Canal Connections have just leased the Lock Keepers House at Leeds and are developing a Hydro-citizenship Exploration Hub.
I was leaving the premises with a colleague after doing an inspection. It needs some TLC!! As I was locking up, I became aware of a young Asian lady coming from the towpath to pass the front of the house. She stood perfectly still, saying nothing. Had we frightened her? It is quite a remote place but it was the middle of the day. A lone female and 2 men in her path? Was it the impact of lockdown restrictions and keeping a safe distance? I stood to one side and indicated a path for her to pass safely. She remained still but stared at me. I did not like to stare even though her attractiveness was enhanced by a brilliant yellow outfit.
“You don’t recognise me?” she stated.
My mind raced back 10 years to when I last saw her. I exclaimed excitedly “Fiz!! The lady in red !!”
She is an inspirational lady but I will save that story for later…
She could not stay as she was rushing for an appointment “but I will give you a ring later”. Did she still have my phone number after all this time?
Yes!!
We talked later over the phone. So much has happened since we last met. I brought her up to speed with some of our activities. Lockdown restrictions had eased and I arranged to meet her at Apperley Bridge railway station. I had told her of our conversations with Yorkshire Water and the potential development at Esholt. She lives close by but had never realised what secrets it held.
We met as arranged.
As I got out of my car, I passed my phone to her and said, “It’s for you” She looked confused as she saw it was on a Teams video chat. “It’s Peter!” she exclaimed jumping up and down with excitement. She sent virtual hugs and started bombarding him with questions. Before I lost control of the conversation, I took the phone back. “I was just showing off” I said. “We have just got Teams and I wanted to show off that I have mastered some of the technology.”
Fiz met Peter some 13 years ago. We were delivering a Leadership course for young People. At 17 years of age, he was one of the young leaders and we were working with a group of young Muslim girls that Fiz had introduced us to.
But I will tell you that story later too!!
We left the car park to walk onto the nearby canal. “I can’t take you on cruise yet” but this gave us the chance to catch up. We spoke of the Leadership course and wondered where the girls were now. We approached Dobson Locks. “This is a double chamber lock”. I told her about the times a couple of our trainees had rescued novice boaters here. The boaters had put themselves in danger as they did not operate the lock correctly. The trainees were later recognised with a Bradford Lord Mayors award for their efforts.
A bench overlooked the top lock “Do you want to stop for lunch?” I asked and indicated the bench. “It’s too early” she replied but she then caught sight of the inscription on the bench
‘Eric’s Office’.
It celebrated the life of Eric Gibbs. Her eyes misted up and she queried “Is this THE Eric?” The impact on her was enormous even though she had not met him often. I regretted my clumsiness in my manner of introducing her to the memorial. Eric is my former ‘business’ partner, friend and mentor. He is a legendary community worker who was awarded the MBE for his services but had died in 2010. I pointed to the building by the side of the locks and indicated how that had become the Head Office of Bradford Motor Education Project (BMEP), one of the charities he had founded and of which I had become a Trustee. One of its major selling points of the charity, to me, was that it was based within communities. Dobson Locks was a step away from that but he used to love inviting people to meetings there with him, although all the meetings tended to be outside!!
Anyhow more of that later.
We continued our walk and approached the boundary of Yorkshire Water wastewater site. The view was obscured by trees but you could see the infrastructure of the treatment works. I pointed out the hidden gems of the canal.
We then came across a beautiful but neglected structure within the grounds. It was the Press House, built in the 1930, as part of the sewage works. It proudly hosts the Bradford Coat of Arms but there are 2 large circular water holders in front of it. “Is that sewage?” she genuinely asked. No, I re-assured her but how many other people think that? Other structures came into view and I was able to recount their importance in the development of the canal and the site.
I pointed across the canal to Field Woods. “You can see where the railway lines used to be” referring to the railway system that was created to build the works back in the early ‘30’s. A couple passing by, stopped and asked
” Do you know about the history of this area?”. “I know now’t” I replied.
She introduced herself as Sylvia and pointed into the woods. She told me about a school that had been built there in the early ‘1900’s.
“Margaret MacMillan (the nursery school pioneer) was involved.”
In the middle of the woods is a Neolithic settlement. “It takes some finding but there are display boards telling you about it.”
She carried on talking. She told us about her childhood in the area.
She then asked, “are you together?” I was genuinely surprised.
Fiz is young enough to be my daughter but she calmly replied, “No were a couple of ex coppers.” As though that explained everything.
Her son had waited patiently in the background but obviously wanted to move on. “Are you journalists.” He asked. I explained about Canal Connections and using boats to explore the area for learning and health and well-being.” I knew an American who was into “twoc’ing” and he went on a course with motor cars. It changed his life.” he responded. This reminded me of Eric. “Was it round here?” I asked. “No, it was in New Zealand about 30 years ago and it ran out of funding just after his course!!”
It was time to move on and we back tracked to a gap in the fence. We left the tow path onto a path that needed some care and attention. Within 20 yards we had reached the River Aire. It was a different world. You could see the flow of the water, gentle but becoming slightly turbulent as it went over rocks. I asked Fiz to give me five words to describe what she saw.
“Stunning- neglected-dead trees-litter-opportunities” She did not notice the industrial infrastructure.
I asked her what she heard. “Peace and quiet -birds” She did not notice the industrial machinery.
We carried on to visit the Hall. There were signs indicating Private Property and patrolled by K9 Security. I had noticed her nervousness caused by Sylvia’s spaniel pup and she expressed concern. I have permission and I had checked in with Liz.
“She is expecting me so the dogs will not be running loose.” I re-assured her.
Fiz’s excitement grew as we passed the Lodge House.
“Does somebody live here? How lucky”
We came closer and she was nearly bursting as the view of a larger structure came into view.
“Is that it?” I explained that was the former laundry and not a patch on the Hall. The dogs heard our approach and signalled a warning. They were returned to their kennel and we approached Liz. I introduced Fiz. A conversation ensued as Liz expounded on the beauty of the hall and its grounds. She has been here for over 2 years and her fascination with the site encouraged her to research its history. Mainly though she talks to people.
She recounted stories of previous residents – going back as far as the Nuns who’s ghost still patrols the grounds and the Hall “Well that’s what I am told!!”
I explained our intended route and I would inform her when we were leaving. I showed Fiz some of the hidden treasures and something of the history of the Hall. She hardly said a word as we walked around. We could not go into the hall but peeping through the window gave an idea of its heritage. I showed her the walled garden which was now fully exposed as work on restoring the listed wall was commencing.
It was time to return to the car park and we walked along the Avenue. A long straight road currently in use 24 hours a day by large lorries but still retaining its original grandeur, conveying visitors and residents by horse and carriage to the grand Hall.
Fiz stopped to take a phone call. It was the researcher from Steph’s Packed Lunch, where Fiz was to be an audience member. Fiz could not contain her excitement as she recounted the wonders of the past few hours – looking at the past and the present but taking inspiration for the Future.
This caused me to ask Fiz about her Police career. She had commenced her career just as my career was coming to an end. I learned that she had been awarded the Queens Police Medal for distinguished service.
She had spent a career as a Constable, forsaking promotion to work with some of the most vulnerable people and communities. In fact, she was a Schools Liaison Officer when I had met her which had resulted in me being able to have the confidence to work with young people from a different culture. I had learned so much from Fiz and those young people but she calmly stated,
“It was a life changing experience for them.”
She has now retired from the Police. She has set up a business – Force for Change- Its aims to reflect her love of the outdoors and her wish to continue serving communities. The past 12 months have been traumatic for some many and Fiz has not escaped unscathed. This is heightened by losing the security of being a member of the Police Family although she still takes strength from her faith and voluntary work at the Food bank.
We continued waking along the Avenue which was flanked by a carpet of daffodils. The vivid yellow reminding me of when I saw her outside recently but also acted as a beacon leading to HOPE.
Fiz could see the rich potential of Esholt estate for learning and health and well-being.
When she is ready, Canal Connections will be ready to welcome her and support her continuing career as an inspiring community leader.
Oh, by the way, Yorkshire Water did like our concept.
Follow us as our journey into the past, present, and Future at Esholt Hall unfolds.
Photo Credit: All images by Yvonne Roberts