Friends of Roundhay Park Newsletter May 2007 Friends of Roundhay Park, PO Box 129, Leeds LS8 1WY Chairman's letter In the absence of definitive news about the Mansion, the Trustees of FoRP pressed for and finally obtained a meeting with Councillors John Procter and Denise Preston on 16th April. You can read the outcome in these pages but don't expect to be leaping out of your chairs with excitement. There's still a long way to go before anyone can savour the prospect of sitting down to a sumptuous restaurant meal within the building. I had also hoped to report positive news about the gutted Lakeside CafŽ but it seems another saga will be played out regarding its refurbishment. On a happier note, there is a temporary cafŽ in the cricket pavilion within the Arena. Do enjoy the Park this summer - it really is a wondrous place to visit in all seasons. John Richards Information The Annual General Meeting will be held on Wednesday 6th June at 7.30pm (registration commencing at 7pm) in the Parochial Hall, Fitzroy Drive (near Oakwood Clock). Please make a special note of this date and venue. Working Parties The working parties take place on the third Saturday of each month, meeting in the Mansion Car Park, or as advised, at 10.00am. Saturday 19th May 2007 Saturday 16th June 2007 Saturday 21st July 2007 Saturday 18th August 2007 Saturday 15th September 2007 Editorial Better late than never! We had intended publication immediately after the FoRP Trustees April 16th meeting but failure to obtain a letter from the Council wrecked our plans. Thankfully, David Binns has prepared his own summary and that is printed overleaf. For a change, this Newsletter comes to you in glorious technicolour! Well some. We acted upon a suggestion at the last General Meeting that met with approval but may not be able to maintain the format for future editions for reasons of cost. Colour certainly enhances the photographs, particularly those of the Park flowerbeds. As editors, we'd be very grateful for your feedback and, if positive, how we might better utilise the medium of colour to enhance future editions. Another innovation is the start of a series of Profiles of prominent FoRP members. We kick off with the indefatigable Jon Vogler. Do please tell us who else we should include in the series. And just to show we're definitely not dinosaurs (no disrespect to the Geology Trail intended!), we've included some I.T. items that will hopefully interest those who have access to a computer. We encourage you to email news@forp.co.uk with submission of items/comments for inclusion in subsequent newsletters. Of particular interest would be recollections of Printers' Sports Day that used to be held in the Park and continued, so we understand, for a while after Children's Day was abandoned. Please note that some of the views expressed by ourselves and contributors in this Newsletter are not necessarily those of FoRP itself. Alan & Michle Jackson THE MANSION For how much longer will our view of this magnificent building be restricted by hoardings and what exactly is going on behind the scenes? Pity we cannot publish a letter from Leeds City Councillor John Procter summarising the April 16th meeting but David Binns, Secretary of FoRP, writes: Built 1815 - empty 2004-7 "Our delegation led by John Richards made forceful comments regarding the slow progress in relation to the nomination of a suitable Operator for the Commercial part of The Mansion - i.e. the Bar/Restaurant/Function facility - and the fact that, if someone is found tomorrow, they probably could not open for business until the end of 2008. Councillor Procter defended this position by stating that the Tendering process had taken longer than anticipated because it is imperative that the right Company is chosen. The lease will run for 25 years, so The Council need to ensure that whoever is selected will continue to operate the business in the same manner as stated in their Tender and there is no possibility of it becoming a different animal, such as a night club, in the future. Several bona-fide Tenders have been received and great care is being taken to assess each on its own merits, which will include visiting other businesses developed and operated by the Tenderers. It is hoped that a Report will be put before The Council Committee in June 2007, with recommendations in respect of the Tenders. We shall therefore be knocking on The Council's door again at the end of June to find out what has developed - unless of course they volunteer the information first! Although little can be seen behind the hoardings surrounding The Mansion, work is progressing on The Visitors' and Education facilities, the Park's Staff Offices and the Rangers' base. The Contractor will hand over the building in July. Following this, the fitting-out works will be completed to allow these parts to open in September 2007. The opportunity was also taken at this meeting to mention some of the other concerns expressed by our Members, particularly the Lakeside CafŽ repairs/rebuild, the shortage of Car Parking, the smallness of the Children's Play Area and lack of play facilities for older children, the lack of Toilet facilities at Lakeside since the fire, the condition of the Lido Car Park and the paths around Waterloo Lake. Denise Preston said that some of these matters were being addressed and that the others will be looked into. We did not come away from the meeting feeling that everything is perfect and that our worries are unfounded, but we are hopeful that The Council are as committed as we are to see The Mansion and the Lakeside CafŽ reinstated as operating businesses of which we can be proud. Our Park deserves nothing less." Original Victorian vista? Not! At the FoRP Meeting held as long ago as 14th April 2004, it was agreed that FoRP should vigorously oppose the proposal to convert The Mansion into Park Offices. Such a use was not part of the original Heritage Lottery Fund Grant. Who'd have thought, when FoRP and the residents of Leeds won that battle, we'd still only be at this stage nearly half-way through 2007? Extracts of Minutes from General Meetings - 14th February and 11th April 2007 ( To avoid duplication, we've omitted some items that are covered elsewhere in this Newsletter ) PARK MANAGEMENT į Repair works to The Gorge are going well, despite the unexpected landslide caused by a ruptured drain that takes water run-off from the Ring Road. This delayed work by three weeks, whilst the 6 metre high embankment was reinstated. It is now hoped to re-open the path by the end of May. į Replacement signage is in hand and cast-iron finger posts will be trialled. į The Cricket Pavilion is now generally completed and will be landscaped shortly. FoRP expressed concern about the large area of rendering to the rear wall - ideal for graffiti artists. Apparently, there was not enough in the budget to do this in stone. į The old metal railings on Park Avenue have been replaced by a pleasing timber knee-rail barrier. į There was a consensus that more general waste bins and dog-waste bins were needed and that it could be worthwhile putting notices on the dog-waste bins regarding the possibility of fines for non-responsible dog owners. į The Park has been audited by RoSPA, particularly in respect of water safety. There will be additional safety signage (now going up), the life-buoys will be replaced with life-lines and some areas of fencing are being installed - for example, where children could run or cycle down a slope (out of control) and into the water. There will not be any general fencing off of the Lakes. į The paths around Waterloo Lake and in the natural areas were discussed at great length. However, it was generally agreed that they are fit for purpose in dry weather and it would be incongruous to have tarmac surfaces in these areas. Dave Morgan agreed that there are parts of the paths that need more effective drainage and this will be dealt with in the Spring. The gravel paths will also be re-topped in rough areas. į Regarding the Lakeside CafŽ, forensic and structural reports are awaited, so that its reinstatement can be considered. The CafŽ is basically a wooden structure, so repair works could be very extensive. į Now that the CafŽ and Toilets are closed, the three Portaloos are inadequate, particularly at weekends. Dave Morgan reported that the provision would be re-assessed. į Comments were also made that Mr Whippy is now selling coffee, etc, as well as ice-cream, which is generating much litter. It was suggested that he should provide additional waste facilities and clear up around the van at close of trading. į In spite of the various comments, the Council management were praised for all the good works being carried out in The Park. FINANCES į Following the receipt of Grants towards The Geology Trail, the FoRP bank balance was healthy. į Membership Renewal problems were being addressed. THE LESTER FOUNDATION į Bob Reid has arranged for The Trustees to visit The University Earth Sciences Department to see a demonstration of a polarising microscope, so that a decision can be made regarding a suitable proposal to The Lester Family. į Other options have been described in previous Minutes and our Members' views would be welcomed. ANY OTHER BUSINESS į Stan Walton has agreed to represent FoRP at the Meetings of Leeds Voice - "Keeping An Eye On Leeds". Stan will report back to our Meetings on any subjects that are of interest and such items could be published in future Newsletters. į Jon Vogler confirmed that graffiti has been sprayed on the recently cleared rock face at Scout Quarry. Dave Morgan will arrange for this to be cleaned off as soon as the site can be accessed by the necessary equipment, as the Council have a dedicated graffiti removal team. SPRINGTIME IN THE PARK (Some more examples of John Roebuck's horticultural artwork) Catherine Wheel Snowflake The beds at the Oakwood Clock have been stunning as can be seen here: Q. What has become of the proposal to utilise the toilet block near here as a drop-in cafŽ? A. The proposed lessees would still like to go ahead - ensure you receive our next edition to read about their plans (ie rejoin FoRP if not now a fully paid-up member). MEMBER PROFILE Jon VOGLER Born 1939 in London and recalls a small boy's delight at being allowed to wear the Air Raid Warden's helmet when in the communal shelter while Hitler's Heinkels dropped bombs outside. This led to a contrary enthusiasm for aeroplanes and spent most of childhood making models or going to watch them circling the aerodromes at Hendon and Hatfield. Read Aeronautical Engineering at Bristol University, did VSO in (what was then) Rhodesia, joined the English Electric Company but, as the Korean War ended, the aircraft industry slumped and he became fascinated with the problems of industrial relations and of how you could build huge welded steel structures for power generation turbines with a workforce that was perpetually on the brink of strike. Spent a period, accompanied by Jill and two small girls, installing the hydro-electric turbines in the Niger Dam. His Merseyside boilermakers, who had gone out expecting to make good money welding, were not amused when local Hausa and Fulani people started chopping the heads off other Nigerians working on the construction site. Says Jon, "This was the second-most scared I have ever been in my life!" On return to Blighty he helped set up the first large-scale production of the newly-invented computers but kept on getting fired from a succession of jobs. He came to Leeds to manufacture stainless-steel sinks and bed-pans, and then mining machinery, and found Leeds metal-workers were as troublesome as the Scousers; they just spoke differently. Following the OPEC oil crisis of 1973, he persuaded Oxfam the time had come to set up a waste recycling plant in Huddersfield, to demonstrate the contrast between wasteful Britain and the Third World countries where nothing was wasted. After three years he had lost Oxfam £30,000 but since then they have made half a million a year as the largest processor of reclaimed textiles in the country. Jon, as usual, got bored with the routine when it became profitable and spent the next eight years as a consultant in how to create jobs from waste in the Third World. His book "Work from Waste" is still in print. It was written in manuscript and typed on a steam typewriter but the publishers then used a new device called a word-processor to typeset it. He decided he had better find out how to make one but discovered that the people who knew about computers could not talk to business folk, so he started writing for the computer press. This led to consultancy and, later, to requests to act as an expert witness in legal disputes and criminal trials. He has spent the last fifteen years doing this. He says, "It's good for an ageing brain trying to keep up with police analysts half my age" but thinks he may be ready to taper down his activities though not necessarily retire. Jon has had a lifelong love of sculpture but doubted his ability to do it himself. So three years ago he started to learn to cut letters in stone. While cutting stones for the Friends' Garden he discovered that such works can be made more beautiful if plants and flowers and other life forms are included. So he has applied to do a part-time degree in fine arts at Leeds College of Art & Design, starting in September. He, Jill and four children moved to Roundhay in 1969 (so are still "comers in") but have had a long love affair with the Park and Jon gets huge enjoyment from being able to join with others to enhance the Park even in a small way. Creating the Friends' Garden was the most scary thing in his life and he gets enormous pleasure every time he sees a small child using the stepping stones (and huge irritation at the site of the handrail!). His ambition: To see a significant work of sculpture in Roundhay Park. "Gateshead has the Angel; Manchester the 'B of the Bang!', Liverpool now has the iron men on Formby Beach but Leeds Council has twice failed us: first with the Brick Man and then with Ronald Ray's Great Lion. Leeds, though a more prosperous city, has a reputation for being miserly towards the arts. Eighty years ago Eric Gill (a great artist and the Father of British letter cutting) portrayed the burghers of Leeds as the traders whom Christ drove from the Temple (you can see it on the War Memorial in the University) and things have not changed since then". However all is not lost. Half a mile from the Park, in Jill and Jon's garden, are more than twenty sculptures that demonstrate the excitement sculpture can have in a garden setting. FoRP members who would like to see, or who would be interested in a unique lettered stone for their own home or garden, are always welcome. ( Many thanks, Jon, for this inaugural piece ) THE LAKESIDE CAFƒ The Lakeside CafŽ was left severely damaged after the blaze early on Saturday morning, 27th January. The building is basically a wooden structure, so repair works could be very extensive. Forensic and structural reports are apparently not yet complete, so that arrangements for its reinstatement cannot get underway. Let's hope that issues of liability aren't holding up matters. Repairs to this popular venue and feature of the Park should surely be a matter of priority for all concerned. Impossible is nothing! A council spokesman was quoted a while ago as saying: "We are doing all we can to reopen the Lakeside CafŽ as soon as possible but this was a serious fire and it will take some time to resolve the issues which have arisen as a result. We are in regular contact with the canoe club and its members are happy they are being kept up to date with developments as they happen." Brian Slater, treasurer for the White Rose Canoe Club based below the cafŽ, thought it was a miracle that the boats and other equipment, bought with a Sports England grant, were not damaged in the fire. He said, "The concrete roof, which is the floor of the cafe, seems to have saved our storage area." Apparently, the canoes and equipment did suffer a bit of water damage from the fire hose reels but nothing substantial. The only problem was that the roller shutter would not open as all the power is off. CafŽ boss and tenant David Rogers was devastated. The renovated cafŽ opened two years ago and was a popular venue for wedding receptions because of its stunning lakeside setting. Photo courtesy of Leeds City Council Meanwhile, bravo for the temporary cricket pavilion cafŽ: Lunch Before Walk? Owzat! Boundary view Not out! Photographs in the Park As you will have seen, the cafŽ is in an unsightly state at present but hopefully the rains will keep away so as to preclude further water ingress through the uncovered roof and scenes such as these from earlier in the year. The path around the lake became impassable without wellingtons in some places. The Lido car park is in a terrible condition especially during wet weather and can be virtually unusable. FoRP has been told that the Council are working on a solution to both problems. Photos courtesy of FoRP member Peter Lockwood The footpath in the Gorge is nearly finished. One official "hoped that there would be enough money left" to repair the stone bridge at the top of the Gorge near the Ring Road. It will be a scandal if the bridge is left in its present state. Photo courtesy of FoRP member Bob Reid Work, however, was hampered when vandals burned a Portaloo and everything they could find in the compound near to the two storage containers belonging to the workforce reinstating the Gorge footpath. Neighbouring trees may be so badly damaged they may have to be felled. Have you taken a Park photo that you'd like others to see in a future edition of the Newsletter? ST JOHN'S CHURCH, ROUNDHAY Before we explain all about the proposed closure of St John's, we thought we'd say something about the church's history. The Nicholson family held the Roundhay Estate between 1803 and 1868. It was they who created a landscaped garden of lakes, waterfalls, pleasure garden, summerhouses, an arboretum, lawns, walks and avenues that is now the heart of Roundhay Park. Thomas Nicholson erected the Mansion in 1815. Other structures included two lodges and workers' housing. Between 1824-26, Stephen Nicholson, in accordance with his deceased brother's wishes, built and endowed a new Anglican church of St John, off Wetherby Road on the borders of the Estate. It was built to the design of architect Thomas Taylor in grey sandstone quarried at Shadwell. The Archbishop of York consecrated the Church on 16th January 1826, and the adjacent almshouses were added around 1834. A day school also adjoined the almshouses, possibly built at this time, but its date of construction is uncertain. A hundred years on from consecration, when the population of Roundhay had swelled considerably, land was secured for a long-awaited Parochial Hall in Fitzroy Drive; building commenced in 1927. FoRP is holding its AGM on 16th June, 2007 in that very building. A fire in the vestry in 1932 led to the loss of some Church records. Fenced South graveyard in foreground In recent years, attendance at St John services has declined whilst expenses have spiralled. Even so, parishioners successfully inaugurated an Organ Fund to restore the magnificent organ, generally accepted as the best in the District. The huge costs of maintaining the South graveyard in a safe condition together with the costs associated with repairing the roof have proved to be the final straw. Accordingly an application for closure to the Church Commissioners became inevitable - it will become a 'redundant' church and as such the parishioners will no longer be responsible for its upkeep. Ultimately, the maintenance of the Churchyard will fall to Leeds City Council and it is hoped that access will still be available for visitors. The Queen has signed an Order in Council restricting burials to existing graves, where there is room. Fortunately, the Oakwood & District Historical Society had undertaken the task of transcribing all memorial inscriptions from both inside and outside the church long before entry to the South graveyard was deemed dangerous. Initially published as a booklet, see now http://homepage.ntlworld.com/nev.hurworth/ The Priest in Charge is The Reverend Dr Colin Cheeseman who still holds a Communion Service at 8am in St John's most Sunday mornings whilst other Services are held at The Methodist Church in Springwood Road. WORKING PARTY REPORT Work is continuing in The Ravine to re-form the old footpath, plant areas alongside the waterfalls and stream and generally improve the area. Nearly 200 ferns are planted on both banks of the ravine beck, from the toolbox up to the lower waterfall. We need to water those not in boggy areas during dry periods. You will have to look hard and tread carefully. Water gently, so as not to wash soil away from the roots. Only water in the evening. Also needing water are the hostas, ferns, geraniums, etc planted by the serpentine path and the plants and two small trees on either side of the beck between the big waterfall and the lower bridge Arrangements are in place to water vulnerable plants in the Friends Garden. Jon Vogler, Judith or David Binns can show new volunteers what to do. Anyone interested in joining the Working Parties will be made very welcome. They are held on the third Saturday of every month - see the front page for dates. Further details are available from Jon Vogler, who will be happy to add your email address to his contact list. Intrepid trio work alongside the beck ... ...others pan for gold? THE GEOLOGY TRAIL Leeds Geological Association (LGA) is nearing completion of its Geology Trail. There have been some Joint Working Parties in the Gorge (see photos above) and elsewhere during which FoRP members have learned much about geology, not least such things as anticlines (a fold with strata sloping downward on both sides from a common crest) and synclines (a fold in rocks in which the rock layers dip inward from both sides toward the axis). While being instructed in such matters, a lot of effort has gone into site clearance and footpath improvements. Behind the scenes much has transpired and the LGA are now at a stage where the co-operation of the Council is needed to develop and deliver the Trail Leaflet and signage. ~ ~ ~ STOP PRESS: Emmerdale in Roundhay Park The Emmerdale TV unit were filming on the morning of 18th April in Canal Gardens. Apparently the episode will be screened sometime around the end of May. As shot in beautiful sunshine, the Park will look glorious. ~ ~ ~ Roundhay Park 'Up and Coming' Event List (NB 9th May Race for Life - cancelled. Some items are provisional only) 9th May Nordic Walking 16th May Nordic Walking 19th May FoRP Garden 19th May Youthfest - White Rose Canoe Club 19 th -20th May Provisional Event Booking 23rd May Nordic Walking 25th May- 4th Jun Leeds Schools Mid Term Hols 26th May Rowing Club Regatta 30th May Meet the Keeper @ Tropical World 30th May Nordic Walking 2 nd - 3rd Jun Provisional Booking 6th Jun Nordic Walking 9 th -10 th Jun Provisional Mela 13th Jun Nordic Walking 16th Jun Diabetes Walk 16th Jun FoRP Garden 17th Jun Barnados Fun Run 17th Jun Corporate 'It's a Knock Out' 20th Jun St Gemma's Yellow Walk 20th Jun Nordic Walking 20th Jun ASE Talk @ TW/ Visitor Centre 20th Jun Orienteering Evening Event 23rd Jun Schools Fun Run 24th Jun Pulse Race 27th Jun Nordic Walking 1st Jul Church Service in the Park 8th Jul Scouts Go Kart Race 20th Jul Leeds Schools Summer Hols 21st Jul Royal British Legion Event 21st Jul FoRP Garden 25th Jul Meet the Keeper @ Tropical World 1st Aug Meet the Keeper @ Tropical World 3rd Aug Shloer Outdoor Film Screening 8th Aug Meet the Keeper @ Tropical World 15th Aug Meet the Keeper @ Tropical World 16th Aug RSPCA Sponsored Walk 16th - 19th Aug Parks & Countryside Open Days 18th Aug FoRP Garden 22nd Aug Meet the Keeper @ Tropical World 29th Aug Meet the Keeper @ Tropical World 1st - 16th Sept Chinese State Circus 2nd Sept Take Heart 9th Sept Heartbeat Hike 16th Sept RSPCA Walk 22nd Sept FoRP Garden 22nd Sept St Gemma's 5 mile Race 13th - 14th Oct Cactus Club @ Tropical World 20th Oct FoRP Garden 19th -29th Oct Leeds School Autumn Hols 24th Oct Meet the Keeper @ Tropical World Printed by Hollingworth & Moss Ltd, Manor Street Industrial Estate, Enfield Terrace, Leeds LS7 1RG FoRP Joining/Renewing Membership Form Yearly membership of FoRP costs £10 for a single member or £15 for a household membership. This can be paid by cheque payable to 'Friends of Roundhay Park' or preferably by setting up a Standing Order using the mandate below. Additional donations always welcome. I would like to join / renew/ upgrade* my membership of Friends of Roundhay Park (*delete as applicable) Name............................................. Address.......................................... .................................................................. Post Code............................ Telephone number...........................................E-mail................................................. If you are NOT enclosing a cheque, please complete the Standing Order Mandate below ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Gift Aid Declaration Declaration for Tax Reclaim purposes: I declare my intention that tax should be recovered under the Gift Aid Scheme on all donations I make from the date of this declaration until I notify you otherwise. I have read and understood the points listed below. Signed............................................................... Date................................................. Name........................................ Address................................................................. ...................................................................... Post Code .................................... Important Notes: 1.You should pay enough tax to cover the amount reclaimed by Friends of Roundhay Park on your giving. Relevant tax is any income tax (at whatever rate) or capital gains tax. If you cease to be a tax payer, or to pay enough tax, you should notify us. If too much tax is recovered on your giving, you will be liable to refund the Inland Revenue. 2. Please notify us if you change your name or address. 3. You are entitled to cancel this declaration at any time. Simply notify us in writing if you wish to do so. Unless and until you cancel your declaration we will continue to reclaim tax on all your giving. 4. If you pay tax at the higher rate you can claim further tax relief in your Self Assessment Tax Return Please note you only need complete this form once (not each year). It is an ongoing authorization to reclaim tax ........................................................................................................................................... Standing Order Mandate To.....................................Bank PLC Address ......................................................... ...................................................................................... Post Code ........................ Please pay Lloyds Bank, Vicar Lane Branch, 2 The Headrow, Leeds LS1 6PN For the credit of Friends of Roundhay Park Sort Code 30-98-93 Account No. 0529066 The sum of £.......................(figures).................................... ... ... ... ... (words) Commencing.............................(date) and annually thereafter until further notice. Please debit my account accordingly. This instruction cancels and replaces my previous standing order in favour of Friends of Roundhay Park Account to be debited............................................ Account Number ... ... ... ... ... Signature(s)........................................................ Date ... ......... .... Please send this form to: The Membership Secretary, FoRP, PO Box 129, Leeds LS8 1WY Friends of Roundhay Park is a Company Limited by Guarantee, Registration Number 4476202 in England. Registered Office: 34 Park Cross Street LEEDS LS1 2QH Registered Charity number 1097692