Arthur Aaron - Statue Eastgate

The above photo shows a detail from the much larger statue in memory of this brave young man.

Arthur Aaron VC DFM was a pilot in WW2 who was awarded the VC in recognition of most conspicuous bravery.

On the great many war memorials in the villages, towns and cities of Britain quite a few have an inscription which is a quote from the bible... "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends". John 15,13.

Born in Leeds in 1922, Aaron was a pupil at Roundhay School in the city, later he went on to study architecture in the city.

In March 1941, Aaron became one of 23 cadets who formed the inaugural Flight of Leeds University Air Squadron. Aaron learnt to fly in Texas in the USA at the Number 1 British Flying Training School at Terrell where he received his pilots wings.

Arthur Aaron was captain and pilot of a Stirling bomber of 218 Sqn RAF based a Downham Market in Norfolk when on a raid on Turin on 12/13 August 1943 the aircraft was hit and several crew members were wounded and the navigator, Canadian Cornelius A. Brennan killed. Arthur Aaron was badly wounded and so was the aircraft, but he guided the bomb aimer and enabled him to fly the plane to a base in Algeria.

With a crew of 7, less the navigator Arthur Aaron saved the remaining crew and his aircraft but died of his wounds a few hours after the aicraft landed safely at an airfield in Algeria.

Statue Sir Peter Fairbairn - Leeds

Like the similar Victorian statue of Duke of Wellington on Woodhouse Moor in Leeds this statue has I think suffered at the hands of students. Although a traffic cone is easily removed also the road sign resting on the plinth.

This statue is of Sir Peter Fairbairn who was mayor of Leeds at the time Queen Victoria opened Leeds Town Hall and at the ceremony the Queen knighted him.

The statue in bronze by Yorkshire sculptor Matthew Noble was erected in 1868 in the prosperous Woodhouse Square not far from the Leeds General Infirmary.

The son of Sir Peter Fairbairn also became mayor of Leeds and an MP for Otley as well as being chairman of the Leeds School Board.

Whose Foot Is This?

I came across the statue, a part of which is in the above photo, of a well known Leeds resident from the past recently. The statue is in a large public building within the city of Leeds and even if you know little of him you will most likely know his name.

I had never before been into the building where this statue is, although I had passed nearby a few times over the years.

A clue.. I have had for many years a music cd recorded in this building.

Any ideas?

Black Prince Statue Leeds - Panel

Picture of battle panel on plinth of Black Prince Statue Leeds.

Traveling through Leeds train station quite often, I walk through City Square and sometimes admire the large equestrian sculpture of the Black Prince by Thomas Brock that is the centerpiece of the layout of the square.

On the tall stone plinth on which the statue stands there are a couple of bronze panels showing I think a scene from perhaps the battle of Crecy or maybe Poitiers, one of which is the subject of the above photo.

On the sculpted panel you can see Edward the black prince on his mount behind the English archers directing an attack.

Statue Leeds City Square - Detail

Statue Leeds City Square - Detail

Picture of Statue Leeds City Square Picture of detail of statue of Morn by sculptor Alfred Drury in City Square, Leeds city centre. This large bronze statue is like most statues exposed to pigeons and the British weather.