On 12 October 2024 a sculpture called ‘Ribbons’ was unveiled at Quarry Hill between Leeds Playhouse and Leeds City College.
This new public artwork by artist Pippa Hale celebrates 383 past and present Leeds women. In a series of curving corten steel ‘ribbons’ are listed the women’s names, all of whom were nominated for inclusion.
Eighteen of them are associated with south Leeds and 4 of them spoke to South Leeds Life.
Christine Smart, Community Development Manager for Cottingley Community Project (Centre), an advocate for autism support and Chair of South Leeds Life, told us:
“It was such an honour (to be nominated). It was great to meet other women whose names are on the ribbons at the launch and I love the sculpture.”
Lynn Bailey, founder of Better Action For Families, explained what a special day to remember it was.
“I was so excited to be attending the Ribbons sculpture launch. I saw my name straight away and it was amazing. It was lovely to meet Pat and Christine who were also on the sculpture; we were all honoured to be representing South Leeds. Listening to the other inspirational women was wonderful. Some relatives had photos taken holding pictures near the names of loved ones who were no longer with us.”
Pat McGeever, CEO Health For All, based in Middleton, also expressed how honoured she was to have been included.
“The unveiling event was on a very cold but sunny day with many women accompanied by their children and families – a lovely experience! I am proud to represent Health for All and the many women who have made such a positive difference to the communities in south Leeds.”
Lucy Moore, Associate Curator of Coins & Object Collections at the University of Leeds, also found the unveiling very moving.
“The people nominated on the sculpture are from many walks of life, and it’s a really beautiful thing to realise that you were nominated because other people love and believe in you. The Friday before the Saturday unveiling there was a pre-launch and there was a really moving speech from Sheila Howarth whose parents came to Leeds from Saint Kitts and Nevis as part of the Windrush generation. It was a real honour to be in the same room as her and really feel her pride and the gratitude to the sacrifices of her parents.”
The sculpture celebrates a diverse group of women. Pat told us to see “such a diverse range of backgrounds and ages and achievement (was) very inspiring”. Lucy was pleased “to see trans women included on the statue, such as Angela Morley a groundbreaking Hollywood composer”.
Pippa Hale has said the sculpture “emerges from the ground…and my ambition ultimately would be for these ribbons to pop up all over the city so that more names are made visible and that more women’s stories are told.”
So hopefully in years to come even more south Leeds women can be celebrated in this public way.
The full list of women included can be found at www.ribbons-sculpture-leeds.co.uk/women and includes the following women with links to South Leeds:
- Lynn Bailey, founder of Better Action For Families
- Ivy Benson, women’s band leader, born in Holbeck
- Judith Blake, former Hunslet and Middleton councillor and leader of Leeds City Council
- Jan Burkhardt, founder of DAZL (Dance Action Zone Leeds)
- Pamela Clark, involved in Girl guiding for over 30 years
- Wendy Doyle, Manager of Leeds South & West Foodbank
- Carry Franklin, teacher at Clapgate Primary School and founder of Leeds Little Libraries
- Al Garthwaite, women’s rights activist and former Lord Mayor of Leeds
- Emily Harvey, co-founder of Skipko arts organisation based in Holbeck
- Pat McGeever, CEO Health For All, based in Middleton
- Lucy Moore, Project Curator at Leeds Museums and Galleries
- Edith Pechey, one of the first female doctors in the UK, established a dispensary for women and children in Mill Street, Holbeck
- Pat Regan, campaigner against gun crime after her son was murdered
- Christine Smart, Community Development Manager for Cottingley Community Project (Centre) and an advocate for autism support … and Chair of South Leeds Life
- Tamsin Spain, co-founder of Skipko arts organisation based in Holbeck
- Laura Wellington, Designer and co-owner of Duke Studios
- Lucy Wheeler, Operations Leader at Skelton Grange Environment Centre
- Maureen Woods, ran the Sunday School at West Grange Church in Belle Isle
Photo: Christine Smart, Lynn Bailey and Pat McGeever at the unveiling event
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