Newsletter July 2023

GUILD LUNCH

If you are free at lunch-time on Tuesday, 11th July, why not join us for lunch? A two course meal followed by tea or coffee and a chance to relax and chat with friends. You really would be welcome and we just need to know if you would like to come so we can cater accordingly. Sadly, we have had to raise the price to £4—we have managed to maintain it at £3 since 2014 at least—but the rise in costs in recent months have pushed us to this decision. This will give us a small ‘cushion’ to cope with further expenses and any amount over each month will go toward our charity fund. We have about £200 in the charity fund at present and will let you know of its destination soon.
 

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY

If, like us, you find the weeks pass so quickly that it is hard to keep events in your head, then please add these to your diary for September.

Sunday, 10th September at 2.30pm: A Concert by Leeds Male Voice Choir in aid of Wheatfields Hospice.

Please note we shall be worshipping at Headingley Methodist Church that morning.

Sunday, 17th September. Book Sunday and Church Barbeque.

KINGSTON UPON HULL

In 2017 Kingston upon Hull was celebrated as the UK City of Culture. The city spruced itself up and all manner of cultural events from exhibitions to concerts and children’s events were planned. Hull is a city that had often been overlooked, following decades of economic hardship and industrial decline and terrible air raids during World War II devastated large areas of housing. The British Council said at the time ‘Hull is a hub for exchange of ideas and people and is one of the country’s largest ports, with strong trading links to northern Europe. The city has been a centre of free thinking, bold ideas and radicalism throughout history. Towards the end of the 18th century it was the home of abolitionist William Wilberforce (1759–1833) and writer, philosopher and women’s rights advocate Mary Wollstonecraft (1759–1797), Aviator Amy Johnson (1903–1941) and poet and novelist Stevie Smith (1902–1971).’

We visited the city in a sunny October, ostensibly a two day architectural tour, but you can’t do architecture without doing history and it proved a fascinating tour through a city that reflected the trading story of our country. Wealth from trade with the Lowlands and the Baltic resulted in magnificent civic buildings, houses that could have come straight from Amsterdam and a wealth of exotic imports including lovely Delft tile fire surrounds.

I remembered our visit as I scanned the saints listed by the Church of England for July and amongst them was William Wilberforce whose Christian faith led him to work so hard for the abolition of slavery and who died days after the Bill was passed through Parliament.
The tragedy is that the Bill by no means saw the end of slavery and we not only live with the aftermath of this terrible trade but people are still trafficked into domestic slavery and all the worst of abuse and exploitation.

The Wilberforce Museum and Memorial

Am I not a Man and a Brother

 
The Museum not only tells the history of the enslavement and transport of peoples across the world but also discusses the modern tragedy of the vulnerable who, trying to seek better lives for themselves and their families are enslaved by those who use them as economic tools.

Hull did not seem to have quite the ‘buzz’ of Leeds. Its dependence on the sea and changes in fishing and trade have not been kind to its recent development -although fortunately much of the wind turbine industry is based there – but it is still a beautiful and fascinating city with a proud history. And where else can you find cream phone boxes?

The next UK city of culture is to be our near neighbour, Bradford, in 2025.

Had there been such an award in our youth I think that wool and J B Priestley would have been much in evidence. It is intriguing to imagine how Bradford will share its culture with us given the diversity of its population and we wish them well as they plan this year of celebration.