Dec 2015 groby spotlight online by Michael Wilkinson

PARISH COUNCIL QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER INSIDE THIS MONTH

Jordan’s flying scholarship reaches new heights! YEAR 13 STUDENT from Groby Community College, Jordan Waite was awarded a 2 week scholarship course at Dundee airport. The course consisted of very hard ground lessons in order to be able to fly. He received 12 hours training before being allowed to take the aircraft up by himself. His final report was better than he expected and he has been put up for a further scholarship in the future! His future career aspirations is to be a pilot in the RAF. Jordan is pictured here in his RAF flight suit and aircraft. WELL DONE JORDAN!

Love in 111 Boxes!

GROBY UNITED REFORMED Church filled an AMAZING 111 shoe boxes in November for Samaritan’s Purse Operation Christmas Child Appeals to send to children across the world to show God’s ‘Love in a Box’ to them this Christmas.

Groby Juniors Under-8’s Commemorate Remembrance Sunday THE GROBY Juniors under 8 Trojan and Spartan teams, marked their Remembrance Sunday fixture with special commemorative poppies. Both teams played host to East Goscote Juniors on the 8th November and they all displayed the iconic poppy on their shirts to show their respect to fallen soldiers. The poppies where purchased through the British Legion, with all the money raised going to the charity. Both teams also observed a minutes silence before the kick-off and all the players did their village proud by behaving impeccably. The under 8’s have a new kit this season, which was only possible with the help of the clubs new sponsors. Funding was sourced from local businesses, EME Installations and Harrison Murray Estate Agents. Phil Chick, one of the Under 8 coaches, commented “The new kit looks great and we now look like a proper team. The kids loved having the poppies of the kit as they looked just like the professionals did that weekend. A big thank you goes to all of our sponsors for making it possible.”

Merry Christmas and a big Thank You to all of our advertisers, contributors, deliverers and readers! Without your valuable contributions every month, the Spotlight would not exist. Looking forward to a great 2016!

NEXT ISSUE OUT: Saturday 16th January- Advert/Articles needed by 2nd January

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

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

Groby Knit For Charity (Library) Group

Telephone 01530Email us at: info@ grobyspotlight.co.uk Visit the website at www.grobyspotlight.co.uk 3,500 copies distributed 11 times a year (no issue in July) to homes and businesses in Groby, Field Head and The Brantings. Compiled and published in the Parish of Groby & Field Head. Printed in Ellistown by Norwood Press.

The 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: 16th JANUARY DEADLINE: 2nd January

Community groups urged to apply for grants COMMUNITY groups in parishes across the Borough are being encouraged to apply for their share of the Borough Council’s Parish and Community Initiative Fund before applications close on 5 February 2016.

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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.

Don’t miss out!

HAPPY SMILING faces of the Groby Knit For Charity (library) Group, who meet on alternate Fridays at the United Reformed Church and the Library. The ladies are shown displaying a small sample of their wonderful work for charity. In November many items were forwarded to the URC Shoebox Appeal, Operation Christmas Child, and are now on their way to making a child in the third world very happy indeed.

National Trust Leicester Association

Capability Brown AUGUST 2016 will be the 300th anniversary of the birth of Lancelot “Capability” Brown but the name “Capability” only really came into use after his death. He was born at Kirkharl in Northumberland where his father was Estate Manager to Sir Thomas Loraine. Lancelot remained at school until 16 then had a seven year Gardening apprenticeship on the Kirkharl estate. He left home in 1739 and two years later was appointed head gardener at Stowe, owned by Lord Cobham and now a National Trust property. He was married in 1744 and the happy couple had 9 children. In 1751 he moved to a house overlooking the river Thames in Hammersmith where, based on his contacts over the previous ten years, he became an independent landscape garden designer. He worked continuously for the rest of his life on almost 200 of the most famous estates in England. The highlight of his career was in 1764 when George III appointed him Surveyor to His Majesty’s Gardens and Waters covering Hampton Court, Richmond Park and St James Park. The appointment included a large salary and a grand residence at Hampton Court. Lancelot Brown is best remembered for landscape on a grand scale, constructing not only gardens and parkland, but planting woods and building farms and houses all linked by carriage drives covering many miles across estates. Some of his best loved landscapes include Chatsworth, Burghley, Syon Park, Blenheim, Longleat and Highclere (Downton Abbey). The National Trust own ten Lancelot Brown estates. Lancelot Brown collapsed one evening on a London street and died the following day. He was 67 and was buried at Fenstanton near Cambridge where he owned Fenstanton Manor and had been appointed High Sheriff of Huntingdonshire. The NT Leicester Association has an evening meeting on Tuesday 12th January when Val Williams will present an illustrated talk on The Isle of Man. The meeting will be held at The Braunstone West Social Centre, St Mary’s Avenue, Braunstone at 7.30pm. Admission is NTLA members £2.50, visitors £4.00 including refreshments. For details of the NT Leicester Association and its Talks Service for other organisations please call 0116 2229133.

Alan Tyler, Publicity Officer

Grants totalling £100,000 per year are awarded to support community projects in the parished areas of the borough. These grants fund a wide variety of projects such as play areas, community buildings, new pathways, heritage trails, and sports facilities. Grants for 2016/17 will be provided on the following basis: • Projects must be within a parished area of the borough • Maximum of £10,000 per parish area • Maximum of £10,000 per project • Maximum of 50 per cent of total project costs funded • All works must be completed within the financial year • Projects must demonstrate that they meet the council’s corporate aims and that they are of community benefit Councillor Kevin Morrell, the Executive Member responsible for Rural Communities and Environment, said: “As in previous years I would like to see these grants spread as wide as possible, with special emphasis on the smaller organisations as well as parish councils.” How to apply: Applications forms, guidance notes and general information will be automatically be sent to parish and town councils. For further copies, or for more information, please contact the Green Spaces Team on 01455 255728 or email GreenSpaces@ hinckley-bosworth.gov.uk

Close your eyes LOST THE car keys? Shut your eyes. It is the best way to recall memories. Some scientists explain that the reason is that vision takes up a lot of the brain’s processing power. So, next time you need to really concentrate and remember something – shut your eyes.

Whenever I’m feeling fat, I try not to stress about it and just keep my chins up.

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

If it weren’t for the fact that the TV and the refrigerator are so far apart, some of us wouldn’t get any exercise at all.

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

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

Letter

Hear a talk and drink some wine

Icy conditions in Chapel Hill LAST JANUARY, whilst negotiating the icy pavement along Chapel Hill, I ended up on my backside. As I sat there, I saw a car slide slowly, out of control, down Chapel Hill, ending up broadside in Ratby Road. These experiences prompted me to write to Groby Parish Councilrequesting that a plan be introduced to ensure that Chapel Hill road and its pavement be grit-treated in a timely fashion, such that dangerous icy conditions are at least minimised. During the following months, I occasionally prodded the Parish Council to produce ‘The Plan’, resulting in some talk, some promises, but little action. Fast forward to recent weeks, when the now Parish Council Chairman Mr Pter Batty, and our County Councillor, Mr Ozzy O’shea, took the bull by the horns, and firing on all cylinders, they are now tackling the Chapel Hill ice problem with great gusto. But whether they will succeed remains to be seen. It would appear that you do not apply for and get a grit bin. The County Council has so many rules regarding the supply of a bin that even the hardest applicant could be put off. If successful, a bin location has to be approved, and grit would then be supplied on condition that it is only used for the road in question, and not for parishioner’s personal use! Finally, the major problem to be faced is who is going to spread the grit in a timely manner. The difficult task rests with our two councillors. I am sure we all wish them overall success. However, if ‘The Plan’ is not successful, all pedestrians and vehicle driversshould plan alternative routes to and from the village centre and let the ‘ice rink’ take its wintry course. In particular, the young ladies with their pushchairs and small children, who use Chapel Hill and Crane-Ley Road on a daily basis, may need to replan their journeys! But let’s be positive and wish our two councillors the ‘Best of British’.

Fred Leathers, Groby

Groby Wine Circle OUR WINE CIRCLE is a very sociable group which meets on the third Monday of the month at Groby Community College. Speakers are invited to give talks on a variety of interesting topics which, since the summer break, have included: •

Being enlightened about unusual but simple household antiquities from the past. • A most interesting introduction to the up and coming use of medical detection dogs which are used in the early, and highly successful, diagnosis of many cancers. Other specially trained dogs can be a great help to patients with disabling illnesses. • More recently we had a talk about the conscientious objectors of WW1. In the New Year there are be talks on: • More fascinating facts about Leicester • The National Trust • Tibet • Houses with a story to tell. The talks are followed by a chance to catch up socially over a drink with a cheese and French bread snack. Throughout the year we organise fun nights out such as skittles, quiz nights, meals out and visits, etc. If you feel you would be interested in coming along or would like more information about our Wine Circle please contact either: Dave Cooper (0116 2392844) or Robbie Grundy (0116 2393853.

Top Marks for Dixie Grammar in Inspection DIXIE Grammar School are celebrating this week following the publication of the school’s inspection report which awards them the highest possible rating in every category. The Independent Schools Inspectorate uses a four-point scale, with excellent’ being the equivalent to Ofsted’s ‘outstanding’. Schools are closely inspected in eight key areas and Dixie was given the coveted ‘excellent’ rating in all categories. The inspection took place between Tuesday 13 and Friday 16 October 2015, examining the quality of pupils’ learning and achievement, the contribution of curricular and extra-curricular provision, the contribution of teaching, the spiritual, moral, social and cultural development of the pupils, the contribution of arrangements for pastoral care, the contribution of arrangements for welfare health and safety, the quality of governance and the quality of leadership and management. Staff at the school know that very few schools receive the elusive ‘excellent’ for teaching and even fewer achieve ‘excellent’ across the board, so were delighted when the Headmaster was able to pass on such excellent news. All three phases of schooling at Dixie (Nursery, Junior and Senior) were covered by the inspection which gives cause for celebration for the whole family of staff and for pupils aged from 3-18. Highlights from the report include parents being delighted with the way the school is led and deals with each pupil as an individual, the excellent quality of teaching and the extremely well-planned lessons which engage pupils, teachers giving of their time generously out of class and the strong relationships between staff and pupils resulting in excellent pastoral care and secure, confident pupils. The report also highlighted pupils’ excellent personal development and commented on both the high achievements of the youngest pupils in the EYFS (Early Years Foundation Stage) and on the excellent skills in independent working, reasoning and investigation in evidence in the Sixth Form. A number of key events are now being planned to celebrate such an achievement with staff, parents, pupils and the wider community. Headmaster, Mr Richard Lynn, commented, “I could not be prouder of the school, staff, parents and pupils and I am thrilled that no school in the wider area has received a more glowing assessment from ISI.”

I hate Russian dolls, they’re so full of themselves.

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

Letter

Horace Walter Henstock THERE IS NO doubt whatsoever that Mr Harry Hawksworth acted with the very best of intentions when he arranged for the name of H W Henstock to be added to the new and impressive Groby War Memorial. However, as a family, we are astonished and upset that further research was not undertaken beforehand and that apparently no attempt was made to locate H W Henstocks descendents. HORACE WALTER HENSTOCK was my great uncle. I have lived in Groby for my entire life and for the past 34 years in our home near Groby Post Office, only a stone’s throw away from the new memorial. My father is BILL SHOOTER and there will be Groby people who know him and remember him as a prominent and active resident of the village, serving on both the Parish Council and the Rural District and Borough Councils for a combined total of 25 years. Bill Shooter is the only surviving nephew of “Dear Walter” as H W Henstock was referred to within the family circle. My father is so proud of his family history that, when he established his Accountancy Practice over 50 Years ago, he chose to use the name “Henstock” - the practice is advertised each month in this Spotlight Magazine. Uncle Walter is honoured and remembered each year on Armistice Day, not in Groby Parish Church, but in All Saints Parish Church, Newtown Linford, for the following reason: Walter grew up at Bradgate Stables until called for active service in World War 1. His parents, William and Rhoda Henstock (my great grandparents) worked for the Everard Family who lived at Bradgate House. At that time, the Parish boundary line ran straight through the centre of Bradgate House - the back door of the house was in the parish of Groby, while the front door was in the Parish of Newtown LInford. The Everards chose to regard Newtown Linford as their parish and the Henstocks followed suit. Walter, Jessie (my Grandmother), Dinah Henstock and their siblings therefore attended Newtown Linford School and worshipped at Newtown Linford church until the Bradgate Estate was sold in 1925 and the Henstocks subsequently moved to Groby around 1928. My Father Bill, who has recently celebrated his 90th birthday, drives daily to his Leicester Office where he has a fascinating collection of memorabilia directly relating to Uncle Walter. Perhaps the two most significant items are the telegram which arrived at Bradgate Stables in 1917 informing William and Rhoda Henstock that he had been killed in action aged just 19, and also the original wooden cross which initially marked Walter’s grave in France and which was brought back to England by his parents sometime during the 1920s. Only a handful of these wooden crosses survive and it is treasured by the family. Uncle Walter’s final resting place in the Queen’s Cemetery, France, has been visited on a number of occasions over the years, most recently by my brother, Richard. Far from being a forgotten hero, Uncle Walter is remembered with respect, with pride and with affection.

Susan Lawrence Groby

I, for one, like Roman numerals.

“Pester power” costing East Midlands families almost £6k a year EAST MIDLANDS parents give in to “pester power” to the tune of £5,668 a year, according to a new study by Quidco. New research has revealed the extent to which modern parents feel pressure from their children – with almost half (41 percent) admitting they succumb “most of the time” to requests from their children to spend money. A further two thirds (70 percent) of parents admit they are guilty of spoiling their children - the average parent shelling out £109 per week on spontaneous purchases. And the study showed that 88 percent of kids across the East Midlands pester their parents for treats when out and about. Of the parents polled - 21 percent admitted to spoiling their children because their own parents were unable to spoil them - while a further 19 percent said bribing helps keep the children’s behaviour in public in check. And 42 percent of parents say their youngsters have embarrassed them by throwing a tantrum in public because they haven’t got their own way. However keeping up with their offspring’s peers was also a factor in why modern parents over indulge – with 7 percent saying they wanted their children to “maintain the same lifestyle as their friends”. Vix Leyton for cashback and rewards site Quidco said: “Pester power’ is by no means a new concept, but with the advent of iPads, in-app purchases, and instant downloads of music and games, the cost of it has certainly escalated for parents in the East Midlands.” The study showed that 73 percent of parents admit their children consider them a “soft touch” with 35 percent of the mums and dads polled saying that disagreements over spending money on the children regularly caused arguments between them. And a further 51 percent of parents said they secretly spend money on the children and don’t tell their partner.

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

Links with Leicester City

Lady Jane Grey Football ACROSS THE country the football season is in full swing and it is no different at Lady Jane Grey were the season has been hectic with different year groups, both boys and girls, playing tournaments friendlies and county finals.

Don’t work yourself to death this year

THE SAYING goes that hard work never killed anyone. Well, it just might, after all. A recent study suggests that constantly staying late at the office, sitting for hours and hours on end, could have a deadly impact on your health. It is thought that the stress of long hours can trigger biological changes in the body which, over time, can lead to deadly disease. Here’s how the threat seems to increase: • 35 – 40 hours a week: no greater risk of stroke. • 41 – 48 hours a week - 10 per cent increased risk. • 49 – 54 hours a week - 27 per cent • 55 + hours a week - 33 per cent increased risk of stroke/13 per cent increased risk heart disease. The study was published in The Lancet journal.

The girls started the season early with the regional qualifiers for the county final tournament. Lady Jane Grey Girls Football team has built a formidable reputation over the past four years and have a trophy cabinet to prove it. Many of last year’s successful team have now moved on to their new schools so it was a new look side this year with many of the girls playing for the first time. The girls lived up to the standards set by the previous years and qualified for the finals in the Hinckley and Bosworth competition. They had to wait quite a while for the actual finals, which were held on the 4G pictures at Leicester City’s training grounds. The girls battled hard against qualifiers from each region of the county and finished in fourth position overall. With further competitions in the New Year it is a promising start for this young and exciting squad. Lady Jane Grey’s boys’ teams have also been playing in tournaments and friendlies across the age ranges. The senior team played in the annual Rice Bowl held for U11 for the first time in a few seasons. With only Year 6 eligible to play it is often hard to put out a 9-aside team with only one class in the school. It is not often that the team get to play at home and when we were drawn at home it was a great chance to put Beacon Field to full use. Thanks to great support from Groby Juniors Football Club and Groby Parish Council the field was marked out and goals were erected. The opposition arrived from Fosse Primary and the match started. Unfortunately it wasn’t a victory. However it was great to have a home game and to have such great support from the local community. In addition to the Rice Bowl the school has organised friendlies with Desford Primary School and maintained our links with Groby Juniors and forged a new one with Caterpillar Football Club to organise Saturday tournaments for our Years 3, 4, 5 and 6 to play in. Some real talent is starting to emerge from the cavalcade of fixtures and goals are now flowing for all of the school’s teams. Particular mention has to be made to all the captains including Max Knight who scored the school’s first hat trick in almost two years. As well as Will Dempsey who has been invited to trials with Leicester City. It is fantastic to see recognition of the talent in our local community. Lady Jane Grey has been fostering links with Leicester City this year with coaches from the club coming in to deliver football sessions with all Key Stage 1 and 2 classes throughout the year. We now look forward to the school league in the new year with a bright outlook.

Groby Village Society

Preservation - Conservation Communal Interests 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

Bradgate Home Care are commissioned through the Care Quality Commission (CQC) and are contracted to the Leicestershire County Council. We have very high standards and offer a complete service for both practical and personal care. With our service, clients are in charge of their care. Our belief is that care should be about choice and control. We deliver on this with real, measurable outcomes, along with person centered care planning. We can assist people to hospital appointments, holidays, and any other appointments that may be required.    For more information or advice please either call: 0116 2877767, email: ofÞce@bradgatehomecare.co.uk, or call in: 12A Fir Tree Lane, Groby, Leicester LE6 0FH.

My wife told me to stop impersonating a flamingo. I had to put my foot down.

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

Bradgate Rotary Club

Santa visits Groby Library

Calling artists and guitarists ...

New Classes!

BRADGATE Rotary Club are out and about with Santa during December. He would love to meet up with lots of children while touring the village on a practice run with his sleigh so please look out for him in the two weeks before Christmas and come and say hello. Santa will also be stopping off to make a visit to Groby Library for Christmas stories and to meet up with local children and their parents at 11.00 am on Saturday the 19th December. Bradgate Rotary will also be meeting weekly in the run up to Christmas and would welcome any visitors or prospective members at any of the following events • Wednesday 23rd December: Christmas Social Drink at “The Bradgate Arms” in Newtown Linford. One day, my girlfriend sent me a text: ‘Let’s break up.’ I didn’t even have time to be sad, because then she sent me another text: ‘Sorry, wrong person.’ I think my doctor really likes my choice of sensible footwear. I overheard him telling his colleague that I had ‘serious healthy shoes’.

WHY NOT start off the New Year with a new class? Local artist and tutor Mark Wilde has places available in both beginners and intermediate classes starting in January. All are daytime 12 week classes and will show you new techniques and methods to improve your painting, or if you are an absolute beginner, to get started with all the basic techniques. Classes are held at Groby and Woodhouse Eaves. Also on offer is The Groby Tuesdays guitar club which meets every Tuesday night. This group is meant for those who have some experience but want to play and perform with others. For more information please email Mark at markwilde8@gmail.com or ring 07757 010982.

Hassle-free way to switch energy suppliers

RESIDENTS and businesses in Hinckley & Bosworth have another chance to save money on their energy bills thanks to hassle-free scheme that can help to find a cheaper energy supplier.

The Hinckley & Bosworth Energy Switching Scheme has been organised by the Borough Council in conjunction with iChoosr* and works by bringing together a number of people who want to switch providers into one ‘auction’. Energy providers then bid for their business by offering the best available prices. The more people who join the collective scheme, the better a deal everybody gets. The scheme has been repeated following the success of the first scheme earlier this year after 190 residents took part and saved an average of £271 on their energy bills.

How does the scheme work? Residents can sign up for free, with no obligation, to say they are interested in switching suppliers to save money. Businesses currently on a domestic tariff are also eligible to sign up. The more people who sign up, the better deal everyone gets. Anyone can sign up until 1 February 2016. On 2 February, iChoosr (the company which has been selected to facilitate the switching process) will run an auction asking energy suppliers to bid for the collective business of everyone who signs up. After 2 February, iChoosr will contact everyone who has signed up individually with an offer of an energy tariff based on their usage. This will outline how much they will save by switching to the winning energy provider. Residents then choose whether or not to sign up to the new supplier. There is no obligation to change if residents choose not to, but they have a few weeks to accept the offer. They will then be contacted by the new supplier to arrange switching.

The scheme will take care of the switching process and there will be no interruption of the gas and electricity supply at any time. Even those on a pre-payment meter can sign up to the scheme, provided they are not in more than £500 of debt to their current supplier. To register interest go to the council website at www.hinckley-bosworth. gov.uk/switchandsave. This will automatically link to the iChoosr registration page. The following details will be needed to complete the registration: • name, address and contact details • the name of the current energy supplier(s) and current tariff plan(s) • the current consumption in kWh or spend. Up to five households can be registered on the same email address, which means people can help out a neighbour or friend who does not have access to the internet or email. Cllr Chris Boothby, the Borough Council’s Executive Member for Housing, said: “Switching energy supplier can save borough residents and businesses hundreds of pounds each year which is why the council supports this scheme. There is no obligation so you have nothing to lose by registering your interest, and the more people who take part, the better the deal everyone gets. I’d urge everyone to give this a go and see how much money you can save.” Further information can be obtained from the council’s website or by telephoning 01455 255988. *iChoosr has been operating in the Netherlands and in Belgium since 2008 and has already helped over 300,000 consumers switch to a new (energy) supplier.

I haven’t slept for three days, because that would be too long.

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

The first time I got a universal remote control, I thought to myself “This changes everything.”

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

Funding for Sportivate projects HINCKLEY and Bosworth Sport and Health Alliance are actively seeking applications to deliver Sportivate projects from next April (2016). Sportivate is a Sport England funding scheme aimed at getting more young people aged 11 – 19 active. Applicants can apply for funding support to run projects that will enhance young people’s participation in sport and physical activity. In previous years projects have ranged from sports clubs running introductory sessions for new participants to targeted programmes such as a very successful sailing project for disability students and summer sports project for under-represented young people. The opportunity is open to any local organisations, clubs or coaches who are enthusiastic and committed to supporting young people to become more active. Any ideas or proposals are welcome, nevertheless applicants should have a clear understanding of what they would like to achieve with their project. It is essential for any applications to understand who the target group is and why, what are their requirements and how they can be supported through to an affordable and accessible exit route for the long term. Support and guidance will be provided with any applications to make sure projects are of high quality, including completing application forms. If successful it will be over to the club or coach to deliver the programme. The deadline for applications is 8 January 2016, this is to provide adequate time to work with applicants before projects are submitted. Anyone who is interested in submitting an application, or would like more information on Sportivate, please follow this link: www.hbsha.org.uk/sportivate or contact: Michael Peet on 01455 255818 or email Michael.Peet@hinckley-bosworth.gov.uk

GROBY BOOK CLUB

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

Calling All Book Lovers! GROBY BOOK Club’s next meeting after the Christmas break will be on THURSDAY 21st JANUARY 2016 2pm3.30pm in the Waldrom Room at Groby Village Hall. Following meetings will be on the Third Thursday of each month. It costs £2.00 per session, which includes refreshments. Books up for discussion in January are the Poldark novels by Winston Graham, so if you want to find out what happens next before the television series starts again next year, do come along to our next meeting. If you’re interested in giving it a try, contact Linda Boyd by email at: bookclubgroby@gmail.com or phone Julia Taylor on 0116 287 1895. Groby Book Club is supported by Age UK Leicestershire & Rutland.

Don’t forget to send us your news! Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk

30 years experience to the TRADE

David Smith - 1 The Burrows, Narborough

0116 275 0101 (home) 07880 973 742 (mobile) I walked into the bedroom and tripped on the wife’s Bra. It was a booby trap.

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

Primary school place countdown PARENTS of children approaching school age are urged not to miss the closing date for places. Leicestershire County Council is reminding people that if their son or daughter is four before 1 September 2016, they need to apply for infant or primary schools by 15 January, and has published guidance to help. Applications for children moving from infant to junior school also need to be sent in by the same date. The top tips underline key things to consider and are available online: 1) Apply on time – the closing date is 15 January, 2016 for first time admissions 2) Apply online – this is secure and the easiest way to apply 3) Use your right to apply for three choices of school, but make sure that one choice is always your catchment school 4) Read each school’s admissions policy before making an application 5) Remember to check your application to ensure that all of the information that you have supplied is correct and accurate before you submit it - also check that you press the ‘submit’ button and that you receive an acknowledgement email following submitting your application Starting school is not automatic and all parents need to apply. The transfer process is the same for a local authority school or a recentlyconverted academy. To find out more, and read the advice, please visit www.leics.gov. uk/admissions, email admissions@ leics.gov.uk or call 0116 305 6684.

Viking invasion at Martinshaw

Spotlight Small Ads

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THE WELL-KNOWN Saxon enclave, know locally as Martinshaw Primary School, recently succumbed, after a gap of over 1,000 years, to a mass invasion of a Viking Horde (well, two Viking re-enactors anyway). Year 4 have been studying a period in our history when most of England, with probably parts of Wessex, King Alfreds kingdom as the exception, was occupied by Vikings. The students learned about the various countries and places that they visited, and in many cases inhabited. They also learned about the ‘Long Ships’, the woollen clothing, the food, the agriculture and life of the ancient Saxon people living alongside those fierce Norsemen. To add realism to the studies, the school was visited by two Viking experts who brought along Viking swords, axes and shields, replica artifacts and medicines.They taught, among other things, how to grind barley to make flour and to handle some of the weapons, which were much bigger than they were. They also brought along their enthusiasm to turn the children into ferocious Viking Warriors, forming the dreaded ‘Shield Wall’, the favourite defense and attack tactic of the time. Thankfully everything then calmed down for ‘Anti-bullying’ week, when each class took on various projects, including a video produced by the youngest members of our school family,EYFS, to highlight the school’s commitment to this most important topic.

Owen Lawrence

• GOLF CLUBS, BAG & TROLLEY Price: £15.00 • IRONING BOARD Price: £2.00 • Tall (approx 3’) EXTENSION SPEAKERS Price: £8.00 each. • Single BED & MATTRESS in very good condition. Price: £15.00 Tel: 0116 231 1247 WANTED Has anyone a copy of “This England’s Annual 2015” they wish to sell? Tel. 0116 367 7925 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.

Shuttlewood Clarke Events Diary

HERE ARE details of the regular events held at Shuttlewood Clarke Foundation at Ulverscroft, near Markfield. Mondays: Wellbeing Memory and Me at Ulverscroft Grange. A social group for those living with dementia, relatives, carers and PA’s. 2.00pm to 3.30pm. Wednesdays: Zumba Gold a low impact, fun workout to music, seated or standing, in the marquee at Ulverscroft Manor. 10am to 11am, costs £3.50 per session. Thursdays: Health and Wellbeing Thursdays from 10am to 3pm, at Ulverscroft Manor. Come and relax or take part in gentle exercise including armchair yoga and laughing therapy at £3 pre-booked or £3.50 on the day per session. Contact hello@shuttlewood-clarke.org to book a session. Drinks and food also avaliable. A therapeutic drawing and arts group also meet in the morning, feel free to drop in and join in with them! Monday to Friday Ulverscroft Grange Tearooms Open Monday to Friday from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. the Ulverscroft Grange tea room is the perfect place to unwind and is fully wheelchair accessible. Daily specials are served between 12 noon and 2 p.m. with last orders from the table menu taken up until 3.00p.m. Groups wishing to plan ahead may book visits in advance and we will reserve tables for them. There are regular activities along with volunteer led walks on a Tuesday afternoon. For further details on all of these activities please contact the administration team on 01530 244914 or email hello@shuttlewood-clarke.org

I hate it when I gain 10 pounds for a role then realize I’m not even an actor.

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

I may not have an athlete’s body, but I do have athlete’s foot.

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

Support for Victims of Domestic Violence and Sexual Violence

Santa’s Golfing Day raises a record sum for Rainbows

DOMESTIC and sexual violence support in Leicestershire is to be provided through a single service which will cover Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland (LLR). The service was launched on Tuesday, 1st December. This service will have one new helpline number – 0808 802 0028. This number is free to call from landlines or mobile phones and will not appear on phone bills. It will allow people aged 13 years upwards to call for support if they have been a victim of domestic or sexual violence, or if they would like to seek advice or information for themselves, a friend or family member. This helpline does not replace reporting these crimes to the police and in an emergency people should always call 999.

ANOTHER very successful and fun packed day was held on Friday 20th November at Forest Hill Golf Club to raise money for Rainbows hospice for Children and Young People based in Loughborough. Over 130 golfing Santa’s enjoyed an action packed day urged on by the prospects of mulled wine and mince pieces with hot soup and sandwiches in the clubhouse afterwards. Willie Thorne was again the host of the event and managed the charity auction, with the usual humour we have become accustomed to. The day ended with a fantastic fireworks display kindly donated by Leicester Fireworks Limited. The day raised a record sum of over £4300. This considerably exceeds monies raised over the 7 years of this well attended and hilarious event. The organisers thank the staff at Forest Hill Golf Club and all sponsors including PJC Plant Hire, Greene King, Geary Bakery and the donators of auction items.

Stay Ahead David Hollins of the Chill Martinshaw School this Winter Contributions to the National Forest AGE UK Leicester Shire & Rutland is offering free home energy checks to older people who are finding it difficult to keep their homes warm in winter.

One of our experienced handymen can visit you to check the temperature in your home and whether there are draughts. They’ll inspect your heating system and any insulation measures you have. If our handyman’s assessment suggests that you could benefit from energy saving equipment – such as energy saving light bulbs or reflective panels behind radiators – these will be fitted. He’ll also give you practical tips on saving energy and keeping your fuel bills down. All our handymen are DBS (was CRB) checked. To arrange a FREE Home Energy Check for yourself or for an older person you think might benefit, please contact Amy Welch on 0116 299 2254.

ALL FOUR classes from Martinshaw’s KS2 took to Martinshaw Woods during the latter part of the Autumn Term, not only to explore but under the expert guidance of Environmentalists, to plant trees and improve our wonderful and local Ancient Woodland. They spent either a morning or afternoon quietly searching for signs of the diverse wildlife that inhabits our local forest. They were shown how to build warm dry and safe shelters for the smaller woodland creatures and then answered questions on their knowledge of our local environment. They then planted a large number of young saplings to add to those already planted, to help to bring Martinshaw Woods, which apparently has been flourishing for up to 10,000 years, back to the magnificent Forest that it used to be. The children were amazed to think that in the future they would be able to visit ‘their’ tree along with their own children and perhaps even their grandchildren. And, of course, as an added bonus, the year 3’s got to wear their wellie’s and trudge around in thick mud for a morning.

Owen Lawrence

Letter Getting to Glenfield

HOW CAN a car-less Groby resident now get a bus to Glenfield, in order to get off at the Glenfield roundabout to go to the doctor’s surgery, when there is no bus stop there? Arriva says it is not their responsibility.

Name & Address Supplied, Groby I suppose when asked by an employer if I have a criminal record, ‘Highest number of robberies in an hour’ isn’t an appropriate answer. I have a button on my microwave that says ‘stop time’. I assume it means the timer , but I don’t touch it, just in case.

I like to hold hands at the movies. Which always seems to startle strangers.

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

County Councillor’s Report from Ozzy O’shea Wallace Drive Traveller Application Appeal Update Ref: APP/ K2420/W/15/3135595 I HAVE been in contacted by Nic Thomas the head of the Borough Council’s planning department who informed me that both my request followed by the Borough Council’s request for this Appeal to go to a Full Public Inquiry had been refused by the Planning Inspectorate. The Appeal will now be heard in the form of an Informal Hearing. I appreciate this is not what the local residents wanted having worked closely with the Residents Group, but the decision is down to the Planning Inspectorate. Both the Council, interested parties and the Appellant have to submit their paperwork to the inspectorate by the 14th December. The case officer at the inspectorate is Tracy Warry. The case officer’s email address is teamp11@pins.gsi.gov. uk you can send your objections to the case officer but they must arrive by the 14th December 2015. The provisional date being shown for the hearing is the 15th March 2016. Details can be viewed on the planning inspector’s portal at the following address: https://acp. planninginspectorate.gov.uk/ ViewCase.aspx?caseid=3135595

Litter and ASB in Groby I HAVE been working closely with PC Ian Wardle your new Designated Neighbourhood Police Officer, on issues of Anti Social Behaviour in Groby. Ian has also been contacted by the local community with regards to the ongoing problem of littering during break time around the area

of Groby. There appears to be three main areas of concern. PC Wardle is working in partnership with Groby College, the Parish Council, Environmental Health and local shop keepers. He will be looking at ways to combat this and he will endeavour to reduce the amount of litter left behind by the students. PC Wardle says: “One of the ways is to make the students more aware of the financial costs of cleaning up the litter. They could be issued with onthe-spot fines, and also be made to clean up their rubbish.”

Planning Application 15-00760/OUT Land off Leicester Road/Bluebell Drive, Groby Update I HAVE again been speaking with Nic Thomas the Borough Council’s head of planning and the case officer Jenny Brader who confirmed to me that there are still outstanding issues on this application. This application will not be heard in December; the earliest it is now likely to come before the planning committee is on the 26th January but more likely to be in February. As always, I will keep residents updated.

Planning Application 15/00933/CLUE for a certificate of lawful existing use for a Dwelling at Klondyke Allotments Gardens, Newtown Linford Lane, Groby

lawful use for an existing dwelling on the Klondyke. I can confirm to residents that I called a meeting with Council officers and the Leader of the Borough Council over this application. I can now also confirm to residents that this application has been refused. I am working with the Leader and Deputy Leader of the Borough Council on issues surrounding this site.

Planning Application 15/00889/OUT Land South Of Jacqueline Road Field Head, Markfield Update

Tel 0116 2394336 or 07808 585825

AGAIN I have spoken with Nic Thomas the Borough Council’s head of planning and also the case officer Jenny Brader on the issues surrounding this application. There are still outstanding issues one of them being an access issue between the Applicant, the County Council Highways Department and Groby Parish Council. Groby Parish Council insists that they own the land title in question to which the access to the proposed site is shown as coming across. Groby Parish Council has also taken legal advice. Nic has informed me that this application will not now be heard until either the meeting on the 26th January 2016 or the February meeting of the planning committee whilst these issues are resolved.

Email: ozzyoshea@hotmail.com

Always Keeping Residents Updated residents for your continued support over the past year. I would like to wish you all a very Happy and Peaceful Christmas and a very Happy, Healthy and prosperous New Year. Remember I am only an Email or a phone call away. Kind Regards

Ozzy O’shea

Thank you I would like to take this opportunity to thank

WITH REGARD to my previous report in October where I informed residents about the above application to grant a certificate of

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

Groby Community Meadow

A Year In The Meadow OUR COMMUNITY meadow started the year with the regular Groby Gun Club event on a cold and bright January weekend, and by late winter we had installed our first bench, superbly made by local craftsman Tom Renshaw of Groby Joinery, and an owl box to encourage a visiting barn owl to nest.

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Black bin removed

I RECENTLY moved to Groby and was puzzled to find my standard black bin removed and replaced by a small black bin.

April gave us the perfect conditions to remove the derelict rail carriage - which unfortunately was being used for antisocial behaviour - and seed the area restoring it to meadow. Our community orchard sprung into life and produced fruit, including pears and cider apples in its first year, some of which were pressed at the village hall at their Apple Press event. By early summer we had installed another bench and sign post crafted by Tom which further increased the use of our bridge to Groby Pool car park, and our attention turned to our first Groby Streetfair stall. A fantastic response to our stall gave us new shareholders and secured funding for the meadow for the following year, thanks to the sponsorship and help of local businesses including GE Groby, The Stamford Arms, East Midlands Landscaping, Midland Quarries and UKGas. Autumn saw the grass mowed by our local farmer who very kindly trimmed back our hedging around the meadow, whilst Severn Trent worked on the flooding problem and constructed new fencing and a service gate to the gully. Finally late Autumn gave us the daunting task of planting over 600 wildflower plugs in two hours on a sunny Sunday afternoon. A superb turnout of volunteers - our biggest of the year with 25 shareholders and supporters - saw the task completed followed by a welcome free drink, supplied as always by The Stamford Arms. Our last event of the year was the Christmas Fair and Mystery Trail which saw us welcome The Groby Community Library Group to the meadow and play our part in their first exciting Christmas event. Merry Christmas and a joyous New Year to all.

01530 245461

Letter

07885 541428

3 The Nook, Markfield, Leicestershire

Web site: www.idchomemaintenance.co.uk Full Tradesman Liability Insurance held

Who remembers when X Factor was just Roman suncream?

Hinckley & Bosworth Borough Council (HBBC) admitted they had done it, but wouldn’t discuss it, other than to say policy had been adhered to. It seems that HBBC had voted to replace all standard black bins with small ons for 1, 2 or 3 person households, and they had decided to start with newcomers. My concern is, with each new HBBC recycling contract, will the proportion of recyclable refuse decrease - along with the size of the black bin? If so, what will the consequences be for us of that policy?

Name & Address Supplied, Groby I don’t see the point in testing cosmetics on rabbits. I mean, aren’t they cute enough as it is?

Parish Council Office Village Hall Leicester Road Groby Leicestershire, LE6 0DQ Opening Times Mondays 11.00am to 2.00pm Tuesday s 11.00am to 2.00pm Wednesdays 11.00am to 2.00pm

Thursdays 12.30am to 3.30pm Fridays 10.00am to 12.30pm Outside these times by prior appointment Parish Council meetings are held on the first Monday of each month at 7.00 pm in the Council Chambers within the Village Hall. Planning Committee meetings are held every two weeks, usually on a Wednesday evening at 7.30 pm. Forthcoming Meetings December 7 Full Council Meeting 16 Planning & Development 18 Parks & Cemetery January 11 Full Council Meeting 6 13 Parks & Cemetery 20 Planning & Development

February 1 Full Council Meeting 3 Planning & Development 17 Planning & Development March 7 Full Council Meeting 2 Planning & Development 16 Planning & Development 30 Planning & Development Carols Around the Tree Tuesday 15th December 2015 at 7.00 pm

A word from the Chairman – Cllr. Peter Batty The past year could be described as being rather eventful and certainly not short of controversy; The year started on a high with resounding success against prediction and all the odds in finally defeating the Bloor Homes planning application for a housing development in the Green Wedge between Groby and Ratby next to the Parish Council cemetery. Success that came as a direct result of first class teamwork between Groby and Ratby Parish Councils who jointly funded the fight against Bloor’s 5 years of determined effort supported by a huge budget. The final planning appeal would have been lost had it been left just to the efforts of Hinckley & Bosworth Borough Council. As we come to the end of 2015, we finish the year as we started, facing a planning appeal, this time against the refusal that we had secured earlier in the year of a planning application for a residential gypsy caravan site off Wallace Drive, Groby and at the same time our parish faces a planning application by Taylor Wimpey Homes for 140 houses at Field Head. Clearly, the parish of Groby is a much sought after place to live and your Parish Council wants to keep it that way by not encouraging inappropriate development of any kind. So, what other contributions have Groby Parish Council made to our community in 2015? The Klondike: In 2015 the applicant who applied for planning permission for a gypsy caravan site in 2005 “re-appeared” in 2015 with a new residential planning application on this site but after direct involvement and much determined effort by Groby Parish Council that application was refused and commitment has now been secured from the new political administration at the Borough Council to try and press ahead with a compulsory purchase of the whole site with a view to finally clear up this “festering sore” on the local landscape and to work with the Parish Council to turn the land into a sports facility for local youngsters. Floodlit MUGA (Multi Use Games Area): June saw the completion of the ambitious project to build an all weather floodlit MUGA at Quarry Park recreation ground to add to the recently provided well equipped children’s play area, outdoor exercise equipment and new car park. Together with much improved drainage to the football pitch, Quarry Park now provides a good range of recreational facilities that can be enjoyed by a broad range of users. Groby Parish Council is currently trying to set up a MUGA user’s group and would like to hear from anyone who might be interested. BMX Track: Groby Parish Council would like to make contact with potential interested parties to form, a BMX club or similar support group to gauge whether there is enough interest in Groby to keep this as a viable facility. Since its’ launch in 2011 the track has deteriorated having been subjected to abuse and vandalism. However, if a club or support group can be formed, Groby Parish Council is willing to consider securing some new investment for improving the track.

All meetings are Open to the Public and Press

I just got a great job helping a one arm typist when she wants to do capital letters. It’s shift work.

Quarterly Edition – December 2015 Neighbourhood Plan: The government and all the leading political opposition parties are committed to providing ever more new housing which means that desirable residential areas like Groby will increasingly become the target of major house builders and the travelling community, especially with Leicester having to expand outwards. The Government has now devised Neighbourhood Plans as a way for local communities to shape future development in their areas. This has to be a community led process and with this in mind Groby Parish Council would like to hear from local people who would like to be involved in shaping our community in the years to come.

Christmas Lights: Since Groby Parish Council first provided its’ annual Christmas lights (in my first period as Parish Council chairman), many compliments and requests to expand the area covered have been received. The parish council is currently looking at extending the lights a short distance further along Leicester Road, Markfield Road and Ratby Road. Even with the suggested extension of the Christmas lights from next year, the cost to local parish precept payers should still be less than 10p per week per household. Groby Parish Council would like to hear your views on the village Christmas lights.

Parish Council Elections: Every 4 years the members of the Parish Council must be elected. The 2015 elections saw 4 new members join Groby Parish Council; Patrick Godden (Field Head ward), Paul Garner, Rick Gunn and Brian Rigby, all of our new members bring with them valuable new skills

New Parish Clerk: In April 2015, Benjamin Tassell joined the parish council as Clerk to the Council and Responsible Financial Officer.

Council Tax 2016/17 (Groby Parish Council Tax Precept): At the time of this newsletter going to press, Groby Parish Council like all councils, Police and Fire Authorities is in the process of deciding the level of the local Parish Council Tax for 2016/17. This against a background of rising costs and continued cuts in funding to all levels of Local Government, pressures which Groby Parish Council has not escaped. The annual Rate Support Grant paid by the Government and the New Homes Bonus have now been withdrawn, leaving a significant gap in the parish council’s funding. Nevertheless, having prepared the draft budget for 2016/17, my recommendation to the Parish Council will be for NO INCREASE to the Parish Precept and NO CUTS to services and planning ahead responsibly and with careful financial management and prudent use of reserves, I am optimistic that Groby Parish Council will also be able to maintain that position of no increase and no cuts to services for 2017/2018 but further ahead increases or cuts in services will be inevitable.

With the end of 2015 fast approaching; on behalf of all the members of Groby Parish Council I would like to wish all residents of the Parish of Groby, a Very Happy Christmas and a Prosperous New Year!

Groby Parish Council is comprised of 16 unpaid members. They are supported by a full time Clerk, a part time Admin Assistant, the Sexton and a Grounds Maintenance Operative. Parish Councillors Cllr Jacqualyn Batty - 2912284 Cllr Peter Batty – 2912284 (Chairman) Cllr Sylvia Beck - 2876716 Cllr Jim Coley - 2312099 Cllr Liz Emmerson - 2312111 Cllr Ted Hollick - 2875955 Cllr Barry Jones - 07746919237 Cllr Sandra Jones -07977746108 Cllr Helen Lindsay - 2314487 Cllr Eileen Marvin - 2876799 Cllr Leigh Quilter - 07725623033 Cllr Cathy Thompson 01530249203 Cllr Patrick Godden 07976914382 Cllr Paul Garner - 07825792403 Cllr Rick Gunn - 07988020932 Cllr Brian Rigby - 2875616 Parish Clerk Benjamin Tassell – 2876985 parishclerk@groby.com Hinkley & Bosworth Borough Councillors Cllr Ted Hollick - 2875955 Cllr Martin Cartwright - 2874500 Leicestershire County Councillor Cllr Ozzy O’Shea – 01162394336 07808585825 Member of Parliament Mr Edward Argar - 0116260 8609

We hope you will find our newsletter and our website interesting, informative and easy to access. Whether you are a resident, newcomer or visitor to the parish, please do not hesitate to contact us.

This newsletter is also available on the Parish Council website www.groby.com

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

Groby Gardening Society News

November meeting: Johnnie Amos

AT OUR penultimate meeting of the year on 12th November, we welcomed Johnnie Amos as our speaker. Johnnie is a garden designer and BBC horticultural expert and he currently presents “The Green Welly Show” on BBC radio Northampton. Earlier in his life he undertook a mammoth world tour which saw him working in Papua New Guinea and The Solomon Islands. In these places, and others in the area, he became interested in the natural flora and was made aware of the perils that many plant species face due to de-forestation, soil erosion and the like. He said that in Papua New Guinea forty new species are found each year and an unknown number remain undiscovered. (Other speakers have touched on the subject of new species having potential medicinal benefits, so destruction of the habitats of unknown plants is worrying for this reason alone). He spoke at some length about a large number of plants which fell under his umbrella talk title of “Fragrance and colour in winter”. He had beautifully laminated photographs of all the plants he mentioned and tried to distribute these to members in the audience. Some members feel PowerPoint presentations are somewhat

overdone, but perhaps such a presentation would have made access to these lovely photographs a little easier. The main thrust of his talk revolved around the three categories of shrubs, climbers and small/medium sized trees. In the first category he mentioned some well-known favourites such as skimmias, viburnums, hellebore “Shades of night”, mahonias, camellias and cornus. The second group included some clematis, woodbine and jasmines. Trees he recommended included prunus, acers, birch and his personal favourite, the Chilean Myrtle.

This latter tree has a velvety orange bark that peels to reveal creamy young bark underneath. It has oval green leaves and white summer flowers followed by sweet, edible fruits.

Know your friends from your enemies, or live and let live?

and most try to live life and pursue their hobby with a sensitivity to all life forms. Snails can be the bane of many gardeners’ lives, but in the spirit of the above we can only marvel at their survival strategies. There are two species of banded snails that are widely distributed in England, but, unlike common garden snails, they cause little damage to garden plants as they prefer to feed on dead vegetation and algae on plant stems. During the day, they hide in damp places emerging in wet weather and at night. In autumn, these snails retreat into their shells and seal the opening with mucus which serves to keep humidity high within the shell and to attach the snail to whatever they have chosen to rest upon. They are hermaphrodites (each having male and female organs) and they pair up around April time. After mating, each snail lays clusters of spherical eggs in the surface of soils. After a few weeks the young, which are miniature versions of their parents, emerge and continue to mature over the next year. Individuals can live for several years. Their mouth parts are tongues that have many small projections that rasp their food from plants and other materials. They have two pairs of sensory tentacles on their heads, which can be retracted. The longer, upper pair are tipped by the snail’s eyes.

Social meal at The Stamford Arms WEDNESDAY evening, 18th November, saw over forty members sit down for a social meal at The Stamford Arms. AS GARDENERS we appreciate that all creatures have their niche in the great masterplan of nature

We had already pre-ordered our choices from the menu and it was impressive to see just how many remembered what they had

chosen! Helen and Beverley, who organised the event produced a master list, just in case! The meals were excellent and the service left nothing to be desired and several first-timers at the Stamford said the visit would not be their last. Many thanks to Brian and his team for putting on such an enjoyable spread. Organising any such event is never easy and our thanks must also be extended to Helen and Beverley.

2016 trips ALTHOUGH details have not been finalised for our trips and outings, we are planning to visit the Spring Malvern Show in May and to spend our three day (two nights) trip in the Norwich area. If all goes well, the signing-up sheets will be available at the A.G.M. in January.

Future Meetings •

January 14th: Annual General Meeting • February 11th: Flowers in the period of Richard III (Sally Cunningham) 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.atherton637@btinternet.com

Alvar Johnson A man walks into a library and says, ‘I hope you don’t have a book on reverse psychology.’

This bloke said to me, “I’m going to attack you with the neck of a guitar.” I said, “Is that a fret?”

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

Local quarry used for emergency services exercise AROUND 40 people were involved in a multi-agency emergency services exercise that was undertaken at Bluebell Quarry located at the Midland Quarry Products Asphalt plant on Newtown Linford Lane.

The participants were from the Leicestershire Police Tactical Support Group, Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service Technical Rescue Team and Leicestershire Search and Rescue. Three specialist teams were able to train and work together in a live environment that posed credible hazards, allowing preparation for worst-case scenarios prior to any actual emergency. The scenario involved two missing persons and a third casualty that was a passer-by. The initial response was the arrival of a Police Search Advisor to develop a search plan of the area. The next stage of the search then involved Leicestershire Search and Rescue, whose primary role is to provide specialist resources to the County’s emergency services. Two teams were deployed around the top of the quarry and the three casualties were quickly identified. “Due to the casualty locations (two being on different quarry faces and one in the water) specialist rescue teams were required,” explained a spokesperson. “These were made up of Rope Rescue and Water Rescue trained personnel from both Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service and Leicestershire Police and the casualties were successfully recovered by a combination of inflatable boats and rope rescue equipment.” Bluebell Quarry The Bluebell Quarry, named after the carpet of bluebells that surrounded it in spring commenced operations shortly after the end of World War I. However, the quarry closed shortly afterwards as the stone quality was deemed to be too low; it was imaginatively named the Chocolate Factory after the brown colour of the stone extracted. It lies to the west of the main site today. Dr Annette McGrath has written an interesting article for the Mercian Geologist on local quarries entitled “The Rock Quarries of Charnwood Forest” which includes references to the research of Groby historian David Ramsey. Dr Mcgrath is a structural geologist, sedimentologist, geochemist and author. She is the part-time Lead Associate Lecturer for the online postgraduate diploma on The Geology of Yorkshire and Northern England in the Centre for Lifelong Learning at the University of York. In 2013, Annette also provided ad-hoc consultancy for the Charnwood Forest Heritage Lottery Fund partnership bid. “Charnwood Forest - 600 million years in the making” focussed on how the unique and internationally important geology of Charnwood Forestdirectly influenced everything that is known to be special about the landscape, history, archaeology, biodiversity, industrial and cultural heritage of Charnwood. You can read her article online at http://www.emgs.org.uk. Enter “charnwood rock quarries” into the search box and the link will be the third unsponsored search result.

Norman Griffiths

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0116 2879715 / 07814224630 I met my wife at an arthritis support group…you know when two people just click?

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

YOU PROBABLY noticed last month that we had help in writing our report and this month we are in the same position. Unfortunately both Evelyn (who covers the meeting) and myself (who writes the gossipy bits) have had operations, nothing to worry about but Evelyn had one on her hand and yours truly had a couple of eye ops. That said, thanks to our many ‘cub reporters’ to who we are extremely grateful.

All the latest news from Groby WI

Memories of Groby Mr James Alvey recalled his memories of Groby when he was last in the Village Hall to get his 11 plus results, missing entrance to Coalville Grammar School by one point. He came as an evacuee when his home in Gwendolen Road, Leicester was bombed. His first memory was the screaming of the bomb which made a massive crater. He was billeted at Groby Club, sleeping on straw on top of the billiard table. They were rehoused in The Rookery in a two-up, two-down tiny cottage with a water tap in the yard to serve nine houses. The toilets, nicknamed thunder boxes, were shared by three houses and consisted of a wooden seat spanning a bucket which was emptied once a week. He went to the infant school, now the Village Hall, and can recall Mr Morris, the headmaster, and the heating via a coke stove in the centre of the room. A Mr Biggs employed him casually, aged eleven, working on his farm. There he made friends with a German Prisoner of War, by the name of Horst. He also helped Mr Spencer, a garage owner in The Rookery, who rewarded him by taking him on a trip to Lincoln where the granite load was used to build air strips. During the 1947 winter freeze-up, like many boys he went collecting bits of coal; Glenfield Turn was the best pitch as the load was more unstable going round the island. The weather also caused Groby Pool to freeze over and many enjoyed the skating including some Canadian military personnel who were staying nearby. Another exciting adventure was a tunnel he found in a field off Newtown Lane which came out at Chaplin’s Shop. Milk was delivered by horse and cart from a local farm, Mr Alf Bennett had a shoe repair business on land where the overflow pub car park is today, and fish and chips could be enjoyed from a small hut in The Rookery. His mother and father attended the dances at

then picking up at various stops in the Village. On arrival the seats are booked, don’t bother with the adverts but trek across for a coffee and Danish. Back to the cinema, enjoy the film and out to a local hostelry for a bit of lunch. We have seen this month, The Lady in the Van, Suffragettes and Brooklyn. A few of us went to the Curve to see “What A Wonderful Life”. Diane, as usual, got us good seats. It was a different sort of show, some really enjoyed it and others were not too keen. Six actors took the various parts, done as a 1950s radio American show. All worked extremely hard.

Annual Christmas trip THE ANNUAL Christmas trip this month was to Ashbourne and Tissington Hall.

The WI went to see Matthew Bourne’s Sleeping Beauty at CURVE Groby Club where his father played the violin. The family were finally allocated a pre-fab bungalow at Martinshaw Lane, luxurious living, with hot water, a bathroom and a fridge! Not many people could boast this facility in their homes. ‘Unaccustomed as he was’ Mr Alvey considered that he had been foolhardy volunteering to speak publicly to the ladies of Groby W.I. However, he had no need to be apprehensive, his boyhood memories of Groby were very enjoyable and seem to have been pleasant ones.

Annual Committee Dinner at The Stamford WE HELD our annual Committee dinner at the Stamford, actually six only of us were able to attend. We had a proper girls’ night out, we even stayed out past our 8 o’clock bedtime - hardly mentioned the WI, too busy gossiping and eating, a good night out, we thought we deserved it.

Theatre and cinema outings A NUMBER of ladies, in fact a whole row, went to ‘The Vue’ to watch Benedict Cumberbatch star in the famous play Hamlet. Some didn’t know the story, so we borrowed a children’s book of Shakespeare plays to help them follow the story through! It was broadcast directly from the National Theatre in London. Even though not physically there, we felt the atmosphere as they showed the audience around the Theatre. It was a wonderful experience. The day before there was a visit to see ‘Sleeping Beauty’ at the Curve, all being fans of Matthew Bourne. It was a modern version and all agreed a magical evening, even Sleeping Beauty as a baby looked alive, being worked by strings which were amazing. Somehow we have formed an unofficial cinema club. There is now a routine. We get the No. 28 bus starting at the terminus and

After some retail therapy and lunch the highlight of the day was Tissington Hall itself. The theme was “What the Dickens”. Now I couldn’t go but I had so many wonderful reports about it so I feel I can write about it. Firstly Sir Richard and Lady Fiona Fitzherbert were very much around, chatting away about the history of the House and guiding us around the themed rooms as well as reading to us appropriate passages from Dickens’ stories. It seems on arrival just outside the door was a tombstone engraved ‘PIP’ and the entrance hall done out as Pip’s younger home. The theme continued throughout the house. Everyone I spoke to was entranced by the dining room setting, Miss Haversham’s wedding feast. It was spectacular even down to the rat on the table. Each room depicted scenes from different Dickens stories, one leading up to the turret where Marley’s ghosts were. Plus we couldn’t resist playing the game set for children of ‘spot the humbug’. After the tour, around to the Fitzherbert Tearoom where a welcome cup of tea and gigantic piece of cake was laid on. Lady Fiona herself reappeared helping to serve teas.

December’s meeting Next month’s meeting is our Christmas social. I know we will be well fed and have entertainment but I daresay, as usual, it usually ends having a good laugh as things usually go wrong, needless to say I am part of it and can be depended upon to mess it up.

Evelyn, Margaret and our many helpful reporters.

When I get bored I watch snooker on rewind so it looks like the ref is stealing the balls.

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

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The pollen count, now that’s a difficult job. Especially if you’ve got hay fever.

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

Lady Jane Grey School

Year 6 experience Coventry at War ON WEDNESDAY 25th November 2015, Year 6 went on an enthralling adventure, learning about what happened in the productive Coventry when World War 2 occurred.

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We researched about this in the Coventry Transport Museum and the Albert Herbert Museum, we even took a trip to the Cathedral, along the way we were supervised by the experts, Rich and Brian. We learnt that in WW2, factories were hunted down by both malicious predators, but not any ordinary factory, they tried to aim for the factories producing useful ammunitions for the petrifying war. I must say that they weren’t cautious though, the enemy would scatter malign bombs where they thought a factory was standing. The lucky Year 6 and their teachers were fortunate and were invited to experience a life-like WW2 occurrence, the Blitz. It felt so genuine, with blood red lights flashing, you could hear the booming noise of exploding bombs, there was even a malign unexploded bomb which could demolish an entire factory. We truly enjoyed this part, it was extremely exciting and interesting. We advanced to an evacuee room which was dim, the windows were taped to avoid extreme glass shattering. They also had blackout curtains for the windows. It was so realistic! We became evacuees and learnt how upsetting it was for the young children to leave home and stay with strangers knowing that they might never see their parents again. Coventry moved their ammunitions factories into the countryside painting and covering them with leaves. The name shadow factories comes to mind. The Cathedral was just four walls and broken glass, the tower was standing and still working. In the Herbert Museum we learnt about the shelters. The public shelter is beneath the ground, it is damp and cold and used to be a cellar. It has been there since WW2. Written by Jess Chong, Year 6 student

Glenfield Millennium Green News AS I WRITE this the weather is not very seasonal but wet and windy. This may be more seasonal than the snow and frost we have on our Christmas cards! We are coming to the end of another year and it is a time for looking forward to the New Year. The Millennium Green Trust is grateful to those who have supported events during 2015 and hope to see you in 2016. The Trustees are planning our calendar of events ready for the AGM which takes place in February. Come and sing Carols on the Green at 4.30pm on Saturday 19th December. We are still saving used postage stamps so don’t forget to remove them from the envelopes when you open your Christmas post. We wish all our friends and supporters a Happy Christmas and Best Wishes for the New Year.

During the war, my grandfather could not stop scribbling; he got hit by a Doodlebug.

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

Invasion of the Santas

Letter

ANYONE passing through Groby on Saturday December 5th would have wondered whether they had mistakenly driven into Santa’s Secret Homeland.

Broadband speed

I HAVE just read your interesting article regarding the advent of Fast Broadband. As a customer of BT I have been labouring on at what they laughingly call their Standard speed. As I reside in a far flung part of Groby, almost in Ratby, I receive around 2 and a bit mps. However, on a good day with a following wind , we get 2 and quite a bit mps ! In fairness we do live a long way from our nearest exchange , almost 3 miles and its obviously a strain on the signal. It must exhausted coming all that way as some of it is uphill. Now I understand that I could sign up for BT Infinity , (that’s a hyperbole if ever I heard one) but this would cost a lot more than I am paying now. All of this would be easily solved by changing back to Virgin who 2 years ago were supplying 8 mps , but BT craftily went out and bought European Football exclusively which I enjoy watching. Of course, to watch this I have to pay extra each month as they overpaid considerably to beat off Sky and ITV. So there is my dilemma, do I struggle on with a limping wifi, watching Leicester City in the Champions League next year or move to a provider with better speed? Could any of your readers offer a way out?

Howard Foster Groby

Just as darkness was falling, and the gale showed no signs of subsiding, small groups of people appeared wearing bright red Santa hats. They moved from place to place in the centre of the village and seemed to be coming out of some form of Santa helper’s recruiting centre at the library. They went in dressed normally, undertook some form of conversion, and within minutes re-emerged with the red hats which, if they were lucky, weren’t snatched by the wind. They then followed some set route from site to site. The visitor will, of course, be mistaken. Spotlight readers will know that these red hatted folk were following the Mystery Trail organised by the new Community Library volunteers in conjunction with their Christmas Fayre. Participants were given a clue to each site they had to visit, starting with the Old Hall and ending with the Meadow on Newtown Linford Lane. The Mystery Trail also included a visit to the Christmas Tree Festival at St Philip & St James church, where two dozen decorated trees were on display. From the Meadow they returned to the library for refreshments and to enjoy the Fair. There was a delicious festive food stall and Chaplin the Butchers were on hand to take orders for Christmas. Christmas cards, gifts and decorations, some of which had been made at the volunteer’s Christmas workshop were also available. Other stands which created a great deal of interest included Mike Pratt’s innovative digital artwork, previewed in last month’s Spotlight. Although some of the organisers had very late nights preparing for the event, they cannot sit back and concentrate exclusively on their own Christmas preparations just yet. On Tuesday 15th December there’s a Christmas coach trip to Chatsworth House, and on Saturday 19th December the Rotary Club Santa and his sleigh will be visiting the library from 11 till 12 o’clock. With colouring and Christmas story time throughout the hour, this is another date to put in your diary for your little ones. Meanwhile plans are still progressing for the conversion of the library to community management, although the handover date from the County Council is still some months away.

Norman Griffiths

Elizabeth Woodville Football

Message from Swift Solid Fuels

Rice Bowl – Second Round vs The Pastures

Wood and Co - Clarification

FOLLOWING our success in the first Round against Greenfield Primary, our Year 6 children were drawn against The Pastures Primary School.

SWIFT SOLID FUELS would like to make clear that in no way has Wood and Co. of Markfield been taken over by Swift Solid Fuels, as may have been suggested in their news release which appeared in last month’s issue of the Spotlight.

On Tuesday 24th November, 10 Year 6 children journeyed over to Narborough for our fixture. A slow start to the game saw both sides battle it out for the first breakthrough, which eventually came on 15 minutes courtesy of Noah Watson’s face. The ball flew across the goal, hit Noah on the nose and sailed into the bottom corner! Woodville began to show their dominance, piling pressure on the Pastures defence. However, following a quick break by Pastures, they managed to equalise. The goal of the game came on the stroke of half time, following a foul on Mackenzie Smith. Showing great bravery and courage, Mackenzie got up from the floor and rifled a bullet free kick straight into the top corner, 2-1 to Woodville. A flurry of goals including a rare header from Andrew Stannard, shot Woodville into a 5-1 lead within 5 minutes of the restart. Further goals from captain and man of the match, James Hollingworth, Will Alves, Josh Jenkins and Noah Watson, who scored an impressive hat-trick, helped to secure Woodville a 9-3 victory. We now wait to hear who our next opponents will be.

A spokesman for Swift Solid Fuels said: “It was not our intention to mislead, as we are are merely supplying fuel to some past customers of Wood & Co.”

The other day I tied my head to a dog’s tail. I just fancied a bit of a chinwag.

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

Be smart – don’t keep up appearances

IF YOU ARE struggling with money as the New Year begins, you are not alone. It has been estimated that half the people in the UK are living beyond their means. Too many of us are using our credit cards as almost permanent extensions of our bank account, instead of as highly expensive loans. So this year, think about how just small changes could help you. For example, simply deciding to take your own sandwiches, and skipping lunch and coffee ‘out’ could save you £25 a week – that is £100 a month, or £1200 a year – probably enough to pay your heating bills, and a great deal of your Council Tax.

Groby Advent Windows continue til the 24th December

wish you a happy and peaceful Christmas and New Year.

Find the 7 hidden angels (see programme)

Catch

Fair Cuppa Carols on 17th Dec at 10.30am in the village hall

Every Saturday morning 9.30—12noon 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

How is it that I always seem to buy the plants without the will to live?

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

Borough Councillors’ Monthly Report New Co-op Store - formerly Budgens TED AND I would like to welcome the Co-op to the former Budgens site and wish them success in trading. Objections were received to the planned extended licensing hours but these were resolved with the help of officers of the council, representatives of the Co-Op and the objector. The store is open from 7am till 10pm, 7 days a week on a smaller footprint to the former Budgens store but none the less is an impressive offering to residents.

Remainder of the Budgens site THE SIDE elevation of the former Budgens Store is set to be transformed in a plan to bring four small units within the remaining part of the existing Budgens store.

Fish & Chip Shop

Cafe

Hairdresser

Pharmacy

Proposed Side elevation of store facing Lady Jane School

In the illustration above the left-hand Shop would be the Fish and Chip Shop. The second from left shop would be a Café or Hot Food Takeaway. The next shop would be the Hairdressers and the right-hand shop would be the Pharmacy. Personally my initial reaction would be a preference to move the Café to the front and the pharmacy to the side so that the Café is in the central location. A planning application has been submitted for a proposed mixed use development in the remaining part of the old Budgens store to include four units consisting of a Pharmacy, Hairdressing Salon, Coffee Shop and Fish and Chip Shop. The planning application number is 15/01187/FUL with full details including design and layout available on the Hinckley & Bosworth Borough Council Web Site, www.hinckley-bosworth.gov.uk. Select the planning tab and enter the application number 15/01187/FUL. Brief details taken from the application (not Ted or my comments) are also enclosed below. The Pharmacy The new pharmacy is to be located to the front and side of the existing building being the corner by the Co-op and has been carefully sized and positioned to complement the existing building. The proposed pharmacy will have a ground floor area of 75sqm with a first floor over for storage. Hairdressing Salon A hairdressing salon is proposed adjacent to the pharmacy and will offer a full range of associated hairdressing services and beauty treatments. The proposed floor is 51sqm with a first floor over for storage. Fish and Chip Shop / Café hot Food Takeaway A fish and chip shop and a coffee shop, café hot food takeaway are to be incorporated in the proposal, to the rear towards Pymm Ley Lane for local residents and people using the shopping complex. There is also a retrospective planning application for alterations to shop-front including roller shutters and installation of extract vents and warehouse light. (Retrospective means the works have already been carried out without the relevant planning permission. Application number 15/01180/FUL should you wish to look at the details.)

Leicester Road Planning Application – Former Highways Land THE COUNTY Council submitted a planning application earlier this year for outline planning permission for 38 houses to be built on the old A50 former Highways ground to the rear of the Leicester Road properties. Due to the complexity of this application it is taking some time to

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

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

conclude. It could be determined at the December 22nd meeting of the planning committee at Hinckley & Bosworth Borough Council but this is unlikely. It is my guess that it will be early 2016 before this is taken to the committee for determination possibly January but more likely February or March 2016. Ted and I will let residents know as soon as we have any further information and will arrange a public meeting to discuss the next stage of the process. Thanks go to Steve who has provided lots of information regarding the flooding issues, Severn Trent and Highways.

Wallace Drive Planning Application AN APPEAL has been made to the Secretary of State against Hinckley & Bosworth Borough Council planning committee to refuse the planning permission for a change of use of land at Wallace Drive to Traveller Pitches. The start date for the appeal is 9th November all representations must be received by 14th December 2015. The appeal documents are available to view on the Hinckley & Bosworth Borough Council web site by entering the appeal application number 14/01247/COU into the appeals search box. Be careful to select the appeals search box. Ted and I will be ensuring that Hinckley & Bosworth Borough Council gives sufficient resources to defend this inappropriate appeal and hope that Cllr O’Shea will do the same with regards the County Council and Highways as the Highways issues is the best defence against the appeal.

Groby Carols round the Christmas Tree THIS YEAR’S Carols round the Christmas tree will take place in the Stamford Arms car park on Tuesday December 15th from 7pm. This is always a popular event, and a warm welcome will be extended to you should you be able to attend.

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. Ted and I wish you and your family our very best Compliments of the Season. Thanking you for your support though out the many years we have been honoured to serve you. Thank you to the Spotlight for giving us the opportunity to keep you informed of local issues. Kind regards

Martin Cartwright & Ted Hollick • I was taking a bath last night when I suddenly thought to myself ... I’m a rubbish burglar. • I went on holiday to China and bought a pair of shoes. I looked on the sole and it said, ‘Made around the corner.’

Years ago, I used to supply Filofaxes to the Mafia – I was involved in very organised crime.

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

Elizabeth Woodville pupils ‘Step back in time’

OUR WHOLE school curriculum theme this term was called ‘Step back in time,’ with every class across the school learning about a different point in history.

World War II

Letter

Information request DO YOU have any information about any of the men in the photo which was recently sent to the Groby Village Society?

YEARS 5 AND 6 have focussed on learning about life living in Britain during WWII. The children learnt about how the war began and the affect it had on the British people. The children have worked really hard to create some excellent watercolour paintings of famous WWII leaders. As you can see from the image below, the children did a fantastic job. On Friday 20th November, the children from Year 5 and 6 hosted a VE Party, where they invited family members to join us for the afternoon. During the party our visitors got to sample the delicious WWII recipes created by our children for homework. Many children also constructed models for people to enjoy. Songs were sang, games were played and cake was eaten. All in all it was a fantastic occasion. Year 5 put on a fantastic class assembly on Friday 27th November. The children told the story of what life was like living in Britain during the war through a variety of creative methods including; videos, songs, drama, game shows and much more.

Vikings and Invaders Year 3 and 4 had the exciting opportunity to interview a visiting Viking in school. The children thoroughly enjoyed the theme and were able to demonstrate their research skills, designing their own questions to find out why Vikings came to Britain and what their life was like.

Florence Nightingale Year 1 and 2 have been learning all about the life of Florence Nightingale, ‘the lady with the lamp.’ In the lesson pictured below the children used drama to reflect upon what life was like for Florence and the soldiers in her care during the Crimean War. The class had great fun making their own lanterns and thinking about the materials they would have used in Victorian times.

Bonfire Night FOUNDATION Stage have been learning about the story of Guy Fawkes and how to stay safe around fireworks. The class discussed the noises fireworks make and used these descriptive words in their writing to describe different fireworks. In Expressive Arts and Design they made firework pictures using a variety of different materials, such as creating shape rockets (pictured right).

What, oh what, is that person’s name?!

It shows The Officers and Committee of the Groby British Legion Horticultural Society 1939. Back row left to right G. A. Wood, F.J. Chamberlain, A.C. Otter, L. Gardner, E. Goodacre Front row left to right W.E. Greet ( Vice Pres.) G.W. Chappell (Hon. Sec.) E. Gillet (Pres.) Extract from the accompaning letter: “Some years ago Hillesley had it’s own football club. The changing rooms were in a converted pig shed at the back of Hillesley Farm. There was a notice hung there in a frame indicating standards of behaviour with threats of a fine not exceeding £5.00. This photograph was underneath within the frame. “That is all I can tell you. The name Chappell is very common in the surrounding villages.” Hillesley is in South Gloucestershire. the person who found it is very curious to know why the photo would be there. I know of a relative of G.A. Wood, and E. Gillet but no known connection with Hillesley. One of the cups is still used by Groby Garden Society. It was presented to the British Legion Horticultural Society in 1938 but the earliest engraving is in 1943. None of these names appear. If you have any information, please email it to Groby Village Society at groby.villagesociety@tiscali.co.uk or drop a line to Groby Spotlight, PO Box 8, Markfield, Leics. LE67 9ZT.

DO YOUR New Year Resolutions include the forlorn hope that you will be better at remembering people’s names in 2016?

Many of us – and not only those of the older generation – have difficulty remembering names. It’s not just TV personalities and so on, but people we meet in the street. We know exactly who they are, we see them every week in church or the supermarket, we know what job they do and which school their children go to. But as for their name – it’s a blank. Help is at hand, however. Not to solve the problem, but at least to name it. ‘Nominal asphasia’ is the clinical name for the inability to remember a name, even when we can remember everything else about someone. It was a great relief to me to find it had a name. Up till then I thought it was the first symptom of dementia, or just plain stupidity. There is also the strange truth that the cure for asphasia comes spontaneously, often in the middle of the night, when that elusive identity pops unbidden into our memory. We must be sure, of course, to put the light on and write it down, because it will be gone again with the morning light.

When it comes to cosmetic surgery, a lot of people turn their noses up.

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

Lady Jane Grey School NEWS School Choir LADY JANE GREY’S school choir were lucky enough to go and perform at the “Festival of Light” at Soar Valley Music Centre. They sang 10 cultural songs with Elizabeth Woodville, while also performing two songs as an individual choir. All of the girls who are choir members have shown brilliant dedication and enthusiasm towards the choir and their beautiful voices were a delight to hear on the night. They were outstanding role models for LJG and were an absolute credit to the school.

From Back left – Faye Gamble, Ellie Brewster, Millie Thompson, Zoe Watterson, Grace Ryan, Lola Sessions, Bethany Hand, Bethany Jones, Amaris Imir, Heather Gillibrand, Olivia Jones, Kiera Garner, Maya Patel, Grace Jordan, Imogen Leatherland

Talk the Talk Lady Jane Grey’s Year 5 students were asked to write about their hobbies or their favourite things to win a place at the Talk the Talk event at Groby College. Three children were chosen to go and talk at the event, alongside children from 9 other schools in the local area. Owen Beange spoke about his passion for History, Maya Patel talked about her love of Bob Marley and Isabelle West gave everyone an opportunity to hear about her hobby, horse riding. All 3 of the children were brilliant on the night, all speaking confidently and clearly. It was a fantastic event and it was lovely to see our children representing the school in such a positive light.

Are you taking a mid-winter break? IF YOU ARE preparing to take off for foreign climes, do keep an eye out for signs that have English words… but perhaps not an English meaning! In hotels and train stations and airports all over the world there are polite little signs that will bring a smile to the lips of even an exhausted traveller. For instance, how about these*: • Switzerland: We have nice bath and are very good in bed. • Romania: The lift is being fixed for the next day. During that time we regret you will be unbearable. • Russia: If this is your first visit to the USSR, you are welcome to it. • Italy: If service is required, give two strokes to the maid and three to the waiter. • Spain: Our wine list leaves you with nothing to hope for. • Denmark: In the event of fire, open a window and announce your presence in a seemly manner. • Canary Islands: If you telephone for room service you will get the answer you deserve. *With thanks to ‘Lost in Translation: Misadventures in English Abroad’ by Charlie Croker (Michael O’Mara Books, £9.99)

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I saw this advert that said ‘Television for sale, £1, volume stuck on full’ I thought ‘I can’t turn that down’.

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

Martinshaw School

Great Fire of London EXCITING STUFF in the second half of term with Martinshaw’s year 2, following Samuel Pepys diary, looking into life in 17th century England and discovering about the 1666 ‘Great Fire of London’, the causes and effect. They discussed the closeness of the houses, the narrow, vermin riddled streets and the poverty of the time. But sitting in a classroom hearing about facts and figures doesn’t really hack it for our 6/7 year old investigators. So, they built replica houses, put them close together, exactly how they would have been, but in miniature of course, and SET FIRE, to them. Or rather teacher, Mrs. Tipton played the arsonist bit, with the students well back out of the way. A great demonstration of how the fire leapt from house to house in seconds, helped by a strong breeze. They learned about Samuel Pepys’ solution, that houses in the path of the fire needed to be blown up to stop it spreading further. However, Mrs Tipton drew the line at that, so off to New Parks Fire Station to find out how modern ‘Firefighters’ deal with fires. The class was made very welcome at the fire station where the ‘on duty’ crew demonstrated equipment and modern methods of fire fighting and answered some rather searching questions from some very eager and enthusiastic budding fire fighters. Zach Shearer presented a plate of ‘Nana’ made cup cakes to the hungry firefighters to celebrate his 7th birthday. However,they were a little disappointment that they were not allowed to slide down the pole!

Owen Lawrence

£1.4 million now available to boost local businesses A NEW scheme, aimed at boosting the rural economy across Hinckley & Bosworth and North Warwickshire, has officially been launched. The two councils have secured £1.416 million of European funding through the LEADER Programme (2015-2019). LEADER is part of the Rural Development Programme for England (RDPE) and is funded by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD). Around 40 local businesses and organisations attended the launch event at Bosworth Hall Hotel to find out more about the funding available. The event was followed by an opportunity for people to discuss potential ideas with the LEADER project team. The money will be allocated to businesses, groups or organisations that can demonstrate a benefit to the local rural economy. To be successful, applications must contribute to the creation of jobs or the development of businesses in the rural areas. The Chair of the Local Action Group (LAG), Sharon Earp, is an active member of the Hinckley and Bosworth Tourism Partnership and Leicestershire Tourism Partnership and runs her own award-winning tourism business. Sharon said: “We are absolutely delighted to have been awarded the funding, and are confident that it will make a real difference to the longevity, sustainability and success of the rural economy in this wonderful area”. The first call for applications for funding, which opened on 16 November 2015, is for projects from farmers, foresters and small businesses with fewer than 50 employees. The deadline for outline applications in this first round is 4 January 2016. Further applications to deliver projects relating to rural services, tourism, cultural and heritage activities will be invited from next year. To discuss a potential project idea or to receive an outline application form, contact the LEADER Programme Team at North Warwickshire Borough Council, on 01827 719356 or email: leaderproject@northwarks. gov.uk. Alternatively visit the Facebook page at: /NWHBLEADER

Sleek and slinky

Groby’s winning slimmers! FIVE inspirational slimmers are getting ready to celebrate in style this party season after winning weight loss competitions in their local Slimming World group.

Miss Slinkies Clare Hickling, Carla Pole and Stephi Holmes were voted as the Groby Slimming World group’s Miss Slinky 2015 for their respective group sessions after they were wowed by their combined 12 st weight loss, and Mr Sleek, Andy Jones and Richard Woodland, who jointly lost 7st, were named the group’s Mr Sleeks 2015. Slimming World’s annual Miss Slinky and Mr Sleek competitions recognise those members – both female and male – who have transformed both inside and out by becoming healthier and happier, slimmer and more confident – and look great in their seasonal party clothes. The national winners of both titles will win a £2,000 cash price. All five members say they were thrilled to win their respective titles. Miss Slinky ,Clare (41), who has dropped from a dress size 20 to a size 12, says: “I was already really looking forward to this Christmas and feeling glamorous enough to wear the outfits I’ve been dreaming of. Winning the title of Miss Slinky means I have even more to celebrate and I know this festive season will be even more special.” Mr Sleek, Andy (50), adds: “Being voted for by the other members of the group is really great because it’s thanks to them and their support – and our Consultant

Hazel – that we’ve stayed committed to losing the weight that we have. As a man, joining a slimming club was a big decision and very nerve-wracking, but I can honestly say it’s one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.” The members began following the club’s Food Optimising healthy eating plan, which encourages members to satisfy their appetite on healthy foods like fruit and veg, pasta, rice, potatoes, lean meat and more. Slimmers are able to lose weight without ever going hungry and still enjoy treats without feeling deprived so there’s no need to miss out on their festive favourites this Christmas. Hazel Hickson, who runs the Groby Slimming World group which Miss Slinkies Clare, Carla and Stephi and Mr Sleeks Andy and Richard attend, says she’s extremely proud of all of the slimmers: “Christmas is a time of year for getting dressed up and having a good time. However when people are overweight they often dread it because they feel uncomfortable and out of place at parties, that’s if they don’t make an excuse to avoid socialising altogether. This year I know Clare, Carla and Stephi and Andy and Richard will feel completely different from previous years. I hope they’ll be accepting every invitation they receive and showing off their gorgeous new figures with poise and assurance – they definitely live up to their new titles of Miss Slinky and Mr Sleek in my eyes. “I hope they’ll inspire other people to lose weight too and show people that whether you’ve got a little or a lot of weight to lose, slimming down can make a big difference to how you feel about yourself and

Letter

Groby Remembrance Monument I WOULD like, through your pages, to thank Paul Brudenell and those who helped him for his hard work and persistence in producing the stunning War Memorial that now graces the centre of our village. A true monument to those who gave their lives in the two world wars and a place where all the village can now meet on Armistice Day.

Owen Lawrence MBE Groby

(Chair) Nat. Malay Borneo Vets. Assoc.

In certain parts of the world people still pray in the streets. In this country, they’re called pedestrians.

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

...and their before & after pics! really boost your confidence.” Anyone who has been inspired by the Groby Slimming World group’s Miss Slinky and Mr Sleek is welcome to join them at Groby Community Centre every Thursday at 9.30am or Brookvale High School 5.15pm or 7pm New members can simply pop along or if they’d like more information they can call Hazel on 07817303018. For further information please contact Hazel Hickson on 07817303018 or email hazel_ slimmingworld@hotmail.co.uk

Clare

Richard

Carla

Andy and Stephi

Clare and Richard

Andy

Stephi

Carla

Elections are held to delude the populace into believing that they are participating in government.

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

Fragrances Wordsearch If you can find 12 well-known BRANDS OF PERFUME in this issue’s Wordsearch puzzle, you could win yourself a meal. This month we are offering a £20 Voucher to spend at a local restaurant of your choice. To go into the draw, all you have to do is find - and mark a line through - the names of 12 top brands of perfume. These can run vertically, horizontally or diagonally (and backwards!). Send your entry to: FRAGRANT, Groby & Field Head Spotlight, PO Box 8, Markfield, Leics. LE67 9ZT to arrive by SATURDAY 2ND JANUARY 2016. Remember to include your name and address. The first all-correct entry drawn out of the Editor’s beret will win the voucher. Good luck! Here are the twelve PERFUME BRANDS you have to find:

CALVIN KLEIN • DIESEL • ELIZABETH ARDEN ESTEE LAUDER • GEORGIO ARMANI • GIVENCHY HUGO BOSS • JEAN PAUL GAULTIER • NINA RICCI PRADA • TED BAKER • VERSACE Name: ................................................................................................. Address: ................................................................................................ .................................................................Postcode: .............................

Last Issue’s Wordsearch Winner The winner of last issue’s Wordsearch competition was: MRS L M GEE of Forest View, Groby Congratulations! Your prize - a £20 Dining Voucher will be with you soon.

Advent Window No.2

Protect Yourself From Bogus Electrical Websites FRAUDSTERS have set up a high specification website template advertising various electrical goods and domestic appliances.

Mike Pratt & Sue Annable, of 62 Leicester Road, Groby have emailed the above photo of the display they have created as part of Groby’s Advent Window celebration.

These goods are below market value and do not exist. The fraudsters will request your card details via the website; however the purchaser will then receive an email stating the payment failed and they must pay via bank transfer. The fraudsters entice the purchaser and reassure them it is a legitimate purchase by using the widely recognised Trusted Shop Trustmark. The fraudsters are using the Trustmark fraudulently and have not been certified by Trusted Shops and therefore the purchaser is not covered by the Trusted Shop moneyback guarantee. Protect yourself: • Check the authenticity of the websites before making any purchases. Conduct a ‘who is’ search on the website which will identify when the website has been created, be wary of newly formed domains. You can conduct this search using the following website - https://who.is/. • Carry out online research in relation to the website, company name and the business address provided to identify any poor feedback or possible irregularities. • Check the Trusted Shops Facebook page where warnings about websites using their Trustmark are published. If you are in doubt about the legitimacy of a Trustmark then you can contact Trusted Shops on 0203 364 5906 or by email service@trustedshops.co.uk. They will confirm whether they have certified that website. • Payments made via bank transfer are not protected should you not received the item. Therefore always try to make the payment via PayPal or a credit card where you have some payment cover should you not receive your product. • If the item advertised seems too good to be true, then it probably is. 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.

The quickest way to make a red light turn green is to try to find something in the glove compartment.

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

Lady Jane Grey School NEWS

Visit from Taylor Road Primary School THIS TERM, we were lucky enough to have a visit from the Student Council from Taylor Road Primary School. All 36 children came and spent the day with Lady Jane Grey’s Student Council, taking part in a number of team building activities. It was a brilliant day and a great way to establish a link within our wider community. LJG were very welcoming and the Student Council in particular were excellent role models. Our Student Council will be paying a visit to Taylor Road in the Spring term and we are very much looking forward to developing the link further between the two schools.

Remembrance Service ON WEDNESDAY 11th November we held our Remembrance assembly for all those people and soldiers who had lost their lives during the wars. In our assembly I was a soldier who had served in the war and I had to read how the First World War started. We sang a song called refuge which is a school favourite and some of the teaching staff said it is a very emotional song to sing. We were very lucky because Captain Phillips who is a soldier that has served across the world, came to our assembly and read a poem called I went to see the soldiers. His uniform was very posh and I would think it would cost a lot of money. Also Mrs Hollis came to our assembly and this lady served as a volunteer in the Second World War. Her uniform was really nice and posh and I felt we should all respect her. Throughout the week we sold poppies at school and we raised a total of £110.54p. Thank you to everyone who purchased a poppy. (Written by Oliver Lyons, Year 6)

H.S.A Christmas Fair THE H.S.A. held a very successful Christmas Fair on Saturday 21st November. The event saw takings of £1,900 on the day! A good time was had by all who attended and of course the event brings into school much needed revenue. Greys Grill served up delicious turkey and stuffing cobs, quorn cobs and the very best chips ever! The children’s games room raised a whopping £260 on the token games. The Christmas Grotto was very well attended a lot of children had the opportunity to chat to Santa about their Christmas list. Thank you to all the children who took part in our non-uniform day. All the items you brought into school enabled the Tombola to raise an incredible £266 ! In an attempt to win a bottle of wine a total of £100 was raised as more people won water than did wine! Roller ball and Crazy Cracker sold out and remain very busy and effective money raisers bringing a joint tioatl of £224. The HSA would like to once again thank the Jordon family for their very generous donation of hampers for prizes and also Steve Bullman (School Garden Club Organiser) for his donation of scrumptious home-made cakes. A fantastic amount of money was raised for the school to put to good use. Thank you to all who attended and contributed! Karen Swann Chair of the H.S.A

If you enjoy reading the Spotlight, please pass it on to a friend or relative after you’ve finished with it. Thanks! If someone says ‘It’s not the money, it’s the principle’, it’s the money.

From The Groby ES Club

16—18 Leicester Road, Groby, Leicester.LE6 0DJ Tel: 0116 287 1809 Email Groby.ents@gmail.com @GrobyClub

Friday 8th January Friday 18th

JESSICA Saturday 9th January

Saturday 19th

The Empires

Bar closes 1am Friday 8th January

Kids Party 1pm-4pm Pre booked Evening

Open 12 –3pm Christmas Dinner Served 12-3pm 3 courses Adults £37.50 12yrs & under £19.95

Saturday 2nd January

TBC

Sunday Carvery 1pm - 5pm Saturday Breakfast 9am - 2pm Food served Thursdays /Fridays/Saturdays and Sundays 2016 Memberships now available please ask for a form at the bar

GLITTER SISTERS

ALL THE ACTION FROM

The Groby Ex Servicemens Club are pleased to be able to now Invite non members to use our Club for certain events and activities. Our dining facilities are available to non members Thursday - Sunday Entertainment on Friday Nights (concert room only) and special events as published . Members will be given priority on Ticketed events and certain events

Saturday 15th January