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 visited the Churchyard of St Luke`s in the Leicestershire village of Newton Harcourt to see the beautiful display of Snowdrops that happen once a year. Being a Sunday I was greeted by the ringing of the church bell beneath a crisp Blue sky calling people to the Snowdrop service and the sounds of voices singing well known traditional hymns such as All Things Bright And Beautiful an accurate description of the scene in front of me.

Filmed at various locations around the city the second of my Christmas in Leicester films takes a look at the city`s Christmas lights as they are switched on signaling the start of the festive season in the city. Look out for the Naughty Christmas Tree from the same difference street performance group in town hall square (she does not want to be decorated !) the crowds of people taking in the Christmas scenes and listen out for the cathedral bells ringing out across the winter evening.  more images follow.