I had the wonderful opportunity to participate in the Leeds Songbook project, involving a collaboration between Composers and Poets, and new for 2026, Visual artists.
The project was led by Martin Iddon (Composers' Convenor) and Hannah Stone (Poet's Convenor).
In total ten groups were formed, each comprising a Poet, a composer, a pianist, a singer and an artist.
I was allocated into a group with poet Hannah stone, composer Florence Lloyd, pianist Alexander Karl Koschka and soprano Martina Neubauer.
Hannah's poem:
Omar/Apus Apus -
'Swifts are my fable of community' (Helen Macdonald)
(Lines in italics are from her Vesper Flights or Collins Book of Birds)
...................
I am cleaning the kitchen when Omar invites me to share his food
(may be residents, partial or passage migrants, summer visitors)
slices of bread pop up from the toaster; two boiled eggs are peeled and broken open
(in outbreaks of bad weather, often survive for days without food)
there is no honey for the yogurt; he spoons the last of the jam into a dish
(nest in obscure places, in dark or cramped spaces)
with a flat blade, he prises open a handful of walnuts
(spend most of their lives in flight)
sweet steam rises from rose-petal tea
(frequently make weather-evading flights)
the sharing blesses both of us
Hannah Stone
After reading Hannah's poem I created a mixed media sculpture that attempted to address the poetic meeting of certain elements that appear in the poem.
The Tale of the Martlet
The Tale of the Martlet comprises four elements housed in glass jars and stored within a dark-stained wooden box that isolates the elements from the everyday world, allowing and encouraging us to perceive them in a new way. The four elements are preserved s if they are precious, worth of preservation and protection for their symbolic value rather than an inherent monetary value. During times of stress, trauma and emotional upheaval it is often simple things that leave the greatest impression upon us.
Half in and half out of the wooden box is crinkled, well used map of the region that leads to the city of Leeds, found within the wooden box. A small pocket compass lies upon the map and is tethered to a small metal effigy of a bird, perhaps a swift, that seeks to effect or enhance the functioning of the compass in some favourable way.
I was pleased with the final state of the model and felt that it embodied the spirit of the poem Hannah had written. It was also well received during the rehearsals and during the final performance/exhibition that was held at Brodrick Hall, Leeds City Museum on Wednesday 15 April 2026.
On exhibition in the Brodrick Hall, Leeds City Museum
Brodrick Hall just before doors opened
The full event performance on the Leeds Song YouTube Channel
Credits to Leeds Song & Biscuit Recordings (@appleandbiscuit)
The full list of groups was as follows:
Poem: Careful by Rachel Curzon, music composed by Eléna Rosemary Adams, Artist: Louie de Silva
Counter-tenor: Zheng Jiang, Pianist: Yihan Zhao
Poem: Catch by Nicky Kippax, music composed by Nate Chadwick, Artist: Jessica Cooper
Soprano: Carleigh Ross, Pianist: Curtis Vetter
Poem: Alive by Zelick Mendelovich, music composed by Ella Cookson, Artist: Michael king
Baritone: Bruno Meichsner, Pianist: Wan-yen Li
Poem: Queue Theory by Vanessa Napolitano, music composed by Rob Crehan, Artist: Maria Radulescu
Baritone: Daniel Sauer, Pianist: Honoka Komoda
Poem: Margaret by Charlotte Oliver, music composed by Julien Durand, Artist: Seohee Lee
Mezzo-soprano: Klara Solén, Pianist: George Herbert
Poem: Omar/Apus Apus by Hannah Stone, music composed by Florence Lloyd, Artist: Patrick S. Ford
Soprano: Martina Neubauer, Pianist: Alexander Karl Koschka
Poem: The Language of Flowers by Lydia Kennaway, music composed by Maxwell Nelson, Artist: Skyla West, Soprano: Mariana Rodrigues, Pianist: Andrew Cowie
Poem: A Train of a Hundred Thousand Cancer Survivor Stars by Karen Elizabeth Bucknall, music composed by Elliot Park, Artist: Saranna Watkins, Mezzo-soprano: Naomi Boot, Pianist: Viviana Țaga-Radu
Poem: The Valley by Mike O'Brien, music composed by Joanna Ward, Artist: Hannah Guy
Soprano: Kelsey Thomas, Pianist: Edward Lloyd
Poem: Fruits of Knowledge by Tim Boardman, music composed by Sean Whytock, Artist: Johanna Sayama, Soprano: Lisa-Marie Lebitschnig, Pianist: Amelie Warner
'The Leeds Arcades Project: Creating Contemporary Myths' is a PhD study with the University of Plymouth
Leeds City Centre is noted for its well-preserved Victorian shopping arcades, all built within a twenty-three-year period in the nineteenth century, between 1877 and 1900. The intention of this project is to examine the arcades of Leeds and people’s behaviour within them via research and a series of artistic and performative projects, and interventions with the space of the arcades, investigating the possibility of creating contemporary myths that reflect upon the current experience of everyday life.
To participate in the study you may watch the short film embedded below or via this link:
It is preferable that the film is watched within the arcade so that the viewer can follow the route of the clock figures take in the arcade environment but, of course, the film can be watched anywhere that enjoys a WiFi connection.
When you provide your feedback, please state whether you watched the film in the arcade or elsewhere, and also whether you were already familiar with the arcade or if you had never been there before.
The Disappearance of Sir Wilfred of Ivanhoe: A Pocket Myth
As this is a PhD study conducted through the university, I need to follow the university research ethics guidelines. I have gained approval and have prepared the following two documents, please read the information sheet and then complete the consent form, returning it via my university email address (patrick.ford@plymouth.ac.uk).
I hope that you will be able to join my project by watching the film and submitting your personal feedback. If you need any further information before watching the film, please let me know at my university email address (patrick.ford@plymouth.ac.uk).
The group show 'Small Works, Wall Works' was hosted at Trapezium Arts in Bradford, UK from 21 February to 14 March 2026 and featured work by members of the Yorkshire Sculptors Group.
Trapezium is a contemporary arts and photography gallery on Kirkgate in central Bradford, displaying a constantly changing schedule of exhibitions on a variety of themes.
I exhibited two pieces, both of which arose from the District 7 walking project conducted in Saigon Vietnam. The walking project resulted in a colour digital print that has led to several subsequent pieces and the two pieces exhibited in Bradford were enlarged details from the digital print.
Since 2015, the Fourth World Congress of Psychogeography has been held annually until this year, 2025, when it was announced that the event will cease to be held.
The final iteration of the congress was titled 'After that, this:' As the official announcement stated, All endings are beginnings, and the open call asked for proposals for talks, walks, workshops, installations, performances and happenings reflecting the theme.
The final event was held the Urban HQ, The Old Police Station, Swansea, Wales, UK on Saturday 11 October 2025.
I proposed a site-specific performance, entitled 'Double Back' that was developed, performed and recorded specifically for this congress in an alleyway in north Leeds that had fascinated me since I first saw it. The alleyway featured eight metal posts that acted as 'nodes' around which the performance route was threaded or woven to create the work.
The performance was recorded and posted on my YouTube channel here.
A presentation was also recorded, to be screened during the morning of the congress. The presentation can be viewed here.
Apart from the links above, the performance is embedded below:
...and the presentation is. embedded below:
I had participated in the congress since 2019, usually creating work specifically for the event and so it was quite sad to hear that the congress was ending.
It will be interesting to see if anything, or anyone replaces this event in the future.
Another push to update neglected write-ups, posts and events, I set aside some time to round up and post footage of the performance that was enacted on Stepcote Hill in Exeter back in 2023.
Although this performance was quite short in nature, the setting was wonderfully evocative, with the steep road only just becoming a set of stairs. A convenient handrail on the right hand side provoked a picturesque background of the half-timbered houses on the hill.
The time spent in Exeter was only a couple of days but this performance etched the memory securely in my memory and I hope it is not long before there is an opportunity to return.
For the Terminalia Festival this year I contemplated a walk back in my hometown of Leeds, in the north of the UK.
Roundhay Park is a large urban park within the city, covering over 700 acres, at around 3 miles north of the city centre.
The current extent of the park is the remaining section of an old hunting park, originally owned by the de Lacys, Lords of Bowland. Eventually sold to Thomas Nicholson and Samuel Elam, the northern part of the estate was taken by Nicholson and passed down through the family until being put up for sale in 1871. The rest of the old estate was sold off in sections for building development.
It was my plan to walk close to the original boundary of the estate, making slight detours where necessary to avoid private land and other contemporary obstacles. As a guide, I am using the 1847 ordnance survey six-inch map, which seemed a fair approximation of the area and a convenient line to follow.
I have transferred the walking route onto a google map for easy reference and this can be seen below. On Sunday 23rd February, this route was followed, walking clockwise from the end of Gledhow Lane (marked as a red dot on the map).
Planned walking route
1847 map showing area boundary line
Description of walking route:
Start at the end of Gledhow Lane, Old Park Road - The Drive - The Avenue - Shaftesbury Avenue - Street Lane - Stanley Drive - West Park Road - West Park Drive East - West Park Crescent - Park Lane - A6120 Ring Road.
Turn on to the B6902 - A58 Wetherby Road - Easterly Road - Wykebeck Way (at Arthur's Rein) - Turn right across Fearnville Playing-fields - Cross Oakwood Lane
Oak Tree Drive - Amberton Approach - Amberton Road - Lawrence Road - Cross Easterly Road - Hetton Road - Cross Arlington Road - Continue on Hetton Road - Copgrove Road - Turn right on Lipton Wood Road - Cross Gipton Wood - Roundhay Road - Gledhow Lane to end the walk.
As Gledhow Lane approaches Roundhay Park, the first open area you see is called Soldiers' Field, so called because during the First World War, the area was used as a gathering place for soldiers.
Junction of Gledhow Lane and Old Park Road
This example of pollarding leaves the trees with the appearance of a pair of hands reaching up toward the sky. The trees wave their encouragement as we begin the morning's walk.
Hands reaching for the sky... on The Avenue
At the beginning of the walk, a suggestion for us that there are more ways than one to enjoy the journey. However, a slower, peripatetic progression seems to be more appropriate.
A drive at the beginning of a walk...
As you navigate your surroundings, keep an eye out for unexpected discoveries. If you have a passion for art and culture, it's surprising how you may suddenly find yourself within an exhibition. Enjoy it when this happens.
Sculpture garden discovery
Remember to adjust your point of view, from overview to detail, high or low level. You never know when you will make discoveries. Try to 'notice' things.
Turning onto The Avenue
There are many nests in this tree, a whole community who have chosen to live in close proximity. At the moment they seem precarious and prominent, but by the time Summer comes around, they will be almost invisible.
Stark tree with many tenants
The Shaftesbury Avenue we walk along seems a million miles away from the West end of London. There are no theatres to be found and we are not close to either a Soho or Chinatown. What we do find, though, is a quiet, pleasant road that takes us north towards Street Lane.
Shaftesbury Avenue, but not a theatre in sight!
The ring road whisks vehicles across the north of Leeds, but as walkers we need to be alert to the many trails, bridleways and footpaths crisscrossing the landscape. These can be pathways for the current walk or targets for future walks.
The A6120 Ring Road traverses many footpaths
Footpaths take us to destinations that incorporate journeys through the countryside, that constantly change in character as the seasons change.
The footpath from Shadwell
During the walk, a junction point between several public bridleways was encountered along the ring road. It is at this point that the ring road is crossed. However, we didn't catch sight of any other walkers, cyclists or horseback riders.
Intersection of bridleways
At this point we approach a roundabout at the junction of the ring road and Wetherby Road. There was a time in the past when this area would have seemed outside of the city, but as houses have been built the city has expanded much further out.
The Ring Road junction with Wetherby Road
Seacroft was mentioned in the Domesday Book and was a village along the journey between Leeds and York, but later became one of the largest housing estates in the country. However, the village green still exists along with the associated pub, The Cricketers Arms.
A Seacroft welcome on Easterly Road
As the walk reaches the Wykebeck Valley, a sign indicates a green space running beside the beck that is called Arthur's Rein. It is thought that 'rein' derives from an old French word that indicates an area enclosed from stock. At some time it seems to have been named after the legendary King Arthur.
Joining Wykebeck Way at Arthur's Rein
The area along this section of Wykebeck Way has been laid out as a new area of housing, and at the present time appears pleasant and optimistic.
New housing along Wykebeck Way
Hetton Road leads uphill in a straight line, from Easterly Road towards Gipton Wood, crossing Arlington Road around half way up.
The top of Hetton Road, looking South South East
From the crest of the hill, on Copgrove Road, it is possible to see the tower of Parkinsons Building and the Emmanuel Centre (previously Emmanuel Anglian Church), both part of the University of Leeds.
Copgrove Road, looking across to Leeds University
and the Emmanuel Centre
Gipton Wood, a relatively small woodland area, covers the crest of the hill and needs to be traversed to return to Roundhay Road, just down from the Oakwood Clock. On the day of the walk, there were many birds and squirrels enjoying the sunshine.
Felled trees in Gipton Wood
This particular tree stood alone, next to the footpath and non this warm, sunny day it appeared as though the tree was about to remove its winter coat and enjoy the sunshine.
Split bark tree in Gipton Wood
Gipton Wood is a triangular area of woodland, bounded by Copgrove Road on the south-east, Roundhay Road on the west and Gipton Boundary Road on the north-east side. This road still displays the old stone block work.
Out of Gipton Wood onto Oakwood Boundary Road
Another entrance to Gipton Wood is on Roundhay Road, a little further down from Oakwood Boundary Road and opposite the Roundhay Pub, which at one time was called The Gipton.
Gipton Wood entrance on Roundhay Road,
opposite the Roundhay Pub.
The fact that the old Roundhay hunting grounds gave rise to Roundhay Park (one of the largest in Europe) and that such a large part of the area was saved for the public's enjoyment should give rise to a great deal of hope for the future.
Apart from a couple of short periods of fairly light rain, the weather was great for walking and by the time we had reached Gipton Wood, the sun was shining down through the trees. Now, all thoughts turn to Terminalia 2026, and potential areas to explore.
After another push to update neglected write-ups and posts, I secured enough time to sit down and edit the footage taken of the 'No holiday' performance that was enacted at Danes Dyke in the East Riding of Yorkshire, UK on 18 March 2022.
The ambulatory performance began at the entrance to the Danes Dyke public park area on Flamborough Road, B1255. The access road for cars runs along the dyke to the car park which is situated on the flat area where Danes Dyke House once stood. Built in 1873 for Elizabeth Cotterell-Dormer, it was later demolished in 1953, though some relics still linger, such as the Monkey Puzzle Tree - a species imported to the Uk from South America.
Despite the Dyke's name, it is now thought that the dyke is prehistoric in origin. In the past, sections of the dyke have been used as settings for filmed reconstructions of Viking attacks.
Danes Dyke is a leisurely walk from Sewerby Hall, along the cliff-top path. This footpath continues along the cliffs, passing through South Landing and on to Flamborough Head.
This is a lovely part of the country and well worth a visit.
The walking route, the pin indicates the previous site of Danes Dyke House
Danes Dyke - Local Nature Reserve leaflet
The final recorded version hosted on YouTube
If the video recording embedded above does not play, please view it via the YouTube Channel here.
