LeftLion Magazine #134

Out of Time: The Pierrepoint Hangmen Dynasty

From rather innocuous beginnings in Sutton Bonington, Nottinghamshire, Henry Albert Pierrepoint – who simply went by Harry – would...

Grandad: A Photo Series Showing The Isolation of the Older Generation During Lockdown By Photographer Naomi Williams

26 April 21

Frisco Boogie: Reflections of the Mature B-Boy

25 April 21

Many would have you believe that hip-hop is a young man's game. However, Frisco Boogie (aka Duncan Mitchell) would beg to differ. Twenty years ago he turned his back on a record deal and took two decades out of making tunes. Now, nearing his half-century, he’s back enjoying making music (and breakdancing and graffiti) more than ever…

Leap of Faith: Nottingham Residents Who Have Left Their Religion Behind

23 April 21

Between 2011 and 2019, the number of British people who identified as being non-religious increased by a staggering 46%. To put that in context, that made them the fasting growing group in the country and, with the new census currently being undertaken, that number is expected to grow further. While being an atheist isn’t quite the taboo it once was in an increasingly secular country, for some people, turning away from god can pose huge mental, physical and spiritual challenges. We talked to Notts residents Tony Challis, the President of Nottingham Secular Society, and Amir X (whose real name has been retracted at his request), a former Muslim, to find out how difficult it was to leave religion behind…

Writer Graham Caveney Reflects on Growing Older

22 April 21

Writer Graham Caveney, author of The Priest They Called Him: The Life and Legacy of William S. Burroughs and Screaming with Joy: The Life of Allen Ginsberg, shares his reflections on the process of growing older...

We Asked Nottingham's Toddlers For Their Thoughts on COVID-19...

15 April 21

If you think the last year has been confusing for us grown-ups, just imagine how baffling it must have been for the youngsters. One minute life is all Octonauts and adventure, the next you’re stuck indoors watching your parents try and figure out how to set up a printer. But don’t take our word for it, here’s what some of Nottingham’s littlest residents have to say on the pandemic...

Viral Infection: One Middle Aged Man on His Changing Relationship with Social Media

12 April 21

Our Editor Ashley Carter explores his changing relationship with social media, and whether it might not be the right place for a middle-aged man to exist any more...

One in Four: Nottingham's Experiences with Baby Loss

08 April 21

Despite occurring in a quarter of pregnancies, the subject of baby loss remains one of society’s great taboos. Friends and family can feel awkward and uncomfortable around grieving parents, who in turn are forced to bottle up their grief in order to avoid being ostracised, and antenatal classes and books all too often avoid the subject altogether. We speak to Nottingham residents Charlotte Kingsbury, who experienced eleven losses in eight pregnancies, and Carly Williams and Martin Sommerville, whose son Zephyr was stillborn in 2013, to ask why Britain is so poorly prepared to deal with baby loss...

Under Cover Artist: Jay Wilkinson

05 April 21

Artist Jay Wilkinson talks us through his second LeftLion cover, a collaboration with Rupert Rennie...

Level Up: Framework Are Running a 30 Day Fundraiser to Bridge the Digital Exclusion Gap

03 April 21

Digital exclusion is becoming an increasingly important issue as the world becomes more and more digitised, with studies indicating that more than 90% of jobs now require a level of digital skill. While many homeless people have access to phones, they are increasingly being left behind by advancing technology. Throughout April, Framework are encouraging locals to utilise their own gaming skills for a fundraising campaign, Level Up…

No Fake Orgasms: The 30 Day Merch Campaign Raising Money for Sex Education Charity Fumble

02 April 21

Frustrated by the lack of education for young people around consensual and pleasurable sex, artist and fitness coach Rebecca Ounstead has created No Fake Orgasms, a clothing collection designed to shout loudly and proudly about her effort to de-stigmatise not climaxing...

Food Review: No Homer

Cold cuts, vegan style...

5 Nottingham Trent University Alumni Who Made It Big in the Art World

22 April 21

Turning what you love to do and what you're passionate about into something that pays the bills ain't an easy job. Being creative and finding your place within the industry can be a challenge at the best of times, but one route many artists take to further develop their practice is to study at university. Our Art Editors run down some of the biggest names to have honed their skills at Nottingham Trent University...

Inspiring the Next Generation: Shekayla Maragh on Running Workshops to Help Musicians Create Lasting Jobs in the Industry

21 April 21

Tenacious, driven, yet always humble, Shekayla Maragh is a cultural producer making moves for musicians in the Midlands. Supporting minority musical talent on a regional level, encouraging people to have ownership, equality and build careers with integrity and longevity is important to Shekayla. She turned down a traditional industry A&R role in London to carve out her own organic career path; staying curious and being empowered by her work is also key. Led by her passion, she launched musical development agency, CUBE, in 2019...

Food Review: German Donar Kebab

19 April 21

All the flavour and none of the guilt...

Young People's Art Collectives in Nottingham

18 April 21

Young people are our future, and we need to invest in them to ensure they can thrive and reach their full potential – for everyone’s benefit. In a time when youth services are being cut, access to spaces that allow young people a chance to develop skills, foster a sense of community, and feel valued are of increasing importance. Some of Nottingham’s art galleries and organisations are investing in the city’s young people through their art collectives...

5 Nottingham Albums to Listen to This Month

17 April 21

The latest Nottinghamshire releases...

School of Hard Notts: Twelve Year Old Jagoda Brown-Polanowska on Returning to Class and Saving the Planet

16 April 21

Jagoda Brown-Polanowska has been contributing to LeftLion throughout the pandemic, updating us on the state of affairs through the eyes of a twelve-year-old. As students have returned to a COVID-age schooling, we hear how uncomfortable masks, loneliness and Google Meet are a part of the story that shaped the next generation…

Notts Screenwriter William Ivory on the Films That Influenced His Success

14 April 21

Southwell’s own William Ivory, BAFTA-nominated screenwriter of Made in Dagenham and Burton and Taylor, discusses the films that have influenced him throughout the years – from the scarring impact of Bambi to the rage-inducing absurdity of The Lighthouse...

Notts-based Franchise Ohannes Burgers Are After UK-Wide Domination

13 April 21

Amidst the general misery within the food and drink sector during the past twelve months, one chain has managed to not only survive, but thrive. Ohannes Burgers, with their four – and soon to be six – Nottingham branches, pride themselves on putting the freshest ingredients and commitment to quality above all else. And with their West Bridgford and Mansfield locations set to open soon, joining their branches in the City Centre, Arnold, Hucknall and Sherwood (as well as a further store planned for Beeston), we thought it was high time to catch up with owners Deniz & Mehmet Yaziciolgu and Murat Yer to find out the secret of Ohannes’ success...

Hockley Hustle Have Released An Album Full of Notts' Collaborations to Raise Money for Emmanuel House

12 April 21

The album includes contributions from not only musicians, but local poets and artists too...

University Challenged: 3 Nottingham Students on the Impact of COVID on Their Studies

11 April 21

Often overlooked during the past twelve months, and being excluded entirely from some of Boris Johnson’s key COVID briefings, university students all over the country have been left feeling anxious, frustrated and forgotten during the pandemic. We talk to three Nottingham students to find out how they’ve coped during the past year…

A Midwife in Notts

10 April 21

"We run a 24-hour service that never stops, meaning we have to be in a constant state of readiness."

Young Creative Awards 2021: Writer Andrew Tucker on Creativity and Why You Should Enter This Years' Competition

09 April 21

Writer and 2019 winner Andrew Tucker talks to previous winners of Nottingham’s Young Creative Awards about their creative process and how your life can change by entering this year’s competition…

6 Nottingham Bars and Restaurants with Outside Dining

08 April 21

Just in time for April 12, we put together a list of city-centre spots where you can (hopefully) bask in the sunshine with a pint in hand...

The Thompson Brothers: Generations Special

07 April 21

Nottingham's most opinionated grocers on...

Nadia on... Hate Crime

06 April 21

In her monthly LeftLion column, Nadia Whittome, MP for Nottingham East, discusses issues affecting both Nottingham and Westminster. This month, she talks about incidents of hate crime...

Overheard in Notts: The Insults