Leigh984, The creative portfolio of Leigh Spencer

   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...

The festive season gets off to a spectacular start in Leicester with the annual light switch on. We start the evening at Jubilee Square where the giant wheel of light shines over the city sparkling with bright white light and patterns across it's spokes and circumference. Moving along High Street and outside Urban Outfitters is the Snow Queen in her snow globe. As we pass a beautifully decorated tree we find ourselves at the Town Hall Square fountain where, illuminated by bright colours, there`s Christmas magic already in the air, soon we see a gentle giant blue bear and baby exploring the space and giving the camera a sniff. Next up a very tall pink Christmas fairy has come down from the top of the tree to say hello. We go traditional next with a performance from the  @LeicesterCathedral  Choir performing Once In Royal David`s City as the lights are switched on the well known " Christmas Greetings " words, a regular part of the cities Town Hall decorations f...

   From 12-15 March, Leicester’s city centre came alive with light installations, projections and performances. The free festival celebrates community, creativity, and connection, transforming the streets into a glowing celebration of art and culture. Join me as I explore the artworks, performances, etc taking place across the city from Highcross to Jubilee Square, From the Cathedral to The Clock Tower and beyond it`s time to Light Up Leicester. Light Up Leicester is presented by Leicester City Council, BID Leicester, Leicester Cathedral and Art Reach. It is made possible through the generous support of Arts Council England, the National Lottery Heritage Fund, Global Streets, PPL PRS and headline sponsor Highcross.

The festive season in Leicester begins with 16,000 low-energy lamps and a 50ft Christmas tree, from Kielder Forest in Northumberland standing tall beside the cities Clock Tower. It`s switch on day and the city is buzzing with thousands turning out to see BBC Radio 2`s Scott Mills lead the count down to the start of Christmas in Leicester. After a countdown from 10 and a cheer of "Christmas Is On" from the BBC Radio presenter we see the lights burst into colour and the fun begins. Horace And Boris the bouncy elves lead us to the town hall square where illuminated stilt walkers and traditional bands play festive favourites. A change of pace and volume as the World Beaters LED drummers appear from under the distinctive arched entrance of St Martins square and march toward the Clock Tower stopping occasionally to perform for the gathered crowds.

On 17th November Leicester came to sparkling festive life with 16,000 LED lights and a 46ft Christmas tree decorated beside the Clock Tower in the center of the city. The festive atmosphere started before the lights got switched on as local band the King Brasstards roamed the streets playing their unique take on festive favorites and a brightly lit fairground featuring traditional gallpers and other rides entertained the crowds. As 6:30pm approached the countdown hosted by BBC Radio Leicester presenter Ady Dayman began and those gathered forgot the rain and smiled as the large tree and streets burst into a rainbow of festive colours and lights the festive season had begun. After the switch on was complete street entertainers entertained the crowds with Mr and Mrs Frosty and the Show Globe bringing magical moments for all underneath the decorations. 

A drive along Leicester`s Golden Mile decorated with lights for the festival of Diwali. During one of the biggest Diwali celebrations outside of India, Leicester`s golden mile is illuminated by thousands of colorful decorations bringing the "festival of lights" to spectacular life. Join us on a drive along the golden mile, as a passenger, as we look in real time at the decorations along each side of the road. Happy Diwali to all Celebrating.

Leicester was transformed for 4 evenings (3rd - 6th March 2022) as Light Up Leicester returned to the City streets bigger and better than ever with a number of artworks each with their own style placed around the city.  Starting in the Cities Cultural Quarter we see the giant figures of "Fantastic Planet" by Parer Studio towering over visitors in Orton Square, alongside and next up in St George`s Churchyard are the Alien Pods of "The Mycelium Network" by LuminARTi pulsing and communicating with each other in the trees. Moving onto Humberstone Gate four "trees" have taken root and change colour to the sound of chimes in "Luminosi Trees" by Sound Intervention. To Leicester`s Clock Tower now which has been transformed by Studio Vertigo`s "Our Beating Heart", into a scene that wouldn't look out of place on BBC`s Strictly Come Dancing with two glittering revolving heart shaped mirror balls casting ballroom style points of light onto ...

  The Archers Festive Tractor Run makes its way through the Leicestershire village of Cosby. For a 3rd year over 200 tractors and Dustbin (Refuse) trucks made their way along a route that takes in several Leicestershire villages and raises funds for local charities (Leicestershire MS Therapy Centre and The Air Ambulance) decorated in festive lights and decorations ranging from inflatable santa's through to life sized red cows and fully decorated Christmas trees the vehicles sounded their horns to great the gathered crowds lining the route, some horns even played versions of popular music !.

A look at the Rhizome artwork By Tom & Lien Dekyvere on display in Orton Square, Leicester as the snow of Storm Arwen covers the city. The light installation consists of tall structures connected by colour changing neon ropes probing for unexpected connections. Hundreds of meters of suspended illuminated rope create a interconnected glowing network above the viewer. The word "Rhizome" originates in Botany and the installation aims to reflect our intrinsic connection to nature and the increasingly blurred lines between it and technology. The work is on display in Leicester`s Orton Square between 18th November and 5th January 2022 between 4:30pm - 10:30pm daily.

  The call went out to the residents of Newbold Verdon... Welcome to the first Light Up Newbold !. In a challenging year to bring Christmas cheer the residents and businesses of the Leicestershire village of Newbold Verdon where invited to decorate their houses and turn the village into a fantastically festive winter wonderland, they certainly rose to the challenge. I was tasked with documenting as many of the displays as possible this slideshow of images features just a selection of the multitude of displays around the village, to see more please search "light up Newbold Verdon" on social media or look for the hashtag #LightUpNV.  (Displays where selected for inclusion randomly and all images where taken from the public highway with government restrictions adhered to).