Leigh984, The creative portfolio of Leigh Spencer

  The Old Town Festival returned to Leicester with something for everyone from across time. Turns out you don't need a TARDIS to travel through time; you can do it at the Leicester Old Town Festival. Starting our journey through time with an Anglo-Saxon ship , Brendan the Bold , which, although seaworthy, is on the dry land of Jubilee Square. On deck, we see a lady weaving a traditional fishing net. Next up, we see the ​⁠‪@ VikingsofMiddleEngland ‬ demonstrating the often brutal combat techniques used in the era (these people are trained professional re-enactors; please do not attempt to copy). Moving forward in time, we follow ‪@lordthomasgreysregimentoff6873‬ ( Lord Thomas Grey’s Regiment of Foot ) marching past BBC Radio Leicester and Leicestershire’s oldest building , the Guildhall , through to the ​⁠ Where, after being dismissed, things take a turn for the fantastical with Dragons! outside the ​⁠‪@kriiivisitorcenter1485‬. The sound of bells signals the arrival of Leicester...

  A relaxed look at some of the Riparian activities taking place around the Brinklow Swing Bridge on the Oxford Canal. They say life moves at a different pace on the canals and waterways and so this film takes in the serene scene along a stretch of the Oxford canal as ducks paddle among Narrow boats both new and old. We follow a single duck as he paddles his way through the idyllic scene passing boats without to much fanfare. At the boat yard a boat makes its way through the swing bridge and passes by and carries on it`s journey with a stately pace and amazing grace.

Join me for some riparian entertainment at The Riverside Festival which returned to Leicester`s Mile straight and surrounding areas for its 25th year in 2024. New for 24 was Dragon Boat racing with teams from NHS UHL, Arriva, Market Bosworth and Highfield Rangers among those competing and raising money for Prost-Aid. To the rhythmic beat of the drum the rowers sped their narrow dragon fronted boats between The Newark Bridge and Bridge 111A which acted as the finish line, who won ?, stay after the credits to find out !. After the races we head to the Bede Park area where there are water sports to try and boat trips along the river. Heading onto the Riverside De Montfort University campus we find a giant watering can celebrating 25 years of the festival (created by Kate Carton Events). Coming through !, Sambando perform for crowds outside the red bricks of the Queens Building before a unexpected interruption by the 'New for 24' land train offering trips around the festival. Follo...

In 2017 the Riverside Festival celebrates its 20th year as one of the city`s biggest free festivals. My film aims to capture the atmosphere of the festival which takes place along the Mile Straight, Bede Park, Western Boulevard and Castle Gardens. The festival features live music, world food, boat trips and more. The River Soar was once one of Britain's most profitable commercial navigation routes and today plays host to a multitude of wildlife, water sports clubs and Premier League Champions (2016) Leicester City FC which can all be found along its banks.

I visited Foxton Locks in Leicestershire to explore the ten canal locks that make up the longest flight of locks in Britain. Located on the Leicester line of the Grand Union Canal about 5 km west of the Leicestershire town of Market Harborough the locks are named after the nearby village of Foxton. My film joins a narrow boat (Calmer Karma) as it makes it way to the top lock before taking in the scenery along the canal side.

Highlights from the #Leicester riverside festival in 2016 featuring a lively weekend of activities for the whole family spread across Bede Park, Mile Straight, Western Boulevard and Castle Gardens. Sponsored by local housing provider Riverside, the festival encompasses an exciting choice of activities for all ages. My film features a selection of highlights from the festivals second day and features water sports tryout sessions from paddle plus, music from the sing for water choir, classic vehicles from the abbey pumping station and lots more to give you the viewer a feel for the festival atmosphere on site during this popular local event that signals the start of summer for many in the city.

In this video I visit The Leicester Riverside Festival which takes place annually in Leicester in Bede Park along the Mile straight, Western Boulevard and in Castle Gardens. The event is one of Leicester`s biggest free festivals and features activity's both on the water and on land including samba bands (Sambando) and street performances from performers such as Octopus Ocean. Along the River Soar (Mile Straight) various decorated narrow boats are moored and food served (Barge Burger), Riverside attractions include Jazz music from Jazz On The River a floating band who travel up and down the river as they play and a chance to try various water sports such as canoeing and coracle boating.

The Leicester Riverside Festival takes place annually along the Mile Straight and in the Bede Park and Castle Gardens areas of Leicester. My short film aims to capture the atmosphere of the event in 2013. Featuring local singing groups, artists, craftspersons and Narrowboat rides amoungst its wide variety of attractions the event is a fantastic family friendly event in the heart of the city with something for everyone.

This short film features various Narrowboats as they enter and exit the south end of the Crick Tunnel on the Grand Union Canal. Part of the Leicester line of the Grand Union Canal the Crick Tunnel runs close to the south-east of the village of Crick and has a length of 1,528 yards (1397m).

On 3rd June 2012 hundreds of boats formed a flotilla to escort HRH Queen Elizabeth II on a pageant along the River Thames as part of her Jubilee Celebrations. The flotilla was headed by the man powered Gloriana followed (later on) by the Royal Family aboard the new Royal Barge Spirit Of Chartwell. In all more than 1,000 vessels took part in the event and my video filmed from the banks of the river shows just a few of them as they pass alongside the houses of parliament and beneath Westminster bridge.

Opened in 2002 The Falkirk Wheel is a rotating boat lift in Scotland that connects the Forth and Clyde Canal with the Union Canal. My short film features a boat entering the wheel at the bottom before being lifted up to the aqueduct section above. The short was filmed from two angles giving the viewer a view of both sides of the wheel and a look at the workings of this impressive structure.