Leigh984, The creative portfolio of Leigh Spencer

The GCR Railways At Work event featured period vehicles and traction engines helping to turn Quorn & Woodhouse station into a recreation of a working goods yard showing how the railways moved freight around the country, becoming a lifeline to towns and villages ahead of the age of mass road transportation. A Jinty type steam loco worked the Quorn sidings alongside the period vehicles and a 'blink and you`ll miss it' high speed mail train also featured. In my short film I hope to capture some of the atmosphere of the event and all that was going on at this busy and well attended event. Images follow

A visit to The Great Central Railway sheds following the volunteer staff as they work on the engines during the evening. The engine seen here as King Edward II was recently renamed King Richard III to celebrate the discovery of the Monarch in the city beneath a car park at Grayfriars church.

The Fernie Hunt takes place every year in and around the village of Great Bowden in Leicestershire the event begins with the horses and hounds leaving the kennels and travelling to the village green where they are greeted by hundreds of spectators. The meet allows visitors a chance to see the horses, hounds and their owners and to learn about the rich history of the event which also raises money for the local air ambulance. The horses and hounds then follow a sent trail on a planed route around the local countryside before retiring back to the kennels at the end of the day.

Every year, during the festive season, The Great Central Railway in Leicester runs special journeys along the length of the line called Santa Specials, in this video I follow one of the specials as it travels between two stations. The temperature was low and so the engine created more steam and due to the lack of wind the steam shrouded the engine making for a spectacular sight as it picked up speed and broke free of its veil. The sun having only risen a couple of moments earlier lends the video an almost magical feel illuminating the stream with an warm glow as it rises.

My short film Turntable features the Steam Engine Sir Lamiel as it is turned through a full rotation on the Great Central Railways Turntable at Quorn & Woodhouse Station. The low morning winter sun shines as the workmen turn the engine which stands hissing like a powerful beast waiting to be released and speed back along the rails.

Jinty, Is a short about Jinty 47406 a small steam engine who is seen here steaming along the Great Central Railway near Quorn at sunset on 19-02-2012. The Sunlight shone through the coach windows as she passed by on an elevated part of the track making for a scene that reminds me of the (old) opening titles to Thomas the tank engine !.

The beat officer for Victoria Park (and two of Santa`s helpers) show off their moves during the Zumba warm up before The Great Leicester Santa run in aid of when you wish upon a star. I featured the run itself on my previous post which you can see Here .

The Great Leicester Santa Run is held every year in Victoria park Leicester and raises funds for the when you wish upon a star foundation. The event sees hundreds of people dressed as Santa complete a course around the park and has been taking place for several years. My video features all the action from the start of the race which was signalled by Leicester City Legend Steve Walsh, footage of the race itself and concludes with the local policeman for Victoria park handing out the medals at the end.

I was asked to design a poster for Great Central Railway`s Winter Steam Gala the design needed to fit in with the period settings of the various stations and their collection of classic railway posters but also stand out when displayed away from this environment. My design (like the classic posters) focuses on text with a photographic image reduced to basic cut out colours relegated to a supporting role The blues and whites of the poster directly reference the winter time period of the event and the sharp angles the forward dynamism of the train moving directly toward the viewer. More infomation on the event can be found at http://www.gcrailway.co.uk/Events.aspx?ID=290

Video From this years Great Leicester Charity Santa Run in Victoria Park Leicester. The event held annually in Leicester is in aid of the charity When You Wish Upon A Star who make dreams come true for sick Children and involves a lap of the park dressed in a Santa costume of elf hat. Click read more to see some photos from the event.

Every year hundreds of people dress up as santa and run around Victoria Park in Leicester for charity this video is from this year`s (2009) event. The event begins at 9am with a warm up to a selection of Christmas music (provided by Heart FM) and the race itself begins at 11am.