A life-size statue of Captain Tom Moore is set for a big public reveal in Leeds next month.
Created by artist Tony Clark from Colton and titled The Walk of Hope, the statue pays homage to the memory of the NHS fundraising hero who raised over £30m for NHS charities by walking 100 laps of his garden.
A survivor of the 2002 Bali bombings, Clark’s previous career involved buying and selling furniture. Now, he uses art as a therapeutic escape.
During the stasis of the first 2020 lockdown, Tony returned to his passion - creating a sculpture of Leeds United manager Marcelo Bielsa in March and raising over £9,500 for charity MIND in the process.
Whilst creating the Bielsa statue, he was inspired to start on another of Captain Tom Moore - who he described as "one of the icons of the Covid pandemic" - following a chat with a friend, Keith Sharratt.
Titled The Walk of Hope, the impressive statue of Captain Tom Moore was first unveiled on This Morning TV show with Holly and Phil. It is now set to go on display to the public at Thorpe Park this Saturday, 1st May,
Then, the hope is for it to be placed at the Captain’s birthplace in Keighley by Bradford City Council - although this is still to be confirmed at the time of writing.
Speaking on his creative process in constructing the statue, Clark said: "It took around two months to create Captain Tom in clay, from clay you make a mold, then create him in resin, then we cast him in bronze and the team build him up, weld him together and finish it."
Locals may remember Mr Clark also previously created a sculpture of Leeds United manager Marcelo Bielsa in March 2020, raising over £9,500 for charity MIND in the process.
The Bielsa statue will join that of Captain Tom Mooreat The Springs pop-up store from Saturday, 12th June.
The pair will be joined by other famous faces cast in bronze, resin or brass, including those of Leeds United and Scottish legend Billy Bremner, Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp, boxers Tyson Fury and Deontay Wilder, and Barcelona star Lionel Messi.
Miniature replicas of the statues will be available to purchase, with a percentage of sales going to local charities.
These include Leeds South and East Food Bank and Leeds North and West Food bank, the Yorkshire Air Ambulance, Martin House Children’s Hospice Near Wetherby, The Ciaran Bingham Foundation Trust.
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Even MORE padel courts are coming to a former film studio in Leeds city centre
It's looking like the whole of Leeds might turn into padel courts before we know it.
The padel craze is well and truly thriving, because over the past few months we've had not one, not two, but THREE new padel courts being announced in the city.
We're not quite sure why, but something about that little racket and ball is really getting the people going - and we love to see it.
So, the next lot of padel courts is set to move into the part of a former film studio on Whitehall Road.
If granted permission by Leeds City Council, eight padel courts will be created at the Versa Studios site in Holbeck, along with an onsite cafe and bar.
Council planners have said the new development would boost access to sports facilities and create jobs in the local area.
The report said: “The development will generate around 15 new jobs, contribute to the local economy and create wider spin-off benefits for the city centre fringe.
“It will also deliver important social and health benefits, encouraging more people to participate in sport and promoting an active lifestyle within an inclusive and accessible setting.”
A design report by Quantam Padel said new courts were needed to meet the ongoing growing demand for the sport, and we can believe that.
It said: "The proposal aims to deliver a high quality padel tennis centre.
“Padel tennis is more accessible to those whose level of fitness, agility or skill make conventional tennis or squash overly challenging and difficult to play.”
So, what do you make of this? Can there be one padel court too many?
Sheffield’s Peddler Market to relaunch as FREE monthly mini music festival
Clementine Hall
Peddler’s 13th year marks a bold new direction for the free monthly event.
Peddler Market began its life 12 years ago as a street food night market with a sprinkling of live music and DJs.
Now that they're synonymous with bringing some of the best street food the UK has to offer to Sheffield, the organisers are now heading in a new direction.
Peddler will now offer a five-stage monthly music festival, spread across their Kelham Island footprint - maintaining its ‘free entry’ ethos for customers.
Image: Supplied
But don't worry, food will still be a key component all whilst increasing their to platform some of the best local promoters, record shops, DJs and bands across Sheffield.
But now, they're bringing five stages to Peddler, working with some of the best up and coming and well established promoters in and across the city.
“Twelve years ago, we filled a gap that Sheffield really needed,” Jordan Roberts - owner, says. “Since then, it’s nourished this huge gastronomic change within the city. Now there’s food halls and street food everywhere, which is great because people have choice – at peddler amazing street food is a given but now you can expect much more”
Image: Supplied
"I wanted to create a labyrinth of exploration like that you find at a proper festival, tread the zones, sample the delights and find your vibe. It’s like a little mini festival,” Jordan says.
“With Tramlines and We Out Here being huge inspiration for the next gen development. There’s a car park stage, the inside main stage, a courtyard stage, the factory floor and activities happening in the basement underneath too,” Jordan explains. “Bands, DJs, the whole thing.”
Image: Supplied
“We’ve always been a street food event with two music stages,” he explains. “Now we’re excited to bring five stages, working with some of the best up and coming and well established promoters in and across the city. After more than 100 Peddler Markets where we’ve always hosted a free entry gig.
"We’ll still host our street food partners, who love seeing all the Sheffield foodies. However, the changing music line up will help you ‘save the date’ making each month even more unmissable”
The first edition of the reformatted Peddler lands on the usual first Friday and Saturday of the month on 5-6 June and promises a sprawling, multi-space experience inspired as much by classic city festivals as warehouse parties and independent culture.
Georgina Pellant -
28th April 2021 
