East Leeds History and Archaeology Society

That this House warmly congratulates Bob Lawrence and Jacki Lawrence on their nearly 30 years of dedicated service to the East Leeds community through the East Leeds History and Archaeology Society; celebrates the positive role that, under their leadership, the East Leeds History and Archaeology Society has played in enriching the life and identity of East Leeds; commends them for their wide-ranging work, including their production over many years of the society's excellent, informative and educational journal, their organisation, management and hosting of excellent programmes of talks on the history of East Leeds and the surrounding area, their visits to local schools and their creation of displays and exhibitions showcasing East Leeds' history; notes that their many important pieces of work include creating wide awareness of the history of the women known as the Barnbow Lasses who worked at the Barnbow Munitions Factory in Crossgates and the facts and consequences surrounding the deadly explosion which occurred at the factory in December 1916; wishes them well as they take a step back after so many years of hard work running the East Leeds History and Archaeology Society; and believes that their work has been an inspirational and exemplary case study of the positive impact that local history groups can make.