Birstall Post (459) Oct 2021

the Birstall post Y O U R

C O M M U N I T Y

OCTOBER 2021

N E W S P A P E R

www.birstallpost.co.uk

No. 459

Sansome savours victory BIRSTALL GOLF club’s Steve Sansome is the new English Senior Men’s County Champion of Champions, winning the title by a single shot.

A6:30mph limit LEICESTERSHIRE COUNTY Council proposes to make permanent the current temporary 30mph speed limit in place on the Loughborough Road (A6) in Birstall.

PHOTO: LEADERBOARD PHOTOGRAPHY

Sansome (55) closed with a birdie to see off the challenge from Warren Bladon. He carded two rounds of 71 around the Hotchkin Course at Woodhall Spa Golf Club to finish on a total of four under par.

That was just enough to edge out Warwickshire’s Bladon as well as another 31 county champions from around England.

Sansome is in his first year on the senior circuit after representing his county at every age group level since starting out as a junior county player in 1981.

He said: “It’s always difficult to get over the winning line, and every time you do it, you still get the same buzz each time you do it.

“It’s the competition that makes you want to come back and get better. You still want to improve even as old as I am.

“It’s a great feeling.”

Over the years, Sansome has won individual county titles, the English Mid Amateur title for the

Pic: Champion of Champions, Steve Sansome

Logan Trophy and helped his club to the honour of English Champion Club.

Now he’s eyeing more success on the senior circuit.

Sansome added: “It’s my first year as a senior and a great honour, and hopefully, it may get me through to other things in

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“It’s such a great course to come and play at, and I really enjoyed it.”

Lancashire’s Garry Lacy finished in third place behind Sansome and Bladon on a total of two-over par.

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The temporary limits were introduced in 2020 to support the temporary emergency active travel scheme on the A6.

The scheme for the temporary cycle lanes has been removed, with changes made to the road layout.

The County Council say the move will “further support a safe highway environment for all roads users [and] will encourage further sustainable travel along Loughborough Road, Birstall.”

The affected section of the A6 is between Colindale Avenue and Station Road.

The consultation period ends on Oct 13. To give you views, search for ‘traffic management consultations’ on the county council website.

Charity employed to deliver youth services

YOUTH SERVICES based in the pavilion in the School Lane playing field are set to be relaunched this month.

The Birstall Youth Café was a drop-in facility for young people in Birstall, run

by Birstall Parish Council, which closed last year for various reasons, including Covid-19.

It is now being re-launched after the Parish Council was contacted by Young Leicestershire, a charity that provides youth provision on a contract basis. Its clients include Countesthorpe, Barwell, Sapcote and Stoney Stanton Parish Councils.

The charity’s CEO, Alison Jolley, gave a presentation to councillors at their meeting on September 13, and councillors voted to employ them to provide youth services, at a cost of £7000 from September 20, 2021 until the end of the financial year.

Young Leicestershire will consult local

young people about the kind of provision and activities they want before relaunching the youth café.

Young Leicestershire CEO Alison Jolley said: “We will be guided by what young people say they want, and we will find that out by doing some outreach work on the streets."

An after-school session for 8 to 12year-olds is planned from October 14, and a later session, from 6.30 to 9pm, for 13 to 16-year-olds.

The youth pavilion contains two rooms, a tea room and a games room which has a TV, table tennis and a pool table.

Alison said: “It is an amazing facility, activities undertaken, enaand I thought Birstall Parish Council’s attitude to young people was really posi- bling the council to evalutive, they see them as part of the commu- ate their performance nity and not a problem. This partnership before any decision is made about renewing the is really exciting for us, we have experienced staff in place, and we are ready to contract for the next financial year. hit the ground running.”

Alison said Young At the meeting on September 13, Leicestershire welcomes councillors were enquiries from people told the cost of using Young Leices- wishing to do voluntary youth work. Any enquiries tershire, £13,000 about volunteering, or per annum, was about attending the Youth similar to the cost Café, can be made to of running the Alison.Jolley@youngleiceste Youth Café before rshire.org.uk it was closed.

Young LeicesterPics: (left) the pavilion, shire will provide (above & right) the interior reports detailing of the building levels of use and

THE BIRSTALL POST OCT 2021

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Council appoints enforcement officer BIRSTALL PARISH Council have appointed a new Enforcement Officer, Mr John Le-Good.

A council spokesperson said: “John has a wealth of experience that stands him in good stead to undertake his new role as the Enforcement Officer for the Parish Council.”

John served with the Royal Air Force as a dog handler for some time prior to him serving 22 years as a Police Constable with Leicestershire Constabulary. His duties included dealing with members of the community on a daily basis, suspected criminals, and also the issuing of various Fixed Penalty Notices.

John started his employment on August 25, 2021 and has already busied himself by patrolling all areas and introducing himself to dog walkers and other members of the public.

“John is a local man who demonstrates a keenness to assist the Parish Council in upholding the Public Space Protection Order in place. This will ensure that all open spaces are maintained to a high standard, for the benefit and enjoyment of all users” added the spokesperson.

“John is happy to engage with all members of the community, so if you see him on his patrols, please feel free to stop and speak with him”

Club rejects £2m to sell site for housing AN OFFER of £2 million from a developer to build houses on a part of Birstall golf course has been rejected by the club.

In a letter to the club’s members, seen by the Birstall Post, it was reported that the club’s council had met to consider the offer to sell the practice ground, located behind properties on Park Road. They decided unanimously to reject the offer.

The reasons given include: The club's financial position is sound.

The disruption caused by the building works and the changes that would be necessary to the course, parking, access and clubhouse.

The sale of the practice ground would be detrimental to retaining and attracting new members.

The sale would not secure the club’s future for the next generation.

The Birstall Post contacted Birstall Golf Club and invited them to comment, but they declined.

The November issue of

THE BIRSTALL POST will be published on Oct 29.

The copy deadline is Oct 18.

Pic: Birstall Parish Council’s Enforcement Officer, Mr John Le-Good

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THE BIRSTALL POST OCT 2021

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Gothic meets slapstick in HATS’ panto

FOLLOWING ON from our previous article published in the August edition of the Birstall Post, I can confirm that at this stage and in line with the government Covid-19 guidelines, HATS are still on track to perform our panto this year.

Rehearsals are in full swing, lines, lines, mistakes, mistakes, humour and frustration are the order of the day.

Perfectly normal at this stage of our panto. It wouldn’t be much fun if we were word perfect already, “oh no it wouldn’t”.

Di, our magnificent wardrobe expert,

"Dracula the Panto" by Limelight Scripts. www.limelightscripts.co.uk is busy with her fabulous ideas of what Panto “Dracula” is being directed by a the costumes should look like and has long-standing member Gez Stokes. Gez already made a start on some of the has directed a number of productions costumes. Her sewing machine is well over the years and is still enthusiastic, used. She always excels and produces bringing new ideas to us and encouragamazing outfits and is an integral part of ing us to produce fabulous performancour group. Elaine and Phil, our scenery es. This year is no different. She is and props fantastic duo, are equally working us hard, even though I know immersed in sharing ideas about what we will be driving her mad sometimes, props and scenery we need and are in she will persevere, and so will we. It will the process of making items and paintall come good in the end. So once again, ing too. Once again, they are an absofrom all of our group, thank you. lutely essential asset to our group.

So onto the panto itself. The plot is Audiences in general concentrate so becoming clear to us all, who are the much on the storylines, the acting and goodies and who are the baddies, who hmmmm, the “odd mistake”, that our are confused and who are the innocent behind naive characters. I’m sure that you will scene peobe quick to work this out to help you to ple and boo and hiss in the right places, at the their contri- right people. We cannot wait to see you butions, can all again, our panto was missed by everybe overone last year, our audience and ourlooked. So it selves. is essential And don’t forget, children are welthat we give come to arrive dressed as Dracula to them the add to the atmosphere. The director will recognition cast a discreet eye over the audience they deserve. and select the best-dressed child per So from all performance to receive a selection box. of our The director will then choose a final group, we winner out of the four performances to thank them. receive a free family ticket for our panto Then, of the following year. This will NOT be a course, formal fancy dress competition, rather, there is the just a bit of fun.

Director.

Are you getting excited? We are. Then This year’s make sure you come and see our fine

cast, in their fine costumes, with our fine scenery, at our fabulous venue, the Birstall Social Club. See you soon. Put the dates in your diary now.

Dates: Thursday December 2, 2021 and Friday December 3rd 2021 at 7.15 p.m.

Saturday December 4, 2021 at 2pm and 7pm Doors open 30 minutes before each performance Venue: Birstall Social Club, 16-18 Wanlip Lane, Birstall LE4 4JS Tickets: £7.00, £6.00 concession, £22 family ticket. (2 adults and 2 children) Discount for group bookings of 10 or more people (price available at time of booking).

Tickets are available now.

Box office: 0116 2209594 and 07934204837 Or email hatstickets@hotmail.com.

Face book: www.facebook.com/hatsamdram/ Note: The arrangements for our panto may be subject to change or cancellation should the Government Guidelines differ from the current status. We will endeavour to inform you of any necessary changes as soon as we can.

The November issue of

THE BIRSTALL POST will be published on Oct 29.

The copy deadline is Oct 18.

THE BIRSTALL POST OCT 2021

4

Triple triumph for Rachel at tennis club SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 5 was Championship Finals day at Birstall Watermead Tennis Club.

It was marked not only by warm sunny weather and a good turnout of spectators, but also by success in three finals for Rachel Chalmers.

In the women’s doubles, ably supported by her partner, Alison Teagle, Rachel came from a set down to defeat Jane Peach and Amy Walpole. In the women’s singles, Amy Douglas proved to be a challenging opponent for Rachel in a hard-fought match and in the mixed doubles, she and her partner Kuljit Tara were worthy winners against Di Fisher and Spencer Wesson.

Tired but happy after the three victories, Rachel said: “It was an absolutely amazing day with some excellent tennis played. The encouragement from other members of the club, friends and family helped me to stay motivated. With the help of my doubles partner Alison and mixed doubles partner Kuljit, I feel inPics: Rachel (centre) with some of the competitors and credibly lucky to be lifting the trophies spectators, and (right) with the Women’s Singles trophy of all three events.”

Rachel was not the only one who matches, with samosas, cakes and cold drinks from enjoyed more than one victory in the the Co-op bar adding to the enjoyment. finals, as Ranjit Punia won not only the Club Chair, Andy Page, was pleased with how men’s doubles, but also the singles title. the whole competition and finals day went. He said: In the doubles, Ranjit and partner Colin “In these challenging times, it’s great that club memLister had the edge in a close and enter- bers from teenagers to those in their seventies can taining match against Spencer Wesson be involved in competitive sport, played in good and Dani Parmar. In the singles, his spirit in a friendly environment. The club has manopponent, Andrew Phipps, provided aged to continue its coaching programmes for strong opposition, but in the end, Ranyoungsters, involvement in men’s and women’s jit‘s strength and accuracy won the day. county matches and organised social tennis. New To reach the finals, all the players members are always welcome, and hopefully, had to play four or five matches in the Emma Raducanu’s success will inspire people of week before, and many players from the all ages and experience to give tennis a try.” club were involved in the competition.

More information about the Club, activities and Many of those who took part in the early membership can be found at: rounds, along with family and friends, https://clubspark.lta.org.uk/BirstallWatermeadTenn watched the afternoon of competitive isClub

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THE BIRSTALL POST OCT 2021

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Birstall’s new rector

THE NEW rector of Birstall is Amanda Digman.

Amanda’s service of induction was held at St James the Great, Birstall on Wednesday, September 15, conducted by the Bishop of Leicester, Rt Reverend Martin Snow.

Amanda said: “Everyone I’ve met has been really friendly and welcoming and I feel at home here already.

“At the service, it was good to see so many people from all parts of the community, and I’m looking forward to working with them. “ Amanda is married to Paul, a retail consultant, and they have two children, Sam (20) and Emily (18). The family have moved into the rectory on Birstall Road.

Amanda was a church youth worker for 10 years before training for ordination.

She said: “I really enjoy serving people in their times of need and of celebration, and working with the community, improving things.

Post-Covid, I’m hoping to offer an opportunity for some sort of community celebration when we can grieve for what was missed and move forward into the future. “ She added: “Unlike normal vicars, I don’t like tea or coffee – chocolate, however, is another matter!”

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Wreake Runners are launching their latest couch to 5k, meeting every Wednesday, 6.45pm at the Sports Pavillion, Necton Street in Syston. Starting on October 13, the 10-week course costs £15 and will take you through to your parkrun graduation in December.

Spokeswoman Alison Court said: “It’s the perfect way to get fit for the festive season and beyond. The first week involves only running for one minute at a time and walking in-between to gradually build fitness, making the course achievable from the start. The friendly run leaders will support you every week to help you complete the 10 weeks. You will need a good pair of trainers and comfortable sports clothing.

Get in touch for more details and to secure your place.”

Pic: Revd Amanda Digman, the new Rector of Birstall & Wanlip

Parish Council notes A FULL meeting of Birstall Parish Council was held on September 13.

Alison Jolley from the charity Young Leicestershire (YL) gave a presentation on the work it does, providing youth services. It currently works with several Parish Councils.

The Parish Council run youth café, in the pavilion on the School Lane playing field, closed in 2020, and the council have been interested in ways youth work in the village could be restarted.

Councillors commented that YL was an experienced, professional organisation and that it was important to provide youth services in the village.

Councillor Dave Thomas said he was impressed with the proposal from YL,

but thought the council needed three quotes from suppliers before a decision could be made. Clerk Sue Coulson said that YL provided a unique service and she had not been able to find any alternative providers.

Councillor Julian Howe said that the council needed to get detailed attendance data and other evidence from YL so it could ensure it was getting value for money. Chair Ann Marshall said YL would be providing quarterly reports and that services like youth provision could not be assessed on a cost basis, the value they had was in the difference they made to young peoples lives.

The council agreed to YL’s proposal to provide youth services from Septem-

ber 2021 to April 2022, at a cost of £7000.

In public participation, a member of the public raised the issue of speeding traffic on Birstall Road and the underuse of the speed gun that was bought by the parish council. He reported that local residents were conducting their own speed checks on Birstall Road and invited ward councillors Ann Marshall and Tony Abbey to join them.

Birstall’s new PCSO Ellie Holland presented the police report. PCSO Holland is 19 years old and has partially completed her training. She said she was aware of the ASB on the school Lane playing field and that she was known to a lot of the young people meeting there.

PCSO Holland said the public should not monitor speeding traffic without having undertaken the proper training.

She offered to monitor traffic speed in local hotspots. Councillor Carl Gunns said he witnessed speeding cars travelling at dangerous speeds on Birstall Road daily, and that a fatality will be inevitable. He questioned why he never saw police in the village.

PCSO Holland said she would be prepared to do speed checks at that site between the

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Triangle roundabout and the junction with School Lane.

It was reported that the external auditor's report had found no issues with the council’s finances. The report is published on the council’s website, and on parish noticeboards.

A complaint has been received about the poor appearance of the wildflower verge on the Greengate Lane/A6 junction, south side. It was agreed that it had not worked due to the shade from nearby trees. The area has been cut back and the estates team will consider what to do with the site next year.

It was reported that the public consultation into providing access from Harrowgate Drive into the Hallam Fields Country Park had not yet been prepared.

Comment was made that it would be sensible to wait for Charnwood to adopt the site, currently owned by Jelson, who have yet to finish the area, before making any decision to provide an access point.

Birstall Parish Council nominated Rosie Rollings, from Helping Our Community Birstall, to attend the Charnwood Civic Service, after it was invited to choose someone who had gone above and beyond to help others during the pandemic.

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THE BIRSTALL POST OCT 2021

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Bowlers back on their summer tour ST MARGARET'S Co-operative Bowls Club organised a trip for members this August.

Bowls club’s busy season

THE BIRSTALL POST OCT 2021

BIRSTALL BOWLING Club members represented the club in five events at the national championships, which took place in Leamington Spa recently.

In the men’s senior pairs, John Hurst and Roger Cooper beat a Lincolnshire pair in the first round before being defeated by a Northumberland pair in the last 16, while Roger lost to Martin Butchers (Isle of Wight) in the first round of the senior singles.

Jan Everitt and Jacquie Watson (Shepshed) won their first-round tie in the women’s senior pairs against an Essex pair but lost in the last 16 to a Suffolk pair who went on to win the national title.

The mixed pairs saw Pa Walker and Shane Hayes beaten by a Kent pair in the last 32, and Pa was part of Joe Dawson’s rink that lost by one shot in the last 32 of the mixed fours to a Surrey four.

Birstall’s men won the Leicestershire area of the national top club competition before losing to Wellingborough in the last 32.

Birstall members were also involved in four county competition finals. Richard Smith retained the men’s county over 60s singles title, beating clubmate Roger Cooper in the final, and Richard (subbing for John Hurst), Roger and Shane Hayes were runners up in the men’s two wood triples final, losing on an extra end to Graham Dudley’s Blaby triple.

Having gone into the last end level, Jan Everitt and Pa Walker just missed out in the women’s pairs final against Val Hobart and Jamie-Lea Winch (Kingscroft), and it was the same result in the triples final as Jan, Pa and Di Hurst lost to Val, Jamie-Lea and Louise Delahay.

Finally, Birstall’s two teams finished first and fourth in a closely fought Monday Loughborough Triples League First Division. The Sands team won the league with 46 points, four points clear of runners up Shepshed, with the Lighthouse team fourth on 41 points.

From Birstall Bowling Club

Pic: St Margaret's tour group at Clevedon BC Club spokesman Sam Dobson reports: There was a very special atmosphere to our to Weston-super-Mare in August. I think it was all to do with the fact that Covid has kept us all cooped up for so long. The summer bowls tour, which has resumed after a year's break, has become a regular feature in the St Margaret's calendar. The weather for the five days was warm, cloudy, dry but very windy!

We played against three local clubs, the first one being Clevedon, where the group photograph was taken. We spent a pleasant morning exploring this fine little town which has a wonderful Victorian seaside pier. Their bowls team is equally

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fine and though we put up a good fight, we did lose the match.

The second match was played at Clarence Park on the south side of Weston. Unusually, this club has three bowling greens. Again, we were confronted with strong opposition and lost the match but not by a wide margin.

Our final day started with a trip through the towering Cheddar Gorge to the beautiful and historic City of Wells, where there was plenty to see and do.

We then drove on to Winscombe, where we played our third match. I am pleased to say, on this occasion we had a resounding win!

It has to be said of course that all of

the matches were played in a most friendly atmosphere and our host clubs made us very welcome.

The Tour Championship award for the overall highest scoring player went to Mary Linnett, and we raised £200 during the tour in aid of the RNLI, our President's chosen charity.

Overall, it was a brilliant tour. Our thanks and appreciation go to the organiser, Pat Dobson, whose plans for next year's trip to Scarborough are already well in hand!

St Margaret's Co-operative Bowls Club smcbc.com

7

YOUR SAY...

The Birstall Post welcomes your views and opinions on any subject. Letters, which must include your name and address, (though not necessarily for publication) can be posted to: The Birstall Post, Unit 109, Greenacres, The Sidings, Leicester LE4 3BR, or handed in at Birstall library or email: editor@birstallpost.co.uk

Local Plan In response to David Headley’s letter ‘Development’ in the September issue: The Charnwood Local Plan 20212037 has been discussed by Parish Councillors at several meetings. The Chair of Birstall Parish Council has attended virtual briefing meetings and updates on behalf of the Parish Council, the last one being on July 5, 2021. The Chair reported back to the Council on August 16, 2021 by summarising the points raised and discussed. She also reminded Councillors of the deadline date for submissions to be made to Charnwood and asked them to forward any concerns/comments to the Clerk.

A response from Birstall Parish Council was submitted within Charnwood Borough Council’s specified deadline. A confirmation email was received containing a submission reference no.

G7775ZN7 evidencing that the Parish Council’s comments had been received.

The comments submitted by the Par-

ish Council are as follows: “Charnwood Borough Council have a difficult task to meet targets while preserving vision and strategy. They must resist the passing of any unmet need from Leicester City to Charnwood Borough Council. Residents who live in SUE’s (Sustainable Urban Extensions) are particularly vulnerable and are always seen as fair game for extra housing, leading to extra traffic and real pressure on infrastructure and local facilities (81% of growth in these areas). It is vital to preserve green spaces – the value of these has been highlighted during the pandemic. Is it worth building 35 houses in a field in Birstall? Low numbers in the scheme of things and loss of valuable green space and separation. Residents like to feel a sense of community rather than being part of an urban sprawl. Wildlife habitat and valuable footpaths for exercise and outdoor environment need to be preserved.

Birstall in particular is completely hemmed in on all sides and always has extra pressure from increased traffic due to housing developments ie, Broadnook and the City developments at the top of Greengate Lane. This will most certainly affect the well-being of residents and increase air pollution with associated health risks”.

The Parish Council encourage all residents to talk to their Parish Councillors or to attend the monthly Council and Committee meetings to raise any matters or concerns they may have that can then be dealt with in a proactive and positive manner. If the writer had done so, he would realise that the Parish Council were in absolute agreement with most of what he had written in his letter.

Sue Coulson Clerk to Birstall Parish Council

Traffic fund idea Following the invitation in the recent Birstall Post, can I put in a plea for

traffic control on Greengate Lane? Traffic has grown horribly in the last few years, so anything that reduces it or slows it down would be very welcome. Can we have a permanent 20mph speed limit on the road? There are plenty of examples of places where this has been done on similar residential roads, and I can't see why Greengate Lane wouldn't qualify as a classic cut-through road with a school on it.

A particular example is Ashton Green Road which has speed humps and Radar Speed Indicators. I am sure our need is just as great as theirs.

Sam Dobson, Greengate Lane resident

Skylink stop

Counsell. I delivered the petition in person to Mr Jeff Counsell on 13/4/2021 at Trent Barton Head office. Furthermore, I contacted Mr Daniel Grimley who was elected as Birstall Councillor in May 2021 elections, and Birstall Parish Council. I received a message from Mr Edward Argar in May 2021 that Jeff Counsell has advised him that once the cycle lane is removed in June 2021, his company will provide the SKYLINK stop at Redhill Circle. He further advised that he is asking Mr Grimley to communicate with Mr Jeff Counsell on his behalf.

I have just been advised that Trent Barton is planning to provide SKYLINK service at Redhill Circle from October 31, 2021.

Ramesh Kotecha

Grass snake As many of you can recall and have signed the petition to Trent Barton Bus In August last year, my daughter (livCompany in October 2020 for SKYLINK ing in a village in the country) walked bus stop at Redhill Circle, this is update into the garden one day and was very so far. Please note that it is still in progress. It has been an uphill task but I surprised to see a grass snake moving along the grass at the edge of the lawn. am going to make sure the company When it reached a small pond, it went provides us the much-needed SKYLINK into the water, presumably to try to find stop at Redhill Circle. a frog to eat as they like to eat frogs and After obtaining more than 250 signatures of local residents in October 2020, other small creatures like mice and voles. My daughter was surprised the I wrote to all the councillors connected snake went into the pond but didn’t with Birstall, Parish Council, local realise at the time that grass snakes are groups and disability groups in Loughalso called water snakes and fortunately borough for support. Only one Birstall they are non-venomous.

Councillor supported our campaign, Ms Adders, alas, are venomous, but a Julie Palmer. I sent special recorded bite from one is not likely to prove fatal delivery letter to our MP Mr Edward – I understand that a person dying from Argar and The Queen for support. It was an adder bite in the UK has not hapa nice surprise to receive a reply from Buckingham Palace supporting our cam- pened for 28 years. However, whilst not fatal probably, an adder bite can cause paign. The reply which Mr Argar sent an unpleasant, me for more information at Christmas painful reactime was not received. I had to delay the tion and it campaign from January 2021 to April is wise if 2021 due to lockdown. Finally, when I bitten to advised Mr Argar in April 2021 that I get to a am going to see him in person at his hospital parliament office for his support, he and receive replied and promised to write to Mr Jeff some antivenom as soon as possible.

So far this year, my daughter has not seen the grass snake, so it may have died or perhaps found another garden with a larger pond and more frogs.

If those people with ponds in their gardens notice a grass snake around or in a pond and wish to protect the frogs it contains, there is no need to kill it.

Pick it up and put it into an escapeproof cardboard box or some sort of container with ventilation, and take it to a grassy area in the countryside.

Jex Woods

THE BIRSTALL POST OCT 2021

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Noticeboard all details printed free Crafty Stitchers Leicestershire May I introduce you to ‘Crafty Stitchers Leicestershire’. Our main aim is to meet together, enjoy each other’s company and our hobby of embroidery.

At our meetings we have stitch afternoons, learning new techniques or new stitches from each other or from an expert. We also have speakers and these range from those telling of their journey through stitch or maybe their travels abroad or how they had come across a particular idea and had made it their life’s work, bringing with them some of their beautiful work to show us.

During lock down we have had some very interesting Zoom meetings and have completed two joint projects, making quilts for the ‘Linus Charity’ We meet from 2.00-4.30 on the second Saturday each month at Braunstone West Social Centre, St Mary’s Avenue (off Braunstone Lane), Leicester, LE3 3FT If you enjoy being creative, like any sort of stitch and would like to join us, you would be most welcome. Please contact Briony on 01162 872531 for further information or just turn up on the day.

Birstall Methodist Monday Group has re-started....

‘It seems such a long time since we were all together’ – I’m sure lots of people have been saying these very words!

Well, now that things are gradually opening up we are pleased to report that we have re-started our Birstall Methodist Monday Group.

Members of the original Committee have worked very hard to complete the necessary Risk Assessments to ensure that every-

one who comes to the Group feel that they are meeting in a safe and relaxed environment.

We have appointed a new Committee and look forward to greeting old friends and meeting new ones; so put on your glad rags and come and join us!

Meetings are at 7.30pm in the Coffee Shop at Birstall Methodist Church.

Programme for October is as follows: 4 Oct: A bit of light entertainment 11 Oct: Quiz Night 18 Oct: half term – no meeting 25 Oct: Grab a Bargain (Thrift Stall) Please telephone Eileen (0116 2929670) for further information (if no reply please leave a message)

Cedar Care Circle is for everyone who is caring for a spouse, parent, grandparent, or friend suffering from the cruel disease Alzheimer’s and associated dementia.

Our group aims to provide support and friendship, to help overcome the isolation and issues that affects us all in this demanding 24/7 role of carer. I started the group, initially based at Ruth's Lambourne Café, because there wasn't a group in Birstall. We have now very kindly been offered a venue. Brunchies Café, Hallam Fields Road. Lisa, Mel and Maddie are lovely caring young ladies.

When I went to visit, to check the facilities, I was made so welcome.

There is ample easy parking and disabled facilities. Absolutely ideal for us. The 1st meeting is Mon Oct 11 at 2pm and the 2nd one is Oct 25, 2pm. Please come and meet us. You will be very welcome. Carers and cared for, or if the person you cared for is in a home, which I know is a very difficult decision to make, just come and chat. Contact me, Barbara, on 07905760556 if you would like to chat prior to the meeting.

Birstall Methodist Church

Christmas Festival Friday 26th November 10am-6pm Saturday 27th November 10am2pm Decorated trees - Displays

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Santa’s Grotto Stalls: Vintage/books, Christmas accessories/decorations, cakes, preserves, crafts, toys, pick-abag, olive wood decorations, lucky dip, raffle, tombola.

Refreshments both days Pancakes/hot dogs (Fri evening) Table top sales Free Admission Donations to Jade’s Retreat

Parkinson's Support Group Do you suffer from Parkinson's disease?

Are you relative, carer or friend of someone with Parkinsons?

Then this is the place for you!

The local Parkinson's support group have started their meetings again.

Every 2nd Tuesday of the month at the Syston Community Centre School Lane, Syston, LE7 1HN, 2-4pm Come along, have a chat over a cuppa, exchange ideas and experiences, Guest speakers, anything from Owls to ukulele's.

All will be welcome.

For further information contact Helen Ball on 0116 2677487

Watermead Winter Warmer a 3 Mile Novelty Run Prizes for best Christmas costumes Presented by The Rotary Club of the Wreake Valley & members of Birstall Running Club In aid of Rainbows (and Rotary charities) Date: Sun 5th Dec 2021 at 10am Location: Watermead Country Park LE7 1PD (north entrance) near Syston £10 adults, £5 under 16s enter at: www.evententry.co.uk More information at www.wreakevalleyrotary.org.uk Trust Fund Charity Number: 00119549 With special thanks to the Rangers of Watermead Country Park

Film Presentations Thurcaston and Cropston Parish Council Towards the end of September, Diana and Richard attended the monthly Parish Council Meeting where the resumption of our village films was approved.

We intend to present the first film on Friday November 12.

We still have “Downton Abbey” available. We had intended to show “Fisherman’s Friends” and “Judy” in the following months but we would welcome suggestions about future films.

We do, however, need more volunteers to cover sickness or holidays. We look forward to seeing you during the winter.

Diana 0116 2362 619 Richard 0116 2363 066

Birstall Royal British Legion club All old and new members will be very welcome Bingo every Tuesday starting at 9pm Quizzes every Wednesday starting at 8.30pm and Sundays at 9pm Pool tables at only 50p Saturday Entertainment 30th October Jackie Jane, female vocalist With the card game and key of the box, so come and try your luck Kitchen open on Saturday 2nd October food served 12 till 2pm Room hire available for wakes

The November issue of

THE BIRSTALL POST will be published on Oct 29.

The copy deadline is Oct 18.

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10

OCTOBER 2021 Visit our website at: www.villagewatch.co.uk and join our Group on Facebook

Speeding Traffic

You’ve Won!

Community Speed Watch (CSW) is a programme directed at the issue of speeding traffic. It enables volunteers to raise awareness of the dangers of speeding in order to address the problem within their own community.

Our Neighbourhood Watch organised two CSW sessions on behalf of the Parish Council in 2015 and 2016. While we had a number of volunteers prepared to conduct the actual roadside sessions, the administration fell to just a couple of people and took up a considerable amount of time and energy. It included working with CSW to identify suitable locations (there are safety and other legal criteria that have to be met), training the volunteers, managing the rota, collating the data and sending it to County Hall and the Police on a daily basis.

The equipment, including the speed gun, was supplied by CSW and had to be returned to them when the sessions were completed.

We had hoped to repeat the exercise on a regular basis but, despite appeals, nobody else came forward to assist with the administration.

You can learn more about CSW on our website: www.villagewatch.co.uk/speedwatch In a related but quite separate initiative, Birstall Parish Council purchased a speed gun in 2016 for the exclusive use of our local Beat Team. Only Police Officers can conduct speed checks that can be enforced in court. The gun is held locally by the Police and is used by them around our villages on a regular basis.

This gun has to be calibrated and certified on an annual basis so that its data can be used as evidence in court. The Watch has undertaken to pay the cost of this certification as a contribution to local road safety.

Learning that you have won a prize can be very good news but only if you entered a legitimate competition in the first place.

Which? reports that a member of the public, who enjoys entering competitions on Facebook, received a message from an account that looked just like Currys PC World, saying that she had won a television and some Bluetooth speakers.

It asked her to confirm her name, mobile phone number and delivery address, which she did. But when she was asked for her card details to cover the cost of delivery she, fortunately, realised that something was wrong. Major brands would not expect a competition winner to pay the cost of delivering the prize.

It is more than likely that the criminals would have used her payment details not just to claim these non‐existent charges but for other payments as well. Even the details she did supply could be added to the lists of personal profiles that circulate for sale on the dark web.

Fraudsters create convincing copycat social media accounts to contact victims, claiming that they have won competitions.

They target people based on their social media activity and make offers that seem to make sense at first sight.

If you like to enter competitions, it is a good idea to keep a note at the time you do so. Include the date you entered, the platform used (e.g. FaceBook), details of the prize and any entry fee.

A competition that requires you to make a payment at any point, should be checked very carefully to confirm that it is genuine before you send anything.

It is now common practice for delivery companies to send an email advising the progress of a parcel’s journey. It often includes the option for the recipient to nominate a place for the courier to leave the parcel if there is no one at home to receive it.

This can be a very convenient option that avoids having to wait in or having the delivery delayed. However, before opting for this, take a little time to consider the drawbacks.

If the nominated place is accessible to the courier, it can also be easily accessed by anyone else.

The delivery company has a legal responsibility to deliver your parcel safely to the address on the label. If it does not arrive or is damaged, it is their responsibility, not yours. However, if you have agreed to it being left in a place outside of your home, they will have fulfilled their responsibly by doing so.

If it is not there or is damaged when you get back, it is much more difficult to prove what happened. It could have been stolen or damaged after delivery.

Having a safe place for parcels, such as a porch or greenhouse, can save a lot of inconvenience but this has to be balanced against the risk of your parcel going missing.

The decision must be yours, the courier company cannot force you to nominate a safe place.

There have been more changes to our Beat Team since we reported last month. PCSO Taylor Cody, who joined the team in May last year, is moving to work in Loughborough. She has been a familiar presence in our villages and we wish her well in her new role.

We would like to welcome her replacement, PCSO 6580 Naomi Sharpe. Please stop and say hello if you meet her while she is on patrol.

The Team produces its own monthly Newsletter. It contains details of recent crime in our villages, crime prevention advice and other news about their activities.

If you want to keep up to date on policing issues in Birstall and Wanlip, you can read it in full each month on our website:

www.villagewatch.co.uk/police where you can also sign up to have it sent directly to your mailbox as soon as it is published.

JUST BECAUSE SOMEONE IS PLEASANT AND POLITE DOES NOT ALWAYS MEAN THAT THEY ARE HONEST

The Watch would like to thank Birstall Parish Council for its continued support © Birstall and Wanlip Neighbourhood Watch – watch@villagewatch.co.uk – 0756 2422 756

THE BIRSTALL POST OCT 2021

Safe Parcel Deliveries

Our Local Police Team

11

Diwali celebrations on city streets LEICESTER’S ANNUAL Diwali and Christmas celebrations will be returning to the city's streets this year.

The city council has announced that the day the Diwali lights are turned on, Diwali Day itself, and the switching-on of Leicester’s Christmas lights will all be marked with on-street entertainment, although in a slightly different format to

previous years.

Due to Covid-19 restrictions, last year’s events were marked virtually with online content.

This year, the council plans to take the festivities back onto the streets, with a new approach that will reduce the need for people to congregate in one place at the same time.

The council plans to close Belgrave Road to traffic as usual, for both switch-

on day on October 24, and Diwali Day on November 4. In a change to previous years, the stage usually sited near to the Belgrave roundabout will be replaced with two giant screens located on Belgrave Road showing a pre-recorded cultural programme that will run throughout the evening.

A third giant screen will be located on Cossington Street Recreation Ground.

This will enable visitors to view the enter-

Lipreading classes in Birstall LIPREADING AWARENESS Week was highlighted last month with a display in Birstall Library, an information session on lipreading, and the launch of new face-to-face lipreading classes on Saturday mornings.

Jenny Cluley, Lipreading Tutor, is keen to encourage anyone with hearing loss to consider lipreading classes.

She said: “There are many misconceptions about lipreading, one being that lipreading is only for people who are profoundly deaf – that couldn’t be further from the truth. Lipreading classes are open to anyone with any level of hearing loss, whether they wear a hearing aid or not.

Lipreading classes are designed to help people make the most of the hearing that they do have it provides a vital tool amongst a range of techniques that can be used to aid communication.”

The classes are due to start in Birstall library on Saturday October 9, 10.30am-12.30pm. The cost for the 10-week course is £30.

If you are interested in this course, or other courses in Leicester, Melton, or Loughborough, contact the Leslie Edwards Trust by emailing jane.e.futcher@gmail.com; phone/text Jane on 07989 146682, or visit the website: http://www.lets-lipread.org.uk Pic: Lipreading tutor Jenny Cluley

tainment in different locations and at different times, reducing the need for crowds to gather in one place at a fixed point in the evening.

With the covid security of visitors a key consideration, the annual firework displays will be replaced this year with a Fire Garden on Cossington Street recreation ground, and a Global Rainbow that will beam light across the city.

Cossington Street Recreation Ground will also host a Diwali Village featuring food stalls and funfair rides.

Deputy city mayor for culture Cllr Piara Singh-Clair said: “We have been determined to do all we can to bring the Diwali and Christmas celebrations back to the streets of Leicester while making public safety our priority.

“The new format of the Diwali events means that people can enjoy the sights and sounds of our Diwali celebrations at any point during the evening, and won’t need to congregate in one space.“Our plans for Christmas activities are currently being finalised, but we will be taking a similar approach.”

Belgrave Road will close at 5pm on Sunday October 24 to mark the Diwali lights being turned on. The cultural programme will be shown on the giant screens every hour from 5.30 to 8.30pm.

It will include a religious ceremony performed by the Hindu Festival Council as well as entertainment from Nupur Arts and local dance groups. The lights will be turned on before the road closure to prevent crowds gathering.

Diwali day festivities on Thursday November 4 will also start with the road closure at 5pm, and the showing of the cultural programme from 5.30 to 8.30pm.

The council is currently finalising its plans around the Christmas light switchon which is set for November 18.

The return of the ice-rink to Jubilee Square has already been announced, and this will be in place from 2 Dec to 3 Jan, with tickets going on sale in October.

The council’s annual bonfire and firework display on Abbey Park is also set to return this year.

The

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accompany the occupant around the Sharpe. Unfortunately PCSO 6128 Cody house, checking taps and the like, allow- Taylor has moved to a different area ing their accomplice to search other however we wish her all the best & rooms. Sometimes the thief works alone, thank her for all her hard work whilst sending the occupant to other rooms so on the Birstall & Wanlip Beat. that they can search the one they are in.

September Priorities It is common for the caller to be During September we continued to vague about where they are from, often focus our patrols around the Hallam claiming to be from the ‘Gas Board’ or Fields Industrial estate to tackle some ‘Water Board’. This is an immediate Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB) issues that give-away since those organisations no are occurring in the late evenings, and longer exist, and you cannot contact around School Lane park and Meadow them.

Lane, as we often see a slight rise in ASB Distraction Burglaries There are a number of things you can in these areas after the schools go back.

In recent weeks, there have been do to guard against distraction burglary.

Crime Update several local instances of distraction - Always remember - IF IN DOUBT, This month we have had a total of 36 burglaries. The technique is a very simKEEP THEM OUT. crimes reported on the Birstall & Wanlip ple one; somebody calls at a house and beat which is slightly down on last - Use your door viewer to see who keeps the occupant talking while a secmonth when we had 39. We have had 9 is there. ond person slips inside to steal valuables. reports of theft (including 2 cycle thefts) Put the chain on before you The occupant only realises that they have 7 reports of assault, and 7 ‘Public Order’ open the door. been burgled after the thieves have made offences. We have also had 3 house Always ask for an ID and check it their get-away. burglaries reported, 3 drugs offences, 3 with the company using a phone There are two methods commonly sexual offences and 3 reports of damage number YOU have found indeused. The first involves the caller keep(including 2 damage to vehicle offences). pendently, not one THEY give you. ing the occupant talking at the front Lastly, we have had 1 non-dwelling bur- Remember to close the door door while their accomplice finds anothglary reported. while you do this. er way in, for example, through an unOn a positive note, we have had no - Genuine callers will not mind locked backdoor or window. thefts from vehicles reported in August The second involves the caller trickwaiting while you check. which is obviously good news and we ing their way into the house by pretend- You can ask them to come back have also had some good arrests this ing to be an official checking, for at another time when someone month, with a male being arrested for a example, the water or gas supply. They you trust can be with you. burglary that happened in July and an- Some utility companies offer a other male being arrested in relation to password scheme for pre-planned two indecent exposure offences that appointments. occurred on the beat in June and July.

If you feel threatened by or in danger Both of these have been interviewed & October Dinner Specials from a caller, always dial 999 immediate- released at this time whilst further enTo order call 0116 2919765 ly. quiries are completed. We also had a Please keep safe. cannabis factory discovered on the beat Friday 1st- Fish chips and mushy peas From Ed Chambers, Committee Chairman, during August as a result of which a Saturday 2nd- Gammon, egg and chips Birstall & Wanlip NHW quantity of cannabis was seized and Sunday 3rd- See Sunday Dinner Menu another male was arrested & charged Monday 4th- Cottage pie with roast New Team Members with cannabis cultivation. For further potatoes and vegetables This month we have had a number of crime information please visit: Tuesday 5th- Sausage casserole with new officers join the team! PC 1427 www.police.uk/leicestershire/NL60/ mashed potatoes Lauren De Wet has joined us after previ- Crime Prevention Advice Wednesday 6th- Chicken Kiev with new ously working as a response officer & This month we’ve had 3 burglaries potatoes and peas we have also been joined by PCSO’s reported, one of which was a ‘distracThursday 7th- Bolognese pasta bake 6637 Ellie Holland and 6580 Naomi tion type’ burglary. This is where the with garlic bread and salad homeowner is tricked into allowing the Friday 8th- Scampi chips and peas intruder to enter the house, usually by Saturday 9th- All day breakfast pretending to be a tradesperson or tellSunday 10th- See Sunday Dinner Menu ing the homeowner they are acting in an Monday Ilth- Toad in the hole with official capacity. Once inside, they will mash and peas usually get the homeowner to do someTuesday 12th- Jacket potato with ham thing in another room so they can and cheese salad search for items of value & take them Wednesday 13th- Beef stew and without being seen. dumplings Understandably this can be very upsetThursday 14th- Chicken and mushroom ting for the victim as they often feel that pie with mash and peas they have been stupid by letting the perfor 1:1 and small group work Friday 15th- Fish chips and mushy peas son in, however the people behind these Saturday 16th- Spaghetti bolognese We are a company specialising crimes can be very persuasive and believSun 17th, Mon 18th, Tue 19th able, meaning even the most astute perin quality alternative Wed 20th: CLOSED son can be tricked! Some ways to educational provision.

Thursday 21st- Lasagne with garlic protect yourself are as follows: bread and salad We are looking to recruit Friday 22nd- Scampi chips and peas excellent Teachers and Saturday 23rd- All day breakfast Teaching Assistants, who are Sunday 24th- See Sunday dinner menu willing to work both in and Monday 25th- Southern fried chicken out of school settings on a breast with chips and salad Tuesday 26th- Cheese onion and potato sessional basis. with pork loin, peas and onion gravy Applications are welcome Wednesday 27th- Minced beef and from practitioners across all onion hotpot with roast potatoes and Key Stages and vegetables curriculum areas.

Thursday 28th- Fish pie with roast potatoes and peas Please email Friday 29th- Fish chips and mushy peas Leicester.office@first-class.org.uk Sycamore Rd, Birstall Saturday 30th- Hot dogs and chips or call 07799 372128 0116 2677905 (Halloween treat) for an application form Sunday 31st: closed and more information 07834 600384

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1) Don’t let anyone into your house unless you are absolutely sure they are genuine. If you have any concerns, don’t let them in & call the company they say they work for using a number found by you, not one provided by them (as often they will give you a false number).

2) If speaking to someone at the front door, ensure the back door is locked so a second person cannot ‘sneak in’ without being seen & if in doubt, call someone & ask them to come & join you, or CALL THE POLICE. Events Due to a number of staff changes on the beat combined with several of us being on leave during July and August we have not had chance to arrange any events, however we do intend to complete another street consultation soon.

As mentioned in last month’s newsletter, this will probably be in the area of Lyngate Avenue, Sandgate Avenue and Wellgate Avenue due to the fact we had to cancel the one previously arranged for these streets. Please keep an eye on our twitter page (@CharnwoodPolice) for details of when this will take place.

You can also get in touch with us via phone, email or through the Leicestershire Police website. Neighbourhood Link is also a free & easy way of finding out what is happening on the beat and what the Police are doing in your local area. Sign up now at:www.neighbourhoodlink.co.uk A message from Sgt Bird and the Beat Team I am the dedicated neighbourhood Sergeant for Birstall & Wanlip & have been a Police officer for 22 years. I have previous experience as a beat officer myself and hope to bring my many experiences of Policing to the role. I am keen to hear about what the people of Birstall and Wanlip would like to see from their local Police so we can all work together to tackle any identified issues. In last month’s newsletter I mentioned about Pc 1427 Lauren DeWet joining the team & this month I am pleased to welcome 2 new PCSO’s to the Birstall & Wanlip Beat. PCSO’s 6637 Holland and 6580 Sharpe have both joined us after completing their initial training and with a larger team we will be better placed to respond to incidents on the beat and deal with the issues that matter to the local community. This month we have mainly been conducting our patrols around the Hallam Fields Industrial estate due to some complaints about Anti-Social Behaviour occurring in this area in the evenings. I’m pleased to report that the issues do appear to have died down somewhat, however we will continue to patrol the area when we can to ensure they don’t start up again. As mentioned elsewhere on the newsletter, we have also had some good results this month with a number of people arrested for various offences including burglary, indecent exposure and cannabis cultivation. The latter was as a result of a warrant at an address in the village following the receipt of some information from another force about a possible cannabis grow.

From the Birstall Beat team

The November issue of

THE BIRSTALL POST will be published on Oct 29.

The copy deadline is Oct 18.

THE BIRSTALL POST OCT 2021

12

13

Macmillan coffee morning A MACMILLAN coffee morning at MD Lowe funeral directors on Saturday September 11 has raised £1000 for the cancer charity.

Hall’s new doors Visitors enjoyed a chat, a cuppa and lots of homemade cake. Mark and Hayley Lowe said: “Thank you so much to everyone who donated cake and raffle prizes, along with everyone who helped, you’re all amazing.”

Paul’s marathon run

THE BIRSTALL POST OCT 2021

A BIRSTALL man is running the London Marathon for LOROS after losing his friend to cancer in 2019.

Paul Blake-Smith will be thinking of his friend Tim Watts Barker, also from Birstall, who was diagnosed with lung cancer in 2018 and died at LOROS seven months later. He left behind a wife and two young children.

Paul (43) said: “LOROS were a great support to Tim and his family and I am honoured to be running the marathon in Tim’s memory to raise money for LOROS, in order to provide palliative care for others.

“Tim lived in Birstall for most of his life, attending Riverside, Stonehill and Longslade schools. He was well known in the village and had many friends of all ages. He was a keen sportsman, playing football for Birstall United and the Earl of Stamford football club. He also supported Leicester City as a season ticket holder and was delighted to witness them win the Premier League with his young son.

Tim travelled extensively, spending several years living and working in various countries. Sailing from New York to England was one of his many adventures.

Paul said: “We have currently raised over £3500 for LOROS, with great support from the Birstall community, in particular the staff and members of Birstall Social Club and Birstall United football club.”

To sponsor Paul’s run, go to www.justgiving.com/fundraisin g/runningblake There are also sponsor forms at Birstall United football club.

Pics: (below) runner Paul Blake-Smith and (inset) Tim Watts Barker

BIRSTALL PARISH Council has announced that refurbishment work to the Village Hall entrance is now complete.

An automated door system has been installed at the front of the building and inside the hall to make the whole venue more accessible for all users.

A parish council spokesperson said: “The Clerk applied for funding from the National Lottery Community Fund. Unfortunately, this proved unsuccessful.

“The Parish Council was very keen for the work to proceed and approved a suggestion from the Clerk to move budg-

ets to meet the costs of £12,081. The work was carried out while the hall was closed to the public.

“The Parish Council feel that the new doors not only enhance the appearance of the building but more importantly, it makes the venue accessible and inclusive for all users.

“One Parish Councillor who uses a mobility scooter to arrive for meetings is pleased the new doors have made it a lot easier for him to gain access to the venue without requiring any assistance to open and hold the doors.”

Pic: the new doors at Birstall Village Hall

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Railway station memories WHAT DOES anyone like more than a visit to an old railway station? Answer: a story about a lost railway station, of course!

Birstall has both.

Firstly, the lost station. Belgrave and Birstall Remembered tells what happened to the first local railway station using over 150 photographs, including maps, tables and contributions from over twenty first-hand witnesses. It describes a place dependent upon an orderly execution of disciplined routine during its day-to-day running but which could equally give rise to great excitement, drama, humour, even intrigue and some outrageous audacity on the part of those people intimately connected with it.

Straddling the parish border between the two communities in 1899, Belgrave and Birstall Station was established primarily because the 6th Earl of Lanesborough objected to the railway’s original

planned passage over his land at Swithland.

Station users would descend a steep staircase from the centre of Station Road bridge to its typical economically constructed island platform to board one of the over 10 trains per day in both directions. The tidy but small suburban complex comprised: a signal-box and

Pic: The presentation party gather under the original station Belgrave and Birstall sign to award Mr Robson and Mr Pentelow a prized “Best Kept Station” award in 1955.

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lamp-room; an exclusive Station Master’s House; private gateways for many Park Road residents along the railway-owned footpath allowing exclusive access to the station; an ample and almost secret “tunnel room” built into the overbridge structure for storage (still existing today); a unique “Ticket collectors’ office” and a full complement of staff from Station Master to fog signalmen.

While the dedication and service of the professional 1950s and 60s railwaymen was often recognised in the many “Best Kept Station” awards and accolades such as that received after the 1957 accident by Porter, Mr Pentelow, there were moments when their professionalism was sorely tried by the antics of those drawn to the railway, as I was, for purely recreational purposes.

That many of the latter group grew up to become dedicated supporters of the preservation movement which eventually succeeded in extending the line back through Birstall and building a replacement station for the one sadly lost, may have bemused Mr Pentelow.

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Copies still available @ £15.99 from: Birstall Library (Wanlip Lane, Birstall LE4 4JU) Loughborough Central Station bookshop (Great Central Road, Loughborough, LE11 1RW) Leicester North Station (The Sidings, Leicester LE4 3BA) collect post-paid mail-order form which you send to me by post.

John Powdrill direct: contact belgravebirstall@virginmedia.com for payment details.

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Helping our community THE HELPING Our Community Birstall group continues to share information and support people in our community.

Co-founder Rosie Rollings reports: The community group has continued to support people isolating due to Covid19. We are still available to collect prescriptions if you cannot get help. People are returning to a new normal and the group will try and continue during these changing times.

Quilts have been gifted by the scrubs team to members of the community; these have brought great comfort to the recipients. We have also gifted incubator quilts to the NICU and have a large amount of wiggle bags, for the children that have portacaths, that will be delivered this week.

We have made poppies: knitted, crocheted and from felt. These are on sale in some local shops. If you can help by selling poppies in your workplace, please get in touch.

The Christmas Fair booked for November 13 will be in aid of “pay it forward” and Jade’s Retreat. If anyone has any tombola or raffle prizes, we would be very grateful. Ideally, these should be re-

Charity run raises £6000 PROCEEDS FROM the annual Watermead Challenge charity run at Watermead Park have been presented to Jade’s Retreat. ceived by November 7. Locally Christmas items are being made for the sale.

We hope the event will be a success and will start our “pay it forward” fund.

People can let us know if someone has a big celebration, needs a pick me up, or is having a difficult time. A small gift from the community could make a huge difference.

Also, hot meals for people being discharged from hospital.

Following the success of the Christmas meals last year, we will be repeating it again this year, and we hope people are as generous as last year.

If you require further information, please feel free to contact me on 07894995164.

Secondly, the station which can be visited. Apart from there no longer being a signal box, the trains departing in only one direction and being reached by a level roadway from The Sidings, the professional duties of the committed volunteer staff largely mirror those of their 1960s antecedents: keeping the station operational and safe, selling tickets, monitoring and managing the arrival and departure of trains. The subtle difference is that as a heritage railway station, its role is to create an environment in which those very recreation seekers, so perplexing to Mr Pentelow and his Belgrave and Birstall colleagues, may re-live their memories as well as offering later generations a real experience of mainly Victorian technologies on the railway from “Leicester North for Belgrave and Birstall” (as it will shortly be renamed in recognition of its forerunner’s operational and historical community links).

Belgrave and Birstall Remembered gives you the past based upon material collected from people, including Birstall Post readers, who knew the original station. Focussing upon the two-mile stretch of the railway running through Birstall to Belgrave, between Greengate Lane bridge (360) and the site of the over-bridge at Thurcaston Road (364) this A4 sized 64-page book aims to inform and entertain with a selection of page-long short stories and articles about how and why the station came to exist; who worked there and who played there; how it operated; who its neighbours were; what happened to it and why it is no longer there.

The President of Wreake Valley Rotary Club, Graham Packwood, presented Jackie Ward of "Jade's Retreat" with a cheque for £2,000. The retreat provides respite care for cancer sufferers and their families at a mobile home in Heacham, Norfolk.

The donation is part of the proceeds from the annual Watermead Challenge charity run at Watermead Park. It is arranged by the Rotary Club with valuable support from members of Birstall Running Club. About £6,000 was raised this year. Other recipients include Dictionaries4Life for Barkby Pochin School and the Cauda Equina charity shop in Syston.

Next up is the "Watermead Winter Warmer", a three-mile novelty fun run in support of Rainbows. Again at Watermead Park, the run is at 10am on Sunday December 5, 2021. Entry details are at www.evententry.co.uk

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News from the churches

We shall welcome Rev Israel Selvanayagam From Birstall Methodist Church

ON SEPTEMBER 15 at St. James, the entrance at the corner of the space beServices Institution and Induction of our new tween the coffee shop & the church.

Our Sunday services are at 10.45am Rector, Rev Amanda Digman, was con- One small part has just been finished, and you will be most welcome to join ducted by the Rt Revd Martyn Snow, with the final improvement to the inner with us. Please ring 0116 2214883, or Bishop of Leicester. doors of the front entrance to the check our website: It will be good to have someone 'at church. http://www.birstallbaptistchurch.org.uk the helm' again after a very long interregThese new doors will give a better for the current venue and contact us if num. We have, however, been held view from the pavement of the inside of steady by our team of retired clergy the church. It was hoped that the illumi- you have any questions about Christianity.

Stanton Lees Report since the re-opening of our churches, nated cross would be visible, but even The Bible School at Stanton Lees in and for which we are very grateful. though the new doors are higher, wider (Do clergy ever really retire? Nope). and clearer, you need to stoop a little to Derbyshire went ahead this August Bank Holiday. Dr David Allen spoke twice During the last 18 months or so, see the whole of the cross from outside. from John 17 (the Lord’s own prayer) changes have also taken place in the As you view the cross, you might like to and gave the historical lecture on Martin personnel of the churches, as circumconsider all that it represents.

Luther and the German Diet at Worms, stances have changed in the lives of so Sunday morning worship is ‘turn up 1521 (as it is the 500th anniversary) many people. And so, there will be a and go’. There is now no need to book while Pastor Lawrence Kennedy from feeling of new beginnings and opportuni- a seat. However, you are asked to wear ties, fresh ideas and (hopefully) enthusi- a mask when standing to sing. Some folk Northern Ireland did a series of four on: asm! are still a little cautious about returning ‘How we can stay close to the Shepherd’ – three days (from Peter’s life), three The St James Sunday School teddy to buildings filled with people - and for visions (from Isaiah), three seasons bears (all 78 of them) have joined totheir sake, I ask you to be patient with (from Elijah) and three chapters (from gether for a picnic at Wanlip. the few restrictions that still need to be Habakkuk). These are available to listen Some have found new homes and will in place as we gather at 10.30am each to on the Stanton Lees Chapel website. bring comfort to their new owners - as Sunday. One thing is sure – you will be Evington Chapel Lectures teddies always do! welcome!

These are being held again this Taking up the reins again after such a Almost Back To ‘Normal’ autumn/winter. The subject for the long break is quite a challenge, but the At last, activities are getting back to series is ‘Names of Jehovah … I AM’ and Mother's Union has met it with holding a pre-covid levels, with some surprising the first is on Sat October 23 at 7pm social gathering in St. James, which is a changes. The Women's group, who meet when David Cooke (Banbury) will speak good start and one which will see them on Monday evenings, has restarted. The up and running again. ladies Thursday Group has resumed, but on ‘The LORD who heals – Jehovah St. James Monday Group will also, now meet in the afternoon instead of the Rapha’. The meetings are free and further details can be found on their chapel hopefully, follow their lead very shortly. evening. Disappointingly the Girls Briwebsite.

The 'Ride and Stride' event to raise gade is not restarting, but the Boys BriHarvest Time funds for our churches and to support gade, which meets on Friday evening, Autumn is the time when we give the Historic Churches Foundation has now have a ‘Girls section’. thanks to God for His care and provision taken place, on September 11. John Christmas Festival & Harvest Festival for us – and not just the provision of Borrajo visited 22 churches(!) and we The Christmas Festival will take place are agog to see how much the sponsorthis year on Friday November 26, 10am food. A less-familiar hymn for this harship raises. I mean - well - strewth!

- 6pm and Saturday November 27, 10am - vest-time is ‘Praise, O praise the Lord of harvest, providence and love!’ by Rev. 22!

2pm. More details next month.

James Hamilton (1819-1896). It gives With all these goings-on, and much Birstall Methodist Church celebrates praise not just for earthly blessings such more in the pipeline, I expect Amanda Harvest Festival on October 10 with our as food but for heavenly comforts too, will have to 'hit the ground running'! own Birstall minister Rev Paula Hunt From Birstall Parish church as in verse five he mentions the gift of leading the worship, which will include eternal life but goes on to warn the Holy Communion. reader that it is not available to those At the end of the month, on the 31st, Methodist ‘Walk in the Light’ project who reject the Lord Jesus Christ. James one of the new ministers who have This project was started long before moved into the Circuit leads our worship. was born at Dollar Glen, Scotland, eduCovid. It enabled the creation of a new cated at Cambridge and served as a minister in Bristol and Doulting, Somerset.

From Birstall Independent Baptist Church

15

WI news BIRSTALL AND WANLIP WI held their first meeting since March 2020 on September 6.

28 ladies met again at the British Legion, and our speaker was retired firefighter Paul Reynolds, who told us some sad, some terrifying and some hilarious tales from his long career. It was so good for us to sit with our friends and listen to a live speaker once again.

Maxilyn gave a resume of all we have done to keep in touch over the past 18 months and it was encouraging to hear about plans for the future, including a Christmas Dinner and a coach holiday to Torquay in February.

We hope to meet up again on Monday October 4, at 7pm at the Birstall British Legion on Front Street.

If you are interested in the activities available to WI members in the county, visit the Leicestershire and Rutland WI Federation website or locally, Birstall and Wanlip WI’s Facebook page.

From Birstall &Wanlip WI

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The November issue of

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THE BIRSTALL POST OCT 2021

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Birstall BAG’s cancer corner

Breast Cancer Although Birstall BAGs now supports all cancers, when the charity started out we were focused on breast cancer. October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and so we thought we would go back to our roots and provide some background into what is now the most common cancer in the UK. What is Breast Cancer Breast cancer is when abnormal cells in the breast begin to grow and divide in an uncontrolled way and eventually form a growth (tumour).

Breast cancer starts in the breast tissue, most commonly in the cells that line the milk ducts of the breast. It is the most common cancer in the UK. It mainly affects women, but men can get it too.

The Breasts Breasts are made up of: Fat Glandular tissue divided into lobes (each containing lots of lobules) A network of ducts or milk ducts connective tissue The ducts spread from the lobes towards the nipple.

Breast Size and Density One breast is usually smaller than the other. Your breasts may feel different at different times in the month. It is common for breasts to feel lumpy just before your period.

Younger women have more glandular tissue than fat in their breasts, making them dense.

Your breasts also change during pregnancy.

You may notice that they become bigger and feel more tender.

After your periods stop (menopause), fat gradually replaces the glandular tis-

“SERVICE

sue, which is less dense.

Where it starts Breast cancer most commonly starts in the cells that line the ducts of the breast.

Around 70 out of 100 (around 70%) of breast cancers have no special features when the cells are looked at under the microscope. They are called invasive breast cancer no special type (NST).

Invasive means the cancer cells have spread outside the ducts and into the surrounding breast tissue.

Almost 15 in every 100 breast cancers (almost 15%) are invasive lobular carcinoma. This means that the cancer started in the lobules of the breast and spread outside the lobules into the surrounding breast tissue.

There are other rarer types of breast cancer.

Lymph Nodes There is a network of lymph glands (also called lymph nodes) close to the breast. They are part of the lymphatic system that runs throughout the body.

The lymph nodes and lymph vessels contain a yellow fluid called lymph that flows through the lymphatic system.

It collects waste products and drains into veins for the waste to be removed.

Cancer cells that have broken away from the breast tissue can be carried by the lymph fluid to nearby lymph nodes. If you have cancer, but no cancer cells in any of your lymph glands, your cancer is less likely to have spread.

Who gets breast cancer?

Breast cancer is more common in women than men. In 2017, around

NOT SELF”

Help us in our work helping others less fortunate than ourselves

All gifts and donations gladly accepted at the ROYAL BRITISH LEGION 19 FRONT STREET • BIRSTALL

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Small Ads Small ads are 25p for the first 16 words. 17-32 words: 50p. Enclosing payment, post your ad to us or hand it in (inside an envelope) at Birstall library.

Trade/business rates for small ads are 25p a word. You are liable for the trade/business rate if you are offering a service for which you are asking for payment, or if you are advertising new goods for sale. All text will be printed bold.

Box outline £1 extra. Max 50 words. Phone numbers count as one word.

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Slide open for play THE NEW slide on the School Lane playing field has been completed and is now open for play.

Sue Coulson, Parish Clerk, said: “The Parish Council wish to thank everybody for their patience with the delay in being able to open the slide, but the safety of members of the public was paramount in this case and until they were completely satisfied, it just couldn’t be opened.

“The delay was caused due to several issues that were identified after the Parish Council staff carried out their own inspections after the equipment had been signed off by the contractors.

The Parish Council staff were not completely satisfied with the finished product. ” She added: “The Parish Council hope that users enjoy the new equipment and would welcome feedback from children and parents on this new experience.”

THE BIRSTALL POST

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54,700 women and around 390 men were diagnosed in the UK. 1 in 7 women in the UK develops breast cancer during their lifetime. It is more common in older women.

Breast cancer risk can be affected by age, family history and lifestyle factors such as obesity and smoking.

How common is it?

Breast cancer is the most common cancer in the UK. Around 55,200 people are diagnosed with breast cancer every year in the UK. That is around 150 people a day.

15 out of 100 (15%) of all newly diagnosed cancers in the UK are breast cancer.

Breast Symptoms to look out for The first symptom of breast cancer most people notice is A lump in their breast or some thickening.

A new lump or thickening in your breast or armpit A change in size, shape or feel of your breast Skin changes in the breast such as puckering, dimpling, a rash or redness of the skin Fluid leaking from the nipple in a woman who isn’t pregnant or breastfeeding Changes in the position of the nipple If you are worried about any of the signs or symptoms of breast cancer, be sure and seek medical attention.

For local support and information about cancer services, please contact:University Hospitals of Leicester Cancer Information Centre on 0116 258 6189 For more information on the funds Birstall BAGs have raised, the projects we support, and forthcoming events, see www.birstallbags.co.uk or look us up on Facebook or email birstallbags@hotmail.co.uk

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Unit 109, Greenacres, The Sidings, Leicester LE4 3BR Editor: Mr Jerry Jackson Editorial/Advertising

0116 4422067 Correspondence, news etc can be emailed or handed in at our office: Unit 109, Greenacres, The Sidings Leicester LE4 3BR,

editor@birstallpost.co.uk www.birstallpost.co.uk

THE BIRSTALL POST OCT 2021

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