Mountsorrel Post (80) September 2022

First winner of YouthAward

MOUNTSORREL’S Poppy Bird, 10, is the first ever winner of the Graham Lloyd Award for Young People.

Leicestershire & Rutland Youth and Family Services has been providing youth and community support to Mountsorrel since March 2020.

It wouldn’t have been able to establish its provision if it wasn’t for the former Youth Officer for Mountsorrel, the late Graham Lloyd, who ran the youth provision in the village from Sorrel Youth Café until he took ill in 2019 and started to hand over the reins to Anthony Marvin, who was the assistant Youth Officer at the youth café.

Anthony said: “After the devastating loss of Graham Lloyd in 2021, I wanted to put something in place to remember Graham for all the hard work and dedication he put into supporting young people, not just in Mountsorrel but all across the county.

After milling over many ideas, I decided on something that he had in his mind for some time, The Graham Lloyd Award for Young People.”

The award will recognise young people for their achievements, contributions to the community or something outstanding they have done,

team

MOUNTSORREL COMMUNITY First Response Team volunteers were among 70 winners of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee awards.

They have been handed the coveted accolade for their supreme efforts to improve their communities.

The winners – each representing a year of the Queen’s record-breaking 70-year reign – have been announced by Mike Kapur, the Lord-Lieutenant of Leicestershire.

Mr Kapur said: “I would like to congratulate all the award winners and nominees. In recent times, we have experienced unprecedented and extraordinarily difficult times, and yet throughout, it has been wonderful to see

Pics: (top) Poppy Bird (right)

her award from Anthony Marvin & Anne Short, Graham Lloyd’s widow; Poppy

Mountsorrel Revival: Alpine House Stand

THANK YOU to all our patients (and others) who braved the extreme hot weather and visited us at our stand at the Mountsorrel Revival recently. It was lovely to see you all.

FEEDBACK

Thank you for all the feedback you gave us. We had 95% positive feedback which was great to hear.

In areas you said we could do better:-

You Said:

1) There are long queues first thing in the morning and sometimes we are forty or fifty in the queue.

2) When we call and finally get through, sometimes there are no appointments left and we are asked to call back the next day which is frustrating.

Our Reply:

1) When you are 40 in the queue please note that (when fully staffed) there are 4 reception staff answering calls each morning, therefore you would only actually be 10th in the queue. Unfortunately we have had

APPOINTMENTS

We continue to receive queries from patients regarding appointments being allocated with other clinicians, as opposed to a GP. At Alpine House we are proud of our diverse and highly skilled clinical team. We are committed to providing you with the best possible health care for your needs. However in order for us to do this it is essential that you speak to or see the most appropriate clinician for your prob-

reception staff leave over the last couple of months due to the increasing pressure that this role brings, and coupled with holidays, sickness and waiting for new staff to join, this has impacted on the wait time on the telephone with fewer reception staff answering the phones. We sincerely apologise for this and are doing everything we can to improve this temporary situation by drafting in staff from other departments, including managers to answer the telephones during these busy times. Please bear with us. You should notice a considerable improvement over the next couple of months once new staff join and are trained.

2) We are aware that we have had less appointments over the last couple of months. Unfortunately this has been due to clinicians leaving and the gap waiting

lem. Alongside our traditional appointments you can also consult with our Paramedic Team, Advanced Nurse Practitioners, Minor Illness Nurses and In-house Pharmacists. They are all highly skilled and all fully trained in primary care to deal with a wide variety of problems and can prescribe independently. However please rest assured that they all have immediate access to a GP if further advice is needed regarding your problem. By signposting appointments correctly, this ensures that our GP appointments are used appropriately for patients who have more complex issues and needs such as complex long-term conditions, cancer and end of life care.

for new clinicians to start. Again, you should notice a considerable difference over the coming months when new clinicians join. During this time we are doing everything we can to fill these gaps by employing regular locums. Please be assured that even when we have reached capacity, if your problem is urgent for on the day, reception will seek advice from our duty clinician.

Our staff will always try to help you to the best of their ability by either offering you a pre-bookable appointment, directing you to our pharmacy referral scheme, booking an appointment with our primary care specialist paramedics or our duty clinician. However if your choice/preference is still to have an appointment with a GP on the day and we are at capacity you may be asked to call back the following day.

MENOPAUSE

This is a subject that has been in the media a lot lately. We would like to reassure our patients that all our GP's are fully qualified in consulting and prescribing in this area. However there is a national shortage of some medication in this area, which unfortunately we have no control over.

GENERAL SURGERY UPDATE

The desk in our foyer area (which has been manned throughout COVID) will now no longer be staffed as we return to normal. If you have an appointment, please use the self-check-in machine in the foyer area. If you have a query and need to speak to our reception staff, please use our main reception area.

FLU VACCINATIONS

Once delivery dates have been confirmed by our suppliers, we will be advertising flu clinic dates in the surgery, on our website and texts will also be sent to eligible patients. If you would like to add a mobile phone number to your records to ensure you receive these texts please contact reception, who will be happy to add this to your details.

COVID BOOSTER VACCINATIONS -

LATEST UPDATE

We will be running COVID Booster clinics at Alpine House over the next few weeks. We are currently awaiting further information on eligibility and delivery dates. Please check our website and social media over the coming weeks for further information.

STAFF ANNOUNCEMENTS

It is with sadness that we announce that both Dr. Cluley and Dr. Lou have left. We are delighted to announce that we have a new Partner joining us from 5th September and a new female salaried GP joining us from 19th September.

The award was established this year and was awarded at Mountsorrel Revival on August 14. Revival was something that Graham held dear to his heart and looked forward to getting young people involved in, so Anthony thought it only right that the award was presented at this fantastic event.

He said: “The decision who would win the first award was easy and was voted on unanimously by all parties involved in the decision making. The award was presented to the winner Pop-

the LRI worked their magic and gave her the medication and treatments she needed to start to feel better. Poppy had to stay in the hospital for a couple of days while the medications started to work then she was allowed home.

This was a scary and upsetting time for Poppy, but she was brave and battled through.

A little over a week later, Poppy returned to school, albeit with things slightly different for her as her day-to-day routine was now governed by her diabetes and the treatments that she has to take.”

Poppy embraced her new life with its new routines and helped to educate those around her on diabetes, and how it affects her.

Anthony said: “Poppy returned to the Phoenix Youth Project a week later and spoke to her peers and members of staff about her diagnoses, treatments and what we could do to help her.

“This in itself was such a fantastic show of bravery and maturity for someone who was and is going through a lot, but Poppy didn’t stop there. Poppy started to lose her hair due to the trauma her body had been through, so on May 28, she cut 12 inches of her hair off to donate to the Little Princess Trust, along with raising a whopping £800 for the trust through her Just Giving page.

Girls plant flowers

GIRLS AGED five to seven from Girlguiding’s Mountsorrel Rainbows visited a Rothley care home to plant flowers.

On June 27, the Mountsorrel Rainbows gathered at the Mountview Care Home to help plant seeds in a garden bed.

Katie Worby, Rainbow leader, said: “Mountview has a big garden at the front of the care home, full of different flowers and pretty ornaments. They also have a seating area and an archway leading into the garden. The Rainbows were very enthusiastic about planting the flowers, some of which they had grown from seeds over the previous weeks, and some had been donated.”

organised some games for us to play in the garden. All the Rainbows enjoyed it and were running around and joining in with the activities. It was a hot day, so a staff member from the home brought us all ice lollies and drinks, which we were very grateful for. The Rainbows send a big thank you to the Mountview Care Home.”

Mountsorrel Rainbows meet every Monday from 4:30pm until 5:30pm and is suitable for children aged 5 to 7.

Clear

py Bird, who is such a deserving recipient of the first ever Graham Lloyd Award for Young People.

“Poppy was quite poorly and admitted to hospital on the morning of April 19, 2022, and was soon diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes, with dangerously high levels of glucose. The amazing team at

“We thought that for all Poppy had been through and still took her time to do something good for others she really is a deserving recipient of The Graham Lloyd Award.”

Nominations for The Graham Lloyd Award for Young People are now open for 2023 and can be sent in by emailing admin@lryfs.co.uk

Other news from LRYFS: we provided activities, phone charging, music and our hydration station at Revival with our Youth Zone

The Rainbows took it in turns to pick a place for the flower, dig a hole with a trowel, and then they placed the flower and buried the roots.

Katie said: “With the wide range of flowers that were being used the garden beds soon became bright and colourful. The garden is still flourishing and has been well looked after. After planting the flowers, our leader Rainbow Aurora

schools, businesses, volunteers and community groups across the city and county have remained unwavering in their commitment to making a big difference in their local communities.

“I'm delighted to shine a spotlight on the outstanding work that takes place and would like to thank everyone who took the time to make a nomination.”

Each award winner will be presented with their award by either the Lord-Lieutenant or one of his Deputy Lieutenants later in the year.

We also provided our summer scheme for 8-11 year olds where we held extra-long sessions and provided a hot meal and pudding, all FREE of charge to young people of Mountsorrel.

In the last week of the summer break we took this group out on a trip to jump giants and then for food at McDonalds. Everyone seemed to have an amazing time.

Pic:

THE MUCH loved and hugely popular Mountsorrel REVIVAL returned this August, with thousands of people enjoying the countless attractions on a scorching hot Sunday.

Crowds lined the streets to watch the fun-run and parade through the village to The Green, which was full of stalls, music and games.

With attractions spread out across the village, decorated with bunting hand crafted by the Mountsorrel Community Craft Project, the event had the support of dozens of local businesses, groups, clubs, churches and Mountsorrel Parish Council.

Comments from visitors posted on facebook included:

“Such a wonderful community event! Well done to all those behind the scenes who spent hours getting things in place and organising the tidy up afterwards.”

“It was a really terrific event, very well organised and great fun.”

Started by Ian Shonk in 2013,

The Revival event is now organised by The Mountsorrel Community Team, supported by an army of volunteers.

A spokesperson said: “Thank you Mountsorrel. Whatever part you played in the event, volunteer, sponsor, advertiser, supporter, stall holder, attraction, or one of the army of people who came and enjoyed the day. We could not do it without your

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MOUNTSORREL-BASED charity

Alex’s Wish, set up to conquer Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, is marking its 10th anniversary.

Over recent years, Alex (the face of the charity), now 16, has been on a clinical trial called Givinostat run by Italfarmaco, and the latest data shows the drug is slowing disease progression.

Alex’s mum Emma Hallam founded the charity with the aim of finding new treatments and ultimately a cure for this devastating muscle wasting disease which affects one in every 3,500 boys.

To continue making ground-breaking progress, Alex’s Wish must continue its tireless fundraising. This year, supporters have added tens of thousands to the pot through popular events such as its Charnwood Forest Cycle Ride and Supercars at Whatton House.

And there’s lots more to look forward too, including a Golf Day and a Sky Dive in September as well as the charity’s popular annual fundraising ball in November.

Emma said: “We are eternally grateful to everyone who has supported our mission over the years. We

couldn’t have taken such huge strides forward without you. With your support we’ve been able to fund 32 projects from early-stage research, clinical trials, to technological advances and funded five clinical posts to ensure children can access trials in the UK. But there’s still some way to go before a cure is found, so please get involved if you can.

“One way of supporting us is by signing up to our ‘Be More Alex’ regular giving campaign for just £7 a month. Celebrating Alex’s adventurous spirit, you’ll receive a monthly postcard to keep you updated. Most important of all though, it raises money for Duchenne, giving boys like Alex a better quality of life and hope for a longer future. You can also check out our website for event details and ways to get involved. Thank you.”

To find out more, go to www.alexswish.co.uk

Pic: (left) Marshalls Remi Flannigan & Neve Reilly

New beacon lit for Queen’s Jubilee

Tarmac sponsored the design and creation of a new beacon on Castle Hill, and the new landmark was assembled and welded onsite by Tarmac’s engineering team.

The beacon features a plasma-cut outline of the Butter Market and an inscription of the text MOUNTSORREL, allowing light to shine through when the beacon is lit.

Councillor Kate Walker, chairman of Mountsorrel Parish Council, said: “We are very grateful to Tarmac for its tremendous support to the village in providing the new beacon, along with continuing improvements to the War Memorial. It is only through the work of Tarmac that this has been made possible.

“Having the new beacon in place in time for the Platinum Jubilee ensured the celebrations were a great success.”

The beacon replaces the one erected by the quarry in 1991, commemorating the opening of the Quorn-Mountsorrel Bypass (A6) which, after having been lit countless times over the last 30 years, had begun to show signs of age.

The team from Tarmac has also been working to restore the Castle Hill war memorial, adding programmable LEDs to the bronze cross and new LED floodlights to illuminate the iconic landmark which looks out over the village.

Mountsorrel Quarry has looked after the Grade II listed memorial and maintained its upkeep since it was erected almost 100 years ago.

The completed work means that the cross can be illuminated with a changing pattern of colour, while the floodlights at the base of the memorial create better quality light which brightens up the entire monument.

New covers for the floodlights were also installed to keep the lighting system safe from vandalism or weathering while allowing light to shine clearly through the Perspex.

Rob Lees, area operations manager at Tarmac, said: “Mountsorrel Quarry is proud of the relationship it has with the local village, and so it’s great to be able to give back to the community by supporting these upgrades, which will increase the longevity of local landmarks.”

The old beacon has been restored by Tarmac’s engineers, before being rehomed at the Mountsorrel and Rothley Heritage Centre, where residents will now be able to enjoy it for years to come.

Originally unveiled in 1926, the memorial was designed to commemorate the 72 men from the village who lost their lives in World War I. An additional 19 names of villagers were added on the opposite side of the memorial, after WWII.

The stone for the Castle Hill war memorial was donated by The Mountsorrel Granite Company and is the only one in the area to use Mountsorrel’s famous Pink Granite.

• The lighting of the new beacon was followed by a firework display on the

Mountsorrel War

Memorial Playing field.

On Friday June 3, there was an afternoon tea dance at the Memorial Centre, and on Saturday June 4, a Proms Concert at the

centre, by Ratby Brass.

On Sunday June 5, residents joined in with the national Jubilee celebrations by organising their own street parties in the village

MOUNTSORREL’S WAR memorial and beacon have been upgraded to mark the Platinum Jubilee and are set to illuminate the local community for years to come.

Pics: Mountsorrel’s new beacon and the firework display; a Tea party at the Memorial Centre: a street party on Kingfisher Rd; Arabella Webb (4) & Sophie Webb

The Mountsorrel 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 Mountsorrel Post, Unit 109, Greenacres, The Sidings, Leicester LE4 3BR, or email: editor@birstallpost.co.uk

Parking

I have contacted Charnwood Borough Council on several occasions to raise the issue of parking on the zig-zag lines outside the Mountsorrel Post Office. They have advised measures are being taken to stop this, however, nothing has changed. Almost every day, you will find a white van, DPD, UPS, Royal Mail etc vans parked on these lines. This is not only illegal but dangerous for pedestrians trying to cross on the controlled crosswalk.

Perhaps if we have more people contacting the CBC about this issue, sending photos if possible of the offenders, then maybe something will be done before someone is either killed or injured.

Graham Smith

Noticeboard

In Mountsorrel nobody needs to go hungry or be cold

The Food Project is here for anyone struggling to make food stretch, or needing a helping hand. All you need to do is contact us and we will do whatever we can to help.

We are at the Baptist Church, Leicester Rd (next to the Memorial Ctr) every Tuesday morning from 10 – 12noon

Mountsorrel Guides are holding a Late Summer Fair

At Mountsorrel Methodist church, Churchill Road, Mountsorrel Saturday 17 September from 2 to 4 pm

Tombola, Nearly new Raffle, Bric a brac, Rummage Cakes and refreshments

Plants

& much more Craft Fair

at Christ Church on Saturday 15th October 10 am –4pm

There will be a selection of stalls to include:Jewellery Handmade cards, handbags & scarves

Story spoons

Handmade ceramics

Hand painted wooden craft, cards and artwork Miniature art on seaglass Knitted toys Tropic skincare

Limited edition fine art prints

Refreshments available on the day

All proceeds are for Christ Church Funds

Christ Church

Rothley Road, Mountsorrel, LE12 7JU

Harvest Festival, Holy Communion

Sunday 2nd October 2022, 11am Everyone welcome

Christ Church, Rothley Road, Mountsorrel, LE12 7JU Remembrance Sunday

Sun 13th Nov 2022 at 11am. Act of Remembrance with Word and Worship service

Christ Church, Rothley Road, Mountsorrel, LE12 7JU Crib and Christmas

Tree Festival 2022

(Cribs are new this year)

Open Friday 9th December: 10am – 3:30pm {including Coffee Morning 10-12}

Open Saturday 10th December: 10am-3:30pm,

Open Sunday 11th December: 1pm-3pm, (Morning Service 11am)

Open Monday 12th December (School & Pre-School Visits, and an evening Carol Service)

If you or your group would like to put a Crib and/or a Tree into the festival, please contact: Helen, Tel: 0116 230 3828, Email: p.hodson4@ntlworld.com

Saturday 22 October,7.30pm

De Montfort Hall Leicester Symphony Orchestra Gala Concert

Join LSO for this landmark performance - 100 years to the day since the orchestra first performed at De Montfort Hall.

Concert of classical favourites including Finlandia, Spartacus Adagio, Nimrod, Yeoman of the Guard, Swan Lake Waltz and many more Tickets £20, £16, £5, family £42 & £35 www.demontforthall.co.uk

Pre-loved Clothing

Jumble Sale!

Sunday 25th September

Rothley Centre, Mountsorrel Lane

11-3pm. Entry fee £1 per adult (children free).

Fill a standard carrier bag for £3 (some items individually priced).

Donations of good condition, preloved clothes, coats, footwear, sports kits, rucksacks, handbags, school uniform, belts, hats can be dropped off at the Rothley Centre from 8am on the day of the sale or beforehand to 40 Mountsorrel Lane, Rothley, LE7 7PR. Sweets, refreshments, Children’s activities on offer.

Same weekend as Rothley Village Scarecrow Trail!

All proceeds to a local Ukrainian Refugee fund

For more info go to GoFundMe, https://gofund.me/f2f494ee

Coffee Morning/Sale

Saturday 29th October 2022

The Rothley Centre 10am to 12 noon in aid of Cancer Research UK. Stalls to include Plants, Cakes, Books, Bric a Brac, Gifts, NewToys, Plants, Tombola and Raffle £1 admission to include Coffee and Biscuits.

Everyone is Welcome

Please Support Cancer Research UK

All monies go to research In Leicester University/Hospitals

Charnwood Orchestra

will be performing popular works at Holy Trinity Church, Barrow on Soar on 24 September 2022, with the concert starting at 7.30pm The orchestra will perform; Haydn Overture: ‘L’isola disabitata’

Schubert Entr’acte and Ballet Music from ‘Rosamunde’ Hummel Trumpet Concerto Mendelssohn Symphony No.4 ‘Italian’

Solo Trumpet will be performed by Anthony Thompson. The Orchestra will be conducted by Nic Fallowfield.

Tickets will be available via orchestra website www.charnwoodorchestra.org.uk, and/or may be reserved via email tickets@charnwoodorchestra.org.uk

Tickets will also be available via Taylor’s Florist, 17 High Street, Barrow upon Soar LE12 8PY

Veronica’s Scottish climb for charity

A FUND-RAISING climb of a Scottish peak by a 75-yearold woman from Mountsorrel has raised £958.

Veronica Liquorish, of Rockhill Drive, wanted to support the charity Charcot Marie Tooth UK (CMT), as her late husband Graham had suffered from the disease.

Conic Hill is 1184 feet high and located near Loch Lomond.

Accompanied by three friends and with temperatures in the high 20s, Veronica began her walk on July 20. It took four hours to reach the summit and another 75 minutes to descend.

Veronica said: “Once at the summit, the views are breathtaking, making it all

Support available from local fund

ARE YOU under 25 years of age, living in Mountsorrel and need help with funding your education?

The Mountsorrel Educational Fund may be able to help you.

It is a charity that can award grants, at the absolute discretion of its trustees, from the funds it has available to assist young people in pursuing their education.

Heritage

LIKE OTHER small groups, the Covid-19 lockdowns hit us hard, something made worse by the loss during the period of several key members, but we are now back and rebuilding.

We have recommenced our monthly talks held in Mountsorrel Memorial Centre on the second Tuesday of the month starting at 7:30pm. The village Museum, upstairs in the library, is open during library opening hours on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays and is still very much a “work in progress” but does have a display of artefacts and a specific, themed exhibition.

Currently, the display is about life and work on and around the Green over the centuries. In the background, we are working on a new exhibition for next year which will look at the history of quarrying in and around the village.

The electronic archive continues to grow and currently holds some 6.5k photos and 4K documents. This is supported by a printed archive of documents and books and a collection of artefacts. Access to the archive for museum visitors is through a large format touch screen computer funded through the Borough Councillors’ Ward Grant scheme.

It’s not all indoor stuff though - we

A spokesperson said: “Last year we awarded grants of £121,871 to the local school, students and those in Higher Education and Training. The trustees will be meeting in November to consider applications from young people who are planning to continue their education at College and University.”

To apply you need to be:

• Under the age of 25

• A pupil or former pupil of Christ Church and Saint Peters Church of

England School or • have been (or whose parents have been) resident in the Electoral Parish of Mountsorrel for at least 12 calendar months.

Application forms can be downloaded from the website: http://mountsorreleducationalfund.org

The absolute deadline for submission of completed application forms is 5pm on Friday, October 14, 2022.

rebuilding

worthwhile. We were able to see over Loch Lomond together with a string of islands.”

She added: “When you have a loved one suffering with CMT, it makes you feel helpless. If by doing my sponsored walk, with the love and support of family and friends, then I shall have done a little in his memory.” Pics: (left) Veronica at the beginning of her walk & (far left) at the summit

Woodcock

have carried out archaeological test pit digs within the village that have brought up evidence of our predecessors here in the form of pot sherds etc (no bones!), and some of that is in a small hands-on display in the museum. We also continue to organically tend the Navins Wildflower Meadow that we started in 2008. This now has a proper marker stone, courtesy of TARMAC, and a small information board featuring input from pupils at Christ Church & St Peters School. Also outdoors, we have a regular work party in the Peace Garden from spring through to Remembrance Day.

If you have an interest in the history or the environment of the village, do visit the museum, come along to one of our talks, or you can follow us on Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/mountsorrelar chive where we have a “Fortnightly Photo” feature and updates on talks and other activities, check out our website at http://mountsorrelarchive.org/ or just email us at mountsorrelheritagegroup2022@gmail.c om

Pic:

Plans for Mountsorrel quarry’s future

Tarmac has submitted a scoping opinion request to Leicestershire County Council that sets out its plans, which will see the expansion of the quarry workings, but within the site’s existing boundary.

Tarmac wants to extend both the north and southeast edges of the existing extraction zone.

Rothley Common, next to Bond Lane, would be lost as a community green space if permission is granted, but a new common would be erected on an adjacent area of land, with a new bridleway linking to Cufflins Pit Lane,

and replacement woodland.

The quarry has permission to operate until 2040, but demand for minerals means that reserves could run out in around 15 years.

The application does not seek to change the intensity of the operations, so there will be no change in operational practices, working hours, or the number of lorry movements.

Tarmac says it will run some

public consultation events this autumn before submitting a planning application.

If permission is granted by Leicestershire County Council the working life of the quarry will be extended by 18 years until 2058.

Details of the proposal, with maps, can be viewed on the planning pages of the County Council website.

The reference is: 2022/EIASCO/0114/LCC

Local project on funding shortlist

A PROJECT TO expand Mountsorrel’s sports facilities has been given a boost after securing a potential share of a £4m investment plan.

Mountsorrel Parish Council wants to create new cricket and football pitches in Halstead Road to support the local sporting scene and ease the pressure on the existing pitches there, and at the War Memorial Fields.

The Council also wants to build a new pavilion at Halstead Road.

It is one of a series of projects that have been chosen to form part of a £4 million investment plan in Charnwood to help the area level up.

Charnwood Borough Council has been allocated the funding under the Government’s UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) and has developed the Future Charnwood Investment Plan.

The Council appealed for projects to come forward earlier this year

and more than 50 applications were made.

Following a selection process, 10 projects have been identified in the Investment Plan which has been submitted to the government.

The projects range from improvements to community facilities and parks, to town centre upgrades and support for young people. They meet the plan’s aim to bring a range of improvements for future generations.

Cllr Jonathan Morgan, Leader of Charnwood Borough Council, said: “We were clear from the outset that we wanted local communities to come forward with their projects, and I was incredibly pleased with the response.

“We had over 50 applications and could have spent our allocation three times over.

“That meant we had some very difficult decisions to make to choose projects for the investment plan. We had to look at the benefits the projects would bring and how deliverable they are.

“It was not easy to choose the final projects as we had many outstanding applications. However, the ones we have chosen to put forward in the plan will have a long-lasting legacy for the community, environment and economy.

“The projects are also spread right across Charnwood.”

The Council must now await confirmation from the Department of Levelling-Up, Housing and Communities that it can proceed with the investment plan and funding will be released.

TARMAC, OPERATORS of Mountsorrel quarry, have indicated they want to extend the lifespan of the quarry by 18 years.

Mountsorrel Poppy Appeal 2022

Despite the passing of the years, the work of the Royal British Legion is as relevant and vital today as it was in the aftermath of the First World War. That conflict saw the foundation of the charity to provide life-long support to serving and ex-serving members of the British Armed Forces, their families and dependants through hardships, injuries and bereavements.

The work is funded through the annual Poppy Appeal, to which this village has always been a generous supporter. In

lection boxes around the village and we will also be collecting in person at Waitrose Supermarket on November 5 & 6, and at Dobbies Garden Centre on October 30.

British Legion to make a difference to the lives of people in our Armed Forces community - so please wear your poppy with pride and dig deep, knowing that you are supporting our Armed Forces community.

Mountsorrel Remembrance Services 2022

Armistice Day Service Friday, November 11, 2022

At 11am on Friday, November 11, there will be a Field of Remembrance Service at the Peace Garden (junction of Market Place and Sileby Road).

Remembrance Sunday, November 13, 2022

The village parade to remember and honour the fallen in all conflicts will take place on Sunday, November 13, leaving the Green at 2.30pm for the

Tae Kwon-do club

Some of the club’s most senior grades were recently promoted to higher grades:

Les Hull (7th Dan), Sheryl Freer (6th Dan), Peter Bruton (6th Dan) and Sharon Bruton (6th Dan).

This July, the club hosted a seminar with one of the founder members of the TAGB, Grand Master Kenny Walton (9th

He is also the TAGB National Team Coach, delivering the most successful Tae Kwon-do teams of the last 20 years, as well as being a driving force in the establishment and development of the TAGB and BTC.

James said: “Grand Master Walton was one of the best Tae Kwon-do fighters of his generation – known for his outstanding fitness, mental toughness and non-stop kicking style – he won multiple World, European and British titles. He continues to teach, producing several World and European champion fighters, and is an inspiration to all those that work with him.”

Anyone interested in learning more about the club can contact James Freer on 0771 8953850

LOCAL RESIDENTS are being invited to fitness sessions at the Mountview care home on Loughborough Road.

The Mountview Motivator sessions cost £3 and are held between 10-11am

care home’s residents, says the home’s manager, Stacie Weaver.

She said: “It’s really important to us that our residents and neighbours have access to new and fun ways to keep fit, make friends and have a laugh.’

When local resident Patricia Chapman heard about Mountview Motivator, she decided to give the session a try.

Since then, Patricia has taken part in several events at Mountview and booked a respite stay in the home. She said: “I really enjoy the fitness class at Mountview it’s very enjoyable.”

88-year-old Betty Allen, a resident at Mountview, also enjoys keeping fit with Mountview Motivator.

She said: “It’s ‘Ideal’ to have an exercise class for us older ones. It’s not too strenuous, and we also have a good laugh which is important as well. It’s a lovely way to meet our neigh-

The Mountview Motivator class is led by Nicola White from Move it Mobility, who delivers a range of activities to care

homes, schools

nurseries.

“I’ve been coming to Mountview for three years now. I have fun every time, and the residents enjoy the health

of

classes.

“It’s so nice to see so many people get involved and become friends with each other. Mountview is the perfect place to visit for a good

and

email – james.freer@sky.com www.jfreer-taekwondo.com

Pic: Peter & Sharon Bruton receiving their 6th Dans from committee members Dave Oliver - 9th Dan (Chairman), Ron Sergiew - 9th Dan (Treasurer), Yanni Peros-8th Dan (Welsh National Team Coach) & Kenny Walton - 9th Dan (England Team Coach)

U3A

ARE YOU working part-time, nearing retirement or already retired? Does the thought of time without a work routine seem daunting? Is there time in your life to fill?

Joining a local U3A is a fantastic opportunity to meet other people, and participate in a wide range of activities.

‘Syston & District U3A’ is open to everyone, including those living outside the Syston area. There are U3A Organisations all over England and some overseas countries as well, which you can pop into while on holiday or spending time with family and friends elsewhere.

Our website www.systonu3a.org.uk offers information on almost 40 different group activities from which to choose and includes Bird watching, Painting, Singing, Walking Football, Snooker, Photography and many more. Unable to find anything which interests you there? Answer - join ‘Syston & District U3A’ for £15 annually (29 pence per week) and form a new group to share interests, knowledge and skills or simply ‘have a go’!

From Syston & District U3A

Crime

Mountsorrel Crime Figures

1st – 30th August 2022:

• X2 Vehicle Crimes reported

o Electric moped stolen from car park which had CCTV available.

o Vehicle stopped by police. The driver had taken the vehicle without the owner’s consent

• X5 Thefts reported

o Number plate stolen from vehicle which was parked outside the home address.

o Theft of fan boiler unit.

o Two mobility scooters taken from a shared storage area.

o Two females and a male have taken alcohol without paying at Waitrose.

o Theft from a store.

• X2 Burglary reports

o Stand alone garage was broken into and two pit bikes and an electric scooter were stolen.

o Confused elderly female had two males enter her property and had taken some of her banking paperwork.

• X4 Criminal Damage reports

o Damage to a vehicle

o Nine-year-old suspect assaults neighbour then causes damage in the garden by tearing up grass.

o Neighbour tried to throw push bike over counter of the shop.

o Female has her patio door smashed by a male.

Anti-Social Behaviour:

• X1 Report

o Male feels intimidated by group of youths ‘hanging around’ his block of flats near Quarry Park.

Malcolm Law remembered

A DEDICATED volunteer at Rothley & Mountsorrel Heritage Centre has died.

Malcolm Law (1948-2022) joined the project to restore the Mountsorrel branch line as fundraiser in 2010, but quickly extended his help into pretty much all areas of the project.

Centre spokesman Steve Cramp said: He was extremely passionate about our project to create the Heritage Centre, seeing the benefit it could bring to the well-being of the communities in the area. Malcolm played a key role in obtaining grants totalling just over a million pounds to restore the railway and build the Heritage Centre. He wasn’t a wealthy man, but he donated generously to many of the projects around the Heritage Centre site that we have developed since opening, so much so, that much of what visitors enjoy around the site today simply would not be here were it not for his generosity and attention to detail with grant applications.

He was a familiar face volunteering around the site; you would find him laying track, cutting the lineside, build-

ing fences, running the garden railway, operating site tours, and acting as a visitor guide, to name just a few. Whatever needed doing, Malcolm would be there. All of this he did while suffering the effects of long-term cancer, and even as his battle was coming to an end, only a few weeks ago, he was out on the Granite’s patio operating his visitor information table.

His death has touched all of our volunteers, so much so that two of our volunteers, who have been with us since the beginning of the project, have decided to do a sponsored cycle

Mountsorrel walks

A MOUNTSORREL man who spent two years walking in the area and taking photographs has an exhibition of his work in Mountsorrel library.

Stuart Franey said: “The exhibition is called 'Walks from Mountsorrel' and consists of the photographs I took over two years of walking the same routes each week. I walked for 1500 hours, at two hours per day, while listening to music. This was along the River Soar to Cossington, around Swithland Reservoir, and towards Cropston.”

He added: “The wonderful thing about walking in the countryside is it is constantly changing. I saw people and swans travelling along the river, every day. I saw the flowers and plants change throughout the year, including Snowdrops, Foxgloves and Irises. I saw horses, cows, and many cats and dogs on my journey, which were friendly and vibrant. I still walk these wonderful routes every week, and they constantly amaze me, with stunning views and precious moments.”

The exhibition is on until Friday October 14.

Pic: the exhibition in Mountsorrel library

ride to raise money for the Heritage Centre in Malcolm’s memory.

This is no ordinary bike ride though! Tony and Chris decided to cycle all the way from London to Edinburgh! If that wasn’t enough they are then going to cycle all the way back to London again! That’s 945 miles in total, in five daysthat’s an average of 189 miles every day!

Tony and Chris are funding the bike ride themselves so all sponsorship money raised will go towards creating more of the wonderful things you enjoy at the Heritage Centre site.

It is such a wonderful and kind thing for them to do in Malcolm’s memory, and I’m sure he will be looking down on them with a huge smile on his face. He would probably have some jokey comment about legs like spaghetti to spur them along as well!

* The bike ride got underway on Sunday August 7 – Tony completed the ride, but Chris had to pull out because of the heat. They raised £1200.

Pics: (top) Malcolm at the railway opening weekend 2015; Malcolm greets HRH the Prince of Wales 2017; (left) Fundraising cyclists Tony & Chris