Business Diary: Say cheese..and tales from the Crypt

When Alfie Connor was diagnosed with Leukaemia at just three years old, director of Plumbcall and Alfie’s godfather, Gary Fox, teamed up with Alfie’s father Ian to initially raise £10,000 for the charity. CandleLighters supported Alfie throughout his treatment.

Mr Fox said: “The kindness shown to Alfie by CandleLighters truly was a shining light during a dark time. The work that the charity does to support children and families affected by cancer is so important and we are determined to give them the support they need.

“We hope that the funds we have raised so far will help other families going through the same problems we faced. We can’t thank them enough.”

Over three and a half years later, Alfie, who is now six years old, has been given the all-clear. The fundraising team has also surpassed their target and raised more than £70,000 in total for the charity.

Spot the van man

Move over plane spotters and train spotters because there’s going to be a new hobby in town... van spotting.

Leeds-based fit-out contractor Morris & Spottiswood is calling on the British public to keep an eye out for its new £1m fleet of vehicles. The firm’s 66 new vans have all been branded with the names of classic double-acts such as Batman & Robin and Tom & Jerry, with four also featuring comedy painted arms on the doors.

Any passer-by who sends a photo of one of Morris & Spottiswood’s vehicles to [email protected] before November 30 could be in with a chance of winning an iPad Air 2.

To the fit-out mobile Robin...

Tale of the Crypt

It was founded in the aftermath of the Wall Street Crash, at a time when many people were being forced out on to the streets as they struggled to find work.

St George’s Crypt has been caring for the homeless in Leeds since 1930, and it has continued to flourish with help from the region’s business community.

Diary was contacted by Edward Ryder, the managing director of Biskit, the creative agency, who is bringing the stories behind the Crypt’s development to life.

He told Diary: “We have been working with the Crypt and some of the students from Leeds College of Art to create a short book called Entertaining More Angels. All profits will go to the Crypt. It tells the story of the Crypt, and the problems surrounding homelessness.”

Over the last 85 years, the Crypt has been caring for people of all backgrounds, ages and faiths, who are often on the margins of society.

Entertaining More Angels celebrates the people who make the Crypt what it is today, and is a testament to what can be achieved when employees, volunteers, partners and supporters come together to help those without hope or support.

The book contains photographs, interviews and illustrations about the lives of those connected with the Crypt. The book is due to be launched tomorrow at an event in Leeds Civic Hall which has attracted around 250 people.

Say Cheese

Invest in cheese and you could walk away with a small fortune. One of the region’s largest independent cheese wholesalers is set for continued growth after securing investment from Finance Yorkshire.

Fine Cheeses Limited, which trades as Michael Lee – purveyor of fine cheese – has secured a £30,000 Business Loan.

The Featherstone-based business, which has leased a second unit close to its existing premises, will use the investment to buy a new refrigerated storage facility.

The cheese industry is a real economic powerhouse. In the UK, we consume around 700,000 tonnes of cheese each year.