News

“We had two in the final,” Olympic medalist Keely Hodgkinson praises Leeds Beckett University

Georgina Pellant Georgina Pellant - 8th August 2021

Olympic medalist Keely Hodgkinson set a new British record this week as she crossed the 800m finish line on Tuesday, making the whole of Leeds incredibly proud.

Now she's praised the city and its Leeds Beckett University - which she says was invaluable in helping not just her but 12 of her fellow Team GB Tokyo Olympics 2020 athletes to prepare and train for the momentous sporting event.

Hodgkinson's team mate Alex Bell, also a graduate of Leeds Beckett, also recorded a personal best when running in the final on Tuesday.

At just 19 years old, Hodgkinson is currently studying her first year of Crimonology at the university. She told the BBC that the university had been "so supportive" of its athletes, adding "We had two in the final."

"Stood on the start line at the Olympics I said, 'Wow this is crazy,' but I wanted to take it all in and put on my best performance," she continuted.

Hodgkinson was pipped to the gold medal by US teenager Athing Mu, but scooped up silver with her record-breaking time of one minute 55.88 seconds - which destroyed that previously set by GB's Dame Kelly Holmes in 1995.

Academics at the university, coaches and the Carnegie School of Sport work with a number of athletes, including Lizzie Bird and Leeds-born Bell.

Leeds Beckett alumni, meanwhile, includes athletes like the Brownlee Brothers, Alex Yee and Georgia Taylor-Brown.

 "The general atmosphere is that people are quite encouraging and help each other here," said Andrew Henderson, the university's head athletics coach.  

"But then to see an athlete that trains at your facility who you know crossing the finishing line is just fantastic."

Vice-chancellor prof Peter Slee said: "The last year has not been easy for any of the athletes but their hard work and perseverance have now paid off."

The full list of olympians and paralympians that have come out of Leeds Beckett University:

  • Alex Bell - 800m - BA (Hons) Human Geography 2014, alumna
  • Keely Hodgkinson - 800m - BSc (Hons) Criminology, current student
  • Alex Yee - triathlon - BSc (Hons) Sports & Exercise Science, current student
  • Jonny Brownlee - triathlon - Honorary Graduate, 2019
  • Georgia Taylor-Brown - triathlon - BSc (Hons) Sports & Exercise Science 2015, alumna
  • Tom Bosworth - race walking - BSc (Hons) Sports Performance 2013, alumnus
  • Callum Wilkinson - race walking - BSc (Hons) Sports Events Management 2019, alumnus
  • Lucy Bronze - football - BSc (Hons) Sports Studies 2013, alumna
  • Lauren Smith - badminton - BSc (Hons) Sports Coaching 2014, alumna
  • Emily Campbell - weightlifting - BSc (Hons) Sports Science 2016, alumna
  • Lizzie Bird - steeplechase - Leeds Beckett Talent Hub athlete, non-student
  • Dame Sarah Storey DBE - para-cycling - BSc (Hons) Sport & Exercise Science 1999, alumna
  • Kadeena Cox MBE - multi-disciplined - BSc (Hons) Sports & Exercise Science 2013, Honorary Graduate 2017, alumna
  • Ali Jawad - weightlifting -BSc (Hons) Sport & Exercise Science, 2019, alumnus

    Feature image - Keely Hodgkinson Twitter.

News

Wakefield set to be the first city outside of London to display the UK AIDS Memorial Quilt

Clementine Hall Clementine Hall

The UK Aids Memorial Quilt is set to go on display across Wakefield this summer.

The quilt - consisting of 42 quilts and 23 individual panels, representing over 384 individuals affected by HIV and AIDS - will go on display at WX Wakefield from Thursday 4 to Sunday 7 June 2026.

All 42 quilts will be on display, with WX working in partnership with the UK AIDS Memorial Quilt Conservation Partnership.

Across the same weekend, selected individual panels will be displayed at different venues across the city including The Hepworth Wakefield, The Art House Wakefield, Theatre Royal Wakefield, Pontefract Castle and the Yorkshire Sculpture Park.

Part of the world’s largest community art project, this is a huge opportunity for the city of Wakefield. The project started in the USA back in 1985 by activist Cleve Jones, commemorating friends, family and loved ones lost to AIDS.

Individual panels were then stitched together to create larger quilts, which were shown outdoors as a form of protest to raise awareness about HIV and AIDS.

Today, the quilt stands as a crucial reminder of those who were lost and of the continuing affect that HIV and AIDS has on the people of today.

At WX Wakefield, viewing the quilt is completely free and on Friday 5 June there will be a special late night opening up until 10:30pm to view the exhibition.

And on Saturday 6 June at 2:30pm, there will be a very special and poignant reading of the names of those commemorated on the quilt.

You can find out more about this very special exhibition here at WX Wakefield's website.

Read more: Team behind Mint Warehouse to open new 2,000 capacity venue in Leeds with strict no-phone policy

Featured image - UK AIDS Memorial Quilt, installation view at Tate Modern, June 2025. Photo: AM Hanson



News

Leeds’ first frozen yoghurt bar is opening in Headingley this weekend

Clementine Hall Clementine Hall

The frozen yoghurt craze is on its way to Leeds as Kefiyo is set to open in Headingley in just a few days.

It's a phenomenon that has caught the attention of the TikTok and Instagram girlies as of late, with frozen yoghurt bars popping up in Manchester and going viral online.

The ice cold sweet treat is supposedly 'healthy' and with a slogan of 'eat Clean. feel Light. live Better.' - this new spot in Leeds seems to be going down that route too.

Kefiyo will be opening in the old Sixes site on Ash Road in Headingley, and they've just announced that they'll be soft launching this Sunday 19 April 2026.

The space is already sporting a super cute pastel green and pink exterior, and it's exactly matching the aesthetic that you'd expect with froyo.

 
 
 
 
 
View this post on Instagram
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

A post shared by Kefiyo Leeds (@kefi.yo)

Kefiyo will offer a range of frozen yoghurt flavours with a whole bunch of toppings for you to customise to your tastebuds, as well as fresh acai bowls.

Situated slap bang in the centre of Headingley, we've got a feeling it'll be very busy with students on their way to their morning lecture or at night for those looking for a sweet treat that doesn't feel too naughty.

We'll keep you updated on more Kefiyo updates as and when we find out.

But in the meantime, you can keep an eye on their socials here. We'll see you soon for a scoop Leeds.

 Read more:

Featured image - The Hoot Leeds

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