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South Leeds: Behind the scenes at Hunslet Festival
RALLYING CRY: Steve Thompson at the Hunslet Festival site.
To most people it may be a patch of grass like any other, but for the people of this south Leeds suburb it’s a rallying point for community spirit.
Because once a year, every year, around 3,000 visitors pass through the gates to enjoy Hunslet Festival, transforming this otherwise unremarkable field next to St Mary’s Church into a place to celebrate everything that’s positive about the area.
Local lad Steve Thompson heads up the committee which brings together the annual event. He juggles the role – which takes up half his year – with raising two teenage kids and a full time job.
But on the last Saturday in June he and the rest of the team of organisers do Hunslet proud with everything from dancing to karate, funfairs to magic shows, not to mention visits from local organisations and big names like the Yorkshire Air Ambulance and the Sea Cadets.
Although the festival may not sound too different from similar festivals held elsewhere in Leeds, it has special significance in this corner of the city.
“Because Hunslet doesn’t really have a normal centre to it, this helps provide a focal point for everyone. The nearest thing we have to a focal point the rest of the year is the Morrison’s supermarket so being right next to there does help.
“There aren’t many community groups and organisations in the area, but what’s good about the festival is that it allows them to come together in one place on one day and allow the whole community to enjoy them and appreciate them. That gives me enormous job satisfaction.”
There have been the usual highs and lows over the years, mainly because the open-air event is at the mercy of the elements. Steve recalls some years being washed-out by a deluge while other years, like 2011, was a huge success because it had the luck to fall on a hot, sunny day.
There have been a few funny moments too. “The bird of prey guy came one lunchtime” recalls Steve. “And because they hadn’t fed the kestrel enough it flew off from the field and went chasing pigeons on the roofs of a nearby housing estate. The poor bloke was off searching for the thing well into the evening.”
But there is a serious side to the festival as well.
“It’s important to offer something for families,” says Steve “And young people in particular, because I don’t think they always get enough praise for their positive achievements. Too often we prefer to focus on the negative aspects.
“Which is why, over the years we’ve had our own Young Sports Personality of the Year award and the Community Champion Award to say ‘well done’ to those youngsters who have done well.”
In one form or another, there has been an annual celebration in the area since the 19th Century. The festival has existed in its current form for almost nine years and continues to survive on council grants, lottery funding and support from local business companies like Hunslet Cars and Aire Valley Homes.
But they rely on their continued generosity as well as practical help from volunteers – the latter Steve is particularly keen to boost. He is looking for community-minded individuals to lend their time and energy to help him organise Hunslet Festival.
Anyone interested is asked to call Steve on 07920 104064 or visit: www.hunsletfestival.org.uk or email: info@hunsletfestival.org.uk
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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