Belle Isle Gala is returning this month after a five year break and the free event takes place on Saturday 6 July, from 12-3pm at Windmill Primary School.
Attractions and activities on the day include Breeze inflatables, a climbing wall, performances by local dance and majorette groups, stalls, Police and Fire Engine, and Hunslet Rugby Foundation will be running sports taster sessions.
The Lord Mayor of Leeds, Cllr Abigail Marshall Katung, will attend and at 1:30pm will officially rename Parkside Field as ‘Coopers Field’ in honour of Colin and Una Cooper who ran Hunslet Parkside junior rugby league club for so many years.
With the cost-of-living crisis in mind, organisers have made sure that there will be many free things to do on the day and all the stall holders and food providers will be limiting their charges. Food will never cost more than £4 a plate, with plenty of snacks at £1 or £1.50.
Peter Sutton, BITMO Community Development Manager, said:
“BITMO is delighted to be bringing back the Belle Isle Gala for the first time since 2019.
“It’s an event to bring the Belle Isle community together, to celebrate its strengths and contribute to building a safer, stronger, greener Belle Isle. It also marks 20 years that Belle Isle tenants have been managing the estate as BITMO – Belle Isle Tenant Management Organisation.”
“The Gala will be a success because of a wide group of people who have organised it – not just BITMO but also a number of local residents, the Belle Isle & Middleton councillors, Windmill Primary School, the Youth Hub along with the support of Leeds Federated and Places for People housing associations.”
Cllr Emma Pogson-Golden (SDP, Middleton Park) commented:
“I am so excited about the Belle Isle Gala. There will be so much on offer for everyone of all ages. Not only will this event help to bring the communities together, but we are also looking back at the history of Parkside Field, being renamed as Coopers Field on the gala day, and also the Parkside Hub (old changing rooms), where we will be opening the doors for everyone to see what amazing memorabilia, photos, newspaper articles, kits and much more this building holds.
“We have invited the Cooper family and some of the old Parkside players as well as anyone who used of the building, so hopefully they can share stories of Colin and Una Cooper and the Parkside history.”
Organisers ask you to arrive on foot or by bus if you can, and if you do drive please do not park on the school side of Windmill Road.
Photo: Youngsters from DAZL performing at the 2017 Gala. Credit: Ken Ingram
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