Birstall Post (479) June 2023

Wanlip Lane fight

A BIRSTALL man has received a 10-month prison sentence, suspended for 18 months, after he was involved in a fight on Wanlip Lane.

Police were called to the scene, near the junction with The Crossways, on Monday March 6, 2023, at 3pm, after receiving calls about a fight in the area.

Rhys Tyers (21), of Wanlip Lane, was arrested by police following the incident. Tyers was found to have cannabis on his person and was later charged with possession of the Class B drug. He was also charged with assault by beating and threatening a person with an offensive weapon.

At Leicester Crown Court on Tuesday May 17, Tyers was given a 10-month prison sentence, suspended for 18

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Birstall’s coronation celebrations

BIRSTALL CELEBRATED the King’s coronation in May with street parties organised throughout the village.

Several streets were closed and draped with bunting and union flags to celebrate the Coronation weekend with picnics and party games.

Broadgate Close held a street party on May 7, luckily the best weather of the weekend. 32 friends and neighbours came along to enjoy the occasion.

Resident Geoff Vaughan said: “The three ladies who organised the event laid on hot jacket potatoes with a choice fillings, followed by a choice of trifles and a chocolate cake. Revellers then played old-time games such as ‘charades’ and ‘pass the parcel’, the chocolate prizes melting in the heat. Humorous poems were read out by some of the

braver amongst us! We also drew names out of the hat to be Queen or King for 15 minutes. Due to the generosity of those who gave more than the cost of the food, we were able to donate £176 to The Alzheimer's Society. A singalong was enjoyed by all to end a great day.”

On Heathgate Close, Kath Lord, Enda Dean and helpers prepared food and organised activities including a treasure hunt, biscuit decorating, pin the crown on the king, bingo, play your cards right and catch the squirrel.

Urvashi Patel, who made a special Coronation trifle, said: “Neighbours attending contributed by bringing food to share on the day and we all chipped in to have an entertaining day, looking out for the not so able-bodied neighbours too, who made an effort to join us which was lovely. It was a delightful day, with the sun shining too made it even better.”

Firfield Avenue’s street party had a starring role in the BBC coverage of the event. Residents enjoyed their street

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Pic: Alx Roe (right) with Hilary, Jay and Ben Gazzard on Firfield Avenue

Pic: the street party on Walnut Avenue

The Hearing Centre, 97b Sibson Road, Birstall, Leicestershire LE4 4NB

254 3909

party in the afternoon then as night fell and the Coronation Concert began in London, the BBC broadcast live coverage of the party on Firfield Avenue as part of

a sequence that included Sheffield Town Hall, Newcastle’s Tyne Bridge and Gateshead’s Millennium Bridge.

Continued from page 1

Pics: (above) the scenes on Firfield Avenue

Pic: celebrations on Wellgate Avenue

Pic: serving food to residents on Broadgate Close

Pic: King & Queen for the day, Ray Hoult & Hayley Comery

Pic: a royal couple on Firfield Avenue, John Tointon & Jo Towlson; (above) Olwen Guildford take a rest beside Charles & Camilla; (right) decorations on Firfield Avenue; (below) party games on Roman Road

Pic: toasting the royal couple at the Methodist Lunch Club

Pic: the street party on Curzon Avenue

Pics: (above) Residents on Heathgate Close made the most of the royal occasion

Development next to country park

A BUSINESS site is planned for land next to Watermead Country Park.

Developer Wanlip Holdings Ltd says the development, between Birstall and Thurmaston, will provide 70,600 m2 of employment space, including offices, service yards and parking, on almost 77 acres.

The site lies to the east of John Merrick’s Lake and would be accessed by the roundabout near the Hope & Anchor pub.

The developer says that 918 jobs

Fight continued from page 1

months. He was also ordered to carry out 30 days of rehabilitation activity.

The court also imposed a restraining order against Tyers in relation to his victim and ordered him to pay £300 in compensation.

would be created and that the site would generate £1.1m in business rates per annum.

To the north of the A46, a new wetland is proposed to mitigate the loss of open water habitat on the site. The devel-

oper says: “This will not only secure a new area of wetland with associated structural planting measures, it will also secure the extension of the wetland habitats associated with this part of the Soar Valley, but also reinforce the landscape setting to the north of the A46 and provide accessible greenspace connected

to the Grand Union Canal corridor.”

Objections to the plans are already being submitted to Charnwood Borough Council. One stated: “This is a major intrusion into a valuable wetland habitat that supports a wide variety of interconnecting wetland and grassland species.”

Another said: “There are already land grabs with warehouses built in Thurmaston. A bit here, a bit there, and before we know it, nature is gone. Wildlife is depleted in the city, and taking their

preserve green spaces. Enough is enough. Some things are priceless, just like the air that we breathe and mental health.”

The planning application details can be read on the planning pages of Charnwood Bourofh Council, where you can submit comments. The reference is P/23/0668/2.

Hope & Anchor

NORTHË

John Merrick’s Lake

Pics: (top) red line shows boundary of planned development; (above) a typical unit planned for the site; (left) plan show location of units

BIRSTALL UNITED lost out on promotion at the UCL League play-off final after a penalty shoot-out.

After a convincing first-round win against Newark Town, Birstall Utd progressed to the UCL league playoff final at Meadow Lane on April 29. The biggest game for the football club in over thirty years attracted a bumper crowd of over 1200 supporters cheering on the sides.

The game was sponsored by local businessman Atul Patel owner of ‘Unique Window Systems Ltd’.

It was a close-fought game, going into halftime goalless. Newark broke the deadlock in the second half on 54 min-

utes, with Birstall then supplying an almost immediate response with a Paul Pallet goal to bring the sides back level. This is how the scoreline remained until full-time.

With no extra time to be played, the game was decided on a penalty shootout which Newark went on to win 5-3, securing promotion.

United spokesman Paul Blake-Smith said: “After a fantastic league campaign, with amazing local support throughout

United lose play-off final on penalties Borough’s new

THE NEW Mayor of Charnwood has been sworn in following the Council’s Annual Meeting on Monday, May 22.

Cllr Margaret Smidowicz says she is looking forward to representing Charnwood after being voted in as the borough’s first citizen at Loughborough Town Hall.

the season, it was a bitter pill to swallow. The team is now looking to next season, with the target being winning the league and securing automatic promotion.

“A big thank you to everyone who has supported the club this season, without you none of this would have been possible.”

The 100 Club sponsorship scheme is now open for the new season.

Pics: Richard from Studio 27 and Jarrod Weston from Canon Photography 84

mayor

Cllr Smidowicz will be representing the borough at hundreds of events over the next year and will be supported by her consort, son-in-law, Timothy Baum.

The Mayor’s chosen charities for her Mayoral year are Men & Women in Sheds and Head & Neck Cancer Awareness, The Swallows and Cancer Self Help Group, Loughborough.

Parish Council notes

THE ANNUAL parish council meeting of Birstall Parish Council was held on May 15.

There were two nominations for chair of the council, Cllr Tony Fowler and Cllr Robert Vincent. Cllr Vincent was elected chair.

Cllr Vincent thanked councillors for putting their trust in him. He said that Parish Councils are the first layer of government in this country, and it was the parish council’s duty to serve all the people of Birstall. He said he was very grateful to be part of a new start for Birstall Parish Council.

He said that respect should be at the heart of everything the council does, and the way it conducts its business, at all times.

He said the council’s three key priorities should be giving as much support as possible to small businesses in Birstall, keeping as a priority the environment and sustainability, and traffic issues.

Four people joined the council by co-option: Peter Barnsby, Sheila Allcock Simon, Oates, and Sunny Patel.

Cllr Tony Fowler was elected vice chair.

A member of the public reported that there was a leak in the water supply to the Meadow Lane allotments.

Councillors agreed in principle to undertake a governance review. This is an external audit of the council’s policies and procedures.

Councillors considered the provision of youth services at the pavilion in the

School Lane playing fields provided by Young Leicestershire on a contract basis. Some concerns were expressed that the numbers attending were low, and questions were asked about what Young Leicestershire was doing to recruit new attendees. It was agreed to invite a representative from Young Leicestershire to a meeting to discuss the issues.

Cllr Haywood reported that there was a battered-looking notice board on Kingsgate Avenue and suggested that it be replaced with a new, freestanding one.

Cllr Khayer reported parents' concerns about traffic congestion near the bus stop on Wanlip Lane.

Cllr Patel reported his concerns about speeding traffic on Greengate Lane.

The annual parish meeting of

Birstall Parish Council was held on May 22.

The annual meeting is not a formal council meeting, but an opportunity for residents to raise any issues or concerns they may have.

Birstall Parish Council chair, Cllr Robert Vincent, gave a report on the council’s activities over the previous 12 months. There are several vacancies on the Parish Council, and Cllr Vincent invited residents to consider joining the council by co-option.

Cllr Vincent said that during the election period, three priorities for the parish council were identified: support for local businesses, sustainability and traffic issues.

He said the Parish Council was keen to hear what residents thought and wanted to hear their ideas for the village.

A member of the public commented that the three priorities identified were not the responsibility of the council, and could not become priorities unless they were debated and then agreed upon by the council.

Cllr Vincent said that all three of the priorities had been embraced by the past practice of the parish council. A member of the public reported that Shepshed town council, by working together with local businesses and other layers of local government, had secured large grants to improve the town centre.

PC Stuart Venables presented the police report. He said that antisocial behaviour at Birstall services had reduced significantly. The police have worked with staff at the Shell petrol station, and the measures introduced were working.

PC Venables reported that a man asking members of the public for money outside Tesco on Sibson Road had been offered a voluntary contract that will hopefully help him, and stop what he is doing. He said that numerous partner agencies had been involved.

PC Venables said that a request for information relating to drugs had resulted in some leads that are being progressed.

Theft from stores has been made a police priority. Of particular concern is the Co-op supermarket on Wanlip Lane.

PC Venables said the recent arrest of a person for burglary, and his subsequent detention, should have a significant impact on the number of burglaries in the village.

Comment was made that there were litter problems in the vicinity of the Earl of Stamford pub, and parking problems around Meadow Lane, Blenheim Road and Lambourne Road on match days.

County Cllr Daniel Grimley presented his report on the previous 12 months, saying there were pressures on the County Council’s finances, and that it was one of the lowest funded councils in the country.

In the public session, a request was made that more flowers and decorative planting be provided on the School Lane playing fields. They said there were a lot of elderly people in Birstall, perhaps they don’t have a garden and a bit of colour in the park helps people during the day. They said wheelchair access into the playing fields could be made easier.

Cllr Robert Vincent said grants are available for planting, and this could be investigated.

A member of the public said that it was important that Birstall Parish Council attend meetings regarding the Broadnook Garden Suburb so that they can keep on top of what the developers are promising, and ensure it is delivered.

Comment was made about litter outside the premises of local businesses, rubbish is floating about and not being dealt with. PC Venables said he would speak to the proprietors and that the best way to report litter was on-

Continued on page 7

line to Charnwood Borough Council, who will send out civil enforcement officers.

A member of the public said there are a lot of volunteer litter pickers in Birstall, and they are to be congratulated, education in schools about litter would be a good thing, and shops would do well to tidy up outside their premises.

A member of the public reported their concerns about the planned employment site on land adjacent to Watermead Country Park.

A member of the public asked, in the context of the forthcoming 1950 home Broadnook Garden suburb development, if anyone had done a report on the impact of the Hallam Fields development on Birstall and the lessons learned. No one was aware of any such report.

A member of the public said that any large developments required the developer to provide facilities to mitigate the impact of development. If this included a new doctor’s surgery or new retail premises, this was all well and good, but it was not possible to make doctors open surgeries or businesses open shops. They said Parish Councils do not have the final say on planning matters, but they can do what they can to try to make sure the impact of the development is mitigated.

A member of the public invited Birstall Parish Council to arrange a presentation from the County Council about the tree warden scheme. With a tree warden sheme, we could plant a lot of trees in the village, he said.

Changes at borough council

THE CONSERVATIVE Party has lost control of Charnwood Borough Council after the local elections in May.

The Conservatives lost 14 seats, Labour gained 8, and the Green Party gained 7, giving it 8 councillors.

Charnwood Borough Council has 52 councillors across 24 wards, and all seats were up for election on Thursday May 4.

Following the count, the political makeup of the Council is as follows:

23 Conservative

20 Labour

8 Green

1 Independent

No political group has overall control of the Council, but an agreement has been reached between the Labour Group with Green Party councillors to support a minori-

ty Labour administration.

Cllr Miah is the Leader of the Labour Group on Charnwood Borough Council and is the new leader of the Council.

Birstall and Wanlip have two wards represented by two councillors in each ward.

Before the May election, all four were Conservative councillors.

The successful candidates in May 2023 were:

Birstall East and Wanlip: Andy Dent (Con) & Julie Palmer (Lab)

Birstall West: Glenn Matthews (Con) & Shona Rattray(Con)

The numbers of votes cast were:

Birstall East & Wanlip – turnout 30.34%

CASSIDY, Jeff (Lab CP) 590

DENT, Andy (Con) 783

PALMER, Julie (Lab CP) 657

PATEL, Pritesh (Green) 265

SEATON, Katie Elizabeth (Con) 647

Birstall West – turnout 34.72%

HOWKINS, Mick (Green) 284

MATTHEWS, Glenn (Con) 828

RATTRAY, Shona (Con) 1,036

SCOTT, Andrea Christine (Lab) 628

THOMAS, Dave (Lab) 749

At Birstall Parish Council, a poll was not necessary on May 4 as there were fewer candidates than there were seats. In these circumstances, all the candidates nominated are automatically elected.

At Charnwood, all councillors receive a basic allowance of £5610 a year. At parish councils, councillors do not receive any allowance.

Pics: Birstall’s Borough councillors; (clockwise from top left) Shona Rattray, Julie Palmer, Andy Dent & Glenn Matthews

YOUR SAY...

Why should it be? Surely it is the right of all fundraisers to decide who benefits from their efforts?

There are many good causes in the village and beyond, and the Duck Race organisers are perfectly entitled to choose who it goes to. I noticed elsewhere in the Post that Gunns’ Gym has just been given £316 by the Parish Council for equipment, so it’s not doing too badly. The Duck Race, as always, was a really fun event with many stalls of various kinds run by local groups and charities to raise funds. A lot of hard work by the organisers and stallholders goes into making it a success.

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 email: editor@birstallpost.co.uk

Traffic concerns

Did anyone happen to spot this really useful link in the May Birstall Post Beat News?

If you have any concerns about road safety in Birstall & Wanlip, you can go to www.speedorsafety.com where you can complete a short Community Concern Site Request.

I filled out a request regarding traffic concerns on Greengate Lane, and received a very positive response within 18 hours. As a result of this, there will be a traffic survey undertaken and the results analysed.

Can I urge anyone with similar concerns to complete a similar request?

Pat Dobson

Duck race

I was surprised to see two letters in May’s Birstall Post complaining that Gunns’ Gym wasn’t a Duck Race charity.

Perhaps the letter writers complaining should organise a stall themselves next year in order to raise funds for the gym instead of expecting handouts.

Mrs A J Groom

Surprised

In the Neighbourhood Watch news in the April issue, it was stated that the police beat officers conduct regular speed checks on the busier road in the area. That was surprising news to me in relation to Greengate Lane, as I feel it must have been to most residents on our road. I have lived on Greengate Lane since 1976, and I haven’t known of any speed checks to have taken place over the years. But I may be wrong about that. So assuming that some speed checks have taken place during 47 years, it must be sad that they have been woefully ineffective, as about 95% of vehicles travelled way above the speed limit of 30 miles an hour. Also, huge lengthy lorries which must exceed the weight limit regularly travel up and down Greengate Lane. I consider the residents are being continually let down and treated with disrespect by the police.

Some years ago, I did a survey of the number of vehicles travelling past my house going out of Birstall during the

Big Birstall Yard Sale 2023

Saturday July 8, 10am-2pm Message, text, phone

07841448511 to be added to the map (free of charge or donation) Map will be digital this year and posted a week before the date If you would like to donate any amount please drop off payment to 68 Gwendolin Ave, Birstall. All monies to go to Helping the Community-Pay it Forward

Friday Night Films

In Thurcaston

“The Lost King” (June 9, 108 mins)

With Leicester director Stephen Frears, our June UK film is an incredible Leicester story which is

so-called morning rush hour driven by commuters going to work. Since then I feel the traffic has increased a lot.

As a matter of interest, I decided to do a survey one late afternoon on a Thursday of the number of vehicles coming into Birstall between 5 pm and 5:30 pm. The number amounted to 167 – this was mostly cars, but included two motorcycles and five vans. All were travelling at the speed of 40 miles an hour at least, and it means that averaging out the numbers during the half hour, a vehicle was going past my house every 11 seconds. Also, a large number of vehicles were travelling at speed going out of Birstall. It will be interesting to count those numbers between 5 pm and 5:30 pm one day.

J Woods

nearly all true. Over 500 years after the last Plantagenet King, Richard III, was slain at the Battle of Bosworth, Phillippa Langley, played by Sally Hawkins, became convinced that she had discovered his resting place. This is the story of her resourceful and exciting research.

“Operation Mincemeat” will be shown on September 8. Thurcaston and Cropston Parish Council will be showing these films at Thurcaston Memorial Hall, starting at 7.30pm. Film tickets will cost the usual £5, which includes a lucky prize draw and refreshments during the interval. You can pay your tickets at the door, if there are any left or buy in advance from:

Richard 0116 2363 066 or Diana 0116 2362 619

Birstall Royal British Legion club

Front Street, Birstall

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

3rd June Steve Sinatra male vocalist

10th June Zoe Snow female vocalist

24th June D Smoove male vocalist

Friday 30th June music quiz starting at 8.30pm

Room hire available for wakes, ring 07894715049

Ulverscroft Camera

Club

Annual exhibition of members' work

Saturday and Sunday 17th and 18th June

10am to 4pm in Woodhouse Eaves

Village Hall

Admission free

*

Thurcaston & Cropston Annual Craft & Produce Show

Sat September 2

Open to visitors at 2.30pm Richard hill School, Anstey Lane, Thurcaston

Have you ever thought of entering a local show? It is fun and open to all. So why not enter something you have grown? Maybe you make jams, bake cakes, enjoy photography, paint pictures or do some sort of craft, or perhaps you are into flower arranging. Then maybe as a family you could make a really scary scarecrow. There are children’s classes too and they can enter free. Adults pay £1 either to enter or visit the show. For more details either text Annette on 07796572396 or email her on ogilvieforbes@yahoo.co.uk

Birstall Methodist Monday Group

Programme For June 2023

5 June: Amongst Ourselves -

Memories with Music

12 June: Conrad from Arthritis

Support Leicestershire - Thrift

Stall

19 June: Speaker - CSI

26 June: Final Fling – 65th Anniversary of ‘Young Wives’

Ticket holders only…..(to be held in the Concert Hall)

Our Monday Group will not be meeting again until September, when we will have a varied programme organised. So we wish you all a pleasant summer break and we look forward to seeing you in September. Please come along - why not bring a friend too? The charge is £2 each evening, which includes tea/coffee/biscuits (and yearly subscription is £7). New

friends are always welcome. Each year we raise funds for a chosen project – this will be decided at our AGM in September.

For further details please contact Eileen Molesdale, Secretary (0116 2929670)

Cedar Care Circle

Hi everyone. So hard to believe that we are entering the sixth month already! Our little group is going well. It would be lovely if you could join us. We are here to meet the needs of carers and cared for who are suffering from Dementia in all its forms. We offer friendship and support at a time when you, the carer, feel isolated and alone. We understand the frustration and sometimes anger of the situation. Just turn up at Brunchies Café, Hallam Fields Road, Birstall on Monday June 12 or 26 at 1pm. You will be warmly welcomed. My name is Barbara and you can contact me on 07905760556 if you'd like to chat

Birstall Tea Dances

held at St James, Birstall Village Hall, Birstall Road

Birstall, Leicester, LE4 4DH

Fridays 3.30 – 5.30pm

June 9 & 23

£6 each on the door

Tea / coffee included Home made cakes available We ask for donations

Further information contact: Jackie, Mobile: 07908607405

Email: lucasjackie86@gmail.com

Birstall Flower Club

Wednesday June 28, 2023

Birstall Village Hall 7.15pm

Demonstrator: Andrew Key

Title: May to September

Visitors £5

Queries to: Sylvia 0116 267 4206 or Carol 0116 267 1437

Once again after a very successful show in 2022 Birstall scouts & St James’ Birstall parish church are putting on a

Last Night of the Proms Show

In aid of the church and the Scouts

Saturday 30th September at 7pm doors open from 6.30pm

Tickets £10 per head on the door or if you get them in advance £8 per person and £20 for a family of four (two adults and two children under 12)

We are proud to have the Bilton Silver Rugby Band to preform for us once again this year. It will be all the familiar music and songs, and lots of flag waving If you would like tickets please phone the number below 0116 2674031 or 07842336745 Or from St James’ church office

The Charnwood Orchestra concert

June 24, 2023, 7.30pm Church of St James the Greater, London Road, Leicester LE2 1NE Tchaikovsky: Capriccio Italien, Glazunov: Violin Concerto - Soloist Seb Wyss –Shostakovich: Symphony No.6 Tickets can be reserved in advance by emailing tickets@chanrnwoodorchestra.org.uk for more options please visit, www.charnwoodorchestra.org.uk

Elliott & Ball

Birstall

Sat June 24, School Lane playing field Fairground from 11am and the live performances of dance and the bands will begin to perform at mid-day up until 7pm, where there will be a short interval to prepare the stage for the 'Proms in the Park' which will be a Coronation themed event commencing at 7:30pm and conclude with a Firework Finale at 10pm (weather permitting)

Visit

Our Village‐wide Watch is Closing Down

Our recent efforts to recruit new Volunteers to manage Birstall and Wanlip Neighbourhood Watch have proved unsuccessful. The widely‐publicised Special General Meeting held on 20th April 2023 was attended by only twelve residents with a further nine sending their apologies. This was the final confirmation that there is little interest in continuing the current arrangement.

It was agreed that it would be better to wind up the Watch in an orderly manner rather than simply leave it vulnerable to random events. The meeting unanimously passed a motion authorising the current Officers to make the necessary arrangements to do this by the end of 2023.

A full report of the meeting can be found on our website at: www.villagewatch.co.uk/sgm‐2023

The Future of the Watch in Birstall

At the start of 2020 we had around one‐hundred‐and‐seventy local Coordinators who distributed our monthly Newsletter and collected our annual Subscription Envelopes. A number of these have expressed their willingness to continue in that role. We have also had enquiries from residents wanting to join or renew their membership of the Watch.

Most Neighbourhood Watch schemes are based on small areas that can be easily managed. These can be small villages or groups of adjacent streets within larger urban areas. This is the model that interested neighbourhood groups in Birstall could adopt. A county‐wide support system already exists for such schemes.

If this is something that you would like to explore further, let us know and we shall do what we can to assist. Please send an email message to: watch@villagewatch.co.uk

Stay Alert!

Fraudsters are impersonating B&Q with messages that promise free products if you complete their survey. Clicking on the link takes you to a website containing a short survey but when you have finished, you are asked to fill out a form and pay £2 to cover postage costs.

This is when the scammers steal your personal information and bank details.

TV Licence scams are back and on the rise with fake messages that lead to dodgy websites that ask for your details. They claim that your licence is about to expire or that there has been an issue with your recent payment.

Action Fraud reports that it received over 3400 reports about TV Licence scams in just the first two weeks of May.

Cycle Registering Event

Our Police Beat Team provides a free cycle marking and registration service. They will indelibly mark your cycle and register it on the national database, thus making it much less attractive to potential thieves.

The next event will be held on Saturday 17th of June 2023 between 9 am and 3 pm in Watermead Country Park at the King Lear's Lake Car Park and Picnic Area

Just take your cycle along on the day and use the opportunity to meet the Team at the same time.

Our Local Police Beat Team produces a monthly Newsletter with news of crime and other local issues. You can read it in full each month on our website: www.villagewatch.co.uk/police

While You are Away

There can be few worse ways to end a relaxing and happy holiday than to find that your home has been burgled while you were away.

Most thieves do not plan very far ahead and seize opportunities when they arise. They do, however, spot clues that a property has been unoccupied for several days and then target it. Not only does it mean that they are unlikely to be disturbed while they are there but that it will also be some time before the crime is discovered and reported to the Police.

It is important to make sure that you absence does not become obvious to passers by. A relative, friend or neighbour willing to keep an eye on things can be a great help. Opening and closing curtains, parking on your otherwise empty drive from time‐to‐time or taking in any deliveries and post left on view are just a few examples of how they can disguise the fact you are absent. There are a number of precautions that you should, in any case, always take yourself.

• Be very careful about posting your photos and news on social media and so advertising that your home is empty while you are in some faraway place.

• Plan ahead when you can and cancel regular deliveries such as milk and newspapers well in advance. Stop delivery a few days before you actually leave to make sure the message has got through.

• Leave a lamp on a time‐switch to make your home appear occupied in the evenings.

• Do not order items that may not be delivered until after you leave.

• Consider using the Royal Mail Keepsafe service to hold back your post for a single delivery after you return.

www.royalmail.com/receiving/keepsafe

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

“Outstanding” day: duck race draws crowd

THE WHITE Horse annual charity duck race in May was the biggest ever and raised a total of £9782.

“It was amazing to see so many people come back and support the Duck race,” said organiser Charlotte Foy.

“This year’s event was outstanding, there were a great number of pre-race sales, as well as the bonus of pay-itforward offering online sales. The weather was perfect, the stalls, games and activities were bustling, and the duck race crowds along the towpath were a sight to be seen!” she added.

The winning duck was number 948, and the winner received a cash prize of £100. 1421 ducks raced, and there were more than 30 other prizes generously donated by local businesses.

“It really was a community effort, with lots of people helping to make it a special day - the funds raised will benefit many local charities,” said Charlotte.

A grand total of £9782.39 was a record. £5936.39 was raised for the main charity, Birstall United Juniors Football Club (BUJFC), and the other charities and community groups raised a total of £3846.

BUJFC Chairman, Kevin Glover, said:

“We would like to send our heartfelt thanks for being the chosen beneficiaries of this year’s Duck Race. The day was a great success with stalls for many charities and fully enjoyed by members of our club. The event was very well attended, as always, and the White Horse put on a great display once again. The monies raised will go towards a ‘one off’ project that will benefit all the teams and volunteers that put so much time into the club, with hundreds of children in and around the local community benefiting from this great event. I hope everyone who attended enjoyed the day, and we look forward to giving a helping hand next year to benefit others”.

Riverside Primary School Parent Teacher Association

made over £800, and this money will fund the year 6 leavers hoodies, for all the students going on to big school.

The Bark Foundation raised £330, which will feed the children in their

orphanage for three days.

ADHD Solutions raised over £316, Sea Cadets £194, The WI £70, Paddle Plus had a raffle and raised £80 The Mia Moo Foundation, £423, Girl Guiding Birstall £224, The Boys Brigade raised £350 through cake sales, the Canal & River trust received £20 in donations, Save the Children’s Birstall branch raised £52, The dance academy £450, The Air Cadets raised £110, Sea cadets £194, Jade’s Retreat £92 and the local pay-itforward charity made £415 on their teddy tombola, and finally the White Horse raised £284 for Birstall BAGs.

The organisers would also like to thank all those who kindly donated prizes:

Prospecs for the Sunglasses and the Posy Bowl for a beautiful planter. Brunchies, Haus of Beauty, KA Beauty, Headrush, Twenty-One Indian Restaurant, Dining Room, Aroma Spice, Café on the Corner, Birstall Pet supplies, The Wheatsheaf at Thurcaston, The Fitness Asylum, Birstall Golf Club, Ruth Lambourne, RT’s café, Leicester Outdoor Pursuits Centre and the Dance Academy all of whom supported the duck race with the donation of vouchers for prizes. Other prizes came from Trust Inns, Makro, Creed, Brakes (White Horse business links) Co-Op in Birstall, Tree Tops Golf, East Street Lanes bowling, Fevertree, Rileys Pool, The three crowns at Barrow, M Gas, Sixes social cricket, GlastonBudget festival, Boots in Long Eaton,

Bistro Live and The Leicester Riders.

Thanks to the Birstall primary schools and Co-op and Rainbows nurseries for facilitating the Duck colouring competition. Felix and Rachel Ince and the many others for Webster services! To Jo

from the Co-op for all her help on the day, Silly Prices for donating supplies, to Brunchies cafe, Unique Hairdressing, Swim with Jo for selling ducks and Rosie Rollings for selling ducks online and a special thank you to Paddle Plus without whom the Duck Race wouldn’t be possible and, of course, to everyone who bought a duck!

Pic: Birstall Air Cadets (l-r) Jake Johnston, Luke Hill & Charlie Rai

Pic: Charlotte Foy from the White Horse starts the race

THE OVER 50s are being offered free Help With smartphones and computers at drop-in sessions organised by Age UK.

We increasingly book, check, navigate, watch, listen, shop, bank and communicate online, which is becoming the only way to access some services.

For many slightly older folk, this is uncharted territory, and Age UK Leicester Shire and Rutland is lending a helping hand to help build IT confidence amongst over 50’s.

It provides free “drop-in” sessions at community centres across Leicestershire, where people can turn up and get help with starting their online journey.

Age UK also visits housebound people, aiming to provide them with an important connection with friends, family and important services.

It’s a free service, and anyone can visit our sessions or request a home visit if necessary.

Volunteers are also welcome. No sophisticated IT knowledge is needed, just a basic knowledge of common smartphone and computer functions, and a willingness to help people.

No need to book - just drop in at:

Birstall Methodist Coffee Morning: 10am-12noon on the second Friday of each month.

Rothley Library: 2.30-4.30pm on the fourth Monday of each month.

For more information contact us on digitalchampions@ageukleics.org.uk or 01162 045117.

Donation to Birstall BAGs

A WOMAN diagnosed with breast cancer has helped Birstall BAGS receive a donation of £1000.

Mrs Lata Shah of Birstall Jewellers on Sibson Road contacted Rosie Houldsworth from Birstall BAGs to discuss her diagnosis. Rosie invited Lata to BAGS’ Time Out session at Wanlip, to help and give support.

Lata did attend but due to ongoing treatment, was unable to come to further groups. She indicated that her community, the Oshwals, would like to donate a sum of money to Birstall BAGs in the future.

Birstall BAGs have kept an eye on Lata and given support during her treat-

ment. BAGs have now received an amount of £1000 donated by the Oshwal Association Centre of the UK’s Leicester Branch.

Rosie said: “Birstall BAGs are overwhelmed and so grateful for their generosity and kindness. The money will

certainly be put to good use.

“Lata has said she is very grateful for the support she has been offered during this time. More importantly, that early diagnosis should be a priority.”

Pic: (l-r) Kishor Shah, Smruti Shah, Hasmukh Shah, Lata Shah, Rosie Houldsworth, & Sarad Shah, Chair of Oshwal Centre

Free tech help HATS at awards night

BIRSTALL’S HIGHCLIFFE Amateur Theatrical Society received three nominations at an annual awards night.

The PAL (Pantomime Alliance Leicestershire) awards aim to recognise all the hard work and commitment amateur dramatics groups put into performing their pantomimes.

Sue Withers from HATS said: “It is always a great night, the atmosphere is one of excitement and anticipation. All the groups celebrate each other’s successes at a really fun evening.

“Our recent pantomime ‘Treasured Island’ was received very well by our audiences and was also viewed positively by the PAL judges. Our nominations were for ‘Front of House’, ‘Chorus’ and ‘Best Villain’. Many members of our group were involved in front of house and the chorus, their contributions were invaluable. Our

villain, Long John Silver, was played by Micheal Smith (pictured) - he did a fabulous job of entertaining the audiences and clearly must have impressed the PAL judges. HATS are always delighted to perform to our audiences, so to receive three PAL nominations brought an extra smile to our faces. Well done to all of the cast.”

NHW news & crime report

Insult to Injury

The basis of all confidence tricks is the use of charm and deceit to gain the trust of victims, who are then misled into behaving with less caution than they would normally. They finish up not only cheated out of their money, but also feeling foolish, betrayed and angry.

Dating services have been around for a very long time; from the village matchmaker to newspaper adverts to dating agencies and speed-dating. Many people have formed happy and long-lasting relationships through these services. Online dating is now the most widely used, where someone provides their details and a profile of the partner they are seeking. Unfortunately, criminals have found it very easy to abuse this in a very callous way at a time when people are emotionally vulnerable.

Using the victim’s preferences, the criminal scammer invents a fake person who appears to be their ideal partner. The relationship develops online, and the victim is drawn in with increasing enthusiasm. They are, in effect, seduced by this non-existent person and are keen to meet them. A date is arranged and eagerly awaited. Then, close to the time and when the victim is fully committed, some problem arises. It is, of course, a fiction, but the solution always involves money.

The victim is an easy target and, anxious not to spoil the developing relationship, provides cash to solve the problem. Then the process repeats itself until the victim eventually becomes suspicious or runs out of money. However it ends, they are left not just out of pocket but feeling hurt, bereft and betrayed when their new love just disappears, and their hopes and dreams come to nothing.

Do not be put off from online dating but remember that there is a real risk. Always be careful and treat initial contacts with caution before becoming too committed. The matter of money will be cleverly introduced so that it seems like your idea to help. Be very suspicious of any hint of this kind, and never fully trust anybody until you have met them. Even then, let the relationship develop before making any serious commitments.

A fraudster is only after your bank balance and will soon move on to another victim if they realise that you are not going to be an easy touch.

Genuine respondents will be just as keen to meet you as you are to meet them and, therefore, unlikely to raise any obstacles that require your help at this early stage.

Be happy but always be careful.

Ed Chambers, Watch Chairman, Birstall & Wanlip NHW

Current Priorities: Charnwood Police

Burglaries

Local Police are aiming to reduce burglaries at domestic dwellings in the area.

Local Officers will engage with the community, providing crime prevention advice, and encouraging the use of security measures to make properties more secure. Attending reports of burglaries to secure any evidence and pursue reasonable lines of enquiries to identify any offenders.

Vehicle Crime

Tackling all elements of vehicle crime

Police aim to tackle different elements of vehicles crime, such as theft, TWOC and ASB caused by vehicles. Police aim to tackle vehicle crime through the use of Problem Management Profiles. This will be targeted patrol

times to disrupt the use of ASB with vehicles, and disruption tactics on a wider scale using specialist officers.

Theft and associated offences will be targeted by pursuing reasonable lines of enquiry to identify and prosecute offenders in a timely manner.

Tackling County Lines

Police are developing and targeting people within the area that are drug dealing, exploiting vulnerable people by cuckooing addresses and causing antisocial behaviour from this type of crime.

Gathering intelligence from the community, providing a robust response by executing search warrants, and applying any necessary closure orders to stop criminality and protect the public.

Birstall Specific Theft (retail specific)

Due to the high amount of retail thefts being reported within Birstall, the local beat team will be completing a review, working with retail outlets in order to offer recommendations linked to target hardening/crime prevention and requesting support from partner agencies with the aim of identifying and targeting the offenders, leading to a reduction in crime.

Drugs - development of intelligence

Local officers are out and about within Birstall and Wanlip, speaking to local

residents to gather current/accurate information and intelligence that can be acted upon in order to hold drug dealers/users accountable, which will subsequently make our streets a safer place.

Road Safety - Excess Speed

Speeding vehicles is an ongoing issue on our roads, which is very well established. As a policing team, we will be out on the roads at locations highlighted by local residents on a sporadic basis. Please watch your speed. If you are concerned about road safety in Birstall & Wanlip —Request enforcement and make a difference. Find out more by visiting the Leicester, Leicestershire & Rutland Road Safety Partnership website: www.speedorsafety.com where you can complete a short Community Concern Site Request.

A message from PC 1365 Stu Venables

Dear residents & visitors of Birstall & Wanlip.

I wanted to provide an update to those who have been and are being affected by the male who is continually loitering along Sibson Road. I have witnessed this for myself and have been informed that he is persistently asking people for money and, while doing so, is mostly impaired and in a drunken state, which goes a long way to making people feel unsafe.

My colleagues and I have been informed by numerous people that he is having a negative impact on the community, leaving the most vulnerable feeling unsafe, which is putting people off visiting local businesses to avoid the male, potentially leaving themselves going without their own essentials. Alongside this, I have heard people are crossing the road or walking alongside others to pass him by due to feeling unsafe.

I would like to add that this male has never been aggressive towards people when asking for money and has always been polite - however, I feel it unfair that this one individual is having such an impact as a direct result of his actions/anti-social behaviour.

I am appealing for people to come forward and have a chat with me or the team about this type of behaviour if you personally have been impacted. Without your support and openness it makes it even more difficult to resolve. I would like people to provide statements of evidence that I can present to the court, but this is not absolute, as I can personally provide the court with an impact statement, but need to fully understand the absolute true impact.

This male is not homeless and has so

Pic: Birstall Beat Team (l-r) PS242 Alice Forfar, PC1365 Stu Venables, PCSO 6389 Nuala Sherlock, PCSO 6174 Jon Harrison

much support around/available and open to him, but still he continues, and to be honest, I am finding it difficult to see his behaviour changing without the support of the community and courts.

If you have any information regarding this matter and would be willing to help, please make contact with me either via email, phone on 101 or by attending one of my beat surgeries within the community.

Furthermore, we have been subjected to a number of burglaries over the last month—see the crime stats for detail. However some good news.

Due to the police investigation being completed and a successful police identification from CCTV footage we managed to identify a suspect. We gave the suspect an early wake-up call and successfully arrested him on suspicion of burglary on May 21, 2023, in regard to a burglary from May 19, 2023, on Birstall Road.

During a search of his home address, officers have located numerous items which have been seized.

Some of the items seized have led officers to another address on Curzon Avenue, Birstall, where another burglary has been discovered of an unoccupied address (including theft of motor vehicle from off the drive)

At the time of writing this update, the suspect was being processed in custody and we are hoping to secure a charge and remand to HMP.

This is a really great example of teamwork by Charnwood Police (CID, Neighbourhood Priority Team and Your local Neighbourhood Officers) and will go a long way to keeping our community safe.

All the best, and stay safe

PC 1365 Stu Venables

shy about getting out into the community, and I am always happy to chat to whomever wishes to say hello. Though new to the role of PCSO, I do have previous service in other roles within Leicestershire Police and to this end, though I am enjoying my new role, I am equally aware of what is expected of me and how important communication and engagement are if we are to work together successfully to effect positive change within Birstall and Wanlip. In line with Birstall & Wanlip’s crime priorities, I would like to reassure the community that we continue to work towards managing your expectations and strive to resolve issues with minimum impact on the community.

I would encourage everyone to consider doorbell camera technology as a means of deterrent at their properties and consider dashcams for vehicles, and be mindful to not leave anything personal or of financial value on display to members of the public, either at home or away. In closing, I would also like to thank PC Stu Venables for warmly welcoming me to the Birstall & Wanlip Beat Team, he is a constant source of advice, guidance and support as I find my feet in my role and to my fellow Beat PCSO 6389 Nuala Sherlock whose knowledge and experience within the PCSO role is warmly appreciated and received.

PCSO 6174 Jon Harrison

A message from PCSO 6389 Nuala Sherlock

worker where I worked within the children and families sector in particular children and young people with challenging behaviour. I have also in the past committed myself to voluntary work with older vulnerable people within a community setting.

I have had the pleasure of meeting a lot of people through walking around and visiting the local businesses, and I very much look forward to meeting many more of you in the coming months.

I also hope to see lots of you when I hold a Beat Surgery, and don’t forget, we can also register your push bikes for your peace of mind.

Please don’t be shy to stop and have a chat with me when you see me out and about, as I love being part of a community.

PCSO 6389 Nuala Sherlock

Crime Update

Crime Figures Birstall and Wanlip

08th of April 2023 until 21st of May 2023

Burglary (9)

3 x Burglary dwellings;

- Birstall Road (11th of May 2023 between 09:30am and 01:55pm)

- Birstall Road (19th of May 2023 between 02:20pm)

- Curzon Avenue (Between 20th and 21st of May 2023)

4 x Attempted Burglary dwelling

2 x Burglary Other than Dwelling (Shed, Garage)

Thefts (28)

New council leader

A NEW leader of Charnwood Borough Council has been elected.

Cllr Jewel Miah was voted in at the Annual Council Meeting on Monday, May 22 as the Labour group, which he leads, became the Council’s ruling administration.

Cllr Miah said: “It is an honour and privilege to lead Charnwood Borough Council. I can commit to residents that I will be doing my very best for the borough and its local communities.

A message from PCSO

6174 Jon Harrison

Just a short word to introduce myself, I am sure by now a fair few of you have seen me walking the streets of Birstall. I am still relatively new to the area but not

My name is Nuala Sherlock, and I am one of your new PCSOs (6389) working alongside PCSO Jon Harrison and PC Stu Venables. I joined Leicestershire Police as a PCSO in November 2019 and I have enjoyed working in Loughborough and was happy to move over to Birstall at the start of this year.

My past employment has been working with children in special education, vulnerable young people in homeless hostels, care in the community and elder people’s homes. I am a qualified social

20 x Retail Theft

3 x Theft by finding

2 x Theft of motor vehicle

3 x Theft from unattended motor vehicle

Criminal Damage (12)

1 x Damage to motor vehicle

11 x Damage—other

Public Order (9)

Drugs (2)

2 x Possession of Cannabis Assaults (24)

Events

Beat Surgery - Thursday June 1, 2023 - Between 4pm and 6pm located at the Robert Dickinson Building on Sibson Road (within the short stay car park).

Beat Surgery - Wednesday June 7, 2023 - Between 11 and 1pm (venue as above).

Beat Surgery - Wednesday June 21, 2023 - Between 4pm and 6pm (venue as above).

Please feel free to attend, meet your local officer, and ask any questions or discuss any community concerns you may have. Additionally, local residents can bring their cycles to the surgeries to have them officially marked for free — information regarding the scheme can be found on the website: www.bikeregister.com or explained on the day.

Upcoming events

We are holding a BikeRegister event at the Watermead Country Park (King Lear's car park/picnic area) on Saturday June 17, 2023 between 9am and 3pm. Feel free to bring along your cycle and get it marked for free.

I am also planning on conducting further road safety operations; this will be targeted towards the fatal four offences (Speed, Drink/Drugs, Seat belt and Mobile Phone) around Birstall & Wanlip.

“I would like to thank everyone for their support in recent weeks, but we must now focus on the task at hand and that’s ensuring the Council delivers the services people want and need, and that they are making a positive difference to local communities.

“The Labour administration is committed to delivering its manifesto over the next four years including supporting residents through the cost of living crisis.

“Our priority now is to work with senior officers on how we deliver on those pledges. This is the start of the journey and will take time, but we are passionate and committed to making a positive difference.

“We will also be committed to working with councillors across the borough as this is very much about doing what is right for Charnwood. We will also be working with partners, residents, and local businesses because collaboration will be key to any success.”

At the meeting at Loughborough Town Hall, the vote to elect Cllr Miah as the new Council Leader was 28 in favour, 22 against and two abstained.

Cllr Miah has served on the Council since 2007.

Pic: Cllr Jewel Miah

Agatha Crusty solves the murder mystery

HATS'

PERFORMANCES of

‘Agatha Crusty and the Village Hall Murders’ by Derek Webb from Stage Scripts Ltd kept the audience guessing, with very few correctly identifying the culprits.

Sue Withers from HATS said: “So, the plot was quite complicated and kept our audience’s attention until the very end, so many twists and turns and of course there had to be a bumbling detective who actually believed he had solved it with a ‘little’ bit of help from Agatha. Hmm, the audience knew better.

“Very few of our audience members over the three nights guessed who the murderer/murderers was/were. I’m not going to reveal who it was either, as this seems to be a very popular play, and I don’t want to spoil the plot by revealing all when other groups may be in the process of performing it. So, to all those who didn’t manage to come along and see it, the mystery remains.”

HATS received a contact directly from Derek Webb via social media to tell us that he knew of five productions of this play going ahead in the same week.

Sue said: “Even more spectacular was the fact that it was being performed

across the world. The five groups Derek knew about were HATS (our good selves), Birmingham, Yorkshire, Canada and Kuala Lumpur. Wow, what an amazing accolade for Derek. In addition, Derek also sent HATS a good luck cardwhat a kind gesture.

“We had some amazing comments at the end of each night, including the following: “Another fantastic performance, highly hilarious as always…would recommend it to anyone”, “Great fun, lots of mystery as we would expect”, “Absolutely fabulous”.

It was so nice to see our regular audience members returning and to see many new faces - hopefully, they will return for our panto later in the year and become regulars too.”

In addition to the show, there was a raffle, with all proceeds donated to the Birstall “Pay it Forward” Charity.

Sue said: “We are looking forward to

Cadet up for award

A BIRSTALL AIR Cadet has been nominated for a prestigious award.

In April, Air Cadet Flight Sergeant Morgan McCaffrey attended an interview competing for a place to become the nomination to represent the Central and East Region for the most prestigious award in the RAF Air Cadets, the Dacre Sword.

The Dacre Sword is an annual competition to identify the best cadet in the corps. The final round of interviews will be in a “Dragon’s Den” style scenario, held at RAF College Cranwell.

To achieve this, a personal statement and a record of achievements and events throughout his service in the cadets including a reference from the Squadron Commander Flight Lieutenant, Sarah Mayoh-Smith, 1947 (Birstall) Squadron, was submitted. Wing Commander Carl Wilson, South & East Midlands Wing, was fully supportive of his application, and it was submitted as one of only two cadets from the Wing.

Morgan, who is sitting for A-levels in Maths, Further Maths, Physics and Computer Science at Beauchamp College, Oadby, Leicester, said he was delighted to have been selected.

“It’s a real honour to have been selected from all of the cadets who have applied. I know that the competition was fierce, and I’m immensely proud to be

the first cadet from Birstall to be nominated,” he said.

Squadron Commander Flight Lieutenant Sarah Mayoh-Smith added that she was also incredibly proud of Flight Sergeant McCaffrey’s nomination. She said: “It’s not only an achievement for Morgan but for the entire Squadron. To have our first cadet to achieve this nomination is something of which we can all be very, very proud.”

performing our pantomime to you later this year. Please watch out for further details and check out our Facebook page www.facebook.com/hatsamdram.

“Our next event will be a stall at the Birstall Gala on June 24. Come along to see what we do and get some informa-

tion about our group. See if you can spot us and what characters we will be dressed as. We will be having another raffle, again all proceeds to “Pay it Forward”. Come and have a go, and you might be lucky to win one of two family tickets (two adults and two children) for our panto in December.”

Half Pints’royal party

DURING THE build-up to the coronation, the children at Half Pints

Childcare in Birstall learned about our King the conservationist. They found out about how he is concerned about our planet and the environment and in honour of our King, the children grew their own bean plants to help bees and pollination. Then they celebrated in style with a fun-filled party.

Pic: Air Cadet Morgan McCaffrey

Pic: the cast of Agatha Crusty & the Village Hall Murders

Fire service interfaith event

LEICESTERSHIRE FIRE and Rescue Service (LFRS) recently hosted an interfaith iftar event.

Iftar is the meal eaten after sunset during Ramadan. The event, held on March 27, was attended by LFRS staff

and several guests, including parish councillor Abe Khayer, who expressed his gratitude to Birstall’s fire and rescue service for organizing what he called “such an exceptional event.”

He added: “The occasion was a resounding success, with attendees observing fast in solidarity with their Muslim colleagues. The event was held at the Birstall headquarters, which made it even more special for me, LFRS deserve praise for not only saving lives but also for setting an example of how to build community relations.

“LFRS's initiative

Brits put off seeing GP

NEW DATA from The British Chiropractic Association (BCA) shows the impact NHS waiting lists are having on patients with Musculoskeletal issues (MSK).

MSK conditions impact joints, bones and muscles and sometimes associated tissue such as nerves.

According to the NHS, over 20 million people in the UK have an MSK condition, such as arthritis or back pain, and they account for up to 30% of GP consultations in England.

New findings from the BCA have revealed that 56% of British people feel put off seeing their GP because of NHS waiting list times.

As a consequence, 48% of British people are using over-the-counter (OTC) medication to treat their MSK issues. Whilst OTC medication has its place in helping patients to resume physical activity, these medications are best used in the short term. Along with side effects, they do little to address potential functional issues which have led to the MSK condition.

The research also found that:

A third of British people (33%) haven't seen a GP to treat their MSK issue as they struggled to get an appointment

Nearly half of British people (43%) have avoided seeing their GP when dealing with an MSK health issue

Over half (53%) of British people are considering turning to private healthcare for MSK to help manage pain

38% of British people thought their MSK issue would go away on its own, without seeing a GP

Over half (52%) of British people have lived with an MSK issue for longer than 12 months

Chiropractors can provide those suffering with MSK conditions an alternative solution, giving patients choice when faced with long waiting lists. They offer patients a wide-ranging package of care which is patient-centred, supported by evidence and results in great patient-

reported outcomes. More people are turning to chiropractors to manage poor mobility, pain and wider health concerns arising from MSK issues before they worsen.

Speaking about the recent research findings, Chiropractor, Thomas Jeppesen from Health on Hand on Loughborough Road, Leicester said: “Our role is supporting patients on their road to recovery, not only with treatment but also advising on lifestyle and self-care is the ethos of our clinics”

“Chiropractors are well established in their local communities as part of the regulated healthcare team, and it is encouraging to see an increasing number of GPs and FCPs suggesting that patients seek care privately for these common MSK complaints. There is more that can be done though to raise further awareness and confidence in the option for patients to see a chiropractor or other healthcare provider privately.

“NHS England has found over 30 million working days are lost due to MSK conditions every year in the UK. Integrated healthcare is essential to ensure more people receive treatment, and both the economy and NHS are better supported.”

For further information please contact Health on Hand on 0116 2101619 Or visit www.healthonhand.co.uk

to hold an interfaith iftar event is a remarkable effort to promote inclusivity and respect for different cultures and religions. This gesture reflects LFRS's commitment to creating an inclusive and diverse workplace and building positive relationships with the community. The event was a reflection of LFRS's core values of teamwork, respect, integrity, and professionalism.”

Pic: Abe Khayer (right) with guests at the interfaith event

Pic: chiropractor Thomas Jeppesen

Avian flu in park Dance school’s top marks

AN OUTBREAK of avian flu struck the black-headed gull population in Watermead Country Park in March.

More than 40 birds died from the disease.

Julie from Watermead Swans said: “Touch wood, the swans seem ok so far. This happened at the start of swan nesting season. Bird flu can affect egg production and survival rates, and I'm waiting to see if it's had any impact.”

Julie said she was concerned by cygnets disappearing from the mammoth lake at Watermead. She said: “I've done 17 years of study work, and this doesn't normally happen. Please can everybody be vigilant? Keep safe, but if you see anything suspicious, get the car reg and a picture of them, preferably their face, or better still, a video.”

One of the latest swans rescued had an injured wing, and Julie is collecting donations for vet's fees. There is a collection box at Birstall Pet Supplies, and the One Stop shop on Hallam Fields Road.

Julie added: “Guess which swan joined in Party at the Palace and decided to fly and land on the A6 a couple of times? Yes, our lovely Hallam Fields swans. I went and joined the Police to return him to safety. Thank you to them, they were excellent.”

Further information and advice from DEFRA is available at www.gov.uk/birdflu. If you spot a dead or sick bird call the DEFRA helpline on 03459 33 55 77.

LOCAL DANCE School, the ‘Rising Stars Academy’, is based at Birstall Methodist Church and has achieved some good results at its most recent exam session, with a 100% pass rate.

Students follow the International Dance Teachers Association (IDTA) exam board and took exams in ballet, tap, modern jazz, street dance and gymnastics in March. Principal Emma Bateman said: “The students have all done so well! It was their first exam ever for a lot of the children, and to get the results they did is brilliant. I am very proud of them all!”

As well as children, the school runs an adult tap class where the students also took an exam. They achieved 90%, gaining the highest banding of Honours. One of the adult tappers said: “We are on a running streak of 90% now, so have to keep it up! It really is so much fun, so if you always wanted to learn tap - come, and join us!”.

Rising Stars Academy is a friendly and inclusive dance school based at the Methodist Church in Birstall (Wednesday and Friday) and at New College on Glenfield Road (Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday). They offer classes during the week in Ballet, Tap, Modern Jazz, Street Dance

New retail unit

A PLANNING application has been submitted to Charnwood Borough Council to demolish the public toilet block on Stonehill Avenue and replace it with a single-storey flat-roof retail unit.

The plants show the unit will have two parking spaces and a private and secure rear service area. The proposal retains the existing boundary walls to the side and rear, to minimise the impact on neighbouring properties.

The application states: “It is considered that the removal of the existing building and the construction of a new

building is a better use of the proposed site which is awkward in its size and geometry. The condition of the derelict public toilets is not ideal for the change of use, with remedial works required. A new building will better suit the street scene and provide for high-quality building and aesthetic."

The application will maintain the currently approved opening hours of 8:30 am to 5:30 pm Monday to Friday, 9 am to 5:30 pm on Saturdays, and 10 am to 2 pm on Sundays.

The planning application reference number is P/23/0733/2.

Pic: drawing of the proposed retail unit

and Gymnastics, for children aged two and upwards and adults. If you would like any more information, email r.starsacademy@gmail .com or message on 07443761300.

Pics: award winning dancers from the Rising Stars Academy

Belgrave weddings Coronation bowls do

WERE YOU married in Belgrave?

Maybe at St Peter’s, St Michael and All Angels, Claremont Street Methodist Church, in a temple or tabernacle?

Belgrave Heritage Trust is displaying a collection of photographs of Belgrave weddings. The display is entitled ‘I Were Married There’ and prese#nts pictures of ‘The Big Day’, generously lent to us by the trust’s friends and members. The photos record weddings from as early as 1897 up to the present day.

The display will be open in the Old Laundry at Belgrave Hall every Wednesday from May 31 to June 28 and the weekend of June 3/4. Admission is free, but a donation to the trust’s funds would be appreciated.

For more information, contact the Secretary at belgraveheritagetrust@gmail.com

Open day

MORE THAN a thousand people attended an open day at Birstall Fire Station on May 29.

Firefighter Simon Taylor said: “It was a huge success, with various emergency services and local charities on show, as well as food stores and fair rides.”

Organisations attending included Fire, Police, Ambulance, Army, St. Johns, the Red Cross, LOROS, Blood Bikes, Fire Cadets and Charnwood First Responders.

Simon said: “Special mentions go to Costco and Fire Service Headquarters staff

THE CORONATION was celebrated in style at St Margaret’s Bowls Club.

The clubhouse and green were liberally decked with bunting and the Union Jack hoisted. A fun competition was held, a bit like the bowls equivalent of crazy golf, where we moved around a circuit, being tested on various aspects of the game.

With fun and games over, players moved into the clubhouse, where we tucked into a wonderful spread of topquality food, all provided by the members themselves.

If anyone would like to give bowls a try, why not come to one of our roll-up sessions, held at 6pm on Tuesdays and Fridays? All equipment is provided, and

Helping our community

THE COMMUNITY group have continued making quilts and angel baby gowns. The hospital is always very grateful.

We are fortunate to have a great team that can respond quickly when items are needed.

We were invited by

our Community

the White Horse to have a stall at the duck race. The teddy tombola was a great success, and we raised over £400. We would like to thank everyone who donated teds and supported the stall on the day.

We are looking to replace some outdoor play items for the Wanlip

we make no charge for this. For further details contact Carolyn or John on 0116 2675947

From St Margaret’s Co-operative Bowls Club www.smcbc.com

Preschool. They have sadly had toys stolen from the outdoor storage. This has come at a difficult time for them as the rent has increased by 50%. As a small group, this will have a detrimental effect.

We are still working with Ruth (formerly Lambourne) to provide hot meals for anyone being discharged from the hospital or suffering ill health.

If anyone local has any needs they feel we could help with, we would be happy to hear from you.

0789 4995164

for their generous donations towards the event, which raised over £1,500 for our LFRS Fire Cadets helped out with showing people around their fire appliance and played the part of casualties in the demos.

Simon said: “In the future, we hope to hold various community safety events at Birstall Fire Station, including Birstall Police beat surgery, NHS Falls clinics, Health awareness days & Road Safety awareness days.”

If readers would like any advice on Fire Safety in the home, Celebrating Safely, or anything fire service related, please do not hesitate to get in touch with Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service,

Sponsored bluebell walk

SOME FRIENDS from Birstall Methodist Church and villages beyond completed the Leprosy Mission Sponsored Bluebell Walk on Saturday April 22.

Between us, we raised the amazing sum of £313 – mostly from generous Birstall friends. It was lovely to meet up

again with old friends and make some new ones and what a smashing day we had! The weather was kind to us and we all managed to do the six miles walk round the Hambleton Peninsula at Rutland Water. We took some great photos of the Bluebells which were in abundance. Thank you all once again!

From Sylvia, Eileen and Team

12 Geoff Monk Way, Birstall, Leicester LE4 3BU. Tel: 0116 210 5555 Email: info@leics-fire.gov.uk

Village Hall art exhibition

Rita, of Wellgate Avenue, has been painting for 28 years and was one of the first members of the Birstall & District Art Society – she is still an enthusiastic member today.

“Norman Sims, who started the society and taught me, was my hero, and my inspiration,” said Rita. “I remember how he used to tell me , slap it on girl!”

Pic: St Margaret’s bowlers celebrate the Coronation

Helping

LE4 Birstall

LOCAL ARTIST Rita Cowham exhibited her work at an exhibition at Birstall Village Hall in May.

Pic: Rita Cowham with one of her paintings

WI birthday bash

BIRSTALL AND Wanlip WI celebrated their 105th birthday with a skittle and supper evening at the Royal Oak in Cossington on May 2.

Everyone said they had a really fun evening, and Elaine won the Coronation Crown competition.

In April, our walking group walked across Watermead Country Park to St Michael and All Angels Church in Thurmaston. We were shown around

the church and given refreshments by lay preacher Stephen and his wife. We will walk again on May 22.

We will host a Coffee Morning at Birstall Methodist Coffee Shop on Saturday June 3, so that’s the place to buy your crafts, plants and WI cakes.

Our next meeting at the British Legion is on June 5, when the committee are compiling a games evening, and the competition is ‘The Oldest Game You Own’.

From Birstall & Wanlip WI

News from the churches

IN ST JAMES Church, recycling continues for used pens, blister packs, used toothpaste tubes and brushes, printer ink cartridges, phones and stamps (for the Mother's Union).

Some of these items can bring in some income to the church, as well as keeping Birstall clean and tidy, so please bring them to the recycling centre at the back of the church.

Donations of items to benefit the people of Ukraine are also welcome, ranging from new socks to dried food and soap. There are boxes in the church reception area to receive donations.

The 'Save the Children' charity has benefited from the lunch at the White Horse by the grand sum of £567.00 and will doubtless benefit further from the Strawberry cream teas being held in June and July at the home of one of our church members. Tickets are £7.50, and if you would like to attend, please contact our Rector, Amanda Digman, for more information on 07803 625049.

The meeting of the St James Monday Group in June will be at a member's house for an informal supper and a relaxing evening, but will be back in St James in July when there will be a 'Picture Quiz'. In August, we will welcome back Bob and Del Neill with some of their varied collection of historical 'Bits and Bobs', which is always fun as well as instructive.

Visitors are always most welcome on the second Monday of each month at 2.30 p.m. in St James Church.

From Birstall Parish churches Family

Adverts by holiday companies (and a certain brand of oven chips) emphasise ‘Family’, knowing that this means a lot to us and that family is the bedrock of society. We are all born into families,

and some are blessed with a happy home but others tragically know only sadness and fear. The Bible records honestly the unhappy experiences of some Old Testament families, such as the dysfunctional family of Jacob or the heartache of King David’s family, but it also gives us guidance about how to secure blessings. Both the apostles Peter and Paul touch upon family relationships in their letters – Peter’s First Letter and Paul’s letter to the Ephesian Christians. They point us to displaying a more Christ-like attitude, being kind, considerate, unselfish, loving and respectful to one another and children to be loved, guided and obedient to their parents.

This can be summed up by adding another member to our families – the Lord Jesus Christ.

However, whether we belong to a happy family or not, we can all belong, by adoption, to God’s family. The apostle John writes in his Gospel: ‘But as many as received Him [Jesus], to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name.’ (Chapter 1, verse 12) If God is our Heavenly Father and other believers are our brothers and sisters, then we can enjoy a family which will enable us to ‘live happily ever after’.

Our hymns this month look at home and family. The first is ‘Happy the home when God is there’ by the American, Henry Ware (1794-1843). He points to unity of aim; love abounding; prayer, praise and reading the Bible as family activities and children early knowing about the Lord Jesus Christ. The second hymn, ‘O Father all-creating’, was penned in 1876 by John Ellerton for the wedding of the daughter of the Duke of Westminster to the Marquis of Ormonde. It is a hymn in which the two being joined together make their vows to one

another and to God, seeking His guidance and blessing on their lives. His hymn ends: ‘Except Thou build it, Father, The house is built in vain; Except Thou, Saviour, bless it, The joy will turn to pain: But nought can break the union of hearts in Thee made one; And love Thy Spirit hallows is endless love begun.’ Ellerton was of Yorkshire stock, born in London in 1826. He became a minister in the Church of England and served in parishes in Brighton and Cheshire.

He died in 1893 in Torquay.

You are most welcome to join us for our Sunday services – see the diary section for details, or contact us: http://www.birstallbaptistchurch.org.uk or 0116 2214883.

From Birstall Independent Baptist Church

OUR PARISH life continues in the absence of a permanent replacement for Fr Ted and, for this, we offer grateful thanks to the visiting priests who celebrate the weekend Masses, our Eucharistic Ministers who lead the mid-week Liturgy and Communion services and to Daphne and Hazel and the teams of volunteers who work behind the scenes at both St Theresa’s and Sacred Heart, maintaining normal parish life. Children’s First Holy Communion

This year we had 14 youngsters who received for the first time the Sacrament of Reconciliation, followed a week later by their First Holy Communion. They had been prepared over several months by Catechists Steve and Brenda, and afterwards they celebrated with family and friends.

Fundraising and social activities

Quiz night. This ever-popular event and raffle raised £150, which will be donated to the Sight Savers charity. The next quiz night will be held on Wednesday June 30 at 7pm.

London Marathon

Congratulations to Richard Miranda, who completed this year’s marathon in an impressive 4hrs 35mins! He thanks pa-

rishioners at St Theresa’s and Sacred Heart, Rothley, for their support and generous donations, which raised £2500 for Brain Research UK.

Summer Concert

This year the concert will be held at St James the Great on Church Hill and promises to be a great evening’s entertainment. Many thanks to Rev Amanda for kindly accommodating us for this event, and we hope many of St James’ parishioners will join us. It will feature three choirs and a live orchestra that will perform a very varied programme of musical pieces, including songs from Hairspray, Joseph, Star Wars and Phantom of the Opera. All are welcome, so come along with family and friends on Sunday July 2 at 6.30pm –it will finish at approximately 8.30pm. There is no entry charge, but feel free to make a donation in aid of the parish and nominated charities on the evening.

Summer Fete

We hope the sun will be shining on our Summer Fete, which takes place on Saturday August 12 at Sacred Heart Church, Rothley, from 10.30am to 2.30pm. There will be plenty of fun and games, lovely items to buy and welcome refreshments, so come along and give your support to this annual event!

From St Theresa’s, Birstall

Pic: Members of Birstall & Wanlip WI at their 105th birthday celebration

Birstall BAG’s cancer corner

Rare cancers

Birstall BAGs has been running a series of articles in this column about rare cancers.

Rare cancers affect a small number of people. Doctors might also call a cancer rare if it starts in an unusual place in the body or if the cancer is an unusual type and needs special treatment.

This month we would like to provide some general information about rare cancers.

What is a rare cancer?

There are more than 200 different types of cancer, including leukaemias and lymphomas. They develop from the different types of cells in different parts of the body. Cancers are often classed as common, less common and rare.

Breast, prostate, lung and bowel cancer are the top 4 most common cancers. Examples of less common cancer include:

melanoma skin cancer

kidney cancer

brain tumours

non-Hodgkin lymphoma

pancreatic cancer

Experts have different ideas about what makes a cancer rare. In Europe and the UK, experts say it is rare if fewer than 6 in 100,000 people are diagnosed each year. This makes up about 24 out of every 100 (about 24%) of all cancer cases diagnosed in Europe and the UK per year. This also includes children's and young people’s cancers.

Other experts say that a type of cancer is rare if doctors diagnose fewer than 2 in 100,000 people each year.

Subtypes of more common cancers

Doctors and researchers are learning more and more about cancer. They are looking at particular features that divide some cancers into subtypes. They think that some of these subtypes are rare.

Doctors treat some rare subtypes in the same way as other cancers of that type. Other subtypes get treated differently. For example, they treat small cell cancer of the cervix in a different way to most other cervical cancers. Why can it take longer to diagnose rare cancers?

It can take longer for doctors to diagnose a rare type of cancer because the symptoms might be unusual and less recognisable than more common types. You might also need to have more tests than people with more common cancers.

The tests first work out whether you have a cancer. Then they find out exactly what type it is.

The pathologist might need to do a number of different tests on your biopsy sample or blood test. Or they might need to send the sample to a specialist laboratory for examination. This might be for a specialised test to find out your type of cancer. Depending on the test, it could take quite a few days and sometimes weeks to carry out and get the results. This means it could take longer to reach a diagnosis.

For very rare types of cancer, your doctor may need to get other expert advice from across the country or the world to talk about your symptoms and test results before they can give you any information. This can be quite frustrating and worrying as you don’t know what you are dealing with. You might feel like your doctor is hiding something, but it’s all part of them trying to work out what they can do to help you.

Once they confirm your diagnosis they then need to work out a treatment plan. They may refer you to a specialist cancer centre. They may need time to research and speak with other professionals who have treated people with

this type of rare cancer. Questions to ask your doctor about getting diagnosed with a rare cancer

You are likely to have a lot of questions to ask your doctor. It might help to write them down so you don't forget. It’s also a good idea to take someone with you like your partner, family member or a close friend. They will help provide you with support and help remember what the doctor has said.

Your doctor might not be able to answer all your questions straight away. They may need the results of some tests first or want to ask other professionals for advice.

Here is a list of things you could ask:

Before you have a diagnosis:

When will you know if I definitely have cancer?

Which tests do I need?

How long will it take before I get the results?

How will I be told the results?

Do you have someone I can contact while I am waiting for the results to come back?

What emotional support can I get?

After you have a diagnosis:

What type of cancer do I have?

Where is the cancer?

Are there signs the cancer has spread?

What happens if the results show the cancer has spread? Do I need other tests?

What chance do I have of surviving this cancer?

How rare is this cancer?

If I have a rare type of cancer, will the treatment be different from the commonest type of that cancer?

When will I start treatment?

What are the expected side effects of this treatment?

What if I don’t have treatment?

How will we know the treatment is working?

How long is the treatment?

Where do I go for treatment?

When am I likely to see you again?

Should I get a second opinion? How do I get the second opinion?

What am I likely to feel like during treatment? Will I be able to work or look after my children?

What help is available to me financially?

Are there support groups, or anyone else I can talk to about this type of cancer?

Getting a second opinion

You might feel that you would like to get an opinion from a second doctor before deciding about your treatment. If so, ask your specialist to refer you to a doctor specialising in this cancer.

It’s better to arrange a second opinion through your specialist because they can send all your notes and test results with you.

Ask your doctor how they came to this diagnosis. With rare cancer, they will have discussed your case with other health professionals to work out the best treatment plan for you. This may mean you have probably had a second and third opinion without even knowing.

Do remember that a second opinion does not necessarily mean that the second doctor will take over your care. Your treatment may still be managed by your original specialists

Treatment for rare cancer

As with all other cancers, a team of doctors and other professionals discuss the best treatment and care for you. They are called a multidisciplinary team (MDT). And again as with all cancers, the treatment you have depends on several factors including:

where the cancer is

how big it is and whether it has spread (the stage)

how abnormal the cells look under a microscope (the grade) your general health and level of fitness

Your doctor will discuss the treatment, its benefits and the possible side effects with you.

Some of the types of treatments for rare cancers include:

surgery

chemotherapy

radiotherapy

hormone therapy

targeted cancer drugs

immunotherapy

stem cell or bone marrow transplant having treatment as part of a clinical trial

You may have more than one of these types of treatments. Your doctor and nurse are the best people to speak to about your particular cancer

We hope you have found this helpful, if you would like Birstall BAGs to cover any particular cancer in this column please do drop us an email:Birstallbags@hotmail.com

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