First Edition
PICTURE OF HAPPINESS: The ultimate wedding day shoot Spring 2020
ALSO INSIDE: Pet sitting holidays... Getting crafty... Following the Beatles...
JOY…
Welcome to edition number one of
We had hoped to bring you the magazine in print but, of course, Covid-19 got in the way. Undeterred, we are now launching a digital version until the world gets back to something like normal. JOY, which stands for Journalists of Yorkshire, is part of the Converge family – a pioneering series of projects resulting from a collaboration between York St John University and the National Health Service. Converge is based on the simple idea
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of offering high quality educational experiences to people who have had mental health problems – something which will affect one in four of us at least once during our lifetime. This magazine was conceived, designed and produced by an amazing group of Converge students working alongside undergraduate and postgraduate students from York St John. JOY is not all about mental health, and it is certainly not all about doom and gloom – as the name implies.
In the meantime, please stay safe. Journalists of York
However, we do aim to be inclusive, sustainable, ethical and, just as importantly, provocative and entertaining – reflecting the things that matter to us from both near and far. We hope to be able to bring you future editions of JOY. Anyone who is interested in getting involved and having their voice heard in our magazine or in studying on another Converge course can find out more information at https://www.yorksj.ac.uk/ converge/.
Contents... Cover story:
4: Feline like a change of scene? How cat (or other animal) lovers can stay for free in the world’s most desirable locations.
10: Maddie Smith meets one of Manchester’s most exciting young poets who draws his inspiration from teaching immigrants to speak English.
14: Big Picture: Photographer Emma Appleyard recreates the ultimate sun-drenched wedding day at a beautiful Yorkshire mill. Well behaved dogs welcome. 18: Rainbow’s end. Lydia Crosland helps youngsters use their drama skills to challenge prejudice about LGBTQ+ 20: Theatre of Dreams. Jamie Andrews meets one mega-fan whose global odyssey brought him from India to Manchester to live next door to his football heroes.
6: Underlying condition: Joanna Frith warns that Covid-19 has exposed society’s harrowing attitudes towards disability.
12: Handmade with love. Craft your own pillows and bunting with Gemma Clough.
22: All aboard. How the Italian city of Trieste - and a ride on the number one bus - helped inspire a new vision of social change for York. Brenda Hodgson explains how. 24: Swipe right for love. Ian Hood’s fictional tale of dating and duplicity in the age of Tinder. 26: A GCSE geography project became a lifelong labour of love for Timothy Wynn-Werninck who has chronicled the ebb and flow of industrial fortunes on York’s river Foss.
8: Acceptable in the 80s? Ian Hood enjoys the tracks of his years behind the turntable of a community radio station (just don’t mention Smashie and Nicey)
The Journalists of York are: Gemma Clough, Lydia Crosland, Joanna Frith, Brenda Hodgson, Ian Hood, Alan Jones, Tom Metcalfe, Ruth Middleton, Maddy Smith, Joanne Platt, Timothy Wynn-Werninck, and Jonathan Brown.
16: In the footsteps of giants. Brenda Hodgson joins Converge students as they come together at the Beatles’ legendary studio at Abbey Road.
28: Lockdown spring. Converge students share their picture memories of this most extraordinary changing of the season.
With special thanks to: Hilary Bailey, Julian Cole, Dan Crawforth, Matthew Reason, Nick Rowe, Holly Sloan, Chris Titley, Rob Wilsmore and Paul Wort.
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This is a perfect If you’re an animal lover who likes to travel, then Gemma Clough has just the job for you
Two weeks in Bordeaux, swimming pool, a car included – it had to be the ideal holiday. But this was no vacation. I was looking after a stranger’s cat in exchange for free accommodation. I’d heard about house sitting for a while and decided to sign up three years ago. I’ve always struggled with anxiety and often had panic attacks many times a week. Travelling, even though I really wanted to do it, felt off limits. I live alone and am self-employed, so I am more flexible then most of my friends and family which makes house sitting fit in with my life perfectly. As a potential house sitter, the first step is finding a destination and dates that work for you and the owner. This is the fun part on Trusted House Sitters.You can search the world for your ideal destination, homes, and dates easily on the site. Multiple sits are added everyday – France, Germany, Spain, America, Australia… the list rolls on. Sits can range from a day or two to several months, and housing may be luxury homes, apartments or even farmhouses with horses and sheep. Many places require pet and plant care or other types of property maintenance, but many simply require that you occupy the property and take in the post
Places I’ve been… Bergerac, Paris, Amsterdam, Malaga, Garrucha in Spain, New York, Zurich, Toulouse, Barcelona, London (many times). All have been amazing in their own way. I try to do longer sits so I can explore more and get used to a good routine with the animals I’m sitting for. I also pet sit locally for which I am paid, so that helps with the costs of travelling. There are several house-sitting sites to choose from, so there are good options for everyone. Ultimately, success in house sitting comes down to the effort put into it. House sitting lets me travel, see new places, meet great people and take care of cute animals. But it’s not all rainbows and butterflies. House
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sitting comes with challenges and hard work. Some animals are challenging, some places are not what you expect, you have the responsibility of looking after something important and you are out of your safe routine at home. It worked for me, but that doesn’t mean it works for everyone.
pet project Skills you need... You should be a pet lover and should have a decent amount of experience with dogs/ cats/etc. You should be flexible.You’ll need to adapt to a new home, routines, and ways of doing things.You will be going into someone else’s home and caring for their home and pets in the way they ask. If you are set in your ways, house-sitting will be difficult for you. House-sits are usually better for those who want to use the house as a home – a place that they spend a decent amount of time each day. If you want to be out all day/ night, I wouldn’t suggest house sitting. When you live in a house, things can go wrong so you need to know what to do in these kinds of emergencies such as the boiler breaking down or pet illnesses. I would encourage solo sitters to be sure they feel comfortable with the duties required. Make sure you read the guidelines thoroughly and have lots of contact numbers in case you’re unsure of anything. I normally spend a couple of days with the homeowners to make sure I know what to do. To be successful, you need to be flexible about dates. If you have a narrow window of set dates that you are available to sit, and a set location, it’s not very likely you will find an exact match.
Useful websites... www.trustedhousesitters.com www.nomador.com www.mindmyhouse.com www.housecarers.com
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Joanna Frith on how disabled people are treated in a pandemic and every day
It’s a harrowing scene in a care home in Madrid... ...Residents were thought to have been abandoned by the staff during the Covid-19 pandemic. The army counted 19 people dead in their beds. Everyone had been left to die alone. The Spanish military was brought in to disinfect care homes across the country. It was not reported on or clear how many disabled people may have been left abandoned and endangered. It is unknown how many subsequently died due to neglect during the Covid-19 crisis. According to a BBC report of March 24, 2020, “the army, during certain visits, found some older people completely abandoned, sometimes even dead in their beds”. As a disabled person, the thought of the carers and personal assistants who keep me alive everyday abandoning me is terrifying. Why does it seem the news does not report on the deaths from Covid-19 of disabled people? The news tends to highlight the unusual deaths of non-disabled people, who are in good health before passing away from the virus. Why has an entire care home of disabled people who appear to have been abandoned not shocked the world? Why is this not spoken about more? Why is there not more support for disabled people during this crisis that they are left to die? Disabled people are reminded every time they go outside that, to many, we are not considered as equal human beings in the world. I say this without doubt thanks to my lived experiences. The sometime daily condescending tones, the hostility, the aggression. “In the UK, violent hate crime against disabled people has risen by 41 per cent in last year” –the Independent, March 9, 2019. Human Rights Watch reports, “UK’s Coronavirus Act, which becomes law today, has serious implications for the rights of people with disabili-
‘Disabled people need to remind the general public that we are human with equal rights worthy of respect and dignity’
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ties and older people...” In Italy patients with Covid-19 over 70 were said to have been taken off ventilators . In the U.K the BBC reported concerns from disability activists over the new measures to treat patients depending on their level of health. To pick and choose who to save based on a disability? Are we hinting towards eugenics? Are fears concerning basic disabled human rights, and our right to live based on our abilities? According to: Disability Rights UK from 3/04/2020, Covid-19 and the rights of disabled people: “Where we have existing health conditions or impairments that are unrelated to our chance of benefiting from treatment, they must not play any part in decision-making regarding our equal right to access such treatment.” Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson, above, said she was worried that disabled people “might be seen as expendable”. Vulnerable people have been abandoned, as though they are dangerous to be around, and spreading Covid-19. I feel like we, as disabled people, need to remind the general public that we are human with equal rights worthy of respect and dignity. It is a sad state of play that disabled people must continuously remind the general public of this. It was my big fear that disabled people would die in huge numbers. The world does not seem to care because disabled deaths are not considered as tragic news or as upsetting as the deaths of people without disability. Is it accepted disabled deaths are just inevitable? Better measures could have been put in place to protect disabled people and carers, such PPE for hospital staff for carers and personal assistants. Nurses, doctors and carers were running out of masks. One carer told me she had been given two
Joanna Frith writes about the challenges disabled people can face disposable masks to only use with patients with respiratory problems over a period of a week. Another carer said she had only one uniform and boil washes it everyday. Another carer said she only had three plastic PPE aprons for all shifts, which she was instructed to only wear only in personal care calls. Carers must choose the most vulnerable patients and make that call which means disabled people are at risk if PPE is unavailable. It feels like an inevitable risk, which could happen at any time and lead to the death of many disabled and isolated persons. On the February 3, 2020 the BBC reported that: “Two officials in China have been removed from their posts after a teenager with cerebral palsy died when his father, and sole carer was quarantined for suspected Coronavirus in the 14 days.Yan Cheng, 16, was found dead on Wednesday, a week after his father and brother were placed in quarantine. The boy was fed only twice during this time, according to reports. “According to the local media, the teenager’s father had posted on Chinese social media platform Weibo appealing for help and explaining that his son had been left alone without food or water.” Preventive measures could have been made to save Yan Cheng, people who were aware on social media and government officials. Why was his right to life not a concern to those around him? Not long ago, before the request for isolating measures informing the British public to stay
indoors, it was shocking to find so many people carelessly using the disabled toilet despite the outbreak in the news. Often disabled toilets require a radar key to access them. The reason there is a key is because disabled toilets are not supposed to be overused by the general public; they are to be kept clean, particularly for people with weak immune systems. It’s concerning to see lots of people carelessly using the disabled toilet. Please do not use the disabled toilets.You have so many cubicles available to you and we have just one toilet. There are exceptions: for example, people who are non-binary or transgender who do not feel safe using gendered toilets. This also doesn’t apply if you have a disability that requires emptying a bag, or catheter. It should be a safe sanitary environment. If you don’t have a low immune system and can physically walk into a non-disabled toilet, please consider doing this. Honestly, we are at this point that fewer people using disabled toilets equals fewer deaths. If it is not necessary to use the toilet, please do not use it now or at all.
‘If it is not necessary to use the toilet, please do not use it now or at all’
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Ian’s YO1 Radio bio... What show do you present and what times? I present the 80s show, Saturday night 8-10pm What do you love about your job at YO1 Radio? Love making people smile. If you weren’t doing this, what would you be doing instead? Honestly, I’d be struggling with my mental health.
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What is your favourite past time? Luurrrvvve my karaoke
Name a little known fact about you? I threw Eric Clapton out of his own concert. What’s your favourite place in York? Favourite place, West Bank Park, Acomb
Soundtracks... IAN HOOD shares how the songs of his life help him when presenting an Eighties show on a local radio station that’s a big hit on the York airwaves It’s 7.55 on a Saturday night. While most people might be getting ready to vote on Strictly Come Dancing or waiting for the Deliveroo to arrive, I am donning a head set and checking levels ahead of another night spinning the discs on Ian’s 80s. I am of an age where, when I first did this, the carrying of boxes filled with favourite vinyl was the norm. There is, to me, no better feeling than the sanctuary music creates, the memories it stirs and the feelings it evokes. It is said that everyone’s life has a soundtrack, with memorable occasions being associated with certain pieces of music – if that’s the case, my life fills a lot of CDs. Sitting behind the control desk here at YO1 towers, dipping into the musical nostalgia brings up names listened to long ago but never forgotten. A current feature lets the audience decide parts of the show, their favourite artists, songs, coupled with maybe forgotten tracks that all bring back memories of schooldays, discos and tape recorders that needed the pencil treatment. Being on an Independent Local Radio station is hard work. This is a labour of love without the celebrity status many believe the job has, but most of all is FUN! “Your City,Your Feelgood Station 102.8 YO1 Radio,” was awarded a radio broadcast licence in February 2018. The station is based at the lovely Holly Tree studio in Clifton Moor. It has been broadcasting online since September 2017 and can now be found on 102.8FM across York and the surrounding areas. Chris Marsden, managing director and drive-time host, explains more about the station. “Over the last two-and-half years, we’ve been constantly contacted by people who still listen to FM radio, in places like their car or their
There’s no Smashy and Nicey on the schedule, but Ian asks other presenters about working on YO1... workplace. Now finding us is as easy as doing a quick scan and re-setting their pre-sets.” Director and breakfast show host Matt Lloyd adds: “We’ve been amazed by the reaction to our station. We know that the FM frequency is something our listeners still use, so we’ve opened up the ways people can be part of the YO1 experience.” As well as the FM frequency,YO1 is available via Smart speaker, a free IOS and Android app, Tune-In, Smart TVs and online at www.yo1radio.co.uk . It boasts a 24-hour mix of music from Swinging Sixties to new sounds and local artists, with specialist shows from 8pm on weekdays and 6pm at weekends. These include soul music, big bands, rock, show-tunes and the ever requested 80s and 90s shows. YO1 now covers sport on a Saturday afternoon, with touchline news from local teams, and major events, with reviews of team performances first thing Monday. It offers free advertising to charities
Deon Byworth (Rock): “I love playing the music that I grew up listening to which became the soundtrack to my life.” Dougie Weake (Big Band and weekend breakfast show): “I love the chance to be able to bring the best music to our audience, combined with some cheeky chat.” Emily Ramsden (Early afternoon): “I love the energy and pace you can create in the studio (that’s professional for having a laugh at work).” And me? “Well I just love making people smile. Anyway, must dash – Tiffany is about to find herself really alone now.”
and social groups and supports local events, with most presenters making regular personal appearances. It also hosts local events on behalf of national charities and groups Proud to be York’s local radio station.
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AN AUDIENCE WITH THE AUTHOR Maddie Smith talks to a Manchester poet who draws inspiration from where he lives, his imagination and teaching English as a foreign language Composing against the backdrop of Manchester, 28-year-old poet Sam O’Neill has a deftness for writing verse that is both gritty and romantic. Calling on his own experiences, as well as thought-up dimensions, his poetry illustrates the peculiarities of 21st century life in a charming brew of the contemporary and the old-fashioned. Asked about his influences and motivations for writing, and his favourite poets and poems, Sam says: “I don’t have a definite favourite poem, because they aren’t written with the intention of evaluation or comparing intrinsic progress. “However, if I did have to choose one, I think I’d say The Rime of the Ancient Mariner or Ozymandias. My favourite poets are my mum, Samuel Coleridge, Benjamin Zephaniah, Edgar Allan Poe and John Keats. I love romantic poetry.” Sam is inspired to write by the urge to express himself. “I think that feelings are meant to be expressed and exist in the moment and that moment alone and allowing them to have their own life in writing is somehow relieving to me.
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“Sometimes I feel that there are emotions too complex to simply explain to another person, so having others read and reflect upon what you write, even having your future self reflect on the moment that you wrote in, feels almost like having an emotional photo book to flick through.” Sam started writing as a child because his mother and grandfather were enthusiastic writers, who used to tell him stories endlessly. “I wanted the same ability to let my imagination share space with the world around me just like they did.” Drawing from his enthusiasm for the power and potential of language, Sam teaches English to non-English speaking
‘The only thing you can leave behind is what you pass on to others’
students in Manchester. He attributes his admiration for the teaching profession to his mother, who was a secondary school teacher in his youth. “What I like about teaching English as a foreign language is that you can reach people.You really can’t compare the impact you have on young people’s lives to any other vocation. Especially teaching English as a foreign language, you can be the difference between someone getting a visa or not, being understood and communicating or not, finding a partner or not, and more. “I value communication over almost everything. I think that in the grand scheme of things the only thing you can leave behind in life is what you pass on to others, and I think teaching is the best way to do that – especially in the modern world where we have so many walls built up between us, bridging those gaps is so important.” Sam continues to write and hopes to sustain his love of poetry by writing regularly. He encourages others to write and be creative alongside him.
MALAISE by Sam O’Neill He had barely nudged his nose upright With his handkerchief in lazy flight, en-route To the underwhelming clot Of soot and city smog and snot inside his snout Already begun to bear one cheek upon its axis Away from some sons of bastard, urchin How classless! When suddenly from an alley beyond, the familial flicking beckoned Of paper! Crisp, clear, alive like fallen leaves he is on his knees for a dropped I-O-U love letter signed by the bank, if only for a second Realising that he’d diverged his usual course He’d already lowered his arms for thoughts of money And being rewarded for his usual patience Ashamed to admit he looked rather like a mental patient Mistaking the whirring of trash in the wind, and useless paper! Grubby Hands on ebony keys bloomed silently further down the alley Stirring him from his grumbles, he fumbled and dallied to ponder What de Montainge could have written to describe the throes Of the horrors of the unknown, as he’d strayed his path He strained his eyes to see, indeed A man in plain clothes, barely concealed in the daylight Sat before a broken piano, whose keys presented a dull thud As they tugged and shrugged on unwound strings “Where did he find such a thing?” the man hissed Surveying the debris- as de facto judge and supervisor of this, he Chuckled and chortled as the plain clothed man laboured Spindling with his fingers as the instrument rattled, unstable on three
SHADOW PUPPET by Sam O’Neill She moved her fingers on the wall Traced the cracks, bumps and all, smoothed the history with tools and plaster Moved the light- where did it fall? Her collection of items, possessions Collections, delicate ornate cracked confessions That she’d mastered Lampshades, candles, each more expensive in succession Arranged to catch a glimpse She’s already started to limp Knelt on prostrated knee, shuffling faster and faster Adjusting the angles and widths and perspectives,
Slight as it may have been, slimmer than paper Belying her faith, her Eyes once did behold the shadow of a person, casted Wavering and responding to the candle’s lure Filtered through the clutter and collected Nameless years of mementos, forgetme-nots, goodbye amendments The unnamed man appeared. Pareidolia? It was of no matter As the candle waned with the peeling moon, affected The shadow collected with hot wax and passing tick, and tock, In the cupped hand of brass
basin below its wick Fervent, delirious, she bought more and more, Betraying her agoraphobic anti-social wishes She left the house and bought more and more The point where a sea of wax enveloped the floor Was ignored in favour of recreating that rapture Laughter, madness, and flaws As she endeavoured to illuminate the silence Left behind by his gliding, mindless she did not notice the shrinking of darkness Time and time again, elapsing the circle in her hindsight
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Let’s get crafty
Ever wanted to know how to make bunting or a cushion with a pom pom trim? Gemma Clough shows how...
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You can make a super pretty decoration 12
HAD never made bunting before but always wanted to have a go and thought it’d look cool at my Renegade stall to have a bunting name banner. It looked pretty simple to make and guess what… it was! I screen printed mine but you can use patterned fabrics, applique techniques or stencils etc to make a super pretty decoration. I’m planning on making some more next Christmas, too, and shaking it up a bit so it’s not sickeningly twee or from the Cath Kidston school of ‘craft’.
The easiest way to make all your triangles the same size is to create a cardboard template.
YOU WILL NEED
Turn the triangles the right way around, use a knitting needle to poke the bottom corner right out. I also trimmed away some of the seam to make it easier to turn the corner out. After turning them the right way around you need to iron the seams so that it sits flatter.
Fabric (I used polycotton for the backs and cotton for the front) Bias binding (I used 3cm wide bias binding) A sewing machine Scissors Pins Cut out your triangles. These can be whatever size you want for your bunting, keep in mind that you’ll be sewing up the sides so will lose some from each side seam!.
Sew your triangles together. In between these two stages I screen printed the letters, so if you were going to stencil or applique something on them then do it before your sew the two sides together. Pin the front and back pieces of fabrics together (right sides facing each other) and sew up the side seams.
Pin the triangles centrally inside the folded-over bias binding with whatever space between the triangles as you want, so long as it’s equal between them all. Leave a good length of bias binding at each end for tying/pinning your bunting up. Sew along the edge of the bias binding, making sure that the line of stitching is neat.
How to make a cushion with a pom pom trim Gather your supplies: – 2.5 metres of pom pom tassel – fabric of your choice – 18in pillow form – straight pins, marking pen, needle and thread, scissors, sewing machine
Step 1: Cut your fabric. Cut the back panel to 19in x 19in and 4 front pieces to 10in x 10in each. For the front, place two 10in x 10in pieces on top of each other right sides together and sew a halfinch seam down one side. (If your print is a directional print, make sure you pay attention to which way your fabric is facing, so it will be correct once the pillow is finished) Do the same to the other two 10in x 10in pieces. Iron the seams open. Now you have two front pieces. Place one on top of the other (right sides together) and sew a galfinch seam down one side. Again, make sure your fabric is facing the right direction. Iron the seams open.You now have one ‘front’ piece’. Set aside.
Step 2: Take your pom pom tassel and pin it around all 4 sides of the back panel. Make sure you pin it with the pom poms facing in. Sew or baste the tassel in place using a 1/4in seam allowance, making sure to back stitch at each end. I like to do this so when you sew the two panels together, you don’t have to worry too much about the tassel moving around.
Step 3: Once your tassel is in place, you are almost done! Lay the front patchwork panel on top of the back panel (right sides together) matching up all 4 sides. Pin in place leaving about a 6-7in opening at the bottom of the pillowcase for flipping and stuffing. Sew all around (except for the opening) with a half-inch seam allowance, making sure to backstitch at each end. Step 4: Once your panels are sewn together, trim all 4 corners making sure not to cut the stitching. Flip the pillow right side out and poke out the corners with something pointy, like a turning tool. I use a knitting needle, works great! Stuff your pillow form through the opening. Step 5: Fold in the opening and pin closed. Using a needle and thread, sew the opening closed.
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My favourite shot North Yorkshire photographer Emma Appleyard talks us through the shots she took for a wedding where everything was so colourful How did this picture come about? I’d had this shot in mind all day, and knew it was one I had to get before we left. It was a long summer’s day and by the end of the shoot the sun had moved round, backlighting the greenery and creating gorgeous dappled light on the ground. I am mostly a natural light photographer, so instead of a flash I used a gold reflector to bounce the sunlight back onto the models and bring them out of the shadows. This method worked really well, and even lit up the sequins on Leigh’s dress. What mood were you trying to convey? I wanted my photos to capture the relaxed and whimsical days of summer. Everyone was feeling so cheerful from the sunshine, so the moments I captured feel really fun and light-hearted. The venue (At The Mill, Stillington) was surrounded by trees and felt separate to the rest of the world, like our own little haven. We could party like no one was watching... because they weren’t.
with the Prince’s Trust when I was 18 and went from there. I normally photograph weddings, families, babies and products, but I do headshots too, and even pet portraits.
How did you make everything so colourful? For this, I have to thank all the amazing suppliers. Ellen (LND Events) hung streamers and lanterns from the apple trees, and Lindsey (Little Bear and Bird Flower Co.) brought flowers of every colour imaginable, adorned with pompoms and feathers. From the vintage furniture to the biodegradable glitter on our models faces – everything was full of colour. It really was a day to remember. How long have you been a photographer and what kind of subjects do you normally photograph? I officially launched my business in 2017 (but really I have been taking photos since I first picked up a Kodak dispos-
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able). I studied A-Level photography, and decided to throw myself into business with the money I would have spent on university. I took an enterprise course
People say never work with animals. How did you get the dog to stay still? The dog is actually my Golden Retriever, Honey. She was so excited to join me on this shoot – she was zooming around saying hello to everyone. I had the models do high fives with her and they gave her some treats so she understood that she could take commands from them. For this shot, we asked her to sit and the models told her to stay. I then had a group of people behind me calling her name so she looked up, but the models had their hands placed lightly on her back which kept her from running over..
Wedding photographer top tip: If you’re shooting a wedding in winter, stick an adhesive heat pack to your top under a jumper to keep you warm.Trust me, it’ll change your life.
What advice do you have for anyone thinking of starting to take pictures? Find your passion. Everyone loves to photograph different subjects, and there
are so many kinds of photography to choose from: wildlife, travel, fashion – even astrophotography. My cousin photographs motorsport, my brother prefers landscapes.. go for whatever interests you most. And when you have chosen your subject, learn how to use light, whether it be natural or artificial. When you understand how to use light for photography, you will be unstoppable.
Credits: https://emma-appleyard.pixelrights.com/albums Venue: At The Mill https://atthemill.org/ Planning and Styling: LND Events https://lnd-events. co.uk/ Flowers: Little Bear and Bird https://www.facebook. com/littlebearandbirdflowerco/ Dresses: Glory Days Bridal and Rolling in Roses bride collection https://glorydaysyork.co.uk/ https://www.rollinginroses.co.uk/ Accessories: Crown and Glory https://crownandglory.co.uk/ Hair and Make-up: Nicola Whitfield https://www. mua-nicky.com/ Stationery: Zobra Letters https://www.etsy.com/uk/ shop/ZobraLetters Cake: The Sugar Florist https://thesugarflorist.com/ Furniture: The French House York https://york. thefrenchhouse.co.uk/ Props: Upside Down Design https://www.upsidedowndesign.co.uk/ Models: Abena and Leigh https://www.instagram. com/aabenaaa/ https://www.instagram.com/lilrockitdj/ PR: Caitlin Hazell https://caitlinhazell.co.uk/
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In the footsteps of Communitas Choir visits Abbey Road to record track for CD, writes Brenda Hodgson Twenty one members of the Communitas choir travelled to London by train in January to record in Studio 2 at Abbey Road – the studio where the Beatles recorded many of their albums. The Communitas choir has been part of Converge for over 10 years. Recently, to celebrate this they launched a CD with songs sung by the choir over the previous year. The choir was recording verses of a song which is due to be released later this year, with Ed and Esther singing solo and together for the rest of the song. There were photos of famous singers everywhere, including
one of Amy Winehouse with Tony Bennett in the foyer (they recorded there together). Downstairs in the dining room there were photos of many different artists including the Beatles and Ed Sheeran. As we stood on the steps of Abbey Road for a photo before we returned home, Chris Bartram,
choir leader, had everyone singing the Beatles song Help. The famous Abbey Road zebra crossing featured in many photographs of course, the drivers around this area must be very patient. It was a lovely day, and for once the trains ran on time. Everyone is looking forward to hearing the final version of the recording.
Emerging Voices puts music on the menu for mental health If there’s one thing all of us know, there’s a staggering amount of talent just waiting to be tapped into at Converge. Now, thanks to new charity Emerging Voices and the newly set up Converge Record Label, musicians from Converge and the local community are harnessing expertise and resources at York St John University.
Emerging Voices links its musicians to music and music production students at the university. Such co-production benefits both parties: students increase employability skills while building bridges in the community, and the university becomes more of an inclusive community resource.
Aaron Soon, left, and composer and performer Alex Long
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Regular showcase performances on the campus create space for musicians to reach out and entertain the wider audiences. Emerging Voices was set up in response to the talent that music coordinator Lucy Coleman and director Nick Rowe were seeing emerge from Converge. In October 2019, Lucy, a classically trained singer and founder of Emerging Voices, trustee and musician Laurie Farnell and Communitas Choir member and mentor Paul Mountain braved the High Sheriff’s Dragons’ Den at Rudding Hall, Harrogate. They put in a bid for funding from the Two Ridings fund. The trio were delighted when their pitch netted them one of the highest shares of the total sum on offer on the night. Thanks to the Dragons’ donation, Emerging Voices recently set up a community choir in Harrogate and recruited community choir leader, Wayne Dobson. They also funded assistant choir leader, Esther Griffith, who tutors Songwriting at Converge and who will now work
the Beatles
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with individual choir members at York on their singing and songwriting. Emerging Voices were also able to fund the 40-strong York choir to travel to London to record a track at the legendary Abbey Road studios (see above). Music participation opens doors, changes lives and bring people together for positive outcomes. Emerging Voices is committed to continue to mentor, showcase, produce and publicise the diverse and original work and talent of its musicians. In an informal survey at Converge, a lecture theatre full of participants were asked what had most helped their mental wellbeing. Music was one of the most popular three answers. Lucy Coleman points to a wealth of research that evidences the benefits of music participation to mental health and
I don’t sing because I’m happy. I’m happy because I sing William James wellbeing. Trustee Laura Jones is a local piano and music teacher and performer. Trustees Dr Michael Bonshor, music psychologist lecturer and researcher at the University of Sheffield, and Catherine Birch, Community Music and Education lecturer and researcher at York St John, have both published academic research on the topic. All Emerging Voices trustees are passionate about music and its practical application to build community.
Joanne Platt
Open mic night with trustee Dr Michael and Laurie Farnell
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Youth theatre can be a place to find your voice, be seen, heard and become change-makers of tomorrow writes Lydia Crosland
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It’s your crown so wear it One Saturday last February, a group of York Theatre Royal’s Youth Theatre descended on Spark* in York to take over the YSJ Community Theatre; Platform. Placards in hand, clad in rainbows and glitter, was this a protest about the rising price of Freddos? No, these young people had a definite purpose, to perform an original piece of theatre as part of York LGBT History Month. The piece, called Wear Your Crown Be Your Truth, was created through a series of devising workshops and directed by Matt Harper-Hardcastle, Lydia Crosland and Anya Agnihotri. This explorative process encouraged the young people to speak up, be unafraid to learn and reflect on their own experiences of creating an identity in the society of today. Wear Your Crown adopted a fusion of styles, taking the audience on a journey of LGBTQ+ experiences and suggestions for further support and change. The cast performed a series of movement sequences, monologues, and a jarring political commentary of Margaret Thatcher’s lack of empathy and intervention during the Aids epidemic in the 1980s. A classroom format held the piece as we followed one character’s journey toward under-
‘Thank you for not only putting up with us but teaching us how to wear our crowns’ standing and support of the misconceptions, adversities and strength of the LGBTQ+ community. The aim was not to preach but to use humour and honesty to convey a message of love, equality and respect. Throughout the process, one thing was clear: the message had to come from the young people themselves. Their voices were at the heart of the creative process, the piece and across Spark* on the day of the performance.Youth Theatre should be a place where ‘taboo’ topics can be talked about, individual identity encouraged and collectively; young people’s voices of love can be projected across theatre’s, cities and make real change. Further support: www.yorklgbtforum.org.uk/ www.mesmac.co.uk
Wear Your Crown: Be Your Truth ended with a speech written by Matt Harper-Hardcastle, who works with Converge as has been involved with theatre from a young age and has, for the past ten years, been working as an actor, artistic director, coach, writer and tutor.
I am thankful for those that have gone before me Who paved the yellow brick road for each Friend of Dorothy And allowed us to go somewhere close to the rainbow’s end When lesbians were erased, labelled as ‘just good friends’ For those who marched down streets wearing an armour of pride Waving pink, white and blue: pushing bigotry aside. For those who dragged up, when we were cut down. It takes a Village People to build a home and a town. I am sorry for those that have gone before me Who suffered atrocities for my right to live free Attacked, left dying, demonised, cast out. But everything you gave will not be forgotten about. Your defiance on flags, and triangles of pink. Are worn with honour, to make us all think. That if children are homeless because of who they love, Or if violence can be justified by some lord up above. If people are scared to hold hands on the street. Rather help, we prefer a life lived incomplete. Whilst you are allowed to love more than I And equality is seen like the division of pie. When we exist on a binary: us, them: moon, sun. When being trans leaves you stood at the end of a gun When being gay means I stop being my dad’s son. When I have to hear ‘faggot’ and immediately run When compassion subsides, favouring ‘who’s won’ Yes, we’ve come a long way, but there’s a lot more to be done.
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From India to Old
For some people, supporting a team is as simple as being born in a certain area and developing an affinity for the local side. For fans across the globe it is rarely so simple. Rohit Rebelo tells JAMIE ANDREWS about supporting Manchester United from across the globe and how he came to have a view of Old Trafford from his apartment every morning 20
‘Keep your dream up and you will get You’ve spent 21 years being a united supporter, what made you choose to follow them? My first memory was watching David Beckham getting sent off at the World Cup in 1998 and then I saw him play wearing a red shirt and scoring a great freekick. I watched United a few times that season and noticed they kept fighting back and it never seemed over. The romance of the last-minute goal and the constant drive of Sir Alex Ferguson in the dugout probably were my biggest reasons for supporting Man
United in my early days as a Red. After living on different continents, you’ve finally moved to Manchester and got yourself a season ticket at Old Trafford. How does that make you feel? It’s been a lifelong dream of mine to absorb the Old Trafford atmosphere weekly. I feel thankful for this opportunity because I know how lucky I am. Nobody realises that United fans all over the world, in Asia, for example, need to stay up till 3am to watch games. I worked my socks off to get to where
Trafford
And everywhere in between...
ABOVE: Rio Ferdinand scoring against Swansea in the final game of Sir Alex Ferguson’s reign at Old Trafford RIGHT: David Beckham working as a goodwill ambassador for UNICEF. Credit UN/Amanda Voisard
your chance to visit one day. I waited 19 years...’ I am today. Now I wake up to a view of Old Trafford every morning. What is your favourite ever moment as a United supporter? The treble. I still remember the night. I had missed the World Cup final the year before because I overslept so I was even more determined not to miss it. I dozed a bit for the first goal, but once Sheringham scored I felt a win was coming. It had to come – all the stars were aligning and then Ole Gunnar Solskjaer put that ball into the back of the net. History was made. I still play the
‘Class of 92’ video and walk around the Old Trafford these days and visualise the parade. I never saw the parade till the documentary came out. That was a massive show of love for United. The next greatest moment would be Rio Ferdinand scoring against Swansea at the final game of Sir Alex’s reign at Old Trafford. The cherry on the icing on the top of the cake – a clinical late winner – a fitting tribute to the greatest manager ever. What advice would you give to fans
like yourself who support United from another country? Your support from a distance is not any less important that those who are in the stadium. True fans are passionate, and passion exists in the heart, not just the stadium. Don’t be bogged down by people who say: “You haven’t even been to Manchester”. The fact that you love United, even if you haven’t been there, tells you how special the club is. Keep your dream up and you will get your chance to visit one day. I waited 19 years for my first visit.
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Photo: Nik Shuliahin, Unsplash
Making the right connections A new vision of community mental health in York owes something to Trieste and to the No1 bus, writes Brenda Hodgson
W
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HAT links the number one bus in York and the city of Trieste in north-eastern Italy? The answer lies in an innovative, local and community-based vision for social change. A new vision of community health care was launched by the Connecting the City conference at York St John University in February. This event was strongly influenced by health care in Trieste. Pioneered from the 1970s, this involves co-production with different partners and community care, support and opportunities rather than institutional care. In the Trieste model, help and advice is available 24/7, based around people’s needs in the community. Everyone is treated with respect and helped – with no waiting lists – and the mental health hospital has now closed, as the evidence suggests people don’t recover in institutional care. As Trieste recognised, in-patient care can involve lots of bureaucracy and sometimes people are not safe in such environments. Hospitals and different help-orientated places can revolve around the needs of staff management, rather than what people need.
Everyone was shocked with the sudden closure of Bootham Park Hospital in York, set to become luxury retirement flats for people aged over 55. The new strategy is a place-based model, where people who have experienced mental health issues are given opportunities that connect them to their peers and others in the community. People feel better about themselves if they feel part of their local community, connected, valued and useful. The Connecting the City conference launched the new strategy, looking at eight different community hubs in the city. Maps were placed on tables of eight areas of York, with a council community representative working in each community hub at each table. Later, these representatives gave a verbal summary of key points. It was all about communication and getting different people talking about centres of excellence for the community in each location. Many different groups in the city support local people and make York a more inclusive, healthier place to live. One of the speakers, Mike Calvert, regularly
Photo of Trieste by Alberto Cocchi, Unsplash
uses the No 1 bus which travels from New Earswick to Acomb. As he was on the bus, he saw many different community assets that make a difference by working with people who struggle with mental health. The No 1 bus passes New Earswick Folk Hall; Haxby Road sports centre and the location for the new Mental Health Hospital, Foss Park; The Hut, a space for mental health support, with various workshops, meetings for groups which welcomes volunteers; 30 Clarence Street, a community library and café, and finally St John’s University,
home of Converge and the Discovery Hub. These provide help support and opportunities to Converge students. Converge is proud to be part of these new developments. At Converge students can use facilities like any other student at York St John – the library, computers, cafes and the dining room. Dr Nick Rowe, Many different projects are run from the university, and they don’t involve talking about mental founder of Converge health. It is all about learning and moving away from the need for formal help and support. People might occasionally talk to their peers about health issues and can receive informal health and advice from others who have been through similar situations. St John students also join the choir and help with classes. The conference highlighted a need for change. More conferences and opportunities for networking are planned. Converge hopes to raise funds to develop and research the benefits of these new ways of working. So, what links the number one bus and Trieste? It is the ‘Northern Quarter’ of the city through which the bus runs and which will be the pilot for this new vision of community mental health.
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Any characters are fictional unless based on someone you know, have seen, or just imagined in this short story by Ian Hood
Tinder is the night Tony... TONY had never written one of these before. “But all my mates seem to have more knowledge of what I should put, so here goes.”Tony. Fit, 6ft, city worker, solvent – own franchise! seeks blond, F, 25, GSOH, N/S, athletic and kind for nights in or out. Just right, describes me to a tee – used to play
football (well OK, only on a Sunday when the pub was shut), 6ft (well 5’7” but it’s nearly 6’), deliver milk round the city – so that’s OK and solvent (well, not overdrawn this month). My mates said athletic has a different meaning than ‘goes to the gym’, but I’m not sure what they meant so I didn’t ask.
Carol... I’M Carol and this is my encounter! I remember the day with fondness, I suppose. It’d been a while since Stuart left. We’d been together forever. Then she’d come along. Tall, skinny, celery stick she was, with boobs that entered the room two minutes before she did. couldn’t be natural, had to be a ‘job’. Anyway, I was sick of being alone, so I talked to the other girls in the office, and we (OK, they) decided I should get a ‘profile’. I never meant to go along with it, it just snowballed with me in the middle. No one listened to my reservations about meeting a total stranger. Some weirdo, with expectations of whatever. A vision arose of a video camera, custard and... sorry, could he be odd? Armed with chocolates and a phone, I started to view the swipe right. I finally found one. Typical, two boxes of Roses, two large gins to find only the one. Tony. Fit, 6ft, city worker, seeks blond, F, 25, GSOH,N/S, athletic and kind for nights in or out. Solvent – own franchise. Whatever that means! GSOH – well I have, well, had till she came along and tricked him, the witch. N/S – well, I suppose I could give up if I really wanted. Wouldn’t have started again if not for her and the stress she caused. Athletic – course I am, have to run for that flaming bus every morning since he took the car. So blonde, around 25, GSOH, N/S, athletic and kind – I fit all those, except
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the blonde bit. All right, I’m not 25 anymore but nearly. Kind, yes, I am definitely kind... not that she would know that. So, I’m brunette, 30+, miserable, smoker, overweight and down on life in general – oh yes, mustn’t forget bitter. But hey, bored now, swipe right.
‘Typical, I thought, only
I remember going into the Piano Lounge, just off the high street about 8.40pm, I was meeting Tony at 8.45pm. He works in the city and plays sport apparently. We spoke on the phone and he sounded OK, but I’d decided to play it cool, although not too cool… hadn’t had a man for ages. I moved towards the bar, looking like what my mam would have called a right “slapper” (the odd gin getting ready hadn’t helped). Maybe I’d gone a bit overboard with my get-up. Well, there wasn’t much of it, and what there was you could say was stretched to the limit. No surprise to be offered a seat and a few drinks. Looking around, I was trying to put a face and body to Tony’s voice. Some fit blokes in here, I thought, hope he’s one of them. A guy came towards me. It couldn’t be Tony though as he’s six foot and this guy was only my height. Typical, I thought, only one seat left at the bar and it was next to me. Still, could have some fun while I’m waiting. So, feeling devilish (thanks to the Gordons), I reached down to adjust my shoe, that’s a view no one will forget. I’d decided to go tarty; Charlie Dimmock was my new hero. “Mind if I sit here?” he said, tentatively “Nope,” came my curt response “Are you on your own?” he said, half -heartedly.
one seat left at the bar and it was next to me. Still, could have some fun while I’m waiting’ I remember that Saturday night we were to meet for the first time. In the afternoon, I nipped into town for some new underwear and a couple of Dutch courage gins. So, G-string, or Bridget Jones knickers? Blow it, new G-string. Ah, maybe not, being a size 18 (or thereabouts) with dental floss round my derriere doesn’t really make for a comfortable night out So, showered, legs shaved and smelling of whatever that tester was, it was time to get dressed. But in what? Tarty, casual, formal? A little voice in my head was screaming: “Go on, I dare you.” So, I did, 33 years old, big and, what’s the word, ‘ample’ tart.
Deliver milk round the city – so that’s OK and solvent (well, not overdrawn this month)... “Waiting for someone,” I replied, trying to sound positive “Yeah, me too, but she’s late.” “We females are allowed to be late – it’s a right,” I quipped. “It’s a ****take. I’ve been here over half an hour.” “You fella’s aren’t perfect – mine was supposed to be here at quarter to, it’s nearly 20 past now.” “Fancy a drink while we’re waiting?” he said, trying not to have a conversation with my cleavage. “No thanks. He’s the jealous type.” – least I hoped so “Really? What does he do?” “He works in the city,” I said, trying to sound convincing. “Sure you don’t want a drink – looks like we’ve both been stood up?” “Who you waiting for?” I asked, nosey and bored and gin loaded.
“Just a friend – she probably got held up at the gym.” “How tall are you?” I asked. It was supposed to be a thought but the gin was making my mouth open. “Sorry, what?” “Erm…just curious.” “Nearly six foot, why?” I realised where I’d heard the voice before. “I think I will have that drink,” I said, adding: “Tony?” “Erm…. Carol?” The reason for the nostalgia was the sight of all that lacy lingerie at the underwear party held by my neighbour. She’s the childminder to my daughter, who’s nearly six now. And her dad is still delivering milk around the city. As for the video camera and custard, mind your own business.
Benny Hill, a different sort of milkman... and faster too
Ian Hood loves to write and loves to play music on the airwaves. He presents the 1980s show on Saturday night from 8-10pm on YO1 Radio
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The confluence of the rivers Foss and Ouse
The industries of the River Foss in York gave Timothy Wynn-Werninck the confidence to write a history book about York’s other river...
Where history flows
M
uch written history is academic but this does not have to be the case. My quest to write history became an adventure that threw up many challenges. My hope is others will be inspired to try something they find tough. It became a personal challenge to keep believing I could write a history book. Here are extracts of the book I wrote. Arriving in York in 1987, I needed more qualifications and enrolled for a GCSE in geography. I had to do a project and stumbled across the River Foss. The project went down well and my tutor suggested it would make a good book. There have been a few books on the Foss but nothing new since 1982 City of York Council over the years has had to clear areas of industrial wasteland and come up with a plan of how the city and the river should look. The Foss still contributes to the welfare of the city. It has also acted as an economic barometer showing how the city was doing through its history. What slowed the development of industries was that the River Foss was away from York’s old industrial sites. Many potential sites for needed to be changed from marsh land. The development of the river was further slowed due to much of the river being on the edge of the city’s first markets. Stillington Mill The mill was a family operation and you can still see the arved initials of mill-
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ers through the ages. In 1919, the last miller, Ned Gibson, had no one to carry on the business and the mill was taken over by Arthur and Dora Shepherd, who kept going till 1935. The mill did suffer from the lack of water in the Foss. At times a stationary flywheel had to call on an alternative source of power. The mill was converted into a house in 1968. In 2005 the mill became a self-catering holiday let with a hard tennis court and a solar-powered heated swimming pool. As the mill changed its role, that part of the river started to silt up. Strensall Tannery Located eight miles from York. The Village Street Directory of 1844 shows there were small cottage industries such as joiners who worked in local agriculture and construction. It also gives details of the tannery which was opened in 1806, taking advantage of the River Foss navigation system to dispatch local lime and bark lime and finished goods. When the tannery got into trouble, it still had unsold bags and shoes. A boiler house had a Byworth 6000lb ph. of steam engine. There were three gas boilers. The last one came in 1976 from the Ripon leather works that arrived by horse and cart. There were attempts to save the tannery with smaller specialised orders with more modern machinery and attempts to cut expenditure. It was first discovered that the navigation would struggle to survive as early
as 1809. The Victoria County History outlines that the company accounts were full of high amounts of the mismanagement of money and general overspending. Layerthorpe Straight over the river running east you can see Layerthorpe with all the industries involved with the motor trade, everything from scrapyards and exhaust centers to showrooms with new cars. Another famous site on this stretch of the river was J.H Walker Building Merchants that used the river to dig out river sand from the River Ouse. The Recklaw sailed to the builders’ merchants which is now Travis Perkins, where it was unloaded by crane. There was an art then as today to find the right balance of products to sell. Though J.H Walker continued to dredge for river sand in the Ouse, in 1965 dredging 65 tons. Old industry needed updating and, in most cases, it was cheaper to relocate to purpose-built sites on the edge of the city, and being located close to major roads. Successful companies took advantage of the canalisation and the profitable section of the River Foss from the city boundary. These companies boosted the economy and added wealth to the city. Vickers Instruments The original company was called Cooke, Troughton & Simms and they made scientific instruments in Bishophill from
as early as 1756: microscopes suitable for students to advanced ones for the Army and industry. In 1924 Vickers took over the company, later closing in 1988, ending the traditional skills of optic mechanics. Canalisation The River Foss navigation nearly missed out on having a canal system altogether as York was more gripped by railway mania and the spirit of George Hudson. It was surprising the river did not see wider use as it sits in the centre of the Yorkshire Canal System. More investment could have seen it join the port of Hull and the Leeds in the West. The first canalisation of the river had been done by the Romans. York had always relied on trade of the Ouse to bring in goods as the river was tidal there seemed to be no need redevelop the Foss. York needed to develop and gain back its industrial markets lost since medieval times. It was important that it was done to bring York into the modern era. York had the disadvantage of being on the northern edge of the canal mania. It was often written that York was slow to embrace the building of canals as in the south of England. Parliament
was inundated with fledgling companies wanting to build canals. Elsewhere profits could be made easier with the transportation of larger coal deposits and pottery to large industrial markets. Navigation systems were still expensive to maintain. It was not long before individuals lost the will to invest their money and the river started to fall into decline. Brtitish Buttons On the opposite side of the river is the new housing estate the bowling green court, built by Bushgate Properties. This use to be the site of British Buttons. This company was started in 1930 by Jacob Gans, who sold his button business in the Netherlands and moved to York. Rowntree, seeing the drawbacks to York becoming too dependent on confectionery, offered Gans a large storage depot to convert into a factory. At first, he traded as a company called Gansolite until, in 1981 he merged with Brandoid Products to form British Buttons. The factory produced buttons, toggles, buckles, and counters for board games and also supplied the British garment industry. Between five and six million buttons were produced each week mostly for the British market, plus
exports to Poland. The Flood Barrier In 1982 engineers decided the best way to protect the city from flooding was to construct a flood barrier to prevent the water in the River Ouse backing up the Foss, and a pumping station was built to divert the water from the Foss. Looking down the Foss basin now you can see the barrier guarding the lower reaches of the river. It is an imposing modern construction a transparent glass top and brick clad concrete towers. The barrier is lowered by steel ropes, wound in the side of the towers by an electric motor, with standby power. In the event of a power failure, the gate can be lowered manually When the gate is lowered the steel section fits into a concrete chill preventing the water of the Ouse backing up the Foss and at the same time stopping the flow of the Foss directly into the Ouse. Any surplus water on the Foss side of the barrier is pumped, via the pumping station, in a controlled way around the side of the barrier. The Industries of the River Foss by Timothy Wynn- Werninck is published on Amazon for Kindle (£4.71)
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Duck and daffs: Mill Lane, Wigginton There were a number of ducks around, and one duck was wandering around near several clumps of daffodils. At one point it stopped and appeared to be admiring them. David Roberts
During the Covid-19 lockdown, Converge students took a camera with them on their daily walk. And nature put on a splendid show with one of the best and warmest springs in years...
Spring carried on as usual... Unfolding by Rachel Carson
Pupa: Spring has sprung... we hope. Saw this little fella on my wall and he made me smile. I believe he will turn into an Angleshade moth. I just love nature. Sian Fox
Daisies: I loved how the daisies had a halo of light around them. Simple things like this brighten my day whilst I am in social isolation living with my three cats. Helen Williams.
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X marks the spot This gorgeous spring When the narrative unfolding Anon doesn’t know when the Once upon a time began As though a ghost writer Was making plans To shape her better future Flash just like the Camera shot Seconds later That particular Moment Up inspired Question Why the plot doesn’t Seem to thicken 1X
Tadcaster Road,York Monday morning rush hour Tadcaster Road. We cross here everyday on our way to school and there is always a traffic jam with lots of pollution. Today it was completely deserted and the air was clean. Olivia and Lucy Brown
Black sheep: Taken on my walk around the fields near my home in Tadcaster. Isn’t he a magnificent ram. Those horns are quite impressive. Meet the rest of the family. Margaret Wilson
Daffs on walls: This was taken during the first week of the lockdown. I was out for my daily exercise, but the fresh air and sunny afternoon, welcome as they were, hadn’t quite been enough to dissipate my anxiety. When I reached the city walls, these bright spring daffodils on the bank took my breath away. A symbol of hope, their cheerful trumpets reminded me that even through our human health crisis the world still flourishes, and for a while, my anxiety melted away. Emily Hammond
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We’ll meet again... Thank you to our amazing NHS, our carers, teachers, shop, transport, delivery and council staff and all other key workers for everything you have done during the Covid-19 pandemic. We will be forever in your debt...
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