Leigh984, The creative portfolio of Leigh Spencer

  In the second of my films from the ​⁠ Chinese Lunar New Year celebrations : we joined the parade through the streets of Leicester . Starting in Jubilee Square , the costumes are handed out. The ever-popular panda costumes go early, and the dragons are lined up ready to process along the high street. The cheeky lion leads the parade onto the high street, accompanied by the Chinese God of Wealth and a crowd of people. The lion stops at various Leicester businesses along the way to wish them a Happy and Prosperous New Year and causes some mischief along the way too. Passing the newly updated entrance to the ​⁠ shopping centre, the lion takes an imaginary pee on a parked police car. The rest of the parade, featuring dragons and other characters as well as zodiac signs , passes by on the way to the Clock Tower , where we see the new dragon for 2026 with lights and beautiful decorations. To town hall square now, where crowds have gathered to see a number of performers, including...

  The annual 1st Newbold Verdon Scout Gala takes place in the village this year celebrating a very special 70 years of Scouting in the village. We start the film as a steam roller makes its way toward the event at the primary school before a parade lead by a marching band arrives including a very special car, a Rolls Royce which was presented at a Jamboree in 1929 to mark 21 years of Scouting to Baden Powell who was honoured with a number of gifts including a Baronetcy by King George V, BP took the title of Lord Baden Powell of Gilwell, other gifts included a set of Braces and from the 50.000 Scouts of the World attending, a very special gift of a Rolls Royce Car and a touring Caravan. We follow the band and parade through the village and arrive at the gala itself on the playing field at the primary school. The gala is officially declared open and the fun begins, first up is the there and back miniature railway before we see a chance to try out more active pursuits like rock climb...

I  take a look at newly completed street art in Leicestershire detailing the histories and brightening up the built environment in the towns of South Wigston, Wigston and Oadby . We start in South Wigston with a mural featuring Orson Wright a man credited with building most of the town in the 19th century, commissioned by Oadby & Wigston Borough Council (OWBC) and designed in collaboration with the Greater Wigston Historical Society (GWHS), the design features steam engines representing the railways, factory workers and biscuit production companies like Jacobs Biscuits that made the town famous throughout the world. On too Wigston now and a mural painted on the side of the Air Ambulance Charity shop and featuring a wide selection of local figures and local history from the Air Ambulance itself to the Kilby Lock, St Wistan and the Framework Knitters Museum among others. Onto Oadby Parade to complete our trilogy and a floral themed work spanning the length of the parade of shops...

Experience the vibrant Chinese New Year celebrations in Leicester. Starting at De Montfort University with a traditional lion dance, followed by dragons created by Mr Cleaver’s Monsters gathering in the brightly yellow sunlit Jubilee Square. The parade then weaves it’s way along Leicester High Street, with dragons Cosmia, Cosmo, Brimstone and friends interacting with the crowds and passing the iconic clock tower before arriving at town hall square for the days culmination of a spectacular firework finale. Immerse yourself in the atmosphere of this annual celebration of Chinese culture. This event was delivered by Cosmopolitan Arts #ChineseNewYear #LeicesterCelebrations

The Chinese New Year Procession sees a traditional Chinese dragon parade along the streets of Leicester taking in many city center landmarks. The dragon, traditional dragon dancers and drums accompanied by people holding boards featuring the animals of the chinese zodiac lead by the Tiger made their way from Jubilee Square along high street and through the old town marking the start of the New Year of the Water Tiger. Water Tiger was very apt as a light shower became heavier by the clock tower, regardless the procession continued round into the Leicester market area and into the Lanes old town area and past Leicester Cathedral which at the time of writing is undergoing a big restoration. We end back in Jubilee Square. The Chinese New Year events are organised by Cosmopolitan Arts and Amanda Leandro.

As dusk falls the Worldbeaters drummers arrive at Leicester`s Clock Tower before parading through Leicester City Centre. Soon we discover the puppets of baby Dundu in the newly renamed Green Dragon Square and then at Leicester Cathedral we meet the gentle giant Dundu too. With a soundtrack of rhythms and sounds from across the globe. German company, Dundu feature a West African Kora (a type of harp), whilst UK based Worldbeaters bring their dynamic drumming to the performance, we follow the parade as it moves toward a grand finale in Jubilee Square. This show is produced by Activate Performing Arts, this is a collaboration between German outdoor puppeteers, Dundu and UK percussion ensemble Worldbeaters. It was originally funded by Arts Council England and developed in Newbury Corn Exchange’s 101 Outdoor Arts Creation Space. Part of LIBERTY UK festival produced by ArtReach.