A SPECIAL York 2001 calendar is to go on sale to raise money for the Hospice 2000 Appeal.

The calendar, titled York And Some Of Its Minor Pleasures, features unique photographs of the city taken by John Shannon, who is a vice-chairman of St Leonard's Hospice and chairman of York Civic Trust.

Rather than dwell on York's most photographed locations, such as the Minster and city walls, the calendar casts an eye on real York life.

"I have been taking pictures of York for a long, long time and I have always tried not to just photograph the city's great monuments but everyday scenes," said Mr Shannon.

"These calendars are bought by visitors to York from all over the world and they give them something to remember the city by."

Carrie Geddes, sales director of Maxiprint, who have been publishing the calendar for 16 years, said: "Mr Shannon is about with his camera in the quiet of a Sunday morning and notices those details that most people miss.

"We are a supporter and a corporate patron of St Leonard's Hospice and this year decided to donate 40p for the hospice appeal from each copy sold."

Carrie said Maxiprint had increased the print run to 6,000 copies and hoped to raise more than £2,000 for the appeal through sales.

"The calendar has been selling steadily, particularly to visitors to the city, since it appeared in the shops at Easter - and of course we are now planning the calendar for 2002," she said.

Janet Morley, fundraising manager for St Leonard's Hospice, said: "The calendar is a wonderful pictorial record of York through the changing seasons."

lThe calendars cost £3.95 from bookshops and newsagents, and the special hospice edition is also available at the St Leonard's Hospice reception in Tadcaster Road.

PICTURE:John Shannon, chairman of York Civic Trust, helps launch the St Leonard's Hospice 2001 calendar, aided by Janet Morley, hospice fundraising manager, centre, and Carrie Geddes, manager of Maxiprint Picture: Paul Baker