At one end of Thornton’s Arcade, beneath its elegant glass roof, four Victorian characters wait for their cue. When the clock strikes, Robin Hood, Friar Tuck, Richard the Lionheart, and Gurth the Swineherd spring into action, raising their fists to strike a bell. It is a wonderfully theatrical way to tell the time—and an unexpected spectacle in the middle of a shopping arcade. Installed in 1877, the clock was made by Leeds clockmakers William Potts & Sons, while the life-sized figures were created by local sculptor John Wormald Appleyard. Their subjects come from Sir Walter Scott’s _Ivanhoe_ , the hugely popular 1819 novel that turned medieval England into a world of knights, outlaws, monks, and swineherds. Richard the Lionheart and Friar Tuck strike the hours, while Robin Hood and Gurth mark the quarters. Five bells, supplied by John Taylor of Loughborough, provide the soundtrack. The figures are technically faux jacquemarts: moving clockwork figures that appear to strike a bell, although the real bells are operated inside the mechanism. Whatever the technical distinction, watching four life-sized medieval characters punch the air to mark the time is considerably more entertaining than checking your phone. Thornton’s Arcade opened in May 1878 as Leeds’s first purpose-built shopping arcade. Today, its ornate architecture, independent shops, and eccentric clock offer a charming reminder that Victorian shopping could come with considerably more spectacle than window displays.

The Queanbeyan Kanberri Connections rugby league knockout event took place at Boomanulla Oval on Saturday, bringing together various Indigenous teams from across the region. Former Canberra Raiders forward Joel Thompson, who is also a former Indigenous All Stars captain, made a notable return to the capital with the Ivanhoe Emus team. The event featured ten senior sides and junior teams across three age groups, with teams including the Boomanulla Raiders (playing on home turf), Googong Goannas, Mud Dogs from western Sydney, and One Mob, which included players from Canberra, Wagga Wagga, and Sydney. The venue, Boomanulla Oval, holds cultural significance as Kanberri, the Ngunnawal word for Canberra, was historically a meeting place for different nations. Aaron Davison, a committee member of the Queanbeyan Kanberri Connections knockout, explained that the event aims to reconnect communities that have historical ties to rugby league, particularly Aboriginal families who began moving to Canberra in the 1970s. The event also serves as a platform for young players to showcase their talent and gain experience in a competitive environment. Davison noted that some participants from this knockout will go on to compete in the larger Koori Knockout at Raymond Terrace, which will feature over 180 teams next week. The Koori Knockout is a significant event in Indigenous rugby league, with the Newcastle Yowies having won both men's and women's titles last year. The Queanbeyan Kanberri Connections knockout is seen as a stepping stone for teams to prepare for the bigger competition. The event also attracted former NRL players, with young fans eager to meet and get photos with them. The article highlights the importance of community and cultural connection through sport, emphasizing the role of rugby league in bringing together Indigenous communities across different regions.

CLEARED at 0058hrs on the 26/09/26 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- REINSTATED at 0906hrs -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- CLEARED at 0815hrs as advised by NTC  --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 20th September at 0726hrs  The road is blocked in both directions due to unknown roadworks at the junction of Avondale Road.  Routes Affected: P13 P13 from Rye Lane at Blenheim Grove, A Rye Lane, R Peckham Rye, R East Dulwich Road, R Grove Vale, A Dog Kennel Hill, L Edgar Keil Way (Sainsbury's), LOR, Same in Reverse.  Diversion Reference: D94774

CLEARED at 0058hrs on the 26/09/26 ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- REINSTATED at 0906hrs -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- CLEARED at 0815hrs as advised by NTC  --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 20th September at 0726hrs  The road is blocked in both directions due to unknown roadworks at the junction of Avondale Road.  Routes Affected: P13 P13 from Rye Lane at Blenheim Grove, A Rye Lane, R Peckham Rye, R East Dulwich Road, R Grove Vale, A Dog Kennel Hill, L Edgar Keil Way (Sainsbury's), LOR, Same in Reverse.  Diversion Reference: D94774