I’m afraid all 150 limited edition prints have now gone, but please keep your ideas coming. Here are some of my favourite ideas that have been posted up so far.

from Lloyd Spencer:

“Tourism is such a vital part of local economies. Most ‘traditional’ festivities are likely to have a big PR component. What interests me are the new ‘traditions’ that have been invented, especially where these really are ‘vernacular’. Here in Headingley, Leeds the traditional pub crawl has long been called the Otley Run as it goes along the Otley Road (A660). What is fairly new is how many groups adopt fancy dress so that on virtually any day one can meet people in the most extraordinary costumes walking past the local supermarket.”

from Tessa Bunney:

“I’m sure you will have considered fishing already but having spent a few years in my early freelance career photographing for fishing magazines, I was always fascinated by the (usually) men who sit on the edge of a very un-picturesque concrete hole with 3 fishing rods that beep when giant carp can’t help but bite only to throw them back in at the end of the day. Not sure if that’s peculiarly English but most other nations I’ve come across catch to eat!”

from Jo Foster-Murdoch:

“A flotilla of friends (from the very old to the very young) that only meet up once a year on an annual trip to the Norfolk Broads on the last week of July. Alcohol fuelled cruisers following a bunch of drunken musicians since 1965 who like to call themselves The Water Rats Jazz Band. Last year I think there were about 12 hire craft following the band from their lunchtime gigs at an ale house on the Broads to evening gigs in similar situ.  The next day – the whole process starts again.”

from Mike Bentley:

“Rock-climbing has its own particular style in the UK. A fierce ethic of not using artificial aid, especially on the short, tough gritstone climbs of the Peak District. This blossomed amongst the tough working class men of northern industrial towns like Sheffield escaping from the factories to find something ‘higher’ in their lives.”

from Dawn Hazle:

“Something really unusual, mostly unheard of by ‘normal’ people and actually quite popular are LARP (Live Action Role Playing) events.  LARP is usually a fantasy-genre role-playing event where people get dressed up and, in its most energetic form, people fight in swords-and-sorcery battles with ‘safe’ foam weapons.  It’s a bit like reenactment.”

from Kerri Hawkins:

“Walking my dogs through Box Hill on a bright, sunny summer’s morning, followed by a drink at any one of the pubs on the way back home for lunch. Nothing to beat it.”

from Sam Gee :

“The very low-key but not to be underestimated pastime of having an allotment. My father has one and derives a great deal of pleasure from growing enormous amounts of fruit and veg – including things you would not associate with the UK, like Pak Choi. I think the practice started during or between the World Wars, when food was scarce so home-grown was essential.”

from Nigel Smith:

“Otley Chevin (overlooks Otley) is a lovely place and you can watch the planes take off from Leeds Bradford Airport with a pint at the pub over the road.”

from Casey Floyd:

“Something that for me sums up rural traditions is the sight of my mother and all her friends competing for honour, bragging rights and top prizes of 50p at her village horticultural society shows. The Olympics don’t touch it. Sir Steven Redgrave would be crushed by the intensity of the competitive edge.”

from Niall Taylor:

“I suggest you go to Frinton-on-Sea in Essex, the home of my late grandparents. They were obsessed with being the right side of the level crossing (sea facing). Indeed you were not considered a proper Frintonian unless you lived ‘inside the gates’. In 2000 Frinton got its 1st pub to much public debate. My brother and I were sent to Frinton when we were little for the summer to attend a church summer school, this abruptly stopped when we were accused of deliberately ripping the wall paper in the lounge and promptly sent home.  I have really fond memories of a seaside town that was a little odd. Life for my grand parents revolved around the Golf Club, so this is where I’d love for you to go.”

from Michael Cockerham:

“I remember when growing up making the journey to see my Dad’s parents in Leeds and lying in the back of a clapped out Mini 850 watching the sky turn to black as we passed through the Peoples’ Republic of South Yorkshire, and its capital, Sheffield.  When the last of my Leeds relatives died, the family went to the funeral, but it was the journey back that was informative:  how many groups of people make journeys in convoy for whatever reason?  Like us, they always choose to stop at a prearranged service station to stretch legs.  Those service areas are so impersonal, and yet often they become an unintended last meeting place before groups split to go back to their everyday lives.

Next week, we’re heading through Hampshire and Surrey so if you have any ideas from these regions, let me know. Thanks!

 

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