August 2006

THE swinging 60s made a welcome return to Ossett for Southdale Junior School’s fashion conscious pupils. Around 70 children were involved in a project to create their own unique 60s T-shirt designs, from design through to finished item, aided by teachers Carol Sowell, Vivienne Gott and the school’s artist-in-residence, Sandie McConnell. The end result was a plethora of patterned youngsters showing off their catwalk moves, which had also been practised especially for the event.

TORRENTIAL downpours brought the city to a standstill and left a trail of destruction for businesses and homes. West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service received more than 150 calls. But even firefighters were caught up in the flood mayhem when they had to call for police assistance after an engine got stuck in deep water in Wrenthorpe. The freak weather also brought traffic chaos for commuters and there was gridlock on all the major roads in and out of the city, with cars still backed up hours after the first downpour. Water filled the underpass beneath the Marsh Way roundabout. And businesses and home owners were left counting the cost as they surveyed the aftermath of the floods. The Woodman pub in Outwood felt the full force of the water, which came crashing in through the front door and caused £40,000 worth of damage. The cellars at taxi firm Diamond Cars and adjoining cafe Get Stuffed on Kirkgate were both flooded. People living on Dickinson Street were told to leave the premises by fire officers after a cellar wall collapsed. Streets in Eastmoor, Outwood, Thornes and Wrenthorpe were also flooded, as was Pinderfields Hospital.