Researchers in the UK need more volunteers and particularly over 65s and people from BAME backgrounds, as well as frontline workers.

Over 100,000 people have volunteered to take part in COVID-19 vaccine trials, helping to speed up efforts to discover a safe and effective vaccine.

The government is encouraging more people to join the thousands of volunteers and sign up to the to help the NHS in the fight against coronavirus and ensure potential candidates work for everyone.

To enable large-scale vaccine studies to take place across the UK, the aim is to get as many people as possible signed up to the Registry by October.

Researchers particularly welcome people from all parts of society, especially those who are more likely to benefit from a vaccine, including the over 65s, frontline health and social care workers, and those from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic backgrounds.

Clinical studies with a diverse pool of volunteers will help scientists and researchers better understand the effectiveness of each vaccine candidate and will considerably speed up efforts to discover a safe and workable vaccine.

If you think you might like to be involved you can find more by going to NHS COVID-19 Vaccine Research Registry  where you will find lots of information and a link to register your interest.  If you fill out the form, researchers will contact you if they think you are suitable for a study and will tell you more about it.

Registering your interest does NOT commit you to taking part in anything and you can withdraw from this at any time.

Dear all,

Below are the answers to yesterday’s  ‘Monday Mind Workout’ that was themed around weather, how did you do?

1: What is the name of the scientific instrument used to measure atmospheric pressure?

(a) Thermometer (b) Barometer (c) Hygrometer

2: Following on from Question 1, if a weather forecaster predicts ‘high pressure’ what kind of weather might we expect to have?
(a) Calm weather (b) Stormy weather (c) Snowy weather

3: In 1996 – during Tropical Cyclone Olivia – an Australian weather station recorded a massive wind gust of ….. ?
(a) 153 mph (b) 253 mph (c) 353 mph

4: Weather forecasters describe snow showers that are light and intermittent as ….. ?
(a) Blizzards (b) White-outs (c) Flurries

Flurries. A blizzard is typically a mixture of snow and wind; white-out conditions exist when contrast of your surroundings (and visibility) are severely reduced by snow.  

5: On a single rainbow, the red arc is always …..?
(a) On top of the rainbow (b) In the centre (c) On the underside of the rainbow

On top of the rainbow. However, on a double rainbow the colours are reversed so red is seen on the underside of the second arch

6: The word “cloud” is derived from a Middle English word ‘clud’. What did the word ‘clud’ originally mean?
(a) A mass of white (b) A mass of water (c) A mass of rock

A mass of rock. Perhaps due to the similarity between the shape and (apparent) texture of a bank of grey cloud and a large formation of rock.  

7: In some Californian redwood forests the trees don’t just rely on rainfall for water; they also receive around a third of their moisture from coastal fog in the atmosphere.
TRUE or FALSE ?

8: Cumulonimbus clouds are very easy to spot with their dark flattish bases and a mass of fluffy white cloud on top that towers upwards. What type of weather do cumulonimbus clouds usually bring us?
(a) Heavy rain and thunderstorms (b) Dry fine weather (c) Light rain (drizzle)

9: What do we use an ‘anemometer’ to measure?
(a) Rainfall (b) Visibility in the fog (c) Wind speed

10: In which year was the first weather satellite launched?
(a) 1949 (b) 1959 (c) 1969

It was called ‘Vanguard 2’ and it was designed to collect data about cloud cover …. unfortunately it wasn’t very successful and was soon replaced by a more effective weather satellite.

11. The Earth is round, so the sun’s rays hit….

(a) in the same place (b) at different angels (c) at the south pole (d) in the summer

12. Which of the following is not part of weather?

(a) tides (b) Wind (c) Cloud Cover (d) temperature

13. Which slang term for a tornado is also the title of a 1996 film? Twister

14. Which BBC weatherman’s prediction that the Great Storm of 1987 was a false alarm is celebrated as a classic TV gaffe?  Michael Fish

15. What name is given for the amount of water vapour present in the air? Humidity

16. Red sky at night, ‘shepherd’s’ delight, is an old observation about the weather. What does a red sky in the morning mean? Shepherd’s Warning

17. If cows are lying down in a field, what weather does this traditionally foretell? Rain

18. What name is given to the torrential rain experience in India for six months beginning of May? Monsoons

19. What can be ribbon, rocket, sheet or streak? Lightening

20. Related to weather, name the 1939 Romance film starring Clarke Gable and Vivien Leigh? Gone with the Wind

Gateway Church are holding their first ‘free shop’ tomorrow – Tuesday 18th August.  You can go along and pick up anything you need for free: 10am – 4pm, Gateway Church at St Marks, St Marks Road, LS2 9AF.

Face coverings should be worn and there are covid safety measures in place – watch the video in the link below for all the details:

https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=3288411571216102

Thought we’d share this video of the deer at Lotherton Hall, just because who wouldn’t want to see some cute deer and foals on a Sunday morning? 😊

Free, online throughout August

FREE digital festival showcasing the best storytellers from across Yorkshire and beyond. This diverse program celebrates the myths and folktales that have shaped our world and challenges the stories of today.

In celebration of their 10th anniversary, this digital festival boasts a groundbreaking programme with over 80 events and will be free and available online, throughout August 2020.  Storytelling, poetry, music, theatre, talks, workshops.  All the events are free but you may need to book.  You can find the programme and all the information about how to access each event here:  https://yorkshirefestivalofstory.com/programme/

Yorkshire Festival of Story will stream hope into your homes as we celebrate our region and our world. Join BBC R4’s Jenni Murray, Joanne Harris and the Bronte Society for Breakfast, Travel the world through Folktales with Ben Okri and Keving Crossley Holland and join Yorkshire Shepherdess on her farm in Yorkshire.

The Leeds West Indian Carnival was sadly cancelled a few months ago due to COVID, yet we are delighted to hear its now back for an online version.

ONLINE Leeds West Indian Carnival

✨✨Carnival online 💻
Grab yuh rags, whistles, horns, costume, headpiece ANYTING!

💫Get ready to jam 💃🏽for carnival 2020 online 🕺🏾

Save the dates:
💥Sunday 30th August and Monday 31st August 💥

Details to follow 🙌🏾

.

Picture from Leeds West Indian Carnival twitter page

Leeds residents across the city are urged to play their part in the 75th anniversary of VJ Day from home:

This Saturday (15 August) marks 75 years since Victory in Japan (VJ) Day when the Second World War finally came to an end in Japan. Whilst VE Day (Victory in Europe) marked the end of the war in Europe in May 1945, Japan fought on with both sides suffering thousands of losses across Asia and the Pacific.

Unfortunately due to the current coronavirus pandemic, many VJ Day events across the UK will not be going ahead in line with government guidance. Residents across the city are therefore encouraged to mark the 75^th anniversary of VJ Day in the same way as VE Day, from the comfort of their own homes. Leeds Civic Hall, Leeds Town Hall and Leeds City Museum will be lighting up red, white and blue to pay tribute to those who served during WWII.

The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) have created a digital toolkit which includes lots of ways you can still get involved. The full toolkit is available here: https://ve-vjday75.gov.uk/get-involved/.

There are a number of programmes, debates and virtual tours to watch in the run up to VJ Day, find out more here https://ve-vjday75.gov.uk/vj-day-what-to-watch/. On 15 August, The Royal British Legion will be holding a commemoration at the National Memorial Arboretum to mark the 75th anniversary of VJ Day. It will be broadcast on BBC One at 11am and will include veteran testimonies and music from military musicians as well as wreath-laying at several memorials.

Sourced: Leeds Live

Picture from Leodis Leeds

16th August 1945. Jubilant Leeds people dancing in front of Leeds Town Hall. This was to celebrate VJ (Victory in Japan) Day, which signalled the end of war-time hostilities in the Far East. This came a few months after VE Day when the Second World War ended in Europe on 8th May 1945. In spite of heavy rain the crowd appear to be in high spirits, women are wearing head scarfs in turban fashion and tied round the head.

Picture and comments below sourced: www.leodis.net