Leeds centre’s cafe culture has a vibe; sumptuous food, coffee and booze in beautiful independent boho city hangouts. They’re great places. But there is another cafe society in the suburbs of Leeds, anywhere within the LS postcode: Garforth, Osmanthorpe, Middleton, Meanwood, Horsforth, Chapletown, where tradesmen grab a bite and mums meet to chat.

I’m interested in showing the classic Greasy Spoons run by a Marg and a Geoff serving cheap bacon sarnies to an Ethel who’s been going there for 20 years. As an ex-postman I know them all. Small two-table joints stuck at the end of rows of terraces that were once the corner shops in Holbeck and Beeston, Harehills and Bramley, Pudsey and Yeadon. I wanted to capture the essence of these local hubs in candid moments of black and white.

It was fascinating to be in them. Virtually all were playing local radio stations; in quiet periods conversations would spring up about local issues. I was struck by how similar all these places were, the same vibe, the same friendly welcome, the same chalkboard home-cooked menu and the same low prices!