Elizabeth Woodville School News
Prime Minister takes an interest in local school’s incredible technology!
Love in 103 Boxes!
IT WAS AN exciting moment when Elizabeth Woodville pupil Alexia Kowal received her very first letter, only to find out it was a reply from the Prime Minister herself! Alexia wanted to tell the Prime Minister all about the new technology that we are using in school that has captivated pupils. Alexia wrote to invite the Prime Minister to visit Elizabeth Woodville so that she could see our amazing CleverTouch boards in action as we are one of only a few schools to have them in every single classroom. It was so fantastic to get a reply from Mrs Theresa May, who wrote: “Dear Alexia, it was very nice of you to write and invite me to visit your school. I am interested to hear about your new ‘clever touch’ boards – this sounds like very clever technology indeed and I hope it will help you to learn and enjoy your time in school.” “I will keep in mind your kind invitation to visit your school in case I am able to come at some point in the future. In the meantime, I understand that Edward Argar will be visiting soon to see the new technology, and he will be telling me about it once he has done so.” “Please do pass on my best wishes to everyone at Elizabeth Woodville Primary School, and thank you once again for taking the time to write to me.” Everyone at school was incredibly excited to hear the news when Alexia told them in a special assembly. It is also wonderful that Mr Edward Argar MP will be visiting the school this month to see this technology in action in each class. I know the pupils are looking forward to showcasing their superb technological skills. We will have a full report on Mr Argar’s visit in the next edition.
Andrew Pridmore, Head Teacher
ON THE MORNING of Sunday 6th November, a group of children, young people and not-so-young people gathered in the hall at Groby United Reformed Church and in one hour packed an amazing 103 shoeboxes to be delivered as Christmas gifts. They were later taken to a local distribution point and along with thousands more shoeboxes nationwide, will be distributed to needy children overseas by Operation Christmas Child. Each shoebox included hygiene items, e.g. a toothbrush, toothpaste, a bar of soap etc, a warm hat, scarf and gloves, a game, stationery items, a packet of sweets and an essential for every child – a soft cuddly toy. The knitted items were supplied by the Groby Knitters. The shoeboxes were dispatched with our love and our prayers and with the assurance that each box will bring a few moments of joy to the life of a child who has so little.
THE JOY OF GIVING: The youngest members of the Shoe Box Group demonstrate their joy at completing the task.
DON’T BE ALONE CHRISTMAS DAY
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NEXT ISSUE OUT: Saturday 14th January - Advert/Articles needed by 31st December
Groby & Field Head Spotlight • MID-DECEMBER 2016 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk
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Remember you’re a Womble
Litter picking volunteers needed VOLUNTEERS are being sought by the Borough Council to help with litter picking in various parts of Hinckley & Bosworth. But more volunteers are always welcome and anyone who is interested in helping the Clean Neighbourhoods Team, or organising their own community litter picks, should call the team on 01455 255977 or email streetscene@hinckley-bosworth.gov.uk.
Communication is key in a relationship. Thats why I make sure my husband knows exactly why I’m not talking to him.
Groby & Field Head Spotlight • MID-DECEMBER 2016 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk
Pay It Forward - what a great idea! IN 2000, Catherine Ryan Hyde’s novel Pay It Forward was published and adapted into a film of the same name, distributed by Warner Bros. and starring Kevin Spacey, Helen Hunt and Haley Joel Osment. In Ryan Hyde’s book and movie it is described as an obligation to do three good deeds for others in response to a good deed that one receives. Such good deeds should accomplish things that the other person cannot accomplish on their own. In this way, the practice of helping one another can spread geometrically through society, at a ratio of three to one, creating a social movement with an impact of making the world a better place. The Pay it Forward Movement and Foundation was founded in the USA helping start a ripple effect of kindness acts around the world. The newly appointed president of the foundation, Charley Johnson, had an idea for encouraging kindness acts by having a Pay it Forward Bracelet that could be worn as a reminder. Since then, over a million Pay it Forward bracelets have been distributed in over 100 countries sparking acts of kindness. Few bracelets remain with their original recipients, however, as they circulate in the spirit of the reciprocal or generalized altruism. The Spotlight has three copies of the DVD of Pay It Forward to give away to readers in a simple write-in competition. All you have to do is send your name and address to: PAY IT FORWARD, Groby & Field Head Spotlight, PO Box 8, Markfield, Leics. LE67 9ZT or send an email to info@grobyspotlight. co.uk putting PAY IT FORWARD in the subject line. The deadline for entries is 31st December 2016. The first three names drawn out of the hat on 31st December will each be sent a copy of the Pay It Forward DVD.
Original Paintings - Prices Slashed for One Day FED UP with Christmas shopping? Run out of ideas? Come along to Groby Village Hall on Saturday, Dec 10th and solve your problems. Two local artists, Janet Mayo and Penny Clay, will Old House Ruins, Bradgate Park be offering original paintings at vastly reduced prices for one day only. Both artists work in various media, watercolour, pastels, pen and acrylics and there will be a huge variety of their work for sale, some framed, others in mounts only. Framer Ron Brandon will be on hand to help with suggestions for finishing your purchase should you want a frame. Readymade frames will also be available to buy. A selection of cards and original shopping bags will also be on offer. Don’t miss this one-off opportunity at Groby Village Hall, December 10th , 10am - 4pm. Contact for further information: Janet Mayo janetmayoart@gmail.com - 07894 066 729
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I’m sorry for all of the awful things I said to you when you were wrong and needed to hear them.
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Groby & Field Head Spotlight • MID-DECEMBER 2016 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk
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Groby & Field Head Spotlight • MID-DECEMBER 2016 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk
Message From Edward Argar MP WITH THE increasingly hectic pace of day-to-day life, for many the approaching Christmas period will provide a welcome and much needed opportunity to pause and reflect on the year gone by … and what a year of change it has been! A new Prime Minister; the election of Donald Trump as US President; continued global political and economic change, on-going conflict in areas like the Middle East; and of course the referendum on 23rd June and Brexit. I have always been clear that the result of the referendum on 23rd June must be accepted, respected, and delivered on, and have fully supported the Prime Minister in the approach she has set out, and her timetable, aiming to invoke Article 50 by the end of March 2017. Next year must be the year we begin the process of delivering on this, and when that vote occurs I will be voting in favour of invoking Article 50. On a more local note, I was pleased that earlier this autumn the campaign I and County Councillor Ozzy O’Shea have led with local people living on the A50 on Bradgate Hill in Groby, achieved a major victory when the County Council agreed to our calls to reduce the speed limit the length of the hill to 40mph which will improve road safety and the quality of life of people living beside the road. I have also been putting pressure on Hinckley & Bosworth Borough Council to get to grips with the on-going planning and enforcement concerns of local residents about the site off Wallace Drive, and the ‘Klondyke Allotments’ site off Newtown Linford Lane, working alongside Cllr O’Shea, the Parish Council & Parish Cllr Peter Batty, and local residents. I’ve pressed the Council to fully implement the 2013 Compulsory Purchase Order for the allotments site, and to clear the site, to put an end to the current eye-sore that this patch of land has become. It is time HBBC takes effective action to ensure it is returned to its original state, ideally seeing it used for a purpose that will positively benefit everyone in Groby. I am seeking a meeting with the Council’s Chief Executive and Leader to keep up the pressure for real action following my earlier visit to the site. I will continue fighting for Groby on these important local issues. Although it still feels a bit early, I also wanted to take this opportunity to wish all Groby and Field Head Spotlight readers a peaceful and restful Christmas, and hope I will see many of you in Groby over the Christmas period.
Edward Argar MP Member of Parliament for Charnwood
Tree Planting with the BBC Breakfast Show DESPITE HEAVY rain for half an hour or so beforehand, a group of Year 7 students from Brookvale Groby Learning Campus, armed with spades and wellington boots, headed for the fields adjacent to our campus, for the second tree planting event of this academic year. Taking place on the afternoon of Wednesday 16th November 2016, Brookvale High School played host to members from the National Forest, as well as BBC Breakfast’s presenter, Charlie Stayt, and his film crew, who have been featuring 25 years of the National Forest on their morning programme. We were delighted, also, that pupils from Martinshaw Primary School could join us for this, and as well as planting numerous trees, all of the children were thrilled to be filmed, not only by a conventional camera, but also by an overhead drone! Year 7 student, Alistair McNeil, was chosen to read out a poem to Charlie and his crew, sent in to the BBC by a viewer, and all the children were excited to be involved with the planting event, and excited by the possibility of being able to watch their trees grow and develop, alongside themselves, whilst students at the Brookvale Groby Learning Campus! This was the second tree planting event, filmed for the BBC Breakfast programme, which Brookvale had assisted with, and we look forward to working with the National Forest again in the future.
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Groby & Field Head Spotlight PO Box 8, Markfield, Leics. LE67 9ZT
Telephone
01530-244069 Email us at: info@ grobyspotlight.co.uk Visit the website at www.grobyspotlight.co.uk 3,500 copies distributed 11 times a year (no issue in July) to homes and businesses in Groby, Field Head and The Brantings. Compiled and published in the Parish of Groby & Field Head. Printed in Ellistown by Norwood Press. The Spotlight is a monthly compilation of articles, press releases, events, general items of interest and news items submitted to us by local residents, groups, associations, sports clubs and local authorities. The opinions expressed by contributors are not necessarily those of the Spotlight Production Team. The inclusion of any group or organisation in this publication does not necessarily imply a recommendation of its aims, methods or policies. Groby & Field Head Spotlight cannot be held responsible for the information disclosed by advertisements, all of which are accepted in good faith. Every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of information in this magazine, but no liability can be accepted for loss or inconvenience caused as a result of error or omission. Groby & Field Head Spotlight reserves the right to amend, shorten or refuse to publish articles and/or advertisements submitted for publication. All contents © Groby & Field Head Spotlight. None of the articles contained in this magazine are to be reproduced in any way without first obtaining written consent from Groby & Field Head Spotlight.
Ms Pattison, Science Teacher
Newbold Verdon Jazz Club NEWS A BEAUTIFULLY decorated concert room at Newbold Verdon Social Club was the venue for the December meeting of Newbold Verdon Jazz Club where Matt Palmer’s Eagle Jazz Band entertained us with a great evening of traditional jazz. This versatile band played and sang many well known and popular tunes and soon got everyone tapping their feet and getting in a festive mood. It was lovely to see some new faces at the club and we hope they will continue to come in the New Year and maybe bring their friends along. The first concert of 2017 is on January 6th when we welcome a return of the popular Savannah Jazz Band. Doors are open at 7.00pm and the music starts at 8.00pm. Only £9.00 entrance fee with drinks and rolls at club prices. Do come along for a great evening’s entertainment.
NEXT ISSUE OUT ON: 14th January 2017 DEADLINE: 31st December
Skiing is probably the most expensive way to fall down a mountain.
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Groby & Field Head Spotlight • MID-DECEMBER 2016 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk
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Your guide to the Christmas bus services
THERE WILL BE no Arriva services on Christmas Day and New Years Day. Normal services will resume on Tuesday 3rd January and on other days over the Christmas period there will be a mixture of Saturday and Sunday services. On the 27 and 29A routes the last buses on Christmas and New Year’s Eve and Boxing Day will be earlier, so don’t get stranded.
Saturday 24 December 2016 (Christmas Eve) Saturday service but last buses on 27 and 29A routes as follows 27 from Leicester 1830, from Ratby 1756 29A from Leicester 1857, Groby to Leicester around 1820 (leaves Coalville at 1748)
Sunday 25 December 2016 (Christmas Day) No service
Monday 26 December 2016 (Boxing Day) Sunday service but last bus on 29A route as follows From Leicester 1825, Groby to Leicester around 1745 (leaves Coalville at 1710)
Tuesday 27 December 2016 Sunday service
28th, 29th, 30th December 2016 Saturday service
Saturday 31 December 2016 (New Year’s Eve) Saturday service but last buses on 27 and 29A routes as follows 27 from Leicester 1830, from Ratby 1756 29A from Leicester 1857, Groby to Leicester around 1820 (leaves Coalville at 1748)
Sunday 1 January 2017 (New Year’s Day) No service
Monday 2 January 2017 Sunday service
These times are based on information on www.arrivabus. co.uk/christmas on 1st December, so you should check for any subsequent changes if your journey is time critical. The link to the last bus times on Boxing day isn’t obvious – you have to click on the link showing additional buses for shoppers. There’s an online map at www.arrivabus. co.uk/journeyplanner/help/ en?tpl=livemap where you can check the location and progress of individual buses. If you just want a quick link through just Google Grobylinx where you’ll find them both.
Sir George Biddell Airy: The man who created Greenwich Mean Time THE BRITISH mathematician and astronomer Sir George Biddell Airy died 125 years ago next month. Not a household name, he nevertheless had a long-term effect on everyone’s lives by establishing Greenwich as the location of the prime meridian, through calculations made using an immensely accurate telescope he invented called the Airy Transit Circle. Greenwich Mean Time became legal time in Britain in 1880, and was adopted in principle as the basis of universal time in 1884. Sir George was not so much a brilliant scientist as a meticulous engineer and a self-taught expert in many areas, including theology. His wife Ricarda, who he met on a walking holiday and proposed to after two days, was the daughter of the Rev Richard Smith, private chaplain to the Duke of Devonshire. After being initially rejected by Mr Smith, because of his limited means and prospects, he persisted in his suit for six years until he was successful. Sir George was elected president of the Royal Astronomical Society four times, for a total of seven years between 1835 and 1864. No other person has been president more than four times. He was famous (or notorious) for the care and foresight with which he planned his life. He made a careful note of everything that occurred in his life or interested him, and never threw anything away. These records still exist.
People should have to travel together for at least one week prior to getting married.
Groby & Field Head Spotlight • MID-DECEMBER 2016 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk
Pantomime January 2017! PANTOMIME season is upon us again, and, as always, it’s a time when the resources of Markfield & Thornton Theatre Group are stretched to the maximum as all members are involved in the production. We are always in need of more members, so, whatever your interest may be in our dramatic endeavours, on stage or backstage, you are welcome to come along to one of our rehearsals which take place on Wednesday evenings , at 7.30p.m., at Thornton Community Centre. Our 2017 pantomime is to be “Goldie Locks and the Three Bears”, written and directed by Muriel Walker. Goldie says she’s playing with Baby Bear in the woods, but there are no bears in Bear Woods nowadays, are there? Can the residents of Honeypot Cottage stay hidden and safe? Will the evil schemes of Conte Pinot Grigio and his two sisters, Bruscetta and Carbonara de Morte , bear fruition? Is anyone who visits Tristemorte Manor walking into danger? If you want to know the answers to these questions, then you must come to see “Goldie Locks and the Three Bears” ! The Show really does contain something for everyone and is full of music and merriment. Come along and you will give yourself a laughter-filled evening of pure entertainment! Oh yes, you will! THE PANTOMIME RUNS FROM 16th TO 21st JANUARY 2017 at THORNTON COMMUNITY CENTRE at 7.30 p.m. NIGHTLY, with a SATURDAY MATINEE on 21st JANUARY at 3.00 p.m. ALL TICKETS ARE PRICED AT £5 and are available on 01455 822148 or at THORNTON’S VILLAGE SHOP at the Corner of Church Lane & Main Street in Thornton. We’d love to have you with us!
Muriel Walker
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News from Martinshaw Primary School Armistice Day and a Century of Stories
AS THE SCHOOL commemorated Armistice Day with a school assembly, a two minutes silence and the reading of the names of all those Groby villagers who fell in the two world wars, we received news that a County Hall project ‘Century of Stories’, an exciting Heritage Lottery Funded project, which supports the people of Leicestershire in exploring their personal connection to the First World War, had won two National awards in the categories ‘Community Research and History’ and ‘Schools and Young People’. The award was of particular interest to Martinshaw because a report written in 2014 by the then year 6 pupil Ben Shearer about the school’s extremely poignant end of year first world war play ‘Archie Dobsons War’ was included in the submission.
Remembrance Day in school
School Choir and Groby’s Victorian Street Fair
THE SCHOOL CHOIR continues to go from strength to strength with upwards of 25 enthusiastic members under the leadership of Mrs Stacey Euden. This year the choir once again supported the street fair. Not out in the open but from the comfort of St Philip and St James church balcony. I should imagine it has been many a year since songs such as Winter Night, Winter Wonderland and (with actions), Love Shone Down were belted out with such gusto from a place so close to the roof of the church. A quick check of the ceiling plaster may be in order.
School choir in Groby Church
A Day out with Charlie Stayt and BBC Breakfast team
AFTER THE SERIES ‘Wild Britain’ was broadcast on BBC Television, people of Britain were invited to email the show with a promise that every email would be matched by a corresponding tree for a BBC Breakfast Woodland. Consequently, 2000 emails corresponded to 2000 trees. What better place to have the woodland but Groby/Ratby and what better people to use for the planting than year 3 from Martinshaw Primary School and a few students from year 7 at Brookvale. Charlie Stayt, the presenter from BBC Breakfast arrived at the school along with camera and a crew and wellies donned, off they all went, or should I say after Roan chats to Charlie Stayt all the rain of recent days, off they all sploshed, through Martinshaw woods to site almost adjacent to the M1 motorway. With Roan explaining to Charlie that we needed more trees as they produce oxygen, Lottie E and Lottie L teaching him the art of planting and the rest of the class wielding their spades like Victorian Navvies, the confidence of these 7 and 8 year olds was amazing. On being asked what name should be given to her tree, Lottie E replied ‘Gerald’. Cut to Charlie choking with laughter and Naga Munchetty in the studio later joining in. Sounds like a good name for a tree to me. Eventually, after re-takes due to the need for different camera angles, 119 trees were planted with the Brookvale students making the number up to in excess of 200. Along with a promise from Charlie, now an honorary member of year 3, that they would keep an eye on their Woodland in the coming years, everyone returned to school, tired, happy and very muddy. I wonder what ‘Gerald’, will look like in a few years time ?
Owen Lawrence
My wife says she is no longer buying junk food for the family because, “Everyone just eats it.”
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Groby & Field Head Spotlight • MID-DECEMBER 2016 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk
Klondyke Update THE PLANNING inspectorate have still to update the Borough Councils planning department of the new date for the rearranged Planning Appeal. I have also been working with officers and have recently been on a site visit with the Borough Councils Executive member for planning together with one of the Councils planning enforcement officer’s after concerns had been raised with me. As a result of that visit I then asked for a meeting with the Leader of the Council, the Chief Executive, the head of planning and the council’s legal team to look into moving matters forward. That meeting took place on Monday 21st November with other elected members attending including your two Borough Councillors. A further meeting will now take place and will include the Chairman of Groby Parish Council. I want positive action to be taken by the Borough Council.
Burglaries PLEASE BE aware that there has been an increase in burglaries in Groby and the surrounding villages over the past month. I would advise all house holders to keep their doors locked and a light on. We are all guilty of leaving our back doors and kitchen window’s open when we are at home. It only takes a few seconds for someone to enter your property and steal your wallet or car keys. Make sure your car and garage is locked. Below is a Christmas tip from Leicestershire Police.
Top Christmas Crime Prevention Tips For Grown Ups • • • • • • •
• • • • • •
At home; Put Christmas presents out of sight Always lock your windows and doors Leave a light on in the evening Your vehicle When you leave your vehicle make sure you lock it Put your Christmas shopping in the boot.-+ Park in a welllit area When out and about Enjoy your Christmas party and book a cab to get home Going for a drink? Have fun and drink sensibly Coming back late? Think of your neighbours Don’t let criminals steal your Christmas Lock it or lose it
County Councillor’s Report
Fly Tipping in Laundon Way, Groby
Early Warning of Road Closure Station Road Ratby VIRGIN MEDIA state they will need to close Station Road Ratby at its junction with Brook Drive, through to Taverner Drive. The County Council’s Highways engineers agree with the closure due to the width of the road and for safe working. The closure will be for a period of 3 weeks. The closure will start on the 11th February and will operate between 9am and 5pm each day although access will be available for residents and deliveries. The main diversion route through the village will be Main Street/Desford Lane/Left onto Desford Lane. Kirby Muxloe continue onto Desford Road then right onto Ratby Road. I will give further updates in my January article.
Drains and Gully Cleaning I HAVE had the drains on Markfield Road and Leicester Road cleaned out and arranged for the gully to be cleared at the junction of Laundon way and Sacheverell way after being contacted by residents. If you have a problem please give me a call.
Planning Application Pymm Ley Close I HAVE been contacted by a number of concerned residents with regards to a planning application for a change of use from a residential property to a mixed use of residential
DO YOU recognise these settee’s that were dumped on Laundon way last Month?
Tel 0116 2394336 or 07808 585825
Email: ozzyoshea@hotmail.com
and a beauty salon enabling the garages of the property to be used as both a Hair Extension and Teeth Whitening business during the day and a Laser Tattoo Removal business during the evening to 7pm. If you wish to view a planning application you need to visit the Hinckley and Bosworth Web Site by entering this link; https://pa.hinckley-bosworth.gov.uk/ online-applications/
White Lining AFTER several requests over the last 6 months I am pleased to say a big thank you to Siobhan at the County Councils Highways department most road’s in and out of the village and give way signs have now been repainted. Should you see any that need redoing or that have been missed please email me?
Police Events in Groby PCSO Heath from Leicestershire Police will be holding community engagement events at the Co-op on Laundon Way in Groby on 14th January 2017, 18th February 2017, 16th March 2017 and 22th April 2017 from 10am to 11am.
If you have any concerns during the cold winter period or concerns in your local area please do come along. PCSO Heath is more than happy to offer help, advice or support. If you are unable to attend on these dates or you wish to speak to somebody sooner please contact 101.
I was contacted by a local resident and attended and arranged for the Borough Council to remove the same day. The Borough Council will take away items like this for a small fee or they can be taken to the local tip. Yet again the bill fell to the local Council tax payers.
Groby Victorian Street Fair I WOULD like to thank the organisers and volunteers who put on the recent Groby Victorian Street Fair. Special thanks to all the stall holders and everyone that turned out and supported the event. My wife certainly now has more reading material. I WOULD LIKE to take this opportunity to thank residents for your continued support and 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 Working for you Cllr Ozzy O’shea Tel 0116 2394336 or 07808585825 Email: ozzyoshea@hotmail.com
Computer Speak Looking over the log-book kept by the computer support staff at my office, I noticed several entries stating the problem was PICNIC. I asked one of the technicians what PICNIC meant. He laughed as he told me it meant “Problem In Chair, Not In Computer.”
I am now on three dating sites because you can never get enough rejection.
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KEITH SMITH (ANSTEY) LTD 4/6/8 STADON ROAD,ANSTEY, LEICESTER. LE7 7AY Tel: 0116 236 2395 *T&C’s Apply.. Promotional dates 01.11.16 - 14.12.16. All rights reserved. All offers are subject to availability while stocks last. Delivery & Installation charges may apply Exclusions and Radius Apply. Prices correct at time of print but can be subject to change. See in store for full details. Images for illustration purposes only. Copyright Euronics 2016. November E&OE 2016. Saving compared to a higher price charged for 28 days in the last six months unless otherwise stated. CHRISTMAS 2016 LP P A4.indd 1
24/10/2016 14:59
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Groby & Field Head Spotlight • MID-DECEMBER 2016 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk
Groby Surgery Patients Group
Top tips for staying healthy and safe this Christmas GROBY SURGERY will be closed on Monday 26th December, Tuesday 27th December and Monday 2nd January. If a doctor is required outside of normal surgery hours ring 0116 2313331 or contact 111. There is an Urgent Care Centre at Loughborough Hospital, Hospital Way, Loughborough LE11 5JY which is open 24hours. (Telephone 01509 611600). Outof-hours services are generally busy so please think carefully before asking to see a doctor and only do so if you genuinely cannot wait until the surgery re-opens. In a genuine emergency you should call 999. Chest pains and / or shortness of breath constitute an emergency. If you have ever been unwell at Christmas, or spent hours queuing in Acccident and Emergency when you want to be celebrating with family and friends, you’ll probably be thinking of ways to avoid the experience in the future. And when you think about it you realise that, although there are some things that happen that you just can’t avoid, there are simple steps you can take to reduce the risks of spoiling your Christmas break. So here are some tips collected from various sources online, some obvious but some less so.
Have you had your flu jab? Contracting flu at any time is miserable, but doubly so at Christmas. If you are eligible for a free vaccination but haven’t yet had it you should contact reception to make an appointment. If you are not eligible the jab is available at many pharmacies for around £10, that’s less than 3p a week for protection against a very unpleasant condition.
Eating out? This is now big business and has become a national pastime. Sadly everyone probably knows of someone who has been ill after eating out, as there are at least 500,000 cases a year of food poisoning. The risk cannot be eliminated but can probably be reduced by using the information available to choose carefully where you eat. You can check for information about hygiene standards at restaurants, takeaways and shops at www.ratings.food. gov.uk, and can search by business name, street, town, postcode or even business type. The good news is that most Groby establishments fall into the good or very good categories.
Eating in? According to the Food Standards Agency you’re just as likely to get ill from food prepared at home as you are from eating out. The two rules to remember are Always and Never.
ALWAYS •
• • • • • • • •
wash your hands thoroughly with soap and hot water, and dry them before handling food, after handling raw foods – including meat, fish, eggs and vegetables –and after touching the bin, going to the toilet, blowing your nose, or touching animals, including pets. wash worktops before and after preparing food wash dishcloths and tea towels regularly and let them dry before you use them again use separate chopping boards for raw food and ready-to-eat food. keep raw meat away from ready-to-eat foods, such as salad, fruit and bread. cover raw meat and store it on the bottom shelf of the fridge, where it can’t touch other foods or drip onto them cook food thoroughly cool leftovers within 90 minutes and store in the fridge or freezer use any leftovers from the fridge within two days
Medication Ensure you have an adequate supply adequate supply to cover the holiday period. It’s also wise to check that you haven’t run out of anything you buy over the counter such as painkillers, cough medicines, decongestants, plasters etc. Falls. Take extra care when using steps and ladders for putting up lights and decorations, or if there are icy roads or pavements. Burns and fires. Ensure that candles are extinguished and Christmas lights are switched off before you go out or to bed. Children. Check that children’s gifts are appropriate for their age and watch out for toys with small parts that could be a choking hazard.
Become a PPG member Membership of voluntary groups is always changing as family commitments and circumstances change and the Groby Surgery Patients Participation Group(PPG) is no exception. Recent resignations provide an opportunity for new members to join. Meetings are held every two months and last an hour. If you would like to know more please contact reception.
Norman Griffiths
NEVER •
in between. Sometimes the heart and blood vessels don’t respond as they should and cause blood pressure to decrease everywhere but the digestive system. This may result in dizziness, lightheadedness or even fainting or other symptoms. Although generally not life threatening it can be rather frightening for family and friends when it happens, particularly as it’s something many people haven’t heard of. Drinking water before meals and eating smaller meals more frequently can help prevent low blood pressure. If you are tempted to drink and drive remember that between 1979 and 2914 an average of 940 people were killed, and 3,681 seriously injured, in drink driving related accidents in Great Britain each year.
wash raw meat including chicken and turkey before cooking, as this may spread bacteria around your kitchen.
for Groby Surgery Patients Participation Group
Try not to over indulge The food and drink at Christmas is so inviting and no-one wants to offend by declining another slice, portion or glass. It’s very easy to eat and drink more than normal but there is a good reason to try not to overdo it. It’s something that one paramedic says he sees too often around Christmas, but it can occur at any time even when eating normally. When we eat, the digestive system diverts extra blood to the stomach and small intestine. To compensate the heart beats faster and harder while blood vessels far from the digestive system narrow. These two actions maintain blood pressure and blood flow to the brain, legs, and everywhere
I’m a people person, but from a distance.
Groby & Field Head Spotlight • MID-DECEMBER 2016 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk
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73rd Groby Scout Group
from Ozzy O’shea
Introducing the Explorer Scouts “CHOMOLUNGMA” – the Explorer Scout Unit name at 73rd Groby – “Chomolungma” is the Tibetan name for Mount Everest – an apt name to have been adopted by the Explorers, representing great challenge and strength, are all part of the Explorer Scout ethos.
So, what are Explorer Scouts? They are the follow on stage from traditional Scouts and usually cater for the 14 to 18 year age range. Explorer Scouts have completed many of the traditional scouting challenges and take part in far more adventurous fun, Explorers also take up the Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme and the Scout Young Leader Scheme, they help out with running other sections in the group and also play a key role in group events – this year the Explorers have helped to make the Group Camp a success, and played a big part in running of the scout’s stall at the Victorian Street Fair. Explorer Scouts meet on a weekly basis, just the same as the other sections within the group, however, their activity schedule can be far more challenging – they will regularly take part in hikes away, and weekends away, and the activities they choose to pursue can be as far reaching as taking part in a daytrip to Nottingham for an ice skating day and fun on trampolines at ‘Planet Bounce’, through to a self-run demonstration – this last week they took part in a Tae-Kwon-Do session which was delivered by Sarah Burnham – who is also an Explorer as well as a student of the Martial Arts; Explorers had the opportunity to learn some of the basic principles of the Art and take active part in a training session, although the Explorer Unit is mixed boys and girls, the Tae-Kwon-Do session saw only girls attending as the boys were busy studying (or maybe they just didn’t want to get shown up by the girls!). The rest of the group have also been busy during the month – the Scouts stall at the Victorian Street Fair was a joint effort by all sections and also included a presence from the Girl Guides. The day after the Street Fair, Sunday 13th November, was Remembrance – all sections from the Group were represented at the Church and a fantastic attendance was then achieved at the Working Mens Club as many members of the 73rd gathered to pay their respects. Very proud of the very high attendance, and exceptional behaviour of all of the scouting kids involved – they made all of the leaders very proud! YIS (Yours in Scouting)
Andy Stone – ACSL IF YOU WOULD like to get involved, as a Leader or Helper, then please contact The Group Scout Leader – gsl@grobyscouts.org.uk – we are always looking for volunteers who can help so that we can continue to grow the group and offer the scouting experience to even more children.
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Groby & Field Head Spotlight • MID-DECEMBER 2016 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk
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I hate the part of the conversation where the other person says things.
Groby & Field Head Spotlight • MID-DECEMBER 2016 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk
County Council has no solution to Ratby Road parking problems
13
SOME LOCAL residents are facing difficulties in finding a space to park their cars on Ratby Road. This can result in controversy if cars are parked on both sides, sometimes partly on the pavement. In last month’s Spotlight, County Councillor O’Shea said he had received numerous complaints from residents and had been working with both police and highway officers to try and discourage parking on the right hand side outside the terraced houses. He added that some vehicles have been parked partly on the road and partly on the pavement creating difficulties for those with mobility scooters or pushchairs. Occupants have received a letter from the police, and two from County Hall regarding the problems caused. One fixed penalty ticket has been issued. In November Groby Parish Council members were urged to ‘name and shame’ residents who cause parking and safety issues on Ratby Road, after two officers from Leicestershire County Council who attended the Parish council meeting confirmed that they do not have a resolution to the problem. The officers from the County Council explained that their current directive on areas of concern is based on accident levels, speed levels, and a combination of both. The highways budget is being reduced from £26million to £16million by 2020, a reduction of 78% when inflation is taken into account. So the department is having to look carefully how the budget is spent, members were told, and as this area has not had an accident in the last 5 years it does not meet the criteria set. The major cost that would be incurred in introducing parking restrictions, thought by some to be necessary, would be between £3,000 and £5,000 to fund a traffic Regulation Order. Some councils had paid for these themselves, but even if Groby decided to subsidise the County Council in this way nothing could be done until at least April 2017. One member said “We are having to wait for accidents before something can be done. How sad we have to wait for someone to be killed.”
Ratby Road in Groby - where some parking problems have occurred
Double yellow lines pointless? ANOTHER parish councillor questioned the effectiveness of a Traffic Regulation Order because of the lack of enforcement and added “This is not the failure to put down double yellow lines but the ignorance and arrogance of people themselves. “We should look at it a different way locally, if we are going to spend any money let’s take some space naming and shaming with photographs these people who keep doing it. Let’s put a section on our website naming and shaming these people. Let’s put a newsletter around the village with photographs of inconsiderate people and sort of say ‘are your neighbours really community minded, do they give a monkey’s?’ and explain the issues. It’s pointless having double yellow lines because people who ignore safety issues now are just as likely to ignore double yellow lines.” The Chairman added that he was sure the Council could use the press and website to name and shame and welcomed the offer of the County Council representative to provide samples of the documentation that they had put through the doors on Ratby Road. Another member explained that following a serious accident it was an unwritten rule that parking should be limited to one side of the road.
Brookvale and Community College concerns There are also concerns about road safety at the nearby Brookvale and Community College site. In a joint letter to parents and carers in September the Heads said “We are a large and busy campus with 1600 students on site across Brookvale and Groby. As a result, there is a lot of traffic along Ratby Road as parents and carers drop off their sons and daughters for school each day and pick them up at 3.10pm. If you do transport your child to the campus, please can we ask you to drop them off away from the school entrance so that they have just a short walk onto the site. Not only will the walk help them with their daily activity, but most importantly it will stagger the traffic outside the campus, making it safer for everyone.” They added that they are extremely concerned that dropping students off directly outside the campus significantly heightens the risk of an accident for young people, something they are desperate to avoid.
Norman Griffiths
Happy Art
Meditative artistic sessions at Shuttlewood Clarke Foundation AS A REGISTERED charity the Shuttlewood Clarke Foundation prides itself on offering a welcoming, supportive setting for those living in the local community and throughout Leicestershire.
A new monthly taster session ‘Happy Art’ will encourage attendees to release the stresses of everyday life and strengthen one’s own ability to combat negative thought patterns. The meditative artist led sessions will promote wellbeing, through the exploration of mindfulness and painting. Helen Baxter, Activities coordinator at the Foundation, said ‘The sessions will take place in our new Activity Centre, a safe and inclusive space for individuals to discover new talents and learn new skills’. Session leader Rosanna Monachello added ‘The arts help to engage the brain in to the perfect state for learning by placing the individual into a state of relaxation, clearing and creativity. This is not art as you know it. This is art to help clear the soul of its burden and release the misunderstood and unseen’. Taster sessions will run throughout January on Tuesday 10th, 17th, 24th and 31st from 10.30am – 12.30pm at Ulverscroft Activity Centre, Priory Lane, Ulverscroft, Leicestershire LE67 9PH. Booking is essential and a non - refundable payment of £4.00 per session in advance is required to secure your place. For more information and to book a place, please contact Activities Coordinator Helen Baxter on 01530 244914 or email hello@ shuttlewood-clarke.org
There are now 9 times as many smart phones in the world than there are smart people.
14
Groby & Field Head Spotlight • MID-DECEMBER 2016 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk
News from Elizabeth Woodville Primary School Children in Need – A very special new pupil arrives… THE CHILDREN enjoyed meeting a very special new pupil during Children in Need week, Pudsey Bear himself! The entire school could not believe their eyes when Pudsey joined us for our fundraising assembly and took part in lessons throughout an afternoon! He helped Mr Pridmore lead assembly, supported a reading lesson with Mrs Robinson in Year 6 and joined in a computing demonstration alongside Mr Price! There was even time for Pudsey to help Foundation, Year 1 and Year 2 learn their songs for the upcoming Christmas Performance. The children loved seeing Pudsey’s amazing dance moves and joined in with them too! On Friday 18th November, the children remembered Pudsey’s advice and went spotty for Children in Need. Pupils and staff came to school in spotty clothes and with crazy hair as well! The children had a fabulous day fundraising for such a worthy cause.
Elizabeth Woodville crowned Hinckley and Bosworth Sporting School of the Year 2016 AFTER COMING so close to winning in 2014, Elizabeth Woodville was crowned Hinckley and Bosworth Sports School of the Year! This award was given to us in recognition of our hard work providing the children at our school with a high quality sports provision. Our school was one of only approximately 250 schools to be awarded the Sainsbury’s Gold Award for school sport which recognises our commitment to school PE and sporting opportunities. All of our pupils are involved in sports activities inside and outside of the school day, leading to some superb successes along the way. Winning the Area Athletics, Girls Football Cup and Bosworth Pudsey Bear helps Mr Pridmore lead assembly Football League among them. You will also remember that the school reached the final of the Rice Bowl Cup at the King Power Stadium and won a competition to represent Leicester City themselves in the Premier League School’s Tournament at Goodison Park. We also support schools across our local area by arranging festivals to increase children’s participation across a range of sports. We feel very honoured to have won this prestigious award and we would like to thank all of our pupils as well as the parents and staff who dedicate their time and effort to support us at each event.
The Battle of Bosworth comes to life OUR YEAR 5 and 6 pupils decided that instead of learning about the Battle of Bosworth from text books and websites, that they wanted to fully experience what it would have been like to have fought in the war. As a result, the pupils took part in a battle re-enactment in a very special afternoon. The children were separated into three teams; Richard III’s army, Henry Tudor’s army and Lord Stanley’s army. A reconstruction of the battle then took place on our school field, culminating with our very own Henri Herbert being crowned as King Henry VII!
Festival of Light Concert ON TUESDAY 22nd November, our Year 3 and 4 pupils displayed their musical talents in the annual Festival of Light concert. Over the past few weeks, the children have been receiving music tuition from Soar Valley Music Centre, learning songs to celebrate the many festivals of light which happen at this time of year, such as Diwali, Hanukkah and Christmas. Our children thoroughly enjoyed the experience of singing in front of a crowd and combining their skills with other schools from the local area.
Carols on Glenfield Millennium Green: 17th Dec THANK YOU to everyone who came to the ‘Go Ukulele Crazy’ evening on Friday 11th November. The 30 strong ukulele orchestra entertained us with plenty of ‘golden oldies’ and audience participation was encouraged. We raised £268 towards ongoing maintenance of the Millennium Green. We shall try and arrange another evening next autumn. The gardening group met for the last time in November to tidy hedges and some of the trees. A good pile of cuttings are waiting to be chipped. Thanks to all the people who turn up once a month to keep the Green in ‘good order’. Without their support we would have to buy in more help. The final event of the year is our annual ‘Carols on the Green’ which takes place at 4.00pm on Saturday December 17th at the entrance to the Green. Wrap up warmly and bring a torch, if you can, to read the carol sheets which are provided. You will be rewarded with a warm fruit drink and seasonal nibbles afterwards. Wishing you all a Very Happy Christmas and Good Wishes for the New Year
Christine Tordoff Your vet receptionist knows everyone’s password.
Groby & Field Head Spotlight • MID-DECEMBER 2016 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk
12/5/2016
15
‘BIG’ WORDS Wordsearch
Word Search Puzzle
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Passcode/Create Ne
If you can spot 11 ALTERNATIVES FOR THE WORD BIG in this issue’s Wordsearch puzzle,
Free Resources you could win yourself a Solutions for Districts meal and a drink. This month we are offering a tasty prize of: A Main Course for Two, plus A Bottle of House Wine at The FieldHead Hotel.
What We Offer
Who We Are
Teachers
To go into the draw, all you have to do is find - and mark a line through - the 11 words we sometimes use in place of the word BIG. These can run vertically, horizontally or diagonally (and backwards!). Send your entry to: SWALLOWED A DICTIONARY, Groby & Field Spotlight, PO Box 8, Markfield, Leics. LE67 9ZT to arrive by I V Y D M T G H B H N L Q H W S H Head Saturday 31st December 2016. Remember to include your name I H K O R W Z A U I A D M T L F D and address. The first all-correct entry drawn out of the Editor’s Mortar G W P D C Q H M R C K S C O L R P Board will win the prize. Good luck! Z N Q R H N U A I G S X V M C T R Here are the ELEVEN ‘BIG’ WORDS you have to find:
I K I E M N Q M A S A X G M T H O ELEPHANTINE • GARGANTUAN • MAMMOTH M J M P G R O D V D C N W A N F D X E F O P N R A K I A X T M I P I TITANIC • IMMENSE • PRODIGIOUS • WHOPPING D Q U N O O I H N J R X S U S Y G HUMUNGOUS • GINORMOUS • ASTRONOMICAL • VAST J S V R M S H A D K I U M A A Q I U X T P N E T W S N G C C K R N O P S H W G I H D X Z B N X R A P U Name: ................................................................................................. A U T X T Y I S U O M R O N I G S Address: ................................................................................................ E L E P H A N T I N E V X K U V F C B C L L B L T X U C I A Q L Z Q .................................................................Postcode: ............................. E X M O L B N G P F R T T S D W H Last Issue’s Wordsearch Winner The winner of last issue’s Wordsearch competition was: W P F K L M Z Z F V G S T W T U Z JANE PERRY of Parklands Avenue, Groby. I M M E N S E I W Y J Y Z S W L Q Congratulations! Your prize will be with you soon.
Looking for an ALLOTMENT in the village?
If YOU enjoy reading the Spotlight, please pass it on to a friend or relative low numbers. If you would like a plot on this site when you’ve you may be able to start immediately as new enquirers often have a certain plot in mind and finished with it. prefer to wait until that one comes up to let. All Created by Puzzlemaker at DiscoveryEducation.com plots eventually become available due to leaving Thanks! the district or old age.
ASTRONOMICAL ELEPHANTINE GARGANTUAN GINORMOUS HUMUNGOUS IMMENSE MAMMOTH HOW WOULD you like to grow your PRODIGIOUS own fruit and veg? TITANIC By careful management we have got the VAST waiting list for Ratby Road allotments down to WHOPPING
Yes, allotment holders do grow old but we like to think at a slower rate than others. Having an allotment is officially approved by doctors, it keeps the body and mind active plus the good company, having a good chat and comparing crops with like minded members is a good stress reliever even if theirs are better than yours. We have some very good gardeners who are always willing to pass on the knowledge to new members. Can you imagine picking asparagus off your plot and within an hour it can be on your plate, you don’t get better than that. We now have club-root resistance brassica seeds from our seed scheme so the age old problem of the disease has been practically eliminated. We have a toilet so you can have the day on site - plus bacon butties on the first Sunday in the month in the summer. Water is now being provided to within easy walking distance of plots so why not come and meet us to find out more. We welcome people from surrounding villages. Interested? Then ring 0116 2876087 or email w.thornton3@btinternet. com Or Kathy 0116 23131148 or grobyallotments@yahoo.com
This guy said he was going to hit me with the neck of a guitar. I said, “Is that a fret?”
Pa
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Groby & Field Head Spotlight • MID-DECEMBER 2016 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk
Christmas at Groby Library Groby Street Fair Success
Library Support to Glenfield Surgery Patients SADLY the service where Glenfield Surgery patients could drop off their prescription requests at their local pharmacy or order prescription requests over the phone, has come to an end.
ANYONE attending this year’s street fair may have thought they were seeing things. As well as a wonderfully festive Santa and his reindeer and a sea of pointed red hats there was also Alice, the Mad Hatter, a very colourful Queen of hearts and the White Rabbit scuttling about. Although we had rather a damp start, which isn’t ideal while setting up a book stall, I have to say we had so much fun dressing up. As the White Rabbit, I loved seeing the toddlers faces as they realised there was a giant rabbit waving and talking to them. No tears thank goodness. Why ‘Alice in Wonderland’ you may ask, when the theme was Victorian Christmas. We wanted to do something that was Victorian book related as we were selling books. The obvious choice was Dickens but thought this could be a bit gloomy, so after a quick look on the Internet, Lewis Carroll popped up. We loved the fact that we could dress up as some fun, almost Panto like characters and that Queen Victoria was a fan of his story. Apparently Queen Victoria enjoyed Alice in Wonderland so much, that she suggested that Lewis Carroll dedicate his next book to her. And so, his next work, An Elementary Treatise on Determinants, a book about algebra and equations was presented to the Queen – perhaps not quite what she’d had in mind.... The stall, although a bit wet on the outside, attracted a steady amount of customers and we managed to sell well over a couple of hundred books. So thank you to the organisers and all those that came to the fair and supported the library by buying a book or DVD. For those who didn’t make it to the fair the sale has been continuing at the library. You don’t need to be a member of the library to come and grab a bargain or two.
Our next library event ONCE AGAIN this will be mainly aimed at children, but people of all ages are very welcome to come along. We will be having a Christmas craft activity day on Saturday 17th December with Father Christmas (courtesy of The Rotary Club) and storytelling from 11 till 12, continuing with craft activities and face painting until 2.30pm. Cakes and refreshments will be available to buy for all our customers from 10.30 till 2.30. The entrance fee is £2.50 for each child participating in the craft activities and on admission they will have their hand stamped, receive a Santa hat to decorate and an activity sheet. Adults and non participating children are obviously free as the library will be open for normal business. The wonderfully talented Shelley and Sam will be on hand with their paints for anyone who would like their face painting for a small fee of 50p. We would welcome any donations of home baked cakes, mince pies and other festive delights to sell on the day. Please drop them off on the Friday or before 10.30am on the Saturday. Look out for our Nativity window which will have been revealed on the 6th December.
This is due to new changes made by the NHS to increase patient safety and reduce excessive ordering of medicines. You can request medicines by dropping your repeat slip off in a designated post box in Glenfield Surgery foyer or by ordering your prescription online. If you would like to request medicines that are not in your repeat slip this will need to be done by the completion of a form available in the foyer. Patients are advised to register for online services at Glenfield Surgery and are invited to contact the reception desk to request your login details. This will then allow you to order medicines online, but please be aware that setting it up will require a visit to the Surgery with a completed form and proof of identification and of address. You will still be able to nominate a pharmacy to prepare your prescription for collection or delivery as usual. We would like to reassure the residents of Groby that the library is on hand to help. Anyone who does not have access to an online computer can come to Groby Library, where you can order your medicines online. You will need your library card and PIN number to use a computer. If you are not a library member, please come into the library where we can sign you up. Our volunteer librarians will be on hand to offer guidance and support.
Christmas Opening Hours OUR OPENING HOURS over the Christmas period are as follows: •
Friday 23rd December
2pm - 5pm (earlier closing time)
•
Saturday 24th December
Closed
•
Monday 26th December
Closed
•
Tuesday 27th December
Closed
•
Wednesday 28th December
2pm - 5pm (normal hours)
•
Thursday 29th December
10am - 1pm (normal hours)
•
Friday 30th December
2pm - 5pm (earlier closing time)
•
Saturday 31st December
Closed
•
Monday 2nd January
Closed
•
Tuesday 3rd January
2pm - 5pm (normal hours)
Thank you! THE TRUSTEES of Groby Community Library Group would like to thank all of our volunteers for their hard work and support in the running of Groby Library. Without these wonderful people the library would not exist. We are always on the look out for new volunteers, in particular people who would like to help out with the organising and running of our events. As you can see from the photo, we have lots of fun, you don’t have to be mad but it certainly helps. Merry Christmas and thank you to all our customers, volunteers and the residents of Groby, and we look forward to an exciting 2017. So watch this space!
Publicise your forthcoming community events in The Spotlight! Let us know what you’re planning and we’ll give you a free mention! Amazing!
I only believe 12.5% of the Bible. Which means that I’m an eightheist.
Groby & Field Head Spotlight • MID-DECEMBER 2016 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk
17
Year 12 Chloe Gardiner Supporting Cancer Research UK Kids And Teens Awards
GROBY COLLEGE STUDENT Chloe Gardiner has finally been given the all clear 14 years after being diagnosed. She was three when she diagnosed with a rare type of kidney cancer called a Wilms’ tumour in March 2002. Chloe was treated at LRI and had to have chemotherapy before and after surgery to remove one of her kidneys. Ever since then she has had to have annual check-ups but doctors are happy the cancer has not returned and she has been discharged from their care. Chloe said: “It feels brilliant not to have to go back to hospital.” “Cancer isn’t going to be part of my life anymore and I’m very grateful for that.” Although cancer has been with her almost all her life Chloe said she does not remember much about her time in hospital. She said: “I remember my nurses and some of the friends I had in hospital but I was completely oblivious to what was going on. “I found out a few years ago that some of the friends I made in hospital had died which brought home to me how lucky I had been. “I also remember getting my bravery award, which I was very proud of. I still have it.” She said: “The scar tissue around the kidney still hurts so it is hard for me to do sports but apart from that I am well.” Chloe Gardiner is a Year 12 student at Brookvale Groby Learning Campus studying A Level Photography, Performing Arts and Applied ICT and is hoping to go on to study musical theatre or acting. Chloe is backing the launch of the annual Cancer Research UK Kids and Teens Star Awards which recognise the bravery of young people affected by cancer.
“Cancer isn’t going to be part of my life anymore and I’m very grateful for that.” Chloe Gardiner
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Just call our small, friendly firm - whether it’s one window or a full house - with approximate sizes, and we’ll give you a price OVER THE PHONE or a free call out if you prefer.
Window Services Repair & Replacement Specialists: Est. 1982 167a Dominion Road, Glenfield, Leicester LE3 8JB
Telephone/Fax:
0116 287 5395 My girlfriend hates when I make jokes about her weight. She needs to lighten up.
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Groby & Field Head Spotlight • MID-DECEMBER 2016 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk
250 Interviews in 4 Hours!
ON THURSDAY 17 November 250 Year 11 students from Groby Community College were lucky enough to be interviewed by local business people who volunteered their time to help the students. The mock interview event gave students the opportunity to practice their interview technique and boost their confidence for real life! Students were given support in their life skills lessons to prepare for the interviews, with hints and tips to make a good impression. Each business professional chose their star candidate and these students have been announced in our daily bulletin and will receive achievement points. Feedback from students was that despite worries and nervousness beforehand, they found the experience useful and actually rather enjoyable! Leicestershire Cares kindly supported Groby to put on the activity and arrange for the 25 local business representatives to help our students.
Mrs Lee, Student Services Manager
Peaceful New Year? PROBABLY NOT many of us have included ‘peace and quiet’ into our resolutions for 2017.
Would you like to be a
School Governor
for our friendly Infant School? WE ARE a large 400-place Infant School in the City of Leicester situated just off the Belgrave Road. Our children are friendly, happy, love learning and really like to meet visitors. We are seeking willing, friendly people who have some time to spare and are interested in becoming one of our School Governors to help us to oversee the smooth running of our school.
Yet the World Health Organisation warns us that 40 per cent of Europeans are exposed to noise levels in excess of 55 decibels throughout each day. That is the level of a loud conversation, and 30 per cent of us have to put up with that same volume at night. Such a level will disturb sleep, raise blood pressure, and even increase the risk of heart disease. Continual noise can make you ill. Even continually expecting noise or interference can make you ill. Living on the alert keeps you flooded with cortisol, which makes you feel twitchy, unable to focus, hyper-vigilant, and unable to carry out complicated tasks. Modern life is a cacophony of attempts to distract you with all types of demands on your time. So why not include some regular times of ‘peace and quiet’ in your year ahead?
No experience is necessary as training can be provided. If you have a background in Education or Finance this would be helpful but is not necessary. The time commitment would be around 5-10 hours per term to include meetings (4.30pm – 6.00pm), visits to school and training. If you are interested and would like more information please contact me via email, or by post, in the first instance and we would love to meet you. All Governors are subject to DBS checks. Thank you for reading this! Mrs. J Harrold (Head Teacher) Email: admin@catherine-inf.leicester.sch.uk By post: Catherine Infant School, Ulverscroft Road, Leicester LE4 6BY
My friend really changed once she decided to be a vegetarian. It’s like I’ve never known herbivore.
Groby & Field Head Spotlight • MID-DECEMBER 2016 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk
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The rise and fall of the telephone kiosk Norman Griffiths reports on the Adopt a Kiosk scheme
T
ECHNOLOGY has changed all aspects of our lives, with many of the most noticeable changes resulting from the introduction and dominance of mobile phones and the internet. One of the most obvious changes is how the familiar roadside telephone kiosks have become redundant. Most households and motorists now have their own phone and this has resulted in a dramatic reduction in the use of roadside public payphones. Emergency calls from a mobile are free of charge and do not depend on coverage from your own mobile provider. With 98% of the country having mobile coverage the use of payphones for emergency calls has fallen. BT is responding to this changing situation by disconnecting the phones and removing the boxes. Currently a public consultation is underway over the future of 20 payphones in the Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council area, 13 of which have had an average of less than one call a month over the last year. Only 5 have averaged more than 1 call a week. Two of the boxes are in Groby and Field Head. The box near the Leicester bound bus stop on the A50 near Wallace Drive recorded just 11 calls. The other, at Ratby Lane in Field Head, had no use at all.
Two options for the boxes There are two options in such circumstances – to allow BT to remove the kiosk or for the local community to adopt it. In a small rural village, adoption may seem an attractive proposition but less so in urban fringes such as Groby and Field Head, particularly on such a busy road such as the A50. At the November Parish Council meeting members decided not to adopt the Markfield Road box and will no doubt make a similar decision about Ratby Lane. The BT Adopt a Kiosk scheme enables communities to take over the box for £1, but there will be no phone line to it. Surprisingly more than 3500 communities have taken advantage of the offer and BT estimate there are still around 8000 red phone boxes which can be adopted, which many find more iconic and attractive than our local, more modern looking, boxes. The adopting community will be responsible for all support and maintenance of the kiosk and for any liability resulting from the kiosk or its use following completion of the transfer. Communities must accept the phone box
A case of trial and several errors
A phone box converted to an aquarium as it is, with any physical defects. The Community Heartbeat Trust has installed defibrillators in disused phone boxes across the country, which can be of greatest value to more isolated communities. “With something as serious as a cardiac arrest, time is of the essence. Unfortunately, ambulance services often can’t reach country villages in time,” explained a Trust spokesperson. In Brighton, Eddie Ottewell and Steve Beeken have launched Red Box Coffee, selling hot drinks and ice cream out of the two boxes that they’ve adopted. They started the ‘Thinking Outside the Box’ charitable trust to bring new life to phone boxes whose use has declined. The Trust has lodged planning applications with other UK local authorities to transform kiosks into cafes, mini-shops, and shoe-shine stands. In another initiative, ten red phone boxes have been transformed into miniature art galleries, showcasing the work of local artists in Cheltenham. But in terms of ‘thinking outside the box’ there can be little to beat the use made by Benedetto Bufalino, a French artist who filled a phone box with water and turned it into an aquarium full of exotic fish for the Durham and London Lumieres.
As a feature of modern life the roadside telephone kiosk had a longer life than more recent innovations such as the VHS or Betamax video recorder. It was in the early 1900’s that telephone kiosks started to appear, many were commonly inside shops and other public places. Street kiosks were many different designs, and it was not until 1921 that the the ‘K1’, the first standard kiosk appeared. In some cases, modifications were made to boxes and Eastbourne had two with thatched roofs. In 1923, the GPO held a competition to design a new kiosk. It was 1926 when the chosen design appeared, Sir Giles Gilbert Scott’s K2, which had a domed roof but was too big and too expensive for mass production, so a variation of the K1was introduced in 1927. The GPO asked Sir Giles to produce another design, a smaller concrete version of his K2, but cheap concrete proved a problem and the boxes started to crack so only a handful survive. One of the kiosk variations introduced in 1927 was intended to be a 24 hour post office with a stamp machine and letter box added to the back. It was also a failure and only 50 were produced. By the mid 1930’s the design and construction of the boxes was being refined and the K6 appeared with all the good points - it was considered to be solid, small and elegant. By the end of production there were nearly 70,000 in Britain, some painted in alternative colour schemes. This is what most would recognise as the traditional red box. The 1960’s brought changes in many aspects of life, including telephone boxes. A new design made in aluminium was tested in 1962 but only 5 were made. It did, however,mark the end of the familiar red box and led to boxes without glazing bars, 1 big window on each side of the kiosk and a much flatter roof.
More information The consultation which will decide the fate of the kiosks included in the current review ends on January 4th 2017. If you want to know more about the scheme just Google BT Adopt a Kiosk. The information on the history of phone boxes is from www.redphonebox.info. The photograph of Benedetto Bufalino’s phone box aquarium at the Durham Lumiere was provided by the Newcastle Chronicle.
Friends of Charnwood Forest Event
“Lacemakers and Luddites”
A Talk by Mr Tony Jarram • At Woodhouse Eaves Village Hall • n Monday January 23 at 7.30 p.m. AN ILLUSTRATED talk of the of the development of lacemaking from hand made to machine production. The story is centred on the East Midlands especially Loughborough and its environs. It is a story of invention, migration and destruction and is as full of twists and turns as lace itself. The research for this project started with an exhibition by the Friends of Charnwood Museum in 2007 and has continued ever since with an international following by the descendants of former lace workers. A recent exhibition in Loughborough Library further enhanced the story. Tony will raise several controversial theories relating to the Luddite attack in Loughborough and the reasons why the industry left the town to re-establish in the South West of England and beyond. Further information Peter Bertram 01162 100 572.
What’s E.T. short for? Because he’s got tiny legs.
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Groby & Field Head Spotlight • MID-DECEMBER 2016 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk
What makes an award winning musician? Norman Griffiths looks for common factors
OVER THE LAST seven years there have been four guitarists who have topped the polls in the annual British Blues Awards. And, apart from local musician Aynsley Lister who won in 2015, the names are unlikely to be ones which are familiar to readers. Matt Schofield won for 3 years from 2010, and Laurence Jones won this year. In a male dominated genre it may come as a surprise that a woman, Chantelle McGregor, won not once but twice, in 2013 and 2014. The first woman to win the award, she was once told by a record boss “girls don’t play guitar like that.” The music industry is overflowing with talented artists and over the past 60 years there has been a revolution in the standard of musicianship. But what is it that turns a good guitarist into an award winning guitarist? Thirty nine year old Matt Schofield began playing guitar at the age of 12. “I taught myself, working my way through my Dad’s great blues record collection. My dad relocated to America, but before he left he gave me a BB King video. I watched it before school every day. I did my first gig age 13, and I’ve been doing it ever since,” he said. It’s perhaps this American connection that’s enabled him to tour and build up a following in the USA.
Matt isn’t the only winner influenced by dad’s record collection. As a child Aynsley Lister describes himself as being “hypnotised by dad’s old guitar”, and at the age of eight he was finally gifted his very own. Dad was a fan of Jimi Hendrix but he also loved artists like Cream, Fleetwood Mac and more. Aynsley taught himself to play, spending hours copying his favourite records note for note. When he’s not touring or recording across Europe he now teaches others how to play. Now this may be starting to sound repetitive, but you must hear about Laurence Jones who, at just 24 years of age, won the award this year. He was born in 1992 and started young as well, taking up classical guitar as a seven-year-old. But once again we find a dad that’s a fan of the Groundhogs, Jimi Hendrix and Eric Clapton lurking in the background with a vinyl collection of albums that ultimately shaped Laurence’s musical education. He was attracted to the improvisational freedom which was the exact opposite of his highlystructured classical studies. At the age of 17, he formed The Laurence Jones Band and subsequently enrolled on a Music Degree course at Birmingham University. But before the end of the course he accepted the offer of a tour with two of his musical heroes and his career was on its way.
So that leaves us with Chantel McGregor, and there’s no mention of dad and a record collection. But one suspects there was someone there in the background as at eight years of age she was the youngest person in the UK to pass a Rock school exam. Four years later she was performing in her native Bradford and evolving into the gifted musician who enrolled at the Leeds College of Music. She was the first student in the college’s history to achieve a 100% pass mark, with 18 distinctions and leaving with a First Class Honours degree in Popular Music and a coveted prize for outstanding musicianship.
So is there a common theme? In these four award winners’ backgrounds there seem to be influences which started their musical education at a young age. This is not something limited to the world of successful guitarists, as the success of Sheku KannehMason, a 17-year-old cellist from Nottingham who was named as the winner of BBC Young Musician 2016, demonstrates. He is part of a musical family and his brothers and four sisters play a broad range of classical music. They have won many prizes and awards for their music and performed in the semifinal of Britain’s Got Talent. Simon Cowell named them ‘The Most Talented Family in the World’. Mozart, who had started composing
by the time he was 5, was writing operas when just 14. There’s obviously much more to it than an early start but it does often seem to be a factor when it comes to getting ahead in your chosen field. And this doesn’t just apply to music – Formula One racing driver Lewis Hamilton is said to have approached McLaren team principal Ron Dennis at the age of 10 and told him, “I want to race for you one day ... I want to race for McLaren.” He was signed three years later to the McLaren and Mercedes-Benz Young Driver Support Programme. Whether it’s fast cars or fast legs an early start can be a pointer towards future excellence. Jamaican born Usain Bolt, regarded as the fastest human ever timed, had become fastest runner over the 100 metres distance at his school by the age of 12. Let’s not forget Tiger Woods who at the age of 8 was already winning cups at the Junior World Golf Championships.
So can we pick next year’s award winning guitarist? There are so many variables that it’s as difficult as forecasting the results of general elections or a referendum. Just like elections there are probably floating voters who are comfortable switching their allegiance between artists. Exposure in the months before
a vote is likely to be a factor, so touring probably makes a difference. The release of an album also helps, especially if has the type of positive response from both fans and critics that local musician Aynsley Lister’s ‘Eyes Wide Open’ CD has received. To put it in non-technical terms he is ‘on a roll’ at the moment, turning up in magazines and turning away latecomers without tickets at some of his sell-out performances. If you want to know what the fuss is about you can check out his website and facebook page and there might still be time to catch the band at Leicester’s Musician this Sunday (December 12th). Or you can give yourself, or someone else, a Christmas treat by buying the CD from www.straighttalkinrecords. co.uk/store or the MP3 download or CD from Amazon. So in 2017 there’s a strong chance the best guitarist award will go to Aynsley Lister but no doubt Laurence Jones will hope to do two wins in a row. There’s a rare opportunity to see the two award winners playing together on You Tube when Aynsley invited Laurence to join him on stage in Oxford in 2013. (www.youtube.com/ watch?v=018pTqkMX9w) You can see all four guitarists in action on grobyonline.tk. Just follow the link to this article.
Anonymous Letter Dear Spotlight
I WAS HAPPY to see my ‘work’ in the magazine and wish to confess to having stuck the square of white sticky-back plastic over the ‘T’ on the ‘All Brant Deliveries’ sign. I am happy than someone else saw the funny side of it and would like to enter the following for the caption competition: Cereal graffiti artistconfuses Kellogg’s delivery driver. Yours sincerely
An Old Newt, Glenfield My girlfriend left me because she couldn’t handle my OCD. I told her to close the door five times on her way out.
Groby & Field Head Spotlight • MID-DECEMBER 2016 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk
Owner of anxious Labrador needs your help I have an anxious 5 year old Labrador. I am looking for a dog and their owner to join us for walks so she can be socialised. If you can help please ring 07743 444349.
I was recently diagnosed with colour-blindness. It came completely out of the green.
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Groby & Field Head Spotlight • MID-DECEMBER 2016 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk
Groby Advent Windows are back!
New fundraising initiative
Melton Community Lottery Launched MELTON BOROUGH Council has announced the launch of the Melton Community Lottery. The lottery has been set up with the aim of raising monies that can be distributed amongst ‘good causes’ which include charities, community groups and societies. Local groups and organisations can apply to be part of the lottery by applying via an easy online process - https://www.meltonlottery.co.uk/goodcauses The lottery works with players paying £1 per ticket selecting 6 numbers. Each ticket will consist of 6 numbers and each number will be between 0 and 9. There will be a draw every Saturday night when a 6 digit winning combination will be picked. Prizes will be given to players with tickets that match the first or last 2-6 numbers from the winning combination. Match all 6 and you win the jackpot! Players then select a good cause of their choice which means that 50 pence goes direct to that organisation which is higher than any of the national lotteries. They have now opened up the lottery for ticket sales which anyone can purchase as long as you are over the age of 16. To sign up to play the lottery it is also a simple process and all you have to do is visit the new website www.meltonlottery.co.uk and sign up to play. There is a weekly jackpot prize of £25,000 (6 Numbers) guaranteed each week and then a number of other cash prizes based on the number of matching numbers. Cllr Pam Posnett – Leader of Melton Borough Council has stated ‘We want as many local organisations to benefit as possible and we also want people to play a lottery that not only gives local residents a chance to win cash prizes but also know that the money raised will stay in the Borough of Melton’. As part of the launch for the first draw all players who sign up before the first draw on 24th December 2016 will be automatically enrolled for a chance to win an ipad air 2. Support is also given to players and good causes with online support and a dedicated telephone number 01664 738222.
SHOULD OUR BOROUGH COUNCIL LAUNCH A LOTTERY? Drop us a line - or send us an email - with your views.
Every Saturday morning 10.00am—12.30pm
Catch meets for play, craft, story & chat for pre-school children with a parent or carer 9.30-11.30am every Friday at Groby URC Chapel Hill Fair Cuppa for FairTrade refreshments in fairly traded mugs. Every Thursday 10.3012am at the Village Hall
GROBY’S Advent Windows event began on 1st December. The overarching theme this year is ‘Christmas is Coming!’ and all around the village will be window scenes reflecting an aspect of our anticipation of Christmas. Programmes of where to find the windows will be available in the churches, library and Chaplins Butchers. For more information, contact Louise Corke on 0116 231 3090 or email: words.th@talktalk.net
FLASHBACK: One of last year’s Advent Window displays
Carols with the Ratby Band Sing your favourite carols at Carols Around the Christmas Tree with the Ratby Band on Tuesday 13th December at 7pm in the car park of the Stamford Arms in Groby
Weekly events for children and young people
for 6’s to 14’s on Mon evenings, at 6.00pm or 7.45pm; for 15-18’s on Wed evenings at 7.30pm; for 15-18’s on Fri at 7.30pm. We meet at the United Reformed Church All of these activities, along with our work in schools, are provided by the two churches in Groby under the group name EXTEND.
For further information please see websites and church magazines St. Philip and St. James www.bradgateteam.org.uk United Reformed Church www.grobyurc.com Youth Worker Children and Families Worker
Revd. Louise Corke 231 3090 Revd Sue McKenzie 232 1733 Ruth Cross 07759 087804 John Fryer 07540 957926
Did you know that Iceland is only one sea away from Ireland?
Groby & Field Head Spotlight • MID-DECEMBER 2016 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk YOU WOULDN’T have believed it was our AGM, it was chaos in the nicest way. We had previously decided as she was such a success a couple of years before to have Lisa Johnson again. Lisa is a wonderful florist and to make it even better she is a lovely person. She was to demonstrate and help us make either a Christmas wreath or table setting. So armed with a list of essentials, i.e. greenery, ribbons, scissors etc we sat at long tables. We could hardly move for forestry etc. I decided to make a wreath this time, big mistake! I am not known for my handicraft work and immediately came unstuck trying to tie a big red ribbon, it had tiny wiring on the edges. I cannot describe how mine looked, along with others I might say, but Lisa came to my rescue. After that I coped, sort of, but somehow my wires which I was supposed to push through, never found the other side. As well as demonstrating each stage, Lisa found time to help the hopeless ones, and she was much needed in my case. Some ladies are born naturals and soon had fantastic wreaths, mine didn’t look too bad at the end but nothing spectacular. Whilst all this was going on there were laughs, sighs and occasionally unladylike language, especially when dealing with the holly and twiddly bits. The floor looked like Martinshaw Wood.
A month to find a new President - or the Groby WI will have to close
have regular theatre trips, outings, walks and loads of other events, I cannot remember a month when nothing happened. We have some lovely, younger ladies join us, ask anyone of them what they think about the WI. All say how much they enjoy it and had no idea of the variety of events that take place. Please do think about it, you would be very welcome and I am positive you would enjoy it. By then we had finished our wreaths and table settings and were ready for our cuppa and biscuit. Lisa who had been making her own decorations, gave them as raffle prizes. The lucky recipients received really beautiful arrangements and were thrilled to bits. Mine, well less said, the same went for the floor but after a good brushing it looked as tidy as usual.
Grease at Curve Over 30 members and friends went to the Curve to see ‘Grease’. It received mixed reviews but all said how hard the young cast worked both singing and dancing.
Cinema Trip Another visit was to the cinema to see the film, ‘A Cat Called Bob’. Apparently it was lovely, all were a bit worried at the end but were happier when it was announced there would be a sequel!
Next Meeting
President required Then Pat, our President announced that our AGM would commence. We, the Committee, have been asking for more members to come on the Committee and for someone to stand as President. As with a lot of Committees nowadays, there were no takers. Our WI rules state that we must have a President, Secretary and Treasurer. Pat, who has served for four years, is going to step down. She gave a dire warning that if no one came forward Groby Institute
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Our December Committee Meeting was at The Stamford would have to close. No one did, so we have a month’s grace to find a President. The present Committee are happy to stand again albeit we have been on the Committee for years doing various roles. I for example have been on for the best part of 20 something years, we need young blood. I think the trouble is people are
inclined to think that Committees are boring and clannish. How wrong can you be? For example, our December Committee meeting was in the Stamford Pub where we had a most enjoyable lunch with lots of laughs, let us hope there is more in the future. We are a very busy Institute, we
Our next meeting is on the l9th January at the Village Hall. John Flaner (of whom I have heard good reports) will give us a talk on “Fear, Fun and Faith – What It Is Like To Go Blind When A Teenager.”
ON BEHALF OF THE LADIES OF GROBY WI MAY WE WISH EVERYONE A WONDERFUL CHRISTMAS AND A VERY HAPPY NEW YEAR.
Margaret
What happens if Usain Bolt misses his bus? He waits for it at the next stop.
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Groby & Field Head Spotlight • MID-DECEMBER 2016 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk
All Jewellery Repairs Rings sized, reclawed & stones set Chains, earrings and bracelets repaired
SYKES JEWELLERS
Comissions designed & handmade
Tel - 0116 236 2510 www.sykesjewellers.co.uk 8 Bradgate Road, Anstey, LE7 7AA
Christmas Sale of Original Paintings by Local Artists Penny Clay Janet Mayo
Groby Village Hall Sat Dec 10th. 10am-4pm Original paintings, framed and unframed all at bargain prices starting from £5. Also available, an assortment of frames and ready cut mounts, cards and unique shopping bags. An opportunity not to be missed!
My friend David was a victim of ID theft. Now we just call him Dav.
Groby & Field Head Spotlight • MID-DECEMBER 2016 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk
National Trust Leicester Association NEWS
King Edward VIII’s abdication and the link to Belton House
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More than half of Brits describe themselves as ‘a hermit’ says survey ANTI-SOCIAL BRITS AVOID interacting with friends and acquaintances a staggering 284 times EVERY year – according to a new survey by confectionery brand Mentos. New research has revealed the extent to which we have embraced our inner hermit, with the average Brit regularly crossing the road to avoid neighbours and friends - and frequently ignoring phone calls, texts and emails. Pretending to lose signal mid-call and saying your battery is dying were among a list of excuses regularly wheeled out to avoid talking to someone. The research also revealed three in ten of us have even resorted to hiding in the house when there is a knock at the door and 13 percent of us admit to sloping off at parties without saying goodbye.
I READ with great interest the item in the mid-November edition of the Spotlight regarding the abdication of King Edward VIII. It reminded me that the King’s abdication had a strong connection to Belton House, the NT property near Grantham Peregrine Cust, the 6th Baron Brownlow, inherited Belton House in 1927. He attended Eton and the Royal Military College, Sandhurst and was commissioned into the Grenadier Guards, where he met the future King. During the 1930’s Peregrine became equerry, and a close friend, to the Prince of Wales and later became Lord-in-waiting when Edward became King. This close connection resulted in the King visiting Belton on a number of occasions where he chose to sleep in the Chinese bedroom overlooking the garden. It is considered that Mrs Wallis Simpson would also have visited Belton. Once the King’s intention to marry Mrs Simpson became clear Peregrine became involved in the abdication crisis and personally accompanied Mrs Simpson on her flight to France to escape the media attention. Records show that he did however encourage Mrs Simpson to renounce the idea of marriage to the King. Later, conflicting reports indicate that following the abdication Peregrine attempted to extricate himself from the former King’s circle of friends. Other reports, however, state that the Brownlow family retained links with the Duke and Duchess of Windsor during their years in exile. At Belton House there is a revealing picture, in the library, of the King, painted during the year of his reign by Frank O. Salisbury. Also on display is the first pressing of the Abdication Speech. The 6th Baron Brownlow died, a few years after the Duke of Windsor, in 1978. • The NT Leicester Association has an evening meeting on Tuesday 10th January at Braunstone West Social Centre, St Mary’s Avenue, Braunstone at 7.30pm when Caroline Taylor (NT) will present an illustrated talk entitled Samuel Taylor Coleridge & His Somerset Cottage. Admission to the meeting 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
And over a third (35 percent) of antisocial Brits opt for a quick ‘smile, nod and keep walking’ approach rather than stopping to pass the time of day with acquaintances. The poll of 1,574 adults by Mentos found three quarters of adults admit to avoiding social interaction, with just over half (52 percent) describing themselves as a bit of a hermit. The average Brit brazenly lies about not receiving texts, emails or instant messages twice a month. And typically ignores their landline or mobile ringing FIVE times a week. Most blamed ‘social overload’ - the constant bombardment of texts, WhatsApp messages, Facebook updates and photographs - for their need to slip under the radar from time to time. So much so, that four in ten are tempted to delete their social media accounts in a bid to get escape the constant interaction. A spokesperson for Mentos said: “Because of social media we live in a world where most of us can be contacted very easily by anyone in the world at any time of day and it is easy to see how we may want down time. “Many of us are guilty of ignoring a phone call every now and then, but there is a fine line between not bothering to chat and being rude if friends and neighbours spot us avoiding them. “It takes no time at all to just say hello or call out good morning to a neighbour across the road – we should all make an extra effort to be friendly and sociable. Being too busy is a poor excuse, we want to encourage more people to make new connections.” Nearly two thirds (62 percent) of respondents said they prefer face to face conversations to communicating digitally – but 38 percent said they lack confidence and become shy when meeting new people. Five in ten said they were scared of rejection when approaching new people and 45 percent said they hated making small talk. When it comes to breaking the ice with someone new – the most popular approach was to just say a simple hello, followed by a smile or to make eye contact. A more confident one in twenty go straight in with a firm handshake. Despite Brits’ reluctance to stop and chat, 57 percent of those polled said they had formed a surprising friendship after they broke the ice with someone. A spokesperson for Mentos added: “It’s great that friendships have forged after striking up spontaneous conversations with strangers – this highlights that it’s worth making the effort to say hi. “We launched this research to tie in to World Hello Day where we encouraged everyone to say hello to ten new people and connect with those around them.”
Fundraising event for Rainbows was a great success! AT OUR RAINBOWS fundraising event on Tuesday 8th November at Sands Restaurant in Glenfield, 64 guests enjoyed a three-course meal with live entertainment provided by Darren Turner (a.k.a. ‘Elvis’). A great evening was had by all. Food, staff and music were great. We raised £640 (donated by Sands Restaurant)plus £255 on the raffle. Many thanks to Sands, Darren Turner, Raffle Prize Donations, Ticket Purchasers and all GUESTS. This event was organised by Ash Kotecha and it was in aid of Rainbows.
I can’t believe I forgot to go to the gym today. That’s 7 years in a row now.
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Groby & Field Head Spotlight • MID-DECEMBER 2016 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk
Borough Councillors’ Monthly Report Doorstep callers DURING a conversation with a Groby resident a couple of weeks ago she told me of an unnerving experience she had suffered when a doorstep caller pushed his way into her home and tried to sell her an item of bedroom furniture. This clearly demonstrates the wisdom of following the advice of Trading Standards which is to fit a door security chain thereby preventing anyone gaining entry in this intimidating way. Door / window stickers deterring cold callers are available from Hinckley and Bosworth offices as well as County Hall and the Citizens Advice Bureau Tel: 03454 04 05 06. www. adviceguide.org.uk as the example shown here.
Borough Council support for Groby IN THE summer Hinckley & Bosworth Borough Council awarded Groby Parish Council £8244 (50% of the cost) from the (PCIF) Parish and Communities Initiatives Fund towards the cost of resurfacing Groby’s Sycamore Drive car park. This coming year 2017 the Borough Council will contribute 60% of any approved scheme submitted through the Parish Council.
Planning matters • Klondyke THE BOROUGH Council are still waiting on the Planning Inspectorate to announce a date for the Public Inquiry. Councillor Cartwright and I were recently invited to meet with the Chief Executive, Officers of the Borough Council and other elected members in an attempt to move matters forward. A further meeting with other interested parties including the Chairman of Groby Parish Council will take place early next year.
• Contentious Issues COUNCILLOR Cartwright and I are currently dealing with a number of contentious planning issues which relate to either trees, fences, a change of use or the inevitable inappropriately parked vehicles. • A planning application for a change of use of a home on Pymm Ley Close enabling the garage of the property to be used as a Hair Extension and Teeth Whitening business during the day and a Laser Tattoo Removal business in the evenings, has been submitted to the Borough Council. We have been contacted by a number of residents concerned about this proposal, if you wish to see the application details please visit the Hinckley and Bosworth Planning website. Planning Applications can be viewed on the Hinckley-Bosworth website which also gives members of the public the opportunity to comment on the individual application. • Home Farm Groby HBBC Ref 15/00743/FUL The proposed development of Home Farm Groby was
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 unanimously approved by HBBC Planning Committee on Tuesday November 8th. From the Officers report: “The site has been appropriately designed to utilise the existing buildings, footprint, openings and detailing. The condition of many of the existing buildings as stated previously is currently poor so their conversion whilst retaining many significant features and detailing would be welcomed and would immediately enhance the setting of home farm. The proposal would also involve the re-use of redundant rural buildings. The scheme will consist of three barn conversions and two extensions which will see some very interesting historic buildings preserved for years to come. It is a pity that the same could not be said of the Bradgate Stables although some of us have done what we could without success to gain the interest of both English Heritage and the National Trust. Former Barclays Bank HBBC Ref: 16/00980/COU There is currently an application for a COU (change of use) for this property to change from a bank to a physiotherapy and Health Clinic, No further details are available at the time of writing. We both support this application in principle and although it does not provide the financial service that we would have liked to see retained, it does add a further business not currently represented in Groby. • Martinshaw Lane Bungalows HBBC Ref 16/00496/DEEM Having enquired recently as to the progress of this nine bungalow council development off Martinshaw Lane Groby - a scheme which has already been approved by the Planning Committee - I was told that the Borough Council is waiting for detailed submissions from two preferred builders, something which they expect to
Ted Hollick Call: 0116 287 5955 Mobile: 07962 373983 E-mail: ted.hollick@tesco.net Write: 7 Shaw Wood Close, Groby, LE6 0FY receive by mid January. When these bungalows are completed they will be for the sole occupancy of Groby people and relatives of Groby people. The Borough Council says that application forms are already being requested and are available. Please note that two of the bungalows will be wheelchair friendly. I might also mention at this point that Groby Parish Council Planning meetings take place every other Wednesday at 7.30pm in the Council Chamber at the rear of the Groby Village Hall. The next scheduled meeting is on December 14th.
Groby Victorian Street Fair THE STREET fair was originally created to foster a community spirit within the village, something that was particularly evident on the day that was possibly the wettest Saturday this year whilst the day before and the day after were fine and sunny. It was especially pleasing to hear the appreciative comments of the many visitors who came along to support the event in spite of and because of the inclement conditions, so well done and thank you to the Committee for organising the event and a big thank you to the stallholders, volunteers, and all who supported it. I understand that even with the wet conditions the committee believe that because so many people came and gave their support they will at least have covered their expenses. A Merry Christmas and a Happy and Healthy New Year to all.
Cllr. Ted Hollick Cllr. Martin Cartwright Groby’s Borough Councillors
I’ve been dating a homeless woman recently and I think it’s getting serious. She asked me to move out with her.
Groby & Field Head Spotlight • MID-DECEMBER 2016 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk
Groby Wine Circle
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Groby Victorian Street Fair Never mind the rain - these smiles say it was worth the effort!”
GROBY WINE CIRCLE is a very sociable group which usually meets on the third Monday of the month at Groby Community College. Speakers are invited to give talks on a variety of interesting topics after which there is a chance to catch up socially over a drink with a cheese and French bread. Throughout the year we organise fun nights out such as skittles, quiz nights, meals out and visits, etc. The October meeting, on Monday the 24 October was, as usual, well attended. The Guest Speaker Ian Rogerson who gave us a most interesting talk about his background as a butcher but finally and more interestingly his interest in cheese. Ian bought along many different types of cheese which we could sample. This went down very well with a glass of wine. His talk was punctuated with jokes, stories and anecdotes, all of which made for a great evening. There was a skittles evening on Friday 11 November at the Red Lion Huncote, followed by a typical pub supper. Great evening out and, for a change the men beat the ladies. In November (Monday 21st) Mike Lee gave us a fascinating talk and slide show about the railways of Leicestershire and how the county made major contributions to the progress of the railway network from the mid 1800’s through to post WWII. It brought back many nostalgic memories of the steam era. Few of us realised that the forerunner of the modern flanged wheel railway system, albeit it a bit crude and based on a simple metal angle track running horse drawn flat wheel carts delivering coal from local pits, was first laid down in Leicestershire. Our December (14th) meeting takes us out for a Christmas meal at Leicester College (which we still refer to as Southfields). This is an evening which we always look forward to. Future guest talks include: • Monday 23 January 2017 – Carry on Catering • Monday 20 February 2017 – The Royal Liver Building, Liverpool • Monday 20 March – Lost Canals 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).
Pictured at the recent Groby Victorian Street Fair is Peggy, (right) who hand-knits toys.
Christmas Shoebox Appeal
STUDENTS across the Brookvale Groby Learning Campus showed their generosity last month by supporting this year’s shoebox appeal. Groups and individuals wrapped up shoeboxes in Christmas paper and filled them with presents to send to children in Africa and Eastern Europe who otherwise, due to extreme poverty, never receive presents at all. In total we sent 89 shoeboxes which in a few weeks time will be travelling all over the world to bring a smile to the face of a very grateful boy or girl! WELL DONE to all involved.
I can sympathize with batteries. I never get included in anything either.
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Groby & Field Head Spotlight • MID-DECEMBER 2016 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk
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News from Groby Gardening Society Sex in the Garden OUR OCTOBER meeting was an “in-house production” as our speaker was Alvar. Although the tongue in cheek title was “Sex in the Garden”, it soon became apparent that the main thread of the talk was how flowering plants sexually reproduce. As gardeners, most of our members know a lot about the propagation of plants, as for many this forms an important source of interest in the hobby. The talk tried to extend this knowledge by looking at the, sometimes microscopic, changes that occur as a typical flowering plant produces pollen which leads eventually to fertilisation. There were side issues which were explored, such as allergies to some pollens, and the beauty revealed when pollen grains were photographed using electron microscopy. The structure and symmetry of some pollen grains is truly remarkable and members were urged to search on-line for these spectacular photographs.
• Two Dawes CHILDRENS BIKES. Suitable for boy or girl, age 7-11 years. Size 20” aluminium frame, 6 Shimano gears, front fork suspension. One bike is red, the other is silver/ grey. Price: £20.00 each. Tel: 0116 287 3229.
manner in which members disappeared into the 56 acres of wild gardens, paths and streams. There were many magnificent shrubs (e.g. seven son flower of Zhejiang & heptocodium miconioides) and trees such as the giant redwoods, Austrian Pines, 0regon Douglas Firs and our native common beech. The coral bark maple “Sango Kaka” gave a stunning display along with the many other maples. Seed heads were particularly remarkable with the magnolia “Frank Gadney” standing out above the rest with their bright red colours. Also noteworthy was the handkerchief tree, “Davidii involucrate”, whose seed heads were the size and shape of small kiwi fruit. Interestingly, the handkerchief tree was once the holy grail of exotic flora hunters and the first seeds were sent to England from China in 1901 by the legendary botanist, Ernest Wilson. There were beautiful oriental-influenced glades within the grounds with figures including a Foo Dog, Buddha and Japanese deer models. Most members worked up a healthy appetite which was satisfied in the garden terrace restaurant; fish soup being a particularly popular winter warmer. The onsite garden centre offered a range of high quality plants of which many took advantage, the late flowering daisy being a favourite. Batsford was once the home of the famous, or infamous, Mitford sisters during World War I.
• COLLAPSABLE SINGLE BED ‘zed bed’. FREE - Recipient to collect. (Bradgate Hill area) Tel: 07753 614 833 • One white BATHROOM CABINET with mirrored double doors. Price: £20.00 • Small white CORNER UNIT, suitable for bathroom. Price: £5.00 Tel: 0116 287 5988 • THREE PIECE CANE SUITE, cushions needs recovering. Price: £30.00 • FISH TANK BASE CUPBOARD, black. 28ins x 38ins Price:£10.00 • TWO-TIER SHELF, black. 24ins x 9ins Price: £5.00 • CALOR GAS HEATER Price: £10.00 Tel: 07857 958505 • Electric Bissell quick wash CARPET CLEANER. For light cleaning of carpets, good working order. Price: £20.00. Tel 01162 336974 • Thule CYCLE RACKS (two). Hardly used, will sell separately. Price: £40.00. Tel: 07547 901657 (Groby)
Several slides of pollen photographs exemplified the amazing structural elegance and artistic beauty of these often overlooked parts of plant life. The properties of some tree and grass pollens were described to explain how these could be troublesome, whereas pollen from common garden plants produce far fewer adverse effects. More slides showed the coloured world of flowers as seen through the eye of a bee. Being sensitive to ultra violet light, bees can distinguish “road maps” to the flowers’ nectar which are not apparent to our eyes. Throughout the talk, the essential problems of sexual reproduction for flowering plants and animals were compared. In both cases Mother Nature has to engineer the fusing of a male and female sex cell. Some questions regarding little known aspects of plant life were left unanswered, perhaps for the future! After the talk, along with the customary tea and biscuits, the evening ended with the annual plant and seed swapping.
Batsford Arboretum Trip THE MORNING of Friday 14th October saw a coach of members going off to see the Batsford Arboretum in the Cotswolds. Throughout the journey the lovely sunshine shone through the coach windows, only to be replaced by cloud as the Arboretum was approached. The greeting manager apologised for the lack of autumn colour, which was due to the late summer weather being experienced. This did not dampen the enthusiastic
An associated popular attraction was the Batsford church (pictured above) which, as well as being pretty, was the last resting place of many Mitford family members. A great day was enjoyed by all and ended with a safe return to Groby at 17.30.
Future Meetings • •
January 12th - Annual General Meeting February 9th - The history of walled gardens - Katherine Ward
If you like the sound of what we get up to, why not come along to a meeting and try us out. You will be most welcome. Our monthly meetings are held at 7.30pm on the second Thursday of the month in the United Reformed Church rooms on Chapel Hill. Details about membership and the events programme can be obtained from Eric Atherton. (Tel. No. 0116 287 6637) or E mail e.atherton637@ btinternet.com
Alvar Johnson New Year problems As you start to prepare for the New Year, does this sound like you? ….“Sometimes I get the feeling the whole world is against me, but deep down I know that’s not true - some smaller countries are neutral.”
• Australian Uggs : KNITTED PLUM BOOTS size 3.5 – 4. Excellent condition. Price: £10.00 • Dune high stylish black and white SANDALS (3” narrow wedge heel). Worn once for wedding.Still boxed as new – size 5. Cost £75 - will accept £40.00. • Boys TED BAKER JACKET : Aged 6, grey with black piping on collar & pocket, plum silk lined. Worn once for wedding. As new. Price: £20.00 • Hobbs LADIES EVENING DRESS, red & white polka dot (1940’s style), strapless, fitted bodice & floating skirt, size 10,calf length. Excellent condition. Price: £25.00 • KA car, silver, 03 plate, 9 months MOT. Very reliable. Selling as travelling abroad for a year. Ideal first time car Price: £415.00 Tel: 07484 884139 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. Maximum FIVE items please. 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, and include your postal address (not for publication).
My boss said he’s going to fire the employee with the worst posture. I’ve got a hunch it might be me.
Groby & Field Head Spotlight • MID-DECEMBER 2016 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk
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Groby & Field Head Spotlight • MID-DECEMBER 2016 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk
Talented Britons invited to compete for major art prize
ARE YOU Looking for the opportunity to take your art and craft skills to the next level?
Young Artist award winner for 2016, Bernadett Timko with her piece Studio 7
Artists are being challenged to show their skills with the chance to win up to £15,000 and a gold medal in this year’s national Lynn Painter-Stainers Prize. They could also see their paintings hung in London’s world-famous Mall Galleries. Now in its twelfth year, the country’s leading prize for representational and figurative art – art that seeks to capture the real world – is open for entries. The Lynn Painter-Stainers Prize is one of the most prestigious awards for artists in the UK, offering total prize money of £30,000, including a first prize of £15,000, second prize of £4,000 alongside the newly introduced People’s Prize worth £2,000. The competition is open to any artist resident in the UK painting or drawing works of representational or figurative art and over 18-years-old. Both amateur artists and professionals can submit up to four pieces of work. For the third year running, the competition is also offering the Brian Botting Prize of £5,000 which will be awarded to an artist aged 30 or under for an outstanding representation of the human figure. Leading artist Ken Howard OBE, who chairs the judges, said: “The Lynn Painter-Stainers Prize celebrates the very best of British representational art and acts as a show case to the rest of the world. It’s all about the way in which our artists see the real world and capture it. “We want as many entries as possible so that we can try to find new and talented artists who will benefit from the support the prize will offer them.” Around 100 entries will be selected for display in London’s famous Mall Galleries for two weeks during March 2017, when the winners are also announced. Selected artists and their guests will be invited to attend. Created in 2005 by The Worshipful Company of Painter-Stainers and The Lynn Foundation, the open competition continues to champion the skill of draughtsmanship and figurative painting. The exhibition aims to reflect the breadth of approaches and materials from across the artistic spectrum. The competition is open to all UK-based artists over 18. Artists are invited to submit images of up to four of their works online at: lps.artopps.co.uk. These works cannot have been exhibited before. Entry is £15 per work, £8 per work for students. Approximately 100 works will be selected for an exhibition at the Mall Galleries, London, from 6-19 March 2017. The exhibition will be hung and curated by artist Sam Wadsworth and Andrew Wilton, visiting research fellow at Tate Britain.
Deadline for entry: 5pm on 19 December 2016. For further details and to enter online visit www.lynnpainterstainersprize.org.uk
BROOKVALE’S NORMANDY 2016 RESIDENTIAL TRIP
THE FIRST WEEK of October saw Brookvale’s Year 8 students’ week long annual residential trip to Normandy. Once again we were blessed with fantastic weather and this year were spared the tummy bug a number of us suffered last year! The week gave us the chance to extend our knowledge of France and practice our language skills as we visited French towns and villages and tried our hands at bartering in the market place. We visited a goats cheese farm where we tasted the cheese, saw it being made and then visited the goats and some of us had a go at hand milking! Alongside French the week also had a history flavour as we visited the castle of William the Conqueror and the world famous Bayeux Tapestry. D – Day was our second history focus as we visited the scene of British Landings – Gold Beach at Arromanches – along with the German, British and American war cemeteries. Our Act of Remembrance at the British Cemetery was especially poignant, leaving a number of us in tears as the scale of the human cost was brought home to us by the number of graves and the personal family messages inscribed on the headstones. Evenings were spent playing games and preparing for the following days activities and on our final night tasting frog’s legs and snails! Brookvale groups never let us down when we are abroad but this year all the students involved were a particular credit to themselves, their families and the school, showing an interest in the academic foci of the trip and being excellent ambassadors with their behaviour throughout the visit. It was a pleasure to be with them all.
Mr Godwin, Deputy Headteacher
Christmas Eve Carol Singing in Groby FOR THE FIFTH year running, a group of Christians will be sharing the good news of Christmas by singing carols on the streets of Groby - all are welcome to join in. This is a Churches Together in Groby activity for people from both churches or none. As last year, we will be meeting on Laundon Way outside the new Co-Op and walking along a circular route that side of Groby - a slightly different route to last year. We will meet there at 7.15pm and finish before 8.45pm. All the homes along the route will be leafleted beforehand, inviting them to listen out for us, to join us and even to request their favourite carol. So let’s hope for a crisp and clear evening to help the sound to travel and to encourage people to join us.
Churches Together in Groby
Thank you, student loans, for helping me get through college. I don’t think I can ever repay you.
Groby & Field Head Spotlight • MID-DECEMBER 2016 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk
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Songs of the Spirit
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Songs from around the world that make your heart 'sing'
Songs of joy, liberation and peace with Christian roots Come and add your voice to the harmonies, no singing experience necessary All ages are welcome although we ask that parents help us maintain a peaceful atmosphere. Led by local professional musician
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