Era ends in Leeds as Latvian club goes on sale

The Latvian community in Leeds, a city in northern England, is marking the end of an era with the listing for sale of the Daugavas Vanagi cultural and social club, according to the agent marketing the property.

The 534 square meter building at the corner of Mexborough Avenue and Chapeltown Road already has seen interest from potential buyers. The property could sell for about GBP 400,000 (nearly USD 800,000), said Nigel Tapp of Nigel Tapp & Co. in an April 21 press release.

“The decision to sell has been especially difficult and sad for older members of the Latvian community in Leeds, for whom the center was a lifeline during the dark days of the Cold War,” Tapp said. “However, proceeds from the sale will be invested to help sponsor the Latvian community and its continuing activities.”

The Daugavas Vanagi club was founded in the 1950s and through the 1980s was a hub of cultural and social activity in Leeds. After Latvia regained independence in 1991, the club’s importance and popularity declined, Tapp said.

The property, two miles north of the city center, dates from the late Victorian era. It includes a meeting hall, a bar, a library, offices and a number of rooms once used for the Saturday school.

Daugavas Vanagi club

The Daugavas Vanagi club in Leeds, England, is for sale, marking the end of an era. (Photo courtesy of Nigel Tapp & Co.)

Andris Straumanis is a special correspondent for and a co-founder of Latvians Online. From 2000–2012 he was editor of the website.

Atbalstot vēstures konkursu, ĪUMSILS piešķir līdzekļus diasporas NVO

Lai veicinātu latvisko apziņu un zināšanas par Latvijas vēsturi ārzemēs dzīvojošo latviešu izcelsmes bērnu un jauniešu vidū, Īpašu uzdevumu ministra sabiedrības integrācijas lietās sekretariāts piešķir valsts budžeta līdzekļus sešām NVO, lai diasporas valstīs organizētu Latvijas Republikas proklamēšanas 90 gadu jubilejai veltītu bērnu un jauniešu radošo konkursu.

Šī projektu konkursa ietvaros dotācijas tiek piešķirtas ar zīmējumu konkursu „Apsveikums Latvijas Republikai 90 gadu jubilejā” un domrakstu konkursu „Latvijas Republika pēc 90 gadiem” organizēšanu diasporas valstīs saistīto izmaksu segšanai. No dotāciju līdzekļiem tiks segti arī ceļa izdevumi katras valsts zīmējumu konkursu un domrakstu konkursu laureātiem (2 uzvarētājiem no katras valsts un viņa pavadonim-pieaugušajam) braucienam no savas mītnes valsts uz Latviju, konkursa apbalvošanas pasākuma apmeklējumam, kas tiks organizēts 2008.gada jūlijā pasākumu cikla „Tautiešu mēnesis 2008” ietvaros, un atpakaļceļu uz mītnes zemi.

Sekretariāts atbalstījis 6 projekta pieteikumus un ir piešķirtas dotācijas par kopējo summu – 14044,55 Ls šādām latviešu diasporas nevalstiskajām organizācijām:

  • Amerikas Latviešu Apvienībai—3850 Ls
  • Latviešu Apvienībai Austrālijā un Jaunzēlandē—5676 Ls
  • Latviešu-dāņu biedrībai—1208,55 Ls
  • Nīderlandes-Latvijas biedrībai „Latvija”—1600 Ls
  • Latviešu apvienībai latviešiem Īrijā—760 Ls
  • Sanktpēterburgas Latviešu biedrībai—950 Ls

Sekretariāts aicina visus apmeklēt šī gada jūlijā plānoto pasākumu ciklu „Tautiešu mēnesis 2008”. Pasākumu programma ir pieejama Sekretariāta mājas lapas sadaļā Darbības jomas.

Prokopčuka finishes 4th in Boston Marathon

Latvia’s Jeļena Prokopčuka, who took second in the past two runnings of the Boston Marathon, finished fourth in this year’s race, according to results reported by the Boston Athletic Association. Prokopčuka, a two-time winner of the New York City Marathon, finished the April 21 Boston contest in a time of 2 hours, 28 minutes and 12 seconds.

Dire Tune of Ethiopia won the women’s marathon with a time of 2:25:25. She was followed by Alevtina Biktimirova of Russia, 2:25:27, and Rita Jeptoo of Kenya, 2:26:34. It was against Jeptoo that Prokopčuka lost the 2006 Boston Marathon in what organizers describe as “the closest women’s finish in the history of the race.”

The 32-year-old Prokopčuka led the pack early in this year’s race, according to athletic association’s online commentary on the marathon, but by about 90 minutes into the competition had dropped well back behind the top three runners.

Robert K. Cheruiyot of Kenya won the men’s marathon with a time of 2:07:46.

The women’s wheelchair race was won by Wakako Tsuchida of Japan, finishing in a time of 1:48:32. Ernst F. Van Dyk of South Africa won the men’s wheelchair race with a time of 1:26:49.

Andris Straumanis is a special correspondent for and a co-founder of Latvians Online. From 2000–2012 he was editor of the website.