Former Budgens store to become Co-Op supermarket WHEN the Booker Group announced that it had acquired the parent company of the Budgens supermarket group all the indications were that the local store would be retained.
News of Library Open Day
What Is Happening To Groby Library? On Saturday 12th September you will have the opportunity to find out
But as the shutters went down at the Laundon Way store in July, the Co-operative confirmed its plans to trade from the premises. It hoped to complete the purchase of the store by the end of July. The Village Store on Leicester Road will be unaffected as it is run by another part of the organisation, the Central England Co-op. Continued on page 5 ...>
I closed my eyes, drew back the curtain
Martinshaw performs ‘Joseph’ ‘WE’LL NEVER do it’ was the cry. Rehearsal after rehearsal, it was never quite right. ‘It’ll be all right on the night’, said the optimists. Optimists one, pessimists zero. Years 5 and 6 took on, probably, their most ambitious end of academic year show to date; ‘Joseph and His Technicolor Dreamcoat’. With more than the normal number soloists required, the students, most of whom had never sung in public before, took on their roles, at first a little reluctantly and then with confidence and budding professionalism which spoke volumes for their and their teachers’ hard work. The lead, Joseph, was played by Mitchell (Year 6) singing all the songs made famous by such people as Jason Donovan and Philip Schofield, with everyone, without exception, from the butler to Pharaoh belting out the songs with gusto. The show ended with a Peacock-like display of Joseph’s magnificent coat. A great night in front of proud families and a fitting end to their time at Martinshaw for the years 6’s as they move on to Secondary school and new beginnings.
Owen Lawrence
AS MANY of you are aware Groby library is one of the smaller libraries which was threatened with closure unless a community group came forward to take over the costs and the running of the library. Fortunately a group of volunteers, Groby Library Volunteers Group, has been formed and we are hoping to take over the library later this year. On Saturday 12th September from 10am, we are holding an open day at the library. Alongside information and the volunteers on hand to update you on how we see the future of the library and the exciting opportunities which come with it, we will be holding a fund raising event. There will be • face painting, • live music, • refreshments, • cakes, • a book stall, • craft stalls, • raffle prizes, • children’s games • crafts and lots more.
We want to give the village a fun backdrop to find out what is actually happening with the future of the library and hopefully raising some money at the same time. We are very excited about the new opportunities that being in control of our own library can bring. So put the date in your diary or on your calendar now and watch out for the posters with further details regarding the event. Please come to show your support, find out what we are all about and have some fun.
Do you have anything you can donate? We are also looking for donations of prizes, used books and toys, local artists/crafters who may be interested in donating their work, jam or cake makers or any volunteers who would like to help out on the day. Please contact janetbishop13@ gmail.com for more information. Looking forward to seeing you on the day.
Janet Bishop
Groby Library Volunteers Group
NEXT ISSUE OUT: Saturday 19th September- Advert/Articles needed by 5th September
2
Groby & Field Head Spotlight • AUGUST 2015 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk
Groby & Field Head Spotlight
Games, bacon and more at Love Groby Tasters!
PO Box 8, Markfield, Leics. LE67 9ZT
Telephone 01530-
244069
Email us at: info@ grobyspotlight.co.uk
LEICESTERSHIRE police are investigating a burglary at the rifle club on Newtown Linford Lane during the early hours of Thursday 6 August.
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.
NEXT ISSUE OUT ON: 19TH SEPTEMBER DEADLINE: 5th September
Rifle Club burgled: police appeal for help
ONE OF THE country’s favourite smells is bacon frying, so the Saturday morning activities at the United Reformed Church throughout August have certainly got noses twitching. Some said they could smell the bacon from the centre of the village. Love Groby Tasters is being run by Churches Together in Groby to say we love Groby and are celebrating by inviting folk of all ages to come along on Saturday mornings for giant games, coffee, cakes and bacon cobs. If you missed the first sessions you still have two more opportunities from 9am-1pm on Saturdays 15th and 22nd August 2015. The United Reformed Church is on Chapel Hill. The photos show some of the guests enjoying the food and games.
Autumn Painting Classes in Groby & Woodhouse Eaves THERE ARE still spaces left for the Autumn session of the painting classes held at Groby and Woodhouse Eaves! Local artist Mark Wilde has been teaching for many years and offers weekly classes for both absolute beginners and intermediate levels.One to one tuition and step by step demonstrations are features of the classes which are run in a friendly, workshop atmosphere. The 12 week daytime courses begin 21 September. For more information, please contact Mark on 07757 010982 or email markwilde8@gmail.com.
They believe it took place between 4.15am and 5.30am. More than 30 rifles were stolen from a secure room at the club which consisted of air pistols, air rifles and Rimfire target rifles. The suspects broke into the armoury through a brick wall and it’s believed that they may have used a vehicle, which was parked near to the entrance to the club on Newtown Linford Lane, to take the stolen items away. Rimfire rifles are target rifles that use specialist ammunition. No ammunition was taken from the club. Rimfire is a term used to describe a method of ignition for metallic firearm cartridges as well as the cartridges themselves. It is called rimfire because the firing pin of a gun strikes and crushes the base’s rim to ignite the primer. This is in contrast to the more common centerfire method, where the firing pin strikes the primer cap at the center of the base of the cartridge. The police are keen to speak to anyone who knows anything about the stolen weapons or has been approached by someone attempting to sell them. They would also like to hear from anyone driving along this road on Thursday morning and who might have seen a vehicle parked near the club or heard anything suspicious. If you can help with police enquiries please contact PC 2854 Matt Garside on 101. The crime number is 15000073204.
Danger of living in the suburbs PEOPLE who live in the suburbs and drive to the shops or work are in danger: they are a third more at risk of diabetes and obesity than if they walked, cycled, or even took public transport. Research at the Centre for Research on Inner City Health in Toronto found that the proximity of walkable destinations has a measurably good effect on people’s health.
I love the way garages leave black buckets outside for your dead flowers.
Groby & Field Head Spotlight • AUGUST 2015 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk
e W Termmm E N n gra ! m tu pro OW u A rse T N u U co O
Find out about these exciting, affordable courses for adults starting this autumn in and around the Groby and Glenfield area Arts and Wellbeing:
Languages:
Computing:
Free English and Maths 100s of other affordable courses are available at venues
Pottery, Cooking – Indian/Summer Dishes/Winter Warmers, Pilates Based Body Conditioning Beginners’ Computing, IT Skills for Employment - Levels 1 or 2
Italian Beginners, German Beginners Part 2, Spanish Beginners - Part 2
across the County – including a range of Saturday courses!
Contact us for more information and to enrol: facebook.com/LeicsGoLearn Online www.leics.gov.uk/GoLearn Call 0116 305 3829 or FREEphone 0800 988 0308 Fee reductions available • Easy payment options • FREE information and advice on learning and work
Sometimes I miss being in a relationship but then I look at my wallet and I feel alright again.
3
Groby & Field Head Spotlight • AUGUST 2015 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk WASHING MACHINES ~ FRIDGE FREEZERS ~ FAST FREE LOCAL DELIVERY ~ TUMBLE DRYERS ~ COOKERS ~ OVENS ~
KEITH SMITH (ANSTEY) LTD
6 STADON ROAD ANSTEY LE7 7AY - TEL: 0116 2362395 - sales@keithsmithltd.co.uk
FAST FREE LOCAL DELIVERY BOSCH
BOSCH
WAB28162GB
SMS50T02GB
Washing Machine 1400rpm Spin Speed 6kg Load Capacity A+++AB Rated Express Wash
Dishwasher 12 Place Settings 5 Programmes Half Load Noise Level 50db A+AA Rated Now Only
£279
15 Programmes Now Only
.99
HOTPOINT
BOSCH
WMAQL741P Save
£30
KGN34VW24G
Washing Machine 1400rpm Spin Speed 7Kg Load Capacity Quick Wash 16 Programmes A+AB Rated Now Only
£299
£299 .99
Fridge Freezer Frost Free 191/127 Ltrs 3 Clear Drawers A+ Rated
H185 x W60 x D65 Now Only
.99
£399 .99
U12S53N3GB
B12S53N3GB
Double Electric Oven Multifunction Cooking A-20% Rated 67 litre Main Oven CircoTherm Fan H88 x W59.4 x D55
Single Electric Oven Multifunction Cooking A-20% Rated 67 litre Main Oven CircoTherm Fan H59.5 x W59.5 x D55
Now Only
Fitted Kitchens We are pleased to announce that we are now agents for A.W.E Kitchens and Bedrooms Who specialise in Bespoke made to measure kitchen & bedroom furniture Please call in for further details
£549 .99
Now Only
Free Professional Installation*
£379 .99
ANSTEY
Free Removal of Old Appliance Free Removal of Packaging *To Existing Fittings
HOTPOINT ~ SIEMENS ~ CANNON ~ BOSCH ~ CREDA ~ WHIRLPOOL ~ ZANUSSI ~ INDESIT ~ BELLING ~ HOTPOINT ~ SIEMENS ~ CANNON ~ BOSCH ~ ELECTROLUX
HOTPOINT ~ SIEMENS ~ CANNON ~ BOSCH ~ CREDA ~ WHIRLPOOL ~ ZANUSSI ~ INDESIT ~ BELLING ~ HOTPOINT ~ SIEMENS ~ CANNON ~ BOSCH ~ ELECTROLUX ~
4
WASHING MACHINES ~ FRIDGE FREEZERS ~ FAST FREE LOCAL DELIVERY ~ TUMBLE DRYERS ~ COOKERS ~ OVENS ~
5663
NEW GOVERNMENT GREEN DEAL & ECO2 FUNDING NOW LIVE AR
E YOU ELIGIBLE FOR UP TO £1,600 CASH BACK? Ga
s Boil er s
• UP TO 10 YEARS WARRANTY • COMPETITIVE PAYMENT PLANS FROM £7 PER WEEK • BOILER SWAPS FROM £1,575 FITTED • FREE SURVEY & FIXED PRICE QUOTES
Installer
GREAT VALUE & NO SURPRISES from your local heating company since 1994 Drop in to see us: 13 Leicester Road, Groby, LE6 0DQ
0116 287 8000 I half intend almost half of what I think I mean to say.
Groby & Field Head Spotlight • AUGUST 2015 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk
New Co Op for Groby
5
Bradgate Rotary Club – Summer Socials and Future Planning!
From page 1
“An investment of around £500,000 will provide a new format for the store with a focus on fresh, healthy foods and essentials to transform the shopping experience for the community,” explained a spokesperson. “The Co-op will create up to five additional roles at the new-look store which is expected to re-launch this Autumn.” The grocery market has become very competitive in recent years as discounters like Aldi and Lidl have attracted price conscious customers from the major supermarket groups. The Co-op – which has around 2,800 stores across the UK and a presence in every postal area – is responding with £125M investment programme to lower the price of everyday essentials. The investment in the price and quality of fresh produce has seen The Co-op prune the price of over 100 lines of fresh fruit and vegetables, and includes revolving offers on popular produce, called “fresh three”. The new-look stores also include a new role, known as a Community Pioneer, a member of the food store team also works to foster involvement in community activities, from local fundraising initiatives to helping to understand and develop solutions to meet community needs. Alistair Smith, Business Acquisitions Manager for The Cooperative Food in the area, said: “Mahesh and his team have done a fantastic job building up the Budgens store to be a pivotal part of the community and, we are looking forward to this opportunity to bring a Co-operative food store to Groby with which to continue to serve the community. The store will have a new look, with a fresh new format. It will enable shoppers to pick up delicious food conveniently, and will play a part in contributing to local life. We would, however, like to apologise for any inconvenience caused during the works and, ask for customers to bear with us while we create a new-look food store for the community.” Although the shutters are down preparations and plans for the conversion are underway. A planning application has been made for illuminated signs and various other opening hours and car park signs.
JUNE AND JULY have been busy planning months for Bradgate Rotary Club with the Annual General meeting taking place on June 10th and a “visionary” meeting scheduled for July 15th, where members were invited to discuss where and how they saw the club might develop in the next year. Now the club has been formally established the members are keen to make new plans and hopefully attract more members to come along to the Wednesday meetings. Social events have included a meal out at Leicester College, enjoying the delicious food of students at Leicester College on the 24th June and an “al fresco” picnic evening in Bradgate Park at Old John where new members were formally welcomed into the Rotary club We are very keen to extend our involvement in supporting and helping the local community and recently made a start on what we hope will be the first of many Youth projects. On July 6th two of our members were happy to make a Presentation at South Charnwood School to two Year 9 students, who were given Community Service awards from Bradgate Rotary Club in the form of £50 vouchers. This followed the presentation of a cheque for £1200 to one of our local charities “Alex’s wish” ( raising money for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy) mainly raised by members taking part in the Loughborough Santa Fun Run last December. We meet every 1st and 3rd Wednesday of the month for breakfast 7.30am to 8.30am at The Stamford Arms in Groby and hold Speaker evenings and socials on the 2nd and 4th Wednedays in the evening. Please contact the President of the club (Brian Rigby) at the Stamford Arms for further details Future plans are already forming for the late summer and early autumn calendar including: • 26th August : Presidents Garden Party at 7.00pm at The Stamford Arms, Groby • 14th October: Speaker : Peter from Bradgate Park • 25th November: Wine Tasting : Liz Robson, Rothley Wine Ltd
Groby Allotment Society News “Life With A Lottie” By Jane Marston
A
FTER THE summer break for the Spotlight I cannot believe how quick the season is passing – is it just me or is time passing quicker? We are just about at the height of the season. I dread the boss coming back from the lottie – there is just the two of us and back he brings: Potatoes, carrots, cabbage, beetroot, peas, beans, courgettes, gooseberries, raspberries and blackcurrants!! Not to mention the salad stuff – with lettuces as big cabbage and the very first of the tomatoes. Out comes my jam pan and the freezer is working at full steam. I do love all the fresh produce in its right season so we try to keep freezing veg to peas and broad beans. The boss loves being able to share our produce with friends, neighbours and family but at the moment we seem to lurch from one glut to the next. Roll on runner beans!! We had a very good season for strawberries (the best yet) I do like fresh strawberries at any time, which is just as well cause three times a day could be a bit much if it wasn’t for a relatively short season. The village show is looming and I hope some of you gardeners will be entering some of your produce. There is even a class for ‘Groby’s Gruesome’ so there is no excuse anyone can enter something. Although we don’t grow produce especially for the show we do enjoy preparing what we have at the time and the friends we meet at the show with good humoured rivalry. Bacon buttie Sundays continue on the first Sunday morning of the month and if you have not joined us yet – come along and we will be glad to show you round the plots and show off our new bench and community garden. A lovely spot to just sit and contemplate nothing much at all.
RECIPE OF THE MONTH Summer Vegetable Casserole with Chickpeas • 3 courgettes thickly sliced • 3 garlic cloves, chopped • 2 red peppers, deseeded and chopped into chunks • 2/3 new potatoes sliced • 1 onion chopped • 4 tbsp olive oil • 14 oz tin of chopped tomatoes you could use fresh tomatoes • 14 oz tin of chickpeas rinsed and drained Heat the oven to 200C fan or gas 7. Tip all the vegetables into a roasting tin and sprinkle on the oil, season with salt and pepper. Spread everything out into a single layer then roast for approx. 45mins tossing at least once. Cook until the veg are brown around the edges. Place the tin on a low heat and add the tomatoes and the chickpeas. Bring to a simmer and gently stir. Check the seasoning and sprinkle on your favourite herb. Other summer veg can be added or replaced as you like. Serve with chunks of bread.
I think the Discovery Channel should be on a different channel every day.
6
I
Groby & Field Head Spotlight • AUGUST 2015 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk
GROBY SINGS ... I’m in at last!
HAVE just had the privilege of taking part in my first concert weekend with our community choir, Groby Sings, and what a wonderful and very moving experience it was. I have always enjoyed music, having been brought up in a music-loving family in which singing around the piano was a regular event. My mum was a very talented pianist, my dad had been a church chorister, my little sister was always singing and my school years were filled with performing in our excellent school orchestras and choirs. When the idea of Groby Sings was first introduced to the village two years ago by our inspirational conductor, Helen Hayes, and our talented practice pianist, Cliff Ashby, I was very interested in joining. Unfortunately, at that time, I didn’t feel able to take part, mainly because of work commitments and partly because I didn’t feel that my now aging, sometimes croaky, voice would cope. I was very pleased that my daughter and granddaughter did join as it gave me a good reason to at least be in the audience for the performances and I have loved attending every one so far. However, although I always enjoyed watching and listening to the singers, I really wanted to be amongst them and I’m sure my husband sometimes disowned me as I sat next to him tapping my feet, jigging around in my seat and mouthing or humming the words to the songs I knew. My retirement at the end of March this year released me to start doing more of the things I enjoy and, although still being a bit apprehensive about my voice, I was encouraged by my daughter to ‘give it a go’ reminding me that the ethos of Groby Sings is about making music for fun and for the joy of singing without the pressure of having to strive for perfection. This is absolutely the case and it’s most reassuring that you can afford to be a bit croaky occasionally, fluff the odd word and not feel that you are letting everyone down. Whilst we do all want to get it right, the emphasis is on FUN and, as you may have heard if you’ve been to the concerts, CAKE. Yes, the bakers amongst the choir also get the chance to show off their cake-making skills to provide the refreshments for the break in rehearsals, another good reason for joining. Having seen both sides of this village phenomenon as a singer and a member of the audience, I can vouch for the fact that being part of the choir, particularly on performance days is amazing. Yes, we make one or two mistakes but I can hardly believe that the three groups of people who had been rehearsing separately for a few short weeks could come together on the stage and have, at most, about 90 minutes actual rehearsal time before attempting to wow the audience with the very challenging songs that comprised Groby Sings goes West. My aim in writing about my experience is to share my enthusiasm for Groby Sings but also to reassure any other person who has had similar doubts about their singing voice to come along to one of the rehearsals and try it out. You will be able to blend in, whatever your ability (or lack of it!), and you will be made very welcome. It would be particularly good to have more young people and we now have a few families in which 3 generations are taking part in Groby Sings so please encourage your children or grandchildren to make it a family affair and join the children’s or youth sections too. We have some great songs from Mary Poppins and My Fair Lady to look forward to in our next production and rehearsals for Groby Sings Goes to Town start on 7th September at Groby Club – look out for more details on the posters around the local area. Let’s keep it going!
A Groby Singer
The Greys of Groby
Friends of AgeUK
Would you like to spend a friendly morning meeting with others enjoying a chat over refreshments – we have a weekly programme of events as well as visiting speakers and regular outings. We can, through Age UK, offer support and advice to older people in our local community. Come and join our group, make new friends and enjoy a new outlook – we play cards – do quizzes – encourage movement – provide information – If there is an activity that you are particularly interested in, let us know, we will be happy to talk about it. We meet on a Tuesday morning 10am -11 30am at Groby Community Centre, Forest Rise, Groby. If you are interested come along where you will be given a warm welcome or phone Jane on 0116 2321384.
Fifth of poor children live without love TELL YOUR children that you love them. Say the words. It seems that more than 20 per cent of children who live in poor households are growing up without ever being told that they are loved. Such children are at real risk from mental health problems in later life. Research by YouGov for the Prince’s Trust has found that young people from deprived homes are ‘significantly’ more likely to face symptoms of mental illness as adults, including suicidal thoughts, feeling of self-hatred and panic attacks. They have grown up feeling that no one cares about them.
The postal service has become so slow that last month my flower seeds arrived as a bouquet.
Groby & Field Head Spotlight • AUGUST 2015 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk
More parents urged to take up free child care
7
School choirs perform at Groby Street Fair
LEICESTERSHIRE families are being urged to find out if they qualify for free child care for their two-year-olds. The call comes as new figures published by Ofsted show that 66 per cent of county parents are taking advantage of the offer for two-year-olds – this compares to a national average of 58 per cent. Up to 570 hours of free child care are available for families if they meet certain criteria, and Leicestershire County Council is encouraging mums, dads and carers to use an online checker to see if they’re eligible. It’s thought that there are around 1,800 county youngsters who could benefit. The funding has been provided by the government and is designed to benefit lowincome families and help parents return to work. The statistics also reveal that 94 per cent of three and four-yearolds are using the free child care they’re entitled to, in line with the national figure. Ivan Ould, Leicestershire County Council cabinet member for children and families, said: “Research shows that good quality child care gives youngsters the best possible start in life. “Although nearly two out of three parents are making the most of the funding, we want to increase this and are encouraging people to find out if they meet the criteria.” Parents of two-year-olds can find out if they qualify for by visiting: www.myearlylearning.co.uk/ earlyyears/apply, or call 0116 305 6208.
Bored is good THE MARTINSHAW SCHOOL CHOIR appeared at the LOROS concert before ending their year on a wet, soggy stage along with two other great school choirs from Elizabeth Woodville and Lady Jane Grey, performing at this year’s Groby Street Fair. Our village is really blessed with the amount of talented children who are willing and able to support such things as our village Fair. And long may it continue.
Owen Lawrence
Help our hedgehogs DO YOU have a fence around your property? Then how do the local hedgehogs come and go? Now environmentalists are urging homeowners to cut several CD-sized gaps in their fences to help hedgehogs get out and about a bit more - to find more food, and to find a mate. Hedgehog numbers have declined drastically in recent decades. The population is thought to be shrinking by three per cent a year. Hedgehogs are thought to need to cover about a mile a night, but they won’t get far if they can’t get in or out of your garden. The British Hedgehog Preservation Society estimates that from about 30 million hedgehogs in the 1950s, we are now down to well below 1.5 million (the number estimated in the mid-Nineties).
THIS WILL cheer you up this summer when your children mope around the house saying that they are bored: apparently a bit of boredom is good for them. So says a senior educationalist, Julia Robinson, who has encouraged parents NOT to force their children into too many activities. Instead, they must be allowed to become bored, so that they can have time to be reflective and calm. Too many pursuits such as music lessons, sport and online learning could result in a generation of manic, anxiety-ridden adults, she warns. Writing in Attain, the IAPS magazine, she points out that happiness does not come from a “regime of unrealistic multitasking, running oneself ragged with an exhausting programme of endles activities.” Another educationalist urged that children need “downtime…. They have the right to be bored, to give them the stimulus to be inventive, resourceful and self-reliant – all important life skills.”
If someday we all g to jail for downloading music, I just hope they split us by music genre.
8
Groby & Field Head Spotlight • AUGUST 2015 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk
National Trust Leicester Association News
NT launches its ‘Coast Campaign’ In 1965 the National Trust launched the Enterprise Neptune Campaign to raise £2m towards acquiring unspoiled sections of the coastline in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Of course the Trust already owned some coastal property. In fact the first property ever owned by the Trust was Dinas Oleu, 4 acres of rocky hillside above Barmouth overlooking Cardigan Bay, which was given to the Trust early in 1895. They also owned Blakeney Point in Norfolk, given in 1912 and the Giant’s Causeway in Northern Ireland, presented in 1962. Prior to launching the campaign, the National Trust had identified 900 miles of coastline of outstanding natural beauty that was worthy of preservation. The campaign was a great success and is still running today, 50 years later. Over that period it has raised £65m and the Trust now looks after 775 miles of coast. The first purchase following the launch of the campaign was Whitford Burrows, a 3 mile stretch of sand dunes on the north west shores of the Gower Peninsula, which is now a National Nature Reserve. The Trust also owns 2,500 acres of land at the Lizard in Cornwall which have been fully restored by burying overhead cables, removing derelict buildings and restoring the landscape. Other areas in the Trusts
The Giant’s Causeway in Northern Ireland care include the Farne Islands, South Milton Sands in Devon, The White Cliffs of Dover and the Penwith Estate in Cornwall where the recent TV drama Poldark was filmed. This year the National Trust is re-launching the appeal under the revised title of the NT “Coast Campaign” with the increased aim of protecting and restoring our beautiful coast, conserving and enhancing the rich heritage and wildlife on our shores and increasing public use of the coastline. So when you next leave landlocked Leicestershire for our beautiful seaside you may well be
enjoying National Trust land and hopefully may wish to support our campaign. • THE NATIONAL TRUST Leicester Association begins its winter meetings on Tuesday 8th September at Braunstone West Social Centre, St Mary’s Avenue, Braunstone at 7.30pm. Jennifer Bell (NT) will present a talk on The History of Upton House & Gardens. For details of the National Trust Leicester Association and its Talks Service for other organisations please call 0116 2229133.
Alan Tyler Publicity Officer
Films highlight dangers of smoking to local kids
A SERIES of educational films using children to teach their peers about the negative impact that smoking has on health and the social issues it raises have been uploaded to a local NHS website. The collection of five films, created by Leicestershire County Council, uses primary school age children to explain the health dangers and social issues around smoking. The films are now available to view at Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust‘s Health for Kids website at https://www.healthforkids.co.uk/staying-healthy/avoidingsmoking/. Children can learn about why smoking is a dangerous for their health, what to do if their friends put pressure on them to try smoking as well as wider issues such as the tobacco industry and slave labour. One of the films deals with the sad story of a family dealing with a family death caused by a smoking related illness. Developed with the help of over 60 children from Leicestershire’s primary schools, the unique healthforkids.co.uk website is the first NHS website created especially for children to learn about staying healthy and looking after their health. As part of this, the website features a diverse range of health topics including smoking cessation, all overseen by experts from Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust. There are also separate areas for teachers and parents. Margaret Clarke, senior nurse and professional school nursing lead for LPT (Queens Nurse), said: “These films are a fantastic way to get really serious and important messages to young children, and each video contains a really strong and sometimes emotional message. We wanted to share the videos on our Health for Kids website in the hope of educating local children about the health dangers and social issues connected to smoking.” On the healthforkids.co.uk webpage kids can also take part in a poll to find out how many adults they think smoke in the UK. For more information on avoiding smoking and to watch the educational shorts visit www.healthforkids.co.uk/staying-healthy/avoiding-smoking/.
Small Ads • 86 x Hexagon Shaped slabs and 20 x half slabs available for collection soon. Price: £80.00 • B Oldfield Oil Painting 98 x 66 cms. Riverbank scene with trees and sheep. Price: £15.00 • Wedgewood Kutani Tri-Dish, bone china tri-dish sometimes known as pickle dish, in excellent condition no chips or cracks. Price: £15.00 • Royal Winton, Grimwades Gurgling Jug. No chips or scratches in excellent condition. Price: £15.00 • Beautiful Lowry Print in nice frame measuring approx 15”x 17”. Excellent condition. Price: £20.00 • Collection of Lilliput Lane Cottages. 30 cottages in collection, 17 in original boxes. Will sell as job lot or individually. Price: £200.00. Tel. 07727156249. • Electronic Reclining Chair, cost nearly £600 new. Approximately 2.5 years old in good working order. Velour type material. Collection only. Price: £50.00 Tel. 0116 2311047. • Collection of Pendelfin Figures. Prices from £6.00 Tel: 0116 231 3149 • Dark wood oval Coffee Table, 41” long by 30” wide. Perfect condition. Price: £30.00 Tel: 01530 243778 • Tumbler Aerobic Compost Maker - FREE. Tel: 0116 287 5562 • Garden Trays, black plastic, one 21” x 21”, two 21” x 14” - FREE • White patio Tea Trolley - FREE • Swing Ball - with tennis ball and 2 chequer bats, metal ground spike. Suit age 5 plus - FREE Tel: 0116 287 6759 WANTED: lightweight aluminium Single Stage Ladder, approx. 11 feet long. Must be in good condition. 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.
People like crowds. The bigger the crowd, the more people show up. Small crowd, hardly anyone shows up.
Groby & Field Head Spotlight • AUGUST 2015 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk
9
GROBY MORNING GROUP
Every Thursday at 9.30am Groby Community Centre, Forest Rise, Groby LE6 0BD
GROBY EVENING GROUP
Every Thursday at 5.15pm and 7.00pm Brookvale High School, Ratby Road, Groby, LE6 0GE (In new dining hall)
Tel: HAZEL on 0116 2879272 or 07817 303018 Email: hazel_slimmingworld@hotmail.co.uk
GLENFIELD GROUP
Every Monday at 9.30am,11.30am, 5.30pm and 7.30pm Sports Ground, New Pavilion, Gynsill Lane, LE7 7AG Tel: MICHELLE on 07788 745540 Email: slimmingworldmichelle@hotmail.co.uk
RATBY EVENING GROUP
Every WEDNESDAY at 6.30pm Ratby Parish Church Hall, Church Lane, Ratby LE6 0JF Tel: GEMMA on 07891 513288
Coalville Furniture Superstore
uPHOLSTERy - leather and fabric suites
Independent furniture retailer for: l Great value dininG l Huge choice FuRniTuRE l Excellent service Coalville Furniture Superstore 79 - 81 Belvoir Road, Coalville LE67 3PH (former Co-op department store) Tel: 01530 833311
CHaiRS
BEdROOM FuRniTuRE
ELECTRiC LiFT and RiSE CHaiRS
BEdS - divans and bed frames
ELECTRiC adJuSTaBLE BEdS
Opening hours: Monday to Saturday 9.30am to 5pm Sunday CLOSED
Car park at rear
FOR aLL yOuR FuRniTuRE nEEdS
My dogs are excellent guard dogs. As long as the burglars remember to ring the doorbell.
10
Groby & Field Head Spotlight • AUGUST 2015 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk
Jottings
Radio Leicester visits the Quarry Park MUGA
News in Brief with Norman Griffiths
New telephone system for Groby Surgery AS SOON as the telephone lines to Groby Surgery on Rookery Lane are opened at 8.30am each morning patients are calling to book appointments to see a doctor. In order to deal with these quickly patients are asked to make calls after 10.00am for other purposes, such as checking for test results or prescription queries. Some patients forget and call during this peak period resulting in delays and frustration for those who need to make an appointment to see a doctor. “The best way patients can help our reception staff deal quickly with requests for appointments to see a doctor is to wait until after 10.00am to speak to us about any other matters,” said Kay Dean, Practice Manager. A new telephone system due to be installed at the surgery within the next couple of months will provide an opportunity to improve the appointment booking service. Patients will be asked to press a number on their handset indicating the purpose of their call and priority will be given to those who are ringing to book a consultation with a doctor at the surgery, a home visit or a telephone consultation. Callers with other, less urgent, enquiries, or who wish to book to see the practice nurse, will be asked to ring back after 10.00am. “When it is installed the new equipment will not affect the number patients dial to speak to us,” Kay added, “They will still call 0116 231 3331.” These telephone menus are not universally loved but patients at Groby Surgery will no doubt appreciate their call for a consultation being treated as a priority.
Barclays bank won’t re-open AT LONG last Barclays have confirmed that their branch at the corner of Ratby Road and Fir Tree Lane is permanently closed, which comes as no surprise to customers. Account holders will have probably seen the notices on the windows and received notification of the closure which the bank says is the result of a declining customer base and an impending renegotiation of their lease of the DAMAGED: Barclays in Groby was premises. attacked in February Residents will no doubt hope that the substantial structural damage caused by the robbery earlier this year will now be rectified and a new tenant found that will be an asset to the commercial centre of the village.
AFTER recent visits by the BBC Radio Leicester ‘Clueless’ programme to the Blacksmith’s Cottage on Rookery Lane, and the monthly Sunday morning fry-up on the Ratby Road allotment site, it came as a surprise to hear presenter Julie Mayer back in Groby on July 5th. Once the clues were decoded they led Julie to the Multi Use Games Area (MUGA) recently opened on the Quarry Park recreation area. The clue to the next destination in this popular radio treasure hunt was found on one of the coloured balls on the Street Snooker in the MUGA shown in the photograph. But what is Street Snooker? At first glance it looks a bit complicated, but in essence it involves kicking or throwing a ball and is a combination of snooker and football. The makers say it is suitable for anyone over 6 years of age. They claim numerous benefits including cardiovascular, personal goal setting, mathematics, hand-eye co-ordination, foot-eye co-ordination, target skill enhancement, team work, spacial awareness, shape recognition. One of the fears of providing outdoor facilities is the risk of vandalism, and Quarry Park has had its share. The most recent was damage to the picnic tables. The Street Snooker makers claim there are very low lifetime maintenance costs. They say that there has been zero vandalism to scoreboard reported on 23 installations over a 36 month period and only three reported incidents of minor graffiti on main game wall over a 36 month period. The MUGA is now in use and the Parish Council is currently considering what kind of official opening ceremony there should be. It’s hoped that a well known figure from the sporting world can be found to ‘do the honours’.
Too busy for a cuppa DO YOU take fewer tea breaks at work these days? If so, you are not alone: it seems that nearly 50 per cent of workers are taking fewer breaks these days for fear that their bosses will think they are shirking. A recent survey found that nowadays, half of all workers feel too busy to stop for a cuppa, while one in four thought that they were not even allowed a break. One in five of us feel we are taking fewer breaks than we did during a typical day five years ago. Tetley, who carried out the study, also found that some male bosses are more likely to make themselves a secret brew, in order to avoid having to make a round for their colleagues.
I’d love to make money at home in my spare time, but counterfeiting is harder than you think.
Groby & Field Head Spotlight • AUGUST 2015 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk
Events designed to make healthy living fun!
CTC, the national cycling charity, has teamed up with the Crown Estates as part of a series of summer events called Thrive, designed to make healthy living fun. Thrive is coming to a retail park near you, offering shoppers a chance to have fun getting fit this summer. The free one-day events are taking place in ten towns and cities across England from 4 July through to 5 September. If you’re new to cycling or want to gain greater confidence in the saddle, CTC will be on hand and ready to sign you up to our Bikeability courses - we have 200 FREE places up for grabs! To book your free Bikeability place, just call our booking team on 0844 736 8451 or 01483 238301. Our Level 1 Bikeability training offers you and your children the chance to learn to control and master your bike. Training takes place away from cars and traffic so you have the freedom to focus on making the most out of your bike. Once you’ve completed your Bikeability Level 1 and been awarded your red badge, you will be able to:
• • • • • • • •
Fit your own helmet Carry out a simple bike check Get on your bike, start cycling, then stop and get off Ride your bike using the gears Make your bike go where you want it to, including moving around objects safely Control the bike with one hand Stop quickly if you need to Look all around you when you’re riding, including behind, without wobbling
Come and visit us at a Thrive event near you for your chance to win prizes, take on the Thrive Cycling Challenge and book your free place on a Bikeability course. CTC will be at Thrive 11am-4pm on 15 August at the Fosse Shopping Park, Leicester with Bikeability on 23 August 9-11am
Book Spot I Let You go By Clare Mackintosh A tragic accident. It all happened so quickly. She couldn’t have prevented it. Could she? In a split second, Jenna Gray’s world descends into a nightmare. Her only hope of moving on is to walk away from everything she knows to start afresh. Desperate to escape, Jenna moves to a remote cottage on the Welsh coast, but she is haunted by her fears, her grief and her memories of a cruel November night that changed her life forever. Slowly, Jenna begins to glimpse the potential for happiness in her future. But her past is about to catch up with her, and the consequences will be devastating ... Clare Mackintosh spent twelve years in the police force, including time on CID, and as a public order commander. She left the police in 2011 to work as a freelance journalist and social media consultant, and now writes full time. Clare’s debut novel, I Let You Go, is a Sunday Times Bestseller and is the fastest selling title by a new crime writer this year. It has been selected for both the Richard and Judy Book Club and ITV’s Loose Women’s ‘Loose Books’. Clare is the founder of the Chipping Norton Literary Festival, and lives in the Cotswolds with her husband and their three children. For more information visit Clare’s website www.claremackintosh.com or find her at www.facebook.com/ClareMackWrites or on Twitter @ClareMackint0sh #ILetYouGo
Are your double glazed windows STEAMED UP or
MISTY?
There’s no need to replace the whole window we will replace the glass unit for you.
11
Repairs to ALL PVCu and Aluminium Windows & Doors
Just call our small, friendly firm - whether it’s one window or a full house - with approximate sizes, and we’ll give you a price OVER THE PHONE or a free call out if you prefer.
Window Services Repair & Replacement Specialists: Est. 1982 167a Dominion Road, Glenfield, Leicester LE3 8JB
Telephone/Fax:
0116 287 5395 One day, I’d like to hit the refresh button and actually feel refreshed.
12
Groby & Field Head Spotlight • AUGUST 2015 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk
PACKAGE 1
Quality Youngman timber ladder & hatch combined, 100 square feet of loft flooring One 4ft fluorescent light & switch fully fitted
ONLY £585 PACKAGE 2
Quality Youngman timber ladder & hatch combined, 200 square feet of loft flooring One 4ft fluorescent light & switch fully fitted
ONLY £765
PACKAGE 3
Quality Youngman timber ladder & hatch combined, 300 square feet of loft flooring One Fakro Roof Window 550mm x 780mm One 4ft fluorescent light & switch fully fitted
ONLY £1295
ECONOMY PACKAGE
UPVC hinge down loft hatch Two section aluminium loft ladder 100 square feet of loft flooring pendant light fitting and switch
EXTRA BOARDING
Additional boarding to any package £30 per 16 square foot
ONLY £435
FIND US ON FACEBOOK
www.facebook.com/loftstoragesolutions
LOFT STORAGE
SOLUTIONS Balancing on a stepladder, clambering over loft joists with a torch in one hand and a box in another is not only awkward but potentially dangerous.
Boarding, lighting and a ladder not only gives you the opportunity to unclutter your living space, but also creates a cleaner and more useful environment. Solve your storage needs and start utilising the largest space in your home from only £435
LUXURY STORAGE ROOMS
Our luxury storage rooms are surprisingly affordable at just a fraction of the cost of a standard loft conversion. Our luxury storage rooms can include the strengthening of loft joists, flooring, lighting, roof insulation, stud walls, roof windows and either plasterboard or skim finish. PRICES FROM £2995
01530 587327
07515 526959 / 079615 76020 www.LeicesterLoftStorage.com
I’m going to invent a satnav for kids that says ‘We’re not there yet ... We’re not there yet ...’
Groby & Field Head Spotlight • AUGUST 2015 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk
Groby Parish Council Co-Option Congratulations to Mr Rick Gunn who was co-opted to Groby Parish Council on 20th July 2015. Ted and I look forward to working with you in the best interests of Groby residents. Wallace Dive Gypsy Site Planning Application
Both Cllr Martin Cartwright and Cllr Ted Hollick were at the planning meeting whereby the planning application for a gypsy and traveller site at land off Wallace Drive was discussed. Whilst supportive of the officers’ recommendation to refuse planning permission on highways grounds, some members felt that additional reasons for refusal were required. It was moved by Councillor Cartwright and seconded by Councillor O’Shea that additional reasons for refusal be added that of being contrary to Core Strategy policies 13, 18, 21 and 22 be included. Following officer advice, Councillor Cartwright, seconded by Councillor O’Shea, moved an amendment that additional reasons for refusal being BE1 (impact on residential amenity) and policies 21 & 22 (assimilation into the countryside) be included. The amendment was accepted and upon being put to the vote the motion as amended was CARRIED therefore it was RESOLVED – permission be refused for the reasons contained in the officer’s report and the abovementioned additional reasons. There was an excellent show of support from residents, indeed not equalled by any other application on the agenda last night all of which were much nearer to the HBBC offices. Thank you to everyone that turned up to show their support and objections. Pete Smith did a brilliant job and made the absolute most of the time allocated to him on your behalf and delivered it in a clear and precise manner. Only time will tell if Mr Connors chooses to appeal this time; he has until December 31st 2015 to do this. I think it shocked officers to see so many names on the petition
Martin Cartwright Call: 0116 287 4500 Mobile: 078 50 70 70 50 E-mail: boroughcouncil@ appliancehome.co.uk Write: Maverick House, 10 Pine Tree Avenue Groby, LE6 0EQ
representing a far wider objection to this than just those affected in the area.
Proposal to Install Restrictive Bollards at the Markfield Road A50 Junction Cllr Hollick met with the affected householders and LCC officers to discuss the issue of Leicester County Council’s proposal to install restrictive bollards on the pavement outside their homes, thereby forcing residents’ vehicles instead into the traffic on the busy A50 with vehicles travelling at a legal 70mph and many well in excess of the speed limit.
Ted Hollick Call: 0116 287 5955 Mobile: 07962 373983 E-mail: ted.hollick@tesco.net Write: 7 Shaw Wood Close, Groby, LE6 0FY
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. Martin Cartwright & Ted Hollick
LCC officers then went away to consider the residents suggestion of a ‘shared space’ area and Cllr Hollick’s suggestion of a reduced speed limit starting prior to the Markfield Road / A50 junction which would result in an extension to the already in force 40mph limit at the Lena Drive traffic lights, resulting in a reduced risk to residents and making it safer for vehicles joining the A50 at that point. Cllr Hollick also requested that a full risk assessment / safety audit be carried out before any bollards were installed as although he supported the reason for the thinking behind the installation of the bollards in this case what was being attempted to be fixed would indeed cause a much more dangerous situation.
Don’t forget to send us your news! Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk Just bought a head of lettuce. Now I’m wondering what they do with their bodies.
13
14
Groby & Field Head Spotlight • AUGUST 2015 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk
County Councillor’s Report from Ozzy O’shea Planning Application Wallace Drive Groby RESIDENTS will be aware that the above planning application for the Gypsy and Traveller site has now been dragging on for over a year. The residents association had employed one of the country’s top 20 planning solicitors and also engaged an independent Highways expert. This application was finally heard on the 30th June by the Borough Council’s planning committee. Officers had recommended refusal on Highways Grounds. Councillor Cartwright moved the officer’s recommendation and asked for further conditions. Officers were not minded to accept his motion for further conditions. I seconded the motion and explained the reasons for which we were asking for refusal with justification. In the end we managed to get further conditions including: unacceptable nuisance to existing neighbours, and the fact that the site is in open country side and could not be assimilated into the countryside. The Planning Committee unanimously refused the application with the added reasons.
Beware of Workmen Purporting to be Council Workers IT HAS been brought to my attention that in early July at least three properties in Ratby have had their
driveways top coated with slurry. It would appear that on all these occasions the remaining bitumen/ cement had been poured down the road drains near to their property. Other properties may also have been treated in Ratby and Groby. When I reported the potential environmental issue to officers at Highways I was informed there had been similar reports of persons trying to get the same such work by purporting to be Council workers. I can confirm these men are not employed by the Council and they are committing offences by putting the residue down the public drains. I have information they are using a white transit van. Officers have now informed me that they have reported all these incidents to the police as putting this substance down the drains is classed as criminal damage.
Groby, A50 / Markfield Road: Installation of bollards WITH REGARD to my previous article in the June edition I have met with residents and officers from the County Council and Cllr Hollick with regards to the ongoing issues with residents driving along the pavement. However the residents raised safety fears of exiting and entering the A50 from their driveways, due to the speed of traffic on the main A50. We had a positive meeting and will be looking at a couple of
alternatives. I have also spoken to the driver who was allegedly involved in an incident with a cyclist. The driver totally refuted the alleged incident ever happened and was not as reported and also confirms the police took no action.
GE Druck Clean Room IT WAS an absolute pleasure and honour to be invited to the official opening of the new state of the art silicon processing clean room facility at GE on the 22nd July. The official opening was carried out by Cllr Janice Richards the Mayor of Hinckley and Bosworth. The previous processing clean room had been destroyed by fire in June 2014. The Groby site is GE’s centre of Excellence across their whole company and employs 650 people. I would like to thank the staff and management for their hard work and determination in bringing the facilities back to Groby.
Student Rental Fraud SEASONAL rental fraud is an emerging trend with students looking for suitable accommodation around August, before the start of the new term. Fraudsters use a variety of websites to advertise available properties to rent. Often at attractive rates and convenient locations. Adverts will seem genuine, accompanied by a number of photos and contact information to discuss your interest. Due to demand, students will often agree to pay upfront fees
to secure the property quickly, without viewing the property, only to discover that the fraudster posing as the landlord does not have ownership of the property, or often there are already tenants living there. Protect Yourself • Only use reputable letting companies. • Do some online research such as using Google maps to check the property does exist. • Make an appointment to view the property in person. • Always view the property prior to paying any advance fees. • Look out for warning signs, such as landlords requesting a ‘holding deposit’ due to the property being in high demand. • A landlord will usually conduct some due diligence on any successful applicant. Be wary of handing over cash without the landlord requesting employment or character references. If you believe that you have been a victim of fraud you can report it online http://www.actionfraud. police.uk/report_fraud or by telephone 0300 123 2040. I would like to thank you all for your continued support and remind you that should you need my help or advice, I pride myself on making myself available to residents. Remember I am only a phone call or email away.
Ozzy O’shea Working for you Cllr Ozzy O’shea Tel 0116 2394336 or 08585825 Email: ozzyoshea@hotmail.com
Very few things upset my wife. So it makes me feel rather special to be one of them.
Groby & Field Head Spotlight • AUGUST 2015 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk
Elizabeth Woodville School News Year 6 Curve Ride OUR BRAVE Year 6 children took on the challenge of cycling 13 miles to the Curve Theatre in Leicester and back. The event was to celebrate all of the cycling that has been going on across the county. The children got the chance to visit the King Richard III memorial as well as watching a comedian at the Curve! All children did tremendously, cycling on what was such a hot day. Check out Twitter for the photos. Did you also hear our radio stars Mr Coleman, Sam Collins and Tristan Wildgoose, being interviewed about the event by Rupal Rajani from Radio Leicester!
Sports Day ANOTHER successful sports day (despite the rain for year 3 and 4 on our first attempt). This year in KS2 we decided to bring back the traditional running races to go with our existing sporting carousel. The children loved completing sprint races, egg and spoon and sack races. Although the favourite sporting activity was definitely ... Human Hungry Hippos! KS1 were split into house groups and took part in various team activities including balls in the basket, hockey and welly wanging. Well done to all pupils that took part in our sports days and to all the parents that came along to show their support.
Open the Book 2014-15 OPEN THE BOOK has now been in school for a year, telling a Bible story each month in assembly. They are a group of six Christians from the churches in Groby who read and act out Bible stories in period costume. They are part of a national scheme run by the Bible Society now visiting more than half of the nation’s primary schools. Children are often involved in the presentation as actors, moving props or providing sound-effects. After Noah and Goliath we had Joseph, Man through the Roof and Last Supper, among others. They are back in September with Moses, Part 1.
Their team-leader, Tom Limb, says he is delighted with the warm welcome they receive each week, and how much they are trusted. He hopes the teachers can make use of the material, which the stories provide. They do not come just to have fun or to entertain, he says, but everyone seems to enjoy themselves. The team were delighted to be presented with an Elizabeth Woodville ‘Gold Award’ in recognition of their fantastic work!
Programme 2015 Thursday August 27 Canine Partners Mrs Denise Taylor Thursday September 24 Injustice or Justifiable Dr John Sutton
Congratulations also to all year 3 and 4 pupils who sang so beautifully at the Soar Valley Music Festival.
Thursday October 22 ‘Ark at our Peter Mrs Ruth Coward
Class 5 & 6 do Pirates of the Curry Bean! CLASS 5 and 6 have been very busy practising and preparing for their end of year show.
Thursday November 26 Henry V and Agincourt Mrs Sally Henshaw
They performed Pirates of the Curry Bean, a musical full of piratical style! There was lots of excellent acting, singing and dancing in the play and the children really enjoyed performing it. We hear it had great reviews! Well done Class 5 and 6!
Thursday December 10 “National Trust in the East Midlands” Mr Alan Tyler
Class 6 leavers’ assembly AT THE end of term, Class 6 performed their leavers’ assembly to parents.
Painter Decorator and Property Maintenance NO JOB TOO SMALL From changing a light bulb to complete house re-decoration. For all the jobs you need to do but simply don’t have time.
For a free quotation please call Ian on: or
Preservation - Conservation Communal Interests
Groby Street Fair
IDC Home Maintenance
01530 245461
Groby Village Society
A HUGE well done to all our pupils that took part in the Groby Street Parade and sang at the Fair.
The assembly was based on the brilliant TV show ‘The Crystal Maze’. Children completed challenges in order to collect enough crystals to be able to leave primary school and go to Brookvale! The challenges included crawling blindfolded through a tunnel, cracking eggs hoping they were hard boiled and completing a quiz where if you answered incorrectly you got a custard pie in the face! The children thoroughly enjoyed putting the assembly together and finished with a tear-jerking song. We hope that parents enjoyed the performance. In recognition of their hard work the PTA organised a party for the class, paid for by the money they earned from their stalls at the summer fair. Well done Class 6 for all of your hard work throughout your time at Elizabeth Woodville. We wish you lots of luck and success in Brookvale and the future!
07885 541428
3 The Nook, Markfield, Leicestershire
Web site: www.idchomemaintenance.co.uk Full Tradesman Liability Insurance held
15
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
Read a book! THIS SUMMER, why not encourage your children to read a book? A recent study has found that children who read for pleasure carry the benefits with them far into adulthood. And the most avid childhood readers score far higher on vocabulary tests, even 30 years later.
ELECTRICIAN A one-stop professional & reliable service ♦Fixed Wiring Testing ♦Landlord Certification ♦Expert Fault Finding ♦Fuse Board Upgrades ♦Extra Sockets & Lights ♦Electric Heating
♦Complete Rewiring (with minimal disruption)
♦Cottage Specialists ♦Electrics Showers (Inc. Plumbing) ♦Security (Alarms, CCTV, Lights) ♦Free No Obligation Quotes
Control Electrics (Leics.) Ltd
Call: 0116 268 2910 Cropston Road, Anstey, Leicester LE7 7BR
The last person to question my masculinity got a face full of piping hot lavender tea.
16
Groby & Field Head Spotlight • AUGUST 2015 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk
Over-50s day is celebrating its 20th birthday THIS YEAR the annual Over 50’s Day will celebrate it’s 20th Anniversary and the organisers are already working hard to make Friday 18th September at the Green Towers venue, another great success A mix of activities, talks and demonstrations to suit all tastes is being planned. They include: archery, Bollywood dancing, cholesterol and health checks, folk dancing, mature movers, hand massage, oil painting, pyrography, pool and snooker, reflexology, tai- chi and wall climbing. In addition there will be talks on the role of the Leicester Regiment in WW1, Asian Culture and ‘Life and Death on Bosworth Battlefield’, as well as opportunities to access a wealth of advice and information on all issues relevant to the over 50’s. This year, Priority parking at Green Towers will be given to blue badge holders and for others arriving by car, a free shuttle service will operate between Ashby Road Sports Club and the Green Towers venue. Admission for this full day is only £3.50 and free tea and coffee is available all day. Don’t miss out on this great experience – look for the booking forms in the following places: Local libraries, GP surgeries, Hinckley Hub, Parish or town council offices, Green Towers and Age UK Leicester Shire & Rutland charity shops in Hinckley and Earl Shilton. For further information, contact Kate Webb at Age UK Leicester Shire & Rutland on 01455 619519 or email kate.webb@ageukleics.org.uk
Dentures At Home Emergency Mobile
• Emergency Denture Repair Service 7 Days a Week • Duplicate dentures/spare sets available (1 week - 10 days) • Have you got a spare set of dentures? • Soft lower duplicate dentures available • Large range of all quality teeth available - acrylic to porcelain 30 years experience to the TRADE
David Smith - 1 The Burrows, Narborough
0116 275 0101 (home) 07880 973 742 (mobile) I got a tattoo of a digital watch on my wrist. I regretted it literally one minute later.
Groby & Field Head Spotlight • AUGUST 2015 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk
17
Food, Glorious Food at Martinshaw THE CREATIVE Curriculum theme for KS1 during the latter part of the Summer term at Martinshaw Primary School was ‘Food’. Not of course just eating it but growing it, preparing it, cooking it, displaying it and finally serving it. Using all of their hard won skills the students of year one set up their very own cafe. The ‘ONE Stop Cafe’. Menu’s were produced, food was prepared, invitations were sent out, staff were trained and aprons donned. Expectant parents, grandparents and carers, invitations clutched in their hands, waited at the school entrance, their senses reeling from the tempting smells of fresh baked cakes drifting down the school corridors. . Diminutive waiters escorted the customers, one at a time to the ‘ONE Stop Cafe’ (year 1 classroom) to be politely seated at their allotted table, eager waiters lining up to take their order. Don’t think I could even say ‘Marshmallow’ when I was 5, never mind spell it. Some rather large bottoms had to fit onto some tiny chairs, and from the amount of cakes eaten, the chairs became even smaller still! A great time was had by all, not least the children who cooked and served with aplomb. Year Two followed a similar theme, studying ‘Food from Around the World’. They produced their own Passports, following a particular country and including that country’s : Sport, Money, Language, Flag and of course food. As a practical demonstration the children were invited to ‘More Restaurant’ in Leicester which produces and serves food from many countries. We were met at the door by the head chef, who not only showed the class where the food was produced, but imparted his own, obvious enthusiasm for everything food, which culminated in a spectacular demonstration of food preparation.
The benefits of coochie-coo DON’T BE afraid to use baby talk to your baby – it is great for them.
We were then invited to literally help ourselves and eat as much as we wanted. Where some of these seven year olds put it all, I’ll never know, but plates were cleared and tables were tidied. The owner of the cafe made a point of complimenting the school staff on the behaviour of the children, their obvious interest, manners and politeness. Back to school to put into practice what they had learned with a day’s cooking: From UK -Scones and Jam, Spain - Paella, Finland - Beetroot Salad, India Samosa and Italy - Pizza. Tables were decked out with table clothes in the flags of the various nations. Now the real test, family were invited to test the results. Unanimous, Brilliant. The whole exercise had been a tremendous test, not only of cookery skills, but literacy, maths, geography, history, design and also importantly, interpersonal skills between the children themselves but also between themselves and adults. Jamie Oliver, eat your heart out! At the end of term we sadly said goodbye, or should it be Au revoir, to Kathleen Bandy who, after 12 years at the school,
has moved on to pastures new. Kathleen was well loved by, most importantly, the children but also the staff at the school and not only will she be a hard act to follow but her presence in the school will be very sadly missed.
Owen Lawrence
Research has found that infants whose parents talked to them at a higher pitch, in a happy tone of voice, and with elongated vowels learned nearly three times as many words by the age of two as those whose parents had not. Research at the University of Washington and the University of Connecticut found that babies in families who used baby talk knew an average of 433 words by the age of two. Babies in families that did not use baby talk knew on average just 169 words by the age of two.
The closest I get to multi-tasking is ignoring more than one thing at a time.
18
Groby & Field Head Spotlight • AUGUST 2015 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk
GE warns of plant closures if UK leaves the EU Norman Griffiths reports investment may help protect Groby site GE is one of the latest companies to warn against the United Kingdom leaving the EU, reports The Daily Telegraph. Locally the company operates from premises on Fir Tree Lane following its takeover of Druck some years ago. Mark Elborne, head of the company’s UK and Ireland operations said their British operations were global centres of excellence for their products. “We want to be part of a trading group where we can continue to benefit from the lack of barriers, we want to benefit from large scale trade agreements, the convergence of standards and we want to be able to operate seamlessly between our different businesses across Europe,” he said. He thought an exit from the EU would be hugely damaging and would cause a lot of difficulties in the short term and that some operations could be moved abroad if links with the continent are cut. The conglomerate employs more than 18,000 people in the UK at 40 manufacturing plants. The Groby facility has 680 employees. However, the misfortune of the fire in June 2014 has given the company the opportunity to invest in the new world class clean room which was officially opened on July 22.
“This is a great day for our workforce, the Groby community and our global customers,” said Graham Dawber, Business Leader for Groby. It is thought that the new investment should allow the company to continue to provide local jobs for years to come. The plant is the only British manufacturer of pressure sensors and industrial calibrators that manufactures the key sensor element in house. With its reputation for high quality, high accuracy pressure sensor equipment for aerospace, oil and gas, power generation and the automotive sector, there is reason to be optimistic that the Groby plant could survive an exit from the EU.
Advanced and safe clean room opened The new clean room is one of the most advanced and safest in the UK. GE Measurement and Control has designed it with an advanced fire prevention system and worked with industry experts in chemical handling and fire prevention to make it as safe a working environment as possible for its staff. Ryan Crocker, site leader at Groby site explains “Every challenge presents an opportunity and when we had the fire last year we took full advantage of the opportunity to reassess the safety of our operating facility.” Benefits will include increased manufacturing capacity with less silicon scrap, improved product quality and flexibility to meet customer demands. Improved automation will provide improvements in productivity per shift and new product planning procedures which will reduce customer delivery times.
Thanks to the Groby community GE is extremely grateful for the support it has received from the Groby community since the fire. “We couldn’t have got through this difficult time without the support of the local community. They looked after our staff on the day of the fire and have been understanding of any disruption during the rebuilding. Once again we would like to thank you all for your continued support,” added Graham Dawber.
Fun Day at the Bricklayer’s Arms in Thornton JAN & BEN at the Bricklayer’s Arms in Thornton are holding another of their very popular Fun Days on Saturday 5th September, starting at 1pm. Among the attractions will be live music from the Dirty Water Band, Tombola, Raffle, Putt The Ball, Hook A Duck, Face Painting, Bouncy Castle Slide, and lots more! Sounds great! Put the date in your diary straight away so you won’t forget to go!
GROBY BOOK CLUB BOOK LOVERS in Groby and the surrounding areas are invited to come along and share their passion for reading with like minded people at the Groby Book Club.
Whatever your reading choices and habits, you will be made most welcome at this book club supported by Age UK (LS&R) when they meet up again on Thursday 24th September 2015. The group meets on the third Thursday of each month at Groby Village Hall from 2pm to 3.30 pm (excluding August/December). Admission is only £2.00 and includes tea/coffee and biscuits. Over recent months the group have listened to interesting talks from several invited authors including Tony Cox, Alan Norman and John Martin. So why not come along and join this friendly group, to chat and share your own reading experiences; your likes and dislikes, favourite authors, favourite genres etc. and may be even try reading something completely different as recommended by your new friends in the Groby Book Club! For more information contact Kate Webb on 01455 619519 or email kate.webb@ageukleics.org.uk
My neighbours listen to some excellent music. Whether they want to or not.
Groby & Field Head Spotlight • AUGUST 2015 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk
Groby Gardening Society News The Village Show (Groby Gardening Society and Groby Women’s Institute)
Climate change continued ... WHEN Geoff Hodge spoke to our group in May, he concluded by highlighting plants that would suffer as winters become more cooler.
MOST READERS will now know that this takes place on Saturday 22nd August at 2.30 p.m. Exhibits may be entered and staged on Friday 21st August from 7.00 p.m. to 9.00 p.m. or on Saturday 22nd August from 8.15 a.m. to 10.20 a.m. Judging will start at 10.25 a.m. The presentation of prizes and the drawing of raffle winners should start at about 3.40 p.m. We hope that this year a large number of entries will be made to our young person’s section. Included in the schedule are classes entitled :• Decorated rice crispy cakesfour on a plate • A handmade sock puppet • A design using flower heads floating ina small container of water • A decorated wooden spoon • Colouring in a picture found in the schedule for ages upto 8 years • A hand drawn A4 picture of flower for the ages 8 years and above The influence the of BBC’s “Bakeoff ” competitions is reflected in the class to be awarded the D. A. Colledge Shield. This is for a “Showstopper cake” using a sponge recipe for the cake and the baker’s imagination for the decoration!
Whatton House Gardens THE EVENING visit to Whatton House Gardens was attended by over thirty members. The house, owned by Lord and Lady Crawshaw, was built in 1802, but a devastating fire saw it re-built in 1876. During the second World War it was used as a maternity hospital, mainly for
19
mothers evacuated from London. After the War, Lord David and Lady Belinda returned to the house and are still resident today. The evening of our visit was a perfect English summer evening and the grounds, woodlands and parklands were wonderful places to stroll. Towards the east lay panoramic views of the valley of the river Soar. The gardens were ablaze with colour from numerous rhododendrons, species roses, cornus and wisterias, whilst many of the parkland’s trees are over 200 years old. The rose garden, filled with fragrant hybrid roses, was backed by views of grazing belted Galloway cattle which are especially reared for their flavoursome beef. The long border, cared for by Lady Crawshaw, were filled with numerous perennials and again looked over attractive farmland. Stone seating, ornaments and statues fill the garden at every turn and replica terracotta warriors stand guard in the Chinese garden. Sadly, many statues were stolen some years ago and many more are kept inside for safe-keeping. A lake, created in the 1930s is home to statues of herons. There is only one full-time gardener and, with the help of the Lord and Lady, he manages to maintain a very pleasant, relaxing and interesting
atmosphere reflecting a bygone age. There is a small nursery with plants for sale at very reasonable prices. This perfect evening was suitably ended with tea and homemade cakes served in the tearoom. The public can visit every Sunday between 2-4 pm.
Members’ Open Gardens ONCE AGAIN we were blessed with superb weather on the afternoon and evening of this event. Numerous gardens were available to visit and they all had interesting and different characters. Afterwards some forty members convened at the Church rooms for a lovely cream tea. Everyone enjoyed this deviation from our normal monthly meetings and we are indebted to Beverley and Helen for arranging it. We also owe great thanks to those behind-the-scenes members who produced such delicious refreshments for the finale and worked tirelessly during the evening.
These included snowdrops and daffodils. Similarly, silver birch, lupins, cottage garden plants, ferns, candelabra primulas and rhododendrons will suffer as they prefer cooler summers, not the warmer ones that are predicted. On a positive note he thought that abutilons and passion flowers would like the suggested changes and droughtloving trees like the bottle brush (callistemons), eucalyptus, palms and even bananas would thrive. Shrubs which also would revel in these expected conditiond include buddleja (or buddleia), plumbago, convolvulus, cornus (dogwood), broom, fuchsias and hebes.
Future Meetings • Aug. 22nd: The Village Show 2.00 pm in Village Hall • Sept. 10th: “Sense and desirability” - Andrew Ward • Oct. 8th: “Plants for Everywhere” - Graham Jackson • Nov. 12th: “Fragrance and colour in winter” - J. Amos 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 E mail e.atherton@btinternet.com
Alvar Johnson
FENCING
S G S
SHOOTER GARDENING SERVICES
NEW & REPAIR WORK UNDERTAKEN ALL WOOD IS PRESSURE TREATED
CALL JIM SHOOTER . 95 LEICESTER ROAD, GROBY
0116 2879715 / 07814224630 I want my children to have the things I never had. Then I want to move in with them.
20
Groby & Field Head Spotlight • AUGUST 2015 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk
Could Groby Juniors find a home on the Klondike? ~ Norman Griffiths reports on the latest developments ~
R
EADERS may recall that Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council voted to support the proposal to make a Compulsory Purchase Order to acquire and restore the land known as the Klondike on Newtown Linford Lane to a use commensurate with its proper planning purpose. Although this initiative has stalled there are still hopes that the plan can be revived and a leisure use found for the land. A home for Groby Juniors Football Club is one of the suggestions being made. Because it adjoins Groby quarry the Klondike is viewed by some as being of strategic importance to the quarry owner. The company had indicated a willingness to make a financial contribution towards the costs of compulsory purchase order, the purchase of the land but subsequently decided not to become involved at the present time. The Chief Executive’s report to the Borough Council explained that the current unauthorised usage of the Klondyke has been a matter of concern for the Council for a number of years. The site is within both the Green Wedge and the National Forest and as such the current usage of the site is in direct opposition to its proper planning designation, but within a year the compulsory purchase initiative had fallen by the wayside. In October 2014 a leisure based future for the site was still on the table but by December Steve Atkinson advised councillors that “Having considered the ‘leisure’ option with officer colleagues in Planning, Legal and Estates, I have concluded that a case for that option is most unlikely to receive planning support. Moreover, given that there has been no unlawful activity identified or threatened on the site in recent months and that it is now largely shielded from public gaze, I do not consider that further time and expenditure on the
matter is good value for money at this time.” Why a leisure option would not receive planning support is unexplained, and as the Spotlight went to press Mr Atkinson was not available to clarify his remarks.
Enforcement action taken Planning enforcement action has been taken over the years to attempt to control the site. The serving of a Planning Enforcement Notice on one part of the site in 2005 requiring that all hard-standing be removed from the site and the land reinstated to its previous condition through the planting of appropriate grass, shrubs and seeds has not been complied with. Following the failure of the owner to comply with the Enforcement Notice, the Council in 2007 sought and obtained an Injunction Order in similar terms to the enforcement notice. Owing to difficulty in locating the subject of the Injunction the Council has not been in a position to enforce it, although it remains extant. Another area of the site has since 1986 been used as an unauthorised builder’s yard. A planning contravention notice was served against the property in 2007 which resulted in works being carried out to remove a proportion of the loose materials and scrap on the site, although the unauthorised use continues. In March 2007 a further area
of the Site was served with an enforcement notice to remove all caravans and mobile homes from the site. This enforcement notice was complied with. In April 2011 the owners of the entire site were made subject to a further injunction to prevent any development of the site and in particular the bringing onto the site tarmac or other materials on to the land. This injunction expired in June 2011 as no breaches of the injunction occurred in this period.
Acceptable uses for the land The Klondyke is part of both the National Forest and the Rothley Brook Meadow Green Wedge. Uses which are considered acceptable within the Rothley Brook Green Wedge include agriculture, recreation, forestry, footpaths and bridleways, burial grounds and nature conservation. In addition any land use within the green wedge is required to maintain the function of the Green Wedge, and retain the visual appearance of the area. The Council’s Adopted Core Strategy supports proposals that contribute to the delivery of the National Forest Strategy, including increasing woodland cover, enhancing biodiversity, developing a new woodland economy for timber products and wood fuel energy, outdoor recreational and sport provision and tourism developments. Only development meeting this Strategy will be
All change for picnics! PICNICS are changing.
If you plan one this summer, chances are that the beloved boiled eggs, cheese sandwiches, biscuits, apples and orange squash of yesteryear have faded away, to be replaced by parma ham, chorizo, salami, olives, and prosecco. Only our fondness for salads and strawberries seems to continue. Meanwhile, thermos flasks and tin openers have given way to cool boxes and bottle openers. As for entertainment on your picnic, the Frisbees and transistor radios have been replaced by iPhones and iPads. The study was carried out by Seabrook Crisps.
supported, and even then only if its siting and scale is appropriate to a forest setting and the development respects the character and appearance of the wider woodland setting. The current unauthorised uses of the site do not comply.
A home for Groby Juniors? In the meantime Groby Juniors Football Club continue to search for a site they can make their home in the village. The search has gone on for many years, but without success. If the ownership problems were resolved, a compulsory purchase process completed and the site rehabilitated, the club would be prepared to consider it as a possibility for the home they have long wanted. It could take up to 5 years for the dream to become reality but a CPO and clean up could provide a site which the club could develop as a great asset to the community. Last month the club appealed for help, firstly from anyone who is either a surveyor, architect, solicitor, land agent, developer or past/present councillor who could assist in the acquisition and development of club facilities. They were also looking for anyone who is an accountant or has experience in applying for charity status. This is something which is seen as being extremely beneficial to the club, swelling funds, enabling development and benefiting members. New chair Emanda Kerr may have been overwhelmed with offers, but if you can help in some way no doubt she would still be pleased to hear from you. Her mobile number is 07860 546828. Founded in 1973 as Ratby Groby Juniors the club name was changed in 2003. The ethos of the club is for everyone associated with it to have a good time whether or not they are players. Over the years the club has produced three England players – Emile Heskey, Matt Heath and Tommy Wright.
I’ve got some reliable inside information about Apple’s next product: I won’t be able to afford it.
Groby & Field Head Spotlight • AUGUST 2015 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk
21
Beauty Therapist
Joanne Wright
Manicure & Pedicure Waxing Facial Treatments Swedish/Indian Head
We use and sell
Massage
Hopi Ear Candle Stone Therapy Massage ”Dorn Method” Correction
Products
of misalignments of the spine & other joints
Neck & Back Massage
59 Saintbury Road, Glenfield
0784 109 7679 - 0116 287 7696 Email: jowright6@yahoo.co.uk Website: www.bodytalk-beauty.co.uk
DAN HARDY 01530 587324
GARDEN MAINTENANCE
07598 200185
LAWN MOWING
24 Link Rise, Markfield, Leicestershire, LE67 9TY Visit our new website: www.leicesterlawnmowing.com
Prices start from £10, for an average sized garden, front and rear lawns included. Weekly or fortnightly cuts available.
Every cigarette you smoke takes five minutes off your life. According to my calculations I should have died in 1876.
22
Groby & Field Head Spotlight • AUGUST 2015 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk
All the latest news from Groby WI MY FIRST report covers our June meeting. Richard Papworth entertained us with accounts of his varied life spanning 30 years in the prison service and experiences as a store detective. He began his career with the police as a cadet and one incident was never forgotten. He was delegated to collect a dead body from the mortuary. Never having seen a corpse before he was quite nervous so took his time over outstanding jobs and hoped to avoid the confrontation. His angry sergeant was having none of this and played him at his own game. No way out he was in at the deep end. This was all it needed to conquer his fear. His maxim as a store detective was ‘Don’t believe all you see’ and ‘Don’t jump to conclusions’. A good example of this was the tale of a natty gent, attired in bowler hat, bow tie, morning suit and carrying a rolled black umbrella. The ‘gent’ was having a pub lunch and need to be investigated. The ‘loot’ in his briefcase confirmed his suspicions. Richard worked in Lewis’s Store in Manchester and recalled the theft of £10,000 worth of fur coats (a lot more in today’s values). Unhappily the culprits got away scot-free. The porters had a good scheme going. They conveyed expensive garments from the fashion floor to be collected later, receipts for a fraction of the cost would be attached to the parcel. ‘Damaged’ goods was another ruse, padded ‘pregnant’ ladies, invalids in wheelchairs, prams can remove a vast quantities of items without payment. Children on holiday increased the petty thieving dramatically. At the other end of the scale, why not hire a Rolls Royce; how many would question a uniformed chauffeur loading up his haul. His training as a prison officer was quite rigorous, high grades of theory, practical and physical skills were needed. On his course of 154 applicants, only 72 survived. Visiting time required trainees to observe the procedure. The long, yellow curtains seemed the ideal place for unobtrusive spying. Richard visualised a mass breakout over the wall when suddenly, the doors burst open and in came the Chief Officer leading a large contingent of staff. The alarm bell, which was secreted behind the yellow curtains, needed very little pressure from Richard to accidentally trigger a major alert. He had a most interesting life recorded in his book ‘Key Man’.
THE PAST two months have been full of events. Two smashing theatre shows, Car-men the National Theatre’s Matthew Bourne’s production. He has quite a following with our ladies and this production didn’t let them down. Then one of our annual visits to Kilworth House to see ‘Singing in the Rain’. The weather enabled some to picnic, others dining elsewhere. The show was very enjoyable, luckily our lot were about halfway up the auditorium as those on the front row got a soaking, well what else do you expect from singing in the rain! Eight of us met up with my Derbyshire friends for a walk from Melbourne Hall. We couldn’t have picked a hotter day. The actual walk which began more or less from the lake took us over crop fields and meadows. All felt the heat but towards the end there was a very long slow climb through a rape field. I don’t know if you have ever walked through rape but it’s a jungle. You couldn’t see the path; it was just tangled rape and waist high. My friends thought I was going to pass out, I thought so to. Unfortunately I was leading so I had to kick a trail, was I glad to reach the top. We then went down to Melbourne itself where we had lunch in the pretty tearoom. A coach trip took us to Buxton in Derbyshire, yet again another glorious day. On arrival we went into the lovely Pavillion Garden Tearoom. There we were met by Antonio. Now Antonio and I had been in touch a few times trying to come to some arrangement regarding refreshments. Anyway, I said I was Margaret from Groby WI, sounds simple enough but every conversation after that he referred to me as Mrs. Scrooby. On entering the Tearoom Antonio came over, he turned out to be a lovely chappie, so I said, “Hello, I am Margaret from Groby”. He then said “Welcome Margaret Mrs. Scrooby”. My friends thought it very funny, I just gave up. We had a smashing toasted teacake with real coffee and tea. The staff were very efficient and friendly and kept filling up our cups. We then met our Discover Buxton guides. There were three, Nicky (I think) was the tram driver. The tram was done up as a Victorian tram holding 8 people for those with walking difficulties, Nicky informed us that it was in a previous life a millk float. The rest went off in two parties. Led by two guides we entered a 200 year old chemists, walked around the town which has The Crescent, modelled
on that of Bath. It was built for the Duke of Devonshire in the late l8th century. Drank from one of the Wells (tasted like ordinary tap water) and onto the University of Sheffield building. This was built, again, in the l8th century by the Duke, a later Duke then gave it to Buxton as a hospital. It is a large, circular domed building, all around are what were I suppose the individual stables with a very big empty centre. One of our ladies can remember visiting the hospital, the stables must have been turned into bays. About l5 years ago it was acquired by the University. When standing under this spectacular dome, the guide stood in the middle, clapped his hands and the sound came back as loud as thunder. We finished up at the Church where the petallers were putting the finishing touches to the Well Dressings which were to be officially opened the following Sunday. The Pavillion Gardens are beautiful. Unfortunately we couldn’t see the baths as they are in the process of being renovated. My lot have asked if we could return at a future date to see them, after another successful visit. Afterwards we went onto Masson Mills in Cromford which is now a shopping outlet with a tearoom. We could have spent the day in Buxton but when planning I didn’t know what the weather would be like so had to have a plan for all occasions, English weather! We were all disappointed that our speaker, booked for July had to cancel her talk ‘History of Nursery Rhymes’. However, in true W.I. spirit our secretary, Fran Wilson, devised an excellent quiz, a brain teaser, on the subject of nursery rhymes. It was surprising to learn that many of these childish verses hid some very sinister stories. Unfortunately, I was unable to record these whilst checking our team’s score (just in case we were on a winning streak). As always,
Google saved the day with lots of meanings appearing on line. So, for a bit of useless information I will quote one or two. Mary, Mary’s garden was really a graveyard. Silver bells and cockle shells were torture devices. Baa, baa black sheep was all about high taxes on sheep farmers leaving nothing for the little shepherd boy living down the lane. Humpty Dumpty was a Civil War cannon. Pop goes the weasel - The weasel was a winter coat ‘popped’, or pawned, to buy half a pound of tuppenny rice, half a pound of treacle. Thank you Fran for stepping into the breach. The quiz was followed by special refreshments. Diane Brown provided some varied and mouthwatering delicacies. The Village Hall kitchen was closed for renovation so coffee and tea were off the menu. These were replaced by a more healthy fruit punch. Many thanks to all committee members, and others, involved in this most enjoyable social time. There have also been our local walks, two in fact in June and July. We keep trying to keep healthy. Finally, I must mention a very special event, our own Lynn Mellor was invited to Buckingham Palace for a garden party. It is the W.I.’s centenary and a representative from each Institute had been invited. We had a ballot and Lynn won. She looked great and managed to speak to the Duchess of Cornwall and said she had had a really wonderful day. Next month’s meeting on Thursday, 20th August is “Keep Young and Beautiful” a talk by Clare Orbell. I think she will have her work cut out! Why not come along and see if she succeeds.
Evelyn and Margaret
Every time I hear of someone being attacked by a shark, I think ‘Didn’t they hear the music?’
Groby & Field Head Spotlight • AUGUST 2015 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk
Groby Tuesdays Guitar Group THE GROBY Tuesdays are starting up again on 8 September at Groby Village Hall!
23
HENSTOCKS
Accountants & Tax Consultants 26 Fosse Road Central, Leicester LE3 5PR
Local Musician Mark Wilde has been running this group for many years and it is aimed at those with some skills who want to improve and enjoy the fun of playing with others. One to one tuition is a feature of the group, with techniques and live performance as special features. For more information, please ring Mark on 07757 010982 or email markwilde8@gmail.com
Anyone for Badminton?
ESTABLISHED FOR OVER 50 YEARS WE CAN DEAL WITH ALL YOUR ACCOUNTANCY REQUIREMENTS. OUR SERVICES INCLUDE ACCOUNTS PREPARATION, PERSONAL AND BUSINESS TAXATION, BOOKKEEPING, PAYROLL AND VAT.
CONTACT US FOR YOUR FREE CONSULTATION
Phone: 0116 262 3202 email@henstocks.co.uk
Fax: 0116 261 9186 www.henstocks.co.uk
A FRIENDLY local Badminton club requires players for sessions at Groby Community College on Wednesdays between 8pm and 10pm. Telephone 0116 267 5800 for more information.
How to have a more healthy heart GRATITUDE can help you recover more quickly from a heart attack. So says a study by the University of California, who examined gratitude as part of an outlook that involves appreciating the positive aspects of life, and often goes hand in hand with spirituality. It was found that people who have a life attitude of being grateful are also likely to have a better mood, better sleep, less fatigue, and lower levels of inflammatory biomarkers related to cardiac health. Researchers said they were surprised to find that gratitude accounted for such beneficial effects. As one scientist put it, “It seems that a more grateful heart is indeed a more healthy heart.”
GAS-SERVWELL CHARNWOOD All gas appliances serviced, repaired and fitted
Established 1984 CORGI & Gas Safe Registered
FREE Inhibitor Worth £15 with any Boiler Service Replacement Boiler Specialist Gas Cookers, Fires & Hobs Fitted General Plumbing and Repairs OAP Reduced Rates Same Day Priority Breakdown Visits Power Flushing and Heating Upgrades 10-year Guarantee On Fitted Boilers - Parts & Labour Replacement Radiators, Tanks & Cylinders
Tel: 0116 236 7923 Mob: 07860 735066 Email: bobzgas@gmail.com
I could do great things if I weren’t so busy doing little things.
24
Groby & Field Head Spotlight • AUGUST 2015 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk
Beth Tweddle writes ...
Fitzy at Groby Street Fair
I AM WRITING to ask you and your readers to join me in supporting the British Heart Foundation’s (BHF) Schools events.
You can take part in physical activity that is fun, rewarding and heart healthy. The activities will raise money for your school, as well as contribute to lifesaving research into heart disease. I am urging schools in the East Midlands to take part in a sponsored Skipathon or game of Ultimate Dodgeball in aid of the fight against heart disease. These events promote the importance of maintaining a healthy heart through regular exercise whilst raising funds for the BHF’s lifesaving work into the fight against heart disease. The scheme also allows schools and youth groups to keep 20% of the money they have raised, which they can put towards new equipment and resources to benefit their children. Last year, BHF’s school events raised over an amazing £711,221. This year, we want to top this total and with your help we can. Heart and circulatory conditions are responsible for nearly 12,000 deaths in the East Midlands each year, that’s over 30 people every single day. We are asking people of the East Midlands to sign up today and help the BHF to continue to save lives. To find out more and to sign-up, visit bhf.org.uk/schools-event Yours faithfully,
Beth Tweddle
Miss Perry
Olympic gymnast
n
io
at
EE
lig
e
ot
qu
Building
ob
Driveways / Block Paving Patios & Decking Garden Walls / Stone Walls Ponds / Water Features Design Service Available
FR
Building Landscapes
no
H M & Tree Surgery
Landscaping
Hello! This is Fitz. Despite the rain, he loved the Groby Street Fair and would love to be in the Spotlight please. Thanks
Tree Surgery Trees Removed,
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
for the
Worksurfacing Industry Seabrook Digital Solutions Ltd
Tel: 01455 889726 Mobile: 0772 309 2474 For more information, visit www.seabrookdigital.com
The inventor of the ballet skirt was struggling for a name, until he finally put tu and tu together.
Groby & Field Head Spotlight • AUGUST 2015 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk
Is your smartphone doing the thinking for you? DO YOU rely on your smartphone as a sort of ‘extended mind’? Research in Canada has found that those of us who are less able to think ‘intuitively’ are especially guilty of getting our high-tech gadgets to do it for us. We use the internet to look for quick answers rather than use ‘effortful analytic thinking.’ The number of smartphone users in the UK is forecast to rise from 36 million in 2014 to 46 million by 2018. It is estimated that by then an entire third of the world’s population will be on smartphones.
What happened to the wedding cake? THE TRADITIONAL British wedding cake beloved by millions of brides and grooms seems to be on the verge of extinction. Like the grey squirrel, the reason is an invasion from across the Pond, in the form of the American cupcake. A recent survey on changing tastes in wedding celebrations found that only 18 per cent of couples still opt for the traditional wedding cake, while already 20 per cent of couples are going for tiers of extravagantly iced cupcakes. The survey was done by LateRooms.com.
On why the parish goes to war over pumpkin-growing From The Rectory St. James the Least My dear Nephew Darren ANYONE who thinks that the English are a peaceful race has obviously never organised the annual pumpkin growing competition. Very regrettably, one of the Pilgrim Fathers sent a handful of pumpkin seeds to a relation in this parish in the 17th century and ever since, the church has been obliged to hold an annual competition to see who can grow the largest. I suspect some of the original recipients of those seeds still compete. There is a certain irony that the church, which is supposed to promote peace and harmony, sponsors the most war-like activity in the annual calendar. Mobilisation starts at the beginning of the year when seeds are planted. From that moment on, every other potential entrant is regarded as the Enemy. Once seedlings are planted out, then heavy armaments are placed at boundaries to deter possible invasion. By late Spring, paranoia has taken over and rumours begin to circulate of espionage and sinister undetectable herbicides. Anyone in the village with a beard is looked on with deep suspicion. In the weeks before the competition, homes, partners and children are abandoned, as contestants talk to their pumpkins by day and snuggle up with them at night. Should bad weather arrive at this point, then I am blamed for not having prayed sufficiently fervently for sunshine and light rain. If only I had such influence. On the day before the show, tables are put out and woe betide anyone who places their cake stand where Mrs Cholmondeley has put her tea urn for the past 25 years; she now believes she has squatters rights to that place and any challenge to her claim would probably result in litigation. I find this competitive spirit a little bemusing, as for the last 25 years, the Earl of Stowe has always won first prize. That his mother, the Dowager Countess, is the judge, is, I am sure, pure coincidence. That she has arrived for the past three years with a white stick and accompanied by a golden Labrador does, however, raise doubts. To award the Earl any prize at all does seem a little unfair, when the only time he ever gets mud on his boots is when he falls off his horse while hunting. I suspect he would be hard pressed to find where the kitchen garden is on his estate. But to give any credit to his gardening staff would be seen as bad form, so we all keep quiet. It has been tentatively suggested that another judge should be appointed, but no one has so far had the courage to step forward. They may have the privilege of nominating the winner, but would also have to face a twelve month period of hatred from all those who were not successful. Christmas card lists will be amended. Families may have sat next to them in church for generations, but would suddenly find it more congenial to worship in another part of the church. Letters would be strangely mis-delivered and the butcher’s boy would suddenly deliver lamb when pork had been ordered. Who could dare to take on such a poisoned chalice? Your loving uncle,
Eustace
I saw a disclaimer that said ‘Don’t try this at home’, so i tried it at my neighbour’s house.
25
26
Groby & Field Head Spotlight • AUGUST 2015 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk
Jottings
The Bricklayer’s Arms 213 Main Street Thornton T: 01530 230 808 Saturday 5th September - FUN DAY - starts 1pm. QUIZ Nite: Thursdays We now have SKY and BT Sports Multi Screen. Ask about our new menus! www. bricklayersarms.net The Club, Thornton Main Street. T: 01530 230251 Open To Non-members Fri 7th Aug: Charity Evening With THE DIRTY WATER BAND And SIMON HENLEY As Elvis Presley Sat 15th Aug: PUNK & DISORDERLY - Thornton’s Own Punk Band Celebrating A Special Birthday Sat 22nd Aug - THE RETURN OF FAZ !! - Who Rocked The Club At The Last Plug & Play, Guitar Playing Singer, Everything From The Smiths / Morrissey Back To Songs Before He Was Born Sky & BT Sports Free Room Hire Available For Your Perfect Party - Bingo Every Tuesday Evening - View Our Website On www.facebook.com/ TheThorntonClub Bagworth Working Men’s Club, Station Road, Bagworth. Tel. 01530 230205 Find us on FACEBOOK search Bagworth WMC New members welcome. Every Tuesday night - TARGET SHOOTING - call for details Every Monday night: DOMINOES - only £1.50 entry, which includes supper. Bargain! Live entertainment – last Saturday of the month Bingo & Raffle every Wednesday and Saturday Andy’s Charity Quiz £1.50 each
- last Friday of the month - and RAFFLE - with excellent prizes. Sequence dances Sunday Nights with live organist - £2.00 admission 8 pm Tea Dance Wednesday afternoon 2 – 4 pm. £1 admission. Ask about our FREE ROOM HIRE for those special family occasions. The Field Head Hotel Markfield Lane, Markfield Tel: 01530 245454 20th Sept: WEDDING SHOWCASE - 9am till 3pm. Discover the wedding package that’s right for you. Brides and grooms-to-be are very welcome to come and take a look around our lovely hotel it’s a great wedding venue! The Queen’s Head Ashby Road, Markfield. T: 01530 242 496 ALL SKY SPORTS & BT SPORTS All live TIGERS games. The Bull’s Head Forest Road, Markfield T: 01530 242541 Garden & Pub Games etc. POKER NIGHT - Tuesdays starts at 8pm The Coach & Horses Leicester Road, Field Head Tel: 01530 242 312 FAMILY FUN DAY - Saturday 29th August - starts 2pm Groby Ex-Servicemen’s Club, Leicester Road, Groby Tel: 0116 287 1809 www.grobyclub.co.uk The Old Thatched Inn, Main Street, Stanton-underBardon Friday 14th August - Live Music from Straight Bends - 9pm free entry
Why your man can’t help missing that anniversary IF THE man in your life forgets your birthday or even forgets to ring you, he now has a perfect excuse: he can’t help it - because he is a man. It seems that men are simply more forgetful than women when it comes to numbers, dates, events, personal memories and details of conversations. The study, carried out by scientists at the Norwegian University of Science, admits that “we have speculated a lot about why men report more frequent problems with remembering than women, but have not been able to find an explanation. This is still an unsolved mystery.”
News in Brief with Norman Griffiths
Looking for a new home? WORK is underway on the development of new housing on the site of the Brant Inn. The first dwellings are starting to take shape and if this is somewhere you think you might want to live and want to know more, Jelsons the builders can be contacted on 0116 266 1541 or by email at salesteam@jelson.co.uk. At the other end of the village there are two proposals for dwellings. There is a planning application for the erection of two semi detached properties at land to the rear of Quarry House on Bradgate Hill and another for Home Farm. The applications share a common problem – they both need access to the busy A50, something the Highway Authority does not want to encourage. The Heritage Statement submitted with the application for Home Farm on Markfield Road gives an insight into the history of the property. “The farm was sold as a 235 acre entity in 1925 and renamed as Bradgate Home Farm,” it explains. “Since that time it has lost much of its land and now remains as a 30 acre holding. Although the farm buildings are not listed it is considered that there are some interesting features which mean that their loss would be undesirable. The most notable building is a large cart shed with arched bays. This is of attractive design in its own right, but its interest lies in its disproportionate size relative to the size of the farm and the other buildings. The suggestion has been made that this might have resulted from its use as housing for the wagons and horses used for the transportation of slate from the adjoining slate quarry.” If you would prefer to be in the heart of the village you may be interested to hear that the Borough Council has given planning permission for alterations to 20 Rookery Lane and the erection of 2 new dwellings in the garden. Having regard to the pattern of existing development in the area, the character and appearance of the Groby Conservation Area and the setting of nearby listed buildings, it was decided that the proposed development would be in accordance with the development plan, subject to compliance with the conditions attached to the permission. It is considered a sustainable development which would contribute to the current shortfall in housing supply in Groby. In addition the proposal is considered to preserve the significance of the existing cottage, preserve the character and appearance of the wider Groby Conservation Area and the setting of the adjacent listed building. It is also thought that it would not result in any adverse impacts on significant trees, archaeology, the amenities of the occupiers of neighbouring properties or highway safety. The issue of highway safety was a concern for Groby Parish Council because of the proximity of the access to the brow of the hill and the width of the road. The planning consent now requires the access to be widened to a minimum of 4.6 metres and provided with 2 metres x 2 metres visibility splays on both sides of the access at the junction with Rookery Lane.
The amount of sleep required by the average person is five minutes more.
Groby & Field Head Spotlight • AUGUST 2015 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk
27
Local businesses sponsor new covers for cricket pitch NEWTOWN LINFORD Cricket Club are the proud owners of some new state of the art mobile covers thanks to generous sponsorship from The Holiday Lounge and The Stamford Arms, Groby. Holiday Lounge MD George Reynolds, who lives in the village, has enjoyed a longstanding relationship with the Club whilst The Stamford, under the management of landlord Brian Rigby, is a favourite watering hole for a large number the Club’s players and supporters. Club Chairman Jon Dale is thankful for the duo’s support and said: “We are a progressive cricket club both on and off the field with a rejuvenated committee, but we are always reliant on sponsors to assist our cause. “George and Brian are friends of the club as well as vice-presidents and their sizeable contributions towards the cost of our new covers is very much appreciated. “The covers will ensure that our wickets remain as dry as possible during inclement weather giving us the best chance of getting a match on.” The Club also received grants towards the covers from the ECB and the Leicestershire & Rutland Playing Fields Association . On the field, the first team has endured a mixed start to their Division One season, however, at the time of writing, the seconds and thirds were flying high at the top end of their respective divisions (Three & 10). The Club is also through to the regional finals of the National Village Cup after a narrow victory over local rivals Cropston.
Spend time with your teens MAKE AN effort to spend time with your teenagers this summer. It seems that just six hours a week of ‘family time’ can help prevent them going off the rails. A study at the University of Toronto found that six hours a week of positive time with their parents made a significant difference to a teenager’s well-being and achievement. It led to lower rates of delinquent behaviour, less drug and alcohol abuse, and higher academic achievement. At just less than an hour a day, it seems an excellent investment.
Summer Rounders For everyone on Monday evenings 6.30pm—8.00pm at the Memorial Park.
Every summer all our children’s and young people’s groups (7’s to 18’s) have a residential away. These holidays build friendships, grow self-esteem, are packed full of fun and adventure, explore faith and encourage children and young people to get the best out of life. When term starts, we meet at the United Reformed Church: - for 5’s to 14’s on Mon evenings at 3.45pm, 6.30pm or 7.45pm - for 15-18’s on Wed evenings at 7.30pm - for 15-18’s on Fri at 7.30pm
Catch
meets for play, craft, story & chat for pre-school children with a parent or carer. Back in September! 9.30-11.30am, at the URC. CHURCH OPEN FOR PRAYER Need a space to step aside for a while? You can be alone, maybe write and leave a prayer request, you can speak with someone who will pray with you or just use some of the prayers and readings available. St. Philip & St. James Church, Markfield Road Saturdays 10.00-12noon
All of these activites, along with our work in schools, are provided by the two churches in Groby under the group name EXTEND.
Fair Cuppa:
an opportunity to meet with friends at the village hall. Every Thursday, 10.30-12.00noon 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
I thought I was having deja vu, but it turns out I do the exact same things every day.
28
Groby & Field Head Spotlight • AUGUST 2015 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk
Jottings News in Brief with Norman Griffiths
Parking issues THE IMPROVED parking facilities at Quarry Park were provided for the benefit of residents visiting the facilities including the new Multi Use Games Area. It was perhaps inevitable that with Martinshaw School and GE Druck within easy walking distance the car park would attract the interest of those not visiting the park. It has been estimated that at one point 50% of the spaces were taken by GE Druck employees. In order to discourage all day commuter parking a new 3 hour maximum parking period is being considered with the possibility of penalties for those who stay longer. The management of Druck are said to be be fully supportive of such a move and have confirmed they will be continuing to try and find solutions to keep more employees from parking in the village. The renovations following the 2014 fire have allowed the company to create a further 35 on-site parking spaces. The issue of vehicular access to Martinshaw School is likely to be a growing problem. The County Council has plans to substantially increase the number of pupils at the school and this will inevitably lead to an increase in vehicle movements. The additional pupil places are largely needed to accommodate the anticipated growth in pupils travelling from outside the immediate catchment area, including Ratby. An updated Travel Plan will need to be submitted and agreed by the County Council with the aim of reducing vehicle emissions, single occupancy vehicle use and reducing vehicular travel at peak times. Encouragement should be given to more car sharing, public transport use, cycling and walking. The use of IT substitutes for real travel is also suggested but not fully explained. There should be measurable outcome targets which are subject to regular review and monitoring. Whether this will reassure residents that the traffic situation will not deteriorate further remains to be seen. Although the school site is relatively large the County Council plan appears to make no provision to take radical steps to deal with the congestion caused in the area, and it seems that they made no contribution to the substantial cost of improving, or the ongoing costs of maintaining, the parking facilities at Quarry Park.
Do you know where Groby Junction is? AUGUST is the middle of the holiday season and no doubt a number of readers will be visiting North Wales. Most will probably be unaware of the link between a small village near Blaenau Ffestiniog and Groby, but the fact that they are both in quarrying areas should be a good enough clue. Anyone travelling on the Ffestiniog Railway(FR) this summer is likely to pass Groby Junction near the small village of Tanygrisiau, where a section
of the branch line is probably still in the road surface. The line from Groby Junction was reputedly the most difficult to work of any FR branch, and was prone to accidents. Wikipedia says that the railway served a cluster of quarries around the town of Blaenau Ffestiniog. Most of these were slate quarries, although granite quarries and zinc mines were also connected by narrow gauge tramways to the railway. Local historian David Ramsey researched Groby’s Welsh connection for his book Groby and its Railways. “The information I managed to acquire on this quarry located is very fragmented and largely gathered from interviews,” explained David. “Approximately 130 men worked at the quarry, 37 of whom were stone masons. The Ffestiniog Railway was responsible for collecting and delivering wagons to the lower level of the Welsh quarry site. I was told the Welsh quarry’s Groby connection had begun in 1921 but no mention of it appears until the accounts sheet of 1927, when it made a loss of £3,458; in 1928 the loss was £6,448.” In 1930 the branch line closed but the quarry continued until 1937 when it eventually ran out of cash. “Because of the disconnection with the Ffestiniog Railway, the quarry found coal supplies for their steam powered plant came to a halt and at times wood had to be used. On closure some plant and stone was transported back to Groby using two Foden steam lorries; the time taken for the journey was nearly a week. The stone was easily worked and the kerb edgings brought to Groby after the Welsh quarry’s closure are remembered as being considerably longer than the local edgings - due no doubt to the more easily worked texture of the Welsh granite, ” David added. By 1979 the quarry was being used as a car breaker’s yard. In Feb 2003 work began in the old Welsh Groby Granite quarry on designing and building for the FR a rail mounted cherry picker which was a self contained, skid mounted unit bolted onto an old Bedford CF Van which had been dumped in the scrap yard. The vehicle obtained approval and on 30 Nov 04 the Cherry Picker was used for the first time when a fault in the overhead route between Tanygrisiau and Glan y Pwll had to be fixed. So if you travel on the Ffestiniog Railway this summer look out for Tanygrisiau and Groby Junction. David’s book was published in 1982 so write to the Spotlight as he would be delighted to hear of any changes. If you want to see more online including photographs just Google groby granite tanygrisiau. And if you are interested in learning more about Groby’s railways you can buy a copy of David’s book by calling him on 0116 229 0542.
CALLING ALL KNITTERS: It’s time to join The Big Knit for Age UK AGE UK Leicester Shire & Rutland is calling on nimble-fingered knitters in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland to get creative and knit little hats for Age UK and innocent’s Big Knit to help older people keep warm and well in winter. Now in its 12th year, The Big Knit returns and budding knitters across the UK are being called upon to knit miniature woolly hats to adorn innocent smoothie bottles, which will be sold in stores nationwide from February 2016. For each be-hatted smoothie sold, innocent will donate 25p to help Age UK fund their winter projects. Age UK Leicester Shire & Rutland is calling on local knitters to get as many hats as possible to them by the end of November latest to meet their challenging target of 42,000 and needs knitters and those wanting to give it a go to make this a reality. Each winter, one older person dies needlessly every eight minutes because of the cold . With over a decade of support from knitters up and down the country, The Big Knit has raised vital funds to help older people keep warm and well in winter. Last year alone, more than 800,000 hats were lovingly created, with designs including a bird cage, fruit, soldiers, peas in a pod, a bee’s nest, a crown and fishermen with their catch. For more information on The Big Knit contact Age UK Leicester Shire & Rutland on 0116 2992233 or log on to http://www.ageuk.org.uk/leics/how-you-can-help/new-fundraising-page/get-knitting-for-the-big-knit-2015/ Completed hats need to reach Age UK Leicester Shire & Rutland at Lansdowne House, 113 Princess Road East, Leicester LE1 7LA by 30th November .
This new sundial I bought is useless. It doesn’t say whether it’s a.m. or p.m.
Groby & Field Head Spotlight • AUGUST 2015 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk
29
Lady Jane Grey School News Sports Day
Groby Street Fair
THIS year’s Sports Day was a great success.
A VERY proud moment for me this term was taking my choir to perform at the Groby Street Fair.
The weather on the day for yet another year was fantastic. This year the catering staff from Grey’s Grill brought a new innovation of food and drinks to the events. In the heat of the day, watermelons and strawberries and cream were gratefully received by many.
Key Stage 1 DURING this term the children in all three classes have practised for the egg and spoon race, sack race, obstacle race and the sprint races. It is so good to see children willingly participating in competitive events and trying their best. It is equally rewarding to see the way they mutually support and cheer each other on. Every race is undertaken with the biggest grin and the loudest cheering. Thank you to all the children who took part in their races and tried their best. A big thank you to all the parents and grandparents who took part in the adult races; your participation means so much to your children watching - they are unbelievably proud of your efforts and they really don’t care where you were placed! Thank you also to Mrs Snow who organised the event; the Y5’s who helped set up the races and all the other teachers and TA’s who supported the event.
Key Stage 2 THE EVENT began with the obstacle course and the Year 3’s got the ball rolling. Many of the races were won or lost on the final parachute obstacle making for many exciting finishes. The next event was the hurdles and they were taken at great speed by all of the children. The Javelin was effected by the wind with many javelins landing in the scoring and first aid tents making staff duck for cover! When all of the events from egg and spoon to sack, sprints, skipping and bean bag were complete, it was onto the hotly anticipated relays. Abbey and Castle proved particularly strong and in many of the races the lead changed several times. Finally while the scores were being counted up there was a chance for a Parents’ race and the Teachers’ race. Mrs Norman won the final teachers race in an outstanding display of skipping prowess. At the end of the day the tension was high as there was only one point between 1st and 2nd proving that every race really did matter. Everyone clapped each team until it was announced that Bosworth came 4th, Bradgate 3rd, Castle 2nd and Abbey were this year’s champions.
We had rehearsed and practised so much building up to the day and we definitely did not let the bad weather stop us! We joined the parade and headed into the village; our spirits were high and we were excited to showcase our talents. I have to say, I was beyond proud watching the choir up on stage – the children were absolutely amazing singing ‘Edelweiss’ acapella, but they most definitely stole the show with their version of ‘Do Re Mi’! They performed with enthusiasm, remembered every line, every note, every action, every solo and every harmony and they showed just how talented they are! They turned grey skies blue and made me and the rest of LJG very proud!
Mary Poppins YET AGAIN, the Drama Club produced another outstanding show! Their performance of ‘Mary Poppins’ blew everyone away and I was beyond proud of them. They never fail to show amazing dedication and enthusiasm, coming for extra rehearsals and practises even during lunchtimes. Erin Dempsey (Year 4/5) took the lead, supported well by Grace Jordan and William Scowen (both Year 4/5) as Jane and Michael, the show dazzled the audience and I have to say, it was one of our best yet! I look forward to seeing what new exciting shows we can wow our audiences with next year in Drama Club! - Miss Trickitt
If you’d like to advertise in the Spotlight, contact Mike Wilkinson on 01530 244069 or email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk
I’ve been sacked from my job. Or as I prefer to think of it, I’m on eternity leave.
Groby & Field Head Spotlight • AUGUST 2015 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk
30
Wild Flowers Wordsearch Forgot username or password?
Passcode/Create New User
Help
username
Bees are declining and we are being urged to plant wild flowers - so that’s the theme of this month’s wordsearch. If you can find 12 types of wild flowers in this issue’s puzzle, Solutionsa for Districts Free Resources you could win yourself meal and a drink. This month we are offering a tasty prize of: A Main Course for Two, plus A Bottle of House Wine at The Fieldhead Hotel. To go into the draw, all you have to do is find - and mark a line through - 12 varieties of wild flowers or grasses found in the UK. These can run vertically, horizontally or diagonally (and backwards!).
W N O I P M A C D E R O I C N L F
E I U M Z L N H S D T L L N I W I
P D L J E E V L P E W A I O A Z E
G U C D T D Z A E R D U F H T Y L
Y S C Q R E M W W Y M E Z C N H D
C S S R C E S M S V R S J T A E S
M L I H E W D B O T C A Y E L M C
W W R A O T E C T N E X D V P O A
Z E T D D D T O L Q T E X D T O B
W X A R S E O U M O L N Z E R E I
O E G T L F Y F B T V W E T O B O
M J R H S Z V E U W L E E F W E U
C A I D A U I N X J O P R U B S S
W Z R L O X P N U O Y D S T I A P
J I R P O H W E H W M M A K R X Y
B R O U G H H A W K B I T E Q W X
T E K D E E W P A N K N O M M O C
Send your entry to: SAVE THE BEES, Groby & Field Head Spotlight, PO Box 8, Markfield, Leics. LE67 9ZT to arrive by Monday 7th September 2015. Remember to include your name and address. The first all-correct entry drawn out of the Editor’s Sun Hat will win the Meal for Two at The Fieldhead Hotel. Good luck! Here are the twelve WILD FLOWER VARIETIES you have to find:
BIRDSFOOT TREFOIL • COMMON KNAPWEED • FIELD SCABIOUS LADYS BEDSTRAW • MEADOW BUTTERCUP • MEADOWSWEET OX EYE DAISY • RED CAMPION • RIBWORT PLANTAIN ROUGH HAWKBIT • TUFTED VETCH • WILD RED CLOVER Name: ................................................................................................. Address: ................................................................................................ .................................................................Postcode: .............................
Last Issue’s Wordsearch Winner The winner of last issue’s Wordsearch competition was: JENNIFER HILL of Holmes Close, Groby. Your prize - a Voucher for a Main Course for Two plus a Bottle of House Wine at The Fieldhead Hotel will be sent to you soon.
Letters
BIRDSFOOTTREFOIL COMMONKNAPWEED FIELDSCABIOUS LADYSBEDSTRAW MEADOWBUTTERCUP MEADOWSWEET OXEYEDAISY REDCAMPION RIBWORTPLANTAIN ROUGHHAWKBIT TUFTEDVETCH WILDREDCLOVER
Children’s Air Ambulance Service
Created by Puzzlemaker
WITH REFERENCE to the above, may we thank you for the excellent advert in the June issue of Groby Spotlight for for our Coffee morning held on 11th July. A total of £335 has been forwarded to the Children’s Air Ambulance. Many thanks to all for your support and donations. folks like you, this service would fail to operate. at Without DiscoveryEducation.com Thank you!
Barbara & Allan Johnston Groby
Seeking Carol ... I AM TRYING to trace a girl named Carol who’s parents are Bob and Iris Essex. They lived in Enderby , then moved on to Nerja in Spain. Carol lived in Groby some years ago, and may have moved. I would love to hear from her regarding her parents. Our names are Val and Dave Peverill (Email: davidpeverill396@ live.co.uk). Thank you.
Why don’t we take this relationship to the next level and you lend me some money?
Groby & Field Head Spotlight • AUGUST 2015 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk
Veronica gets her head shaved at the Co Op!
WHAT started out as a passing comment became a reality when Co Op staff member Veronica took part in a sponsored head shave for the Co Op’s favoured charity, Newlife. While she was surrounded by customers, staff and family, Veronica first had her hair cut short, and then shaved by local hairdressers Studio J. Throughout the whole process, Veronica was laughing and joking. Afterwards, she said, “It felt funny to begin with, but now it’s fine - if a little cold round the neck!” Veronica and Groby Co Op would like to say a big ‘Thank You’ to all our customers and the people of Groby for raising £1,394.36 for Newlife.
31
WI Centenary Groby Street Party
Here we are celebrating 100 years of WI, by members dressing up in the fashion of each decade and following the band around Groby Village at their Street Party. DIDN’T WE LOOK GREAT!!!
If you enjoy reading the Spotlight, please pass it on to a friend or relative after you’ve finished with it. Thanks!
My wife is going to leave me in three weeks because my psychic abilities scare her.
Groby
Tel: 0116 287 1809
The
Whats On
August/Sept 2015
Ex Servicemens Club
16-18 LEICESTER ROAD, GROBY LEICESTER. LE6 0DJ Fri 14th
Tyler Jon
AUGUST
Sat 15th
Fri 21st
Fri 28th
Sat 29th
Total Belief
Sean Haven
Simon Deacon
Jessica
SEPTEMBER Live Music every Friday and Saturday nights unpublished dates TBC4th Sat 5th Fri 11th Sat 12th Fri 18th Fri
Martin Lee Jordan
Sisters in Arms
Richie
Heaven Knows
Donna
BINGO FRIDAY AND SATURDAY NIGHTS SUNDAY LUNCHTIME AND EVENING ALSO SUNDAY EVENING QUIZ CARVERY SUNDAY LUNCHTIMES 1PM – 5PM PLUS FULL MENU AVAILABLE HIGH QUALITY FUNCTION ROOM FACILITIES FOR HIRE WITH EXCEPTIONAL ON SITE CATERING SERVICE FROM FRANCHISEE BEN’S KITCHEN
LIVE SPORTS FROM BT SPORTS AND SKY SPORTS SHOWING ALL THE LIVE ACTION VISIT OUR WEBSITE TO KEEP UP TO DATE WITH EVERYTHING GROBY CLUB WWW.THEGROBYCLUB.CO.UK