The new Lord Mayor of Leeds has officially been announced, with Councillor Al Garthwaite set to take up the post following the council’s annual general meeting.
Garthwaite, who has represented the district of Headingley (now Headingley and Hyde Park) since 2016, will be taking over the role from Councillor Robert W Gettings MBE JP for the next year after already holding her first session.
The 75-year-old Councillor, activist and long-dedicated feminist campaigner becomes the 129th person to serve as Lord Mayor of Leeds and with a strong background in activism across various issues, looks to be a wonderful appointment.
A graduate of English and psychology from Durham University, Garthwaite has been involved in everything from international and local campaigns on human rights and social justice to education, teaching in female prisons and pioneering women’s health courses in inner-city community centres.
Al, or Alison, also helped to pioneer the Women’s Advice and Referral Service and several other social enterprises, as well as setting up the film production company, Vera Media, which has taught multimedia skills to women and marginalised groups in Leeds and led to over 5,000 people progressing into work or further education.
As is traditional for a new Lord Mayor of Leeds, Councillor Garthwaite has nominated a charity to represent during her term of office and has chosen the Women’s Counselling and Therapy Service, which offers free psychological support to women in Leeds.
Better still, throughout her tenure as Lord Mayor, Councillor Garthwaite will be accompanied by a diverse range of students from Leeds Beckett University, who will act as her consorts, broadening their understanding of the city, its people and their experiences.
Issuing a statement after the announcement, the new Lord Mayor of Leeds said: "The people of Leeds have been at the heart of my work for 50 years and it will be an honour and a privilege to represent them as their Lord Mayor for the coming year.
"I look forward to getting out into our communities, meeting as many people as possible and raising money to support the work of the Women’s Counselling and Therapy Service."
Congratulations, to Councillor Al Garthwaite, we wish her all the best for her time in office.
Featured Image — Leeds Council/Johnathan Pryor (via Twitter)
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Leeds Palestinian Film Festival announces dates for 12th annual edition
The Leeds Palestinian Film Festival has announced the dates for this year's festival.
This year's festival will explore the words of the celebrated Palestinian artist Sliman Mansour: "To make art is to say we are here."
These words will reflect the content of this year's festival, which aim to keep Palestinian stories alive; defy the erasure of history; and bring voices from the depths of destruction.
The Leeds Palestinian Film Festival will open Friday 13 November at the iconic Hyde Park Picture House with Life Support, a documentary about doctors in Gaza directed by Daniele Rugo.
Image: Supplied
The screening will be followed by a live Q&A with the director and doctors from the film, chaired by Healthworkers4Palestine.
Early programme highlights include the UK premiere of Conversation with the Sea, Muayad Alayan's family drama in which a 60-year-old Palestinian man in Jerusalem, ordered by an Israeli court to pay a debt allegedly owed by his son who drowned decades ago, sets out to discover what happened.
Also showing will be Maggie Lemere's documentary, Land of Canaan, follows Palestinian farmers and their olive trees, some more than 1,000 years old, and the fair-trade movement led by Dr Nasser Abufarha to protect them.
Image: Supplied
Frances Bernstein, Festival Director, said: “To make art is to say we are here. We chose the words of the celebrated Palestinian artist Sliman Mansour as this year's theme because they reflect what the programme is for: keeping Palestinian stories alive, defying the erasure of Palestinian history, culture and identity, and bringing voices from the depth of destruction to audiences in Leeds."
The full programme, guests and ticket information will be announced in the coming weeks. You can find out more here.
Viral Yorkshire shop urges visitors to avoid weekends as huge queues form
Clementine Hall
A viral apothecary shop in Yorkshire has warned visitors about huge queues forming outside its doors, urging people to visit during the week if they want to avoid the crowds.
The Cabinet of Curiosities in Haworth has become a popular destination for those looking to really get into the autumn spirit.
And it seems like there's a lot of people who are looking to do so, as huge queues have been forming along the quaint cobbled streets of Haworth.
So much so, that owner Carolin had to issue a statement via The Cabinet of Curiosities Instagram page.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
It reads: "Weekends in Haworth have become particularly busy during Autumn and we are so grateful to all those lovely souls who have patiently queued to visit the shop.
"We are so honoured that you are happy to wait to come in to our magical apothecary shop, and I can’t quite believe it when I look out of the windows and see the queue snaking up the cobbles. Be assured that the queue does move fast and it makes for a far more pleasurable visit if there are fewer people in the shop at once.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
"If you would rather avoid the busy times it’s best to visit during the week if you can. Our shop is open 7 days a week 10-5, but to make sure all the shops in Haworth are open then Wednesday, Thursday and Friday are probably the best days to visit.
"We are doing our best to keep up with restocking and our fabulous workshop witches are busy blending, filling and packing every day to keep to keep the shelves stocked. We are humbled and forever grateful that you love our little shoppe, and hope you enjoy your potions and your visit to The Cabinet of Curiosities."
Danny Jones -
25th May 2023 
