Leigh984, The creative portfolio of Leigh Spencer

    I was given the chance to take a look inside a red brick water tower in Countesthorpe, Leicestershire . The tower, built in 1884 by the Leicester Poor Law Union , was part of the Countesthorpe Cottage Homes complex , which was an attempt by the Poor Law Union to place impoverished and orphaned children into model "cottage homes" rather than large central workhouses and foster a family-style environment. The tower housed the main water supply tank for the complex, and the adjoining building, the site’s central boiler house and coal store, provided heating and hot water to the cottages. The tower’s design was created by prominent local architect Isaac Barradale , using red brick with stone corbels and brick machicolations around the upper gallery and a steep pyramid-shaped roof. The building is currently Grade II listed (as of 1981). The building was converted into a private residence after the cottage homes closed in 1972. My visit was part of a fundraising event ...

   The Annual Charity festive Tractor Run by the  @ArchersView  made its way around South Leicester on Sunday 21st December 2015 . The weather outside was spiteful but the tractors looked delightful with lights aglow, with horns sounding loudly we could hear them approaching from a long way outside the village of Countesthorpe in Leicestershire . As the parade begins we see the first tractors approach the roundabout and hear exited cheers from the considerable crowd who have braved the wet weather and cold temperatures. As various styles and sizes of farm vehicle pass we also see The Grinch riding a motorbike and holding a Christmas tree !. Switching to a lower vantage point further along Main Street we hear renditions if popular music from Barbie Girl to Baby Shark !. Among the tractors we see other vehicles taking part such as a bright orange Crouch Recovery truck and waste collection trucks or " bin lorries ". A vintage vehicle follows with antlers and S...

Join the bonkers crazy festive fundraising fun of the Archers Festive tractor run through South Leicestershire. The Annual Charity run sees hundreds of tractors, decorated with lights and decorations, lead a procession though the streets of South Leicestershire in a fundraiser for LOROS Hospice, The Leicestershire MS Therapy Centre, RABI and the Farm Safety Foundation. We join the tractors first as they enter, horns blaring and lights shining, into Cosby village passing the Yarnbomb as seen in my previous film, before then catching them further along the route in Countesthorpe, both villages with a great turn out of people to cheer them along and join in the festive fun. As the sounds of the horns fade we see the crowds disperse till next year when the festive spectacle will roll again though the villages of Leicestershire.

The Archers View Vintage Tractor run made it`s way around a route taking in multiple villages in South Leicestershire. Setting off from Banbury Lane at 10.30 am before completing a loop and returning to the village of Countesthorpe later at 2.30pm to travel along main street where we catch up with them in my film. We see many vintage tractors of differing ages and types pass by St Andrews Church their unmistakable engine sounds and bright colours bringing joy to the villagers of Countesthorpe who lined the streets to see them. The ride out raises funds for 4 Leicestershire charitys Leicestershire MS Therapy Centre LOROS Hospice Rainbows Hospice for Children and Young People Wishes 4 Kids it is a companion event to the larger event which takes place at Christmas with more modern tractors previously covered on this channel.

The Boot Route in Countesthorpe is a take on the traditional scarecrow festival during which residents of the Leicestershire village are tasked with decorating the open car boots (trunks) of their cars or house fronts around a theme.  The theme of the event in 2022 was "Through Time" giving the residents much scope to create all sorts of interesting displays featuring everything from dinosaurs (with real smoke) egyptian mummy cars and even a whole train set in one car !. There's always time for a smile.