Leigh984, The creative portfolio of Leigh Spencer

  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...

I travelled to Mountsorrel in Leicestershire to see the start of the Measham Night Rally , an event which sees over 40 classic cars , drivers and navigators travelling around the countryside using the tried and tested map and compass method of old, no sat-navs here !. At the Stonehurst Farm and Motor Museum we start at the sign in and with the sound of engines revving and being prepped for the night ahead. Over to another farm building and a team of scrutineers check each vehicle for road worthiness and safety checking lights, steering and engine condition etc. Back in the farmyard there`s time to catch a bite to eat at the Farmers Den and consult the route maps before they are off into the dark of the night and surrounding countryside for the ultimate all righter, many tell me they wont be back till 5am on Sunday morning !.

The award winning EAGA Gospel Choir , BBC Songs Of Praise Choir Of The Year , BGT Semi Finalists , etc perform at Fosse Park shopping centre food central area with a selection of festive and favourite gospel music their beautiful voices fill the air as shoppers race to find last minute Christmas bargains .

   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...

In December 2025, Channel 4Entertainment and @standuptocancerUK organised a charity fundraiser at Leicester’s Abbey Park .  They unveiled the SU2CUK Tribute Mile , a striking installation in partnership with @CancerResearchUK.  Thousands of glowing orange lanterns were hung across the park’s bridge and around a mile-long loop. Each lantern was dedicated to a life touched by cancer, leaving behind tributes from family and friends.  These lanterns were crafted at a workshop in the @highcrossleicester shopping centre before being installed in the park. Stand Up TO Cancer is a joint national campaign between Channel 4 and Cancer Research UK .  Since its inception in 2012, it has raised over £113 million to support cancer research into treatments and diagnostics.  The event featured a live TV broadcast on Channel 4, where the Tribute Mile was illuminated for the first time. My film explores the installation and captures some of the lantern tributes. As darkness f...

  A look at the first Christmas Tree Festival at The Church of St James in Newbold Verdon featuring trees by various groups and businesses in the village. We begin with a candle flickering and pan up to see the church full of small Christmas trees. As we walk up the main aisle illuminated by the red festive glow of the heaters the trees line either side. Focusing in on some of the trees we see a brown one by The Strand Hairdressers . Either side of the alter, adorned with candles, are two larger traditional trees. Back to the smaller trees and we see a tree decorated by the villages answer to the Syston Knitting Banksy the Nutty Knitters which features various knitted characters. We then take a look at a tree by the village tearoom Liberteas a popular hub of the community. A unique "tree" by the 1st Newbold Verdon Scouts featuring various badges and a neckerchief at the top and a tree by the Little Mustard Seeds group close the film but many other trees can be seen ...

The Abbey Pumping Station Steam Days are a chance for people of all ages to take a trip into our industrial and domestic heritage from street organs to chips "Fried the old way" and toys from Christmases past this festive look into the past is sure to bring the memories flooding back quicker than any beam engine could ever pump it back. We begin with Leonard (Lenny) the loco letting off some steam before we hear the distinctive sound of a street organ playing well known songs , whilst the organ plays on we see a long queue forming at the Chip Van which fries chips in the "old Style" in oil giving them a crispy coating. As the organ continues to play outside we head into the building to see the toy displays with model boats and is that Nessie on holiday ?. Next up the spectacular twists turns and trains of Charlie`s railway where TGV trains run through Knapford station alongside Thomas and his friends . Next we take a look at the Storm Pig Magical Flying S...