Leigh984, The creative portfolio of Leigh Spencer

Great Central Railway held their Autumn Steam Gala, Featuring four days of intensive timetabled engine movement along the line I took a trip to Rothley station to see the various arrivals and departures over the course of the Friday afternoon and early evening. From goods trains to double header express trains and even a cheeky diesel loco there was something for everyone. We begin at Leicester North but it's not long before we find ourselves arriving at the picturesque Rothley Station kept immaculately by a dedicated group of volunteers and station staff some of whom we see throughout the film. So take a step back in time (no TARDIS required) and witness the lost era of steam at one of Leicester and Leicestershire`s great attractions the ‪GCR‬ another great reason to ‪Visit Leicester.

The Victory Show returned to Foxlands Farm in Cosby for the annual wartime event that brings history to life. We start with a runway battle (new for 2026) before heading onto the showground where various vehicles are on display. Back on the runway, the beautiful chrome Happenstance shines in the Leicestershire sun, meanwhile an American tank display is captured in canvas by artist TJ Durham in his unique style. The instantly recognisable Spitfire is seen on another display before we switch to the soldiers and large tanks leaving the battlefield having variously won and lost the demonstration (dependent on the side they were playing!). In the woods, a lady fishes for her dinner in a small stream before two soldiers stationed in a trench track a plane flying by. We end with a song from the Market Harborough Ukulele Band as the credits roll. Look out for a companion film taking a closer look at the aircraft of the event coming soon on this channel. 

    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 ...

  Once Upon a Time in Leicester ...  It is a period of nostalgia. Galactic travellers and sci-fi fans from across the East Midlands gather at the @LeicesterMuseums Art Gallery on the historic New Walk . In an upstairs gallery, a legendary collection has been unveiled. MAY THE TOYS BE WITH YOU showcases the rare artefacts of a bygone era, the plastic heroes and star ships that have fuelled the imaginations of countless generations. As fans marvel at pristine action figures and vintage cinema posters from across the epic space saga, they rediscover the magic of a galaxy far, far away , ensuring that the Force remains strong in the heart of the city of Leicester. Come with me as I explore this exhibition and rekindle memories of epic garden battles, where the suburban borders became forest moons and the sandpit became a vast desert world race track for Podracing under twin suns. As far as local links to this intergalactic Toy Story, we find the Palitoy factory in Coalvil...

A visit to the Mountsorrel And Rothley Community Heritage Center which includes the Mountsorrel Railway Museum for one of their March Steam Days . We begin the visit with an overview of the site with various steam powered locomotives moving about 'Pops' the traction engine is nearest to the camera and in the back of shot we see two steam engines moving about. Down beside the rails now and the imposing structure of the 1834 lift bridge can be seen (more on that later in the film). Panning left we see a green tank engine set for a goods run and past the sheds to the narrow gauge quarry bottom railway where a small grey engine visiting from the Statfold Barn railway is busy giving visitors a ride around the looped track. Next we see the green engine moving a goods train back and forth before number 2 turns a corner on another loop of the Quarry Bottom track loop. Then it's "All Aboard" from Quarry Bottom Halt for an eventful ride which ends in a rather dramat...

  I took a trip to the Taylor’s Bell Foundry in Loughborough , Leicestershire , for a tour of the biggest and last remaining bell foundry of its type in the country. John Taylor arrived in Loughborough in 1839 with a vision to shape the soundscape of communities worldwide with their bells. John Taylor & Co. is not just the country’s last remaining bell foundry, but also a living link between tradition and innovation in bellmaking today. I took a " Casting Tour " around the site to see how centuries of tradition and skills passed through generations come together to create the bells we know so well in our churches and towns. We begin looking at the red brick buildings of the factory with the clanging soundtrack of industry in the background. Into the newly opened museum next, and the bell is rung to start our visit. In the casting hall , the roaring furnace is being prepared for casting later in the day. Into the workshop, and the clappers that give the bells their...

  “The Future Needs To Know You Existed !!"-  John Coster 2025 Come with me as I take a look at the ‪@documentarymediacentre7009‬ Saturday Heritage Fair at Leicester`s Adult Education Center where various groups come together to promote and enhance understanding of heritage projects, family and community history, related issues and people, preserving our past whilst also looking to the future, The creation of John Coster and his Doc Media Center, the events put people in touch with archivists such as MACE (Media Archive Of Central England) and groups such as Vikings Of Middle England among others. On this occasion I was invited to showcase some of my own films on the big screen in the imposing Hansom Hall one of Leicesters architectural gems it`s columned white cylindrical shape reminiscent of the Albert Hall. We begin outside the venue before we are welcomed into the event by Actor Ken Ogborn as Arthur Wakerley designer of Leicester`s famous Turkey Cafe on Granby Street 1899...

 For it`s 20th show the Victory Show returned to Foxlands Farm in Cosby Leicestershire featuring hundreds of reenactment displays from various theatres of conflict the even takes place over a 100 acre site and gives visitors a chance to fully immerse themselves in the 1940's era. The event has expanded over the years to include a full airshow programme alongside the static displays and has seen displays from the Red Arrows and even the Vulcan over the years. New for 2025 was an area made to simulate conflicts in colder areas of the world, which gave a unique contrast to the otherwise mild August weather on the Sunday that I visited. My film starts in this snow covered environment before a marching band passes the spectacular handmade cut outs of ‪@standingwithgiants3599‬ who had two moving displays at the event (see separate film coming soon). Next we're asked "Have you seen Dave ?" who it appears is a carrier pigeon sat on a lamppost above the sign !. Communicatio...

  Joining the Leicester Riverside Festival for the first time in 2025 was a recreation of the Siege Of Leicester, in 1645 the Siege of Leicester took place during the English Civil War where Royalist forces, led by Prince Rupert, besieged and sacked the town. In 2025 the The Militias Of Anglia recreated scenes form the period on the streets in and around Leicester Castle and the Newarke on which it actually took place 380 years ago. We open at Leicester castle where the Re-enactors have created a living history encampment teaching visitors about the period, the living conditions of those serving and accurate costumes they are wearing. Next we see the colours raised as the siege begins, following the march beat of the drum out of Leicester Castle, under Turret Gateway and onto the Newarke where various demonstrations of techniques used in the siege are performed for the gathered crowds including very loud shots from period accurate firearms (handled by trained and certified re-ena...

Over two days in May 3rd - 4th the village of Desford travelled back to the 1940's with a festival of the 40's, with Vintage Cars (both civilian and Military) and themed areas across the village the wartime spirit was evident throughout. The event by the Desford Heritage group was timed to be the villages marking of 80 Year anniversary of #veday a celebration nationwide of Victory In Europe. Our Film begins with the Battlepipes rendition of Scotland the brave which cleverly is combined with the theme to Dads Army before a outdoor service in which Abide With Me is sung as Poppies are dropped from the tower of St Martin`s Church. The pipes can still be heard in the background as Sir Winston Churchill himself makes an appearance with his classic car parked in front of the church a moment so important it`s recorded by a press photographer from the 40's !. Back on the church green and visitors are given informative talks about communication both secret and otherwise in the er...

The Victory Show, one of the UK`s biggest wartime re-enactment shows, returned to Foxlands Farm in Cosby Leicestershire. The event now in it's 19th year sees re-enactment and Living History groups from across the country meet at the farm just outside the village of Cosby in Leicestershire and has grown over the years to include an airshow, an area of woodland and more, alongside the main encampment to bring to life and give visitors an idea of combat in theatres of war in varied areas across the world. My film gives viewers a look around the event and the various 'scenes' by the groups from engineers erecting a telephone system as a marching band passes, to a Jeep suspended from a crane !.  The action moves to the Battlefield where tanks, soldiers and all types of military hardware, including a flypast from a Lancaster Bomber, from the era recreate scenes seen across the globe during wartime, after the battle we are reminded that although this is a staged display battles li...