ITV Calendar film Sandie on one of her ‘lockdown’ walks
The 23rd March 2021 marked one year since lockdown due to the pandemic. Sandie was approached by Calendar and asked to share her favourite ‘Place to Escape’ during this dreadful time. Reporter Adam Fowler joined Sandie and Blossom on a walk at Wolfstone Heights, Upperthong, where Sandie shared her experience of how having access to countryside spaces had really been a saviour during lockdown.
Sandie’s image of a little lamb featured in the prestigious BBC Countryfile Calendar 2021
This photo of an adorable little lamb featured in the Countryfile Calendar 2021. Whilst it didn’t make the final 12, it was included in a montage of runners up. The theme of the calendar was ‘Bright and Beautiful’ and this little lamb certainly met the brief!
Sandie’s Photo Wins ‘Photo of the Month’ in BBC Countryfile Magazine
Sandie’s photo ‘Not Sheepish’ was selected as the winner of ‘Photo of the Month’ and featured in BBC Countryfile magazine December 2020 issue.
The photo features a rather curious white-faced woodland sheep, who clearly didn’t mind posing nicely the camera!
Tributes to Crumble the Dog, Star of TV Weather Photos
Some very sad news: Crumble the border terrier, who became a favourite with viewers of regional TV, due to her many cheery appearances in weather photos shown on ITV Calendar and BBC Look North, passed away at the age of 15 in January 2019.
News of her death sparked many messages of condolence and the Huddersfield Examiner paid tribute to her in this article (shown here).
She was such a little star and photographs of her will always be a cherished reminder of her wonderful personality.
BBC Countryfile Magazine Photo of the Month Winner & Reader Photo of the Year Finalist
Sandie’s photo ‘Horsing about in Holmfirth’ won BBC Countryfile’s Photo of the Month and appeared in the January 2019 issue of BBC Countryfile magazine. Her photo was then selected in December 2020 as finalist in the magazine’s ‘Reader Photo of the Year’ contest. “I didn’t win, but it was such a thrill to be nominated by such a prestigious, high profile publication.”
Kirkwood Hospice Calendar 2019 Competition Winner
Sandie’s photos of cows on parade at Castle Hill has won a place in the 2019 Kirkwood Hospice calendar. The calendar raises funds for the hospice, and Sandie is delighted that her photo of this famous Huddersfield landmark is being put to good use.
BBC Look North film Sandie on her Holme Valley photography walk
Sandie was thrilled to take part in a BBC Look North film about BBC Weather Watchers. Abbie Dewhurst, weather presenter at Look North, joined Sandie on one of her photography walks around the Holme Valley. The resulting film ws shown on BBC Look North on Friday, 3rd November 2017.
Sandie’s photo featured in printed BBC Weather Watchers’ Guide
BBC Make it Digital has produced a guide to help people get online and join BBC Weather Watchers. Sandie’s photo of mist and rain at Niarbyl, Isle of Man, is featured in the guide. The booklets are being supplied by the BBC to libraries across the UK.
Sandie goes live on air with Carol Kirkwood on BBC Breakfast
BBC Weather Watchers celebrated its first anniversary and Sandie chatted live on air with Carol Kirkwood about her photographs, which have appeared extensively on the BBC. During the interview a selection of Sandie’s photos were screened, and later on the same day her work was showcased on BBC News 24, when weather presenter John Hammond discussed her work over the past year, as seen on the BBC.
Mark Cavendish signs Sandie’s photo of him in Streetbikes’ book
Sandie’s photos have been used to document the fabulous work of Streetbikes community cycling. The book includes a photograph Sandie took of Cav whilst on Holme Moss, when he ‘gatecrashed’ a sponsored ride Streetbikes were doing with Fujitsu. Cav was happy to sign copies of the book including Sandie’s photo of him!
Sandie’s photos of the Holme Valley raising funds for Honley Village Trust
Sandie has donated views of Honley village to the Honley Village Community Trust for their 2016 Calendar. The Calendar is raising funds to help maintain the beautiful Yorkshire Pennines village of Honley and its surrounding area.
Sandie features on Radio Leeds with Paul Hudson
As a pioneering BBC Weather Watcher, Sandie was invited to help launch the new BBC Weather Watchers’ website (where anyone who would like to submit reports on what’s going on with the weather where they live can contribute). Sandie joined Paul Hudson of BBC Look North during Radio Leeds’ Drive Time programme to describe how the new website works. She was delighted to meet ‘Paul the weatherman’ after her many years of submitting weather photos.
Photo courtesty of Andrew Edwards, BBC Radio Leeds
Sandie’s photo features on The One Show
As a regular contributor to weather photos to the BBC, Sandie was invited to be one of the first to use a new crowdsourcing weather reporting system designed by the BBC. Sandie submitted weather reports and photos to the new Weather Watchers website and was amazed to see one of her photos featured on The One Show as part of the BBC’s official launch of this new ‘weatherwatchers’ site.
Kirkwood Hospice Photography Competition Winner
Sandie’s ‘Kirklees Snow Patrol’ image has been selected to be one of the two designs of Christmas cards to be sold in support of Kirkwood Hospice.
Kirkwood Hospice Calendar 2016 Competition Winner
Sandie’s ‘Winter Wonderland Walk’ has won a place in the Kirkwood Hospice 2016 calendar, again this will help to raise funds for the marvellous work this hospice undertakes.
The Yorkshire Grand Depart Anniversary
Sandie was delighted to work with Welcome to Yorkshire and the Sporting Memories Foundation on a special event celebrating the first anniversary of the Yorkshire Grand Depart at Leeds Town Hall.
The Sporting Memories Foundation uses the power of sporting reminiscence to unite generations and to help tackle dementia and loneliness.
Sandie’s images of the Tour de France and many Yorkshire Grand Depart decorations that adorned our villages were shown on the big screen at Leeds Town Hall alongside Welcome to Yorkshire footage and Sporting memories’ interviews. As official photographer for the day, the highlight for Sandie was to photograph Brian Robinson, the first Briton to win a stage of the Tour de France in 1958, with the Tourmakers!
Sandie takes part in the Yorkshire Festival accompanying the first Tour de Yorkshire
Sandie was delighted to take part in the first cultural festival to accompany the Tour de Yorkshire cycle race.
Her vast collection of photographs documenting the Yorkshire village decorations associated with last year’s Stage 1 and Stage 2 of the Tour de France 2014 were on display at the Carlile Institute in Meltham, together with images of the stunning local scenery that formed part of the first Tour de Yorkshire, and images of the Yorkshire Grand Depart on Holme Moss.
Sandie wins ‘Community Champion Award’
Sandie has received a Community Champion Award from the Holme Valley Parish Council. The award recognises residents who go that extra mile to do something special for the Holme Valley.
Sandie has had great success with photos of the fabulous local landscape featuring regularly on news programmes. She receives no financial reward for her contributions to TV, but enjoys sharing the sights she photographs whilst out walking the hills with her dog, Crumble.
Holme Valley Parish Council commented: “Sandie’s photography is brilliant and has been featured everywhere recently, helping to promote the wonderful Valley that we live in.”
Sandie’s work goes international during live TV coverage of the Yorkshire Grand Depart
Sandie’s photography was used extensively throughout the live ITV coverage of the Yorkshire Grand Depart. Her images of the street decorations that adorned Yorkshire villages along the route were featured pre and post commercial breaks during both the live ITV coverage and recorded highlights programmes during Stages 1 and 2 of the Tour de France. She was happy to donate her images to show how great Yorkshire is when it comes to community spirit!
Sandie attends DPM’s Tour de France Reception in Whitehall
Tour de France ‘trail-blazers’ from the Holme Valley were chosen to attend the Deputy Prime Minister’s Tour de France Reception at Admiralty House, Whitehall. Sandie was lucky enough to be nominated for her photography work and enthusiasm in documenting and working on all things TDF in the Holme Valley. She enjoyed viewing Team Sky’s jag and bikes, plus meeting other Grand Depart enthusiasts!
Building & photographing a Giant Cycling Jersey with Friend to Friend
Sandie was part of a team of three who built a giant jersey on a hillside at Meal Hill Farm, Holme as part of the Yorkshire Festival celebrations of the Grand Depart.
The jersey was organised by Friend to Friend, who help the elderly to enjoy life. The Jersey was made up of 54 squares, each designed by a local community group.
The resulting photograph of the completed jersey on the hillside was made into postcards and sold to raise funds for Friend to Friend.
Yorkshire Festival 2014 – The first cultural Festival to accompany the Grand Depart
Sandie was delighted to participate in the Yorkshire Festival fringe programme, joining forces with artists Jeff Beaumont and Bruce Mulcahy, they exhibited ‘A Grand Tour of the South Pennines’.
Sandie features in Yorkshire Life Gallery article February 2014 issue
Yorkshire Life magazine showcased Sandie’s work in a five page spread: The Gallery article reported on her love of the Yorkshire Pennines and her success in her passion for photographing landscapes and rural life being widely used on TV.