Guest speaker
Wakefield Town Hall
Wakefield, West Yorkshire
November 25th 2025
An evening exploring the history of skateboarding in Wakefield and its surrounding district and discussion of how skateboarding contributes to active and vibrant cities and public spaces.
Wakefield Civic Society is a registered charity that stimulates public interest in the city of Wakefield, West Yorkshire. The Civic Society provides historical education, supports preservation of notable buildings and encourages high standards in architectural and town planning throughout Wakefield and the surrounding district.
I gave a talk on the history of skateboarding Wakefield which attracted an audience of local stakeholders including members of the civic society, staff from historical institutions, business owners, skateboarders and the general Wakefield community.
“When Farran first approached me to do a talk about skateboarding in Wakefield, I thought:
‘Skateboarding? How could we?’
But then, I thought:
‘How could we not?'”
Kevin Trickett MBE, president of Wakefield Civic Society
I adapted the talk from a publication I co-authored in 2025, Now and Then, which charted 40 years of the city’s skateboarding history, on the occasion of the local skateboard store Division 24 Skate Store, celebrating its 20th anniversary.
The event also included Dr Harry Meadley, who spoke about the growing field of “skate urbanism”, creative progressive environments supportive of skateboarding and other action sports, as seen in cities including Nottingham, Bordeaux and Malmo, and Kelly Devenport, a local skateboarder who shared insights into Wakefield’s contemporary skateboarding community, particularly its emergent female demographic.
Expanding upon this talk, I am co-curating exhibition with Wakefield Museum about skateboarding in the city which is forecasted to run from January 2027.
During the talk, I read a passage the book Fun and Games Up The Old Terrace by my great uncle, Harry Golding. The book recollects the experiences of growing up in our family’s neighbourhood of St. Johns Terrace in nearby Normanton and in drawing upon the text, I drew parallels between how different generations engage in childhood play.
Marketing for ‘Skateboarding In Wakefield: Past, Present, Future?’
Design
Farran Golding
Original photography
Will Linford
Ben Powell
Wig Worland
Leo Sharp
Callum Christie
Greg Somerset
George Reid