Rothley Post (134) Jan/Feb 2019

THE ROTHLEY POST YOUR FREE COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER

Delivered to Rothley, Thurcaston & Cropston

JAN/FEB 2019

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No. 134

Charity bike ride through India TWO LOCAL women have completed a 250 mile cycle ride in India in aid of cancer charities.

Sarah Hopwood and Rachel Draper joined a group of 90 riders in Rajasthan and after a visit to the Taj Mahal in Agra, they cycled 50 miles a day through rural India.

“It was an amazing experience” said Sarah. “Meeting the local people and schoolchildren and cycling through farmland that luckily was very flat! Animals were everywhere including cows, pigs, dogs, camels and monkeys.”

Sarah and Rachel’s trip took them from Bharatpur to Karauli, Ranthambore, Talabgaon, Dansa to Jaipur.

A total of 150 women took part in the sponsored ride raising a total of £717,000 for Women V Cancer. This went to three charities, Breast Cancer, Ovarian Cancer Action and Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trust.

Rachel and Sarah would like to thank everyone who supported their garden party at Station Road, Cropston to help raise the money and all the support and words of encouragement they received for their cycling.

Pics: (above) Sarah Hopwood (right) with Rachel Draper; (below)pics from their ride in India

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THREE PEOPLE have been charged with burglary following incidents in the Charnwood area of the county, including Thurcaston.

Luke Holford, 27, of Forest Drive, Sileby, Liam Bradbury, 18 of Winforde Crescent, Braunstone, Leicester and a 17-year-old man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, have all been charged with two counts of burglary. The charges relate to burglaries in the Thurcaston and Quorn area on November 6.

Holford has been remanded in custody and is due to appear at Leicester Crown Court on January 7. Bradbury and the 17-year-old man have been released on conditional bail and are due to appear at Leicester Magistrates Court on January 17.

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Bid to make Rothley a plastic free village ment to make a difference.”

The next meeting will be on Tuesday January 15, 6.30-8pm, at Gavin Taylor’s salon, 10 Fowke Street. He will be showing what he’s doing to reduce plastic in his business and there will be a chance At Plastic Free Rothley’s first public meeting in November it was decided that to catch up with everyfour groups would decide on the first steps to take in Rothley to reduce plastic thing that’s going on waste. and plan A spokeswoman said: “We will be the next working with community organisations, steps. the councils, businesses, and running Gavin litter-picks. Already Rothley Wines and Taylor said: Gavin Taylor Hair have joined and the “We been library is our first local community orvery aware from the start of our impact ganisation to go plastic free. All Rothley especially because we are a business organisations and businesses can take using many resources every day. part and there’s no cost involved.

“So we set out from the get go to There’s a lot of enthusiasm and commit-

ROTHLEY HAS joined a nationwide scheme that aims to eliminate the use of single-use plastic.

reduce waste, recycle and reuse as much as possible. So being a part of this cause means so much as we are all very passionate about this subject.

We currently use biodegradable towels which are made from eucalyptus and cedar pulp, we have a compost area at the rear of the property in which any compostable waste is kept.

“We ask everyone who buys our shampoo to bring back their bottles to be refilled. All of our furniture is either an antique or has been made from Indonesian drift wood. We recycle

Plans for 39 homes in Rothley DEVELOPERS WILLIAM Davis want to build 39 new homes in Rothley.

The proposed site is east of Mountsorrel Lane, near to Farnham Close.

Some residents have lodged objections to the planning application commenting about loss of wildlife habitat and the reduction of ‘green buffer’ from 10 metres to 2.5-5 metres. This is the amount of separation between proposed development and existing dwellings.

Rothley Parish Council has raised concerns about the landscaping of the site, drainage and settlement separation. It has requested a section 106 developer contribution of £250,000 for local community facilities if the planning permission is approved.

as much as possible and we also have grown a herb garden in which we hope this summer to be able to share with everyone who passes.

“There are many other things we hope to change in the new year to completely go towards single use plastic free, like using pencils instead of pens and having a strict policy in the salon. We will endeavour to complete these tasks in the new year and together we can all work towards becoming accredited with the title of being a plastics free village.”

A Facebook group has been set up and the Plastic Free Rothley leaflet is now available – it gives information about avoidable plastics and about the local group. The group is one of over 400 UK communities following the scheme set up by Surfers against Sewage.

A local collection point is being set up to recycle pens, felt tips etc.

Please drop an email to plasticfreerothley@gmail.com, phone or text 07764941574, or go to the event page on Facebook – Plastic Free Rothley.

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Jean retires POPULAR POST Office worker Jean Ross Clyne has retired after a career spanning 41 years.

Jean started working for the Post Office in 1977 at Sandiacre, Derbyshire before moving on to Southampton in 1986. After three years in Hampshire she moved up to Leicestershire working at Gorse Covert Post Office in Loughborough, before moving to work for Post Master David Lynch at the Rothley Post Office in 2010.

Following David’s retirement she assisted Gurdip Singh until the postal services were moved into the convenience store in 2016, where she completed her last shift behind the counter on Friday December 21.

Over her working life she has noticed many changes from a mainly manual service to one that is now highly computerized with much more banking.

She said: “The best thing about the job is the people I meet everyday.

I shall miss the people most.”

Pic: Retiring: Jean Ross Clyne

Rothley Christmas lights shine THE BISHOP of Leicester, Martyn Snow, was a special guest at the Rothley Christmas lights switch on event.

Children from Rothley’s school choir sang to a large crowd before Martyn led the countdown and pressed the plunger to switch on the lights and start a display of fireworks.

Many of the shops and businesses were open to welcome visitors.

Pics; (top) children singing Christmas songs; (left) Bishop Martyn Snow (right) with Revd Rob Gladstone

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Rothley remembers Armistice centenary OVER 70 people converged on Rothley’s Cross Green on Saturday November 10 to take part in Rothley’s Armistice Centenary Casualty Walk.

Pics: Sam Sleath dressed as Private Bull took part in the walk and is pictured below with Pvte Bull’s nephew John Garratt (91)

hot drinks and delightful refreshments, kindly provided by members of the Methodist Church.

“In addition to remembering those displayed on the Memorial Plaques in the Church, it was also a very special occasion with the attendance of several

relatives of the fallen. This included Private Bull’s nephew John Garratt, now 91 years of age, who met up with his uncle’s representation, marked with a lovely photograph of them standing shoulder to shoulder either side of the memorial plaque.”

On Sunday November 11, Armistice Day, a large crowd gathered at the War Memorial at 11am to observe a minute’s silence and to lay wreaths in memory of the fallen.

JAN 2019

Pics: (above & below) wreath laying at Rothley War Memorial

THE ROTHLEY POST

There they found a representation of Private Sidney Feltham Bull, himself named on the War Memorial, standing guard and dressed in the full uniform of the Australian Imperial Force (AIF) The walk, led by Charles Poole, was based on the research of the late Marion Vincent MBE and recorded in her book: ‘Rothley Remembers – Men and Memorials’ Private Bull (brought to life by Sam Sleath) started the walk by reading the Roll of Honour of 34 names – a duty performed by Private Bull’s own father at the dedication of the War Memorial in July 1921. The litany of the fallen then began with the six who had lived around Cross Green. A brief walk down Anthony Street revealed three more, before proceeding to the Parish Church.

Simon Murphy, the current Church organist, recounted how the present pipe organ in the Parish Church had been funded by the relatives and friends of those from Rothley lost in the ‘War to end all Wars’. Using the full range of the Organ’s capabilities, Simon gave an extremely moving rendition of Elgar’s ‘Nimrod’ which was accompanied by projected images and details of each of the fallen taken from Marion’s book.

The recently restored and rededicated Roll of Honour near the back of the Church, which contained the names all 292 men from Rothley village who served in the Great War - both those killed and those who returned - was then admired. This reinforced the huge impact on village life of that number of men being called away to fight for King and Country.

Having also heard about those killed who had lived at the farther reaches of the village, the walk continued via the Old Vicarage, past the Old School Rooms and the site of the now demolished Constitutional Club in Fowke Street – both of which had contained Memorials – whilst also hearing about further casualties on the route.

At the top of North Street, the Memorial Cottages (built by Frank Sleath after the war), which incorporated a Sandstone plate erected in memory the Brave Boys who fell in the Great War, along with Rothley’s memorial to Nurse Edith Cavell on the adjacent cottage, were viewed.

Walking up Woodgate, past the homes and locations where yet more fallen had grown up and lived, also saw the touching moment where, as Private Bull, Sam Sleath, revisited the home of the Bull family, at Harewood, No 70 Woodgate.

Wellsic Lane and Town Green Street saw yet further heart wrenching accounts of love and loss, as letters from and information about those fallen from that part of the village all reinforced the personal tragedies which befell the community.

The walk ended at the Methodist Church in Howe Street. Charles Poole said: “Those taking part were treated to

Trust raising funds

Concert of harmony ROTHLEY PARISH church was the venue for a concert in November, marking the centenary of the Armistice in 1918.

‘A Celebration of Harmony’ by the Grand Central Chorus contrasted two types of harmony. The first was the harmony of silence, the wind and the birdsong when the guns fell silent at 11am on November 11, 1918. The second was the harmony of men’s voices highly tuned and in warm fellow-

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ship with each other. There was a heart-stopping moment at the start when the host Terry Sheppard invited 33 men of the Chorus to come and take up their places on the stage - to be a representation both of the 33 Rothley soldiers who died, and to give an example of what they could have achieved if they had survived.

Terry said: “The full Chorus of over 40 men, so ably led by Director Zac Booles, entertained the 130 plus audience to an exhilarating set of close harmony songs in the barber shop style.

The lively rendering of Alfred Doolittle’s parts in the My Fair Lady sequence was an absolute delight. The Finest Hour quartet showed how they are contenders for world quartet champions in America in 2019. Their rendering of ‘So Long Mother’ and ‘What More Can a Soldier Give’ had most people in the audience wiping tears from their eyes.

“The appearance of Sam Sleath impersonating WWI casualty Private Sidney Feltham Bull in uniform, first to read a postcard he wrote from the front in Gallipoli, and then to lead with the Ode of Remembrance, was a crowning moment. Emily Higson made the atmosphere crinkle with her rendering of the Last Post & the Reveille. And when at the close, the Chorus members were dismissed from the stage, each man placed a specially knitted poppy into two vases made from authentic WWI shell cases.

Private Bull placed the 33rd poppy, standing to salute the arrangement, leaving the stage then occupied by just the two vases and their 33 poppies.”

On their way home, concert goers were generous in donating over £80 to the Poppy Appeal.

Pics: singers entertain the audience at Rothley church; shell cases full of 33 poppies

A CHARITABLE trust set up in memory of a Cropston man is celebrating raising a total of £18,000 for the East Midlands Air Ambulance Service.

Flight Lieutenant Rakesh Chauhan was an RAF officer who was killed in a helicopter crash in Afghanistan in 2014, aged 29.

Raks Trust was set up by his family in 2016 and has been fundraising for East Midlands Air Ambulance service ever since.

2018 saw the completion of the trust’s annual Fan Dance challenge, taking 70 people on the SAS training grounds in the Brecon Beacons.

This year the trust has also launched a new project to raise £24,000 for a

fully equipped off-road ambulance to be donated to a charity in Malawi, Love Support Unite (LSU) which was started by two sisters from Rothley.

In 2019 the trust will be organising a fundraising trek up Helvellyn via Striding Edge in the Lake District. www.rakstrust.org Pics: Kishor Chauhan with Teetee the dog on top of Pen-Y-Fan during the Fan Dance challenge; handing over funds to the Air Ambulance service

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Parish Council notes

A FULL meeting of Rothley Parish number of runners participating has risen considerably.

Council was held on November 19.

A sign will be erected in the cemetery A member of the public asked quesdetailing cemetery rules and regulations. tions about the publication of the minA consultation process regarding the utes, the bridge over Rothley Book, provision of new play equipment on the lights at the war memorial and speed Mountsorrel lane playing field has conrestrictions on Woodgate and Templar cluded, there is a budget of £30,000 for Way. the work and a detailed quote from a Borough Cllr Leon Hadji-Nikolaou reported that he attended a meeting with supplier is being finalised.

Improvements to the Rothley Centre a representative from the Borough Councar park will see the creation of an cil and Persimmon/Charles Church readditional 30 parking spaces. garding the construction of a bridge The council agreed a precept for the over Rothley Brook to enable a safe route for children to get to school. Com- year 2019/20 of £132,000. This is an increase of £10,000 on 2018/19. The ment was made that the failure of the developers to fulfil their legal obligations increase is partly because there has been a net reduction of dwellings in the to construct the bridge could lead to parish due to the Primrose Hill developlegal action.

The draft Rothley Neighbourhood Plan ment off West Cross Lane being moved has been copied to councillors for com- from Rothley into Mountsorrel. The parish precept for a band D property ment. will be £62.68. In 2018/19 it was The organisers of the Rothley 10k £56.68. The increase is 10.5%.

Run have requested the use of the Fowke Street car park and field. It was agreed that the car park could be used A FULL meeting of Thurcaston & Cropbut not the field. A representative from ston Parish Council was held on Septhe race will be invited to discuss parktember 20. ing issues in the village when the event Chairman Mark Charles paid respect takes place. to Cllr John Armstrong, vice chairman of A full meeting of Rothley Parish Coun- the Council and chairman of the trustees, cil was held on December 17. who passed away on September 9, 2018 It was reported that Rothley’s police after a short illness. officer, who has been on long term leave, In public participation, comment was started back at work last week. Rothley made about the issue of speeding and does not have a dedicated Community the volume of traffic on Leicester Road.

Support Officer.

A request was made for information Rothley Parish council has requested from the Police on the number of convica section 106 developer contribution of tions for speeding in the village. £250,000 for community facilities, if The council agreed to support LeicesCharnwood grant permission for 39 new ter City Council’s plans for traffic calmhomes off Mountsorrel Lane. ing on Ashton Green Road, and to The Parish Council has been consultrequest speed cameras. ing with organisers of the Rothley 10k It was agreed not to erect seasonal race on ways of improving parking and lighting on Cropston Road, Cropston due marshalling during the race, as the to the cost.

A full meeting of Thurcaston & Cropston Parish Council was held on October 18.

The clerk reported that the Police ran a short speeding operation on Station Road, Cropston. 88 vehicles were measured, 82 were below 35mph, three were given verbal warnings, 3 going above 40mph were issued with speeding tickets. The highest speed measured was 45mph.

The council is investigating the possible purchase of Sandham Bridge and Park Horse Bridge and the clerk will have details for the November meeting.

Pilbeam Academy of Dance BEGINNERS CLASS

Children make Christmas trees ENVIRONMENTALLY-AWARE pupils at Rothley Primary School creatively engaged in a spot of Christmas ‘tree-cycling’ as the festive season approached.

Schoolchildren turned recyclable items, including bottles and cans, into mini Christmas trees which were displayed in the windows of Rothley businesses, including The Nottingham Building Society, from November until December 10.

The person behind the Don’t Waste Christmas initiative was Ben Price, a Rothley-based Customer Services Assistant with The Nottingham.

Ben said: “I thought we could have mini Christmas trees displayed in windows throughout Rothley, each containing a clue for people to solve as part of a fun competition.

“One day I saw some plastic bottles in the street and it was the inspiration for Don’t Waste Christmas. I contacted the school to see if they would be interested in being part of things.

“It is well publicised that high streets are declining in many areas, but in Rothley our village centre remains

bustling and popular. We want to inspire the youngsters to help keep it that way for many years to come.

“After Christmas we will go back to the school to support a talk with the children about the importance of recycling. The Christmas trees will then be dismantled and all items recycled.”

Rothley School Co-ordinator Sarah Harmer added: “We know that The Nottingham is very community-minded and they showed that again when Ben contacted us to see if we wanted to be part of the project.

“Don’t Waste Christmas is an extremely creative and colourful thing for the children to get involved in and also helps reinforce messages around caring for the community and environment in which they live. They really enjoyed making the Christmas trees!”

Pic: Rothley Primary School’s Sarah Harmer (left) and Jackie Warner with The Nottingham’s Ben Price and some of the pupils’ superb tree-ations

They can join our little ones for Ballet & Tap on Mondays 4.30-5.30pm at the Village Hall, Fowke Street, Rothley Classes offered in Ballet, Tap, Modern & National for Boys & Girls of all ages.

Other classes available www.pilbeamacademyofdance.co.uk New Adult Ballet class 6.15pm Mondays before the Adult Tap at 7pm

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THE ROTHLEY POST

JAN 2019

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the areas became protected as national parks. Tim looks at the wildlife of one such area, Podyji National Park in the Czech Republic.

The Rothley Centre, 12, Mountsorrel Lane, Rothley, LE7 7PR. Members are free. Visitors £2.50. New members and visitors are always welcome. Ample free parking on site

Rothley Parish Church Wednesday Club For retired members of the community, but open to all adults. Its purpose is to provide an opportunity for friendship and fun, running a programme of talks, activities and outings throughout the year. It meets on the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of the month at 2.pm in the Old School Rooms on School Street. Help can be given with transport. If you want to meet new people or catch up with old friends you would be most welcome

and 5pm Includes crafts, a story time and a home cooked meal

Winter Wellness Event For The Over 60’s

Birstall & District Local History Society The Society commences its 2019 monthly meetings on Thursday 10th January 2019.

The subject of the talk is " The Story Of The Titanic".

The speaker will be Dr John Sutton The talk will commence at 7.30pm in the Birstall Village Hall, Birstall Road, Birstall, Leics.

Visitors are very welcome to join us for this talk.

There will be parking available on the Birstall Playing Fields through the School Lane entrance

Birstall Flower Club 23rd January 2019 at 7.15pm In Birstall Village Hall.

AGM , Giant Picnic & “All The Fun Of The Fair”.

(Please remember your crockery and cutlery)

Film Presentations Thurcaston and Cropston Parish "Edie" Jan 11 (102 mins) Having been advised to go into a residential home by her daughter, the 85 year old Edie decides to climb Scotland's remotest mountain instead. The stalwart Sheila Hancock, who is the same age as her character, sublimely plays this determined widow, to fulfil her dream. Our New Year film is set against the stunning backdrop of the Scottish Highlands.

"Mamma Mia-Here We Go Again" Feb 8 (114 mins)

Rothley/Birstall Birdwatching Club Presents Tuesday, February 12th at 7.30pm A Peek Behind The Iron Curtain –

Wild Life In No-Man’s Land

By Tim Sexton.

For over 40 years the Iron Curtain divided Europe. Along stretches, the physical barrier was set at 5km inside a country’s actual border, creating a no-man’s land, free from human habitants. With little disturbance, wildlife thrived.

When the Iron Curtain fell many of

In this sequel to the popular musical comedy, Sophie prepares for the opening of the Hotel Bella Donna on a beautiful Greek island.

However, her husband is working in New York with her father, played by Pierce Brosnan. Meryl Streep, Cher and Colin Firth feature in this entertaining and joyful performance.

Our next film will be shown on March 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 will includes refreshments and a lucky prize draw during the interval.

Advance tickets may be purchased via the parish office –0116 236 7626 or at the door.

Coffee Shop Rothley Methodist, Howe Lane Every Tuesday morning, 1011.30am Come rain or shine Now open : Book exchange Everyone welcome Tea, coffee, biscuits, toasted tea cake Proceeds for the Methodist Church

at Rothley Methodist Church are on Saturday January 26th and Saturday February 23rd between 3

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Vivaldi’s Four Seasons In Mountsorrel Sun Feb 10, 3pm Mountsorrel Memorial Centre, 105 Leicester Road, Mountsorrel LE12 7DB The Heart of England Orchestra Conductor: Paul Hilliam Soloist: Amy Littlewood Tickets £14/£12 concessions (£5 children) Tel: 0116 2304877 The next issue of

THE ROTHLEY POST will be published on Mar 9.

The copy deadline is Feb 22.

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Vivaldi’s Four Seasons MOUNTSORREL MUSICIAN Paul Hilliam will be conducting the first orchestral concert in the new Mountsorrel Memorial Centre this February.

Bishop’s weekend in Rothley WHAT REALLY matters to peo- swer session. “Many thanks to Andreas of Rothley Fisheries for his generous ple in Rothley? That’s what said a church spokesman, the Bishop of Leicester, Martyn hospitality” Steve Thomason.

Snow, came to find out over From 8.30pm the Bishop was in “The Woodies” where “Text a Question” saw the weekend of November 29 him engaging with questions of life and to December 2.

It was all about him meeting as many people as possible, listening to them, talking with them and, in the run-up to Christmas, sharing the good news of Jesus Christ.

It was a packed schedule which started with Bishop Martyn turning on the Christmas lights at Cross Green on Thursday November 29. He and his small team spent Friday morning at Rothley Primary School where there was a creative whole school assembly followed by “Big Questions” with smaller groups of pupils. After coffee with the staff he planted a tree in the school garden to emphasise the centrality of the school’s Christian values.

Friday afternoon saw the first of a number of faith sharing events, a “dropin” for tea, cake and conversation in the Old School Rooms, and in the early evening a group of teenagers took over most the “Time and Plaice” fish and chip restaurant for a lively question and an-

faith in the crowded pub, an evening sponsored by landlord Simon Warner.

Saturday morning saw a lively Men’s Breakfast and in the afternoon a wellattended gathering for older people in the lounge at Babington Court, including guests from Cedar House and Mountview Care Home as well as people from other parts of the village.

“Later in the day there was a very en-

Pics: (top left) The Bishop in conversation with regulars at The Woodies; (top right)Rothley Primary School assembly with the Bishop; (bottom left) Janet Alexander, (Foundation Governor at Rothley school) with the Bishop; (bottom right, l-r)) Bishop Martin, Mrs Riley (Headteacher), Dr Brett-Pitt (Chair of Governors), Rev Rob Gladstone (Vicar Rothley Parish Church); (left) the Bishop preaching in Rothley Parish church

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joyable pudding evening with music from the Rothley Handbell Ringers - all great events with good numbers attending.

Indeed, the weekend as a whole was full of opportunities to listen, share stories, to strengthen relationships within the community and to talk about the relevance of faith in Jesus Christ” said Steve.

Sunday was the climax of the weekend with Bishop Martyn preaching in the Parish Church at both 9am and 10.30am - at the latter there was standing room only. The relevance of following Jesus Christ today was at the heart of Bishop Martyn’s message. A last word from the Bishop: “I had such a good time at Rothley this weekend. From the school, to the pub, to Rothley Church lots of great conversations about faith.”

These conversations continue week by week at the Parish Church as together they learn more about what it means to be Christians today. To be part of it see the church website at www.rothleychurch.org.uk

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The Heart of England Orchestra which this year celebrates its 20th anniversary will be performing a popular programme that includes Vivaldi’s Four Seasons with violin soloist Amy Littlewood.

Paul said: “Having founded the Heart of England Orchestra twenty years ago, the fact I can conduct the orchestra’s anniversary concert in the village where we live is tremendous.

“The new Memorial Centre is a fantastic facility and this will be the first orchestral concert in the venue.”

The Heart of England Orchestra consists of the very best classical musicians from the Midlands and is renowned for the quality and exciting energy of its performances. Locally it is best known for its performances at the Beaumanor Fireworks Concerts.

Further afield it has played at Buxton Opera House, the Royal Concert Hall Nottingham and Derby Cathedral.

Sunday, Feb 10, 3pm, tickets £14/£12 concessions (£5 children) at Mountsorrel Memorial Centre. Tel: 0116 2304877

Night at the ball RESIDENTS FROM Rothley’s Mountview care home were amongst the guests at a Remembrance Centenary ball.

Ideal Carehomes, who operate Mountview, organised the event for nearly 100 residents from their homes in the Midlands. It was held at Stoke Rochford Hall and arriving guests were treated to a red-carpet entrance, with ladies in their gowns and decorated ex-serviceman showing off their medals with pride.

There was a two minute silence to remember the fallen. Guests enjoyed musical entertainment, dancing and a meal.

Residents Gillian and Graham Freeguard said: We thoroughly enjoyed the day. The setting was fantastic, the whole building, especially the library in particular where we had our meal and listened to the entertainment.

It was very well organised and the harpist player replicated the sense of era.”

Locally made feature film screened this month FOLLOWING A sold-out world premiere in Loughborough and a glitzy star-studded UK premiere in London, the ambitious zero budget feature film “Do something, Jake” comes to the Mountsorrel Memorial Centre this month. ing, referrals and CV points to university graduates and people of all ages wishing to make a start in the film industry. So it was more than just making a movie – it was about education, experience and creating opportunity for everyone.”

With a mix of humour, noir and criminal menace, ‘Do something Jake’ offers a fresh angle on the UK crime thriller – a British film that does not feel ‘British’. This helped by Hollywood-inspired screenwriting and bold cinematography, plus the appearance of award

winning New York actor Ed Bergtold (Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps).

And post-production crews from Europe and Los Angeles.

‘Do Something, Jake’ screening at the MMC Sunday January 20, 2019 at 7pm Certificate ‘15’ Tickets £4.75 pp available from The Box Office – call 0116 2304877 www.dosomethingjake.com

New blood donor centre opens A BIRSTALL woman whose life was saved by NHS blood transfusions attended a celebration event to mark the opening of Leicester’s new blood donor centre.

Lisa Booth (50) was one of the guests at the newly opened centre on Guildhall Lane.

In 2002 Lisa was involved in a head on motorbike collision with a car in Spain, resulting in a fractured pelvis and a blood clot in her lung. She was ferried back to Leicester Royal infirmary hospital and received three live saving units of blood.

A few years on, Lisa started struggling

Pic: Lisa Booth received life saving blood transfusions

with aches and pains in her body, fatigue, and became breathlessness, struggling to say a whole sentence without gasping for breath. She was diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukaemia and ended up in intensive care with her family being told to say their goodbyes.

Lisa stunned the people around her when she pulled through and recovered, as her family were told ‘it was a near certain demise.’

In recovery, her haemoglobin levels kept dropping too low and she had to receive blood transfusions. Lisa said: “Before each blood transfusion, I struggled to put one foot in front of the other, but afterwards, I felt like I came out bouncing.

“The energy that the transfusions gave me was remarkable. I felt amazing and picked up straight away.

“Blood donation is an amazing thing

and it’s fantastic to know so many people in Leicester have decided to become blood donors.”

NHS Blood and Transplant is appealing for 5,900 people to become new donors in Leicester over the next two years.

NHS Blood and Transplant has invested in the new centre because Leicester has a high number of young people and Asian people, and particularly needs to recruit more people from these communities because they have priority blood groups.

Currently 23% of Leicester’s active donors are Asian. People form the same ethnic background are more likely to share blood groups but there is a national shortage of black and Asian donors.

The older donor centre was on Vaughan Way. Karen Ellis, Leicester Donor Centre Manager said: “The new donor centre is excellent, a much better, modern and spacious place for donors to give blood.

“We invested in Leicester because it’s a vibrant, young, growing city and we want people who have never donated before to step up and be our future donors, particularly students and people from the black and Asian communities.

“Giving blood is quick and easy – the actual donation will take no more than 15 minutes and the whole process from arrival time to completion should be an hour.

“If you are a new donor who can’t find an appointment straightaway, please don’t worry, and make an appointment for the New year. We’re currently prioritising existing donors to help build stocks for Christmas. But we need donations throughout the year.”

To register as a new donor in Leicester and book an appointment to donate, call 0300 123 2323 or visit www.blood.co.uk The new donation centre is at Mansion House, 41 Guildhall Lane, Leicester, LE1 5FQ.

JAN 2019

Shot in November 2015 and starring actors from Mountsorrel, Loughborough, Leicester and the Midlands, as well as from London and New Jersey in the USA, the film was produced with the in-kind help of local people, film graduates, the 20/20 charity and local businesses.

It was shot entirely in and around Loughborough including key scenes in Mountsorrel – at the Paper Shop and outside Top Gear.

Producer Caroline Spence said: “The film is gathering acclaim, not only for its unusual storyline, but also the story behind its production. Unlike other ultra-low-micro budget films that claim to be ‘no-budget’ , Do Something Jake literally had £0.00 for production, with the cinema DCP (Digital Cinema Package) and BBFC classification (15) obtained via a crowd funding campaign.”

She added: “Throughout the filming process, the producers were able to offer work experience, on-the-job train-

THE ROTHLEY POST

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News from Rothley library Volunteers As a result of over 2000 small flyers being delivered across the village we have a good response to our request and a number of new volunteers will be starting their training and joining the Library team. Thanks to those who responded and just to let you know we are always keen to hear from anyone if they have any spare time to volunteer at the Library.

New Books coming to the Library We have the opportunity now to buy a good number of new Adult Fiction books for the library - please let us know which authors and genres you would like to see in there when you next visit by leaving your requests with the volunteers behind the counter.

Coming up in January & February: Under 5s sessions Tues 8th & Fri 18th Jan, 9.15 am to 10.30am

Tues 5th & Fri 15th Feb, 9.15 am to 10.30am Chess Club Thur 10th, 17th, 24th, 31st Jan, 2 – 5pm Thur 14th, 21st, 28th Feb, 2 – 5pm Book group Weds 9th Jan, 7.15pm: ‘A Place called Winter’ Patrick Gale Weds 13th Feb, 7.15pm: The Killing at Badgers’ Drift’ by Caroline Graham Computer Support Thur 3rd Jan, 10am till noon.

Thur 7th Feb 10am till noon For an appointment a booking is required. Please call 0116 2237371 Film Club Friday 18th Jan Film Stars Don’t Die in Liverpool 2pm Rothley Centre. £5.50 (£5.00 for concessions) Free Refreshments Film Stars Don't Die in Liverpool is a 2017 biographical romantic drama film directed by Paul McGuigan and starring Annette Bening and Jamie Bell. Vanessa Redgrave, Julie Walters, Kenneth Cranham, Stephen Graham, Frances Barber and Leanne Best also star. It is based on the memoir of

the same name by Peter Turner, and tells his story of falling for aging Hollywood actress Gloria Grahame in 1970s Liverpool, only to face reality when she is diagnosed with breast cancer.

Friday 15th Feb Victoria and Abdul 2.00pm Rothley Centre. £5.50 (£5.00 for concessions) Free Refreshments Judi Dench as Queen Victoria is the best thing about this ornate and safe comedy-drama about the monarch's unlikely friendship with an Indian servant. Queen Victoria is said to have struck up an intimate quasi-romantic friendship with a male Indian servant during the later years of her reign and to have made Abdul Karim (Ali Fazal) her personal munshi (teacher) in defiance of court whispers and opposition is served up a lavish rendering of late-Victorian court life.

Lego Club Sat 26th Jan 1 – 3pm Sat 23rd Feb 1– 3pm Under 8s have to be accompanied and the places are limited to 20.

WEA courses

THE ROTHLEY POST

JAN 2019

THE WEA Rothley Branch are offering the following courses starting in January: Art - Practical: “About Face” – Portraiture: a mixed media course with Anna Michalska-Tomajer Mon 14 Jan 2019, 13:00 - 15:00, 10 sessions, Ref. C2340913 – Fee £77.00 The Rothley Centre, 12 Mountsorrel Lane, Rothley, Leicester, LE7 7PR With reference to classical and contemporary techniques, learners will be guided and supported building their confidence to create wonderful portraits of both the self and others. They will learn the principles of form, tone and colour.

History - Powerful Women in History with Aubrey Newman Tue 15 Jan 2019, 10:00 - 11:30, 9 sessions, Ref. C2341184 – Fee £52.00 The Rothley Centre, 12 Mountsorrel Lane, Rothley, Leicester, LE7 7PR To examine a number of occasions when women have exercised substantial control over the states in which they lived and influence their future for better or worse.

Art - Appreciation: Colour/Gesture/Expression with Janis Baker Wed 16 Jan 2019, 19:15 - 21:15, 7 sessions, Ref. C2340898 – Fee £53.90 The Rothley Centre, 12 Mountsorrel Lane, Rothley, Leicester, LE7 7PR To explore how approaches to colour, brushwork and the expres-

Trees planted to remember Marion A SMALL copse of trees has been planted in memory of a local woman.

Rothley’s Marion Vincent died in July aged 77 and her friends and the Parish Council thought it would be a good way to mark the voluntary work that Marion did in the village in her lifetime.

Cllr Steve Mitchell said: “Because of her passion for trees it was thought that a fitting tribute would be the planting of a small copse of trees, many of which would have fruits for birds.”

With help and advice from Frank Toone of Goscote Nursery 10 trees were chosen to be planted in the north eastern corner of Fowke Street playing field. Family and friends gathered on the morning of 29th November 2018 to plant the trees which included these varieties: field maple, alder, silver birch, bird cherry, hawthorn, white beam and rowan. sive potential of art have developed in the work of a range of twentieth century artists.

Creative Writing: Creative Writing with Maxine Linnell Wed 23 Jan 2019, 09:45 - 11:45, 7 sessions, Ref. C2340895 – Fee £53.90 Rothley Community Library, Mountsorrel Lane, Rothley, LE7 7PS A supportive, friendly group where you can gain confidence in saying what you want to say and learn how to develop your writing.

To enrol or for further information, please visit wea.org.uk or call 0300 303 3464.

New £2million bridge in country park A NEW £2million bridge for pedestrians and cyclists is being planned for Watermead Country Park.

The bridge will connect the southern section of the park, owned by Leicester City Council, with the County Council owned northern section.

The bridge will be located near to Bridge Business Park. It will be 0.25miles away from an existing bridge across the River Soar at Thurmaston lock.

A new footpath connecting the bridge to the southern section of the park will run across private land to the west of Leicester marina.

The city and county councils are each proposing to contribute £750,000 to the scheme, with the remaining £500,000 coming from the River Soar/Grand Union Canal Environment and Access programme, a wider programme of work being delivered by the city council with the Environment Agency and the Canal and River Trust funded through the Local Growth Fund.

Pic: the red circle shows the location of the planned bridge

County Council leader Nick Rushton said: “We want the park to be better connected as well as increasing people’s levels of physical activity which is a major public health priority for both authorities. We want to encourage people to either walk or cycle in our country parks.

“We’re facing pressure on our budgets, but we have to promote the economic

benefits of both the county and city. The footbridge will provide that physical link between the two sites and raise its profile to more people.”

Cllr Mayor Peter Soulsby said: “The new bridge would help stitch together the north and south areas of this wonderful country park, which many people don't realise are connected. Taken together, it really does make Watermead a

fantastic destination and we want to ensure that we are making the most of this incredible asset.”

Chairman of Thurmaston Parish Council Mark Lowe said: “It would be nice to have been consulted about this scheme.

On the face of it, it looks as though the money could be better spent elsewhere, such as a visitor centre in the park.”

Chair of Birstall Parish Council Ann Marshall said: “We have been hoping for better access from Birstall to the country park because access at the moment is pretty awful, so I am surprised at this time of austerity that they are considering putting in a bridge there – who is going to use it? There are already good connections from the park to Thurmaston.”

She added: “Couldn’t this money be better spent on park rangers or more urgent priorities, like addressing the traffic on the A6 and Greengate Lane?”

Subject to a successful planning application, the construction is expected to be completed by the summer of 2020.

Around 245,000 people have visited Watermead Country Park since April this year.

Café Swan deaths in country park workers Two Responsible Leaders and two Assessment Leaders are required to work with the Youth Officer and volunteers to maintain, develop and deliver informal education from the Café, located in The Green, Mountsorrel.

Successful applicants will need to be able make a regular commitment to an evening session. They must be able to demonstrate experience/training in youth work or other forms of education and an empathy with and understanding of young people.

Team work and a commitment to empowering young people will be an essential part of the role.

For more information about these posts and an application pack, please contact Graham Lloyd: 07775 616001 or via email sycafe18@gmail.com.

The Council, who manage the southern section of the park, told the Birstall Post they have now addressed the problem by moving the rocks near the feeding station further apart and by filling any gaps with pebbles and gravel.

Julie, from Watermead Swans has been pressing the council to take action.

She said: “Quite a few have died like this and it’s been going on for years.”

Volunteer Julie says there are also issues with swans being caught up in discarded fishing line and poor management resulting in a loss of natural food for the swans.

Eye tests at Prospecs PROSPECS EYEWEAR on Sibson Road are now offering private and NHS eye tests.

“Since relocating to Birstall in March this year, we have enjoyed a considerable increase in trade as the word has got around that we offer great customer service, expert advice and a great range of frames and lenses” said Teresa and Mike Keily, who own and run the business.

Between them Mike and Teresa have over 70 years experience in the manufacture and dispensing of spectacles.

Traditionally the business has been a

dispensing only practice with an on-site lab where your spectacles are completed.

Teresa said: “We soon realised there was a demand for us to offer eye tests.

“There were lots of regulations to comply with, documents to be completed and eventually an inspection by NHS England before we were awarded the contract to carry out eye tests. Initially we will only offer tests one or two days a week until we build our patient base.”

She added: “The majority of our orders still come from customers who choose to bring us their prescription from wherever they normally get their eyes tested but we anticipate that many

Pic: a swan at Watermead Country Park that died after getting its head trapped in rocks

may choose the convenience of getting their next test with us once they realise that we now offer tests.”

Another development is that Prospecs now have a new range of children’s frames. Many are available free on an NHS voucher. They have also added to their designer ranges with Kate Spade and Kath Kidston offering some colour and smaller sizes for women. Our ranges now include Ted Baker, Silhouette, Ray-ban, Michael Kors, Armani, Hugo Boss as well as the new range of state of the art Adidas sports glasses which have just arrived.

“In summary we want to offer the best ranges of frames and lenses and the best service in

your local village and now we can offer an eye test too” said Mike Prospecs, 121 Sibson Road, Birstall

JAN 2019

MOUNTSORREL YOUTH Café is seeking to recruit four sessional youth workers to help staff and develop its evening provision.

THREE SWANS have died in the last year after getting their heads trapped in rocks in Watermead Country Park South, says Leicester City Council.

THE ROTHLEY POST

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History society news THE NOVEMBER meeting of the Thur(but no station at Cropston was caston and Cropston Local History planned). A Private Members Bill was Society included a brief Annual Gener- needed for its construction and the petial Meeting and three short talks by tion stated that it was mainly intended for passengers. It was in fact hoped to members. get stone from quarries in Sheet Hedges First was the AGM, which included a review of the year's events. The Commit- Wood to the railway network, and also open up the possibility to quarry in tee was thanked for choosing interesting Bradgate Park. The Commons Commitspeakers and the quality of the website. tee held on 20th March 1899 felt there Special thanks were made for the kind was a ‘flimsy case” for the railway and it donation of old coins found in the parish by Brian Kimberly (a well-known local metal-dectectorist). Display cases are being purchased so that the coins can be exhibited. Mary Edmunds Otter SERVICING, MOT stepped down from the Committee and other members were re-elected en bloc. & CLASSIC CAR The Committee would welcome additionSPECIALIST al members and suggested anyone interMOT TESTING ested could attend a ‘taster’ meeting.

The first of the members talks by Anne Horton, told us a little of the friendship between the Nichols family and the Herricks of Beaumanor Hall focussing VEHICLE TESTING on two members of the Nichols family.

STATION John Nichols from London who wrote Servicing & Repairs ‘The History and Antiquities of the County to all makes & models of Leicester’ spent much time in the area MOTs • Bodywork and was friends with William Herrick Electronic Diagnosis and his younger brother John, and he writes of taking “strenuous outings” with Leaded 4* them. His grandson, John Gough Nichols, spent 20 years cataloguing the Herrick estate and was involved in the commissioning of the stained glass armoRE Mills Motor rial window in Beaumanor Hall during Engineer its rebuilding in the 1840’s.

In the second talk Peter Smith showed us plans for the Leicester, Groby and Bradgate Park Railway, proposed in 1898. It would have been a privately owned branch line from Newtown Lin34-36 Town Green St ford joining the Great Central Railway at Rothley LE7 7NU Rothley. Its route ran through Cropston, 0116 2302295 crossing the junction between Leicester Road, Station Road and Bradgate Road

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JAN 2019

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was rejected.

And finally, Brenda Hooper took a light-hearted look at the Peninsular War by giving a rendition of ‘Sam Small’s Christmas Pudding’ in the style of Stanley Holloway. The monologue was written by Marriott Edgar who wrote 16 for Holloway. In this, Sam is fighting Napoleon’s troops at the Siege of Badajoz in Spain and …“By an unprecedented mis'ap, The puddin' 'is mother 'ad sent 'im, 'Ad blown Badajoz off the map!”

This led nicely into seasonal refreshments, a chance for members to chat and look at the display boards showing: photos of some of the donated coins;

accounts of two Thurcaston survivors of the first world war; extracts from the Richard Hill school log book covering WWII; and the stories of two WWII survivors, one Dutch the other German.

The first meeting of 2019 will take place in the Harrison Room, All Saints’ Church, Thurcaston on Tuesday January 15 at 7.30pm. Adrian Lane will talk about Leicester and its River. Membership rates will remain the same at £12/year and visitors £3/meeting http://www.thurcastoncropstonhistory.org .uk From Thurcaston and Cropston Local History Society

Micropub now open A MICROPUB has opened in Mountsorrel.

Located next to Mountsorrel Working Men’s Club at 75 Leicester Road, the Sorrel Fox is run by Charnwood Brewery, which was started by Andrew and Andrea Reed in 2014.

Andrew said: “When we started Charnwood Brewery we wanted to create fantastic beers and sell them in the best pubs, bars and restaurants locally, and we wanted to be sold in the best pub in every Charnwood Village.

“As we’re unable to sell our beer in any of the Mountsorrel pubs we thought we’d open our own place.”

The Sorrel Fox will sell a range of the brewery’s own real ales and craft beers as well as a lager imported from Austria, wine and a selection of gins and rums.

Andrew added: “The reaction on social media when we posted about the

pub opening was incredible with nearly 1000 likes in 48 hours.

“In the four years our brewery has been open we have gained a very loyal following for our beer. At a time when the high streets are reportedly dying, we feel our small place will go a little way to revitalising the high street.”

The Sorrel Fox will be closed on Mondays, open 5-10pm TuesThurs, Fri & Sat 12noon to 10.30pm and on Sundays from 12noon to 8pm.

Golf day for Rothley charity LOCAL CHARITY Alex’s Wish recently held their 8th Annual Golf Day at Rothley Park Golf Club and raised £8,697.

Zoe Edwards, Event and Fundraising Manager at Alex’s Wish, said: “The weather may not have been too kind to us but our supporters certainly were!”

The main sponsors were WK Construction and Next, our refreshments were sponsored by Synergy Recruitment Leicester and the Longest Drive was sponsored

by KRS Estate Planning.

On the day the charity was supported by a host of helpers who ensured the event ran smoothly for all the competitive golfers. Zoe said: “We couldn’t run events like these without a team of volunteers.

I’d like to thank Gail Siddall, Gavin and Chloe from Synergy Recruitment, Joanna Streams and Bella, Jemma, Lisa and Annie Rea from Natural Elements Physiotherapy & Natural Health Clinics who gave massages out to our golfers across the day, John Clayton for helping with the scorecards and Jo Clayton from Bradgate Office Services for all of their help too!”

The winning team was Leicester Fore Bizzers made up from Farmer & Carlisle.

Pic: Emma Hallam from Alex’s Wish with the JA Clayton Plumbing & Heating team

Second place went to J A Clayton Plumbing & Heating and third place went to Strategic Insurance.

Emma Hallam, founder of Alex’s Wish added, “A heartfelt thanks to Rothley Park Golf Club who have tirelessly supported us for every single one of our Golf Days. Our golf day provides a vital income source for us to be able to continu-

ally fund exciting projects to help bring about new effective treatments and, ultimately, a cure for all boys who have a life-limiting muscle wasting disease called Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy.”

The charity runs a series of events and challenges across the year and more information can be found on their website www.alexswish.co.uk

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Primary school nativity play ROTHLEY Primary School started its Christmas celebrations in December with KS1 children performing their Nativity play.

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JEWELLER CATHY Stephens gave a talk about her career in jewellery.

At the age of only 31 she was given the freedom of the City of London by the Worshipful Guild of Goldsmiths. She brought her dark robe and her staff to show us, and we learnt that she can now drive sheep across London Bridge!

Mrs Stephens says that making jewels has made her happy, inspired by her grandmother’s pieces. Two of her daughters have joined her in the business, and she invited us to her forthcoming show in the family shop at Groby. She finished by answering some questions, and then those present were allowed to examine some of the lovely artefacts more closely.

For our final gathering of 2018 on Monday December 3, once again members and their guests enjoyed a delicious Christmas lunch at Birstall Golf Club.

Having appreciated their musical performance with their hand-turned fair organs in 2016, we invited Margaret and Eric Dilks to return on this occasion to join us for lunch and to provide some seasonal music for our after lunch entertainment.

This time they just brought one organ and Margaret gave a comprehensive description of how it worked, as well as the history and origins of fair organs, including the tradition of the “organ grinder’s monkey”. Margaret also explained that she and Eric are long-time supporters of the Heart Link charity, which is based at Glenfield Hospital, and take their fair organ to various fundraising events for the charity.

With guidance from Margaret, two guests were delighted to take the opportunity to try operating the organ.

We held our traditional Christmas raffle which raised the grand sum of £72. Eric Dilks won the wine selection prize and asked that it be auctioned and the proceeds be donated to Heart Link – this achieved £25 and, after unanimous agreement by the Club members, the £72 was added to the £25, making a total of £97 to be given to Heart Link.

We are primarily a ladies social group and, during 2018, our membership remained stable, with our programme of speakers and social events attracting several male and female visitors, throughout the year.

Looking ahead to 2019, our planned programme includes: January 14: Speaker: Derek Holloway – “The Beauty of Moorcroft” February 11: Annual General Meeting & in-house entertainment March 11: Speaker: Sandra Moore – “May Clements’ War” April 8: Speaker: Penny Hodgson – “Rickshaws & Chopsticks” Meetings are held on the second Monday of the month (unless otherwise notified) in the Schoolroom at the rear of Cropston Evangelical Free Church, Station Road, Cropston, from 2.15pm to 4.15pm.

Annual subscriptions are due in January and remain at £12 for 2019.

Members’ monthly entrance fee is £2 per person and visitors are charged £3 per meeting.

New members and visitors will be assured of a warm welcome.

For further information, please contact Mrs Maja Tompkins on 07709 201881 From Jennifer Kennington (Club Leader/Secretary) Monday Club Cropston and Thurcaston

Man convicted of abuse A 59-YEAR-OLD man from Mountsorrel has been found guilty of abusing his daughter and three other children.

Peter Wilson denied the charges, but a jury at Leicester Crown Court was unanimous in finding him guilty of ten indecent assault offences.

Wilson’s daughter, Natasha Mina, recalled being abused from the age of four and gave evidence in court, as did the three other victims.

The offences occurred between 1991 and 2001.

Natasha Mina, now 27, read out an impact statement in front of her abuser which was met with applause in court.

Wilson, formerly of Pawley Close, Mountsorrel, was jailed for a total of 12 years with an additional one-year licence period. He was placed on a sexual harm prevention order and will have to enlist on a sex offender register for life.

Wilson was also made the subject of an indefinite restraining order banning any future contact with his four victims.

Star rating retained

LEICESTERSHIRE’S only Michelin starred restaurant, John’s House in Mountsorrel, is celebrating retaining its coveted star in the latest issue of the guide.

John Duffin opened the restaurant at Stonehurst Farm in 2014 after a career working in some of the best English restaurants.

John champions a ‘farm to plate’ philosophy, sourcing local, British ingredients, many of which originate on the family farm.

Pic: chef John Duffin

JAN 2019

PHOTOS: STEPHEN BAUM

Monday club

THE ROTHLEY POST

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Super slimmer Karen reverses diabetes “I SAID goodbye to 4 stone and diabetes with Slimming World” says a woman who joined Rothley’s Slimming World Class in 2016.

Karen Hill was diagnosed with fatty liver disease, type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure and was unable to walk without being in pain.

She said: “That was the final straw for me, I struggled to put on my own tights.”

Karen joined her local Slimming World group in Rothley in February 2016 has since gone on to lose just over 4 stone.

“I love Slimming World’s Extra Easy plan, it means that I never feel hungry. I can still enjoy food that I have eaten all my life, just by changing the way I cook them. I love all the meals and a regular for me is my brunch of Spinach, mushrooms, scrambled eggs and smoked salmon” she said.

And since losing just over 4 stone Karen is living a healthy and happy life.

She said: “ I can paint my own toenails! My wardrobe now contains beautiful shoes, boots and sandals as before losing weigh I had to wear shoes I didn’t like with inserts. I am now free of all medication and both my high blood pressure and diabetes have completely gone, thanks to losing weight on Slimming Worlds Extra Easy

Popular club growing ROTHLEY PARK Golf Club has a waiting list for the first time in 15 years following a surge in membership applications.

Director of Membership & Communications, Alan Dorn, said: “We are delighted that our waiting list is already beginning to fill. At Rothley the number of Full Playing members is limited to ensure that all members have the best possible access to the course and competitions throughout the year.”

Club Chairman, Ian Dawkins, is sure that the ability to play regularly on a course that is rated one of the best in the county is the main reason for the sudden uplift in numbers. He said: “Our reputation has been built around a course that is always presented in the best of condition which resulted in us hosting the Senior British Men’s Amateur Championship in 2016. A recent survey of club members underlined the importance attached to the quality of the Pic: Karen Hill;(left) before her wight loss course as well as the ease of access to plan and Body Magic. play are the major reasons for making “I can now swim, exercise daily and Rothley Park their chosen golf club.” do a full Clubbercise class, holding my Last year the members voted to incorown with males and females less than porate the club with a new management half my age.” structure intended to cope with the fuKaren’s Slimming World consultant ture demands of running and developing Gemma Goddard said: “ I am so proud a modern members club in an environof Karen. She is an inspiration to our ment where, across the country, the Slimming world group in Rothley, she is number of membership places available kind and caring to her fellow members far exceeds the demand from those and one of the first to share hints and wishing to participate. tips. She is amazing.”

During the recession over 60% of golf clubs experienced a decline in numbers resulting in only 5% of clubs maintaining full membership. Despite a

Bronze medals for dragon boat rower

THE ROTHLEY POST

JAN 2019

A TEENAGER from Mountsorrel won two bronze medals as part of the Great Britain Dragon boat racing team.

Pics: (top) medal winner Campbell Holloway & (right) the GB Team

Campbell Holloway (17) took up the sport 18 months ago after attending an open day organised by the Soaring Dragons, who are based at Loughborough Boat Club.

A dragon boat team consists of 20 paddlers sitting two abreast, a helm that steers and a drummer who sits at the front. The boats are brightly painted and decorated with a dragon head and tail.

Campbell, who attends Rawlins Academy and is studying for his A-levels, says he was hooked from day one. Training three or four times a week, his potential was spotted by a coach and he was

selected for the GB team.

A six month period of training by the GB team began before they headed off to Germany in August for the European Championships where they won bronze medals in the 200m and 500m events.

Campbell said: “It was the most amazing experience and to stand on the podium and get that bronze medal is something I will never forget.”

Dragon boat racing is all about work-

more recent survey by England Golf showing membership numbers increasing over the last two years, the proportion of golf clubs not showing an increase in members over the same period remains the same at 62%.

Clearly the benefits offered to members at Rothley Park are enabling the club to buck the national trend of small growth in membership numbers. Alan Dorn highlighted their unique waiting list policy as an example: “While you are on our waiting list you are able to play the course at a discounted rate and you are guaranteed club membership within a year.”

Anyone interested in joining Rothley Park Golf Club can contact the Club Manager on 0116 2302809 or by e-mail to clubmanager@rothleypark.co.uk Pic: Club Chairman, Ian Dawkin

ing as a team and this is what Campbell says he enjoys.

He is now training hard and hopes to be selected again for team GB to compete at the World Championships in Thailand next year.

If you would like to try dragon boat racing the Soaring Dragons welcomes new faces – contact them on 07789 647 634

Heritage centre expanding Built by community volunteers to encourage visitors to learn about local history and wildlife, the not-for-profit Heritage Centre opened in March 2016 and now attracts more than 123,000 visitors a year.

An appeal has been launched to find the £18,000 needed to make the museum extension a reality. The total cost of the

project is £50,000 and £17,500 has been donated already.

Heritage Centre Managing Director Steve Cramp said: “It’s been wonderful to see so many visitors learning whilst they are enjoying themselves. We are always striving to introduce new areas of interest with more to see and do.

“There are some wonderful

Gardening club’s year 2018 HAS been another successful year for the Thurcaston and Cropston Gardening Club.

We maintained a stable membership and welcomed a number of new members, by providing a strong and varied programme throughout the year.

We held nine Club nights at Thurcaston Memorial hall and a summer programme that included an evening visit to Crossfell House in Great Dalby, a spring trip to Ashwood Nurseries, Kingswinford and a summer trip to RHS Harlow Carr, Harrogate.

Our Annual Show, held in September at the Richard Hill Primary School, is open to everyone and brings together the local community, regardless of the weather, for fun and gentle competitive-

ness. We would love to see you in September 2019 at our 36th Show, have a go, you will enjoy it enormously. Show schedules are widely available from spring onwards.

We are confident the programme we have put together for 2019 will maintain the high standard of events we have offered in recent years.

Our year will start with a familiar face to many. Steve Budding will be our guest speaker with a light hearted look back at his many years as a nurseryman.

Steve, recently retired, is the much respected owner of Brookside Nurseries in

Anstey.

Our first trip of the year will be to the marvellous RHS Malvern Spring Show with are second trip to Trentham Gardens in Stoke-on-Trent in September.

There’s an evening visit to the stunning gardens of Barkby Hall in July and talks will include subjects on pelargoniums, asters, colour combinations, cottage gardening, and ‘Growing the Best Glorious Plants’ with Alan Pascoe. We are confident there will be something for everyone.

The annual membership fee is still only £12 (£3) for visitors. Fees are on a pro rata basis after the first 3 months.

And, if you would like to come as a visitor and then you decide to join, your visitor fee will be refunded!

So, if you are interested in gardening - come along and give the Club a try.

For more information please call: Dave Haddon (0116) 235 9758: david.haddon20@ntlworld.com Or Richard Elks (0116 236 8313): cropston161@hotmail.co.uk Programme of Events 2019 9 Jan: It shouldn’t happen to a Nurseryman, but it did.

Preceded by the AGM (15/20mins.)

13 Feb: Grow The Best Glorious Plants 13 Mar: Colour Combinations 10 Apr: Pelargoniums 8 May: Asters Fri 11 May: Club trip to the RHS Malvern Spring Show 12 June: Colour in the Leaf 10 July: Evening Visit to Barkby Hall 14 Aug: Cottage Gardening Sat 7 Sept: 36th Annual Show Richard Hill Primary School Thur 12 Sept: Day trip to Trentham Gardens 9 Oct: The Life and Colour of the Pyrenees 13 Nov: The Winter Garden 11 Dec: Festive Evening Meetings are held at the Thurcaston and Cropston Memorial Hall and start at 7.45 pm on the second Wednesday of each month (unless otherwise stated).

From Thurcaston and Cropston Gardening Club

exhibits to see in the railway museum, such as a railway coach built in 1888 that would have run on the nearby Great Central Railway. We have struggled for space to care for and restore the exhibits though. Sanding down and painting means that the museum exhibits get dusty and it is difficult for us to attract the really high-profile exhibits visitors would like to see.”

The extension will see the railway museum building increase in size by over 50 per cent. The new area created will form a dedicated restoration space separate from the exhibit display area, creating almost double the space for exhibits to be displayed to the public.

De Montfort University Leicester (DMU) Interior Design students will be designing the museum space.

The Railway Museum extension project will cost £50,000 and the Heritage Centre has launched a public appeal to fund the project.

Further details of how to donate can be found at the Heritage Centre website http://heritage-centre.co.uk/news/railwaymuseum-extension/ Pic: (inset) the museum building

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P/18/2555/2: 12 Wellsic Lane, Rothley – conversion of a 2 bed cottage to two separate dwellings: one 1 bed and one 2 bed P/18/2528/2: 26 the Ridgeway, Rothley – rear 2 storey & 1st floor extension, glass box link, conversion of existing workshop to a ‘nanny’ flat and stand alone single storey garden pavilion P/18/2555/2: 908 Loughborough Road, Rothley – proposed two storey side extension and single storey rear extension, including demolition of existing garage & rear extension P/18/2480/2: 36 The Rise, Rothley – erection of a single storey orangery to property P/18/2297/2: 11 Old School Way, Rothley – erection of 1st floor extension to side of dwelling P/18/2262/2: 9 Grangefields Drive, Rothley – erection of 1.5 storey extension to rear of dwelling P/18/2132/2: 7 Manor Holt Close, Rothley – erection of single storey extension to rear of dwelling P/18/2194/2: land off Mountsorrel Lane, Rothley – erection of 39 dwellings P/18/2538/2: Mill Lodge, 33 Mill Road, Thurcaston – proposed new attached garage with habitable space at 1st floor P/18/2114/2: 59 Anstey Lane, Thurcaston – erection of single storey extensions to side & rear of dwelling following demolition of existing conservatory P/18/2091/2: 203 Leicester Road, Thurcaston – amendments to 2 existing externally illuminated fascia signs, installation of illuminated signage to gable, 3 externally illuminated hanging signs, 1 non-illuminated boarding sign and ancillary lighting (advertisement consent) P/18/2334/2: 173 Station Road, Cropston – erection of single storey extension to side of dwelling

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JAN 2019

MOUNTSORREL & Rothley Community Heritage Centre has been granted planning permission to extend its popular railway museum.

Planning applications

THE ROTHLEY POST

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