Ashby Life April 14 by Ashby Life

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this issue 95 Ashby Life Editor Liz Roberts Telephone 01530 417739 Email enquiries Advertising/Accounts info@ashbylife.co.uk Website/What’s On admin@ashbylife.co.uk

Spring has Sprung! The days are getting longer, we’ve had some lovely weather during March and it certainly looks like Spring is here. In this month’s issue we celebrate the season with a wonderful walk, perfect for getting the whole family out in the fresh air during the Easter holidays. We also take a look at the origins of Easter in This Month and learn about the beautiful gardens at Melbourne Hall with In Your Garden. Happy Easter.

Liz Roberts 06

Web www.ashbylife.co.uk

Behind the Scenes

Facebook www.facebook.com/ ashbylife

A Walk in the Forest

Prize Competition

In Your Garden

Twitter @AshbyLife

On the Beat

Ashby Library News

Address Ashby Life Ltd Castle House South Street Ashby de la Zouch LE65 1BR

Ashby Museum News

Front Cover Image by Lesley Hextall Photography

Ashby Life is an independent publication. No part of this publication may be reproduced without the prior permission of the editor. The use of this magazine for canvassing or direct marketing is strictly prohibited. Information is included on the What’s On and Community Board pages subject to space being available. Whilst every care has been taken to ensure that the data in this publication is accurate, Ashby Life cannot be held responsible for any errors or omissions or endorse companies, products or services appearing in this magazine.

Contents

Book Reviews

Seasonal Recipes

This Month

All About You

Christadelphian Church

Just 4 Fun

Storytime

Your Wellbeing

Easter Services

Venture Theatre News

Community Board

Ashby Health Centre

Puzzle Page

Money Matters

102 What’s On

108 Puzzle Solutions 110 Business Directory

If you would like to advertise in Ashby Life It’s a fantastic way to target potential customers and great value for money

See our website or call Liz on 01530 417739 for details Next issue is May and deadline for copy is Friday 11th April. Please note advertising space is limited, pre-booking is recommended 4

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behind the scenes Find out a bit more about some of the people who live and work within the local area – each month we will be interviewing someone from an organisation or business in Ashby or the surrounding areas. This month...

Sam Hampton Chairman of Ashby Town Team as well as being involved in retail within the town via Woodlander in Bath Street. What inspired you to form Ashby Town Team and what do you love about working as part of the Town Team? Having received a report outlining some of the challenges facing retailers in town centres I took a look at some of the work Mary Portas had done and realised how having a Town Team had helped in other locations. At the time Ashby didn’t have a group of this type so, after some discussion with local organisations and business people, Ashby Town Team was formed. The Town Team is all about getting the local community, businesses and organisations to work together, all in tune with each other – a bit like an orchestra! Where do you like to go for a day or evening out? I’m interested in the arts and enjoy the cinema, a trip to Ashby Venture Theatre, or sometimes the Opera in Birmingham. What is your favourite local shop and why? North’s is always comfortable and together with The Posh Pantry they have a great selection of cheeses. Coxons is also a favourite for their good quality meat.

What is your favourite local restaurant? I like the occasional treat of high quality dining and two of my favourites are The Bay Tree at Melbourne and The Woodhouse at Woodhouse Eaves. I’ve recently been impressed by The Mews (in Mill Lane Mews). Zamani’s are also great for a very reasonable meal. What do you like best about Ashby? The Bath Grounds. When I was a child you could look from our house out over fields and an orchard right down to the Bath Grounds. If you didn’t live in this area where would you live and why? I couldn’t see it happening as I have a good social life here but I think I’d choose Cornwall or Suffolk - I’ve spent a lot of summers in Cornwall and the climate is good. What is the best thing that has happened to you recently? Being successful in my role with the Ashby Town Team in getting Ashby Town Council to support the idea of a Community Centre for the town.

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a walk in the forest Sutton Cheney and Bosworth Battlefield A bit further out of town than usual but a fabulous Easter holiday walk. With lots to see and do along the way this could easily be extended into a whole day out for the family. Sutton Cheney Wharf is situated on the Ashby Canal and has a waterside café. Shenton Station is at one end of the Battlefield Line – there are usually trains running at weekends and in mid-April they have a 3 day steam gala. The station also has a small refreshment area. At Bosworth Battlefield there is a wealth of information relating to the battle plus the chance to visit the Battlefield Heritage Centre – they also have special events on most weekends in April and over the Easter period.

I’ve started the walk by parking at Sutton Cheney Wharf which is reached by following the A447 from Coalville towards Hinckley and taking the turning signed Sutton Cheney a little way after passing the Market Bosworth turn. The postcode is CV13 0AL for those using sat nav. The car park is pay and display, cost £1. The walk is circular and you could also choose to start either at Shenton Station or Bosworth Battlefield – there are car parks at both points, charges do apply. This walk takes a little over one hour.

From the car park at Sutton Cheney Wharf walk back towards the road, going through the metal swing gate and turning right to follow the pavement over the canal bridge before taking the steps that lead down onto the tow path. Follow the tow path the wharf will be opposite you now on your right hand side (1). Continue on along this peaceful stretch of canal until you reach the first bridge (each canal bridge has a number, this is 34A). Go underneath the bridge and then turn sharp left to go up onto the bridge (2) and over it, joining a disused section of railway.

Follow the wide path straight ahead and it will lead you past a seating area with information boards on your left and eventually come out at Shenton Station (3) and the start of the Battlefield Line. Arriving in the station yard you need to follow the yellow footpath arrow that leads through a small gate and over the railway line. Keep following the bridle path sign to pass through a metal swing gate and then take the well-made hardcore path which wends its way uphill towards the Battlefield Centre (4). As you near the top of the hill you will see the standard of Richard III flying off to your right.

The path reaches an interesting circular area which supplies more information about what happened during the battle laid out in the form of a clock face on the ground. Take the first exit out of this area (view it like a roundabout!!!) and the hard core path will take you towards, but then around the back of, the Visitor centre.

Following the signs towards Ambion Wood and the Ashby Canal you will pass through two swing gates (5). You are now in Ambion Wood and a good, clear path takes you through this lovely stretch of woodland coming out alongside the canal on the same side as Sutton Cheney Wharf. Just follow the path. You are now back on the same side as Sutton Cheney Wharf, follow the path straight ahead and you will pass through a small gate and emerge in the far end of the car park, behind the café. All walks are checked shortly before publication but please be aware that paths may change over time and with the seasons.

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prize competition WIN £25 IN OUR PRIZE COMPETITION

We’ve hidden a copy of our logo within one of the advertisements in the magazine – just tell us the name of the company whose advert it is hidden in and you could be in with a chance of winning £25. Send your answer to us at: Competition, Ashby Life, Castle House, South Street, Ashby de la Zouch, LE65 1BR.

Name Address Postcode Email address The logo is hidden in the advert for on page (If you don’t want to cut out the entry form you can send the answer on a postcard) or enter by email to: competition@ashbylife.co.uk.

CONGRATULATIONS to March competition winner, Mrs S Smith, who correctly found the hidden logo in the advert for TRADITIONAL ACUPUNCTURE on page 97. Entries close on Friday 11th April. The winner will be chosen at random from all correct entries. The winner will be notified and a cheque for £25 sent within 14 days of the closing date, the winners name will also be printed in the following edition of Ashby Life. Multiple or automated entries are not allowed. We will not pass your details to any third party. We may use your details to send you marketing emails from Ashby Life in the future – if you would prefer that we did not, please tick this box.

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in your garden RHS Show Garden Medalist, Francesca Sinclair, looks at how to make the most of your garden and garden jobs for this time of year. Francesca offers a full garden design service - find out more at www.francescasinclair.co.uk

The Joy of Melbourne Hall Gardens MELBouRNE Hall gardens are a delight and an inspiration. These gardens feel like a secret I must share. They are open from April through to September on Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday and bank holiday Mondays between 1.30pm and 5.30pm. Discretely hidden behind a high wall on one side of Melbourne and only glimpsed on the other side from the 20 acre mill pond is a peaceful and lovingly cared for garden set out in the 18th century design style of famous French landscape architect Le Notre. Today Lady Ralph Kerr is subtly contributing her style to the future of the garden. Together the owners, with vision for the future and custodians of the past, and a professional and loyal gardening team make a fitting partnership to ensure the continuation of a great garden. There is an overall feeling that everything is perfectly placed, creating a sense of rightness. Vistas cross the gardens and encourage searches to their end; perfectly proportioned lawns with neat edges set off by cleverly planted borders; trees which elegantly frame, guide and punc-

tuate the composition. Many of the trees are superb, mature and statuesque, and there are unusual specimens. The Pocket Handkerchief Tree, has flowers in May which really do look like fluttering folded white handkerchiefs. So many of the trees at Melbourne Hall are an arboreculturalist's dream! A group of Magnolia Grandiflora are each the largest I have ever seen and a carefully trained Wisteria perfumes i the air. Notable features when you visit are the high Yew hedges and a long Yew tunnel, fascinating to child-ren and adults alike. There is the stunning ’Birdcage’, a wrought iron arbour designed by local Ironsmith Robert Bakewell between 1706 and 1708. Open water, streams and pools give stillness, reflec-tions and also movement. The marginal and waterside planting makes the most of the variety of conditions and the opportunity to have more unusual plants. The muniment room with its unusual roof is just

another little treasure masterfully sculptured within the garden plan. Statues have been cleverly placed with purpose and sit both comfortably and unostentatiously. The layout of the gardens was done with purpose and sought to set the house comfortably and appropriately within its grounds and wider landscape. The setting out of the garden is characterised by the Le Notre style. Melbourne Hall garden feels awash with history, but is somehow practical, even understated and welcoming. The House itself is a small stately home privately occupied but is also open to the public with guided tours on Tuesdays to Saturdays during August (gardens are also open on these days). For further information please go to www.melbournehall.com Happy gardening.

Francesca

Email info@francescasinclair.co.uk Photograph courtesy of Gillian Day

BACk To REALITy... ANd THE gARdENINg joBS: 1 2 3

Lawns – time to cut weekly and edge weekly and repair any patches. Sow lawns and seeds of annuals and herbs. Also sow main crop and salad potatoes and plant more onion sets. Make soft wood cuttings from shrubs such as Lavender and Santolina.

4 5 6 7 8

Tie in climbing and rambling roses. Feed fruit and hungry shrubs and roses. Divide water lilies. Weeding – all the time! Beware late frosts and protect tender plants and annuals.

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on the beat

Hello everyone... THIS month, it's over to Inspector Helena Bhakta (right) for her latest update: Welcome to my latest monthly update with a round-up of what has been happening in and around North West Leicestershire over the past month or so. I am particularly delighted to bring you news of two cases that were recently heard at Leicester Crown Court and relate to offences that have had a significant impact on the local community.

drug dealer sent to prison On the 7th February 2014 a 24 year old man from Swadlincote, Derbyshire was sentenced at Leicester Crown court in relation to Possession of MCAT with intent to supply (a class B controlled drug) in Measham on the 23rd July 2013 and a breach of a community rehabilitation order by committing this offence. He was sentenced to 16 months in custody, with a minimum of 8 months to be served and the remainder of the sentence to be suspended for two years. He was also issued with a five year Crime Related Anti-Social Behaviour Order (CRASBO) preventing him from being in Measham in the company of more than one person and banning him from being under the influence of drink or drugs in the village. This is an excellent result for the Forest Safer Neighbourhood Team, in particular Beacon Officer PC Steve Harrison, and team members PC's Sean Lockley and Colin Gardner. Heating oil thieves sent to prison During the latter part of 2012 and early 2013 we suffered a large number of thefts of heating

oil. On the 19th February four men were sentenced at Leicester Crown Court for more than 20 offences across North West Leicestershire and Derbyshire. The four men pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing to conspiracy to steal heating oil. One was sentenced to 18 months, two others received 13 months each and the final man was sentenced to 10 months. The excellent result in this case has come about as a result of a lot of hard work by our colleagues in CID, as well as Police Community Support Officers on our Safer Neighbourhood Teams. download As many of you can appreciate, the Download festival is a significant event not only for the local community but also the police. Our planning for this year’s event started as soon as last year’s event finished and at North West Leicestershire we are heavily involved in planning for the festival. We meet regularly with Live Nation who are the event promoters, as well as North West Leicestershire District Council, and we are working hard to deliver a safe event that causes the least amount of adverse impact on the local community. Crime Prevention While we have had some success, as I have outlined above, we can never be complacent and as such we have available a number of products to help prevent you becoming a victim of crime. • Catalytic Convertor marking kits - PCSO Tony Gallagher and police volunteer Bob Bancroft have visited all Coalville Garages dealing in vans to offer CAT security marking kits at significantly reduced cost. The kits include a CAT marking kit and a window sticker to deter criminals. • Bike Locks - We have a supply of D-locks which are available from Coalville police station for £6. • Light timers - We have a limited supply of light timers which are available for free from Coalville police station.

PC MARk ARjoo telephone: 101 voicemail ID: 1667 email: mark.arjoo@leicestershire.pnn.police.uk

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ashby library news

ou can always expect a warm welcome at Ashby Library. join for free to use the computers and borrow books, dVds and talking books. Come and chat to us and we will be happy to help you.

ouR REguLAR EVENTS: ‘Wriggly Readers’ and ‘Story and Rhymetime’ for children aged 0-5 years and their parents and carers. Join us for stories and songs every Friday morning 10.30am to 11am. The friendly ‘knit and Stitch’ group meet every Monday 2pm to 4pm. Bring your project and come for a chat. ‘Tiny Talk’ baby signing classes take place every Thursday 9.30am to 10.30am, £5 per session. Pre-booking essential. The unusual and popular ukulele playing group meets every Wednesday 10.00am to 11.30am. £5 per session. Creative Writing group takes place every Tuesday 2pm to 4pm. Contact Helen Johnson on 01530 414247. Come and practice Hatha yoga every Tuesday 7pm to 9pm. Contact British Wheel of Yoga qualified instructor Lorna Kirk for more details on 01530 416135. For more information or to book please contact Ashby Library on 0116 3055917 spaces are limited.

ALSo, juST FoR THIS MoNTH: Lunch Time Talk: Traditional Sausage Making with Alf Pallett Friday 4th April, 12.30 to 1.30pm £2.50 members, £3 non-members. Watch a demonstration of professional sausage making, try rare varieties and listen to a talk about sausage making. International Table Top gaming day Saturday 5th April, 10am to 1pm, FREE. Refreshments available. Fun for all the family with board and card games available to borrow to play in the library from Chess to Monopoly. Join in this international celebration of board games by reliving an old favourite or trying a new game. Minibeasts and Composting Event Thursday 24th April, 2.30 to 4.00pm £1 per child, suitable for ages 4 to 12 yrs. Make a ‘Rot Bot’ composting container and try some minibeast crafts with master composters.

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ashby museum news

ur popular programme of summer evening Wednesday walks has been finalised and this year we are offering the following walks:-

21st May – Town History Walk; 13th june – Town History Walk plus; 16th july – Scandal and Murder; 13th August – Darkest Ashby and 17th September – Pubs and Alehouses. All walks are led by one of the Museum Trustees and start at the Museum at 7pm. The cost is £3.50 per person. It is essential to book a place by phoning 01530 560090, or call in at the Museum.

Following on from the Ibstock History Society’s exhibition, the next temporary exhibition from 9th May to 27th june will be celebrating Ashby Bowls Club’s 125 year history. The first entry in the minutes book reads: “Monday evening, 12th August 1889, some gentlemen of Ashby met on the bowling green in the Bath Grounds to form a bowling club.” At that time, the Royal Hotel and Baths, together with the Bath Grounds were owned and administered as a Spa by the Ashby-de-la-Zouch Baths & Hotel Co. Ltd. The Baths & Hotel Co. readily agreed to the

formation of the Club and the conditions of tenancy were mutually agreed. It appears from the Minutes of Meetings at the time that the Secretary of the Company was also a founder member of the Club. The first President was Mr E. Simpkin and Mr R. Allocock was Secretary, there were a total of 21 members. The first Club match took place on Wednesday, 21st August 1889 against Burton United Bowling Club. Ashby Bowling Club has been on the Bath Grounds since it was founded apart from a short period in 1928 when it moved to Hood Park. This year in celebration of the 125th year Ashby Bowls will host matches against Bowls England, Midlands Counties Bowling Association and Leicester Bowls Association. There will also be a Celebration Match against 6 local bowling Clubs. The display in Ashby Museum will give a full history of the club illustrated with photos, memorabilia and items of interest. The next Kids’ Club on Saturday April 5th will feature the Romans.

FRIENdS oF ASHBy MuSEuM Having just had the Derby Police Male Voice Choir concert and a coffee morning, we are having a break until our next coffee morning at the Museum on Wednesday 14th May at 10.30am. John Louch will be our speaker, talking about his early days as a ‘Rookie Copper’. A date for your diary: The Ian Clews Memorial Quiz will be held on Friday 10th october at Packington Village Hall.

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book reviews

It IS Easy Being Green get clued up this month ahead of Earth day on the 22nd. kermit actually had it all wrong: with so many great books around to help us be more environmentally aware, it’s just a matter of making some simple changes, and finding the right books to help us along the way.

Silent Spring... Rachel Carson Silent Spring was a revolution when it was published in the 1960s. This hugely-influential work, and Carson’s findings on the destruction caused by pesticides changed laws and helped to get harmful substances banned from use in the USA and many other countries. She opens the book by quoting Keats: ‘The sedge is wither'd from the lake, and no bird sings.’ Thanks to the pioneer of the ‘Deep Ecology’ movement, the Carson revolution lives on.

How Bad Are Bananas? : The Carbon Footprint of Everything ... Mike Bernau-Lee

We talk about our giant, trampling, carbon footprints, but exactly how bad is it to take a transatlantic flight, or use a plastic carrier bag, or buy bananas? This book takes us, step-by-step through around 100 everyday items and occurrences to show the impact our daily existence is having on the planet. It’s an entertaining, though sometimes disturbing, read.

an inconvenient truth...

Al gore

Former Vice President of the United States, Gore is an articulate and prolific ‘green’ campaigner who has long been on a mission to raise awareness of global warming. Gore writes in a succinct, passionate and compelling way about the need to halt climate change and react now, rather than thinking it’s something that’s happening at a glacial pace. He brings urgency and momentum to the debates, insisting that governments need to stop ignoring this most inconvenient of truths: that our planet is heating-up and we have a critical situation on our hands.

the green book... Elizabeth Rogers and Thomas M. kostigen This book is packed with information about small efforts that can make a big difference. It has thought-provoking facts and figures for when you’re standing there cleaning your teeth with the tap running. There are celebrity hints and tips including pearls of wisdom from Robert Redford, Jennifer Aniston and Justin Timberlake to name but a few.

Mates, Dates and Saving the Planet... Cathy Hopkins If you’re like, totally into saving the planet and stuff (and you’re a teenage girl) then this edition of Cathy Hopkins’ popular teenage series is ‘totes amazeballs’ for sorting out your carbon footprint. Lucy, Izzie, TJ and Nesta have loads of great top tips on how to make a difference, one knickers drawer at a time. There’s plenty of advice on how to look good whilst being good and showing you actually care about our planet. If you’re not a teenage girl, but live with one, then this book could help drastically reduce household bills. Saving the planet has never been so cool.

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seasonal recipes Bananas ripen so quickly that it’s easy to find yourself with a several left over needing to be used up. When baked in a cake they lose their sour smell and leave a subtle taste, which is particularly delicious when combined with chocolate and walnuts

Banana, Walnut & Chocolate Cake you WILL NEEd • 100g butter at room temperature

• 175g plain flour

• 100g light brown sugar

• 1 tsp bicarbonate of soda

• 25g caster sugar (white or golden)

• ½ tsp cinnamon

• 2 large eggs • 1 tsp vanilla essence • 3-4 ripe bananas, mashed

• 1½ tsp baking powder

• 100g Walnuts (chopped or whole) • 75g Dark chocolate chopped or coarsely grated

gET STARTEd 1 Preheat the oven to 1800C (1600C fan oven) or gas mark 4. 2 Grease a 900g loaf tin and line with greaseproof paper. 3 Cream the sugar and butter together until fluffy. 4 Add the eggs and the vanilla essence and then the bananas and mix in well. 5 Carefully mix in the flour and bicarb, baking powder and cinnamon so there are no lumps, then fold through the dark chocolate and most of the walnuts. 6 Pour the batter into the loaf tin and bake for 45 to 55 minutes until a skewer through the centre comes out clean. 7 Leave on a rack until cool before serving to allow time for the chocolate to set. 8 Sprinkle with icing sugar and a few more chopped walnuts.

s Serve 4-6 in y Read s in 60 m

Fish Pie

A delicious family supper you WILL NEEd • 1kg / 2lb 3oz Maris Piper potatoes, peeled and halved • Pinch of salt • Knob of butter for mashing • 1 tbsp milk for mashing • 25g / 1oz butter • 25g / 1oz flour • 4 spring onions, finely sliced

• 400ml / 14 fl oz milk • 200g / 7oz white fish • 200g / 7oz smoked haddock • Good handful of prawns • Small bunch of chives, finely snipped • Handful of frozen sweetcorn • Handful of frozen peas • Handful of grated cheddar (optional)

gET STARTEd 1 Preheat the oven to 2000C (1800 fan oven) or gas mark 6. 2 Put the potatoes in a saucepan and pour over enough water to cover them. Salt lightly and bring to the boil and then simmer until tender. When cooked, allow to drain thoroughly, then mash with the milk and butter. Season with ground black pepper. 3 Meanwhile, place the butter, flour and spring onions in a large pan and heat gently until the butter has melted, stirring regularly. Cook for 1 to 2 minutes. Gradually whisk in the milk. Bring to the boil. Keep stirring to prevent the sauce sticking or becoming lumpy. Cook for 3 to 4 minutes until it's thickened. 4 Remove from the heat and stir in the fish, prawns, snipped chives, sweetcorn and peas. Spoon into an ovenproof dish. 5 Spoon the potato evenly over the top. Sprinkle with cheddar cheese if using. Place in the oven for 25 minutes or until golden and bubbling at the edges.

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this month EggS have been used as symbols at festivals since before the time of jesus, but are now particularly synonymous with Easter and the story of the resurrection. Eggs are said to represent new life, and for Christians when they are cracked open, they stand for the empty tomb following jesus’ rising. Eggs are also considered special, because although they do not seem alive they have life within them - especially in springtime when chicks hatch out.

the Bunny, another common Easter activity is egg rolling. This is done using real hard boiled eggs, and time is usually spent decorating them beforehand. In years gone by the eggs were dyed using onion skin, today’s painting process is much easier.

Easter Eggs and Easter Bunnies by Susan Brookes-Morris

In previous times people gave gifts of eggs carved from wood or precious stones. It is only in the last 100 years or so that sweet eggs have been eaten. The size and range of chocolate eggs available seems to increase every year. The tallest chocolate egg was 10.39 metres tall and made in Italy in 2011. It weighed 7.2 kilograms and was 9.6 metres at its widest point! It is not known exactly who first created the story of the Easter Bunny, but it seems to have its origins in Germany. It was first mentioned in German texts in the 16th Century. In the 1700’s German immigrants told stories when they went to America of egglaying rabbits, and they encouraged children to use caps and bonnets to make nests which the Easter bunny would fill with coloured eggs - if they’d been good.

The 'bunny' as a symbol of Easter was first mentioned in German writings in the 16th Century and introduced to American folklore in the 18th Century. Children would build a nest using their caps and bonnets, and if they had behaved, would be rewarded with a nest of coloured eggs.

The first edible Easter bunnies appeared in Germany during the early 1800s and were made of pastry and sugar. The symbol of the rabbit was probably chosen because of its associations with fertility and spring. It is believed that Eostre, the Anglo Saxon God of Spring, had a hare as a companion. In addition to having Easter Egg Hunts to search for the eggs left by

In the UK egg rolling is generally done by rolling eggs down a hill, and the winner is the one whose egg rolls further or survives the most rolls. In the early nineteenth century in Northern Ireland, egg rolling was described as ‘trindling’ or ‘trundling.’

Another traditional game involves holding your egg in the palm of the hand and banging against your opponent's egg. The loser is the one whose egg breaks first. In the USA one of the most well-known events is held on the White House Lawn, and involves parents and children pushing eggs along through the grass with wooden spoons.

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all about you

When best friends fall out Editorial by Louise Addison

FALLINg out with a friend is hard for most children. As parents we can't protect them from all life's ups and downs but we can help them through it. Much as we might like to we can't take their hurt or confusion away but we can hug, talk to and reassure them. Resist the temptation to say, “Well I never liked him anyway. I’m glad he’s not your friend any more,” even if it’s true! You may feel justifiably angry, but try to keep that from your child. Let them process it in their own way. Let your child talk about the issue. They may have been instrumental in the break-up of the friendship and it's good to discuss this. don't apportion blame though; children are not always developmentally ready to accept that they may have played a part. Talking about treating others as we might want to be

treated is a good strategy. Also don’t be afraid of sharing stories from your own childhood. It can help them to realise that bad things happen and people learn and move on. Keep an eye open for new friendship opportunities, at school and at any out-of-school clubs they attend. Work on helping them build and strengthen new friendships in a healthy way. This is especially useful if your child has up to now favoured one friend over all others. Having a wider social network can help cushion them against future fall-outs. If your child continues to be really sad about the loss of the friendship for an extended period of time then you may need to ask for external help. Their teacher is a good place to start, or your GP. Fall-outs happen to just about everybody at one time or another. Helping your child through one will hopefully teach them a bit about life and strengthen your relationship with them too.

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www.ashbychurch.co.uk

Busy, Busy, Busy

odern electronic gadgets and labour-saving devices in the home should both, in theory, give us more time for leisure and relaxation. But the truth is we seem to be busier than ever with very little time to catch our breath. Days, weeks and even months whizz by and merge together in one continuous state of ‘busy-ness’. As the years go by we seem to have less and less time to sit, relax and actually chat face-to-face with someone, as opposed to email, text, facebook or twitter. Although all of these modern ways of communication are great for keeping in touch on the go, none can take the place of a good old-fashioned natter over a cup of coffee (or tea or hot chocolate). It almost feels like a lost

Editorial by Ashby Christadelphian Church, Union Passage, Ashby

www.ashbychurch.co.uk

and forgotten pastime. So, if you’re out and about in Ashby on a Thursday morning or on the first Saturday of the month (see advert for full details) why not call in to Ashby Christadelphian Church, just along Union Passage? Our coffee mornings are toddler friendly and you’ll be assured of a warm welcome, not to mention freshly filtered coffee and homemade scones with jam. Every penny you pay goes to local community charities, which means others also benefit from the time you spend at coffee morning. The whole thing is designed to provide you with a chance to step aside from your busy life and have a chat (or, if you prefer, just enjoy a little bit of peace and quiet time to yourself!). Either way, you’ll leave refreshed and more ready to tackle that busy lifestyle. Useful passage to look up: Mark ch6 verse 31.

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just 4 fun

Solutions on page 108

CODEWORD Each letter in this puzzle is represented by a number between 1 and 26. The codes for three letters are shown. As you find the letters enter them in the box below.

Solutions on page 108

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storytime

THE APRIL FOOL Gemma Paterson insisted her husband Larry agree to a total embargo on April Fools’ jokes following the events of last year.

putting on an awful accent, but it was unmistakeably Larry’s Uncle Tony; another joker with too much time on his hands. “I recently won the lottery,” continued.

“How wonderful for you,” Gemma said dully. “Indeed.” He took a deep breath. “It’s always been my dream to buy back the house I grew up in. I’m a sentimental old fool, but I’ve so many happy memories there.” “That’s sweet,” Gemma glancing at the time.

said,

After hiding the cling-film behind the ironing board, just in case, she embarked on her daily commute. Stuck in irritable traffic, Gemma fantasised about the house she would buy if they could afford to move closer to her work. Larry seemed to idle away his days in pyjamas now he was self-employed. Gemma suspected he invested more time surfing the net than chasing contracts.

“Greetings Mrs Paterson,” a voice said jovially. “I’m Frank Dalwinnie, perhaps I should explain?” “Go ahead,” Gemma yawned. He was

“Thank heavens you’re home.” Larry slumped onto the sofa in exhaustion. “I’ve been on the go all day. I thought I was the impulsive one, but you definitely win the prize.”

“Not funny, Larry. I just want to go inside and put my feet up. It’s been a long day”. He laughed nervously. “But I’ve already handed the keys over to Mr Dalwinnie.”

“Surprise me.” Gemma wedged the handset under her chin.

“Put him on,” she said mildly. Another man came on the line.

“What are you up to now?” she asked suspiciously.

“You know, selling the house in one day,” Larry said, a note of uncertainty creeping into his voice. Gemma remembered the April Fool and groaned,

“Thank heavens you picked up,” he gasped. “You’ll never guess what’s happened.”

Gemma sighed with disappointment; so much for the embargo. Knowing how dearly she wanted to move, Larry’s lame joke seemed a little cruel. She resisted the urge to hang up.

Her 4:30 meeting overran and she crawled home in rush hour traffic. As she pulled into her street she was surprised to see a self-hire van parked on the drive with Larry and Uncle Tony manhandling the sofa into it.

“What are you talking about?” Gemma asked, locking the car.

She was at her desk, opening the mail when Larry called.

“There’s a chap at the door called Mr Dalwinnie. He wants to buy our house, and guess what Gem, he’s willing to pay twice the market price.”

involved and the bathroom floor didn’t need mopping. For six months after last year’s April Fools Day, Gemma’s poor embarrassed mother refused to visit them or their facilities.

“Er, yes,” he replied uncomfortably. “I’m willing to pay twice what it’s worth for the inconvenience.” “Fine, it’s a deal.” She yawned. “But it has to be cash and it has to be today.” “Wonderful,” he gasped. “Shall I put your husband back on?”

“We’ve had to empty the house, and find you somewhere temporary to live,” Uncle Tony grumbled, mopping his brow. “All in eight short hours.” “At first I thought it was revenge for the cling-film, but then I remembered you’d banned April Fools’ jokes.” Larry handed Gemma a thickly stuffed envelope. “Here, you’d better look after the cash.”

“Not necessary,” Gemma said curtly. “Just tell him what I’ve said.” She hung up the phone and chuckled to herself. Larry must be losing his touch if he thought she would fall for that. She was grateful at least that no cling-film had been

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your wellbeing

Entering into ADULTHOOD

IN our last Wellbeing article we discussed the developing adolescent brain so we are now following that with looking at adulthood.

Adulthood in the western world is defined by age and in the UK this is currently set at 18 years. At the age of 18 years we are expected to be responsible for our decisions and actions, contributing to the economy or being educated for future growth and preparing for being an active part of our communities. For the majority of people who reach the age of 18 years who have been reasonably successful within peer relationships, academically able, or with strengths in other areas such as sport and have experienced a loving and nurturing family environment, the step into adulthood generally occurs without problem. However, for others it can feel over whelming, confusing and anxiety provoking. The difference being as our early experiences set a template for future experiences and these experiences can even include bullying, humiliation and family fall outs. Adult mental health is always on the agenda with people talking about depression, anxiety and anger but what this really means is that somewhere along the way our emotional development was compromised. When this happens we lose the ability to emotionally regulate ourselves, so we are constantly moving into our fight/flight emotional system. Negative strategies that may have worked or kept us safe in the past are no longer helpful and we may form relationships with people to try and get our earlier emotional needs met placing high expectations on them which can lead to further distress. Help is available to begin to break these cycles without the need for long term therapy. Unfortunately long waiting lists means that people wait too long for help and this can result in further negative strategies and increased feelings of depression or anxiety. Futureminds minds can offer appointments quickly and will start creating better coping strategies immediately. If you want to invest in yourself you can contact Futureminds on 01530 414144 or see www.futureminds.co.uk.

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easter services

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venture theatre news Bringing you the latest news from The Venture Theatre, Ashby Dramatic Society

A director’s Role THIS month we are featuring the role of the play director and we have asked diane Crane (pictured left), one of our most experienced directors to give us her views: “Here at ADS, our directors usually have to perform the role of producer as well. The director is responsible for finding and casting the play and then everything to do with its artistic interpretation, such as directing the actors, planning the set etc. With my producer’s hat on I have to direct the set builders and painters, liaise with wardrobe and props departments, and work with the sound and lighting crew and the stage manager. Some directors like to direct comedies but I

tend to go more for thrillers or family dramas. My next play, The Haunting, will be coming up towards the end of this year, so look out for that one! Rehearsals start about eight weeks before the opening and are usually held two or three times a week. Then there’s the set building and decorating to fit in as well as finding all the costumes and props, so it is very time consuming. On opening night, my job as director is finished and the stage manager takes over while I sit back and watch!” I think you can see that there is a lot to directing a play, much more than we have room to write about here. To read more about Diane’s view of the Director’s role please go to our website: ashbyventuretheatre.org.uk

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community board Christian Aid Quiz - Holy Trinity Church Hall Teams of up to 6 people, go as a team, or join with others on the night. Snacks and soft drinks provided, or bring a bottle and glasses if you wish. From 7.30pm on Friday 2nd May. Tickets £5 from Frank Bedford. Tel. 01530 467183.

Ashby Stroke group A social group for stroke survivors and their carers’. Meetings will be held on the 1st, 15th and 29th of April 2014, 2pm at Brown Court, Atkinson Road, Ashby. For more details, call Pat on 01530 413723.

great East Midlands Bike Challenge A 50 mile bike challenge with alternative 20 mile, 6 mile or 1 mile courses designed for all abilities. Hicks Lodge, Willesley Woodside on May 18th. Contact Sarah or George on 07544 159948, see www.great-east-midlands-bikechallenge.co.uk or email greateastmidlandbikechallenge @yahoo.co.uk.

Ashby Macmillian Cancer Support Committee Invite you to join them for a concert at Staunton Harold Hall on May 17th at 7.30pm when Fiori Musicali will play music from Vivaldi and Handel. Tickets £12/£20 are available from Ashby Tourist Info or fiori-musicali.com. A donation will be made to Ashby Macmillian Cancer Support.

See 3 p 10

Ashby Arts Festival open Art Exhibition

Closing date to enter the Open Art Exhibition at the Royal Hotel, Ashby is Friday 16th May. Application details are available either from Ashby Tourist Info or via the website at www.ashbyartsfestival. co.uk. If you would like to paint a ‘Big Board’ to go up in the town, contact barbara.royds@talktalk.net.

Moira Furnace Museum Trust Moira Furnace, a well-loved local attraction, is looking to invite new Trustees and would like your help. If you feel that you may be able to assist, please contact the Chair of Trustees, Anne Donegan, on 01283 760348 or e-mail amdonegan@btinternet.com.

See p80

Ashby Venture Theatre

Ivanhoe College 50’s/60’s Themed Party See Fantastic live 50/60’s music from ‘Jukebox Jets’ p55 on 31st May from 7.30pm to midnight, ticket price £12.50 (includes Hog Roast). Fully licensed bar. Tickets from Ivanhoe Reception, Ashby Tourist Information Centre or The Plough.

Marlene Reid Centre The Marlene Reid Centre in Coalville is currently looking for volunteer mini-bus and car drivers. Other volunteering opportunities are also available. For more details call 01530 510515, email info@mrc.uk.net or visit www.mrc.uk.net.

NW Leicestershire & Rutland Wildlife Trust Following a successful visit to Wicken Fen, the group is arranging a trip to Gibraltar Point in Lincolnshire on 8th May. Please call Jim on 01530 262389 for more information.

Social Volleyball Sessions at Hermitage Social volleyball sessions take place most Sunday evenings at Hermitage Leisure Centre from 7pm till 8.30pm, all abilities welcome. If you are interested, email pwalker@ stonehill.leics.sch, look on Facebook or simply turn up. Cost is £3 per session, £2 for juniors. Next sessions are on the 6th, 13th, 20th and 27th April.

Tara kadampa Meditation Classes Relaxing meditation and practical advice. Legion House, South Street, Ashby. Classes run from 7.30pm to 9.30pm on 3rd and 10th April, then a break until 1st May. There is no need to book, just turn up. Seating is on chairs. Classes cost £5. For more information contact 01283 732338 or e-mail meditate@tarakmc.org.

Ashby Art Club Annual Exhibition

‘A Fish Out of Water’ – this holiday farce by Derek Benfield will run from Thursday 1st May to Saturday 3rd May and Wednesday 7th May to Saturday 10th May. Curtain up at 7.30pm. Tickets available from Ashby Tourist information Centre, call 01530 411767. See http://ashbyventuretheatre.org.uk

This takes place at Ticknall Village Hall over the Easter weekend on 19th, 20th and 21st April. Go and view the gallery of artwork, buy a painting or chat to the artists. Refreshments and raffle also available. Admission £1, Under 12’s free.

Project gargoyle

Calendar of Meetings The Planning and Transportation Committee & Licensing Committee are meeting on 28th April. Members of the public are welcome to attend and there is a slot for public questions. Meetings take place at Legion House, South Street and start at 6.30pm.

Last year, volunteers photographed nearly two thousand medieval carvings in Leicestershire. There are still many more to be recorded. The current team of volunteers are looking for new recruits who have digital SLR cameras suitable for dealing with the challenges of recording these

sculptures – which are often high up and sometimes in dark corners. For further information please see the PDF guidelines at www.leics.gov.uk/gargoyle. A free training day has been organised on Saturday 17th May 2014, at Tilton on the Hill. To book a place please email Liz.Blood@leics.gov.uk.

Ashby de la Zouch Town Council

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ashby health centre

MoNTHLy uPdATE Reminder on telephone numbers

web or by phone. So if you have web booking access, and need an appointment, instead of hanging on the phone go onto the web and book for yourself.

Not only can you book appointments via the web, We will soon be starting to use text reminders for you can cancel them too. appointments. However we can only do this if we We are having an average of 100 patients a month have your up-to-date mobile number. Therefore fail to attend GP please let us know if you change your appointments which mobile number or if you think we may Ask at reception about the they have booked so have an old one. Also if you don’t want services available please if you no longer to receive text reminders for your for patients on need an appointment appointment once we start this system, the web let us know, there is please let reception know and we will opt always someone else you out of this service. who’ll be able to use More appointments made the slot.

available for patients booking via the web

We are pleased to let our patients know that we have changed our booking system slightly. Now at 7.30am each morning we make all available routine doctors’ appointments for that day bookable either by the

If you don’t have web booking access (which also allows you to order repeat prescriptions) but would like it please call in at reception and we’ll print off your set-up letter.

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puzzle page denied (7) Not ours (5) Amazing (9) Spot (3) Nap (5) Replies (7) Nearly (13) Mum's mother (7) Healed (5) Lodging house (3) Ethereal (9) dizzy (5) Convent (7)

down

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 11 13 14 16 18 21

disagreements (5) Supporter (3) used for cleaning (7) Insistence (13) Sailboat (5) Vests, boxers (9) Fulfil (7) Made clear (9) Fishing (7) Sale by bidding (7) Covered with powder (5) Hold up (5) Employ (3)

QuICk CRoSSWoRd

SUDOKU 94

Solutions on page 108

Across

1 5 8 9 10 12 13 15 17 19 20 22 23

Fill in the grid so that every row, every column and every 3 x 3 box contains the digits 1 through 9, with no repetition. That’s all there is to it. you solve the puzzle with reasoning and logic - there’s no maths involved and no adding up. It’s fun, it’s challenging, it’s additive! Solutions to all puzzles can be found on page 108.

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money matters It’s that time of the year when financial talk is all about tax free savings and ISAs. It’s worth listening, because you’re really missing a trick if all your savings are being taxed – so here’s a quick introduction to saving tax-free

Why saving doesn’t have to be taxing... AVoIdINg ANd REduCINg TAx oN INTEREST If you earn less than your annual tax allowance, you won’t have to pay tax on your savings interest (unless it pushes your income over your tax allowance). But most banks and building societies automatically tax your interest, so register as a non-taxpayer by filling in form R85, found at www.hmrc.gov.uk/forms/ r85.pdf, for each institution you bank with. You can check your eligibility at www.hmrc.gov.uk/help sheets/r85-helpsheet.pdf. Don’t forget, children pay tax too – most won’t earn enough to go over their allowance, but parents must fill in an R85 on their behalf. Remember, if money given by a parent produces interest of over £100 a year, the interest is considered part of that parent’s income. If you or your partner pay different tax rates, consider putting savings in the name of whoever pays the lowest rate. Some couples aren’t happy with their savings in just one name, but if you are, it can make good financial sense, particularly if one of you is paying the higher rate tax of 40% or more while the other pays basic tax or none at all. TAx FREE SAVINgS Even if you’re a tax-payer, there are tax-free saving schemes sanctioned by the government which allow you to invest a limited amount each tax-year and receive your interest tax-free. An ISA (Individual Savings Account) allows you to save up to an overall maximum of £11,520 a year

(in tax year 2013-14), either in a Stocks and Shares ISAs (annual limit £11,520) or a Cash ISA (annual limit only £5760 per year – so you may want to invest the rest of your allowance in a Stocks and Shares ISA). Many Cash ISAs now have instant access facilities - handy if you want to save but think that you might need to dip into your ISA. junior ISAs are also available for children up to 18, but have a lower limit of just £3,720 per annum; those born between 1 Sep 2002 and 2 Jan 2011 aren’t eligible, as they have Child Trust Funds. Of course, most children won’t pay tax anyway, but one advantage of a Junior ISA is that savings automatically convert into an adult cash ISA when the child turns 18, and then remain tax-free – even if the amount is over the adult ISA limit. The Government backed NSI (National Savings and Investments) sometimes offer Savings Certificates which give tax-free returns without affecting your ISA allowance. You can also save tax-free with a Friendly Society; their policies often have other features such as life or health insurance, but they are designed for long term saving and investing; charges can be severe if you end the policy early. PENSIoNS We should all save in a pension, and pension contributions accrue tax relief. You can usually pay extra voluntary contributions into your employer’s pension scheme, and can also pay into a personal pension scheme (either as a top-up or your sole pension). Some pensions will allow you to take early lump sums but pensions aren’t designed for short-term investment, so always check terms and conditions before deciding how much money to commit long term.

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what’s on... April into May 1st April

Blackfordby WI - with guest speaker, cartoonist Andy Gilbert. 7pm at Blackfordby Village Hall, Sandtop Lane, Blackfordby. Everyone welcome, we would welcome a small voluntary donation on the night. Please contact 01283 212380 for more details. Ashby Royal British Legion – Branch Meeting at 7pm Members of the public are welcome to attend. Legion House, South Street, Ashby. Entry £1 donation. For more details contact 01283 220534 or email ashby.royalbritishlegion@gmail.com.

2nd April

Bradgate Flower Club - 25 year Anniversary Dinner. Including ‘Karaoke to Cabaret’ with speaker Tony Cleaver. Members, former members and their guests are all welcome to join in the celebrations. From 6.30pm at Newtown Linford Village Hall (LE6 0AE). Tickets £15 in advance only, details from Lilian Coleman on 0116 2363191.

3rd April

Ashby Castle WI – Donna Smith from Vanilla Funk Salon demonstrates how to keep your hair smooth and shiny. 2pm at Congregational Church, Kilwardby Street. There is a small fee for visitors, refreshments are available. For more information call Lesley on 01530 455957.

4th April

Century Theatre at Snibston – ‘Leashed’. Simon Evans returns with more ‘sizzling’ entertainment. Starts 8pm. Tickets £12 advance, £14 on the door. Tel 01530 278444.

5th April

The Everly Brothers and Friends Tribute Show at The Palace, Ibstock. Including special guest tributes to Hank Marvin (The Shadows), Buddy Holly and Jerry Lee Lewis. Start time 8pm, tickets £10 available from The Palace on 01530 262400 or from Halls, High Street, Ibstock, 01530 260460. Moira Community day - Enjoy a day reminiscing with the Heritage and Heart of the Forest Group. Displays and demonstrations from young people within the community. Variety

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of stalls with refreshments available. Raffle in aid of the Village Hall. From 11am to 4 pm at Moira Village Hall. Entrance free. Ashby Museum kids’ Club with theme of ‘The Romans’ at Ashby Museum, North Street, Ashby from 1pm to 2pm. Free entry.

8th April

Ashby Civic Society – Melton Mowbray specialist Matthew O’Callaghan speaking on the history of food, food culture and the revival of local specialities. 8pm at Legion House, South St, Ashby. Visitors welcome, cost £2. Refreshments available. Contact Susanne Tandy on 01530 415654. Ashby Writers’ Club - Manuscript meeting: members’ own work. 7.30pm till 9.30pm at Congregational Church, Kilwardby St, Ashby. Visitors are welcome at a nominal fee of £4 per speaker meeting, £3 per comp/manuscript meeting (includes coffee or tea). Craft group at ‘The Beeches’ Burton Road, Ashby. A new venue with more space for this new group who meet on the second Tuesday of the month. Learn how to crochet this month or bring your own project. Everyone welcome. For further information contact Jilly on 07891 861378.

9th April

Ashby Wine Circle – AGM followed by St George Social Evening. Members to bring a plate of food. 7.30pm Brown Court, Atkinson Road, Westfields, Ashby De La Zouch.

11th April

National Trust group – Coach visit to historic Chester. A blue badge guide will join the coach to give an overview of the city and its history, afterwards you will be able to explore Chester at your own leisure. For more details call 01530 563003. Century Theatre at Snibston - Gerald Dickens in Great Expectations. Charles Dickens' great great grandson performs Dickens' masterpiece, playing every character himself. Starts 7.30pm. Tickets: £14. Call 01530 278444. Afternoon Strictly Come Tea dance Shuttlewood Clarke Foundation

fundraising event at the Copt Oak Memorial Hall, Whitwick Road, Copt Oak, Leicestershire. 2pm till 4.30pm. Booking is essential and tickets cost £10. Price includes a buffet selection of sandwiches, cakes and unlimited tea and coffee. To book tickets call Helen on 01530 244914 or email admin@ shuttlewood-clarke.org.

11th to 13th April

Easter at Centenary - Join the Centenary Methodist Church, Measham Road, Moira to see their displays of the Easter Story and follow Jesus’ journey to the cross. Open Friday and Saturday 10am till 4pm, Sunday noon to 4pm. There will be a crèche and refreshments.

12th April

Venture Theatre jazz Club - Brian Mellor’s Jazz Buddies. 8pm at Ashby Venture Theatre. Tickets £9, available from Ashby Tourist Information Centre on 01530 411767. For details see ashbyventuretheatre.org.uk. Century Theatre at Snibston – Tribute band ‘Only 1 Direction’. Starts 7.30pm, tickets £12 standard, £40 for family of four (2 adults/2 under 16s). Tel: 01530 278444.

13th April

East Midlands Parkinson’s uk - A walk at Calke Abbey. There are two routes, a 2 mile and a 9 mile. Entry is £10 (£5 for under 12s) and all participants receive a free T-shirt. Entry forms at www.parkinsons. org.uk/calkeabbeywalk.

14th April

Charnwood Flower guild - 'Memories of Village Life' by Jean Fordham at the Adult School, Bridge Road, Coalville, LE67 3PW at 7.30pm, visitors welcome, £5.

16th April

Ashby Spa WI - Life in the Palace Kitchens, with speaker Colin Alderson. Manor House School, South Street at 7.30pm. You don’t have to be a member to attend the meeting, there is a small charge of £3 for visitors. For more information email ashby.spa@googlemail.com.

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continued on p104

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what’s on... April into May continued 18th April NW Leicestershire & Rutland Wildlife Trust – ‘Calke Abbey Gardens’. Steve Biggins, head gardner, traces the repair and re-development of the gardens from 1987 to 2014. Ashby Methodist Chapel, Burton Road, Ashby at 7.30pm. Entry £2. For more details call David Maltby on 01530 222934 or Jim Footitt on 01530 262389.

19th April Ashby Farmers Market – 9am to 2pm at Manor House South Street. Bringing you the finest foods from the region and specialist stalls. Free parking.

19th, 20th and 21st April Ashby Art Club Exhibition – View the gallery of artwork, chat to the artists or buy a painting. Refreshments and raffle. Admission £1, under 12’s free.

22nd April

29th April National Trust group - A lovely lunch, followed by a talk on ‘Creating a National Garden Scheme Garden’ by Graham and Judy White, who have created their own distinctive and highly acclaimed garden. Their story shares the successes and heartaches along the way. For further information please call 01530 563003. Ashby u3A - Norman Ripley on ‘The delights of running a village shop and Post Office’. At the Congregational Church, Kilwardby Street, Ashby, 2pm. All welcome, visitors £1. Bring friends and neighbours, meet U3A members and find out more.

Ashby Writers’ Club – Speaker: Nicola Valentine (and Nicola Monaghan): novelist. 7.30pm till 9.30pm at Congregational Church, Kilwardby St, Ashby LE65 2FQ. Visitors are welcome at a nominal fee of £4 per speaker meeting, £3 per comp/ manuscript meeting (includes coffee or tea).

Shuttlewood Clarke Foundation - Fun Filled Evening with bingo, quiz and promise auction at Copt Oak Memorial Hall, Copt Oak, Whitwick Road, Leicestershire, LE67 9QB from 7pm till 9.30pm, cost £2.50. Booking essential. For more information email admin@shuttlewood-clarke.org or call 01530 244914.

25th April

30th April

Century Theatre at Snibston – ‘Mandela, Long Walk to Freedom’ (12A). Featuring a towering performance by Idris Elba as Nelson Mandela. Starts 7.30pm. Tickets: £3.50, pay on the door. Tel: 01530 278444.

26th April Blackfordby Village Hall - Ballroom and Sequence Dancing to ‘The Best of Sound’ from 8pm to 11pm. Admission £3. Refreshments, bar and raffle. For more details call 01283 213481 or 01283 819447.

28th April Bluebell Walk at the site of ‘Thortit Pit’. Willesley woods and lake provide much of historical and natural history interest. Terrain: surfaced paths, field and woodland tracks. Distance 5.5 miles, no stiles. Take a snack and a drink and wear sturdy shoes and

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clothing appropriate for the weather. £2 per person, meet at 10.15am at Hicks Lodge, Willesley Woodside, LE65 2UP. For more information contact Sallie on 07795 666 862 or email sallie.corfield@forestry.gsi.gov.uk

Ashby Film Nights - Philomena (12A). A surprisingly funny film of the true life scandal of the baby sold for adoption. The Lyric Rooms, Ashby de la Zouch. Film starts at 7.30 pm, doors and bar open at 7pm, tickets £5, available on the door. See ashbyfilmnights.wordpress.com.

1st May Pub Quiz - in support of CAP Debt Help in the National Forest at The Plough, Ashby De La Zouch 9pm. Entry £1.

2nd May Century Theatre at Snibston – ‘The Railway Man’ (15) starring Colin Firth, Nicole Kidman and Jeremy Irvine. True story of Eric Lomax's experience as a POW working on the Thai/Burma railway during WW2. Starts 7.30pm. Tickets £3.50 pay on the door. Tel: 01530 278444.

Christian Aid Quiz at Holy Trinity Church Hall. Teams of up to 6 people (go as a team, or join with others on the night). Snacks and soft drinks provided, or bring a bottle and glasses if you wish. Starts 7.30pm. Tickets £5 from Frank Bedford 01530 467183.

3rd May Ashby Museum kids’ Club – theme ‘Young Historians’ at Ashby Museum, North Street, Ashby from 1pm to 2pm. Free entry.

6th May Ashby Royal British Legion – Branch Meeting at 7pm followed by an illustrated talk about the history of the National Memorial Arboretum, starting around 8pm. Members of the public are welcome to attend. Legion House, South Street, Ashby. Entry £1 donation. For more details contact 01283 220534 or email ashby. royalbritishlegion@gmail.com. Holy Trinity Playgroup Coffee Morning - Join parents of Holy Trinity playgroup children, for a coffee morning at Holy Trinity Church from 9.15am to 11am. Please feel free to bring along any little ones, there will be plenty of toys to play with. Uniform will be on sale and for prospective parents there will be the chance to book a visit to look around playgroup and talk to members of the committee about what the playgroup has to offer their child.

did you know it’s FREE to put community information on this page? Email the details and contact number to admin@ashbylife. co.uk. Deadline for submissions for the Community Board or What’s On pages of the May 2014 issue is Friday 11th April. Information is published subject to space being available. Ashby Life cannot be held responsible for any errors or omissions or endorse companies, products or services appearing in the magazine.

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PuZZLE SoLuTIoNS - CRoSSWoRd - Sudoku - CodEWoRd & MoRE... HoNEyCoMB

STEP oN IT - grope, grape, grate, Crate, Crane, Crone.

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business directory Accountants & Payroll 97 Ashby Payroll Bureau Baldwins 64 9 & 111 Haines Watts JAWS Accountancy Services Ltd 73 RDG Accounting 107 Aerials & Satellite AB Aerials & Satellites 51 Architects A G Dezign 8 Arts, Crafts, gifts, jewellery, Toys David Nathan 33 23 Ferrers Centre for Arts and Crafts Indivijilly Wrapped 59 78 Knittiquip 73 Paint a Pot Craft Studio Souk de la Zouch 69 & 89 Builders Coe Construction 13 Keith Armston Building Contractors 25 Business Services Lion Court Conference Centre 5 Carpenters & joiners Derek Verey 69 Garden Studio Creations 87 Richard Badcock 20 S S Joinery 105 Carpets & Interiors Agadon 3 Ashby Carpets 15 Ashby Stoves 14 Botanic Blinds 93 Boundary Carpets and Floorings 79 Fairweathers Carpets 86 The Bed Shop 92 Toons 85 Wendy's Courtyard Interiors 52 Charities/Clubs/Community groups 4th Ashby Scouts 69 Ivanhoe Social Club 109 Cleaning, Ironing, Laundry Services Breedon Carpet Care 36 Deanclean 78 Extreme Clean 95 Karen’s Ovengleam 107 Safeclean 100 Spotless Cleaning 93 The Bee’s Knees 38 Toni's Ironing Angels 51 Clothing Alivie Children’s Wear 8 Butterfly Fashions 59 The Shoe Box 49 Country Stores/ general Stores Hallmark Tractors 47 Ivanhoe Countrystore 11 domestic Appliances Contracool 17 Contract & Domestic Services 42 Ray Pittam Engineers 82 driving Schools Bardon School of Motoring 17 Electricians A & J Bartlett Ltd 26 Bright Sparks 95 D & B Electrical 96 M J Electrical Contractors 39

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Estate Agents Hartleys Estate Agents John German Events/Event Services Ashby Arts Festival G & M Bouncy Castles Honeysuckle & Castle Ivanhoe College Ivanhoe Way Challenge Overseal Pyrotechnics Financial Services Bleathwood Squirrel Financial Advice Ltd Florists Indigo Acre Flowers Food & groceries Ashby Farmers Market Clarrisa’s Culinary Creations Smithards Bakery Funeral directors A E Grice Funeral Directors Furniture Repairs & Restoration Ancient & Modern garden Artisan of Ashby Ltd Bonington Tree Services Broadleaf Landscapes Charnwood Tree Services Eden Tree Care F G Gardens Francesca Sinclair & Associates GDR Landscapes Green Thumb (Ashby) Lush Landscape and Garden Design Roughly Refined Garden Service Stone Drives & Landscapes The Water Gardener Hair & Beauty Verity’s Nail Creations Healthcare Ashby Chiropody/Podiatry Clinic Ashby Dental Ashby Osteopathic Clinic Ashby Pharmacy Bathe Safely Candor Care Ltd Dr Jin Future Minds Juliet Brooke Chiropody Prestige Nursing ProPhysio Ashby Silver Oaks Residential Care Home Swadlincote Chiropractic Clinic Traditional Acupuncture Vision Express IT Services Ashby Web Design The PC Clinic UK Bits kitchens & Bathrooms Ashby Tile & Bathrooms Holmetree Kitchens Provencale Kitchens Tiles 4 Less Victory Kitchens Locksmiths Hazlewood Locksmiths The Lockie

67 83 103 96 37 55 65 15 99 20 31 73 35 71 28 42 54 60 65 80 68 82 49 41 19 25 28 45 38 47 52 20 93 90 17 21 100 70 13 8 43 35 50 30 91 97 108 96 2 38 51 81 47 33 60

Motor Services 48 A D Car Cosmetics Caravan Support Services 13 101 Castle Garage (Ashby) Ltd Chips Away 24 Mobile Automotive 41 Music, dance & drama Ashby School of Music 28 Joseph Southgate 22 Painters & decorators Ace Decorating 77 Holywell Painting & Decorating 28 22 John Clark Pet Services 60 Ash Farm Boarding Kennels 77 Creature Comforts Glebe Von Wood Boarding Kennels 33 63 Pet Deli Pet Food for Thought 87 Smisby Dog Grooming 54 52 Woodward Veterinary Practice Plasterers A C Ellison Plastering and Tiling 20 Matt Charles Plastering Services 25 R & H Plastering 33 TCL Plastering & Property Maint. 87 Plumbers & gas Services Adrian Dunstan Plumbing & Heating 54 Batemans Bathrooms & Boilers 32 CCA Gas Plumbing 95 D B Plumbing 41 Ignite Gas Services 65 James Pepper Property Solutions 49 S D Hill (Plumbers) 7 Therm Heating 15 Property Repairs & Maintenance Ashby Glass 72 Ashbyhandyman.co.uk 82 Can’t Get One 59 Cloudy 2 Clear 76 D H Phillips (Flat Roofing) 41 Handyman Maintenance 106 James Beckett 89 James Pepper Property Solutions 78 Roof Tech 42 T S Roofing 89 Windowmate 100 Pubs, Restaurants & Take Aways La Spezia Pizzeria 35 La Zouch Restaurant 107 Noopin’s Thai Restaurant 59 The Blue Bell 45 The Courtyard Café 16 The Mews Restaurant 56/57 The Vine 29 Wong Kwei 46 Zamani's 61 Schools and Tuition Kip McGrath 27 Kudos Education 53 Manor House School 77 The Dixie Grammar School 88 Solicitors & Will Writers Crane & Walton 6 Martin Hall 45 Simpson Jones Solicitors 41 Sports & Fitness Breedon Priory Health Club Ltd 112 Travel & Holidays Villair Travel 12

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