April 2015 groby spotlight for internet by Michael Wilkinson

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GROBY & FIELD HEAD

Spotlight

April 2015

The Monthly News & Information Magazine For Groby, Field Head & The Brantings

Bali Rai Visits Groby Community College

London Calling

THE COUNTDOWN is now in full swing. Training from the end of last year through the winter months has been difficult but worth it. Now as this article goes to print preparation for the actual day is almost complete: kit, hotel accommodation and travel are all sorted, now it’s just a case of keeping fit and resting up before the big day.

IN FEBRUARY Groby Community College welcomed the Leicester based author Bali Rai to the college to speak to 60 students from all years about creative writing and reading. The sessions were, in the words of one Year 10 student, “inspirational”. Bali’s irrepressible enthusiasm and humour and his laid back style struck a chord with our students. As a Leicester based author, much of Bali’s inspiration comes from the city and county he lives in, and it was this local connection that our students seemed to enjoy the most. Of course, our A Level Creative Writing students also enjoyed the opportunity to get feedback from a working author! It was a great experience for all of the students and we hope to play host to more visiting authors in the future.

www.grobycoll.com

MARATHON MAN: Groby This could be the biggest challenge I Postman Simon Moore will have undertaken to date and has taken be competing in the London some serious training but with careful Marathon on Sunday 26th April planning and continuous training I should be ready! ‘Adapt’ the hospital based charity which supports over 1,000 premature and poorly babies born at the LRI and General hospital each year, is my chosen charity once more. I continue to support Adapt after the very early arrival of our eldest daughter Sophie, who weighed just 1Ib 11oz, 14 weeks early almost 20 years ago – how time flies! Hopefully, the sponsorship will ease the pressure on the charities funds and raise it’s profile. I have been very fortunate that all my fund raising events have received fantastic support from family, friends, residents of Groby Village and Royal Mail and I would like to express my sincere thanks for your wonderful generosity. Hopefully, this year’s challenge will be just as successful. If you would like to sponsor me then please catch me on my post round in Groby or pop into Groby Post Office. Alternatively, please donate via the internet: ttp://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/SimonMoore11 For more information to donate or to fund raise on behalf of Adapt call Sue Williams, Trustee, on 01455 459523/07739504783 or visit www. prembabies.co.uk

OFSTED rates Lady Jane Grey as ‘Outstanding’ LADY JANE Grey Primary Academy is celebrating another outstanding success. Lady Jane Grey had an Ofsted Inspection on 25th and 26th February 2015. At the end of the inspection the Ofsted Inspector deemed that once again the school is Outstanding. During the inspection 14 lessons were observed by two inspectors and there were meetings with Senior and Middle Leaders, groups of parents and carers, members of the Governing Body and children who attend the academy. In addition, the Inspection Team took account of 54 responses to the on-line questionnaire completed by parents. The School was graded

outstanding in the areas of: • Overall effectiveness • Leadership & Management • Behaviour & Safety of pupils • Quality of teaching • Achievement of pupils The key findings for parents and pupils were that the Academy is outstanding because: • Pupils’ achievement is outstanding • Pupils make strong progress from their starting points and attain standards which are above average at year 6 • Pupils enjoy coming to the Academy and this is reflected in the high rates of attendance

• Pupils Spiritual, Moral, Social & Cultural development is well promoted. Pupils are well prepared for their next stage of their education as well as for life in modern Britain. • The behaviour of pupils is outstanding. Pupils have excellent attitudes to their learning and undertake their tasks with enthusiasm. • The quality of teaching in Key Stages 1 and 2 is outstanding. • Governance is outstanding. Governors have ensured that standards continue to rise. • The Headteacher supported by other senior leaders provides outstanding leadership. • Senior Leaders make highly effective use of the sports funding. TURN TO PAGE 3 ...>

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Groby & Field Head Spotlight • APRIL 2015 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk

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Coming Soon: A New Health & Fitness Magazine for Leicestershire If you’re interested in Health, Fitness and Beauty, a new magazine is being launched in a few weeks which is right up your street. Health & Self Magazine is the brainchild of Victoria Kerry, who lives just down the road in Glenfield. Victoria has extensive experience in health and fitness, nutrition and diet, sports massage and sports therapy, as well as holistic therapies and beauty treatments. After running her own successful business covering all aspects of health she is now bringing Leicestershire a new magazine. Health & Self is a FREE publication, packed with informative articles and features. Article contributions are welcomed, and the magazine provides a great advertising opportunity for health and fitness businesses to reach a carefully targeted audience across the county of Leicestershire.

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Telephone 01530-244069 Email us at: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk Visit the website at www.grobyspotlight.co.uk 3,500 copies distributed 11 times a year (no issue in July) to homes and businesses in Groby, Field Head and The Brantings. Compiled and published in the Parish of Groby & Field Head. Printed in Ellistown by Norwood Press. The Spotlight is a monthly compilation of articles, press releases, events, general items of interest and news items submitted to us by local residents, groups, associations, sports clubs and local authorities. The opinions expressed by contributors are not necessarily those of the Spotlight Production Team. The inclusion of any group or organisation in this publication does not necessarily imply a recommendation of its aims, methods or policies. Groby & Field Head Spotlight cannot be held responsible for the information disclosed by advertisements, all of which are accepted in good faith. Every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of information in this magazine, but no liability can be accepted for loss or inconvenience caused as a result of error or omission. Groby & Field Head Spotlight reserves the right to amend, shorten or refuse to publish articles and/or advertisements submitted for publication. All contents © Groby & Field Head Spotlight.

None of the articles contained in this magazine are to be reproduced in any way without first obtaining written consent from Groby & Field Head Spotlight.

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Groby & Field Head Spotlight • APRIL 2015 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk

Groby Community College

New Ulverscroft reading group ‘Chapter Chats’ seeks friendly members!

The Heart Safe Project

The Shuttlewood Clarke Foundation is delighted to announce that it will be hosting a new book club at Ulverscroft Grange Community Support and Wellbeing Centre! This new Friendly group will be meeting on the first Monday of the Month between 10.00 a.m. and 11.30 am, with the first gathering taking place on Monday 7th April. Alan Norman, Chief Executive of the Foundation, said “Taking part in a social reading activity like reading groups can help people feel less isolated and develop concentration and mental agility. Our new welcoming group will be meeting in the stunning grounds of Ulverscroft Grange, a wonderful place to meet, read and make new friends!’ For more information please contact the Helen Baxter on 01530 244914 or via email at hello@ shuttlewood-clarke.org Ulverscroft Grange, Whitwick Road, Ulverscroft, Leicestershire, LE67 9QB Shuttlewood Clarke Foundation – Registered Charity Number 803525 www.shuttlewood-clarke.org

AS PART of the Heart Safe Initiative, all Groby Community College’s Year 10 students received CPR and defibrillator training during their PE and Life Skills lessons. The programme aims to ensure that every young person passing through secondary education in the City and County schools is provided with training in Emergency Life Support, including vital cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), and the use of an Automated External Defibrillator (AED). The next step in the programme is to recruit heart safe champions who will lead the training of the new intake into College next year, making the programme self-sustaining.

Why is the programme important? Cardiac arrest most commonly occurs in adults, in whom it is usually caused by coronary heart disease but it can also occur in the young due to unrecognised congenital or inherited heart conditions. There are around 60,000 out of hospital cardiac arrests in the UK each year. Half of these are witnessed by family or bystanders, but only 10% survive the event. However, with immediate action by a trained bystander and rapid access to an AED, survival rates of 50% or more can be achieved. The key to survival is:

Lady Jane Grey is OUTSTANDING! Continued From Page 1 Headteacher, Michael FitzGerald, said he was absolutely delighted with the outcome of the inspection. ‘Once again Lady Jane Grey has proved to be an outstanding provider of education to all the children who attend the school’. Mr Fitzgerald added that ‘The grading of outstanding was just rewards for the hard work and dedication of all members of the Lady Jane Grey community, including children, staff, governors and parents. He was especially pleased to see that the inspection team gave credit for recent initiatives, particularly the inception of a new assessment system. He added –‘This school does not stand still, we seek to constantly move forward, embracing change and at the same time delivering outstanding teaching and learning.’ Lady Jane Grey was last inspected in 2008 when it was also judged as outstanding.

Pictured above are Groby Community College students during their training sessions.

Mrs Richardson

PE teacher and House Activity Co-ordinator www.grobycoll.com

Rotary Club News

Quality plants delivered free to your door in the Groby Area and the proceeds go to charity! THE ROTARY Club of Loughborough Beacon have offered this service for some years - order your summer plants for delivery after the frosts and they will be brought to your door by Rotary members free of charge. You will also know that your purchase will help the less fortunate and make a difference to the local MS society, the brain injury association ‘Headway’ and other charities such as world-wide polio eradication supported by the Rotary Club of Loughborough Beacon. They have a range of plants, produced by a local nursery, from Alyssum to Stocks as well as some spectacular fuchsia and hanging basket selections. For details email: rotaryplants@gmail.com

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Groby & Field Head Spotlight • APRIL 2015 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk

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Winner of Outstanding Teacher in Design and Technology Award THE TRUSTEES of the Design and Technology Association presented Sally Beeston, Head of ADT at Groby Community College with an award for ‘Outstanding Teacher Design and Technology’ on Friday 20 March 2015. The Design and Technology Association’s Annual Excellence Awards Ceremony took place at The Crystal, Royal Victoria Dock, London. Sally, along with colleagues from across the country were invited to the prestigious ceremony to receive her award. Sally was nominated for, and subsequently won the award for, her commitment and approach to teaching textiles, which was deemed by the association as exemplary. This excellence is demonstrated in her classroom where inspirational displays reflect the work her students produce and are a celebration of her subject. Her students consistently produce work that is creative and of a high quality and she ncourages innovative thinking and the exploration of new ideas, such as the use of e-textiles. Sally’s role as Head of ADT at Groby Community College, means she is constantly busy, but never too busy to support colleagues or get involved in new initiatives. This has included her piloting new resources being developed for the Ellen MacArthur Foundation and exhibiting at the Textiles Teacher event, which runs annually to showcase best practices in textiles for teachers across the country. Her attention to detail when preparing work for this event, along with the quality of work she showcases, is a true inspiration to other teachers. The work of the students at Groby, because of Sally’s expertise and passion for her subject, represent what excellence in textiles technology is about.

Does background noise bother you?

Do you find it hard to concentrate and work when people nearby are chattering away, or even just eating loudly? Does background noise really irritate you? Then you may score high on creativity and intelligence. A recent study has found that geniuses find it hard to ‘filter’ out background noises. Charles Dickens, Anton Chekhov and Marcel Proust were notorious for being unable to work without peace or quiet; Proust went so far as to wear earplugs and line his bedroom with cork, in an effort to block out any noise at all. A recent study by Northwestern University in Chicago has found that the inability to filter out ‘competing sensory information’ is a common occurrence in the creatively talented.

It’s not difficult to tell crocodiles and alligators apart. One will see you in a while and the other will see you later.

Groby & Field Head Spotlight • APRIL 2015 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk

Groby Gardening Society News OUR MARCH meeting followed the formula adopted for a meeting held some 18 months ago. It was a question and answer evening, but run by our own resident panel of experts. The panel consisted of Graham Jackson, Beverley Shooter and Kathy Griffith, the Allotment Society Secretary. The evening proved to be a friendly and very pleasant event at which the experts displayed great knowledge to the benefit of all. The questions came from the floor, or had been collected from members during the past weeks. Some examples follow to give readers a feel for the evening:Why don’t I get apples even though I have lots of blossom in Spring? In all probability the variety needs another pollinator or, in some cases, two. As there are no other apple trees nearby, it means no apples. Worth buying another tree? How should I cut back jasmine? It is best to cut back after flowering, removing shoots that have flowered and then cut back again in Spring if really overgrown. My plums are a bit shrivelled and the leaves rather dry It could be lack of water as plum trees are more surface rooting than most fruit trees. Also, a good mulch and a compound fruit fertiliser in Spring would help. How can I get rid of Mare’s tails? With extreme difficulty! Firstly bruise and beat the leaves to break down their waxy coating and then apply weed killer. Apply by brushing each plant or cut off the plant top and pour weed killer down the stem. A very tedious job. You could move house! How can I rid my pond of blanket weed? Rake off as much as possible, add oxygenating plants and put bundles of barley straw at the bottom of the pond. There are also chemical solutions to the problem found in aquatic centres.

How should I plant a dry stone wall? Put organic matter in the crevices and plant sempervivums, sedums and drawf ferns for the top. Aubretias, saxifrages, variegated thyme and lewisias would thrive in the wall side crevices. Under planting with dwarf bulbs would give interest in spring time. Summer bedding plants like alyssum and antirrhinums would enhance the wall in summer. What could I plant near a north facing wall? Suggestions included pyracanthus, cotoneasters, chaenomeles (japanese quince), ivies and mahonias. Throughout the evening there was a good deal of jovial interaction and tea and cakes made a fitting finale. In praise of anemone- flowered dahlias Anemone-flowered dahlias are now an established group alongside the better-known categories such as pompon,Cactus and Ball. They were

all the rage in the early 1800s and then went out of fashion. The last fifteen years have seen a number of new selections emerge. These flowers are quite quirky as each bloom has one or more outer rings of large, flat-petalled florets, but in the centre is a riot of dense, tubular florets, all jostling for position. The blooms also go through a startling transformation. At first a rather daisy-like bloom appears, but as the central florets mature and then dominate, they cause the shape of the bloom to morph into a globe of mini floral pipes. During this process, the outer florets are often swept back and the inner, tubular ray florets

determine the prevailing colour of the bloom. They are readily available in gardening centres, so why not try one this year? Our Evening Trip As members peruse their programme for 2015, they will notice a gap on June 11th . This has now been filled and will consist of an evening visit to Whatton House Gardens, just outside Kegworth. These belong to Lord & Lady Crawshaw and more details will be made available at the appropriate time. There will be a signing board as numbers will be needed for catering. Trips 2015 June 19th (Friday) 1 day • Blenheim Palace and its Flower Show* July 29th -31st (Wed. – Friday) 3 days • Wells, Tyntesfield, R.H.S. Rosemoor & The Courts garden* •More details in due course, but signing boards will be available at each monthly meeting. Future Meetings May 14th: Gardening with Climate Change (Geoff Hodge) May 16th: Plant sale in Village Hall 10.00-12.00 June 11th: See note above for information An error! Many apologies, but Eric’s telephone number on the back of the programmes is wrong. The correct number is 0116 287 6637.

Summer nights

AS THE days get longer and longer, why not use this Spring and Summer to get more exercise? A study has found that activity levels are 15 to 20 per cent higher on summer days when the sun sets after 9pm, than in the winter when darkness closes in before 5pm. A recent study carried out partly by the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine warns that most of us are spending our evenings watching TV or playing computer games, following a day spent in desk jobs and commuting. By doing so, we are endangering our health. “Technology dominates at home and work... It encourages us to sit for long periods… around one in two women and a third of men in England are damaging their health through a lack of physical activity. This is unsustainable.”

If you like the sound of what we get up to, why not come along to a meeting and try us out. You will be most welcome. Our monthly meetings are held at 7.30pm on the second Thursday of the month in the United Reformed Church rooms on Chapel Hill. Details about membership and the events programme can be obtained from Eric Atherton. (Tel. No. 0116 287 6637) or E mail e.atherton@ btinternet.com

Alvar Johnson

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Groby & Field Head Spotlight • APRIL 2015 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk

Groby Village Society

Preservation - Conservation Communal Interests

Forthcoming Events Programme 2015 Thursday April 23 “The Work of the Air Ambulance” Mr Antony Bradley Thursday May 28 “Mad as a Hatter” Mrs Sally Leong Thursday June 25 “Who do you think lived in a house like this?” Mr Brian Johnson Thursday July 23 “Smiths are Possible” Mrs Alison Coates Thursday August 27 Canine Partners Mrs Denise Taylor Thursday September 24 Injustice or Justifiable Dr John Sutton Thursday October 22 ‘Ark at our Peter Mrs Ruth Coward Thursday November 26 Henry V and Agincourt Mrs Sally Henshaw Thursday December 17 “National Trust in the East Midlands” Mr Alan Tyler Meetings are held at Groby Village Hall Starting at 7.30pm. For Further Details Contact Hon. Secretary Mr. P. Castell Tel. 0116 287 9842 e-mail:- groby.villagesociety@ tiscali.co.uk Non Members are Welcome

School News from Lady Jane Grey Primary Comic Relief LJG HAD A FANTASTIC WEEK full of different activities in the run up to Comic Relief. All classes learnt about different children in Africa, with some of the classes considering how they could help children suffering in places such as Zambia. I know that looking at in depth case studies both in class and in focussed assemblies all week led to a lot of the children really considering how lucky we are. We sold our red noses all last week and we had that much interest that we sold out! I think it was possibly due to children secretly wanting the ‘Mr Fitz Red Nose!’ but it was lovely to see so many children wanting to help raise money by purchasing a nose so thank you if you purchased any from our school office! We raised £240 by selling the noses so thank you! We held our Great Comic Relief Bake Off to raise money for Comic Relief and it was a tremendous success! We passed out boxes of cake mixes and we were so overjoyed to see how many children wanted to take part! We had so many cakes that we sold them over playtimes and twice after school and still had some left over to sell to staff! The grand total raised was £115, which I think is amazing! Sam ‘Berry’ Ruddock decided on the top 3. In 3rd place was Amaris Imir, Year 4/5; in 2nd place was Millie Thomson, Year 4; and taking 1st place was… John O’Lynn, Year 3! Well done to our winners and to everyone who took part! I think the biggest highlight of the week was of course our Comic Relief Talent Show! After 3 days of auditions, the top 27 acts performed in the show on Comic Relief Day. With a presenting team of ‘Dermot FitzGerald’ and ‘Spencer Mulhern’ and a judging panel of ‘Taylor Mills Swift’, ‘Becki Lovato’, ‘Amanda Holden’, ‘Chris Fletcher Walliams’ and ‘Louis Walsh’ himself. From magicians to tap dancers, from singers to flute players, from Irish dancers to impressionists, we definitely had it all. Each act was scored out of 10 and after an incredibly close call, the top 3 were chosen! Laurance O’Shea took 3rd place with his singing act, 2nd place was Erin Dempsey with her Irish Dancing, but taking 1st place with an amazing 169/170 marks, our winner was Faye Gamble with her absolutely outstanding dance routine, which had our judges on their feet! A massive well done to all the children who had the confidence to perform!

Balloon powered cars THE CHILDREN IN YEAR 4 have been constructing their very own balloon-powered car using cardboard, balloons, and straws. After designing their vehicles, the children had the opportunity to race them and measure the distance each car travelled. The winning design was by Kyle O’Shea and Liam Platts, who, as part of their reward, qualified to represent LJG at a competition in South Charnwood High School. During this exciting experience Liam and Kyle exhibited their prize winning design and were challenged to construct a brand new model car to race against 7 other schools in 3 different heats: including speed and strength. The boys’ car stormed to a clear victory in the speed race, earning them a delicious Easter egg and box of goodies.

The Warning Zone THE PUPILS FROM YEAR 6 visited the Warning Zone on 25th February 2015. The Warning Zone is an interactive education centre in Leicester that encourages young people to explore issues around risk, peer pressure, anti-social behaviour and personal responsibility. All of the pupils had a great day out and wrote a letter to the Warning Zone on their return. Alex Sorrel’s letter read ‘Dear Warning Zone, Thank you for having me at your centre. I have learnt so much about being safe and not messing around at lots of different places like building sites and railway tracks. When you are near a road or a train track, instead of being stupid and playing chicken, walk on the path. If you be safe you will love your family for longer than the people that play chicken. Before you do something stupid you should stop and thing about the consequences if you are over ten and you do something stupid you can go to prison. If you are playing chicken on the train track and if you jump just in time even if it hits your leg it can still kill you, it will be life changing.

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• CAR ROOF BAG. 320 Litres. 70cm x 70cm. Strong And Waterproof. Very Easy To Store After Use. Used Twice. Price: £20.00 Tel: 0116 287 6847. • 132 MAGAZINES OF TAKE OFF in eleven volumes. All in binders. A unique reference. Giving a clear, comprehensive and, vivid insight into the world of aircraft. A real collector’s item Price: £120.00 Tel 0116 291 7672 Mob: 07443 958399 • Panasonic 42inch plasma FLAT SCREEN HD TV with integral glass/black stand. Price: £150.00 • Panasonic DVD/CINEMA SURROUND SOUND SYSTEM. Price: £75.00 • SKY+ HD BOX Price: £60.00 Tel: 0116 224 9125 • Onyx STANDARD LAMP, complete with shade (roseflowered). Perfect condition. Price: £10.00 • Teak oval COFFEE TABLE with shelf underneath. 44” long by 31” wide. Excellent condition. Price: £50.00 Tel: 01530 243778 • White painted ROCKING CHAIR. Excellent condition. Price: £25.00 o.n.o. • DRESSER TOP (Priory). Immaculate condition. Price: £30.00 o.n.o. Tel: 01530 243574. • Silver Cross CAR SEAT - for 0 months up to approx 2 years. Price: £15.00. • BABY BOY CLOTHES - ranging from 0 months up to 1½ years. Next, Tu, M&S, Sainsburys, vgc. Coats, Sleep Suits, Jeans, Shorts, Swimwear, All In Ones, Trousers, Shirts, T Shirts, Vests. Price: 50p each,Coats: £1.50 Tel: 07927 452066 (Groby) • Lightweight TRIWALKER with fitted bag, hardly used, very good condition Price £45.00 o.v.n.o. Tel: 0116 287 6114 IF YOU HAVE any household items which you’d like to advertise FREE in the Spotlight, please SEND DETAILS by post or email - sorry, we can’t take them over the phone. Our postal address is Spotlight Small Ads, PO Box 8, Markfield, Leics. LE67 9ZT or you can email details to: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk

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Groby & Field Head Spotlight • APRIL 2015 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk

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Groby & Field Head Spotlight • APRIL 2015 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk

National Trust Leicester Association News THIS YEAR the National Trust is continuing to mark the anniversary of various events during the First World War. 2015 is the centenary of the formation of the Machine Gun Corps which was based at Belton House near Grantham where the parkland became the home to thousands of men. The camp covered over a third of the estate and trained 175,000 officers and men as machine gunners to fight on the front line. The camp itself was made up of 500 barrack rooms (housing up to 10,000 men at any one time) as well as cook houses, YMCA huts, several churches for different denominations, a railway and even a cinema. There was also a hospital looking after those injured at the Front and a mortuary hidden in the woods. The camp had its own water supply, could generate its own power and had all the infrastructure needed for a small town. A number of things will happen at Belton throughout this year. An exhibition will look at the MGC and why it was first formed along with personal stories from those

HELLO SPRING! Daffodils and primroses are beginning to appear and we have even heard the sound of a lawnmower in recent days.

involved. It will also cover how the camp affected Belton and Grantham. There will be a 1915-style Garden Fete similar to those organised by Countess Adelaide to fundraise for the MGC and a new book by members of the MGC volunteer research group will also be available. Full details of all events can be found at www.nationaltrust.org. uk/belton-house Belton House is open every Wednesday to Sunday until 1st November. The Parkland, Gardens, Shop and Restaurant are open

every day of the week throughout the year, except Christmas Day. Nearer to home, Calke Abbey has a Fine Food Fair on Sunday 26th April from 11am to 4pm. The National Trust Leicester Association has now moved on to its summer programme of outings, visits and social events. Meetings with a speaker will re-commence in September. For details of the Leicester Association and its Talks Service for other organisations please call 0116 2229133.

Alan Tyler Publicity Officer

Is there a bear in Martinshaw Woods? DURING THE LAST WEEK of Winter Term at Martinshaw Primary School, rumours abounded concerning a Bear in Martinshaw Woods. A quick phone call to Twycross Zoo confirmed that, yes, they definitely have a Bear missing. But, no, they have not got time to come out and search for it. Have we, the school, got anyone brave enough and tough enough to look? Who to ask? Foundation stage, of course! Warning posters were quickly and colourfully produced and then posted throughout the school. No-one would be in any doubt that Martinshaw woods could well be a very dangerous place indeed! So, wellies and warm clothes on; nets at the ready and under the leadership of the intrepid Miss Solla, the heroic band of 4 and 5 year olds set off. Into the woods they went, searching for clues. Bloody remains of an animal were discovered near to a roughly made den; footprints and ‘gooey stuff ’, suspiciously like ‘bear poo’, was also found, but no living breathing Bear. So after digging and camouflaging traps and with darkness (well going home time, anyway) rapidly approaching, our courageous hunters returned to base (EYFS class room ), exhausted, but in the knowledge that if that Bear was to be found, with their newly acquired skills in ‘Wood-craft’, they would have been the ones to find it. It still beggars the question though,’Is there a Bear in Martinshaw Woods?’

Owen Lawrence

Newtown Linford Gardening Club News

There are buds appearing on some of our shrubs and it probably won’t be long before we see splashes of green appearing on our hedgerows. However we mustn’t do too much too soon – we can often have late frosts to catch us unawares. Nevertheless it’s lovely to see signs of our garden waking up again. April is the month of our Annual General Meeting and the date when our new programme for the year is launched. We have three trips planned this time. In May we go to Barraca Garden near Earl Shilton; in July we go to Norwell Nurseries near Newark and in August we go to the RHS garden at Hyde Hall in Essex. We have some prestigious speakers arranged for the coming year, some local and some from further afield. We have two celebrity speakers planned during the next twelve months. Chris Beardshaw, the gold medal garden designer and television favourite is coming in October and in March 2016 we welcome Andy McIndoe who is the MD of Hilliers Nurseries. Looking even further ahead, our celebrity speaker in October 2016 will be Fergus Garrett, who is head gardener at Christopher Lloyd’s famous garden at Great Dixter and renowned as a great speaker. How to obtain tickets for these events will be announced in the coming months, for we expect them to be very popular. We have welcomed a large number of new members this year and will be pleased if others want to join us. If you are interested in our activities just contact the secretary (tel. 242452 or e-mail 01530242452@talktalk. net) , or come to one of our meetings to see how you like it before making a commitment (£2 for visitors). Alternatively give us a ring and ask for a copy of our programme for the coming year and we will be pleased to send one to you.

Anne and David Couling

Today I have been sober for 100 days. Not, like, in a row or anything. Just in total.

Groby & Field Head Spotlight • APRIL 2015 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk

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I like to finish other people’s sentences because my version is better.

Groby & Field Head Spotlight • APRIL 2015 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk

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Life begins at 50. It just doesn’t last as long.

Groby & Field Head Spotlight • APRIL 2015 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk

Elizabeth Woodville School News Year 6 Residential Trip

PTA Easter Bingo

YEAR 6 had a brilliant week at the Pioneer Centre in Shropshire at the end of March.

At the end of the day, it was ‘eyes down’ as parents, pupils and members of the community joined us for our Easter Bingo fundraiser.

They spent their time doing lots of activities ranging from exploring the deepest caves to scaling the heights of the abseiling tower. There were so many opportunities to develop essential life skills such as independence, teamwork, resilience and communication. What an excellent chance to strengthen friendships with children from Lady Jane Grey and they all had a fantastic time!

Parents and members of the Groby community were treated to an eventful day of news and updates, which included:

The bingo was called by our very own Easter Bunny. Can you guess who it is? The event was a great success. Thank you to all members of our PTA for organising the night and to everyone who came along to support us. At the end of the evening, as well as raising money for the school, we donated Easter eggs to the Leicester Royal Infirmary Children’s Ward, a very worthy cause. Follow us @ewoodvilleps for all the latest Elizabeth Woodville news.

PTA Easter Egg Non-Uniform Day

Maths – Challenge

THE DAY started with a special non-uniform day with pupils donating an Easter egg for our evening Easter Bingo Night!

BACK BY popular demand is our maths challenge.

Twitter Launch Day! AS PART of a fun packed day on Friday 20th March, Elizabeth Woodville launched on Twitter.

Solar Eclipse

If you can solve it please email your answer to Mr Coleman at office@ ewoodville.leics.sch.uk by Monday 20th April. We will then draw three lucky correct answers for an Easter prize. Good luck!

AS MOST of you will have witnessed, Friday 13th March was an eventful day in the world of astronomy. The children and staff at Elizabeth Woodville gathered on the playground to witness the amazing solar eclipse. The children made pinhole projectors in classrooms to enable them to safely view the eclipse. Not only did the children enjoy this wonderful experience, so did our headteacher, Mr. Pridmore, seen here in his very fetching eclipse glasses.

What number car parking space is the car parked in?

County Cross Country Finals 2015 ON SATURDAY 21st March, six children From Elizabeth Woodville Primary School represented Hinckley and Bosworth in the County Cross Country Finals at Donington Park.

Richard III THE CHILDREN learnt about Richard III during special lessons throughout the day.

The children all performed brilliantly and did us all proud. The stand out performance came from Mackenzie Smith, in Year 5, who finished in third place.

Elizabeth Woodville crowned Bosworth Football League Champions 2015

They shared their knowledge with each other in a celebration assembly in the afternoon. See below for the historic crowns created by Year 1 and 2 and ornate white roses made by Year 3 and 4. Year 5 considered Richard III’s thoughts and feelings during the Battle of Bosworth and Year 6 gave a pupil presentation detailing the route of King Richard’s final journey.

CONGRATULATIONS to the Elizabeth Woodville football team who clinched the league title in the final league meeting on Wednesday 18th March. The team played fantastically well, winning 8 games and drawing 1 to finish the season unbeaten as well as champions! The league is a great example of how our local schools collaborate to increase participation in sport. All teams came together for three fixture evenings in March, playing 3 games each time. It was wonderful to see so many of our local schools involved. Our thanks go to Brookvale High School and South Charnwood for hosting the event and providing pitches and referees.

Magical Maths is looking for people to help run our 1 hour afterschool clubs in local primary schools. The clubs are orientated around making maths fun for primary school children. Strong rate of pay. Ways to apply: Email CV to: sarah@magicalmathsclub.com apply through web: www.magicalmathsclub.com or phone for further info on: 01858 414 224

Mirrors don’t lie. And, luckily for me, they don’t laugh either.

Groby & Field Head Spotlight • APRIL 2015 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk

A Wing, a Prayer, and a Green Wedge Norman Griffiths reads why Bloor Homes lost the Appeal THE APPEAL by Bloor Homes East Midlands Ltd against the decision of Hinckley & Bosworth Borough Council to refuse planning permission for the erection of 91 dwellings on land east of Groby cemetery has been dismissed. The decision came on 11th March 2015, nearly three years after the application made by the company on 12th March 2012. The main issues considered by John Chase, the Planning Inspector appointed by the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government were • whether the Council was able to demonstrate a five year housing supply, • whether the proposal is premature so as to undermine the preparation of the Site Allocations Plan. • and the effect of the development on the Green Wedge.

Five year housing supply THE NATIONAL Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) creates the intention to boost significantly the supply of housing by, amongst other measures, requiring planning authorities to identify their full, objectively assessed need for market and affordable housing, and to identify a five year supply of deliverable sites to meet this requirement. During the Inquiry, the main parties agreed a schedule setting out their respective positions in achieving this five year supply. The Council claimed that they are able to demonstrate 5.49 years, whereas the developer considered that it is 3.68 years. Where there is a shortfall a debate follows on whether the shortfall should be made up within 5 years or over a longer period. The Inspector concluded in this appeal that the objective of the National Planning Policy Framework to boost significantly the supply of housing would be best served by making up the existing under supply during the shorter term. There are other issues which are considered as well and overall the conclusion was that Council are not able to demonstrate a five year housing supply.

Prematurity WITH A fundamental lifeline gone the issue of prematurity became even more important. Part of the Council’s grounds of refusal state that the development would be premature to the plan making process by allocating a site and amending the Green Wedge boundary ahead of consideration and consultation of the Site Allocations and Generic Development Policies. In response, the previous Inspector noted that the NPPF indicates that planning should be genuinely plan led, and that permission now would undermine the role of the Council and local communities in this process. At that time, it was anticipated that the Site Allocations Plan would be subject to examination at the beginning of 2014, but by the new appeal the consultation and examination was expected no earlier than the summer of 2015. This latest appeal found an absence of a five year housing supply which creates an increased need to allocate sites in advance of the Plan. The Planning Practice Guidance notes that refusal of planning permission on the grounds of prematurity will seldom be justified where a Local Plan has yet to be submitted for examination unless the effect would be so significant as to undermine matters central to the emerging plan. Inspector John Chase concluded that, in the circumstances, it is not accepted that the proposal is premature so as to undermine the preparation of the Site Allocations Plan.

The Impact of the Development on the Green Wedge WITH ANOTHER lifeline gone the consideration of the Green Wedge became critical, and it was the conclusion that the adverse impacts on the Green Wedge of developing the land for new housing would significantly and demonstrably outweigh the benefits that resulted in the appeal being dismissed. The Inspector concluded that if the development was allowed travellers using the road between Ratby and Groby would become aware of the closer proximity of these settlements, which would take on the character

of being divided by a narrow neck of open land, rather than the current impression of being set within countryside. The area retains a largely rural character, despite the open, non-agricultural uses on adjoining land, and the appeal site contributes to this impression. He thought that part of the function of the Green Wedge as a green lung is to provide a connection between urban areas and the open countryside. The lineal form of the wedge, passing between settlements, gives close accessibility to rural land, as well as a link to the wider countryside beyond. At a more local level, this part of the Green Wedge is adjacent to Cowpen Spinney to the east of the former tramway. Development of the site would largely surround the spinney with urban development, and remove its connection with the countryside, so diminishing accessibility through it to the rural area. The existing field gives an open, rural aspect to its surroundings, including the footpaths bordering the site. The character of those paths would change with development of the land and, to the extent that they are used by walkers, and by those enjoying the wider countryside, there would be a reduction in the overall recreational value. Whilst in its present condition the site is not especially prominent in the area, tending to blend into the general landscape, he considered that new housing would be sufficiently visible, both through and between boundary planting, as to have a decisive effect on the character of the site and its surroundings. The road system around the triangle of land was seen as an urbanising influence, but he felt there is no substantial reason to conclude that the outer edges of the appeal site would provide a preferable or more logical boundary to this part of the settlement than the former tramway, which, by being raised on an embankment and surrounded by mature trees, creates a

clear demarcation of the nearest part of the village.

Conclusions on the Green Wedge THE INSPECTOR concluded that the development would have a harmful effect on the function of the Green Wedge. Its development would undermine the identified purposes of the Green Wedge. The location of the site within a relatively narrow portion of the ‘Green Gap’ is of particular importance. The projection of the urban area of Groby towards Ratby would diminish the width of the gap to the degree that its role in separating these settlements would be seriously undermined. This, combined with the loss of part of the green lung, and the harmful effect on the recreational value of adjoining land, is of sufficient importance to outweigh the positive aspects of the scheme, so as to render it an unsustainable form of development overall, for which there is no presumption in favour. The inspector’s decision was that despite the conclusions that the Council are not able demonstrate a five year housing supply, and that the proposal would not be premature to the emerging site allocations plan, the conflict with Policy 9 renders the proposal contrary to the development plan, and the adverse impacts would significantly and demonstrably outweigh the benefits. Note : Although the content above includes text taken directly from the decision letter there is also interpretation and summarizing of the Inspector’s comments. The full text of the decision letter can be read on www.grobyonline.tk.

My doctor said I should eat better. I told him, with what he charges, I’m lucky I eat at all.

Groby & Field Head Spotlight • APRIL 2015 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk

Letter from Uncle Eustace On why people should ALWAYS sit in the same pew From The Rectory St. James the Least My dear Nephew Darren I have to say that the couple who complained that you never noticed they had been missing from church for a month had a point. There is a simple way of noticing when someone is absent: everyone sits in the same pew. Every Sunday. Always. Little Miss Margison sits in the pew after the third pillar on the right here at St. James the Least. As she walks up the aisle, you can sense her counting the pillars until she reaches the right one, which then allows her to sit in front of it. I have speculated that if I ever had that pillar removed, then the following Sunday, she would have a complete mental collapse. One Sunday a visiting family arrived early and sat down; three people in an empty church seating 200. Colonel Wainwright and his wife were the first of our regulars to arrive and froze in horror. The Colonel said in a deafening whisper to his wife: “There’s someone sitting in our pew.” At least they had the grace – no matter how reluctant – for one week, to sit somewhere else. Unlike the Prentice family of husband, wife and three children, who arrived to discover

that a visiting family of husband, wife and four children were sitting in their pew; six people in a pew that held eight. Or, it normally holds eight. That Sunday, it held thirteen. We at least have one iconoclast in Miss Pemberton, who makes a point of sitting in a different place every week. This thoroughly unsettles the rest of the congregation, who fear she may sit in their seats during her nomadic wanderings. I sometimes wonder if she has a chart at home with all the pew spaces marked on it and she strikes one off each week as she returns home after Mattins. Occasionally the unexpected can happen. Mrs Cholmondeley arrived one week in good time, settled herself in her accustomed place, but half-way through the Service suddenly ran out of the building. Ten minutes later, she was back and in her usual place once again. It was only when the church filled with the smell of burned bacon that we understood. That is why replacing pews with chairs in your church was a mistake. Pews can never be moved. You know where everybody is – or should be! Your loving uncle,

Eustace

I don’t have a problem with friends who ask to borrow money. I love a good laugh as much as the next guy.

Groby & Field Head Spotlight • APRIL 2015 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk

Guarding a king OVER THE last few days the people of Leicestershire have firstly; witnessed the pageantry of King Richard III’s journey from Bosworth; the solemnity of his lying-instate in Leicester Cathedral and finally his re-internment in hallowed ground in the body of the Church. Myself and other military veterans, including Colin Cassie (a Suez veteran) also from Groby, made up an Honour Guard of four. We practised long forgotten drill movements and managed to get our, by now, rather uncoordinated limbs moving in some sort of regimented harmony. We slow marched towards the coffin and took our places at the four corners, standing to attention, something none of us had done for at least 50 years; facing outwards, head bowed. The feeling of awe knowing that the remains of the last Plantagenet King, someone that we had only read about in history books and through the somewhat fanciful account of William Shakespeare, was within touching distance, was palpable. After about 3 minutes: my back started to hurt, my legs began to go numb and my feet were killing me. The four of us had made a pact that we would remain standing whatever happened and as the youngest at 71, there was no way that I was going to break that pact. I counted the wooden blocks on the floor in front of me; did simple arithmetic in my head (in my case it needed to be simple), listened to the various voices and accents around me(we weren’t supposed to look up),and believe it or not counted sheep. After just over an hour a member of the Cathedral staff whispered in my ear, ‘move off after prayers’. I thought ‘I can’t move my legs’ as I frantically wriggled my toes and flexed my calf muscles. However, I gave the drill orders and we slow marched away. We were glowing, all the stiffness and sore muscles forgotten. What a fantastic honour and an experience that will remain with me for the rest of my life. Now the most nerve wracking part; forget the television cameras and the worlds press; telling the story to the KS1 school assembly at Martinshaw Primary school and facing questions from children aged 4 to 6 years.

Owen Lawrence MBE

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Lunching Ladies LADIES, if you enjoy a good meal, good company and good entertainment you might be interested in joining the Newtown Linford Lunch Club. Despite the name you do not have to live in Newtown Linford. We meet at the Forest Hill Golf Club Botcheston once a month on a Wednesday for a three course meal after which we are entertained by a speaker. The three course meal with coffee is £16. If you decide you would like to join our club membership is £20 per year; this pays for the speakers. For more details or to book a meal phone 0116 2304420.

Maybe it’s not wind. Maybe trees wave because they’re lonely.

Mind Boggling

Like word games? You’ll love BOGGLE! BOGGLE is a word game designed by Allan Turoff and originally distributed by Parker Brothers. The game is played using a plastic grid of lettered dice, in which players attempt to find words in sequences of adjacent letters. The game begins by shaking a covered tray of 16 cubic dice, each with a different letter printed on each of its sides. The dice settle into a 4×4 tray so that only the top letter of each cube is visible. After they have settled into the grid, a threeminute sand timer is started and all players simultaneously begin the main phase of play. Each player searches for words that can be constructed from the letters of sequentially adjacent cubes, where “adjacent” cubes are those horizontally, vertically, and diagonally neighboring. Words must be at least three letters long, may include singular and plural (or other derived forms) separately, but may not use the same letter cube more than once per word. Each player records all the words he or she finds by writing on a private sheet of paper. After three minutes have elapsed, all players must immediately stop writing and the game enters the scoring phase. In the scoring phase, each player reads off his or her list of discovered words. If two or more players wrote the same word, it is removed from all players’ lists. Any player may challenge the validity of a word, in which case a previously nominated dictionary is used to verify or refute it. For all words remaining after duplicates have been eliminated, points are awarded based on the length of the word. The winner is the player whose point total is highest, with any ties typically broken by count of long words.

Groby & Field Head Spotlight • APRIL 2015 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk

Jottings News in Brief with Norman Griffiths

Retirement of Dr Gajebasia THE VILLAGE of Groby has been going through a period of change. The Brant has been demolished to make way for housing. The Santander agency has gone and the future of the Barclays branch is unclear. Retirement is approaching for Sue and Harry at the post office. The chances of the survival of Groby library are high but under the control of a community led group and not the County Council. The Crofton House dental practice on Ratby Road is now under new ownership. But it became clear on March 14th that one of the most significant changes for many residents was the retirement of Dr Gajebasia. The Doctor and staff had decided that they would give patients an opportunity to meet him informally at the village hall as retirement drew closer. Has there ever been an occasion with so many doctors in one room at the same time in Groby? In addition to the Doctor, supported by his family, a feeling of continuity was provided by the attendance of the familiar face of Dr Vaghani and the new practice partners, Dr Thrisha John who many patients will have seen, and Dr Karaminder Gajebasia. The main hall was booked, cakes were baked, biscuits bought and tea brewed. And as the time came to open the doors the question in the air was “What if no-one comes?” But they did – in their hundreds. In no time at all a long queue formed to speak to Dr Gajebasia and to sign the visitors book. The hall was packed with well wishers who were also able to talk to the doctors who will be taking forward the work of the surgery. It was an emotional moment for patients but also for Dr Gajebasia and his family. Doctors only see patients individually and cannot prepare for such a mass demonstration of respect and affection. “The Open Morning was an enormously humbling experience,” said Dr Gajebasia. “ My gratitude and thanks go to all those patients who came along, and of course the staff, helpers and Patients Participation Group members who helped make it such a success. I have been honoured to have had an opportunity to serve the community as a general practitioner. I wish you all good heath and happiness.”

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Library Business Plan approved THE GROUP being formed to run Groby Library as a community service received a boost just before Easter with the news that the Business Plan prepared and submitted by David Ryan has been approved by Leicestershire County Council. “Following an assessment of the outline business plan the group have been allocated Category 1 status,” explained County Council Project Manager Paul Love. “This means that we are recommending that the submission be developed to the next stage of drawing up formal agreements to transfer the library to community management.” The plan scored 92 points out of a possible 125 points, with all sections meeting the criteria required. A ‘relationship manager’ had earlier been appointed by the County Council to assist the Groby Group and the next step is to set up a meeting to discuss any comments/clarification relating to the outline business plan and start to identify indicative dates for further activity. This includes the legal status of the group and management arrangements for the library, and examining the current position/plans relating to the recruitment of volunteers and staffing. The existing building only has a toilet for staff so there is a need to look at the possibility of improving these facilities and any other building changes required. The preferred target date for transfer is also something which will require discussion so that current users of the library are clear about future plans for the library. There’s a lot of work which will now go on ‘behind the scenes’ and the continued support of the community will be essential to the success of the project. One of the first tasks will be to create a Charitable Incorporated Organisation and consideration is currently being given to a suitable name.

Early mornings are perfect for spending time with my wife. Then she spoils it by waking up.

Groby & Field Head Spotlight • APRIL 2015 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk

GROBY ALLOTMENT SOCIETY NEWS

“Life With A Lottie” By Jane Marston IT’S NOW officially British Summer Time – the planting season is gaining pace. As the soil becomes warmer and we have more daylight, and hopefully the risk of frost becomes less it is now time to get the more hardy plants into the ground. Potatoes, broad beans, peas and onions have started the season on our plot. In the greenhouse we have seedlings, plantlets, corms and cuttings all filling our trays and pots. It is a time of hopefulness and wonder. Always always keeping an eye out for late frosts. The boss’s mind thinks of nothing but sowing and planting at this time of year. In the trug in the garden which we have against the building wall we have carrots, lettuce, radish and sweet peppers - I can almost tast the summer salads. By the time you read this article the new seat will be installed on Ratby Road site – which I imagine will be well used in the summer time to exchange tips and advice and to pass away an afternoon. Often when the boss comes home from the plot I ask him what he has got done – “not much” comes the reply “but I did bump into John, Steve, Pete……..” I ask no more. Easter Sunday saw the first of the seasons Bacon Buttie events on the plot and we will hold one on the first Sunday of each month through the season – let’s hope for fine Sundays. You don’t have to be a plot holder to come along and join in, we are a friendly bunch always ready to make new friends over a cup of tea and a chat. A plot holder said to me this week that she loves the plot and watching the produce grow and picking the vegetables when ready – what she hated was the ‘gardening’ the preparation of the soil, the weeding, the constant need to put in hard graft. It is a problem for new gardeners to understand that it is not just a

walk round to the plot on a Sunday morning with the family to harvest luscious fruit, veg and flowers – that to get to that stage much hard work has to be put in. If you have not tended the plot over the winter, keeping the ground ‘clean’ you will always be catching up. Yes it is lovely on a summers afternoon and it is great picking all the produce but it is also hard work. I often look at colourful bags of ready prepared veg in M & S and think …..If only.

RECIPE OF THE MONTH Nothing goes better with fresh spring Rhubarb than ginger – this is one of my favourites and will be made many times over the season. Rhubarb and Ginger Crumble Oven set at 350F 180C gas 4 2lbs / 1kg rhubarb cut into chunks 2oz/110g sugar – brown gives a lovely flavour 1 tsp ground ginger – I also add some chopped stem ginger just because I like it Put Rhubarb into a saucepan with the sugar 1 tbsp water and add ginger cook until the rhubarb is just soft. Crumble Topping 8ozs/250g plain flour 4oz /125 g butter 3oz /90 g brown sugar Method Whilst gently cooking the rhubarb place the flour and butter into a mixing bowl – mix with your fingertips until the mixture resembles ‘breadcrumbs’. Stir in the sugar. I often at this point add a little something to the crumble – some nuts or oats always adds a little extra?? Place fruit into a greased oven proof dish and spoon over the ‘crumble’ sealing in the juice without pressing down. Dab a few little pats of butter over the top of your pudding and place in oven for 30-40 minutes or until golden. Serve hot with custard and the next day cold with cream!!!!

Walk your support for Canine Partners at the Big Martinshaw Woods Bluebell Walk Meet at: Martinshaw Woods, Markfield Road, Ratby, Leics, LE6 0LS on April 26th at 11am If you love strolling through spring flowers and would like to raise money for assistance dog charity Canine Partners, then the Big Martinshaw Woods Bluebell Walk in Ratby on Sunday 26 April at 11am is for you. Kathleen Hodkinson, organiser of the three mile walk and a volunteer puppy parent for the Charity, said: “I see first-hand the valuable assistance the canine partners give to people with various disabilities, and I am impressed with the skills the dogs learn through the training process. “Organising a walk seemed a fun way of raising much needed funds for Canine Partners! “At the Big Martinshaw Woods Bluebell Walk there will be an opportunity to stroll through The Woodlands Trust site, take part in a raffle, a quiz and buy some goodies from our merchandise stand on the day.” Canine Partners provides specially trained assistance dogs to help people with disabilities such as opening and closing doors, undressing, pressing buttons, retrieving items, unloading washing machines, taking card and cash from ATMs and other everyday tasks that disabled people find difficult, painful or impossible to do for themselves. Canine Partners CEO Andy Cook, added: “The Big Bluebell Walk is a family fun event and we would like as many people as possible to join us on our spring scenic walk - and you are more than welcome to bring your dog along too. “We do not receive any government funding and rely solely on donations so the money you raise will help create more canine partnerships, transforming the lives of disabled people. “This year is a particularly special one for us at Canine Partners as we are celebrating our 25th anniversary, so come along and walk your support for the Charity.” The fundraising event is part of the Charity’s national Big Bluebell Dog Walk Campaign, which has raised more than £150,000 in the past 11 years. All funds raised from this walk will help the Charity to train more assistance dogs and transform the lives of people with disabilities, including wounded servicemen and women in conjunction with Help for Heroes. To register or find out more information please visit caninepartners.org.uk/ bigbluebellwalks, call 01730 716013 or email hollyb@caninepartners.org.uk.

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Groby & Field Head Spotlight • APRIL 2015 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk

Letter

Coffee morning for STEPS I AM holding a coffee morning on Friday 29th May at St Martin’s Church centre, Desford, to raise funds for the STEPS charity. To give a bit of an idea why I am holding the event and why this charity is so close to my heart... My daughter Gwen, now 4 months old, was diagnosed with bilateral dysplasia of the hips when she was 10 weeks old, after being referred to the Leicester Royal Infirmary following her 6-week check-up with the GP. Only 2 to 3 babies in every 1000 born are diagnosed with the condition and the news came as an utter shock to us. Gwen was unsuccessfully fitted with a harness for 4 weeks and so she will have two lots of surgery this year, in April and November. She will have to wear a ‘spica’ cast, which is fitted from the chest down to the ankles, for at least 3 months after each operation. I’m sure you can appreciate how heart-breaking it is to see your baby go through such trauma and the distress this causes for the whole family, but the STEPS charity continues to provide absolutely invaluable information, support and reassurance at what is an incredibly difficult time and I could never thank them enough. I genuinely don’t know what I would have done without them and for this reason, I felt compelled to give something back and to ensure that their vital work can continue for other families who will find themselves in the same state of shock and bewilderment. STEPS’ vision is that anyone affected by hip dysplasia, clubfoot or other lower limb condition receives the best standard of information, treatment and support that they need. The charity gives essential support and information to individuals and families, including: • the only national telephone helpline for families affected; • a family contacts register; • a professionals database; • free publications – booklets, DVDs and posters; • a very active online forum via their website: www.steps-charity.org.uk The coffee morning will run from 10.00 to 12.30pm and there will be refreshments, cakes, craft stalls and a supervised children’s play area.

Christian Aid Week 2015 10th-16th May LOKO dreads collecting firewood, but has no choice. To earn enough money to feed her children one small meal a day, she needs wood to sell. In the Borena community, girls are expected to fetch and carry wood and water to provide for their family. Denied a good education and the respect of their community, women are trapped in a life of poverty. This Christian Aid Week collectors will be out in Groby. Please support women like Loko by donating what you can.

Hannah Wyatt

I wonder if Auto Correct and Spell Check get together behind our backs and talk about what idiots we are.

Groby & Field Head Spotlight • APRIL 2015 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk

Jottings News in Brief with Norman Griffiths

A special invitation to the Leicester Sketch Club exhibition LAST YEAR’S enquiries about Norman Ellis, the artist who liked to paint in Groby, brought some interesting responses from readers but did little to reveal more about the man behind the paintbrush. Some examples of his work were found on display in Leicester, one reader has an example on his wall, and another early example seems to have been discovered in a car boot sale in Sunderland. His Groby paintings often feature the Old Hall. Two examples date from the early 1950’s and two from 1970. The most charming is perhaps from 1950 which appears to be a view to the Hall from what is now the Co-op car park. There’s washing on the line and a figure holding a child sitting on a dry stone wall. Born in 1913 in Leicester he was a builder by trade. He studied at Leicester College of Art and Lincoln College of Art. A member of the Leicester Society of Artists and the Leicester Sketch Club he exhibited widely in the Midlands. The Leicester Society of Artists have an annual Ellis prize which may be associated with him. An old BT directory entry provided by Emma Fitzpatrick of the Leicester Sketch Club suggests that he may have lived on Victoria Park Road. Although his works seem to be tucked away in the museum archives there is soon to be an opportunity to see some locally as the Leicester Sketch Club are having an exhibition at the New Walk Museum from Saturday 25th April until 1st August. “We will be showing our current members’ work but also work from past members found in their collection including one or two works by Norman Ellis,” explained Emma. “One may be the city view from the then Leicester College of Art looking down towards Mill Lane, or perhaps the Wharf Street Vista which has been displayed in the St Martin’s Conference Centre. He taught in the college as some stage.” The exhibition aims to highlight both the work of past Sketch Club members as selected from the New Walk Museum’s collection over the past 100 years alongside work from current members and is a wonderful opportunity to see some of the talented work of Leicestershire-based artists over time. “All are welcome to join us,” she added. “Members of the club will be sketching within the museum and drawing from a Still Life on Saturday 6th June and Saturday 11th July (10am- 1.30pm) and will be happy to answer any questions about the club or the exhibition.” There is no admission charge and the museum is open daily from Monday - Saturday: 10am – 5pm and on Sunday from 11am – 5pm. Spotlight readers are invited to the preview night on 24th April from 6pm to 8.30pm, but are asked to let Emma know in advance, either by email (info@emmafitzpatrick.co.uk) or by calling or texting 07981983368. There’s a fascinating gallery of some of the work of early members on the Club’s website at http://www.leicestersketchclub.co.uk/early-members-work.html or follow the link from www.grobyonline.tk

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Traffic concerns over Martinshaw School expansion plan A PLANNING application has been submitted to demolish an existing mobile classroom unit and replace it with a new classroom with associated staff room extension and additional car parking at Martinshaw Primary School. The design and access statement, from which the information in this article has been taken, explains that the number of children living in the area and choosing to attend the school has grown rapidly in recent years, due to an increase in birth rates locally and considerable movement of families into the Groby and Ratby catchment area. The numbers are forecast to continue to grow and there is a need to increase the capacity of the school by 50% to cope with this extra demand, up to a maximum capacity of 315, together with the necessary associated increases in staff car parking, external play areas and infrastructure support spaces. Concerns have been expressed about the increased congestion on the access road that such an increase in pupil numbers would bring in the mornings and afternoons. The planned solution is to provide a new, stand-alone classroom block, which will replace an existing single classroom mobile unit. The school already has a good range of infrastructure support spaces for a 315 place school, and deficiencies in staff room space will be provided by means of a small extension to the existing facility. It is not anticipated that any further extensions will be required. However, at some time in the future the double mobile will require replacement and the location of the new building should not compromise the options for locating a further two classrooms on site to replace the mobile. The location was chosen as being the most practical and available position and although the chosen site does provide some issues with existing sloping external ground levels these are dealt with by providing a split level building solution. The proposed development will be built on the site of an existing mobile, amenity grassland and over part of an existing hard playground, and as such will not result in the loss of any usable playing field area. It is proposed to provide a new hard playground for the foundation children. It is planned to extend the existing school car park onto the grassed area of land at the front of the school site and this will result in a total of 23 spaces on site, including one accessible space. The vehicular access to the site will remain unaltered, and the proposed car park extension will have no impact on the existing pedestrian access point to the front of the site, off Forest View. Environmentally the aim is to produce a low energy, healthy building with a high degree of user comfort. The building will utilise modular building technology to assist with speed of delivery, whilst also providing excellent thermal properties and a high level of air tightness to minimise the need for space heating and energy use. The proposals will provide good natural day lighting wherever possible and the building will be highly insulated. All new classrooms will have large windows and rooflights to provide high levels of natural daylight. They will be naturally ventilated spaces provided by windows and roof-lights that open wherever possible, complimented with mechanical ventilation where required. Overheating and glare from the sun will be limited wherever possible. All classrooms have been positioned to avoid having south facing windows, thus minimising potential overheating issues. Where glazing with a south facing aspect could not be avoided, necessary measures will be taken to ensure overheating does not occur. If you want to read more and see the proposed site plan one of the easiest ways is to follow the link from www.grobyonline.tk or Google “planning groby” and click on the Leicestershire Villages website. Click the link on the map which will be displayed.

NEXT ISSUE OUT: Sat 16th May Advert/Copy Deadline: Saturday 2nd May

TO ADVERTISE: Call 01530 244069 Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk

The hardest part of Hypochondriacs Anonymous is admitting you don’t have a problem.

Groby & Field Head Spotlight • APRIL 2015 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk

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Good Quality Collectables Wanted Do you have any good quality china tea sets, for example Royal Albert, Royal Doulton, Colclough, or Wedgwood? If so, I would be interested in buying them. I am also interested in any good quality jewellery (particularly brooches), dolls, bears, toy cars and children’s books (which must be in excellent condition) that you may have for sale.

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‘I discovered I love cooking – and revealed the slim me!’ HANNAH BARRS, 42, is a social worker and lives in Leicester. Hannah, who’s 5ft 9ins tall and 10st 5lbs, lost 3st 4lbs in nine months at Hazel Hickson’s group in Groby.

Chicken casserole

Nice

one!

Turn a handful of ingredients into a plateful of slimming power

Nice

one!

Hannah Barrs

SUPER SIMPLE

Serves 1 ✱

Ready in about 35 minutes

‘My weight didn’t become an issue until I went to university has discovered a Low-calorie Want tons of flavour for zero faff…cooking in a spray in 1991. All that sitting around studying, combined with pizzas new love for cooking 2 skinless chicken thighs single serving? We invited target member and nights out drinking cider, meant I got gradually bigger. - and it has helped Want tons of flavour for zero faff… in a 1 onion, ½ finely chopped and ½ cut her reach her Although I tried to lose single serving? We invited target member Hannah Barrs to road-test four recipes into bite-size chunks target Hannah Barrs to road-test four recipesweight. that put the ‘me’ time into meals for one weight a number of times – I joined Slimming World briefly that put the ‘me’ time into meals for one 1 garlic clove, finely chopped in 2008 – I didn’t really commit. I’d lose some weight, give up Photographs: Lara Holmes Photographs: Lara Holmes 2 carrots, peeled and cut into and put it straight back on. bite-size chunks In 2011, we were on a family holiday when Dad had a 1 celery stalk, cut into diagonal chunks stroke and nearly died. Spending the next three months 400ml chicken stock visiting him in hospital made me think about my ownChicken health. Salt and freshly ground black pepper casserole On top of that, the relationship I was in ended and I was feeling pretty Turn a handful of ingredients into 75g fine green beans, halved a plateful of slimming power unhappy. Chicken SUPER SIMPLE Serves 1 So in January 2014, Mum and I joined Slimming World. ✱ casserole 1 Place a frying pan sprayed with Ready in about 35 minutes Turn a handful of ingredients into When you live alone, it’s easy not to bother makingLow-calorie meals from fresh cooking spray low-calorie cooking spray over a plateful of slimming power 2 skinless chicken thighs ingredients – I would have always told you cooking wasn’t 1 onion, ½ finelymy choppedthing. and ½ cut a medium-high heat and brown into bite-size chunks SUPER SIMPLE 1 garlic clove, finely chopped Now, I’m really into it. I cook batches of chilli or Bolognese sauce and Serves 1 the chicken all over. 2 carrots, peeled and cut into chunks freeze them, so I don’t turn to something unhealthy ifbite-size I get home✱ late. 1 celery stalk, cut into diagonal chunks Ready in about 35 minutes 400ml chicken stock 2 Add the onion, garlic, carrots, I’ve swapped my morning buttered white toast for filling porridge and Salt and freshly ground black pepper 75g fine green beans, halved Low-calorie celery and stock. Bring to the boil, make my own soup to microwave at work. In the evening I eat one of cooking spray 2 skinless chicken thighs 1 Place a frying pan sprayed with my frozen meals, an omelette with Slimming World chips, or aspraychicken low-calorie cooking over season, then reduce the heat, cover onion, ½ finely chopped and ½ cut a medium-high heat and1brown into bite-size chunks the chicken all over. dish using tinned tomatoes and herbs rather than a jar of ready-made and simmer for 20-25 minutes. 1 garlic clove, finely chopped 2 Add the onion, garlic, carrots, sauce. celery and stock. Bring to the boil, 2 carrots, peeled and cut into season, then reduce the heat, cover 3 Remove the lid, add the beans and bite-size chunks and simmer for 20-25 minutes. I still enjoy some sweet treats, like my mum’s Slimming World Key celery 3 Remove the lid, add the1 beans andstalk, cut into diagonal chunks cook for a further 4-5 minutes, or cook the for a further 4-5 minutes,Ior lime pie, plus I always have Free or low-Syn yogurts in fridge. 400ml chicken stockWeight-loss until the beans are tender. Serve until the beans are tender. Serve with a twist ofwas black Saltpepper. and freshly groundbooster black pepper used to get a lot of migraines – now I know one of myfinished triggers too Photos: Lara Holmes finished with a twist of black pepper. much sugar, as they’re much less frequent these days.Syns per serving: FREE n75g fine green beans, halved I reached my target in September 2014 and I’ve maintained my weight since. Before 1 Place a frying pan sprayed with joining Slimming World, whenever Syns per serving: FREE n cooking spray over I tried to slim down I’d feel like I was “on a diet” and get bored. low-calorie This time, I found it much easier to get into healthy habits a medium-high heat and brown and it didn’t seem like a chore – even for someone who didn’t “do” cooking!’ the chicken all over. 68 SLIMMING WORLD

MealsForOnelifestyle_ar_v5.indd 68

03/03/2015 11:48

2 Add the onion, garlic, carrots,

68 SLIMMING WORLD

celery and stock. Bring to the boil, Saying the same thing over and over again but expecting different results is called parenting. season, then reduce the heat, cover and simmer for 20-25 minutes.

3 Remove the lid, add the beans and

Groby & Field Head Spotlight • APRIL 2015 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk

Groby Celebrates Fair Cake & Cuppa! CHURCHES TOGETHER IN GROBY who initiated this event, are committed to helping the poor through fair trade. They invited Groby schools, clubs and societies to join in fair trade and focus on where the ingredients for their cake & cuppa comes from.

The 22 groups who took part are: Catch, Classic Cuts, Elizabeth Woodville Primary School, Faircuppa & Groby Walkers, Groby Gardening Society, Groby Music Students, Groby Sings, Groby W.i., Lady Jane Grey Primary School, Little Starz, Mes Enfants, Martinshaw Primary School, ‘Meet The Neighbours’, Noah’s Ark, Toddlers Nursery School, Saint Philips & St James Church, Stamford Arms, The United Reformed Church, Urbans Saints, Wayne Clements (Local Decorator), Wriggly Readers.

Fairtrade means that the communities who grow our cocoa, sugar, tea and coffee get a fair price for their products, which enables them for example, to send their children to school.

I’m on the 12 step chocoholic program. I’m never more than 12 steps from chocolate.

Groby & Field Head Spotlight • APRIL 2015 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk

Drama Society needs your help Dear Friends The Bradgate Drama Society has been treading the boards in Newtown Linford for some 60 years now and has delighted audiences young and old over the years.

We are lucky enough to have great facilities including a great sound and lighting system and the facility to rehearse on stage which is always a bonus. We are also able to provide a bar on performance nights which add to the night out. Sadly even with all this in our favour we have reached a point whereby we are having to take a long hard look at how we are able to carry on. We have a diminishing membership and are finding it very hard to recruit new members, and none of us are getting any younger. Our audiences have also diminished over the last few years and from selling out over three nights we have had to reduce our performances to just two nights. All of this is having an effect on the type of productions we are able to produce. We have gone from having auditions to just seeing who is available and finding a play to fit. Without an injection of new members I feel that it won’t be long before we bring the final curtain down on the group. As Chairman of the society I do not wish to preside over the demise of the group, so if you are willing to join our group we would love to see you and don’t feel that you have be on the stage we need plenty of help behind the scenes as well. I realise that this may not be for everyone so if it’s not for you then why not lend your support by coming to see our productions. I am sure you would have a very enjoyable evening. Our next production is “Don’t Dress For Dinner “ by Marc Camoletti adapted by Robin Hawdon. The performance dates are April 23/24 and 25th. Tickets are available from Toby Manning on 01530 245298 or Lesley Baker on 01509 890771 or by email bradgatedrama@ gmail.com If on reading this you think you may want join us then please contact myself via the email address above or if you don’t have email contact Toby or Lesley on the numbers above. With a little more help and support we can together keep this group going to entertain people for many more years to come. As the saying goes “use or lose it” !

Andreas Hastie

Chairman, Bradgate Drama Society.

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Found in church pew-sheets…. • The youth group will be presenting Shakespeare’s Hamlet in the church hall this Friday at 7 PM . The congregation is warmly invited to attend this tragedy. • Weight Watchers will meet at 7pm at the parish church. Please use the large double door at the side entrance.

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Groby & Field Head Spotlight • APRIL 2015 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk

Latest News from Glenfield U3A The Bricklayer’s Arms 213 Main Street Thornton T: 01530 230 808 QUIZ Nite: Thursdays We now have SKY and BT Sports Multi Screen. Ask about our new menus! www.bricklayersarms. net The Club, Thornton Main Street. T: 01530 230251 Open To Non-members Sat 11th April: FINDING GEORGIA - American Themed Country Rock Band Featuring Georgie On Vocals Sat 18th April: Plug And Play No Need To Book Sat 25th April: MAMA DON’T ALLOW - Blues & Rock N Roll Covers Band Sat 2nd May: THE ZUFFLERS - Modern Rock Covers Band Fri 8th May: MOJOHAND Rock Rhythm & Blues Covers Band Sat 16th May: PUNK & DISORDERLY - Thornton’s Own Punk Band Sky & BT Sports Free Room Hire Available For Your Perfect Party - Bingo Every Tuesday Evening - View Our Website On www.facebook.com/ TheThorntonClub Bagworth Working Men’s Club, Station Road, Bagworth. Tel. 01530 230205 Find us on FACEBOOK search Bagworth WMC New members welcome. Every Tuesday night - TARGET SHOOTING - call for details Every Monday night: DOMINOES - only £1.50 entry, which includes supper. Bargain! Live entertainment – last Saturday of the month Bingo & Raffle every Wednesday and Saturday Andy’s Charity Quiz £1.50 each - last Friday of the month - and RAFFLE - with excellent prizes. Sequence dances Sunday Nights with live organist - £2.00 admission 8 pm Tea Dance Wednesday afternoon 2 – 4 pm. £1 admission. Ask about our FREE ROOM HIRE for those special family occasions. The Field Head Hotel Markfield Lane, Markfield Tel: 01530 245454 Bookings being taken for our WEDDING FAYRE on Sunday

3rd May. Brides and grooms-to-be are very welcome to come and take a look around our lovely hotel - it’s a great wedding venue! The Queen’s Head Ashby Road, Markfield. T: 01530 242 496 ALL SKY SPORTS & BT SPORTS All live TIGERS games. The Bull’s Head Forest Road, Markfield T: 01530 242541 Garden & Pub Games etc. POKER NIGHT - Tuesdays starts at 8pm The Coach & Horses Leicester Road, Field Head Tel: 01530 242 312 KARAOKE Nights Every Fortnight:- with ‘KING OF THE ROAD’. Groby Ex-Servicemen’s Club, Leicester Road, Groby Tel: 0116 287 1809 www.grobyclub.co.uk Friday 10th April: SARAH TASKER - quality female solo Saturday 11th April: BONNIE brilliant female solo Fri 17th April: TRIBUTE NIGHT FOR JERSEY BOYS AND TAKE THAT + support act Tickets are £5:00 members and £7:00 non members. Sat 18th April: ABOVE +BEYOND - brilliant duo. Sun 19th April: Super Sunday ‘50’ bingo and quiz Fri 24th April: DALE WILLIAMS - quality male solo Sat 25th April: JOHN STACEY excellent vocal guitarist Sun 26th April: Super Sunday ‘50’ bingo and quiz Fri 1st May: TBA Sat 2nd May: TONES OF SOUL - brilliant male duo Sun 3rd May: Super Sunday ‘50’ bingo and quiz. Fri 8th May: TBA Sat 9th May: TBA Sun 10th May: Super Sunday ‘50’ bingo and quiz

GLENFIELD U3A (an organisation for the retired and semi-retired) continues to go from strength to strength. The current membership of just under 300 participate in 36 active groups with something for everyone to help them “have fun, make friends, stay fit and exercise the mind”. Over half our membership comes from outside the Glenfield area, from as far afield as Desford, Mountsorrel, Birstall, Leicester, Syston, Anstey, Markfield, Thornton, Kirby Muxloe, LFE, Countesthorpe, Groby and Enderby. Distance is no barrier to joining our group we make everyone welcome. Belly Dancer Roxanne with Plissken the Snake The groups include five walking groups, bird watching and natural history, gardening, creative writing, art appreciation, computing, history, card making, flower arranging, craft, ethnic eating, French, German, reading, photography, discussion, mah-jong, scrabble, indoor bowls, table tennis, Pilates, yoga, tai chi, cycling and badminton. The monthly meetings take place on the fourth Thursday afternoon of the month in St Peter’s church centre, Glenfield; with a regular attendance of about a hundred members. There is a diverse programme of interesting talks and demonstrations throughout the year. So far this year we have had a talk and demonstration on ‘Exploding the Myths of Belly dancing’, ‘The Funny Side of the Funeral Business’ and ‘Sausage making’. Interspersed with the meetings are a number of organised additional events; including theatre outings, a trip to Blenheim Palace, the gardening group visit to Stoneywell, luncheons, quiz and skittles nights. There is a canal trip, a 60’s night and a talk by the Leicester Transport Heritage Trust in July and a strawberry cream tea in August, an antiques roadshow in October with TV personality Charles Hanson, a Christmas concert and much more. If you are interested in joining then why not pop along to the next meeting or look at our web site www.u3asites.org.uk/glenfield for more information. Membership is just £15.50 per annum.

Gill Tapping (Publicity)

The Old Thatched Inn, Main Street, Stanton under Bardon Bookings now being taken for Easter Sunday. Fri 17th April: CHRISSY female singer - music from the 60s to the 90s. Send us your live and local entertainments news and we’ll feature it here free! Fabulous!

I hate when I get to the office and there isn’t a smoking crater where the building is.

Groby & Field Head Spotlight • APRIL 2015 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk

Unique Health for Teens website launched A GROUND-BREAKING new website ‘Health for Teens’ has been launched by school nurses from Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust (LPT), co-produced by over 80 young people from Leicestershire’s secondary schools. The unique website is the first NHS website that has been created especially to support teens with their mental and physical health and wellbeing. It features interactive content, films, and quizzes - written by experts from across LPT services including school nursing, health improvement, smoking cessation, dietetics, and mental health. The website’s comprehensive content includes topics as wide ranging as exam stress to anger management, and from spots to alcohol. Visit www.healthforteens.co.uk. Health for Teens complements, and features, a web chat facility linking to our multi-award winning school nurse messaging system ChatHealth enabling young people to receive advice and support directly from a health professional. Margaret Clarke, Lead School Nurse for LPT, said: “Health for Teens introduces a new and different way for young people aged 11 -16 to learn about their health. All the content has been written in consultation with young people, to provide engaging yet informative bite-sized content on topics that matter to them. Thank you to all the young people and schools involved, we couldn’t have produced something this fantastic without them and we hope that they will continue to inform us in keeping it fresh and up to date with the information they want to know about their health and wellbeing. The website is primarily a health promotion website, covering subjects that promote a healthy body and mind. It is not about managing serious illnesses for which more specialist websites already exist but we’ve signposted you to them where that’s applicable. Your school nursing service is always there to support you to stay happy and healthy – find out more about how to contact them by visiting www.healthforteens.co.uk “ The website has been part-funded by Leicestershire County Council, to support the hosting of a secure Year 7 questionnaire (launching in June) to help us gather the thoughts and views of young people and their health so that school nurses can best support them in their transition to secondary school. Visit the website on www.healthforteens.co.uk

Fair Cuppa:

an opportunity to meet with friends at the village hall. Every Thursday, 10.30-12.00

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David Smith - 1 The Burrows, Narborough

0116 275 0101 (home) 07880 973 742 (mobile) CHURCH OPEN FOR PRAYER

Need a space to step aside for a while? Got things you would like to say a prayer for? Like the chance to think without interruptions? Facing something that worries you?

You can be alone, maybe write and leave a prayer request, you can speak with someone who will pray with you or just use some of the prayers and readings available. St. Philip & St. James Church, Markfield Road Saturdays 10.00-12noon

Catch

meets for play, craft, story & chat for pre-school children with a parent or carer. Catch meets every Friday in term time, 9.30-11.30am, at the URC.

Send us your local entertainments The United Reformed news publicise church and and we’ll St. Philip and it here FREE! St. James wish you a very Tremendous! happy Easter

Urban Saints is held during term time, at the URC chapel: there are games, friends, crafts and a Christian basis to discussions. - for Years 3 - 9 on Mon evenings at 6pm or 7.45pm - for Years 10 - 13 on Wed evenings at 7.30pm - for Years 10 – 13 on Fri at 7.30pm More details on the church websites

Youth Worker Ruth O’Connell

07759 087804

For further information please see websites and church magazines St. Philip and St. James www.bradgateteam.org.uk Revd. Louise Corke 231 3090 United Reformed Church www.grobyurc.com Revd Sue McKenzie 232 1733 Youth Worker Ruth Cross 07759 087804

My wife and I found each other on a dating website ... 3 years after we got married. That was awkward.

Groby & Field Head Spotlight • APRIL 2015 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk

I HAD THE honour of being the delegate at the WI’s Annual Council Meeting, this came about because no one else was available. Please don’t think I would be in for a boring day, as it certainly wasn’t. The meeting was held at Leics. Grammar School, Great Glen, a campus of very modern buildings, where work is still in progress and appearing to be very functional. Of course we had the usual business, I even proposed a motion, although I must admit I cannot at the present moment in time, remember which one. Anyway. the motion our Groby WI backed was the one that went forward to the meeting and I am pleased to say passed unanimously. Briefly, it was the care of people in their old age, seeing as I am in that bracket, of course, it got my vote. Our first speaker, Valerie Stevens, spoke on the ACWW (Associated Country Women of the World) i.e. our Pennies for Friendship collecting. She is 82½ years old and travels, it seems almost permanently around the world, promoting women’s causes. Valerie attended the U.N. where there was a motion to do more for women’s rights i.e. FGM etc but representatives were dismayed to find that the motion was to be worded not for women but for mankind. Valerie went onto speak of many countries where women’s views could not be heard. In Belarus for example, they were excluded so they put teddy bears on chairs instead. Now our next speaker was a different cup of tea. Elaine Pantling of the Laurie Lorry Theatre Company said she was an absolute failure at school. Her mother told her to go and get a job, so she went to the Lavenia clothing factory as a machinist. She lasted the morning, didn’t have the nerve to tell her mother, so went to a phone box and told her she had got the sack. Elaine then went to be a cutter in a ladies knicker factory. She began cutting out gussets, they finished up round. From a young

Groby WI NEWS

County Chairman Janet Kirk (right) with our guest for the day Angela Rippon.

age she always sang, regularly entered singing competitions and had elocution lessons. Elaine eventually took a degree in theatricals and proceeded to write and perform. She wrote her first piece and called it “Gussets”. This was based on her mother-in-law, Muriel. Her character Muriel had grown hairs on her chin. All their family’s names began with M. Dad, however, was “Ron” so he was called “Moron”. Elaine then lapsed into Beryl Reid, quoting some of Beryl’s stories and jokes. Elaine was very, very funny and really lightened the morning. Our star speaker was Angela Rippon who arrived from the back of the auditorium looking extremely slim and elegant. Angela spoke of her beginnings in Devon and wanting to be a photo journalist. She was given an apprenticeship at the local paper. Her first piece of reporting was on the Saltash oyster beds. Angela did various local reports and one day a phone call came from the local radio station asking her to fill in

for the newsreader and she went on from there. Angela became the first permanent BBC woman newsreader. She did, as we all know, various programmes and was the first presenter of Top Gear. Angela then told a story Richard Baker had told her. Three nuns went to up to St. Peter. He asked them who they would really like to be. The first one said, Sophia Loren because she always looked lovely, the second said Madonna because she was so talented and the third said, Sara Pipilinie because she was always in the paper. St. Peter said he had never heard of her. The third nun then produced a newspaper. St. Peter smiled and said that Sara Pipilinie was in fact the Sahara Pipeline. Angela went on to tell us of various interviews she had had. Andre Previn told her that although he had won Oscars, Emmies etc the first thing a taxi driver said to him at London airport was “Where to Mr. Preview”. She also said she had to mention Morecambe and Wise and what a lovely duo they were.

Angela kept us engrossed for all of her talk. She is a very funny, clearly spoken lady with no side on her and a very pleasant lady. There were about 800 WI ladies at the meeting and apparently was a waiting list for spare places. We were also entertained by The Pink Ladies (Hinckley Canalside) who gave us some delightful singing. They have reached the last six in the National WI singing contest. Of course we had to have loads of stalls where ladies could buy all sorts of goodies, fashion items, cakes etc., WI ladies after all have to have a shop wherever they go. It was a very entertaining and enjoyable meeting. We had an unexpected guest at our March meeting, Kathy. Kathy is a lab pup being brought up by our own Kathleen who puppy walks for Canine Partners. Kathleen has had quite a few pups for Hearing Dogs and Canine Partners and does a good job with them. Anyway Kathy (pure coincidence) came along to the meeting and behaved impeccably, especially as the subject was chocolate, in fact better behaved than some of our members who drooled at the mention of the word. Mr Tom Philips was the speaker who enlightened us on the chocolate subject. A craving; a guilt complex or sheer delight, depending upon whether you deny yourself pleasure, succumb and regret it, or ignore the calorific value and enjoy the sheer bliss of the moment. CHOCOLATE! First cultivated in 1500BC the cocoa plant is native to the USA. It is now cultivated in countries in a band approximately 10% north and 10% south of the Equator. The beans are contained in an ugly looking pod, a sample was passed round. This was dark brown in colour but, surprisingly, they also come in yellow, red, orange and purple, all producing beans of a different flavour. The tough crop has to be harvested by a machete then left in the sun for 7-10 days to ferment. The beans are then roasted to develop the flavour and the husks removed before

They say that hard work never killed anyone…but then, neither did hanging around the house and napping all day.

Groby & Field Head Spotlight • APRIL 2015 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk being mashed up in a giant press, separating the cocoa powder from the cocoa butter (an ingredient widely used in beauty products). The first chocolate was made in 1876. Milk powder is added for white chocolate. Good quality dark chocolate contains 60% cocoa, the higher percentage the more bitter, up to 100% for savoury dishes. Milk chocolate contains only 40%. To make a luxury hard, shiny chocolate the mixture must be i.e. heated to 45deg. then cooled down to 32deg. His theatrical set for demonstrating this was rather like the hubble bubble in a witches’ coven. Two small cauldrons, one for black and one for white chocolate were kept at the correct temperature. Then came the exciting bit, Easter Eggs! The moulds, in two halves had to be polished with a soft cloth, one brushed with dark and the other with dark and light chocolate to give a marbled effect. When set the halves were joined by chocolate, rather like super glue. The join was disguised by a rope of moulding chocolate, made pliable by adding liquid glucose to the mixture. He proceeded to create a very artistic Easter Egg set on a base and frame of chocolate, lavishly decorated with chocolate roses and white chocolate ribbons. Being a chocoholic, my saliva began to flow when trays of small moulds were coated with chocolate, put into the fridge, brought out filled with a praline and biscuit crumb mixture and left to set. Then came the audience participation, samples were passed

Voters urged to make sure they are registered to vote

around, a very welcome and delicious treat. I have a privileged seat on the front row: I wonder whether the back row members worry about the supply of goodies running out prematurely. Tom had Easter Eggs for sale at all prices and did a brisk trade. His exhibition masterpiece was generously given for the raffle prize. Not my lucky day, the last raffle I won was a tin of Cassoulet! Life’s very unfair. Next month’s meeting is ‘Wicked Wallis & Edward VIII’, the speaker is Julie Ede. So come along to the Village Hall at 7.30pm on Thursday l6th April to hear a bit of juicy goings on, I like that sort of thing!

Evelyn and Margaret

AS A NATIONAL advertising campaign is launched to encourage voter registration ahead of the General Election, the Borough Council is encouraging local people to make sure they’re registered to vote. On May 7 voters will go to the polls to elect a Member of Parliament for the Bosworth Constituency. Elections for Borough and Parish Councillors are taking place also on the same day. The Electoral Commission has launched its national voter registration campaign to remind people to register by April 20. The television advert can be seen here. Steve Atkinson, Electoral Registration Officer for Hinckley and Bosworth said: “Time is now running short to make sure you can take part in the elections, so I am encouraging everyone in Hinckley and Bosworth to take action now if they haven’t registered to vote already. Our message is simple: you can’t vote, if you aren’t registered by 20 April. It’s easy to do and only takes a few minutes online at gov. uk/register-to-vote. If you’re not sure, please double check’. To register to vote visit www.gov. uk/register-to-vote Residents can check whether they’re registered to vote by calling the council on 01455 238141. Recent research conducted by YouGov for the Electoral Commission found that: • 21% of people who rent privately think they’re automatically registered to vote if they pay council tax – they aren’t • 40% of those surveyed think it is not possible to register to vote online in England, Scotland and Wales - it is • 69% do not know that the deadline to register to vote, with 13% thinking it is already too late to register. • When given a choice of five options only 32% correctly identified the deadline as 20 April.

LFE next film night

LFE Film Evenings will be showing on Thursday 7 May 2015 “My Old Lady”. A down-on-his-luck New Yorker inherits a Parisian apartment from his estranged father, so travels to France to sell the vast domicile. However, he’s shocked to discover an old lady living there together with her protective daughter. This refined but feisty Englishwoman, Mathilde Girard (played by Maggie Smith) is a live-in tenant who is not prepared to budge. Cast includes Maggie Smith, Kristin-Scott Thomas, and Kevin Klein. Venue: the Parish Hall, Kings Drive, LFE. Cost: £5. Doors open at 7.00pm when a complimentary hot drink and biscuits will be available. The film show starts at 7.30pm.

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Groby & Field Head Spotlight • APRIL 2015 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk

Supermarket Wordsearch Find the names of TWELVE SUPERMARKET CHAINS in this month’s Wordsearch puzzle and you could win yourself a meal and a drink. This month we are offering a tasty prize of: A Main Course for Two, plus A Bottle of House Wine at The Fieldhead Hotel. To go into the draw, all you have to do is find - and mark a line through - the names of 12 SUPERMARKET CHAINS. These can run vertically, horizontally or diagonally (and backwards!). Send your entry to: SUPERMARKET SWEEP, Groby & Field Head Spotlight, PO Box 8, Markfield, Leics. LE67 9ZT to arrive by Friday 1st May 2015. Remember to include your name and address. The first all-correct entry drawn out of the Editor’s Lumberjack hat will win the Meal for Two at The Fieldhead Hotel. Good luck! Here are the twelve SUPERMARKETS you have to find:

ALDI • ASDA • BUDGENS • CO OP FARMFOODS • LIDL • LONDIS • MORRISONS NISA • SAINSBURYS • TESCO • WAITROSE

Name: ................................................................................................. Address: ................................................................................................ .................................................................Postcode: .............................

Last Issue’s Wordsearch Winner The winner of last issue’s Wordsearch competition was: KATH STEVENSON of Carmen Grove, Groby. Your prize - a Voucher for a Main Course for Two plus a Bottle of House Wine at The Fieldhead Hotel will be sent to you soon.

Bradgate Rotary Club receives its Charter

SATURDAY 28TH FEBRUARY was a very special night for the members of the new Bradgate Rotary Club as we were officially presented with our Charter by the District Governor, Ken Brian Rigby receiving our Charter from District Billington at a President Ken Billington dinner dance at Forest Hills Golf Club. An excellent meal was followed by dancing to local group Stonewall. Other recent events have included a visit to Curve in Leicester to see Adrian Mole, the Musical and a curry night in January. Future events planned include a talk about canal boats for the disabled, a mini wine tasting and talk from a local vinery and a meal at Tastes, Leicester College. We will be litter picking in and around Groby on the morning of Saturday 28 March. Since forming we have had several months of successful fundraising for our three current local charities of Alex’s Wish, STEPS and 20/20. If you would like to join our friendly group of just over 20 from different backgrounds and ages, we meet at The Stamford Arms for a business breakfast meeting on the first and third Wednesdays of the month from 7.30 to 8.30 when we plan our fundraising and social activities. The second Wednesday evening of the month is set aside for speakers and the fourth Wednesday evening for socials.

“I ran a half marathon” sounds so much better than “I quit halfway through a marathon”.

Groby & Field Head Spotlight • APRIL 2015 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk

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