Ashbylife jun14 emag by Ashby Life

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this issue 97 Summer fun...

Wow, there is a lot going on this month! It’s the perfect time to get outside and enjoy the warmer weather and we’ve got plenty going on in and around the town in the next few weeks. Early in the month is the Ashby Fake Festival with music to appeal to all tastes from a great line up of bands. There is fun on the Bath Grounds with Pinder’s circus and a woodland themed family day at Plummers Wood in Packington. Sporting fans are sure to enjoy plenty of action at the Ashby Rugby Seven’s event. Something for everyone right on our doorstep!

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

Liz Roberts

Contents

Facebook www.facebook.com/ ashbylife Twitter @AshbyLife Address Ashby Life Ltd Castle House South Street Ashby de la Zouch LE65 1BR 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.

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Community Board Behind the Scenes Book Reviews Prize Competition A Walk in the Forest Venture Theatre News Seasonal Recipes Ashby Health Centre Just 4 Fun Ashby Museum News In Your Home Wordsearch In Your Garden Plant of the Month Wheels Storytime Money Matters It’s Local On the Beat Puzzle Page Ashby Library News Young Ashby Christadelphian Church What’s On Ashby Town Council This Month Out and About Spotlight On... Puzzle Solutions Business Directory

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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 Copy deadline for both July and August editions is Friday 13th June. Please note advertising space is limited, pre-booking is recommended 4

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community board Recycling Roadshows See the NWLDC road show in Market Street (outside W H Smith) from 10am to 2pm on 19th June. Pick up recycling information, tips, leaflets and goodies or place orders for red boxes, blue or yellow bags. There are also road shows in Castle Donington on 17th, Morrisons in Coalville on 18th and Co Op in Ibstock on 20th. For more information e-mail daphne.robinson@nwleicestershire.gov.uk, or see www.nwleics.gov.uk.

Age UK Big Knit

DBS are celebrating the opening of their brand new business centre in South Street, Ashby by offering workshops and free co-working space to local businesses from 2nd to 6th June. For more information call 01530 353 500, see www.dbs-centres.co.uk or e-mail info@dbscentres.co.uk. Advanced booking is essential.

The Big Knit raises funds to help keep local older people warm and healthy over winter. Knitters can get the simple knitting patterns and details online at www.ageuk.org.uk/ leics or by calling the Business Development Manager on 0116 223 7344. Knitted hats should be sent to Age UK Leicestershire & Rutland (Ref: BDM), Lansdowne House, 113 Princess Road East, Leicester, LE1 7LA by the end of September.

Swim Fit

Free Cookery Sessions

An exciting new session to help everyone get fit. Swim Fit has specially trained staff to help you to meet your fitness goals through swimming. Tuesday and Thursday evenings from 8pm to 9pm at Hermitage Leisure Centre, Whitwick. No need to book, simply turn up with your swimming kit. For more information, see www.nwleics.gov.uk/swimming.

Learn how to use your leftovers to make money-saving meals. Free cooking sessions at Ivanhoe College on Wednesdays 4th, 11th and 25th June from 6pm to 9pm. To book your place call 0116 305 7699. Find out more at www.lesswaste.org.uk/green_skills.

Ashby Arts Festival

Dates for June are: Coleorton Wood 14th and 24th June and New Lount 10th and 28th June. Work sessions start at 10am and usually last for 4 hours. Volunteers are welcome to go along for all or part of the sessions. Contact coleorton11@gmail.com or see www.cnlvg. moonfruit.co.uk for more information.

Free Networking Events

Still on until 31st May. For further information, tickets and to find out about events please contact Ashby TIC on 01530 411767, e-mail ashby.tic@nwleicestershire.gov.uk, or visit www.ashbyartsfestival.co.uk.

Creation Station This features arts, crafts and learning activities particularly suitable for children under 5 years. Creation Station is at Ashby Library on Mondays 2nd, 9th and 30th June from 9.30am to 11.30am. Cost £5 first child, £2.50 per child thereafter.

Tara Kadampa Meditation Centre

£12.50, OAP £10, child £5 (under 4 years old free). A family ticket which covers two adults and three children is £35. Alternatively you could become an Ashby Agricultural Society Member for £35. The annual fee entitles you to two free tickets and a forward parking pass. It also includes entry to the members’ marquee. Find out more at www.ashbyshow.com.

Coleorton and New Lount Volunteer Group

Ashby Castle WI Strawberry and Cream Tea Celebrate summer with a lovely strawberry and cream tea on 8th July at the Congregational Church Hall between 2pm and 4pm. Tickets £5, contact Janet on 01455 290 729 to purchase your ticket in advance or call in on the day.

Relaxing meditation and practical advice to help in daily life. Legion House, South Street, Ashby, LE65 1BQ from 7.30pm to 9.30pm on Thursdays 5th June through to 22nd July. No need to book, just turn up. Seating is on chairs. Classes cost £6, for details contact 01283 732338 or email meditate@tarakmc.org.

Young Entrepreneur Award 2014

Ashby’s 100th Agricultural Show

Ashby de la Zouch Town Council

The Ashby Agricultural Society’s Centenary Show is on Sunday, 13th July at Cattows Farm, Heather. The 100th Ashby Show will feature a rich mix of top class entertainment so put the date in your diary! Discounted advance tickets can be purchased via Spec Savers and La Zouch Restaurant in Ashby, Ivanhoe Countrystore or Cattows Farm in Heather. On the day prices are adult

Calendar of Meetings The Planning & Licensing Committee meet on 2nd June, Parks and Cemetery on the 9th June, Finance and Tourism on 16th June. 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.

Win £1000 for your business idea. Are you between 16 and 23 years of age and have a great idea to start a business? To apply, complete the simple questionnaire from the website www.nwleiceschamber.co.uk/ye2014. Applications need to be in no later than 30th June 2014.

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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...

Catherine Booton Minister for the Ashby Congregational Church on Kilwardby Street. What do you love about your work? I like the interaction with the community, meeting people, working with them and telling them about Jesus. I present assemblies at several local schools and am also involved with holiday bible club - I really enjoy the interaction with the children. What is your favourite local restaurant? Definitely De La Zouch, the Indian restaurant at the top of Market Street. All my family are curry fans, including my 5 year old son. The people there are lovely and so welcoming to children. Where do you like to go for a day or evening out? I do appreciate live music so for an evening out we may visit the White Hart, the Royal Hotel or The Vine when there is a band on. Being a member of English Heritage gives me the opportunity for days out at a variety of historic sites – we recently enjoyed Kenilworth Castle. What is your favourite local shop and why? I like to shop locally when I can and as my work often involves walking within

the town it’s easy to do. I’m a bit of a magpie and love handbags and things that sparkle so I’d probably say that Grace & Co is my favourite. What is the best thing that has happened to you recently? I’ve lost more than 4 stone over the last 15 months which I’m really pleased about. I’m also rather proud of passing my Grade 1 piano exam last year. If you didn’t live in this area where would you live and why? In Whitby – I love the scenery of the North East Coast. We’ve had several holidays in the area and Whitby embraces different cultures and music. It’s a very friendly place. If you could change one thing about the town what would it be? I’d like to change the road system so it worked better, but I’m not sure how! It would be good to feel that there was a more far seeing vision for the long term future of the town that everyone was working towards.

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book reviews

How Daddy is Doing With Fathers’ Day just around the corner we thought we’d put together a collection of books about dads and their offspring. Whether they’re doting or disastrous, destructive or departed, this is a day for celebrating the role of these most influential of men.

Danny the Champion of the World... Roald Dahl

‘The most marvellous and exciting father a boy ever had’ - you can’t do much better than that accolade. Nine year old Danny idolises his father and adores hearing his fantastic stories and tales of daring-do. Danny’s seemingly simple existence is his own personal bliss: growing up in a traveller’s caravan and tinkering with cars in his spare time. Then his dad comes up with a master plan in the form of a pheasant-snatching adventure and Danny’s world becomes that much more exciting. Roald Dahl’s story of a boy and his love and admiration for his dad is so heart-warming, you’ll want to start finding the extraordinary in the ordinary and realise that you too, can be the champion of the world.

Death of a Salesman... Arthur Miller There’s no way that Willy Loman is winning any Father of the Year prizes anytime soon and yet his son Happy is determined to follow in his father’s footsteps. His other son, Biff has more of the measure of the man having once caught his father in a compromising situation. Whatever the drop-out Biff and the hapless Happy decide to do with their lives, Loman himself is all washed up as a salesman and facing a precipice. Arthur Miller’s play is set using a series of flashbacks as we watch this family and their own American Dream vaporise before our very eyes. Loman commits one final act of desperation for his sons, and the reader is left to decide whether or not he was heroic in the end.

Darth Vader and Son... Jeffrey Brown A bit of light relief comes in the form of Jeffrey Brown’s ponderings over Darth Vader’s propensity for fatherhood. What if Vader uttering the immortal words, “Luke, I am your father” opened the floodgates for some father-son bonding and making up for lost time across the galaxies. What if he was completely misinterpreted and it was a just a stern telling off from daddy? Brown’s comic illustrations reveal life as it could have been if he and Luke had been able to build a relationship and end up as allies rather than enemies, revealing what a hands-on dad Lord Vader could really have been.

To Kill a Mockingbird

... Harper Lee

Show me the person who wouldn’t want Atticus Finch as their father-figure. Atticus is an attorney and is often hailed as being the personification of all that is moral and just. He’s adored by his two children, Scout and Jem who try to make sense of the happenings in the sleepy southern town of Maycomb, Alabama. Atticus must face the disapproving eyes of the town’s residents as he defends Tom Robinson, a black man accused of raping a white woman. Scout and her brother Jem aren’t allowed into the courtroom but they sneak in and hide out on the ‘coloured balcony’ to watch their father in action, and the trial that will change Maycomb forever.

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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 April competition winner, Zoe Meir, who correctly found the hidden logo in the advert for A D CAR COSMETICS on page 48. Entries close on Friday 13th June. 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 be published in Ashby Life and on our Facebook page. 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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a walk in the forest Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Wood This Woodland Trust site, planted to commemorate the Diamond Jubilee, has undergone a lot of work on the paths over the last few weeks. The surfacing work, along with the better weather, has transformed it from a bit of a mud bath to a wonderful spot where you can stroll along hard paths, explore tracks across fields of new plantations and enjoy the lake. Time, I felt, to share it! The Diamond Jubilee Wood covers a large area between Normanton, Heather and Ravenstone – there is a good sized (free) car park which is accessed from the road between Normanton and Heather.

Leave Ashby via Lower or Upper Packington Road and continue on through Packington. At the T Junction turn right, signed Heather and Normanton. Continue straight on through Normanton Le Heath and then look out for the sign indicating the Diamond Jubilee Wood car park on your left about half a mile further on.

Exit the car park via the small swing gate which is opposite the car park entrance, next to the signboard showing a map of the site (1). Follow the wide hard-core path as it bears right and then left leading towards a broken down old barn ahead. Immediately before reaching the fenced off building turn left off the path to follow a yellow marker post which leads down a wide farm track with Jubilee Groves plantings on either side of it (2). Proceed along this track untl it bends to the left - keep straight on here, following the yellow footpath marker post, to reach a metal swing gate. The spire of Normanton church will be visible ahead of you on this stretch. Go through the swing gate, leaving the Diamond Jubilee Wood and follow the track across the field ahead.

On the far side of the field don’t cross the stile that leads out to the road but instead turn sharp right before it and take the public footpath which leads down the far side of the field (with your back to the road). You will shortly re-enter the Diamond Jubilee Wood via another metal swing gate. Follow the yellow footpath sign straight ahead making sure to keep left at the next marker post to go down a pleasant green lane. At the next marker the path bears right (3) and you will soon reach another metal swing gate where the Diamond Jubilee Wood lake is visible ahead of you. Pass through this gate and turn immediately left, going down to a large wooden gate on your left.

Next to the wooden gate is a metal one - go through this and then turn immediately right and continue down this farm track (the footpath actually runs parallel but on the other side of the hedge on your right and you may glimpse markers through the hedge but it is fairly narrow and therefore easier to walk along the wide track). Keep on until the track bends to the left – at this point look to your right and you will see a public footpath sign behind the hedge on your right (4). Access this via a gap in the hedge and follow the footpath across a small plank bridge and into mature woodland.

This pretty path is easy to follow and well-marked as it twists its way through the woods before finally emerging across a further plank bridge at the far end. The public footpath carries straight on here, over the fields, but you want to turn right, re-entering the Diamond Jubilee Wood (5), and follow the hard-core path which, in time, will lead you towards the lake. (From this point it is really a walk straight through the length of the Diamond Jubilee Wood site back to the car park at the top of the hill.) On nearing the lake you pass a gated conservation area on your left – turn immediately left after this, taking the path that runs alongside the lake with the water on your left.

As you walk along the shoreline you will pass by some young black poplars marked by a plaque as the first trees planted in the wood, by HRH The Princess Royal. The path then kinks left and immediately right before making its way up the hill straight ahead of you. On reaching the brow of the hill you will find yourself facing the tumbledown old farm building from the start of the walk. Turn left and follow the hard-core path the short distance back to the car park. 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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venture theatre news Bringing you the latest news from The Venture Theatre, Ashby Dramatic Society

Introducing Mike Cox HERE at the Venture Theatre we are very proud of our excellent sets so this month we are introducing you to our chief set builder, Mike Cox. Mike joined the Venture Theatre as a set builder about ten years ago. Since then he has built many beautiful, ingenious and clever sets. The set for Rebecca was so lovely that when the curtain went up it got its own round of applause from the audience! Mike enjoys the challenge of problem solving with set building. One Night in November was about the bombing of Coventry during the Second World War and featured the air raid with a bomb hitting the house. The set had to collapse and the wall burst in but all in such a

way as to make it possible to put it all back together for the following evening’s performance. “Unfortunately, I was operating it at the back,” Mike told us, “so I never got to see just what the effect was from the front but everybody said it was good.” And it certainly was! Set building for a play begins with a sketch, either provided by the Director or taken from the script. It has to be scaled to fit the size and shape of the stage at the Venture Theatre and various practical issues have to be taken into account so the set builder needs to attend early rehearsals to see how the set is to be used.

There’s also some overlap between the set builder and the set dresser which is usually a separate person. The stage manager is also involved to some extent with set building and quite often Mike does both jobs. The stage manager has to understand the thought behind the set and how everything works on a practical level. Mike doesn’t do all this by himself. As well as the clever intricate aspects of set building there is also plenty of scope for new volunteers to help with more straight forward things or learn new skills so why not join us and have a go? Find out more about set building on our website ashbyventuretheatre.org.uk.

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seasonal recipes They taste so naughty but they’re not!

Crisp and buttery with a tangy lemon flavour these delicious homemade cookies taste divine.

Healthy Asian Chicken Wings

Ma ke 8- s Rea 16 95 dy in min s

YOU WILL NEED • 1 kg/2 pounds chicken wings

• 8 tablespoons soy sauce

• 2.5cm/1 inch fresh • 3 tablespoons sake or dry sherry ginger, peeled and sliced • 2 tablespoons sugar • 4 cloves garlic, peeled and roughly • 225g/8oz plain all chopped purpose flour

GET STARTED 1 First make the marinade. Mix the ginger, garlic, soy sauce, sugar and sake or cooking sherry in a bowl. Marinate the chicken wings in this sauce for at least 30 minutes. Make sure all wings are coated and turn a couple of times during the marinating process. 2 Preheat oven to 200°C / Gas Mark 6. Cover a large tray with baking parchment. Place the flour into a shallow bowl then drain the wings of the marinade. Dip each wing carefully into the flour, shake off any excess then place the wings on the prepared tray. 3 Bake skin side up for 15 minutes. Then turn the wings over so that the skin side is down and bake for another 15 minutes. Finally turn skin side up again and bake for a final 15 minutes to make sure they are crispy. 4 Serve with salad on a bed of lettuce leaves.

Lemon Curd Cookies

Ma ke 1 s Rea 6 d y 90 i min n s

YOU WILL NEED • 175g plain flour, plus • 50g butter, softened extra for dusting • 1 tsp finely grated • 4 tbsp good quality lemon zest lemon curd • 85g caster sugar • Icing sugar, for dusting • 1 medium egg, beaten

GET STARTED 1 Place the butter and sugar in a large bowl and beat together until light and fluffy. Beat in the lemon zest and egg then sift over the flour and mix to a crumbly dough. 2 Gather the mixture together with your hands and knead on a floured surface until smooth. Flatten to a disc shape, wrap in cling film and chill in the fridge for about 45 minutes. 3 Preheat the oven to 180°C/160°F/gas mark 4. Line two baking sheets with baking parchment. 4 Roll the dough out on a lightly floured surface to a 5mm thickness and using a 6cm round cookie cutter stamp out 16 circles, re-rolling the dough as necessary. 5 Place the circles of dough on the baking sheets. Spoon about ½ teaspoon of lemon curd in the centre of each circle then pull up two sides of each circle and pinch together tightly to seal. Chill in the fridge for a further 30 minutes. 6 Bake in the preheated oven for 12-14 minutes until pale golden. Cool for 5 minutes then transfer to a wire cooling rack and leave to cool completely. Serve dusted with icing sugar. TIP The chilled dough will keep in the fridge for 2-3 days. Leave at room temperature for about 20 minutes to allow the dough to soften a little before rolling out otherwise it may crack.

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ashby health centre

MONTHLY UPDATE On-line Appointment Booking We are often asked why we don’t have nurse and blood test appointments bookable on the web. The reason is that there are such a wide variety of appointments which the nurses run, needing different amounts of time, that it is difficult to open these up for patients to book directly. For example if a patient needs a straightforward breathing test this takes 20 minutes, but if the patient needs the more complex version of the test this takes 20 minutes, then a 10 minute gap, then another 10 minute appointment. Ear syringing takes 20 minutes but must be done after suitable oiling and if a patient booked ear syringing themselves and it hadn’t been agreed by the doctor, the nurse wouldn’t be able to do it and so it would be a waste of the patients time and an appointment. If patients book for the wrong amount of time, it causes delays for other patients or a wasted trip if we’re not able to see you at all. This is why we prefer

our receptionists to book nurse appointments. With regard to blood tests, we can tell you at the time of booking if it’s a fasting or non-fasting test which if you booked yourself you might not know. If a patient comes for a fasting blood test and hasn’t fasted, it’s no use doing the test. Also our bloods are collected at 11.15am to be taken to the lab and so if a patient booked for a blood test after that it would probably be a wasted trip as very few blood tests can be kept overnight. We have in excess of 30 different appointment types at the surgery and to make everything run smoothly, our receptionists are trained to book patients into the correct appointment type. If you are taking time off work for an appointment, the worst thing is to turn up and find we can’t see you. I hope this gives a small idea of why we can’t book all appointments via the Internet. Please ask at reception if you would like any more information or to set yourself up with Internet booking.

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just 4 fun

Solutions on page 116

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 116

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ashby museum news

Cause for Celebration! Ashby Museum entered for a County Heritage Award and were pleased to be winners in the ‘Best Use of Digital Resources’ category: ‘Ashby Museum in a Digital Age’ Ashby Museum and its volunteers have increasingly embraced the use of digital resources to become more inclusive and accessible. In particular the museum has developed its involvement in social media such as Facebook and Twitter, has developed more interactive exhibition rooms and included video clips about local heritage on You Tube and the museum’s website. The museum is now leading the regional development of bar codes to aid object retrieval from the museum’s collections.

We remind you that the Bowls Club display will end at the end of the month. 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 six local bowling clubs. The display in the Museum has run from May 9th and gives a full history of the club illustrated with photos, memorabilia and various items of interest. The summer programme of walks has already begun with a general town history walk and the next one, which will take place on Tuesday 17th June, is called ‘A Thousand Years of Ashby’s History’. Please call the museum on 01530 560090 if you would like to book a place. The Kids’ Club on Saturday June 7th will feature the Tudors and will run from 1pm to 4pm. This is free of charge but children need to be accompanied by an adult.

FRIENDS OF ASHBY MUSEUM The Friends of Ashby Museum are planning a World War 1 day at the museum on Saturday August 9th. More details next month. Two dates for your diaries: the next coffee morning will be Wednesday 10th September and the Ian Clewes Memorial Quiz will be held at Packington Memorial Hall on Friday 10th October. More details soon.

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in your home

Choose the right garden furniture

HAVING the right garden furniture can really enhance the hours we spend in our gardens in the Summer. To help you decide what you need, consider how you will spend most of your time outdoors. Will it be daily alfresco dining with the family, weekend barbecues with family and friends, or just you relaxing in the sunshine with a good book? Knowing the function of your furniture can help you decide whether reclining padded beds, a sophisticated dining table and chairs, or relaxed informal seating is what you need. Of course it may be a mixture of all of the above, in which case you will need to look for versatile combinations. The amount of space you have available should also be taken into account. You might drool over a fantastic sofa with matching arm chairs in a catalogue, but do you really have the space to accommodate it successfully, or would smaller foldaway seats be more suitable? In addition to your outdoor space, think about where you will store your furniture in Winter. Whilst vinyl covers can protect your furniture from Summer showers, it really is best kept in a shed or garage during the worst weather. This is where fold-away pieces can be incredibly practical, or in some cases, you may be able to take pieces apart for storage too.

consider durability and maintenance as well as appearance. Wooden furniture is popular and versatile, but needs regular weatherproofing. Metal items require less maintenance, but have the disadvantage of being hot to touch in the sun. Some colours of plastic furniture also become hot, and plastic may become brittle if left outside in all weathers. Wicker and rattan pieces will need greater protection from the wet and are more easily damaged. Cost of course will also be a factor. Plastic items are usually the cheapest, but it is generally true that you get what you pay for in terms of longevity. Several materials offer a variety of colour choices. Remember though that white and silver reflect the light so can be uncomfortable to look at in the glaring sun, and black absorbs the heat so can become very hot. The safest colours are therefore mid-greens, greys or natural wood. Many prefer muted tones, adding style and personality through bright cushions and tablecloths. Whatever you choose, donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t go on appearance alone. The most stylish items wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t get used if they are incredibly uncomfortable. So do try out your intended purchases in-store to ensure they will help you to enjoy the outdoors, and not leave you fidgety or stiff.

When considering the material of your furniture,

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Editorial by Susan Brookes-Morris

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wordsearch

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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

Finest lawns and golfing greens IF as soon as you have finished mowing your lawn bright yellow dandelion heads explode to spoil the calm in what is in fact a green patch of moss and clover rather than actual grass, then a few tips about lawn maintenance could help. I went to Willesley Park Golf Club in Ashby to find out how they have achieved such a beautiful course. Willesley Golf Course extends to 190 acres including 100 acres of well kept grass and is beautiful to behold. Perfect weed free greens reach into the distance and lead off to the beautiful rolling countryside. Course Manager Ken Harding (pictured above) explained his first steps into this niche career were taken because, from a young age, he wanted to be around the sport of golf. Indeed to have a successful career in this industry you have to love and understand the game to reach perfection in developing and creating a course that will attract and keep members. Even though major weather incidents will have a disrupting effect there is an annual programme which, on a smaller scale, can be applied to a domestic lawn. Starting in winter, general renovations and construction work begins with turf being re-laid in areas where needed. Building of new tees and woodland pruning and thinning commences. Throughout the year, all areas are tested with appropriate feeds applied depending on the test GARDENING JOBS FOR JUNE: 1 2 3 4 5

Mow once a week at least Hoe borders regularly to reduce weeds Stake tall floppy plants Put summer bedding plants in gaps in borders Cut back early flowering perennials for a second flush later in the summer

results for trace elements of iron, amino acids and potassium. Spring sees scarifying, aeration, seeding, fertilizing and preparing all greens for thousands of summer games. In summer, year-long maintenance is rewarded by the opening of new tees and extensions to greens and the appreciation from the members makes the job worthwhile. The course is of course irrigated with water taken from Willesley Lake. Come autumn, the never ending job of picking up leaves begins and again, scarifying and seeding takes place. Imagine six hundred members to please, each with an opinion on the course. The club opens 365 days a year. The course specifications are exact: 3.5mm length of grass on the greens, approaches 10mm and fairways 14mm. All the external areas are managed and maintained by a team of six. Each of these people are professionally trained (or training) in golf course management. As well as investing in people, the investment in machinery is considerable. If you wanted to enjoy a slice of Willesley Park Golf Club, it is friendly and accessible offering courses for beginners, coaching, academies and regular competitions, with juniors from 7 years made welcome. For more information contact Willesley Park Golf Club, telephone 01530 414596 or visit www.willesleypark.com Happy gardening.

Francesca Email info@francescasinclair.co.uk Photograph courtesy of Gillian Day 6 7 8 9 10 11

Tie in sweet peas and water regularly Pinch outside shoots of tomato plants, plant outside and feed Water hanging baskets daily Harvest lettuce, salad crops and early potatoes Sow runner beans and French climbing beans Shade greenhouse to prevent scorch

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plant of the month

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wheels

Don’t Break Down SHORTLY after taking delivery of a new-to-me car, I absentmindedly started filling the fuel tank with petrol, until I suddenly remembered it took diesel! Fortunately, I immediately stopped refuelling and phoned for breakdown services who flushed the tank clean, thus avoiding serious engine damage and expensive repair bills. Fuel-related problems are one of the major causes of car breakdowns, with running out of fuel ranked in Green Flag’s top five. But many breakdowns can be avoided with a little forethought. For example, make a commitment to never let your car run on less than a quarter full, and you should never face the embarrassment of an empty tank! Most of us have had a flat battery. Sometime this occurs due to a genuine fault, but more often happens after leaving the lights or radio on, or because the terminals are dirty, or the clamps loose. Regular maintenance and servicing can eliminate problems like this, but as we are all human and make mistakes from time to time, keep a set of jump leads in the car ‘just in case’! Also, if you tend to make only short journeys in your car, give it a good run every week or two to give the battery a chance to recharge itself. Flat or damaged tyres are another common problem. Check your handbook to keep tyres at the correct pressure and be careful to avoid hitting the kerb, as the impact can damage tyre sidewalls and rims. A good practice is to check tyre pressure and tread every time you fill up, watching out for nails or glass in the tyres and paying special attention to the tread depth. If it is uneven, the tyres may be misaligned. Does your vehicle have a second set of keys? Keeping a spare bunch in a safe place will prevent big headaches should you ever lock yourself out of your car, or worse still lose your keys. Most modern cars now have a ‘transponder’ key which combines a conventional mechanical key with an encrypted electronic chip to prevent theft. Replacement is often available only through an authorised dealer and could take several days. Much better to keep a spare! Finally, there are a number of mechanical and electrical faults that might cause a breakdown, such as the starter motor or spark plugs. At the first signs of any problems (like difficulty starting the engine for example), get your car checked over by a garage to avoid further problems. Owning a vehicle is an essential part of life for the majority of us these days. Let’s keep them breakdownfree by carrying out good, regular maintenance, and by using a bit of common sense! Editorial by Debbie Singh-Bhatti

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storytime

Muse

fell for Jane when I was sixteen. She wasn’t the prettiest girl around, but she was very intelligent and independent, with a great sense of fun. It didn’t last and Jane was replaced in my affections by Charlie. Not exactly Miss Universe either, but passionate, though her need for independence and marriage combined was already putting a distance between us when I met her sister Emily. She was definitely a looker, but strong-willed and mischievous and eventually too much of a wild child for me. Maggie was the most beautiful of them all, but also the most spoiled. She was so talented but so selfabsorbed that in the end I realised that I just didn’t care about her. After that came Alice, Anita, Erica, Carol, Fay, Dorothy, Sylvia, Anne, Mary – one after another in quick succession.

Then, finally, there was Jane and at last real love. This wasn’t the Jane of my youth. This was a Jane different in every respect imaginable. I realised that the first Jane and her Pride and Prejudice had just been mere infatuation and so had Charlie and Jane Eyre, Emily and Wuthering Heights, Maggie and Gone with the Wind and all of the others.

After all, I am a bloke and how could anything that had gone before compare with Jane? There was and is nothing like that first time, like the trembling anticipation that a man feels in that magical instant when he opens an untouched copy of… Jane’s Fighting Ships. It’s a relationship that never loses interest, because there is always Jane’s Military Aircraft and Jane’s Armour and Artillery and Jane’s Special Forces Recognition Guide and so many, many more. Ah, Jane. Ah, love.

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Local Author, Mike Arblaster

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money matters

Land Remediation Relief

Now might be the time to develop that brownfield site? THIS month Lisa Emery of Baldwins Accountants takes a look at the tax incentives for companies developing brownfield sites.

Relevant costs will include more obvious ones such as dealing with asbestos on a site, or removing oil tanks from a former petrol station.

The commercial decision as to whether to start developing a site might well rest on the anticipated financial returns to be gained. Throw in the fact for every £100,000 spent on land remediation by a company, HMRC will allow that company to deem itself to have spent £150,000, and the decision might be made a whole lot easier.

It’s not only profitable companies that can benefit because, rather like companies who claim Research & Development tax credits, loss making companies can also convert the enhanced expenditure to a 16% payable credit from HMRC – equating to a 24% repayment of taxes paid!

Since 2001 the Government has offered a tax incentive to property developers to make use of brownfield sites - but how many companies have maximised the potential? If a company incurs costs in removing contaminated material from a development site then, as long as it hasn’t contributed to the contamination itself, that company could claim 150% of the cost against its taxable profit.

Not only can companies incorporate the benefits of this relief into their future plans, but they can make retrospective claims on remediated sites that may have been sold in the preceding 4 years. The Tax Team at Baldwins Accountants would be delighted to talk to any property developers who think that they might have a claim to make. There are some detailed rules to consider, as with all tax legislation. but Baldwins will help any interested parties to identify and maximise any tax reliefs due.

If you would like to discuss the above or require any further information, please contact Lisa Emery on 01530 416688 or Lisa.emery@baldwinandco.co.uk 70

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it’s local

Packington Community Fun Day JUNE is here, the summer sun should be shining and it’s the perfect time for the whole family to enjoy some time in the great outdoors. Ashby Hastings Rotary Club, working along with Ashby Inner Wheel and the Packington Post Group, have organised an amazing family fun day on June 28th at Plummers Wood, Packington. Children will be able to come along and meet Nottingham’s official Robin Hood and Maid Marian along with their baby Scarlett. Throughout the course of the day they will be telling tales of their daring adventures and thrilling heroics – hear how they take on the sheriff of Nottingham and thwart his evil schemes and plans. Learn how Robin and Marian first met, the tale of the famous archery competition and all about the incredible tale of Robin Hood and the Sorcerer. Robin and Marian may even need your help! There will be lots of attractions to keep all ages entertained, including a children’s treasure hunt around the woodland glades, face-painting, bouncy

castle, welly throwing competition and a variety of stalls. Hot and cold drinks will be available and also a bar. Food includes a hog roast plus both veggie choices and children’s options. Entry to Plummers Wood is via 29 Babelake Street, Packington and thanks go to Steve Plummer for the kind offer of the use of his land. Profits will be donated to the Ashby Hastings Rotary and Inner Wheel Charities and Packington Post Community Projects Fund. Pre-ordered tickets cost £4.50 for adults, £1.50 children (under 12) with the prices rising by 50p for those paying on the day. Tickets are available from La Zouch in Kilwardby Street, the Bull & Lion in Packington or by calling Paul Bertenshaw on 07905 848981. Pop along and enjoy the fun.

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q f r b n u x f e h m r m on the beat

Hello everyone...

THE summer music festivals will soon be here, and it may be that you are planning to go to Download, Glastonbury, Leeds, Reading or one of the smaller events, such as Strawberry Fields.

We want you to enjoy and have a great festival, but having your belongings stolen or your car broken into can ruin your weekend. Therefore, we are reminding festival goers to keep their property safe, by leaving their valuables at home.

If you are attending a music festival this summer, consider the following advice, or if you have a friend or family member who is attending, please pass this information onto them: • Where available, use on site lockers to secure personal belongings. Do not leave anything in your tent when you are not in it. • If you can't take your valuables with you when you leave your tent, leave them at home.

• Put money, tickets, credit cards and mobile phones in a zipped pocket or money belt, or in the bottom of your sleeping bag when you are asleep. • Do not take large sums of cash. Only take what you need and keep it on you at all times.

• Postcode the property you take, so that is identifiable.

• If you arrive by car, don't leave anything on display, such as sat-navs, car stereos, CD’s or mobile phones. Don't put items in your glove compartment or boot, as this is the first place a thief will look. Take everything with you, or leave it at home. • Don't drink so much alcohol that it will make yourself vulnerable to being a victim of crime. • Finally, stick with your friends and look after each other!

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

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puzzle page Type of pudding (7) Trimmed (5) Large pebbles (5) Brutal (7) At right angles (13) Without effort (6) Grieves for (6) A protest (13) Financial system (7) Beverage (5) Stairs (5) Hauled (7)

down

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 11 13 14 16 17

Sticky liquid (5) Accompanies (7) Assorted (13) Split (6) Book of facts (13) Snarl (5) Removes weapons (7) Goes on forever (7) Fence (7) Remained (6) Large deer (5) Nude (5)

QUICK CROSSWORD

SUDOKU 78

Solutions on page 116

Across

1 5 8 9 10 11 12 15 18 19 20 21

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 116.

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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. We also do 1-2-1 iPad and computer taster sessions. 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 to 5 years and their parents and carers. Join us for stories and songs every Friday morning 10.30am to 11am After ‘Story and Rhymetime’ – fortnightly 11am to noon - come along to ‘Bumps & Babies’, a meeting place for new and expectant mums: free advice and information sessions run by the National Childbirth Trust. The friendly ‘Knit and Stitch’ group meets 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 and are £5 per session. Pre-booking essential. The unusual and popular ukulele playing group meets every Wednesday 10.00am to 11.30am. £5 per session. Come and practice Hatha Yoga every Tues 7pm to 9pm. Contact British Wheel of Yoga qualified instructor Lorna Kirk for more details on 01530 416135. To aid flexibility and ease joints, try Therapeutic Yoga every Wednesday 7pm to 9pm, and the first Friday of every month 7pm to 9pm. Contact qualified instructor Liz Underwood for more details. Call 07812 007202 or email liz@puremovementyoga.co.uk for more details. Join us on the second Friday of every month 7pm to 9pm for a Neals Yard Remedies information and

product session. Contact Isabel Houghton for more details on 07790 059227 or email: Isabel.houghton@yahoo.com ALSO, JUST FOR THIS MONTH: Lunch Time Talk ‘Lucky Breaks in Show Business’ with Colin Bower Friday 6th June, 12.30pm to 1.30pm, £2.50 members, £3 non-members. Have you ever wondered what the stories were behind the stars rise to fame? Colin Bower, will be letting us in on those lucky breaks that helped to make the names of some of the most famous stars. Creation Station Monday 2nd, 9th and 30th June, 9.30am to 11.30am, £5 first child, £2.50 per child thereafter. Arts, crafts and learning activities for children aged under 11years. Particularly suitable for children under 5 years. Ask the Manager Monday 23rd June, 2pm to 4pm, FREE, drop in. Discuss forthcoming changes to the library service with West Area Manager Tracey Beighton. Ready 4 School Event Saturday 14th June, 10am to 1pm. This event is being hosted by Sure Start Children’s centre to offer support and advice to parents with children starting school in September.

For more information or to book please contact Ashby Library on 0116 3055917 – book early as spaces are limited.

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young ashby

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www.ashbychurch.co.uk

Faith Painting…

ater this month (Saturday 21st) we’ll be attending the Heart of the Forest Festival in Measham, with the usual puppet shows, crafts and balloons. Once again, our team of face painters will be creating marvellous transformations for charity! It always amazes me how quickly children’s faces are magically transformed into butterflies, tigers, clowns and many more wonderful characters. What interests me the most is that the child feels no different and forgets how they look to everyone else. An onlooker smiles at a miniature pirate or wild beast walking by, the child just smiles back, completely unaware. We regularly forget that we too are transformed by life experiences and often our state of mind is shown plainly on our faces. If we have had a good day we tend to smile and be more cheerful. If it has been a bad day we are more likely to look fed-up. Likewise with worries and troubles, our brows may be furrowed, forehead wrinkled or lips down-turned.

Editorial by Ashby Christadelphian Church, Union Passage, Ashby

www.ashbychurch.co.uk

Past hurts, self-doubt, and fears become painted on our faces in the form of lines, wrinkles and expressions. Even painful surgery can’t remove these inner experiences from our faces. In contrast, God’s message can give us lightness in heart, a lifting of spirits and a joy that will shine from within us. These feelings could never be physically painted on a face, but naturally occur from having a relationship with God. Putting God in your life restores the appearance of the person of worth and beauty you really are - no face painting required! So, forget the face paints, forget the expensive surgery and face lift, why not simply try a faith lift and allow God to help to take some of the weight from your shoulders. It is only then you can experience the genuine happiness and fulfilment that can only be achieved through a relationship with Him. Useful passage to look up: Isaiah ch 30 v 18.

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what’s on... Late May to June 24th to 26th May

‘Let the Battle Commence 1644’ - A great family day out at Cattows Farm, Heather with The Sealed Knot, Europes largest Re-enactment Society and Charity.

27th May Ashby U3A - Alan Hopkin talks on ‘The history of the orchestra and its instruments.’ Congregational Church, Kilwardby Street, 2pm. All welcome, visitors £1. Bring friends and neighbours, meet U3A members and find out more.

28th May Ashby Film Nights - ‘Saving Mr Banks’ (PG). Stars Emma Thompson as Mary Poppins author, P.L.Travers, as she tries to resist Walt Disney’s transformation of her famous creation. The Lyric Rooms, Ashby de la Zouch. Film starts at 7.30pm, doors and bar open at 7pm. Tickets £5 available on the door. See ashbyfilmnights.wordpress.com.

30th May Century Theatre at Snibston - ‘A New York Winter's Tale’ (12A). Fantasy romance starring Colin Farrell, Jessica Brown Findlay and Russell Crowe. Starts 7.30pm. Tickets £3.50, pay on the door. Tel: 01530 278 444.

31st May 1950’s & 1960’s Themed Party Ivanhoe College. Live 50/60’s music from ‘Jukebox Jets’ from 7.30pm to midnight. Licensed bar. Tickets from Ivanhoe Reception, Ashby TIC or The Plough, price £12.50 (includes hog roast). ‘Intimately Eva’ - Legless Productions present Lesley Curtis singing Eva Cassidy. Tickets £10 from Ashby TIC.

3rd June Ashby Royal British Legion - 7pm at Legion House, South Street, Ashby. Visitors welcome, for more information contact 01283 220 534 or email ashby.royalbritishlegion@gmail.com. Short Mat Bowls - Church Gresley Indoor Bowling Centre. A summer trial for short mat bowls every Tuesday 10.30am to 12.30pm. Why not go and have a try? For established short mat groups who would like to use the venue at other times there are 6 mats

available. Cost £2.50 per person. For more details contact 01283 551 193.

4th June Bradgate Flower Club - with guest demonstrator Roma Berridge, theme is ‘Hop, Skip and Jump’. The meeting at Newtown Linford Village Hall (LE6 0AE) is open to visitors and guests, entry fee £5. Details from Lilian Coleman on 0116 236 3191.

5th June Ashby Castle WI - Historical walk of Market Street with Robert Jones. Meet at the Congregational Church, Kilwardby Street at 2pm. Small fee for visitors, refreshments are available. For more information call Lesley on 01530 455 957.

6th June National Trust Group - Dinner with guest speaker Anne Cleeves, the author of ‘Vera’ and ‘Shetland’, as shown on TV. For further details please ring 01530 563 003. Moira Male Voice Choir - Open night for men who would like to join. For more information contact Barry Druden on 01283 550 920 or the musical director on 01509 814 327. Ashby Library - Lunch Time Talk: ‘Lucky Breaks in Show Business’ with Colin Bower. Have you ever wondered what the stories were behind the stars rise to fame? 12.30pm to 1.30pm, £2.50 members, £3 non-members.

7th June Ashby Fake Festival – Enjoy a day of top tribute bands plus talented local musicians on the Bath Grounds. See www.fakefestivals.co.uk for more details. Ashby Museum Kids’ Club - Ashby Museum, North Street, Ashby from 1 to 2pm. Theme ‘Tudors’, free entry. ‘Around the World in 80 minutes’ Concert with Concordia Choir. 7.30pm at Holy Trinity Church, Kilwardby Hill, Ashby. Tickets £8, £6.50 concessions, available through Ashby TIC or call 0758 348 4773. Melbourne Photographic Society Workshop - An opportunity for inexperienced photographers who wish to improve their leisure and holiday photography. Thomas Cook Memorial Hall, High Street, Melbourne

from 9.30am to 5pm. For more information please email: events@ melbournephotographicsociety.org.uk Pre-booking is essential. Newlands House Fete in aid of Leonard Cheshire Disability. Noon to 5pm in the grounds of Newlands House, Netherseal. Stalls galore, live music and acts, refreshments with bar, dog show, RAF flypast and a few surprises. Entry £1.50, under 12's free. Organised with Ashby Castle Rotary Club. Contact Lorraine Ray on 01283 761 202 or email lorraine. ray@lcdisability.org.

7th to 8th June Ashby Open Gardens 2014 - Visit the open gardens to find a wide variety of design and planting ideas to inspire you. Entry is by passport (£3 per adult), available from the TIC, North Street or Posh Pantry, Rushtons Yard, from 1st June or from any of the open gardens on the day. Details can be found at www.ashbyopengardens. co.uk or call 01530 413 225. All proceeds from sale of passports will be donated to Cancer Research UK.

9th June Charnwood Flower Guild demonstration by Nick Grounds entitled 'F to the Power of 2' at the Adult School, Bridge Road, Coalville, LE67 3PW at 7.30pm. Visitors very welcome, £5.

10th June Ashby Civic Society – ‘Finding Richard III and Bosworth Battlefield’. Latest findings of Richard’s last battle and death revealed by local historian Richard Knox. Afternoon meeting with buffet lunch at noon, at Coalville Springboard Centre, cost £7. Contact John on 01530 412 355 to book. Holy Trinity Playgroup Coffee morning - An opportunity for existing, new and prospective parents to get together and chat over tea, coffee and cake. Little ones welcome, 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. 9.15am to 11.00am at Holy Trinity Church Hall, off Kilwardby Street.

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what’s on... June continued 10th June Ashby Writers’ Club – Manuscript evening: members’ own work. Meetings are on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month, unless specified, 7.30pm till 9.30pm at Congregational Church, Kilwardby Street, Ashby LE65 2FQ. Visitors are welcome at a nominal fee of £4 per speaker meeting, £3 per comp/ manuscript meeting (includes coffee or tea).

11th June Ashby Wine Circle – ‘Call my Bluff’, fun wine quiz, 7.30pm at Brown Court, Atkinson Road, Westfields, Ashby. LE65 2LZ.

13th June Century Theatre at Snibston – ‘The Invisible Woman’ (12A), starring Ralph Fiennes, Felicity Jones and Kristin Scott Thomas. Starts 7.30pm, tickets £3.50, pay on the door. Tel: 01530 278 444.

14th June Blackfordby Village Hall - Ballroom and Sequence Dancing with music by J.P.D. Music from 8pm to 11pm. Admission £3. Bar, raffle and refreshments. For more details phone 01283 213 481 or 01283 819 447. The Ultimate Tribute Show – ‘Elvis Presley v Michael Buble’ at The Lyric Rooms, Ashby from 8pm til late, licensed bar. Tickets £7 in advance, £10 on the door, available from Ashby TIC, Mill Lane Mews Dry Cleaners or call Darren on 07891 947 359. Hicks Lodge to Moira Furnace Walk An opportunity to visit two important sites of industrial heritage in the Heart of the National Forest. Please take a snack and drink and wear sturdy shoes and clothing appropriate for the weather. £4 per person (includes entry to Moira Furnace). Meet 1.30pm at Hicks Lodge, Willesley Woodside, LE65 2UP. For more information contact Sallie on 07795 666 862 or email sallie.corfield @forestry.gsi.gov.uk. NCT Nearly New Sale - Moira Village Hall. Doors open 10.30am (10am for NCT members), entry £1. Email Emma: abcnctnearlynew@googlemail.com.

Ready 4 School Event - Ashby Library, from 10am to 1pm. Sure Start Children’s centre offer support and advice to parents with children starting school in September.

17th June National Trust Group - coach trip to the Cotswolds, visiting Moreton in the Marsh, Bourton on the Water, and Stow on the Wold. For further details please ring 01530 563 003.

18th June Ashby Spa WI – ‘Fun and Games for All’. 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 further details please email ashby.spa@googlemail.com.

20th June Bradgate Flower Club Pudding Evening - The Linford Club, 66 Main St, Newtown Linford, Leicester (LE6 0AD). A Ukulele band will entertain, puddings are to be donated. The entry fee is £5 per person. Details from Lilian Coleman on 0116 236 3191.

21st June Ashby Farmers Market – 9am to 2pm at Manor House South Street. Bringing you the finest foods from the region and specialist stalls. Free parking. The Heart of the Forest Festival - A great day out for the whole family with free entry to the festival grounds in Measham. For more details contact Simon on 07415 033 549 or see www.heartoftheforestfestival.co.uk. Midsummer Fair Ashby Congregational Church, Kilwardby Street from 10am to 3pm. Refreshments plus games and stalls. Free entry, all welcome. In aid of local and international charities working with older people. ‘Ask the Manager’ - Ashby Library. Discuss forthcoming changes to the library service with West Area Manager Tracey Beighton, 2pm to 4pm, just drop in. Century Theatre at Snibston – ‘The Golden Age of the Electric Guitar (1955-75)’. The founder of the

Electric Guitar Appreciation Society presents a night of humorous and entertaining recollections with the great guitar music of Hank Marvin, Jimi Hendrix, The Beatles and many more! Starts 7.30pm. Advance tickets £10, on the door £12. Tel 01530 278 444.

24th June Ashby U3A – ‘Dogs Saving Lives’. A talk on medical detection dogs by Wendy Coles 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 - A two part evening with Wendy Freer. Illustrated talk on canal boat children followed by the showing of ‘A Town Divided’. Meetings held the second and fourth Tuesday of each month, unless specified, 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).

27th June Toxic Cherry Fashion Show - raising funds for Hospice Hope. Raffle, auction, stands from local businesses and live music at The Lyric Rooms. £10 per person, includes a drink and buffet. Tickets available from Toxic Cherry, Market Street.

27th to 29th June ‘Wisdom From Within the Monastery’ - 8th Annual Seminar with Monos at Abbey Grange and Mount Saint Bernard’s Abbey. Conference on listening to the wisdom from within the monastic tradition both historically and contemporarily. Speakers will help connect the spiritual wisdom of the past with present day Christian living. The conference is for anyone who has an interest in engaging with Christian monasticism as a spiritual discipline, all are welcome. For more information please call Monos on 01509 600 137.

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what’s on... June continued 28th June Rotary Club Fun Day – A Woodland themed family fun day from noon to 5pm at Plummers Wood, Packington. See page 73 for more details. Ashby Castle Lawn Tennis Club Charity Day – Family fun, charity fundraising, day with summer fete, children’s multi-sports, adults’ fun tennis tournament and a 12 hour marathon doubles tennis match. Pimms, strawberries and cream plus hot food available throughout the day. Wimbledon on the TV in the bar. Ashby Castle Lawn Tennis Club, off South Street, 11am to 10pm, free admission. In support of pancreatic cancer research and Harry’s Fund, more information from Alex Guzder on 07931 412 238. Motor Fest and Summer Staycation with car clubs, racing cars and rides at Snibston , a holiday themed event in the Belvoir Shopping Precinct, Coalville featuring Leicester Tigers

and a beach plus brand new cars at Needhams Walk car park. Free train between Snibston and Coalville town centre. Charnwood Orchestra’s 40th Anniversary Concert - featuring Russian music at the Church of St James the Greater, London Road, Leicester. Starting at 7.30pm, tickets cost £10 (£9 for concessions, £3 accompanied under 16’s). Advance tickets by calling 07718 153 117, emailing judithrodgers155@gmail. com, via www.charnwoodorchestra. org.uk or call Visit Leicester on 0116 299 4444. Tickets will also be available at the door.

29th June Hicks Lodge Butterfly Walks - with experts from Butterfly Conservation. Open to anyone. Go suitably dressed for the weather. Walking conditions are generally easy and suitable for all the family. Meet 10am at the café, booking not necessary. Full day field

trips with a scheduled lunchtime break. For more information please call 01530 274 533 or visit www.forestry.gov.uk/hickslodge.

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 July or August 2014 issues is Friday 13th June. 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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ashby town council

Summer Fun volunteers picked up litter from streets and parks around the town with Ashby Town Council vehicles on hand to collect the bagged litter and take it for disposal. The event was a huge success with more than three quarters of a ton of rubbish removed. Thanks go to all those who organised and took part in this event.

Ashby is bursting with family fun this June

here are several great events happening on the Bath Grounds in Ashby over the summer months so do make sure to put these dates in your calendar:

Ashby Fake Festival takes place on 7th June – now in its third year, the Fake Festival will feature headline tribute bands Oasish, Bon Jovi Experience and the Really Hot Chili Peppers plus support from talented local musicians. Later in June we welcome Pinder’s Circus to Ashby for the first time. Pinder’s is a small, family run, circus with a history going back over 200 years. As well as clowns and acrobatics the family show includes 11 year old Edward Pinder who recently featured with his knife throwing act on Britain’s Got Talent. You can visit Pinder’s circus on the Bath Grounds from 23rd to 25th June. The following month we’ll have Jim’s Tractor Run and Family Fun Day. This takes place on 27th July and will feature the annual parade of vintage machinery around the town with an even wider variety of vehicles expected this year. This is then followed by the fun day itself on the Bath Grounds. You can get a close up view of the vintage tractors, trucks and cars and enjoy family entertainment including a variety of stalls and children’s rides. Other news over recent months includes good attendances at both the French and Italian Markets in Brook Street, the official opening of the Skate Park (situated near Hood Park Leisure Centre) and the securing of funding for new equipment at Willesley Play area. Work will be starting to install the new play equipment at Willesley as soon as possible. ‘Ashby’s Big Tidy Up’ took place in March – over 100

Our new town website is now live and in the process of being populated with details of local businesses and other information. Just go to www.ashbydelazouch.info to take a look and find out more. As mentioned in our last newsletter we are working with the War Memorial Committee in Blackfordby to support them through the process of having a new memorial built. An attractive, obelisk shaped, memorial has been designed by sculptor Andy Oldfield. The planning application has been submitted; fund raising is still being undertaken. The memorial will be sited in the village centre, on land between the Youth Club and the Methodist Church. The final item to bring to your attention is the progress of the Neighbourhood Plan. This has now progressed through to the stage where we are ready to set up five focus groups to look at various different areas of how we would like to shape our town for years to come. The areas are: 1) 2) 3) 4) 5)

Town Centre Vitality, Economic Growth, Housing and the Built Environment, Accessibility and Transport, Leisure.

We are looking for people who have a particular interest in any of these areas to join the focus groups and become involved as we move onto outlining the detail of the Neighbourhood Plan. Anyone who would like to know more should get in touch with Karen Edwards at Legion House (contact details below).

DATES FOR TOWN COUNCIL MEETINGS are published on the Community Board pages of Ashby Life each month. The public are welcome to attend and there is always a slot for public questions. Find out more about your Town Council by visiting the offices at South Street, Ashby de la Zouch, calling 01530 416961 or via the website at: www.ashbytowncouncil.org.uk

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this month MOST dads will receive a Fathers' Day card on June 15th, but how many of them know just how important their role in the family is?

Fatherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Day Scientists are increasingly realising just how much dads matter. Kids who feel loved by their father tend to have a greater sense of well-being, happiness and life satisfaction, than those who feel loved by their mother alone. Dads may also be responsible for endowing their child with the â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;stickwith-it-nessâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; that will serve them well throughout their life. University researchers found that a dad's parenting style is more closely linked to whether teens will exhibit persistence than mum's parenting. A persistent personality, in turn, was related to less delinquency and more engagement in school over time.

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Fathers who are most effective at this are those who listen to their children, have a close relationship, set appropriate rules, but also grant appropriate freedoms. Quality time with dad is really important too. It doesn't have to be an expensive holiday or day trip - simply playing ball in the back garden or watching a film together is fine. What's important is that dad is there and fully engaged. So dads, why not use this Fathers' day to get out, take the kids to the park and just enjoy being with your family.

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Editorial by Sarah Davey

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out and about Summer is here and Festival season is upon us! The third Ashby Fake Festival takes place on June 7th at the Bath Grounds, South Street (behind the Royal Hotel).

Ashby Fake Festival SO what is a Fake Festival? Well, the organisers describe it as a chance to meet up with friends and listen to live bands, and also the opportunity for families and local communities to enjoy a fun packed music day – judging from the feedback and popularity from previous years I’d say that’s a very good description.

Bon Jovi Experience

Really Hot Chilli Peppers Chili Peppers - sure to get the stage bouncing with their energetic set .

Oasish Each year the Fake Festival headlines three top UK tribute bands that are chosen to appeal to a wide audience range with songs that everybody loves. Supporting the headline acts are local bands – these perform at the Festival earlier in the day before the professional acts take to the stage. This gives local musicians the chance to appear on the big stage in front of family and friends, plus offering the opportunity for festival goers to enjoy and support home grown talent. For the 2014 Ashby Fake Festival the headline acts are: Oasish – an unstoppable show full of hits and attitude, Bon Jovi Experience – a great front man and decades of hits to blow you away, plus Really Hot

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Local support bands selected for this year are: Nuclear Minogue – a covers band playing a wide range of music including punk, pop, soft rock and new wave, W4 – with a reputation as one of the most naturally talented and energetic rock covers bands they have a very strong and loyal following, Re:Session – an indie pop-rock act with great chemistry and energy on stage, The Decade Runners – rock band from Ashby playing covers as well as originals, and finally The Dirty Thursdays with songs from artists such as Blondie, Foo Fighters and Alanis Morrisette. What about the weather? Don’t worry, the music all takes place in the Fake Festival marquee so you can enjoy a wonderful time no matter what the weather decides to do on the day. What else do I need to know? Outside the marquee you’ll find the Entertainment Zone – this is a large fenced area with entertainment stands to keep festival goers and their children amused. This area

also holds the food stands and other amenities to help you enjoy a great day out. Fake Festivals are designed to be family friendly. The Fake Festival Security Team is there to ensure that safety and security is a priority and that there is a responsible drinking atmosphere. No alcohol, food or drinks may be brought into the festival – you can however come and go with the use of the wristband which is issued on entry. What does it cost? Book early for the best prices. Advance tickets purchased now are £20 for adults, £10 for 10 to 17 year olds, or £50 for a family (2 adults plus 2 children). Children from 0 to 9 years old do not require a ticket and are admitted free of charge. You can buy tickets online at www.fakefestivals.co.uk. You can pay on the day but expect to pay around £5 more per person. New for this year is the bonus that ticket holders will also receive a unique code which can be redeemed for free entry to the Big Fake Festival – a 3 day event taking place from 5th to 7th September at Thoresby Park, Notts. The code will give you both free entry and free camping at the Big Festival, what a great deal! For more information take a look online at www.fakefestivals.co.uk.

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spotlight on... Calling all sports fans! Taking place this month is the 11th Ashby Rugby Club Sevens Tournament - pop the date of Saturday 14th June in your calendar if you’d like to enjoy a great day out with barbecue, real ale, children’s activities and plenty of sporting fun.

Ashby Rugby 7’s

he history of Ashby Rugby Club goes back to the early 1950’s but it was more recently, in 2003 that sponsorship from B2Net enabled them to hold their first Rugby Sevens open competition, attracting some top teams. Over the years they have had several Leicester Tigers stars gracing the fields at Nottingham Road, including Manu Ruilagi and Ben Youngs. Teams from several branches of the military and the RFU academy have also attended along with social sides such as the Pink Panthers, Sevens specialists Ronin Impact and a variety of local sides.

Rugby Sevens involves seven-a-side contact rugby with the tournaments usually being held in summer months. The game consists of seven minute halves, one minute half time and scrums involving only three men, rather than the usual eight. Having fewer players in the team means that there is more ground for each person to cover and players have more possession of the ball. Play is faster and freer flowing with technical offences being less common. Set pieces are simpler to understand – great if you struggle to get your head round the game! Sevens is seen by the RFU as an important stage in the development of future England internationals and has become a global sport with a large following right across the world. To complement the event as a day out, Ashby Rugby

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Club introduced an ale festival to run alongside the Sevens tournament a few years ago. This year you’ll be able to sample ten locally produced ales on the day. This year’s Ashby Rugby 7’s tournament is sponsored by Crestline Print from Coalville and raises funds for both Derbyshire and Leicestershire Air Ambulance and the Matt Hampson Foundation. Working in conjunction with O2 Touch the club has also been able to introduce a Touch Rugby Tournament to run on the day. Champions from last year were the Cypriot national team, Mouflons – due to international commitments they are unable to defend their title this year, leaving the competition wide open. Previous winners, Ronin Impact, are returning along with last year’s surprise package, Barbados plus leading local teams including West Bridgford and Loughborough Students. Ashby’s own title and cup winning side will also be keen to replicate their success in the fifteen-a-side game. Along with the sporting competition there will be bouncy castles and face painting for the children to enjoy and a barbeque and bars where visitors can pick up refreshments. The fun takes place at Ashby Rugby Club’s grounds on Nottingham Road (postcode LE65 1DS for sat nav users) with gates opening at 10.30am and the first match due to kick off at 11am on Saturday 14th June. See main advert on page 32 for details.

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PUZZLE SOLUTIONS - CROSSWORD - SUDOKU - CODEWORD & MORE... HONEYCOMB

STEP ON IT - Poise - Noise - Noose - Moose - Mouse - House

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business directory Accountants & Payroll Ashby Payroll Bureau 76 Baldwins 71 9 & 119 Haines Watts 105 JAWS Accountancy Services Ltd RDG Accounting 79 Aerials & Satellite AB Aerials & Satellites 95 Architects A G Dezign 79 Arts, Crafts, Gifts, Jewellery, Toys Indivijilly Wrapped 81 Knittiquip 106 Souk de la Zouch 89 Watch & Clock Repairs 37 Builders Keith Armston Building Contractors 33 Business Services Lion Court Conference Centre 5 Carpenters & Joiners Derek Verey 103 Garden Studio Creations 81 Richard Badcock 44 S S Joinery 113 Carpets & Interiors Agadon 3 Ashby Carpets 35 Ashby Stoves 17 Botanic Blinds 69 Boundary Carpets and Floorings 69 Fairweathers Carpets 92 The Bed Shop 107 Toons 111 Wendy's Courtyard Interiors 8 Charities/Clubs/Community Groups 4th Ashby Scouts 81 Ivanhoe Social Club 117 Childcare/Nursery Smisby Day Nursery 33 Cleaning, Ironing, Laundry Services Breedon Carpet Care 18 Deanclean 58 Extreme Clean 103 Karen’s Ovengleam 116 Safeclean 84 Spotless Cleaning 109 The Bee’s Knees 26 Toni's Ironing Angels 25 Clothing Alivie Children’s Wear 32 Heart of the Country 21 The Shoe Box 31 Country Stores/ General Stores Hallmark Tractors 51 Ivanhoe Countrystore 23 Domestic Appliances Contracool 47 Contract & Domestic Services 20 Ray Pittam Engineers 84 Driving Schools Bardon School of Motoring 47 Jo Driving 106 RDT School of Motoring 31 Electricians A & J Bartlett Ltd 20 Bright Sparks 63 D & B Electrical 99 Estate Agents Fish 2 Let 24 John German 75 Mather Jamie 103

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Events/Event Services 73 Ashby Rotary Club Family Fun Day 32 Ashby Rugby 7’s 89 LCC Cookery Classes 88 Fashion Show 15 Hood Park Leisure Centre 8 Get Cycling Jim’s Tractor Run & Family Fun Day 97 99 Well Families Clinic Financial Services 91 Bleathwood Ian Goodship, IFA 34 Florists 28 Indigo Acres Food & Groceries Ashby Farmers Market 93 17 Cattows Farm Shop 85 Smithards Bakery Funeral Directors A E Grice Funeral Directors 41 Furniture Repairs & Restoration Ancient & Modern 49 Garden Artisan of Ashby Ltd 49 Bonington Tree Services 69 Charnwood Tree Services 77 Eden Tree Care 100 F G Gardens 112 Francesca Sinclair & Associates 39 GDR Landscapes 37 Green Thumb (Ashby) 55 Lush Landscape and Garden Design 52 Roughly Refined Garden Service 42 Stone Drives & Landscapes 25 The Water Gardener 29 Hair & Beauty Isabel’s Holistic Therapies 77 The Temple Hair Spa 59 Toxic Cherry 43 Verity’s Nail Creations 33 Healthcare Ashby Chiropody/Podiatry Clinic 49 Ashby Dental 31 Ashby Osteopathic Clinic 99 Bathe Safely 57 Candor Care Ltd 19 Dr Jin 101 Future Minds 66 Juliet Brooke Chiropody 41 Leicestershire County Council 63 Leicestershire Hypnotherapy Practice 44 Prestige Nursing 50 ProPhysio Ashby 45 Swadlincote Chiropractic Clinic 48 Traditional Acupuncture 13 Vision Express 108 IT Services Ashby Web Design 76 The PC Clinic 84 Kitchens & Bathrooms Ashby Tile & Bathrooms 2 Holmetree Kitchens 98 Provencale Kitchens 44 Tiles 4 Less 83 Victory Kitchens 13 Locksmiths Hazlewood Locksmiths 37 The Lockie 112 Motor Services A D Car Cosmetics 47

Caravan Support Services 29 Castle Garage (Ashby) Ltd 115 40 Chips Away Mobile Automotive 52 Music, Dance & Drama Ashby School of Music 37 52 Joseph Southgate Painters & Decorators Ace Decorating 77 Holywell Painting & Decorating 37 John Clark 52 Pet Services 112 Ash Farm Boarding Kennels Creature Comforts 109 Glebe Von Wood Boarding Kennels 63 Woodward Veterinary Practice 10 Plasterers A C Ellison Plastering and Tiling 26 29 Matt Charles Plastering Services 32 R & H Plastering TCL Plastering & Property Maint. 109 Plumbers & Gas Services Adrian Dunstan Plumbing & Heating 20 Batemans Plumbing & Heating 36 CCA Gas Plumbing 81 D B Plumbing 26 Ignite Gas Services 105 James Pepper Property Solutions 74 S D Hill (Plumbers) 7 Therm Heating 25 Property Repairs & Maintenance Ashby Glass 104 Ashbyhandyman.co.uk 101 Can’t Get One 105 Chimney Sweep & Handy Andy 87 Cloudy 2 Clear 56 D H Phillips (Flat Roofing) 52 Handyman Maintenance 80 James Beckett 95 James Pepper Property Solutions 95 Michael Brooks Home Improvements 39 Roof Tech 57 RSJ Roofing 87 TS Roofing 89 Window Mate 116 Pubs, Restaurants & Take Aways La Spezia Pizzeria 58 La Zouch Restaurant 87 Noopin’s Thai Restaurant 32 The Blue Bell 8 The Courtyard Café 16 The Vine 27 Wong Kwei 12 Zamani's 60/61 Schools and Tuition Grace Dieu Manor School 67 Kip McGrath UK 64/65 Manor House School 93 Solicitors & Will Writers Crane & Walton 41 Martin Hall 39 Simpson Jones Solicitors 31 Sports & Fitness Breedon Priory Health Club Ltd 120 Fitsteps 68 Marlborough Rovers Football Club 53 Travel & Holidays Villair Travel 11

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