April 2016 groby spotlight online magazine by Michael Wilkinson

Local Drama

Bradgate Rotary Club Photography Competition

Groby Players need help

Quirky photos of Bradgate Park needed for calendar

GROBY PLAYERS are a small amateur drama group looking for new members to join the group in any capacity.

ARE YOU a keen amateur photographer or perhaps just enjoy taking photos with your phone? If so why not enter the Bradgate Rotary Club Amateur Photography Competition.

We put on a once a year production in the Village Hall in Groby, usually around October/November, but unless we can recruit more members, putting on a production is becoming increasingly difficult. As we only put on one production, this is not a huge commitment all year, so if you are interested in any aspect of am dram - for example acting, producing, directing, backstage - please get in touch.

Dot Hollins

Email: dothollins@outlook.com Tel: (mobile) 07790861033.

Flint re-open the new-look boutique FLINT OF GROBY is delighted to say “We are open again and there’s lots new to see!” Brand new to Flint is a collection of ladieswear, stocking a wide selection of shoes and clothes. There is something to suit all ages and sizes, including up to size 20+ Lots of new styles of jewellery, scarves and handbags on show too! We still, of course, stock cards and gifts for baby, wedding & birthdays too. FLINT is at 15 Ratby Road, Groby, Le6 0Gf and we are open Tuesdays – Saturdays 10 - 5

Eddie Murphy in Groby?

See page 31 for more details.

We are looking for photographs taken in Bradgate Park to feature in the 2017 Bradgate Park Calendar. The winning entry will be featured on the front cover with the 11 runners up each having a month. The Calendar will be sold to raise funds for the Park. We’re looking for something a little bit different maybe a bit quirky, so get creative and get snapping. We can accept only one photograph per entry and they need to be supplied to this specification, landscape orientation only, 210mm x 297mm at 300dpi, maximum file size 10MB. Entries need to be received no later than 30th April 2016. Submit your entry, stating the time of year your photo was taken with your details and send it to info@ asksuewitts.co.uk Terms and Conditions apply.

England Selection For Sim Thandi GROBY COMMUNITY College Year 11 student Sim Thandi has just returned from the Algarve, Portugal where he represented the England U17 Football team in an international tournament. Sim is an academy footballer with Leicester City F.C. and was selected to take part in the four team tournament from 31st January to 10th February. Sim made three appearances in the tournament, making his debut in a 1-1 draw with Portugal. He started at right back against Germany, having a hand in one of the England goals in a 2-2 draw, with his final appearance coming in a 2-0 loss to the Netherlands. In between games Sim spent time training, recovering in ice baths and completing his studies. This will have given him some insight into the life of a professional footballer, something that he is currently working towards. A huge well done to Sim on a fantastic achievement.

NEXT ISSUE OUT: Saturday 14th May - Advert/Articles needed by 30th April

Groby & Field Head Spotlight • APRIL 2016 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk

A simple way to keep your spending under control

DID YOU know that when you use a debit or credit card, you spend about a third MORE than if you were using cash? So say debt counsellors. So if you are trying to save money, here is a simple trick you can try. Keep your standing orders and direct debits in place – but use only cash for everything else. Work out how much you will need for a week, and then withdraw that amount from a cash machine. And make it last. If there is something ‘extra’ that you would like, wait until near the end of the month, and see if you can afford it. That will give you a kind of cooling down time from the excitement of wanting it. You may often find that you don’t bother to go back and buy it!

Campus Orchestra - Joint Concert ON FEBRUARY 10th the Brookvale-Groby Campus Orchestra took part in a joint concert with the Ratby Cooperative Band. This was a huge opportunity for us to play with an experienced band and to showcase the pieces that we had been working on. It was inspirational to hear the Ratby Band play their own pieces which have personally given me some inspiration for my AS level composition. The best part of the night was playing with the Ratby Band and to sit among professional players while playing fun, well known pieces. I would like to thank Miss White for organising such a brilliant concert and also a big thank you to Mike and the Band for a really fun and inspiring evening.

Emily Woodall Year 12 student at Groby Community College

Over 17,000 households sign-up for the garden waste collection service OVER 17,000 households across Hinckley & Bosworth Borough have already signed-up for the council’s new garden waste collection scheme. The high take-up of the service (which is equivalent to 35 per cent of all households) means that only those brown bins displaying the payment sticker will be emptied from 6 May onwards. However, during April, the council will continue to collect all brown bins to give those residents who haven’t signed-up yet, additional time in which to do so. The cost of the service is £24 per year. Those who haven’t signed up yet should do so as soon as possible to allow up to 10 working days for their sticker to arrive. Anyone wishing to sign-up can choose to either: • sign up online 24 hours a day at: www.hinckley-bosworth.gov.uk/ gardenwaste; or • call: 01455 238141 Mon to Fri 8.30am - 5pm (4.30pm Fri) and select option 2 If the sticker has not arrived within 10 days they should contact 01455 238141 and select Option 2 or email: wasteservices@hinckley-bosworth. gov.uk. Residents are welcome to join the service at any point during the year but no discount is available for those joining later. Collection days will remain the same as at present. Anyone who chooses not to continue to receive the garden waste service does not need to notify the council. Households can keep the garden waste bin if they wish to. Alternatively, the council will make one collection of all unwanted garden waste bins in autumn 2016. Information about this collection will be attached to refuse bins nearer the time. Further information is available on www.hinckley-bosworth.gov.uk/ gardenwaste

Thanks to all the different kinds of craft beers my severe alcoholism just seems like a cool neat hobby.

Groby & Field Head Spotlight • APRIL 2016 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk

I said I was good at making decisions. I didn’t say the decisions I made were good.

Groby & Field Head Spotlight • APRIL 2016 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk

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Sometimes I buy enormous pants and take a picture of myself holding them up just to feel like I lost a ton of weight.

Groby & Field Head Spotlight • APRIL 2016 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk

Renegotiate, Referendum, Refresh!

Groby Allotment Society News “Life With A Lottie” By Jane Marston WE HAVE had the spring equinox - so now the days are longer than the nights – the soil is starting to warm up and it is full steam ahead into the growing season.

WITH THE EU Referendum just a few months away, and the people of the East Midlands weighing up their vote, I thought it would be the perfect opportunity to renew and refresh my website and communications about the EU and my work. Through a new website and increased communications I hope to reach out to constituents, encouraging them to get in touch and helping them to find the information they need to make their decision. Never before has my role as an MEP been more important than now. As the nation goes to the polls to decide on the UK’s future relationship with the EU this summer, it is important for me and my constituents to have a user-friendly forum to engage in. Whilst I have made my stance on the EU referendum clear, advocating in June for the UK to leave the EU, I will continue as your MEP up to, and should it be the case, beyond the 23rd of June. I will continue to serve the East Midlands and the UK, both as a representative and through working on legislation to promote the UK, and it is through my website that you can find more information about this. I regularly update my website with press releases, photos, visits and updates on long term campaigns that I continue to champion, support and lead. I spend a lot of time in Brussels working on committees and policy and it is important that this resonates back home. However, what is really important to me are the campaigns and causes in the constituency that I can help with; issues such as battling red tape for cider producers, funding for local and grassroots sport to the protection of children online. My new website will serve as a platform for me to raise awareness of issues close to my heart but also those of constituents, but it will also serve as a means for constituents to get in touch. The referendum is a once in a generation opportunity to reset the UK’s global focus and I want to hear from the people of the East Midlands, asking them to take part in my online poll. When you submit an EU referendum message you will be asked to indicate your preference, Leave or Remain. I will keep the results of this poll updated on my website also. Take a look at it here: www.emmamcclarkin.com If you want to subscribe to my newsletter, email me at: emma.mcclarkin@europarl.europa.eu

Over wintered garlic is now in and growing well, spring planted seeds are in (not showing through yet), many are still in the greenhouse or are being hardened off. Potatoes are in, also peas and beans – let’s hope the frosts are gentle for the new growth above ground. Most of the winter crops are finished although we are still picking kale and sprouting broccoli, the spring cabbage are ready. We are enjoying the early forced rhubarb – see recipe – hopefully rhubarb will be the first of the season’s fruit harvest, the freezer is empting fast. In general the plots are looking good and the winter preparation is showing good results. The grass cutting of the pathways and verges has started and by the time you read this we will have had our first Bacon Buttie event of the season and hopefully will have met some new friends. If you have never attended one of these Sunday morning sessions you don’t have to be a plot holder to come along, anyone is welcome as long as you enjoy a bacon buttie in the open air in good company. We hold these events on the first Sunday of the month from 10am -12pm on the Ratby road site. We have a lovely community shed along with a memorial garden, bench, toilet and our most recent item is a new bird box dedicated to an enthusiastic bacon buttie attendee who is no longer with us. Jigsaw puzzles seem to be a very popular seller but we also have used garden equipment, garden sales and some limited produce. We have had loads of bags of seed trays and plastic plant pots left in front of the shed – more than we know what to do with so please can we ask that you don’t leave anymore or we will just have to take to the tip as they can-not be recycled. Our garden trug has been emptied and refilled with fresh compost and planted up with seeds that hopefully will give me clean straight carrots and spring onions that will do us proud in the village show in August and salad stuff for the summer. Yes us gardeners are always looking to the next season – and dreaming it will be better than the last !!!!

RECIPE OF THE MONTH Rhubarb spice cake with lemon topping • • • • •

30g butter, at room temperature 200g caster sugar 1 egg 175ml milk 250g plain flour

• • • •

3 teaspoons baking powder 1 teaspoon salt 2 flat teaspoons of mixed spice 250g rhubarb cut into 1cm pieces

Preheat the oven to 180c/gas 4. Grease and flour a 22x33cm cake tin. Sift together the flour, baking powder, salt and spices – set aside. In a large bowl cream together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the egg. Beat in the flour mixture alternating with the milk. Stir in the rhubarb. Pour into the prepared tin. Bake in the oven for Approx. 45 mins or until a skewer comes out clean. Stir together 2 tablespoons caster sugar with the juice of 1 lemon and cover the cake whilst still in the tin. Yummy.

Film Night: Growing up in the 1950s LFE FILM Evenings will be featuring a special theme event on Thursday 5 May 2016. Through the good offices of FilmTramp, there are going to be three short films shown under the umbrella title “Growing up in the ‘50s”. The evening will start with “One Potato, Two Potato”, a 20-minute 1957 black-and-white film of traditional street games, shot in London. Following this will be “Momma Don’t Allow”, a 20-minute 1956 blackand –white film on location in a London jazz club (featuring Chris Barber, Lonnie Donegan, and Ottilie Patterson.

After a short refreshment’s interval, the last showing will be “Red Balloon” a 35-minute 1956 Oscar winning colour film set in Paris about a boy who makes friends with a red balloon. An extra feature will be a light-hearted quiz between the first two films – and there will be prizes! Venue: the Parish Hall, Kings Drive, LFE. Cost: £5. Doors open at 7.00pm. The film show starts at 7.30pm. A complimentary hot drink and biscuits will be available at the interval.

I’m no scientist, but I’m sure that gravity is at it’s strongest while laying in bed early in the mornings.

Groby & Field Head Spotlight • APRIL 2016 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk

Spring has Sprung for Guide Dogs AT THIS time of year we eagerly look for signs of spring approaching, such as lambs leaping in fields. A puppy in a basket isn’t your traditional iconic image. But please meet Spring. Spring is a guide dog who is now 5 years old. But at one point, was this adorable puppy in a basket. She was named by a group who raised £5,000 for the charity and is now a working guide dog for someone who is blind or partially sighted. She ensures her owner has independence and mobility. A spokesperson from Guide Dogs told us ‘The group that named Spring gave an incredible gift. We are so grateful to the people who fundraised and those who donated. As a result of their help, we have been able to change a life. It is not just Spring who is a life changer, but also those who helped raise the funds to name her.’ Guide Dogs trains over 800 dogs with new blind or partially sighted owners each year and with no government support the charity relies entirely on public donations for this service. The charity’s Name a Puppy scheme invites groups, companies and individuals to make an incredible gift or to fundraise to support a pup through their first training stage, which the charity calls Puppy Walking. Through the Name a Puppy scheme you don’t just have the opportunity to name one of their adorable pups, but for £5,000 you will also hear about their adventure as a guide dog puppy and meet the pup too! Don’t just look for signs of spring this month, take inspiration from Guide Dogs’ puppy Spring and help change a life like she has. If you are interested to find out more about Guide Dogs’ Name a Puppy scheme, please contact us on nameapuppy@guidedogs.org.uk or call 0118 983 0190. Website: www.guidedogs.org.uk.

The only time I ever enjoyed ironing was the day I accidentally put gin in the steam iron.

Phyllis Diller

Looking for old metal - and at least getting exercise HERE IS a hobby that will give you great outdoor exercise – and might, just might, make you rich! Metal detecting is simple to start, and the actual machine is very affordable and easy to master. You can do it anywhere, from your own back garden to local pathways, to fields and even the beach. People who do metal detecting are called ‘detectorists’. They hold on to the stem of a metal detecting machine which is in turn attached to the search head on the ground. This is swept from side to side in an arc as the detectorist walks along. When it passes over a buried metal object, a signal – a bleep – is relayed, usually via headphones, to the enthusiast. A hole is then dug to retrieve the treasure. If you like the idea, but don’t want to try it alone, you might consider joining one of a number of clubs. Visit http://www.ukdetectornet. co.uk/clubs.html for a full list. Apparently Norfolk, Suffolk, Wiltshire and North Yorkshire are the best places to find treasure.

Why would they hang a whole jury just because they couldn’t make up their minds?

Groby & Field Head Spotlight • APRIL 2016 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk

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• OAK SIDEBOARD AND DISPLAY TOP - Oak sideboard with 4 central drawers and 2 side cupboards. Matching top with 2 glass fronted cupboards with shelves in between. Splits in to 2 for transport buyer to arrange. Size overall 166cm wide 53cm deep 189cm high. Under 2 years old bought from Tylers, Loughborough. Cost new over £1100 Price £150.00 Tel: 0116 291 3683 • PRO FITNESS MINI X TRAINER - as new Price £45.00 Tel: 01530 245323 • MORPHY RICHARDS SLOW COOKER, complete with instruction/recipe booklet. • TWO LARGE ENAMEL ROASTING PANS, approx. 13½in x 12½in. Good condition. Free to collect. Tel: 0116 291 2806 to arrange collection. • PURE SILK SUIT - (jacket & skirt), Wim Hemmink, rich cream, size 16, worn once, very stylish. Price: £40.00 • WINDSMOOR two-piece (jacket & trousers), purple, size:large, worn once. Price: £30.00 • ROYAL BLUE three-piece (jacket, top and trousers), size 22, hardly worn. Price: £15.00 Tel: 0116 287 6761 • CROCK POT slow cooker, good condition, has become too heavy to lift. Free. Tel: 0116 287 5654 • HITACHI 22” LCD flat screen television. Price: £30.00 • ALBA 19” LED flat screen television, 6 months old. Price: £35.00 • TOSHIBA 32” LCD flat screen television. Price: £35.00 • BUSHNELL telescope, complete with tripod and carrying cases. Price: £75.00 All in excellent condition. Tel: 077575 30272 or 0116 232 2474. • ROBINSON WILLEy gas fire used once free to good home. • GAZEBO used once in wooden box, 6 mtrs by 8 mtrs with sides, any one wants it can have it for free. • BBQ free to good home, complete with gas bottle and regulator, hardly used. Tel: 0116 255 8163. • CHILD’S BIKE, Apollo FS24, suitable for boy or girl aged 10-15 years, 18 gears. Price: £25.00 Tel: 0116 287 3229 • KARCHER pressure washer, K2, including attachments, new, boxed, unused. Price: £70.00 o.n.o. • PANASONIC digital cordless telephone answering system (model: KX-TG7322E), comprises 2 telephones, one base station, one telephone station and a handbook, all in good working order. Price: £20.00 Tel: 0116 287 5973 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. Please put ‘Small Ads’ in the subject line.

Survey finds over 65s in East Midlands well prepared for retirement PEOPLE aged 65 and over in the East Midlands are one of the most prepared regions for retirement in the UK, according to recent findings from a nationwide survey. The survey – commissioned by Stannah as part of its Silver Census series – found that a significant majority (68%) of East Midlands based respondents are confident that they will be financially secure for the whole of their retirement. This is higher than the national average of 62%. Over a third (38%) believe that their financial situation is better than they thought it would be when they were 45. This is higher than the national average of 34%, demonstrating that people from the East Midlands are better equipped to deal with their finances once they stop work. Amanda Barnett, an IFA specialising in pensions, said: “Many people struggle to manage their finances as they age, which of course can affect their lifestyle and dampen their enjoyment of retirement. “So it is particularly pleasing to see that over 65s in the East Midlands are optimistic about their financial situation, demonstrating that people really can make the most of the years after work. With some proper planning, we hope that everyone can have the retirement that they have dreamt of.” Patrick Stannah, Managing Director at Stannah Stairlifts, said: “These figures for the East Midlands are extremely encouraging. Retirement can and should be an amazing time of one’s life, free from the burden of work with the opportunity to do all kinds of new and different things.”

Letter Signs vandalised I WAS appalled and disgusted that two road signs where I live were vandalised during the course of am-p.m. on Wed 16th March. No-one else has commented on this to me except an elderly man who tried to prop the sign up and said that ‘it was probably school kids but never mind.’ What?

By Email

The fascination of shooting as a sport depends almost wholly on whether you are at the right or wrong end of the gun.

P. G. Wodehouse When I was a boy the Dead Sea was only sick.

George Burns

No I don’t want to ride in a basket beneath your giant flying fire tent.

Groby & Field Head Spotlight • APRIL 2016 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk

Groby & Field Head Spotlight PO Box 8, Markfield, Leics. LE67 9ZT

Telephone 01530-

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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.

Bridge works over the M1 taking place A NEW BRIDGE across the M1 will soon take shape as the next phase of construction begins. From Saturday 7 May Leicestershire County Council, along with partners Balfour Beatty and Highways England, will install the bridge beams that will link Thorpe Astley to New Lubbesthorpe. The installation will take up to three nights, across three weekends, and requires night time closures of the motorway between junction 21 and 22. The motorway will be closed in both directions on: • Saturday, 7 May, 9pm until 11am on Sunday 8 • Saturday, 14 May, 8pm until 10am on Sunday 15 • Saturday, 21 May, 8pm until 10am on Sunday 22 Councillor Peter Osborne, cabinet member for highways, said: “Our contractors are working hard to install the bridge as quickly and safely as possible and reduce disruption, before work to develop the new town can begin. “Motorists have been really patient since the work started and the speed limit along the motorway needed to be reduced, I would like to thank them for that and apologise for the disruption the next phase of work may cause.” Work to build the bridge started in June 2015 and is expected to last until autumn 2016. The central and side supports for the bridge are almost complete and by May will be ready for the next phase. The two-way closure of the M1, between Leicester’s junction 21 and 22, will ensure the bridge beams can be safely lifted into place and has been timed to minimise disruption. The bridge has been funded thanks to £5m from the Department for Transport’s Local Pinchpoint Fund and money from the New Lubbesthorpe developers. The M69 slip road onto the M1 northbound, the A46 from its junction with the A50 to where it merges with the M1 and Leicester Forest East service station will also be closed overnight during the work. Diversion routes for local journeys include the A563, Leicester outer ring road, and the A50. Motorists travelling from further afield will be directed onto the M6 or M69, and M42/A42. For further information visit www.leicestershire.gov.uk/M1closure, email highwayscustomerservices@leics.gov.uk or call 0116 305 0001. For live traffic updates follow @ATCLeicester on Twitter.

Letter

Asthma and animals I WAS quite shocked to read the article in Spotlight last month about animals, babies and asthma. I was in close contact with cats when I was a baby which made me develop a lifelong allergy to them and later on to dogs both animals have put me in hospital for between two and 10 days due to them setting off my asthma. If you read about asthma, the top allergens to trigger an asthma attack are dust, cats and dogs. Here is an excerpt from the asthma societies website: “Specific factors include allergens such as house dust mite droppings, in dust, pets such as cats and dogs, pollens such as trees, grass, and moulds.” I would hate to think that this article in Spotlight would encourage people to buy a cat or dog in order to prevent the child from getting asthma. I have been on medication all my life , and often wonder if I would have ever become asthmatic, had I not been exposed to furry animals so early in life.

Name & Address Supplied

Groby Village Society

Preservation - Conservation Communal Interests

Programme 2016 Thursday April 28 Who do you think lived in a house like this? (part 2) ~ Mr Brian Johnson ~ Thursday May 26 Medical Detection Dogs ~ Mrs Denise Taylor ~ Thursday June 30 Catherine Crompton’s Diary ~ Mr Stephen Flinders ~ Thursday July 28 From Golden Gate to Glitter Gulch ~ Mr Simon Coates ~

NEXT ISSUE OUT ON: 14th May DEADLINE: 30th April

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

I have a feeling I already know which direction my “Get rich or die trying” lifestyle is headed.

Groby & Field Head Spotlight • APRIL 2016 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk

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Keith Smith (Anstey) Ltd 4-6 Stadon Road,Anstey, Leicester LE7 7AY Tel: 0116 236 2395 *T&C’s apply. Sold as an agent for Euronics Limited. Promotion Dates 17.03.16 - 04.05.16. Offer applies to selected models only, chosen by the retailer. All rights reserved. All offers are subject to availability while stocks last. Delivery & Installation charges may apply Exclusions and Radius Apply. Selected Stores Only. Prices correct at time of print but can be subject to change. See in store for full details. Images for illustration purposes only. Copyright Euronics 2016. March E&EO 2016. BOSCH (SpringBloom).indd 1

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Learn from your mistakes. Make better & better mistakes until you’re making the best mistakes possible.

Groby & Field Head Spotlight • APRIL 2016 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk

County Councillor’s Report Wallace Drive Traveller Application/Appeal Update THE APPEAL was heard on Tuesday 15th March at the Borough Council offices, The Hub Rugby Road, Hinckley. Several local residents attended. As this was a Formal Hearing and not a Public Inquiry parties could not be cross examined. The Bradgate Hill residents committee were represented at the Appeal by Simon Stanion, an expert planning lawyer, and Steve Clarke, an expert on Highways who presented evidence on behalf of the residents. Local residents also gave evidence. I gave evidence concerning Highways issues and clarification on several points including my experience of towing caravans for 36 years. We expect a decision in about 4 to 6 weeks.

A50 Bradgate Hill, Groby ON FRIDAY 11th March I arranged a residents’ meeting with our two Local MPs Ed Argar and David Tredinnick to discuss the residents’ concerns over the speed of traffic both going up and coming down the A50 on Bradgate Hill, Groby and also the recent accidents. I have been looking at this section of road since I was elected as in my opinion it should have been reduced to 40mph when the two sections either side, both at Field Head and Lena Drive, were reduced from 50mph to 40mph. It is both confusing to drivers and a danger to residents. The meeting was well attended and I felt was very positive. I suggested a reduction in the speed limit to 40mph and if possible central reservation barriers. Both MP’s agreed that something

needed to be done and agreed to write to the Director of Highways and support both myself and the residents. I have since spoken with the Director of Highways and I am in the process of arranging a further meeting with the Leader of the Council, the Director of Highways and both MPs to discuss the residents’ concerns.

Fly Tipping: Layby Opposite Groby Community College I WAS made aware of the above Fly Tipping incident again on Wednesday 30th March this is the 3rd occasion within the last few months. This time the material tipped was on the Railway side of the site and consisted of concrete hardcore blocks, a pile of stones, a pallet and turf. Fly tipping costs all of us as it is the Borough Council’s rate payers that end up paying for the removal. I contacted the Borough Council’s Neighbourhood Warden Manager who arranged for the removal the same day. I requested that the site be monitored in order to trace offenders and prosecute them. I would ask residents to be vigilant and to help us to trace offenders by taking registration numbers and types of vehicles, as the amount of tipping involved in all these incidents would have required a vehicle, possibly a van. I can always be contacted in total confidence.

Groby Pool Security I WAS contacted on Friday 18th March around 3.45pm by a concerned resident who noticed that concrete blocks and wooden planks had been put across the ditch to gain access into Groby Pool car park. Vehicle tyre tracks had been left across the grass. I immediately contacted the PA

for Steve Atkinson the Borough Council’s Chief Executive. She assured me that they would arrange for the appropriate officers to check this out after informing Steve. I then followed this up on Monday morning with a call to Steve Atkinson. I informed Steve that I was not convinced that this had simply been a case of someone being locked in the car park although, I stressed that I was not inferring it was down to travellers. I advised Steve the car park needed securing in order to stop any possible incursion or unlawful activity after the gates had been locked at night. To that end I met with Malcolm Evans the Borough Council’s property manager on site later that day. He agreed that the car park needed securing as it was vulnerable. I suggested large granite stones be put in place. We agreed it needed to be done with Easter approaching and that fencing could be done within a couple of days. The insecure area was fenced off with post and rail fencing and completed by the Wednesday. We have agreed to look at putting granite blocks behind the fence to make it totally secure and the possibility of extending the fencing if required.

Groby Pool ASB I HAVE received several complaints about activities of Anti-Social Behaviour on the car park and surrounding area of Groby Pool. To that end I have had meeting with the police and the Borough Councils Anti-Social Endeavour Team and the executive member for community safety. The police have arranged for extra patrols and the Borough Council are putting extra measures in place. After our meeting the following joint message from the Police and Borough Council was put out to residents.

With the spring and summer months approaching it is anticipated that we will see an increase in antisocial behaviour across the borough and in public places. To pre-empt this seasonal rise, the police and borough council are looking to proactively tackle any anti-social behaviour issues that may arise at Groby Pool and to look at some preventative methods such as new signage and increased police patrols. As part of the focused campaign we want to actively encourage people who witness anti-social behaviour to report it. Anti-social behaviour is a wide range of unacceptable activity and includes things like vandalism, graffiti and fly-posting, fly tipping, anti-social driving, incidents of indecency and groups of young people drinking or taking drugs.

How to Report Anti-Social Behaviour IF YOU want to report anti-social behaviour or a crime that is not an emergency, you should call Leicestershire Constabulary on 101 or your council antisocial behaviour team on 01455 238141. To report an environmental issue or environmental crime such as litter, dog fouling, graffiti; fly tipping, fly posters, abandoned vehicles, litter bins, road sweeping and removal of needles and glass call the council’s Clean Neighbourhoods team on 01455 238141 Remember, in an emergency, you should always call 999. Alternatively, if you want to remain anonymous, you can pass on information about crimes to the independent charity, Crimestoppers, either on 0800 555 111 or via www. crimestoppers-uk.org.

I saw an ad for burial plots and I thought, that’s the last thing I need.

Groby & Field Head Spotlight • APRIL 2016 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk

from Ozzy O’shea Fake Email Addresses THIS IS a reminder to be aware of emails that appear to have been sent from a legitimate organisation.

Tel 0116 2394336 or 07808 585825

Email: ozzyoshea@hotmail.com

Groby Post Office Modernisation update FOLLOWING on from my article last month on the modernisation of Groby Post office, the work has been put back and is now scheduled to start on Thursday May 5th so the post office will close at 5.30pm on Wednesday 4th May and reopen again on Friday 3rd June at 1pm. Your nearest post offices during this time will be: • Ratby Post Office 30 Main St, Ratby which is 1.5 miles away. Opening hours are 0900-1730hrs Monday to Friday and 09001230hrs on a Saturday • Glenfield Post Office Station Road, Glenfield 1.9 miles away opening Hours Monday, Tuesday 0800-1900hrs Wednesday 08001800hrs Thursday, Friday 0800hrs1900hrs and Saturday 090017.30hrs.

Speeding Complaint Markfield Rd, Groby I HAVE received speeding complaints by vehicles travelling along Markfield Road, Groby. I have liaised with our local police officer who is arranging for speed checks to be completed.

Fraudsters often use fake email addresses designed to encourage recipients to open attachments or links. You are advised that if you are in any doubt as to the origin of an email, do not open it. Consider that emails can be spoofed and used to generate spam to recipients far and wide. If you receive a spam email, you MUST NOT open it. Instead, delete it from your email system to avoid infecting your device. If you have opened an attachment from a spam email, you should get your device checked over by a professional and change the passwords for all your bank, email and online shopping accounts. Protect yourself: •

Do not click or open unfamiliar links in emails or on websites.

•

Make sure you install and use up-to-date anti-virus software.

•

Have a pop-up blocker running in the background of your web browser.

•

If you have opened an attachment and ‘enabled macros’ it is very likely that all your personal data will have been breached. You MUST change all your passwords for personal accounts, including your bank accounts.

Ensure Adobe, Flash and any similar software is up to date on your computer. If you think you have been a victim of this type of email you should report the email to Action Fraud, the UK’s national fraud and cyber-crime reporting centre: www.actionfraud.police.uk If you do make a report please provide as much detail as you can about the email and any effects it has had on your computer. Additionally if your Anti-Virus software detects any issues in relation to this email please provide us with the details.

Warning: Car Accident Insurance Scam

Are You A Knitter Or Do You Know One?

Last month I warned residents with regards to the Flash for Cash Car scam. Well Leicester has become Hot Spot in for another Crash for Cash scam. A criminal gang are deliberately causing accidents by braking suddenly for no reason causing drivers to run into the rear of their vehicles. The LE3 area and New Parks are being particularly targeted, so please leave plenty of distance from the car in front and beware of any sudden unnecessary braking. I would like to take this opportunity to thank Residents for your continued support. Remember I am only an Email or a phone call away and always available to help residents. Kind Regards

Ozzy O’shea Working for you Always Keeping Residents updated Cllr Ozzy O’shea Tel 0116 2394336 or 07808585825 Email: ozzyoshea@hotmail.com

•

WE NEED YOUR HELP TO RAISE MONEY FOR NEEDY LOCAL OLDER PEOPLE Age UK Leicester Shire & Rutland is once again calling for all knitters to join in The Big Knit this year to raise much-needed funds to help keep local older people warm and healthy this coming winter. Thanks to our fantastic band of knitters, last year we received an incredible 47,000 little hats and need your help to match this challenging total which will assist our winter warmth campaign 2016. Innocent drinks will donate 25p for each little hat which will adorn the smoothie bottles sold in supermarkets early in 2017. Knitters can get the simple knitting patterns online at www.ageuk.org. uk/leics or by calling the Business Development Manager on 0116 2237344. Hats can be dropped off at any of our shops or Resource Centres (or sent direct) in time to be at Age UK Leicester Shire & Rutland, Lansdowne House, 113 Princess Road East, Leicester, LE1 7LA by the end of October.

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Groby & Field Head Spotlight • APRIL 2016 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk

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One day you will meet someone so amazing in every way who will want absolutely nothing to do with you.

Groby & Field Head Spotlight • APRIL 2016 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk

Groby Sits Down For Breakfast And Stands Up For Fair Farming FAIRTRADE Fortnight ran from 29th February to 13th March and involved some early mornings as the theme for this year was Wake Up To The Big Fairtrade Breakfast! A good number of events were held in Groby to celebrate the F.T. Fortnight: A ‘Pudding Party’ that included their parents was initiated by Urban Saints. Fair Coffee & Cake was served up to Groby Walkers by the Thursday run Faircuppa. There was imaginative handprint art from the Noah’s Ark and Catch Playgroups. A version of ‘Charlie & Lola Fairtrade Chocolate Story’ was read to the Wriggly Readers, with one grandma making F.T. cakes for everyone. A fair number of individuals invited their neighbours into their homes for coffee and cake or for Fairtrade Wine Tasting. Some folk even visited their neighbours and handed out cake and recipes. Officially this year’s initiative was launched at the Groby community-run café, who hosted a ‘Big Fairtrade Breakfast’. Love Groby Tasters, organised by Churches Together in Groby provides a fun environment for all and is especially family friendly. It is held every Saturday morning at Groby U.R.C. on Chapel Hill. The event served around 80 breakfasts with the Leicester Mercury sending a photographer along. Kenny, the Laundon Way Co-op Manager, popped in to get a flavour of the event while having his breakfast. Both the Groby Co-op stores supported the event by generously providing the fairtrade ingredients for the Big Breakfast. The Fairtrade Foundation reminded us of the words of Martin Luther King; ‘before you finish eating breakfast in the morning, you’ve depended on more than half the world.’ The theme of this year’s Fairtrade Fortnight focussed on why millions of farmers and workers who are feeding the world, are themselves going hungry; and you may ask why do the Groby Churches get involved? Fairtrade means farmers and workers can fulfil a human right we can often take for granted, that of putting food on the table.

Larking around with the Leicester Mercury photographer

Handprint Art by Noah’s Ark & Catch Playgroups

Kenny, Manager at Laundon Way Co-Op

The Big Fairtrade Breakfast at Love Groby Tasters

I don’t like who I become when I have to get out of bed.

Groby & Field Head Spotlight • APRIL 2016 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk

The Big Martinshaw Woods Bluebell Walk in aid of Canine Partners STEP INTO spring and join our Big Martinshaw Bluebell Walk in aid of Canine Partners on Sunday 1st May from 11am. Gather your friends, family, colleagues and community groups and stroll around the beautiful Martinshaw Woods in Ratby. There will be two routes, with the shorter one being suitable for wheelchairs and pushchairs. The money raised will enable Canine Partners to continue its work in training assistance dogs to help people with physical 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. Kathleen Hodkinson, organiser of the three mile walk and volunteer for the Charity, said: “Come along and enjoy our family friendly Big Bluebell Walk and support a charity which really is life-changing. They 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. “There will also be the chance to purchase merchandise, enjoy a raffle and for children to take part in a quiz.” The Charity’s national Big Bluebell Walk campaign has raised more than £168,000 in the past 12 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. Prices are £4 for adults, £2 for children or £10 for a family of four. Dogs on leads are welcome. There are toilet facilities available. To register for this event please email khodkinson9@gmail.com or phone 0116 2876684. To find out how you can organise your own Big Bluebell Walk in aid of Canine Partners please visit caninepartners.org.uk/bigbluebellwalks or call 01730 716013.

Don’t Forget to Send Us Your News Write to Groby & Field Head Spotlight, PO Box 8, Markfield, Leics. LE67 9ZT or email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk

NOW - read the magazine in page-flip style online at www.grobyspotlight.co.uk

Don’t drive when sad! YOU’VE SEEN those motorway signs warning you not to drive when you are tired. But now it seems you are far more likely to crash your car if you drive when you are sad, or when you are angry, or when you are agitated. A recent study has found that a healthy emotional state is hugely important for your safety at the wheel; being sad, mad or upset can increase your likelihood of a crash by nearly ten-fold. That compares with fatigue making a crash only three times more likely, while talking on a mobile only doubles the risk. Having children in your back seat is a very low risk, as is applying make-up (?!) or eating food while at the wheel. Chatting to your passenger or moving to music barely raises the risk at all. The study was carried out at Virginia Tech.

Why we don’t retire NEARLY ONE in four people who were due to retire later this year have had to put it off, as they simply cannot afford to stop working. And around three in ten of those who will retire this year admit that they do not think their pensions and other savings will give them enough income to support a comfortable retirement. The survey from Prudential also found that many people have nonfinancial reasons for continuing to work, such as wanting to keep their mind and body active.

Don’t feed the ducks bread! FEEDING the ducks is a pastime many of us enjoy. But it is not good to feed them bread. Now a campaign urging people to feed them a healthy alternative claims it has helped us improve our habits by 20 per cent. Last year the Canal & River Trust, which looks after Britain’s waterways, warned people that bread is ‘junk food’ for ducks. It can lead to excessive droppings, which spread disease, and if left to rot, can trigger noxious odours which can kill fish and encourage algae, as well as rats and mice. SO – what DO ducks eat? Try corn, peas, lettuce and seeds.

Turned my lights off for Earth Hour and I’ve never had so many other cars honking at me.

Groby & Field Head Spotlight • APRIL 2016 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk

Letter

Bradgate Drama Waste Society’s Spring collections Mystery news Borough Council

MORE THAN a quarter of households have already opted-in to the new £24 per year garden waste collection service. Those still wishing to sign up should either: • sign up online 24 hours a day at: www.hinckleybosworth.gov.uk/ gardenwaste; or • call: 01455 238141 Mon to Fri 8.30am - 5pm (4.30pm Fri) and select option 2 Please allow up to 10 working days to receive your sticker. The council apologises to residents who may have experienced delays contacting the council call centre and would encourage residents to pay online wherever possible. Meanwhile those who have lots of dry goods to recycle should contact the council to arrange for an extra blue-lidded bin and caddy set - at no extra charge.

How about this for a coincidence?

FOR THIS year’s Spring production Bradgate Drama Society is presenting a classic ‘whodunnuit’, Aldous Huxley’s ‘The Gioconda Smile’.

I HAVE been living in Leicester since 1978 and often I visit my family in Derby.

In 1940’s suburbia, Emily, the invalid wife of rich art dealer Henry Hutton, dies in mysterious circumstances. Did she die at Henry’s hand to make room for a younger woman? Was the Nurse the culprit or was someone else involved in her demise? Follow the twists and turns of the plot through to its final denouement as the suspect sits in the condemned cell. This play is a rare excursion into drama for Aldous Huxley (pictured above), a writer mainly remembered for his novels including Brave New World and Eyeless in Gaza. The Bradgate Drama Society production features an exciting mix of new and established actors to bring the play to life and maintain the tension to the very end. Performances will be on Thursday 5th, Friday 6th. and Saturday 7th. May at 7.30p.m. in Newtown Linford Village Hall. Tickets are £7, available from Toby Manning (01530 245298 or ptm@tobymanning. co.uk)

Peter Upton

My Mum lived on the Mackworth Estate, where I was born. I later went to live with my Grandad, who also lived on the estate. Once, I was waiting for the bus to go from Leicester to my Mum’s. I was talking to this younger girl who was also waiting. I told her where I used to live with my Grandad and she said she lived there at that moment, and actually slept in the same room as I did! So how about that for an amazing coincidence?

Karen Calow Groby

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Secretary, Bradgate Drama Society

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Groby & Field Head Spotlight • APRIL 2016 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk

Groby Surgery Patient Participation Group Newsletter New computer system for Groby surgery WE’VE ALL heard about public service computer systems that have cost a small fortune and then caused all sorts of problems when they fail to deliver. Some patients may hear with some trepidation that in June Groby Surgery is about to upgrade its system and they may think that the temporary disruption that this will cause is an omen of worse to come. There is, however, a lot of reassuring information that this is not the case, but of course the introduction of new systems inevitably results in some teething problems as staff have to get used to the new way of doing things.

New system tried and tested Unlike these major computer disasters we hear about, it’s good to know that SystmOne, which Markfield Health Centre recently implemented and which Groby surgery is adopting, is tried and tested. SystmOne has been continuously developed with substantial clinician input and has been operational for over 15 years. By 2011 around 80% of GPs in Leicester were using the system and nationally in the last 5 years the number of practices using it has increased from 1500 to 2500. The Project Team managing the transfer have a clear idea of where the implementation and training problems lie, but changing computer systems is rarely achieved without some disruption. “Over the last few years we have completed many successful managed transfers between systems and have great knowledge and experience in the process,” explained the Project Manager. “A key benefit for Groby surgery in this process is that the two lead GPs and key admin staff are fully proficient in using Systmone.” Derick Harrison, Chair of Groby Surgery Patient Participation Group said : “I consider this to be a very significant step forward in the delivery of patient care. For the first time a patient’s medical record can be shared electronically between doctors, nurses and other clinical staff in different locations. This is particularly beneficial if a patient needs out-of-hours care or emergency treatment in a hospital and is even more important if the

patient is taken unconscious to an Accident and Emergency unit. The treating doctor will be able to access the medical history of the patient from the GP records and will, therefore, be able to make a faster and more informed decision as to the treatment required. “Patients, however, need have no worries about the confidentiality of their medical information. The system has been in operation for many years in other parts of the country, and is very secure. They can, however, refuse to allow their information to be shared by completing a form at the surgery. In a life-saving situation a doctor can override any refusal. In this situation the actions of the doctor are fully automatically recorded.”

So how will patients be affected? The main training period is planned for 31st May 2016 to 24th June 2016 and clinics will be slightly reduced in order that the staff can receive training on the new system. Despite training and preparation it is possible that for the first few weeks things might be slower, so please be patient with the staff as they get to grips with the new system. The patients who will be most affected during the transitional period are those who • use online services for booking appointments, • ask for repeat prescriptions online or • use the electronic prescription service which enables a prescription to sent by the surgery electronically to a nominated chemist. These services will be temporarily suspended for a short time during May and June. The key dates will be finalised in the next few weeks.

What do users of these services need to know? Due to the new clinical records system, the old login for online appointments will no longer work, probably from 16th May 2016. If you wish to continue using this service you will need to collect new paperwork from reception to sign up to re-register for online appointment booking and to order your repeat prescriptions online. There is likely to be a three week period, probably from the end of May, when pre-bookable appointments will not be available. This means that requests for appointments will have to be made by telephone. Those who do not use the full

standards of patient care during the transitional period. “This is a change we should all embrace,” added PPG Chair Derick Harrison. “During the implementation period there will be some reduction in the on line transactions we have become used to over the last few months, such as ordering repeat prescriptions or booking appointments. However, this will be short lived and the new system will be well worth the slight inconvenience.”

Need more information?

online service but like to have their prescription sent by the surgery electronically to a nominated chemist will also have to re-register.

Processing repeat prescriptions During this interim period, when repeat prescriptions will also be unable to be requested online, repeat prescription requests will have to be made at reception or dropped in to a chemist that provides a collection box for Groby surgery patients. Prescriptions will not be sent electronically to a nominated chemist but will be printed at the surgery. The latest information available is that if you leave your repeat prescription request in the collection box at Well Pharmacy on Ratby Road it will be processed at the surgery and the prescription collected by the pharmacy and prepared ready for you to call in for it. If you use an alternative pharmacy repeat service you should confirm the arrangements directly with the pharmacy. Whether you drop off your request at the pharmacy, or at Reception at the surgery, ask for the latest position just in case the arrangements have changed. The practice will be issuing double prescriptions from early May 2016 for repeat medication prescribing. This should avoid repeats becoming due at critical points in the changeover period

New system well worth any inconvenience The transfer to the new system will be challenging but all practice staff will be ensuring that they continue to maintain high

The next issue of the Spotlight will be available in the week ending 14th May, when more information will be available about the changeover. If you have online access you can check for the latest information and important dates on the surgery website – www.thegrobysurgery. nhs.uk. You can also ask Reception for clarification of any aspect of the changes.

Do you want the surgery to hold your mobile number? IT CAN be advantageous for the surgery to hold your mobile number, so if you are happy to provide one please contact reception.

Named Accountable GP SINCE APRIL 2015 all Practices are required to provide all their Patients with Named Accountable GP who is responsible for their overall care. Our named accountable GPs are Dr T John (female) and Dr Karaminder (male). This does not prevent you from seeing any GP in the Practice as you currently do. If you wish to know who your named accountable GP is, please speak with the Reception team.

Norman Griffiths for Groby Surgery Patient Participation Group

My son recovered from his illness while I was filling out all the paperwork in the waiting room.

Groby & Field Head Spotlight • APRIL 2016 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk

You and your goldfish’s attention span HOW LONG can you concentrate on any one thing? According to a now infamous study by Microsoft (http:// time.com/3858309/attention-spans-goldfish/) our digital lifestyles have had such a detrimental impact on our concentration levels that our average attention span has fallen to below that of a goldfish. Humans now stay focused for just eight seconds, before being distracted by news alerts, social media and so on – while even a goldfish can concentrate for nine seconds. And it is not just the endless stream of information that hits us, but the type of information that is so distracting. Violence and endless conflict can leave you distressed and unsettled. Medical experts recommend regular nondigital breaks such as a walk, a chat, or even just staring out the window. Meanwhile, try these tips to calm your mind: 1. In the evening, reverse the settings on your device, so that you have white writing on a black background. This reduces the blue light that affects your brain’s cyclic rhythm, disrupting your sleep/wake cycle. 2. Get moving. Exercise takes time, but it also sharpens your mind and increases your concentration. So in the end you will get more done in less time. 3. Eat well. Avoid sugar and too much caffeine which make your mind busier. 4. Seek company. Anxiety levels rise after six hours, due to the changes in your brain hormones caused by social isolation. So if you work from home, take your laptop to a coffee shop for an hour, or see a friend for coffee. 5. Fill the final half hour of your day with one simple task, rather than flitting from task to task.

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My enemies are gonna be so sorry if I ever get out of this bean bag chair.

Groby & Field Head Spotlight • APRIL 2016 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk

Groby Gardening Society News WAY BACK in the autumn, members were provided with a standard plant pot, several crocus bulbs and printed growing instructions. These were to be grown and presented at the March meeting. Foliage, if thought applicable, could be included for effect. Out of the display, Graham had agreed to judge the entries. It was an encouraging sight for the organisers of this project to see a table full of entries on the March evening meeting. After Graham had applied his judging criteria, winners were announced and applauded. Great credit must go to all the entrants as the display was worthy of any table at village shows. In addition to this feature, the evening was devoted to making table floral arrangements. Members formed small teams charged with producing a table decoration within a time limit of 30 minutes. Ample foliage of all sorts and spring flowers were provided. The first task the teams had was to choose their components and then commence the project. Much chatter, discussion and friendly banter ensured and therein lay the main aim of the evening. Namely, to encourage more social interactions than are normally possible at conventional meetings. Everyone enjoyed the challenge and Janet Walne was on hand to judge the results. Janet seemed surprised at the overall standard of decoration and had some difficulty picking out a first, second and third prize winner. However, this she did with consumate efficiency. Members were expressing their appreciation of the efforts that the organisers put into the preparation for such an enjoyable evening. If this was not enough, Kay B. provided an array of delicious fairtrade cakes to accompany the well earned coffee/ tea. Much admiration and appreciation for the refreshments were expressed.

Change of date Please note that the October trip to Batsford has been changed to Friday 14th.

Trips, outings and events planned for 2016 May 7th (Saturday) - A day trip to The Malvern Spring Show May 14th (Saturday) - The Plant Sale at the Village Hall June 9th (Thursday eve.) - A visit to a private Earl Shilton garden July 14th/15th/16th (Thurs, Fri, Sat) - Three day trip to Norwich area August 20th (Saturday) - The Village Show October 14th (Friday) - A day trip to Batsford Arboretum

The 3 day trip to Norwich area (see details below) THERE ARE still several rooms available at our centrally situated Norwich hotel and, as the organisers wish to finalise details, if any more members would like to be included an early contact with Eric, or any of the committee, would be much appreciated. Our three day Trip On day one we are travelling to Houghton Hall and Gardens before going to our hotel in Norwich city. This is The Maid’s Head hotel which has a very central position. Day two, after a morning chance to look round Norwich, sees us visiting the famous Vicarage garden at East Rushton. Day three will include a leisurely start followed by a short lunch time stop-over at Wells-Next-The –Sea. We will then set off for home, but visiting Peckover House and garden on route. More details are available at our meetings.

Future Meetings • • • •

May 7th - Day trip to the Malvern Spring Show May 12th - Poisonous plants” - Richard Woods May 14th - Plant Sale at the Village Hall June 9th - Evening trip to a private Earl Shilton garden

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. 01162876637) or Email: e.atherton637@btinternet.com

Alvar Johnson

Photos taken by John Sherwin at the Groby Garden Society Social and Creative evening on 10th March.

The recovery time from a 60-minute workout for a guy my age is roughly 5 years.

Groby & Field Head Spotlight • APRIL 2016 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk

Jottings News in Brief with Norman Griffiths

The Glebe Road gusher

MOST RESIDENTS won’t have seen the water mains burst on the corner of Glebe Road and Crane Ley Road, so here’s a photo that shows the extent of the problem. The water found its way downhill to the junction of Crane Ley Road and Mallard Avenue. One resident mentioned reporting the burst early in the morning and a spokesperson for Severn Trent said : “The leak was first reported to us on 21 February and it took us three days to repair it. We had one customer call in saying they had no supply (which was at around 8pm on the 21st) and we had them back on by 1am. We’d like to apologise to everyone who was affected.” The company did not comment on whether the delay in repairing the leak was due to the fact that they were also dealing with a huge incident in Nottinghamshire which resulted in flooding, subsidence and the partial disappearance of a car into the hole in the road that resulted.

Aynsley gig at the Musician LOCAL SINGER/GUITARIST Aynsley Lister, winner of a number of national blues awards over the last couple of years, has been busy touring with his band in Germany since the start of April. He’s then back on the UK circuit and will be appearing down at the Musician in Leicester on April 26th. This gig will be without the full band. On the 3rd March the band spent the last day in the studio recording their new album, so now the behind the scenes mixing is well under way. Fans will no doubt be hoping to hear some of the new tracks down at the Musician.

Where to enjoy a coffee and conversation THE SATURDAY morning sessions at the United Reformed Church on Chapel Hill are to continue. They provide an opportunity for the village to get together over a cup of tea and coffee and, if they find the aroma irresistible, to enjoy the best bacon cob for miles. For the children there’s a bouncy castle and thoughts are now turning to looking at some activities for older children. Just over the fence on the Ratby Road Allotments the Sunday morning sessions have started for the summer season on the first Sunday of each month. In addition to tea and coffee the ‘allotmenteers’ also pride themselves on their bacon offering and, like the URC, they welcome everyone whether or not they have an allotment. The success of these two initiatives augers well for the new Groby Community Library Group. They have a very challenging fund raising target to pay for the library running costs as the County Council withdraws it’s subsidy year on year. Over the last 12 months much thought has been given to the form that their fund raising will take and it seems likely that room rentals and one off events will not be enough to generate the sums required. What has become clear is that some internal reorganisation to improve toilet facilities and provide a cafe area has the greatest potential, as other libraries have demonstrated something that we all know - folk will always be happy to sit with a drink (and hopefully a snack) in a pleasant family environment. The Library Group are confident that this will provide a useful addition to the existing tea and coffee facilities available in the Stamford Arms.

The year the M1 nearly came through Groby THE NEWS that the M1 motorway will be closed between junctions 21 and 22 for 14 hours overnight on the first three Saturdays/Sundays in May will mean quiet nights for Ratby residents. It will be just the opposite for those on the diversionary route which includes Braunstone, New Parks and the A50 up to Junction 22 at Markfield. One direction would have been bad enough but both directions will mean double trouble. Most readers will have no recollection of the days before the M1 motorway or the controversy over the route it would take through Leicestershire. If you missed the Spotlight article about the year the M1 nearly came through Groby you and how different life in Groby might have been if it hadn’t been for a campaign which drew huge support for a petition against what became known as the Charnwood Forest Route, you can still read it on www. grobyonline.tk

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Relationship status: my girlfriend takes more selfies with the cat than with me.

Groby & Field Head Spotlight • APRIL 2016 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk

Date fixed for library transfer

Celebrate World Book Night at Groby Community Library on Saturday April 23rd IT IS FITTING that on Saturday 23rd April the keys will be handed over to the Groby Community Library Group, as it coincides with World Book Night. The library will be open as normal from 10am till 1pm and will then be reopened at 4pm until 7pm to celebrate World Book Night.

Children’s exam papers THE FOLLOWING real life answers to various exams explain why teachers need long holidays…

That could mean a loss of two stone over a year. The study was held at Cambridge University, and concluded: “Helping people to avoid ‘over-serving’ themselves or others with larger portions of food or drink is likely to …help reduce their risk of overeating.”

What is a nitrate? Cheaper than a day rate. What was Sir Walter Raleigh famous for? He is a noted figure in history because he invented cigarettes and started a craze for bicycles. What did Mahatma Gandhi and Genghis Khan have in common? Unusual names. Name one of the early Romans’ greatest achievements. Learning to speak Latin. Name six animals which live specifically in the Arctic. Two polar bears. Four seals. Assess Fashion House plc’s choice to locate its factory near Birmingham. Is Birmingham the right location for this type of business? No. People from Birmingham aren’t very fashionable. Where was the American Declaration of Independence signed? At the bottom. What happens during puberty to a boy? He says goodbye to his childhood and enters adultery. State three drawbacks of hedgerow removal. All the cows will escape. The cars drive into the fields. There is nowhere to hide. What is the meaning of the word varicose? Close by. What is a fibula? A little lie. Why would living close to a mobile phone mast cause ill health? You might walk into it. What is a vibration? There are good vibrations and bad vibrations. Good vibrations were discovered in the 1960s. Where was Hadrian’s Wall built? Around Hadrian’s garden. The race of people known as Malays come from which country? Malaria.

A woman’s mind is cleaner than a man’s: She changes it more often.

There are lots of people who mistake their imagination for their memory.

Oliver Herford

Josh Billings

It has been a long process, with lots of paperwork and meetings, but we are finally there. At first customers will see very little change, there will be new faces, signs and some more activities. Our plan is that by the end of the year we will have a new disabled toilet, which will be accessible to all our customers, and a coffee shop area. World Book Night is a yearly event run by The Reading Agency to encourage a love of reading to those who don’t normally get a chance to pick up a book to read for pleasure. We have a choice of free books which we have been given by The Reading Agency to give out on the night. The books are ‘Last Bus To Coffeeville’ by J. Paul Henderson, ‘I Can’t Begin To Tell You’ by Elizabeth Buchan and ‘Now You See Me’ by Sharon Bolton. These are all fiction stories aimed at adults. There will be some children’s activities based around books and characters for children to enjoy, as one of our World Book Night target groups is parents. There will also be a selection of hot and cold refreshments with cakes and biscuits free to those who come along on the evening.

One day closure The library will be CLOSED on MONDAY 25TH April to do some spring cleaning, but will reopen as normal on Tuesday 26th. Our opening hours will remain the same, but we will be asking customers for feedback as to when they would like to see the library open. A questionnaire will be available to give your feedback, shortly after the transfer. We would like to thank everyone who has offered encouragement and supported the project in many different ways including volunteering to help run the library, and of course the financial help residents have given in the form of Parish Council funding with start up costs. We are always looking for volunteers, so please enquire at the library if you would like to help in any way. We look forward to seeing you at our first event as Groby Community Library, for what is the beginning of a very exciting era.

Groby Community Library Group

Small plates are better HOW LARGE are your dinner plates? If you replace 12” plates with 10” plates you could end up eating between 16 and 22 per cent less food.

I taped a Weather Channel logo on our living room window. It’s like having an extra TV.

Groby & Field Head Spotlight • APRIL 2016 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk

Groby Junior Under 8’s help spur on Leicester City EE e ot qu

Trees Removed,

n io at lig ob

Tree Surgery

Driveways / Block Paving Patios & Decking Garden Walls / Stone Walls Ponds / Water Features Design Service Available

Landscaping

Building IN FEBRUARY, the Groby Junior Under-8 Trojan and Spartan teams, were invited to be Leicester City’s Flag Bearers.

Building Landscapes & Tree Surgery

Pollarded, Reduced & Shaped Hedgerows Cut, Laid or Removed Fencing (all types) Logs for sale

Extensions - Porches - Repointing

Tel: 01604 563021 (Mobile) Harvey or Min: 07966 505688 www.hm-landscapes.com

They played their part in creating a great atmosphere before the Norwich City game on Saturday the 27th. It was a very memorable day and enjoyed by all of the kids and their families. All the kids were very proud to represent Groby and be pitch side at the King Power Stadium and spur their hero’s on. The day was capped off with a 1-0 win and keeps Leicester City at the top of the Premier League. The Groby Juniors must have done a sterling job in creating a great atmosphere at the King Power Stadium because it was reported that Ulloa’s last grasp goal recorded 0.3 on the Richter scale!

It’s good to share! If you enjoy reading Groby & Field Head Spotlight, please pass it on to a friend or relative after you’ve finished with it. Thanks!

Bands who can’t afford a smoke machine should hire my girlfriend to cook at their concert.

Groby & Field Head Spotlight • APRIL 2016 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk

Martinshaw Primary School

Heinous Crimes Investigated AS THE result of a personal appeal, by a letter to each child, from a very distressed Mother Goose, each member of foundation class became ‘sleuths’ during world book week. After finding Humpty Dumpty, only recently left £10,000,000 in the will of the Fairy God Mother, smashed on the floor after a very suspicious fall from his wall, first task ; eliminate suspects : Little Red Riding Hood, Goldilocks, Rumpelstiltskin and Prince Hans. Eye witness statements were read, crime scene investigated and eventually the diabolical criminal was caught; Little Red Riding Hood, by using a rolling pin. Disgraceful. Now, how to keep Humpty safe in the future. Experiments were made, using various materials, chosen by the children: cotton wool, play dough, leaves, water and sellotape among the favourites, to produce a safe landing mat. Problem (2) Catastrophe at the Palace. The King’s maid had her nose pecked off by a Blackbird and had to go to hospital. Who we gonna call? Foundation. Sweet and savoury, meat and vegetable, marshmallow and chocolate shortcrust pastry pies were quickly produced, good enough to satisfy the royal personage. Problem (3) How do we stop poor old Incy Wincy Spider, tumbling down the water spout. We draw and design then build a new water spout that lets the water out, but stops Incy being washed away. Success and a very happy spider. Problem (5) Jack and Jill went up the hill so many times and because of Jacks clumsiness in constantly falling over, the bucket got broken, with no money to fix it. So, how do we fix it and which materials would be best ? Play dough, cotton wool, stones and masking tape were tried to plug the hole. And to prove who had used the best repair material, the young engineers ran with a bucket of water until it was empty. To great surprise, the best material for plugging a hole in a bucket: Cotton Wool ! Mary Mary Phew, what a week and to end it the children designed their own gardens in a shoe box containing, of course, silver bells, cockle shells and pretty maids all in a row. Meanwhile in Year 6 (World Book Day) Equally strange goings on as our older pupils enter into the spirit of World Book Day. For instance, I’m sure Jack and Aston’s future grandchildren will love their representation of ‘The Boy in a Dress’, with, among many others, Chelsy (Catnis Everdene) ‘Hunger Games’ and Kayleigh and Ngaia as ‘Geek Girl’. However, in my experience, most of the children do not need any One to show the encouragement to enjoy a good book.Thank goodness! grandchildren A Great Big Meal Although they had been well briefed on what to expect, a number of children missed their lunch in anticipation. The clues were in the title I suppose. Tables were set, wine (fruit squash) was poured, 4 cups altogether and the Passover Seder Plate was ready. One or two noses were wrinkled at the sight of : Zeroa (lamb bone), bitter herbs, salty water, Charoset (mix of fruit) etc. As ‘Rabbi’ John led the children through the Passover ritual explaining the meaning of the various items of food, the children very quickly became involved. Charoset was spread on Matza (biscuit like unleavened bread) and eaten with relish. Ritual game ‘Hide the Metza’, was played, wine was drunk to the shouts of L’Chayim (cheers) and songs were sung. All in all a great afternoon of learning while enjoying yourself and Chelsy, Kayleigh and Ngaia a wonderful lead up to Easter.

Owen Lawrence

Yippee - it worked

Is Humpty safe?

Nearly there and not a drop spilled

Letter from Uncle Eustace

On dealing with summer fetes The Rectory St. James the Least of All

My dear Nephew Darren So you are beginning to plan your first Summer Fete in your new parish. That you appear to be looking forward to it shows how little you know about them. Parishes hold Summer Fetes so that their clergy can preach more meaningfully on purgatory. Their ostensible purpose is to raise money for the church - which is wholly illogical. The parish could double the money raised if the Fete were dropped, none of the endless preparations made, if everyone spent a pleasant afternoon in their own gardens and each person simply donated £20 to the church instead. But we still feel obliged to go to endless trouble, making ourselves miserable so we can show each other what a good time we are having. That it generally pours seems to make the entire event even more grimly satisfying. No, the real reasons for a Summer Fete are twofold. First, it gives the entire parish the chance to inspect the Rector’s garden. Whatever state it is in, it will cause disapproval. If it is poorly kept, then I am clearly being ungrateful for having three acres of lawn to enjoy. Mowing it each week should be one of my delights; what else would I do with a whole day off each week anyway? The hand mower, kindly given by Colonel French is assumed to be quite adequate - and rumour has it that I need to lose weight anyway. The mower was presented to me when the Colonel bought his own gardener a sit-on motor mower which is of a size and opulence that makes me assume it has a drinks cabinet and satellite navigation. The second reason for a Fete comes as a special perk for the organisers. It gives them a chance to inspect the inside of the Rectory. Under the pretence of looking for a little more sugar, they can systematically inspect all the kitchen cupboards and comment on their contents. By the end of the day, the whole parish will know what marmalade I spread on my toast, that I use unnecessarily expensive washing powder, and where I have unsuccessfully tried to hide the gin. The details of what then happens while the Fete is in progress must wait until my next letter, when we will have had our own. It is now time for Evensong, drinks with Major Mallet and his wife, and then a quiet evening with a good book, while I toy with other possible hiding places for the gin this year. Your loving uncle,

Eustace

The first person to see a sunset was probably like well this ain’t good.

Groby & Field Head Spotlight • APRIL 2016 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk FOURTEEN ‘ladies’ invaded Nottingham on a dry but freezing day. We had booked a tour of the old Nottingham Court and cells. On arrival we were issued with our prison number. Passing through the many dark, cold corridors and cells, we came to the rogues gallery and given a number. We then had to find our number each one being a real person who had been held there. I was a male murderer and was duly hanged (I can’t remember much about it). Others, some as young as 10, were charged with what we would call minor offences and sentenced to either whipping, deportation or the stocks. We met the ‘Judge’ who gave the history of the place after which we were led into the actual Court. In Court the Judge took to the Bench where our ‘murderer’, a man but actually our Lynn, was in the dock. I was ‘his’ mother and Fran was the accuser. I wept loudly (very) but to no avail, he was sentenced to be hanged. After leaving the Court, a young woman, a warden, gave a commentary on the terrible conditions prisoners lived in whilst on remand, many dying even before their trial. They could be held on remand for ages before sentencing. We were led through horrible cells passing various stocks, whips etc which were in use. All prisoners were manacled and we were given one to handle, believe me they weighed stones. Eventually we reached the exercise yard where another dragon of a woman met us. Lined up against the wall we were told that as women we would be allowed out for just l5 minutes exercise a day as we didn’t need more because of our manual laundry work. Men could have an hour as their work was sedentary, making mail bags etc. We had to wear a hat with a veil to discouraged talking, etc. and walked single file around the yard. It was 1½ hours of interest with everyone saying how much they had enjoyed it and how thankfully things have moved on.

Annual Meeting A few lucky members attended our Annual Council Meeting which was held at Leicester Grammar School in Oadby. It was a packed hall with over 600 ladies, you can just image the scene and very noisy at times. After the usual opening we had a gentleman whose name unfortunately I cannot remember, speaking on behalf of Glenfield Hospital Charity. He said our fund raising helped with welcome extras such as a special room for youngsters suffering from cancer. Especially set up for

teenagers, with settees, a large television and games facilities etc. A brief thank you was given to him along with donations of old jewellery collected by WI members, the money raised from this will go towards the Glenfield Children’s Heart Hospital. We then had a surprise guest speaker Baroness Hazel Byford from the House of Lords thanking the WI for the lobbying the various projects favoured by us and helping to get bills passed through Parliament. The final speaker of the morning was a very pleasant lady, Jenny Gilbert, a granddaughter of the founder of A.J. Adkinson Funeral Directors, who gave a very humorous talk on behind the scenes of the interment of King Richard III. The Company were sworn to secrecy for months with plenty of calamities prior to Interment. When arranging, for example, the skeleton in the coffin, she said, “a bit of the skeleton dropped off the end”. Things didn’t go without a few hitches on the day. Jenny hadn’t realised that when sitting on the carriage, it was going to be so cold, she should have worn trousers, or that the carriage would have solid wheels, all she could think about was the bones being shaken around – being unaware that the archaeologists had carefully packed them in wadding. Lots of other incidents were related, none of which were seen on the TV. The afternoon guest speaker was Michael Portillo. Michael for an hour gave a very humorous and interesting talk. He began with his father’s reasons for leaving Portugal, hence his birth in England. He was sent back during school holidays to relations to keep up his Portuguese background. He had enjoyed his political career but in one day he had lost his Ministerial role and his Parliamentary seat. However, he was by chance afterwards, offered a one off documentary on a railway journey - there was a series of them with different well known people doing similar ones. He said it must have been a success as he was offered a job. After that he never looked back and he has enjoyed his work ever since, far more than when he was a Parliamentarian. He said he belonged, along with John Prescott, Michael Heseltine and others to the “Would be but not making it, Prime Ministers’ Club”. We all were taking bets on what colour he would be wearing. He was wearing ‘raspberry’ and we

and teasing and are often left with dreadful scars because of the delayed treatment. Mothers can suffer the indignity of permanent incontinence due to lack of proper care during childbirth. Janet produced slides of children and adults showing the most horrific deformities. The whole presentation was very difficult viewing indeed. We moan about the NHS, waiting 3 weeks for a doctor’s appointment. We feel very aggrieved if on attending a first hospital appointment we see a medic lower down the pecking order and not the actual consultant. We are so fortunate that a real emergency will be acted upon immediately. We should all play the ‘glad game’.

Evenings Out We had three evening outings this month.

Alexandra Burke in The Bodyguard had a laugh when a member at the end of his speech said “Thank you etc and how she loved his Butlins jacket”, luckily he laughed.

The Mercy Ships JANET HALES talked to us about The Mercy Ships, a faith based international charity established since 1978. The Ships provide free medical assistance to the poorest nations. The African vessel visits the ports of Sierra Leone, Liberia, Benin, Togo, Guinea and Madagascar. The ship is a floating hospital with 5 operating theatres almost entirely staffed by volunteers, serving patients irrespective of race, gender or religion. At any one time there will be a crew of 450 on board made up of up to thirty nations, the English contingent being the largest. In addition to medical staff the volunteers include, teachers, mechanics, engineers, cooks, IT specialists and receptionists. It is like a small town, often families of volunteers live with them on board, financing their own living expenses. Janet spent two years on the ship paying her costs by renting out her home. The minimum stay is for two weeks. The native population has no access to a doctor, no NHS to fall back on, often walking several days to seek help from the Mercy Ship. The volunteers on board undertake around 2,500 procedures a month including operations for tumours, fistulas, cataracts, dentistry, cleft lips, orthopaedic, reconstructive and general surgery. In this country deformities and burn injuries are dealt with quickly. These children may have to suffer years of pain

The first to the DeMontfort Theatre to see ‘The Bodyguard’, an excellent show which at the end had our ladies standing and strutting their stuff. The second, again enjoyable but very different, was at the Leicester Grammar School in Oadby. They hold a charity ‘do’ each year, this year was held for the blood cancer charity. A packed hall heard the school’s huge orchestra playing Big Band Music. The special guest was a former Sid Lawrence lead trombonist who got everyone really swinging, he also had a very good comedy line. The third was to the DeMontfort Theatre again to see ‘The Tom Jones Story’. Apparently it was hoped to bring it to the London Stage and according to the reports I received, it was brilliant. Again, our allegedly prim ladies were standing and jiving about like teenagers, that must have been a sight to be seen.

Next meeting NEXT MONTH’S meeting is on Thursday 21st April at 7.30p.m. in the Village Hall. Lisel Beadle will be talking and giving us lessons in life support and C.P.R, so if you are thinking it will do you or someone else some good, come along. We have a few seats left for our next two trips, they are : • Wednesday 11th May – The Lord Leycester Hospital, Warwick and the Guide Dogs National Breeding Centre in Bishops Tachbrook. Cost £19.00. • Wednesday 13th July – Stamford and Easton Hall Gardens (Sweet Pea time). Cost £23.00. My (Margaret) Tel. No. 0116 2878323. Both trips are from the Village Hall – 8.30am start.

Evelyn and Margaret

Memories are like girlfriends, they hit you when you’re least expecting it.

Groby & Field Head Spotlight • APRIL 2016 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk

Letter

180 years of singing at Groby Parish Church! THE SIX remaining members of the choir of St Philip & St James Parish Church in Groby have been singing for a combined total of 180 years. Sue Scott and Marjorie Thomas each have done 50 years each, and the Some of the present choir with organist/choirmaster. other four members are valued with their (Not all choristers were available at the time of photo voices, close friendship call). Photo taken on Sunday 14th February 2016. Taken in September 1981 at Groby after a special service for George Spencer and membership for (60 years in the choir) and Jim Cave (fifty six years in the choir) many years. Sue and I attended church regularly before joining the choir in 1966. Sue was only 12 and I a bit older. For a very long time, the choir only had boys and men, but as the boys dropped out to pursue other interests, the vicar and the choirmaster came to an agreement to allow ladies and girls into the choir. Sue and I had been helping ouyt singing for special services up until we joined officially. We had to be measured for special robes, but we did not get these until Easter Sunday 1967. The congregation said at the time how smart we looked. There were eight of us to begin with, but some have moved from the village or died. Sue and I are the only founder members left. During our time, we have had four vicars, four curates, five lay readers, ten organists, one choir master and one pianist. We have had many changes over the years with music and services etc. Although we do not have any boys now aor men who are able to sing alto, counter tenor, tenor or bass, except for special services. If there are any interested men, ladies, girls or boys, we would love to have a full choir again. Choir practice at the moment is on the second, fourth and fifth Thursday at 7.30pm, but check with me first please. There will be a special service of hymns and songs of praise to celebrate this occasion for Sue and myself at a date to be arranged. Everyone will be welcome including former organists, clergy, lay readers, etc. If anyone would like to augment the choir for this service, for example, former choristers, Groby Sings chorus, and other friends to fill the chancel, please come along. We only have six regular Ladies and girls clad in their new robes in 1967 after a choir members so you wil be made most welcome. The regular choristers will robe and process morning service at Groby with the Church of England Guild of Vergers (Leicester & Peterborough branch), of which I am Chairman. The accompanying photos show the changing choir membership of a series of years. You may recognise some of the faces.

Marjorie Thomas (Miss) Tel: 0116 287 0330

Plant Hunters’ Fair at Donington le Heath Manor House THERE WILL be a Plant Hunters’ Fair at Donington Le Heath Manor House, Manor Road, Donington Le Heath, Coalville LE67 2FW on Saturday 7th May 2016 between 10am - 4pm. Entry to Gardens & Plant Fair only £1.00 (Fund Raising Event for the Friends of the Manor)Donington Le Heath Manor have teamed up with Plant Hunters’ Fairs again to bring a spring treat for all plant lovers on Saturday 7th May with the entrance fee going to the Friends of the Manor who use all funds raised directly for the benefit of the Manor House and garden. It’s a great place to find something different to get your gardening season off to a great start. There will be a great line up including well known plantsman Bob Brown’s Cotswold Garden Flowers. World-renowned alpine and woodland specialist Edrom Nursery are coming all the way down from Berwickshire. We also welcome RHS Gold Medallists Packhorse Farm Nursery from Derbyshire with their great value trees and shrubs with a particular focus on Acers. Shady Plants are travelling up from Gloucestershire with some surprising and unusual plants for those difficult shady spots and from Cheshire we have National Collection Holders of Helenium and Centaurea nursery Special Perennials, plus many more great nurseries. The Old Barn Tea Room will be open and serving home baked cakes, light lunches and a range of hot and cold drinks.

He died doing what he loved, surprising tigers.

Groby & Field Head Spotlight • APRIL 2016 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk

Letter

Groby Wine Circle GROBY WINE Circle, kindly sponsored by ‘Groby Food and Wine’, is a very sociable group which usually meets on the third Monday of the month at Groby Community College.

Marina Drive dog fouling I AGREE with the person who wrote in the March issue of ‘Spotlight’ about the dog fouling on Marina Drive.

Speakers are invited to give talks on a variety of interesting topics after which there is a chance to catch up socially over a drink with a cheese and French bread. Throughout the year we organise fun nights out such as skittles, quiz nights, meals out and visits, etc. Our Guest Speaker for the March meeting was Dr Sue Ablett, an avid traveller of the not such well known places around the world. Sue provided a most interesting insight, including slideshow, into life in Tibet. The journey really began in Beijing China, where Sue boarded a train travelling for 3,750 Kilometres to Lhasa, Tibet, taking 48 hours and rising to 3,650 metres (that’s 12,000ft in old money). The journey passed through fantastic barren and mountainous regions before arriving in Tibet. Hotels in the various townships were probably better than expected whilst there was some discussion regards the adequacy or otherwise, of the toilet facilities. Many of the religious structures, mostly now unoccupied, were wondrous and the people generally very friendly. The talk covered the political conflict with China and the situation regarding the indigenous population who are now outnumbered by Chinese. Highlights were obviously the views of Everest which were reached by a perilous journey in 4x4’s before finally leaving Tibet and reaching Kathmandu and then returning to the UK. Future guest talks include: • April - Houses with a story to tell. • May – Is the AGM (don’t panic, it doesn’t take too long and then we can get on to more interesting things like socialising). If you feel you would be interested in coming along or would like more information about our Wine Circle please contact either: Dave Cooper (0116 2392844) or Robbie Grundy (0116 2393853).

For three consecutive weeks now, a dog owner has left dog faeces on the grass verge outside my house. If you own a dog, you have certain responsible obligations and one of those is to clean the dogs droppings up into a bag. Maybe I should do what my sister-in-law did in the same situation. The difference was that she knew the person and asked politely to clean up after what the dog had left - all to no avail. So she acquired a small cardboard box and filled it with a week’s dog’s poo. She then took the box and placed it outside the man’s front door, with a note inside saying ‘Have a nice day - this belongs to you.’ The man never has passed by her house since.

Local resident

Name & Address Supplied.

Cash for councils in the East Midlands to fill over 100,000 potholes GOVERNMENT reveals how £250 million Pothole Action Fund will improve local roads and deliver better journeys. Motorists and cyclists are set to benefit after the government today announced how £50 million of funding will repair nearly 1 million potholes across the country over the next 12 months. Nine councils in East Midlands will receive a share of £5.6 million, helping to remove around 106,000 potholes from local roads during this financial year. The funding has been made available as part of the £250 million Pothole Action Fund included in last month’s Budget, which will fix over four million potholes by 2020/21.

Children and Youth weekly events

Every Saturday morning 9.30—12noon

For 6’s to 14’s on Mon evenings at 6.00pm or 7.45pm; for 15-18’s on Wed evenings at 7.30pm; for 15-18’s on Fri at 7.30pm. We meet at the United Reformed Church All of these activites, along with our work in schools, are provided by the two churches in Groby under the group name EXTEND.

Catch

Fair Cuppa:

fairtrade refreshments in fairly traded mugs! Every Thursday, 10.30— 12noon Pop in, meet friends and make new ones!

We will be collecting during Christian Aid Week next month. The website gives considerable information about Christian Aid’s policies and projects in communities of great need. There’s a lot we can do. Help people in poverty out of poverty www.christianaid.org.uk . 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 Children and Families Worker John Fryer 07540 957926

There is no simple household repair that I can’t turn into a visit to A & E.

Groby & Field Head Spotlight • APRIL 2016 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk

Borough Councillors’ Monthly Report Council Tax – Green Waste Collection Charge: THE POSITION has been made clear that the Borough Council Tax will increase by 4.5% (£5.00) per year for the next four years. A green waste collection charge of £24.00 per year will also be applied and will have to be paid separately. I am seeking answers from the administration whether this is subject to an increase within the four years. It is however per bin so if you have two brown bins double the charge (£48.00) will apply. Residents have complained about the implementation of the charge and the difficulty in getting through to make the payment. At the outset a meltdown in the telephone lines occurred with many including myself spending hours trying to get through. Things have improved with extra resources being provided. Personally I have decided to pay the charge and continue receiving the service. Having been unable to get through on the telephone I completed my application online instead. Please be advised that if you choose to pay by credit card a card fee will also be applied. Once paid you will receive a green bin sticker to place on the front of your bin containing two blank fields to add your house number and post code rendering it useless to anyone else. Shortly only bins with paid stickers applied will be collected and those that have chosen not to pay will be having their brown bin removed.

Wallace Drive Traveller Site Appeal THE WALLACE Drive traveller site appeal was held at Hinckley & Bosworth Borough Council offices on 15th March 2016. Thank you to those residents that spent the day either giving evidence to the inspector or showing they were against the proposals by their presence. During the day, the reasons put forward for refusal by Cllr Cartwright at the original planning committee’s determination supported by all members of that committee were debated. It was always the case that the best defence for refusal was on the unsafe access and exit from the site (highways issues). Naturally the applicants disagreed with this and made their best case, being that of a need to occupy the site. The various

Martin Cartwright Call: 0116 287 4500 Mobile: 078 50 70 70 50 E-mail: hbbc@appliancehome. co.uk Write: Maverick House, 10 Pine Tree Avenue Groby, LE6 0EQ

Ted Hollick Call: 0116 287 5955 Mobile: 07962 373983 E-mail: ted.hollick@tesco.net Write: 7 Shaw Wood Close, Groby, LE6 0FY

issues and reasons for refusal were debated until 2.30pm. A site meeting took place at 3.30pm with the inspector taking time to view for himself the track to the A50, the track to Wallace Drive, the surrounding area and the site itself. It was whilst on site mainly in the presence of the applicant and their team that their representative said to the inspector: “If you are mindful to refuse this appeal would you consider reducing the number of pitches to one rather than two?” I immediately challenged this request as in my opinion this option irrespective of if it was viable or not should have been debated and teased out during the body of the enquiry earlier on in the day with all parties able to have an input into this potential outcome. Indeed the inspector had already considered the option of the potential for a temporary permission with everyone able to participate in this discussion. From the inspector’s comments to this he seemed to dismiss the option of this idea. The inspector not surprisingly made the statement that if it was deemed dangerous on a permanent basis it would be no less dangerous on a temporary one. At around 4.30pm the inspector asked the people present for final comments prior to closing the appeal. I spoke first and again reiterated the point, but this time with a much larger audience to witness my comments, that I thought it is was inappropriate to add another potential outcome at this late stage in the enquiry, and to do so in a field without all parties having the benefit of input to the potential outcome was wholly inappropriate. Furthermore the residents’ concerns were based on the very dangerous access and exit from the site putting the occupants, visitors

to the site and greater road users at significant risk. The single pitch suggestion is very significant as the applicant had based much of his case based on “need” attempting to demonstrate how important that need was. Only at the eleventh hour to request through their agent that if the appeal was refused would the inspector consider allowing the appeal based on one pitch being provided instead of two as per the appeal. This significantly calls into question the evidence of need presented earlier. Cllr Hollick explained the difficulties and danger of making a right turn manoeuvre into Lena Drive from the A50 due to the totally unsatisfactory road width and markings at the traffic lights, a problem which the inspector said he had experienced on his visit the day before. Cllr Hollick also made the inspector aware that the A50 was a sign posted diversion route whenever the M1 is closed Southbound, which is not infrequent, which added to the risk. Others made their points and then the travellers appeal hearing closed at around 4.45pm. What happens next? The inspector has several options available to him. He can dismiss the appeal, allow the appeal, or allow the appeal in an amended form such as temporary permission or reduce the application from two to one pitch. It is highly unlikely that any of the two latter options will be chosen but never the less they are possible. My Thoughts: These are merely my thoughts, the inspector having visited

the area the day before had a good understanding of the issues but at times also a relatively bad understanding, regularly referring to the A50 as the A59. However any errors in the evidence put forward by either party were quite clearly spotted and dismissed. What the inspector will determine is finely balanced (50-50 best guess) no one can really predict the outcome. Ted and I will of course let you know the outcome once the decision is made.

Toddlers Nursery THE TODDLERS nursery on Leicester Road, Groby recently applied for alterations to the car park to improve the access (centralising it to the site) and providing additional parking spaces. This was a requirement to potentially allow for extra capacity of children at the nursery. As residents have observed, the completed results are to a very high standard and improved the entrance and exit to the nursery as well as the parking conditions for both customers and members of staff alike. However, one should not get excited about a car park especially as regretfully there was the loss of a well established tree and some hedgerow fronting the property. Having worked with the owners of the Nursery and planning officers at HBBC throughout this application Ted and I would just like to congratulate the nursery on the quality of the outcome. Well done!

Groby Post Office HAVING been delayed slightly from the original date Sue, Harry and Linda were finally able to retire on Tuesday 22nd March 2016. Ted and I wish them well in their retirement and thank them for the many years of dedicated service to Groby. We welcome Illa Mashru the new Postmistress to the Post Office and hope all customers will extend her and her members of staff a very warm welcome when they visit. The improvement and modernisation of the branch has also been put back, details of the dates for this we do not currently have except to say it will be completed as soon as practically possible. There will be as already advised a short period whereby the Post Office will be closed to allow for modernisation.

I’ve found that the key to avoiding a midlife crisis is to spend your entire life in crisis.

Groby & Field Head Spotlight • APRIL 2016 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk

Groby Parish Council – Field Head Ward Cooption: CONGRATULATIONS to Pete Smith Co-Opted to Groby Parish Council for the Field Head Ward on Monday 21st March 2016. Ted and I hope you will enjoy your new appointment.

Groby Pool Threat of Incursion ON FRIDAY 18th March at around 4pm I received a call from Steve Atkinson, Chief Executive of HBBC warning of a potential threat to incursion of the car park at Groby Pool, potentially by travellers whilst the gates were closed. Being able to act quicker than a response from enforcement at HBBC Ted and I immediately visited the site to advise what would be required in terms of a response from the Council. We discovered a poorly constructed bridge to allow a small car to enter or exit the car park, in the event that this could not be done via the official gate due to it being closed and locked. It is believed to have been built (if that’s the right word) by someone in order to extricate their vehicle from the locked car park (possibly the night before) and not as suggested an attempt to occupy the car park by travellers. We doubt that you would successfully enter the car park with a large construction vehicle towing a caravan using the makeshift bridge to cross the ditch. As this car park has been subjected to many incursions in the past, residents should always be on the look out for suspicious activity and report this. If this were the case the fact that Ted and I have completely removed the makeshift bridge which has significantly disrupted their efforts. In the long term the Parish Council and HBBC will look to see what can be done to reduce the risk of this happening again by extending the width and depth of the ditch or planting a hedge to the rear of it.

Additional Shops at Budgens, Groby SIGNIFICANT changes are planned for the empty space left void when the Co-op moved into the former Budgens store. Ted and I have met officers on site to discuss the issues and seek some clarification to the many

issues raised by residents to us. This planning application is likely to be determined at the April or May HBBC planning committee. There is support for and against the proposals time is running out to make your comments on the application. Please be advised that each person in your household can make comments on this. Application Number: 16/00145/FUL

We Are Here To Help You SHOULD you have any comments or problems you would like us to mention in our articles please get in touch. Please remember if we can ever be of service to you or your family please do not hesitate to contact us, our details are listed above. Kind regards

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National Trust Leicester Association

Calke Abbey & Calke Park THE NATIONAL Trust has taken over the café in the recreation area at the northern end of Staunton Harold Reservoir from Severn Trent Water Authority. The café will be managed by the NT staff from Calke Abbey which is at the southern end of the reservoir. The café provides an ideal location to relax whilst enjoying the views over the reservoir and the surrounding countryside. There is a children’s play area nearby and an adjacent car park which is operated by Severn Trent and for which there is a charge. However, if you are feeling energetic it is a two mile walk through the parkland at Calke and across fields to the café. It was some of the Calke parkland that was flooded in 1964 to create Staunton Harold reservoir. The parkland at Calke Abbey was not enclosed until 1640 and is the last remaining tract of land from the ancient medieval forest that covered a huge area south of the river Trent. Whilst the parkland has, to some degree, been landscaped, mainly by planting avenues of trees, a number of Oak trees from the original forest still remain and one has been scientifically dated to be 1,200 years old. The likes of Capability Brown and Repton were never involved at Calke Abbey and even though there was a small amount of landscaping carried out in immediate view of the house the land was essentially a deer reserve. Due to its age Calke Park is one of the best in Britain for insects, mainly beetles, and is designated as a SSSI. The rare beetles are considered to have survived thanks to Calke’s unbroken continuity of woodland cover. The parkland at Calke is open every day from 7.30am to 7.30pm, or dusk. The new café is also open every day from 10.00am to 4.00pm. 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

A few weeks ago my dad decided he was going to order pizza from his iPad. He’s almost finished.

Groby & Field Head Spotlight • APRIL 2016 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk

Local weight-loss expert backs government campaign to ask Groby ‘How are You?’ Elizabeth Woodville News World Book Day On Thursday 3rd March our school celebrated World Book Day. From wizards to Wally, Star Wars to Gangsta Grannies, the children all dressed up as their favourite book character. The children had a fantastic day in their classrooms sharing stories, discussing their favourite stories and producing artwork themed on their favourite book. We even had our own Hogwarts reunion in the library, how many characters can you spot in the picture below? Thank you to all parents who helped to create costumes. The school was alive with colour and character on the most super of Super Learning Days.

Sport Relief 2016 On Friday 18th March, our school supported Sport Relief in a number of ways. The children dressed up in their finest sporting clothes for day. Of course many Leicester City shirts were worn, much to the delight of Mr. Pridmore! During the day all of the children from Years 1 to 6 took part in a basketball festival, organised and ran by our Year 6 sports leaders. Each class competed in a series of basketball challenges, earning points for their house team. After a great day, filled with teamwork, enthusiasm and skill, Ferrers House were crowned school champions! Well done Ferrers!Our children also took part in running the Sport Relief Mile. The children ran, skipped, hopped, jumped and walked the complete mile. It was great to see the encouragement the children were giving to each other. Well done!

Year 6 Sport Relief bake off Our Year 6 children baked some delicious and very creative cakes to sell to the staff to raise money for Sport Relief. We had sportingthemed cakes ranging from swimming pool cakes to football cakes. The children put a lot of time, effort and creativity into the cakes and raised a lot of money. Special thanks goes to Miss Coyne who donated the ingredients for the cakes. The staff gobbled them all up in the staff room, giving them a much needed sugar boost.

Pioneer Centre - Y6 Residential Our Year 6 children, together with the Year 6 pupils from Lady Jane Grey, embarked on a week long residential to the Pioneer Centre in Shropshire. The children took part in some exciting challenges involving: climbing, caving and even holding wild animals such as a snake! One of the children’s favourite moments included raft building, where many of the children (as expected) ended up in the water! The children (and staff) had a fantastic time and it was certainly a trip they will never forget.

A WEIGHT-LOSS expert is calling on adults from Groby to take time out of their busy lives to think about their health and wellbeing as part of a new government campaign that says it’s never too late to make a change. Slimming World are partners in Public Health England’s new One You campaign, which aims to support adults to make simple changes towards a healthier and happier life, and provide the tools, motivational support and encouragement every step of the way. Hazel Hickson, who runs a Slimming World groups in Groby, said: “One You is about helping adults take time out of their busy lives to think about their own health and wellbeing. As we all know at Slimming World, taking the time to pause and reflect and spend a little ‘me time’ is good for you! Because, after all, there is only one you - and it’s never too late to start making small changes. A few new healthy habits could be all it takes to live a longer, healthier and happier life.” Hazel says that the government’s renewed focus on public health has never been more vital as around one in four (25%) adults are obese and it is estimated that, by 2034, this will increase to one in three. “As well as the serious physical health conditions obesity can lead to – from diabetes and raised blood pressure to the increased risk of heart disease and cancer – people who struggle with their weight often experience low confidence, poor self-esteem and mental ill-health. “At Slimming World our members know how much energy and confidence losing weight gives them and they also enjoy the hidden benefits, like fewer aches and pains, lower risk of illness and improved sleep. Many of our members reduce how much they drink too. “One You is a perfect fit for Slimming World. We know that making healthy lifestyle changes, such as improving your diet and becoming more active, can have a huge impact on your health right away. It also helps raise self-esteem and self-confidence by helping people to feel more in control of their own lives. Plus these behaviours can be passed on to the whole family, meaning the next generation grows up with healthy habits too.” It’s really easy to get involved with One You. There is a link from Slimming World’s website to the ‘How are You?’ free quiz – a quick and easy quiz to help people recognise the things they can do to improve their health in the long term, from eating well to moving more or being smoke free to drinking less. Hazel adds: “While being a healthy weight is an important part of ensuring that every adult enjoys a long and healthy life, it is of course not the only aspect of health that we need to think about – quitting smoking, reducing the amount that we drink, sleeping better and being more active are all essential to great health and wellbeing. “Each week 200 members are losing weight beautifully in the Groby Slimming World group and there are many people across Groby who have changed their lives with Slimming World. Yet there are still so many more we could help and now is a perfect time!” To celebrate its new partnership with Public Health England, Slimming World is offering free membership (saving £10) when new members sign up for a 12-week Countdown (12 weeks for the price of 10) between 7 March and 29 May 2016 to tie in with the campaign. To join the Groby Slimming World group simply pop along every Thursday at 9.30am at Groby Community Centre( parking available next to Martinshaw School ) or at 5.15pm or 7pm at Brookvale High School (in Dining room separate entrance) or call Hazel on 07817303018. For more information about Slimming World and One You visit www.slimmingworld. co.uk

If I was a day trader, I’d start by getting rid of all my Mondays.

Groby & Field Head Spotlight • APRIL 2016 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk

THE NAIL LOUNGE CND SHELLAC & VINYLUX MANICURES AND PEDICURES By Appointment | 0116 3322935 or 07788582469 (Prices from £15) Located in Groby

Tournament win for Groby Under-10s

CONGRATULATIONS to Groby Juniors u-10’s who recently won the end of season festival at Judgemeadow College. After winning the group they went to beat Aylestone Park in the final in a very tense penalty shoot-out Manager Steve Jordon was pleased with the way the boys performed on the day only conceding 1 goal in the 7 matches they played. Well done Groby!

Eat up! Do NOT skip breakfast. The risks are worse than was thought. A recent 13 year trial has found that missing breakfast can increase your chances of a stroke by more than 30 per cent. Scientists at Osaka University’s Graduate School of Medicine studied more than 80,000 people between 45 and 74. They found that those who skipped breakfast were 36 per cent more likely to suffer a cerebral haemorrhage.

Behind every man is a woman, shaking her head.

Groby & Field Head Spotlight • APRIL 2016 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk

30 4/7/2016

Word Search Puzzle

SHIPPING Wordsearch Forgot username or password?

Passcode/Cre

If you can spot 12 SEA AREAS MENTIONED IN THE SHIPPING FORECASTFree in this Solutions for Districts Resources issue’s Wordsearch puzzle, you could win yourself a meal and a drink. This month we are

offering a tasty prize of: A Main Course for Two, plusWho A Bottle We of House Wine at The FieldHead Hotel. What We Offer Are Teachers

To go into the draw, all you have to do is find - and mark a line through - the names of 12 sea areas around the British Isles. These can run vertically, horizontally or diagonally (and backwards!). Send your entry to: GALE WARNING, Groby & Field Head Spotlight, PO B Z W O C Y R O M R N X C M S A L Box 8, Markfield, Leics. LE67 9ZT to arrive by Friday 6th May E N M K L E T E V O F A E R O E S 2016. Remember to include your name and address. The first allcorrect entry drawn out of the Editor’s crash helmet will win the prize. B V B O M P D R R O D X T O U W S Good luck!

H I Z T A X S T A Y S B N F T Q C C K N W G E H E U M U O P B H Q D O I I V I U A V T C O X J C E K A Y N O T T Q V I N V G R I X A N S R G R S O Q L D A D I I C F S Q D M O I T H G I B N A M R E G T H Z F R C K A U J X T D Y D D N I C W E U J K T S B E K I O N N C C A W F I V D A J N K I G S Q A P E T Q Q O I A N L C I G N E Y L L L T U R E H S I F L E L J Q C T N A L A I R Q K J J R L W A U P R E N L T Y W P X D R D T I X M J O M D C G P J D G N F Z X J M Y T P W A M Z CROMARTY DOGGER FAEROES FISHER FORTIES GERMANBIGHT MALIN NORTHUTSIRE PORTLAND ROCKALL SOUTHEASTICELAND VIKING

Here are the twelve SEA AREAS you have to find:

CROMARTY • DOGGER • FAEROES • FISHER FORTIES • GERMAN BIGHT • MALIN • NORTH UTSIRE PORTLAND • ROCKALL • SOUTH EAST ICELAND • VIKING

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

Last Issue’s Wordsearch Winner The winner of last issue’s Wordsearch competition was: MR K WALDER of Elsalene Drive, Groby Congratulations! Your prize will be with you soon.

The merits of owning dogs instead of cats CAT LOVERS won’t purr over this survey: apparently it has ‘been found’ that dog owners are more sociable and earn bigger salaries than cat owners. The survey for VetPlus also found that dog owners are more likely to have paid off their mortgage and to have ‘stressful’ jobs. By contrast, cat owners prefer to live alone or with their parents, and at a slower pace of life. Other findings: cat owners have an average of 50 online friends; dog owners have an average of 60. Cat owners earn on average £24,000 a year; dog owners earn on average £27,000. 55 per cent of cat owners are married; 60 per cent of dog owners are married. On the plus side for cat owners, it is 100 per cent guaranteed that their pet will never beg for a walk in the rain!

Created by Puzzlemaker at DiscoveryEducation.com

Do you have any old cutlery? AN EX-SOLDIER based in the south of the county has embarked upon an interesting and creative new career. Mark Thompson creates animal and other sculptures from unwanted items of cutlery. The works are intended for display outdoors, and being made of stainless steel, they will last well, even in bad weather. Pictured here is an elephant work in progress. For more details, visit Facebook. com and search for Phoenix Artistic Fabrications. (If you have any cutlery you’d like to pass on to Mark, contact Groby Spotlight on 01530 244069 or email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk and we’ll arrange for it to be transferred to him.)

You know you’re getting old when the kids start referring to your savings as their inheritance.

Groby & Field Head Spotlight • APRIL 2016 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk

Paws 4 A Cause DID YOU know dogs can raise money for charity too? That’s right, Paws 4 A Cause is back, giving both pet owners and their furry friends the chance to fundraise vital funds for LOROS.

On Saturday 8th May, pet owners and their dogs are invited to take part in a 4km walk around Abbey Park for LOROS Hospice. Those without pets are also welcome, as there will be a selection of blowup pets available to purchase and walk the route with too. LOROS Fundraising Co-ordinator Laura Fitzsawyer said: “Paws 4 A Cause was great fun last year and we’re hoping this year’s walk will be even more so. “Entry is free, all we ask is that you and your pet raise money for LOROS by asking family, friends and colleagues to sponsor you and your dog.” There will also be the opportunity for dog owners to get a professional photo taken of their dog, thanks to The Love DOG Project. Giving pet owners the chance to dress their pooches in a range of accessories, including neckerchiefs, glasses and bow ties, The Love DOG Project will be running a dog photo shoot stand especially for LOROS. Pet owners will be able to buy a fully-mounted 7x5” photo of their dog for the extra special price of £12. “This is more than just a walk, it’s the chance for families, whether they have a dog or not, to come and enjoy a day out for LOROS,” added Laura. “It’s always nice to see so many people enjoying themselves and the dogs having a great time too.” Starting times for the event, which is being sponsored by Mars Petcare UK, are 10am and 11am. To register and receive a free fundraising pack visit: loros.co.uk/paws

FLASHBACK to 1998

Are you in these photos? JOHN OTTEY, who ran the Movie Zone Video Store in Groby for several years, has come across some old photos which may be of interest to Spotlight readers. The photos are of a promotional event at the Movie Zone store to coincide with the release of the film Dr.Dolittle. To bring some showbiz glamour to the event, an Eddie Murphy lookalike arrived in a stretch limo. Were you there that day?

You mean these doors open automatically for everyone, not just me?

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