New Wortley Community Festival is tribute to resurgent community

The second New Wortley Community Festival was held at three venues, the community centre in Tong Road and nearby Castleton Primary School and Bethel Church.

Organiser and community leader Bill Graham said: “It was terrific. We had around 1,000 people in total across the three venues.

“We had the first festival last year and this was even bigger. It was a visible sign of the community coming together. We’ll definitely do it again next year.”

A packed schedule included performances from Corpus Christi Brass Band and local singer Fuzzy Jones; the Word Up West Leeds literary festival, which was spread over two days; a performance from South Asian Arts, illusionists, a graffiti and art workshops, and a beer festival at The Beech pub to mark England’s Euro 2016 debut against Russia.

Musicians also went ‘busking’ in two nearby homes for older people, playing for bed ridden patients who were unable to get out to the main festival.

Mr Graham added: “Some great things have ben happening in New Wortley in the last few years, with the fostering of real community spirit and a number of initiatives that have led to new investment in the area.

“The festival really brings the community of New Wortley together in a celebration of the area and a community that has led the way in the revival of West Leeds.”