Radio Aire FM presenter Katy Kaboom turns on the electricity market for British Gas at their Eastgate showroom. She is pictured with area manager Paul Waite.placeholder image
Radio Aire FM presenter Katy Kaboom turns on the electricity market for British Gas at their Eastgate showroom. She is pictured with area manager Paul Waite. | Hickes Leeds

Surreal photos take you back to Leeds in December 1998

Andrew Hutchinson
By Andrew Hutchinson

Specialist Reporter

Published 9th Dec 2025, 04:45 BST

This slightly surreal photos kicks off a month of memories from around Leeds at the back end of the 1990s.

Radio Aire presenter Katy Kaboom is pictured flicking a switch at the British Gas showroom on Eastgate in the city centre in December 1998. It is one of 19 photos charting the 31 days in the life of your Leeds and its residents. It was a month which featured members of charity Caring for Life sleeping out overnight on the steps of Leeds Town Hall to raise funds to help the homeless and staff at Roundhay Park's Tropical World deciding on a name for a baby Marmoset monkey who was nursed back to health after his mother died. READ MORE: Unseen photos chart of a golden age of Leeds pub culture LOVE LEEDS? LOVE NOSTALGIA? Join Leeds Retro on facebook YEP RETRO NEWSLETTER: Sign up for our free monthly email digest of Leeds nostalgia

Members of charity Caring for Life slept out overnight on the steps of Leeds Town Hall along with 100 others to raise funds to help the homeless. Pictured, from top to bottom, are Sue Hoey, Brain Batley, Lis Wilcox and Daniel Vazquez.

7. Leeds city centre

Members of charity Caring for Life slept out overnight on the steps of Leeds Town Hall along with 100 others to raise funds to help the homeless. Pictured, from top to bottom, are Sue Hoey, Brain Batley, Lis Wilcox and Daniel Vazquez. | YPN Photo: YPN

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Santa and Rudolf hitch a lift during a party at Carlton Barracks in Leeds with, from left, Michelle Clenand and Chris Cardiss, and Capt Vaughan Westbrook. The Officer Training Corps organised the Christmas party for the children.

8. Little London

Santa and Rudolf hitch a lift during a party at Carlton Barracks in Leeds with, from left, Michelle Clenand and Chris Cardiss, and Capt Vaughan Westbrook. The Officer Training Corps organised the Christmas party for the children. | Matt Griggs/UNP Photo: Matt Griggs/UNP

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Last minute loading by newspaper staff for the Yorkshire Post Shoebox Appeal before the convoy set off to Romania to help disadvantaged children.

9. Leeds city centre

Last minute loading by newspaper staff for the Yorkshire Post Shoebox Appeal before the convoy set off to Romania to help disadvantaged children. | Gary Longbottom Photo: Gary Longbottom

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Morrison's staff evacuated their store in the Merrion Centre after a suspicious package was discovered at McDonalds in St John's Centre.

10. Leeds city centre

Morrison's staff evacuated their store in the Merrion Centre after a suspicious package was discovered at McDonalds in St John's Centre. | YPN Photo: YPN

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Gary Kelly pulls the same face as 17-month-old Jamie Underdown while Lucas Radebe and Lee Sharpe try to get a smile out of him during a visit by the team to the childrens wards at St James's Hospital.

11. Leeds United

Gary Kelly pulls the same face as 17-month-old Jamie Underdown while Lucas Radebe and Lee Sharpe try to get a smile out of him during a visit by the team to the childrens wards at St James's Hospital. | YPN Photo: YPN

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'Dont drink and drive' was the key message from the Leeds Road Safety Promotion Unit on Lands Lane.

12. Leeds city centre

'Dont drink and drive' was the key message from the Leeds Road Safety Promotion Unit on Lands Lane. | Justin Lloyd Photo: Justin Lloyd

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