Leigh984, The creative portfolio of Leigh Spencer

On the weekend of Saturday 12th/13th June 2021 the Statfold Barn Railway held an Enthusiast Weekend featuring a locomotive that was originally exported to Java to work at the Trangkil Sugar Mill. The engine features alongside locomotives from around the world brought together and run along the length of the Statfold Barn Railway. Look for engines racing each other along the track and pulling all types of rolling stock from passenger to freight. At these special events there's always something interesting steaming along sounding its whistle and creating an atmosphere in which something is always moving. My film aims to capture the busy nature of the event, you`ll see various engines passing each other, hear the many different sounds of operation, from train and guard whistles to the clanking of the wheels and hissing of pistons as the engines speed past.

I visited Thornton Reservoir in the National Forest in Leicestershire in hope of sighting a rare Mandarin Duck which had been seen in the area. The Mandarin Duck is held in high regard in Chinese culture as they, unlike other ducks, are believed to be lifelong couples, as a result they are regularly featured in Chinese art. Mandarin ducks are also known as "Wedding Ducks" in Korean culture and Lovebirds/Happily Married Couples in Japanese culture. At the reservoir a veritable menagerie of waterfowl could be observed with Swans, Mallards and a very noisy Chinese Goose making himself known to most of Leicestershire with his loud honking, but as yet no sign of the star of the show. Walking around the reservoir and keeping our eyes peeled for the elusive duck, we were told by some passing binocular yielding walkers that they had witnessed our colorful friend standing on a log in a wooded area just off the shoreline path, turning a corner the unmistakable brightly patterned duck ...

In 2021 the artist MONO was commissioned by Leicester City Council to design and create a piece of work depicting the Battle Of Bosworth, part of the Wars Of The Roses for the side of a building just off King Richards Road the aim being to enhance the route into the city and highlight links to King Richard III.  Seen depicted in the work is King Richard in full armor on horseback riding into battle with various knights and other soldiers in battle with each other, also in the scene is Richards standard and shield.   The work is part of a scheme to attract visitors and shoppers to the area that will include shutter vinyls and more on the route that it is believed King Richard III was brought into the city after defeat in battle.

  Whats is "Gaia" ?, In Greek Mythology Gaia is the personification of the Earth.  The artist Luke Jerram returns to Leicester Cathedral in 2021 with Gaia, A touring artwork measuring seven metres in diameter and created from detailed NASA imagery of the planets surface, Gaia provides the opportunity to see our planet earth in three dimensions. The installation aims to create a sense of the Overview Effect, which was first described by author Frank White in 1987. In my film I try to capture the awe inspiring sight of the installation as it fills the cathedral gently rotating above visitors heads and surrounded by the centuries old cathedral with it columns and arches. At the time of exhibition the world is in a unprecedented position with various new "challenges" faced globally day to day,  Luke's work gives us a chance to reflect on this and evaluate our place in the universe and how we want to live our lives.

In 2021 Leicester City Football Club reached the FA Cup Final for the first time since 1969 (the first cup final in my lifetime !) around the city and county people decorated shops, houses and more in celebration. In Syston a knitter known simply as SKB has gained a reputation for marking various events through the year by creating "toppers" for the postbox beside the post office on the high street. The historic nature of LCFC`s cup final has been marked by SKB with the appearance of a knitted interpretation of the clubs mascot Filbert Fox atop the post box.

  Every year a small patch of ancient woodland alongside J21 of the M1 and a short walk from Fosse Shopping Park is carpeted in a sea of Blue Bluebell flowers creating a natural oasis in the middle of a busy built up urban environment.

  Fosse Foxes Art Trail brings life-size fiberglass models of foxes to the Fosse Park shopping center in Blaby District. Designs by local artists, designers, community groups and tourist attractions are brought to life using various materials and placed at locations around the center including the newly completed (at publication) extension. The designs of the foxes are a result of a public competition run by the center which received over 100 entries on the theme of "What Leicester means to you". Look out for foxes in the colours of Leicester City Football Club and Tigers RFC alongside themes of Votes For Women and charities from Menphys to one fox in full cycling gear ready to ride around the Everards Meadows. for more info on the trail see the #FosseFoxes website at https://fossepark.co.uk/foxes