What do you remember of the 1970s ?

Picture caption: The logo for the new Silver 70s display opening on 27 January 2012

Leeds City Museum is going back in time to the 1970s in the new year – and residents are being asked to help bring it to life.

Running from Friday 27 January 2012 until Sunday 22 April, a new exhibition entitled: ‘Silver 70s’ will be on display at the museum off Millennium Square celebrating everything about a highly memorable decade.

The free exhibition invites visitors in to a typical 1970s house to experience the sights and sounds of the decade at a time when high-waisted flares were fashionable, Leeds United were FA Cup champions, furniture was brown and prawn cocktail was the height of sophistication!

The people of Leeds are being asked to help make up the exhibition by adding their own memories with images from the decade in particular shots of groups of people at family gatherings, events or activities. Nothing tells a story like a photograph and these pictures will be put on display in the‘family portraits’ section of the exhibition.


Aside from being a decade of highly questionable fashion tastes and trends in interior decorating, the 1970s were notable for major news stories and cultural landmarks. From The Queen’s Silver Jubilee to Margaret Thatcher becoming the first female Prime Minister as well as the world being shocked by the split of the Beatles and the death of Elvis Presley.

In Leeds, Don Revie’s all-conquering Whites were a dominant force in English football, beating Arsenal in the 1972 Centenary FA Cup Final and winning the league in 1974 before their legendary manager left to take over the England manager’s job and the club then made the ill-fated decision to appoint Brian Clough as his replacement with disastrous results. The Leeds Rugby Club later know as the The Leeds Rhinos were also on top of their game with their trophy cabinet being well stocked durring the dacade.

Musically the 1970s are still revered for the classic hits produced by the likes of the Bee Gees, ABBA, The Bay City Rollers, Pink Floyd, Bob Marley, The Clash and Queen. The Who’s seminal album ‘Live at Leeds’, which was recently voted the greatest live album of all time by ‘Q’ magazine, was recorded from their performance at the University of Leeds in February 1970, while Yorkshire soap opera ‘Emmerdale Farm’ first appeared on television screens in October 1972.

Looking ahead to the exhibition, Leeds City Museum curator of exhibitions Helen Langwick said:

“When most people think of the 1970s they think of flares and awful paisley wallpaper, but the decade had some amazing developments in news and culture and we hope people will be able to take a real trip down memory lane by visiting this free exhibition.

“We really want this to have a strong Leeds feel to it, so if people want to add their own memories of the decade by sending us their photos that would be fantastic. In particular group shots of people who attended things like The Who ‘Live at Leeds’ or watched Leeds United lift the FA Cup at Wembley in 1972 would be great – we want this to be a real celebration of a fascinating decade.”

Anyone wishing to send pictures can send them to:

Silver 70s Family Portrait, Leeds City Museum,

Cookridge Street, Leeds LS2 8BH.


Or upload to www.flickr.com/groups/silver70s/


PLEASE NOTE: Unfortunately we cannot return any pictures sent in and cannot guarantee that your picture will go on display.

By submitting your images, you confirm that:

• it was taken by you or you have the permission of the person who took the photograph;

• it does not contain or reference any third party trademarks;

• its use will not infringe the copyright or any other rights of any third party; and

• it does not contain any obscene, sexually explicit, violent, offensive, inflammatory or defamatory content or material.

•Where you are in breach of any of these rules or any breach of third party rights or any claim that your image, text or video caused damage, you agree to be fully

responsible for any liability suffered by Leeds Museums and Galleries, its licensors, contractors, employees, directors, consultants or agents in relation to that breach.

Leeds City Council reserves the right to use any images uploaded to this group for exhibition, marketing and educational purposes.

To find out more about Leeds City Museum, visit the website at www.leeds.gov.uk/citymuseum

ENDS

For media enquiries please contact:
Roger Boyde,
Senior communications officer,
Leeds City Council, Tel 0113 247 5472
Email: roger.boyde@leeds.gov.uk

Leeds needs you!

The new Leeds Citizens’ Panel is gathering momentum with almost 2000 members now signed up.

However, the council and partners like NHS Leeds are keen to enlist even more people to make sure that they can build up a really accurate picture of what the residents of Leeds want and need from their public services going forward.

The number of people that have engaged in previous consultations on subjects like if Leeds should have an arena, what older people’s services should look like in the future and the comprehensive spending review gives a clear indication about how keen residents are to have their say. There is a genuine interest amongst local people in having some influence in the decision making process, and helping to bring about the right changes at this challenging time for communities and services.

That’s why this new citizens’ panel is being set up in Leeds; to give thousands of people in the city the opportunity to have their say on local issues.

To be part of the panel people need to be aged 18 or over, and be prepared to spend a small amount of time taking part in surveys and/or discussions about local services and issues affecting where they live. The aim is to have about 6000 members on the new panel, made up of a balanced mix of people of different ages, backgrounds and communities to reflect the population of Leeds.

Councillor Keith Wakefield, leader of Leeds City Council said:
“Signing up 6000 residents to the citizens’ panel is an ambitious target, but we think that it’s vitally important. We want to make sure that we have plenty of people that we can talk to and engage with regularly about how we shape future services with limited resources. These are challenging times for the public sector and I think it’s vital that we have good representation from all communities and groups from across our diverse city so that we know what people’s priorities are.

“Our vision is for Leeds to be the best city in the UK, and the Leeds Citizens’ Panel will play a key part in making this happen.

“People will be asked for their views on a number of different topics including environmental issues, cleanliness, transport, health and wellbeing, and agreeing future priorities for the city.

“I would encourage people to sign up so that their views on these important issues can be heard and help us to make Leeds the best city for all who live and work here – our children, our communities and our businesses.”

The first survey is due to be sent out early in the new year, so there’s no better time to get signed up. Here’s what some of the people that have recently joined the panel had to say on why they decided to take part.

Marilyn from Meanwood said: “As a lady in her 60s with a large family spread all over the world I do have a little free time when not visiting them! Also I carry a huge amount of guilt from being part of the “liberal” generation who reigned from the 60s to the end of the last century. We allowed our country to sink into an abyss of greed and corruption, so now it is time to give something back. I am very good at complaining so what better way to use my voice but within the community I live? I want to speak for people who do not have a voice but need protecting and help our local community thrive. Thanks for having me!!”

Ejaz from Beeston said: “I am proud and take great pride in my city Leeds. Leeds is marvellous and one of the best cities in the world. The reason I wanted to be part of the citizens’ panel is that it will let me have my say, and give me an opportunity to share ideas with other citizens. I am grateful that I have been given an opportunity to be part of a group of people whose aspirations and ideas will be taken seriously by the decision makers of Leeds City Council.”

Will from Guiseley said: “My reason for wanting to be involved is because as I get older I realise the only way to change anything is to get stuck in – whingeing is just hot air!”

Stephen from Bramley said: “I wanted to give my reasons why I wanted to join the citizens’ panel. The simple reason is that I do feel disabled people are still overlooked. Yes, there are a lot of adaptations in shops, etc, yet I feel in many ways we have not been consulted, about things like the seating in the Merrion Centre, Kirkgate Market, access for taxis and cars. Shops may have disabled access, but inside a lot of them are very disabled-unfriendly. These are just a few of the issues I hope to raise.”

Shirley from Rodley said: "I decided to join the citizens’ panel as I have lived in Leeds for the past 34 years and feel I am part of the community that makes Leeds such a vibrant city in which to live, even if I was born a Londoner.

"With our current economic climate, life is going to get harder for some time and especially for the weaker members of our society. Rather than campaign against cuts or rail about bankers' salaries, I felt it would be more productive to become a member of the new citizens’ panel. I hope, with my fellow panellists, to offer a useful input that will ensure Leeds continues to be a safe place to live, welcoming to newcomers and mindful of the vulnerable members of our society."

Panel members will be required to complete between four and eight surveys each year, and will be invited to take part in about the same number of discussions or events. Surveys should take no more than 20 minutes to complete, and will always be free to return – no stamps required. Discussion groups might be 90 minutes, or sometimes a bit longer. Some discussions will be online, others an opportunity for panel members to get together in one place.

Anyone that can spare a couple of hours a year and would like to find out more should visit visit www.leeds.gov.uk/citizenspanel or contact us on citizenspanel@leeds.gov.uk or Leeds 247 4610.

Alternatively, complete the joining form on the winter edition of council newspaper About Leeds to register your interest. This can then be returned to the following freepost address,

Freepost Plus RSCS-ZTJU-CLXH
Leeds City Council
Merrion House
110 Merrion Centre
Merrion Way
Leeds LS2 8ET

Ends

For media enquiries, please contact;
Claire Macklam, Leeds City Council press office (0113) 395 1578
Email: claire.macklam@leeds.gov.uk