouched country house condition and an exceptional George IV penwork games table, c1825. Rupert McBain is both a furniture designer and dealer in English and Irish antique furniture.