February 2016 herald online by Michael Wilkinson

FEBRUARY 2016

Appeal for Ruby: the last Redgate dog AS YOU may know Redgate Farm Animal Sanctuary no longer takes in dogs for rehoming, (although we still have many other animals for you to visit or re-home), but we do have one final canine resident who nobody seems to want. She is Ruby, a 7 year old German Shepherd, small and compact for her breed, and very pretty. She has been in a Redgate pen now for about 14 months; several people have visited her and taken her for walks but in the end she is still unadopted, with all her former doggy companions now settled in new homes. On the plus side, Ruby really loves people (adults and older children), and is longing to be part of a proper home. Because she is very energetic and very intelligent, she would enjoy and probably benefit from some training and lots of exercise. Ruby is good on the lead and she loves fuss and cuddles. On the other, shall we say negative side, she would not be suitable for a home with small children, as she is nervous of them, nor a home with cats, as she seems to be a ‘chaser’ (out on the field she will try to chase rabbits). She will need some time and effort, but we think she would try her hardest to re-pay you ten-fold. If you think you might be ‘The One’ to turn her life around, or you know someone who might be, please discuss it with the Redgate team and make an appointment to be introduced to Ruby. Contact Redgate Farm Animal Sanctuary on 01530 243 925 or email redgate@mail.org or via Facebook. The sanctuary on Shaw Lane is open every day 10.30am – 3.30pm.

South Charnwood roars on LCFC

Thornton Village Carnival

Help! Will You or Won’t You? WE’VE BOOKED the date.. (2nd July, 2016)... we’ve booked excellent and entertaining musicians .. (The Dirty Water Band).. and delightful dancers will be there.. (The Keely Anna Dance School).. so all bodes well for our Thornton Village Carnival. That’s what we thought. Now it seems that all may be in jeopardy because we are short of helpers to work together to organise the event. It is a sobering thought that, as our village grows, interest in community events seems to wane - yet it is they which give so much to the life of the village. Is this where you come in? All we ask is that you show an interest in joining with others to help to make the Carnival a pleasant and happy afternoon for all. The Centre always has need of the income from the Carnival, and our project to refurbish the Centre’s kitchen is where, hopefully, the monies from this year’s event will be spent. The kitchen we have is only the second in the Centre’s forty-three-years, and is badly in need of an update. A new, modern kitchen would both attract more hirers, (and, therefore, income), and offer improved facilities to benefit everyone who uses our Centre. Carnivals of the past are the stuff of legend, and there is no reason why Carnival 2016 shouldn’t be one to remember if enough of you will come forward to help. We do have a nucleus of people who have helped to organise the Carnival in previous years and will, of course, help this year, but we do need more of you. Whatever your particular area of interest, there is sure to be something useful you can do - be it something as small but as vital as making a cup of tea or moving a table! On Thursday, 25th February, 2016, at Thornton Community Centre, there will be a meeting at 7.00p.m. to discuss the whether or not the Carnival is to go ahead. PLEASE COME ALONG TO SHOW YOUR INTEREST; TO MAKE SUGGESTIONS; TO SHARE IDEAS AND TO OFFER HELP. Please don’t leave it to someone else when YOU could do something! We would very much appreciate your attendance.

The Trustees of Thornton Community Centre

Spic and Span Ma’am Mercenfeld Primary School needs you!

YEAR 8 AND 9 pupils at South Charnwood High School, who follow the ASDAN Life Skills course, were treated to a night to remember by Leicester City football Club in December.

MERCENFELD Primary School is looking for volunteers to help us with our ‘CLEAN FOR THE QUEEN’ campaign.

After a training a session with Matt Elliott and Steve Guppy, the pupils were treated to as much pizza as they could eat and then had the honour of waving the flags as Leicester City hosted Chelsea in the Premier League. The pupils then watched the game and, as part of a noisy, supportive crowd, cheered Leicester on to a victory by two goals to one. The event was organised by Mrs Vanessa Stanton who works with the pupils at South Charnwood. The pupils, who behaved impeccably throughout the evening and were great ambassadors for the school, had a marvellous and memorable time. Our grateful thanks go to all those at Leicester City for their incredible hospitality.

We are taking part in the initiative to strengthen the link with our community, raise awareness of litter and create a sense of ownership for our environment. All of this in time to celebrate the Queen’s 90th birthday! Would you be willing to lend a hand and help our children sweep, litter pick, paint and plant to further develop our school grounds? FRIDAY 4th MARCH 9.30am - 2.30pm - Friends of Mercenfeld (PTA) will be on hand to serve afternoon tea and our kitchen will be serving up some traditional fish and chips! Please visit our website at www.mercenfeld.com for more information. We look forward to hearing from you!

NEXT ISSUE OUT: Saturday 12th March - Adverts & Articles Needed By 27th February

Can you understand your own car’s dashboard?

Latest news from Stanton Village Hall BY THE TIME this article is published the first Cinema Night at the hall will have been held. The film shown was the true-story of The Woman in Gold, starring Helen Mirren. The Trustees would love to have your feed-back on the evening, and your input into the type of film which you would like to see in the future.

THERE YOU are, driving along, and suddenly, a red light flashes up on your dashboard. What do you do? Very likely, you stare at it in consternation, and then pull over and ring the AA or RAC.

Our new Trustees, Pete Baxter and Caroline Athey, are settling into their roles and will I’m sure, find the running of the hall both challenging and rewarding. The Entertainments Committee, after taking a breather over Christmas, are looking at events for the summer, with the possibility mooted of a Street Party in June to celebrate the Queen’s 90th birthday and held on the hall car park. The Entertainments Committee will consult the Queen’s Silver Jubilee Committee with a view to holding a joint event. An application has been made to Hinckley & Bosworth Borough Council under their Parish and Community Initiatives Fund for funding towards additional tables, chairs and trolleys for moving them around the hall. The Trustees were successful last year, so here’s hoping for success again. When the Trustees were putting together their application to HBBC, a defibrillator was on the list. In researching this, it was discovered that the Government had made £1 million available to rural areas for defibrillator provision. The Trust duly applied and were granted a free defibrillator, which has now been delivered. This will be put on the outside of the hall and will be available 24/7 should anyone need to use it in an emergency. Training on its use will be undertaken and everyone is encouraged to learn how, potentially, a life could be saved. Keep an eye out on the Parish notice boards for dates for training or contact a Trustee who will inform you of the next available date.

The AA alone receives about 17,000 warning light calls every

month. March is one of the peak months of the year for such calls, as the new car registrations have just been released. It is hardly surprising that thousands of us are bewildered: many modern cars have dashboards that resemble the ‘Starship Enterprise’ in complexity. To add to the problem, one in eight of us do not even carry the handbook in the car. Meanwhile, the AA is doing its best to help: it has added a catalogue of 1000 symbols and their meanings to its app.

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4 South Charnwood High School ‘encouraging excellence, valuing people’ Headteacher: Andrew Morris: Deputy Headteachers: Simon Andrews, Tina Corker Assistant Headteacher: Kathryn Juszkiewicz Business Manager: Angela Preston

PASTORAL SUPPORT ASSISTANT Part time (27.5 hours per week, term time) - Permanent Required as soon as possible; a friendly, self - motivated and hard working person to support our Heads of Year in school, by undertaking various organisational duties, as well as working with pupils both inside and outside of the classroom. Grade: 5 - Actual salary £9461.05 - £10319.90 per annum (depending on experience) Please see the school website at www.southcharnwood.leics.sch.uk for an information pack and application form. Alternatively, telephone 01530 242351 or email: hcarnan@southcharnwood.leics.sch.uk South Charnwood High School is a “Safer Recruitment School” and this position is a regulated activity. Closing date for applications: 12 noon, Monday 22nd February 2016 Interviews: TBC Broad Lane, Markfield, Leicestershire LE67 9TB Telephone: (01530) 242351 Fax: (01530) 244258 Email: office@southcharnwood.leics.sch.uk

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News from Bardon Park Chapel

County Councillor’s Report from David Sprason The People will decide to Leave or Remain in the European Union not politicians THE FORTHCOMING referendum on our membership of the European Union (EU) is probably the most important decision this country has had to take in our lifetimes. Politicians over decades have taken us into ever closer links with the EU. Treaty changes have shifted law making powers to the EU on foreign affairs, public health, justice, employment, police, social affairs, immigration, economic affairs, energy, environment, farming, fisheries, law enforcement and transport. Until now we have never been asked if we wanted to be part of this closer integration of the European Union. When we voted in the 1975 referendum we were asked if we wanted to join a common market, but the then Conservative government did not tell us they were on the road to a full political union. The decision this time will not be down to politicians to decide but to the British voting public who are better informed than they were in 1975. The choice for you is: should we remain in the current political union that wishes to move to even closer integration with the European commission setting all laws for the 28 member states, or leave and return all our law making back to our own elected sovereign parliament. Leaving the EU would allow our parliament and businesses to negotiate trade deals with the commonwealth and the rest of the world, reduce taxation and introduce a fair system to control immigration. Your decision I am sure will be based on facts surrounding your views on whether our current membership of this club - costing £15 billion a year - delivers any real benefits. We should also not get confused with Europe as this is not about the continent of Europe made up of 51 states but our continued membership of the EU - the EU is a political union made up of 28 of those states. So any information you receive talking about our future in Europe is misleading as we will continue to be part of Europe whether we leave or remain in the EU.

You may well ask what this has got to do with the County Council. Well the EU Commission’s directives have a huge impact on your council tax bills. The first of these is the agency working time directive adding restrictions, costs and bureaucracy to service delivery. The second is the EU procurement rules adding costly bureaucracy and the requirement to offer contracts to all EU member states. Finally the waste directive that taxes every tonne of waste land filled and an added financial penalty for not achieving recycling targets. Landfill currently costs local taxpayers £6.4 million and will increase by £240,000 a year reaching £7.4 million by 2019/2020. In December the EU commission from 2020 have proposed new recycling and land fill targets this will potentially add to this already increasing bill.

Response to the Government funding settlement THIS IS a settlement for Leicestershire County Council which cannot be justified on any reasonable grounds and, as proposed, will have damaging consequences for the delivery of vital public services. Over recent decades the system of local government finance has been subject to a series of political fixes, to such an extent that it is difficult to see any sense in the distribution of government funding. This is not just an issue for Leicestershire, but an issue for the whole of Local Government. The latest redistribution of resources, this settlement introduces shifts significant funding away from Leicestershire County Council and other counties to Cities and Inner London Authorities. The formula used to make that switch operates on the basis that if you have low government funding in the first place you will have a larger proportionate reduction than if you had high funding. This is a perverse and highly damaging method of

www.bardonchapel.co.uk

distributing resources. It takes no account of your actual spending power or local needs, which for counties where the budget is dominated by social care are growing significantly. The problems with the system of Local Government finance go much deeper than this latest attempt at a fix. The principle of a four year settlement is welcome but not if its certainty is in doubt. It is extremely difficult to understand how a four year settlement can be issued when most of the elements of spending power will be subject to separate Government consultations. Failure to address these concerns will no doubt result in service and financial failure for some authorities. The Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) is aware that some authorities are already teetering on the edge. Alternatively, if like Leicestershire you manage within a much lower level of resources residents will simply receive a much reduced level of local government service than elsewhere in the country. It is, in effect, a government-imposed post code lottery. This hardly seems fair and will be a direct result of a failure by DCLG, the architects of this system, to come up with a sensible method of allocating resources. DCLG also need to stop the pretence that councils have millions of pounds in reserves available to bridge any gaps. The system of local government finance simply does not work and frankly no-one at the centre, locally, in business or in the academic world, believes it does – and it is becoming increasingly unfair. The system must be fundamentally reviewed including retained Business Rates, RSG, New Homes Bonus and Council Tax. The Chancellor’s devolution agenda to support and grow economies of cities is supported but the outcome at present appears to be at the expense of the shires. Addressing devolution to the shires should also be part of the way forward.

Worship Service: Every Sunday morning at 10.30 am. Our gatherings are fairly informal. Everyone most welcome. The Monthly Praise Meeting: (1st Saturday in each month, except August and January) at 3.00pm. Come and enjoy a lively time of singing, encouragement, fellowship, testimonies and uplifting messages. Light refreshments afterwards in the school room. Find us at the roundabout at the junction of Shaw Lane (A 511), Bardon Road (A 511) and Beveridge Lane (B 585), take the Leicester-bound (eastbound) carriageway of the A 511 road and the chapel is on the left after about 50 metres. There is a large car park at the back.

For more details on any of the above please contact: Richard Norburn on tel: 01530 242526.

Markfield WI Programme 2016 •

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17th Feb : Kath Reynolds Goose Grease & Brown Paper 16th March: Will Gilding Clarice Cliff, Moorcroft, Lalique & other 20th Treasures 20th April: George Hook Mother of Pearl 18th May: Resolutions Taste and Try 15th June: TBA Meal out 20th July: Canine Partners 17th Aug: Brian Johnson Who do you think lived in a House like this? 21st Sept: David Siddon The Fascination of the English Language 19th Oct : Ali Groschl The Art of Fused Glass 16th Nov: Julie Ede Wonderful, Wicked, Wily Wallis 21st Dec: Ian Rogerson Turkey Talk

If I say, “Don’t worry, I’m on it,” there’s a 98% chance I’m referring to my couch.

The Herald PO Box 8, Markfield, Leics. LE67 9ZT

Tel: 01530 244069 info@markfieldherald.co.uk www.markfieldherald.co.uk

The Herald is a monthly local magazine delivered free to approximately 4,000 homes and businesses in Markfield, Field Head, Stanton under Bardon, Thornton and Bagworth.

Contact Mike Wilkinson with your articles, news items or advertising enquiries. Printed by Norwood Press in Ellistown. The opinions expressed by contributors are not necessarily those of the Herald Production Team. The inclusion of any group or organisation in this publication does not necessarily imply a recommendation of its aims, methods or policies. The Herald 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. The Herald reserves the right to amend, shorten or refuse to publish articles and/or advertisements submitted for publication. All contents © The Herald None of the articles or adverts contained in this magazine are to be reproduced in any way without first obtaining written consent from The Herald. This issue of The Herald is being delivered by The Herald’s team of dedicated deliverers, namely: Sarah Jane, Maureen, John, Lyn, Lily, Ian, Ann, Gill, Sandra, Jeanie, Jenny, Calum, Lisa, Yvonne, Ray, Margaret, Daniel, Jessie, Selina, Jessica, Charlotte, Mike and Rowan

NEXT ISSUE OUT ON 12th March DEADLINE: 27th February

Field Head Housing Proposal

New hope for Jacqueline Road housing opponents THE CHANGES that the Coalition Government made to the planning system were designed to streamline the whole process and sweep away over 1000 pages of planning guidance and replace it with 65 pages. Despite all this, at a local level producing a plan for the future within the Hinckley and Bosworth area seems to have taken a huge effort in human resources. The documentation and the process for approval is daunting, and the Borough Council has recently announced the latest stage and the latest consultation. It’s the Site Allocations and Development Management Policies Development Plan Document – Main Modifications Consultation, which runs until Friday, 18 March 2016. Readers who want to see what it’s all about can read more at www.hinckley-bosworth.gov.uk/ siteallocations. The consultation is to allow everyone to consider the modifications proposed by the Inspector who examined the Borough Plan and to read additional modifications proposed by the council but on which it is not inviting comments. There’s a lot to read but tucked away in the documentation is a potential windfall for the opponents of the Taylor Wimpey planning application at Jacqueline Road, Field Head. A new sustainability appraisal supplement(SAS) re-assesses sites in settlements where the housing requirement has already been met, and that includes the Taylor Wimpey site. In simple terms it appears to conclude that no greenfield site around Markfield can be considered sustainable at the moment and none should be allocated without further investigation through the local plan review. To approve the Taylor Wimpey application and grant planning permission would therefore seem to be contrary to the Council’s declared policies. Cllr Peter Batty, Chairman of Groby Parish Council, who raised this with the legal team that will represent the parish said: “In a nutshell, we believe that the Borough Council are left with no alternative but to refuse this application or potentially leave themselves wide open for a Judicial Review that they would almost certainly lose. Equally, we believe that this will whip the carpet out from under Taylor Wimpey’s feet for any appeal at least until the SAS is completed (at least a year) which in any case could slam the door on this site if it supports the position stated in the Main Modifications proposals.”

Norman Griffiths

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

New game

OBAMA LLAMA - All rhyme, no reason IF YOU LISTEN to Sam & Amy on GEM 106 in the mornings, you may have heard them describing a new game called Obama Llama. It sounded so compulsive that we looked it up. The wonderfully absurd game is card-based and involves describing - or miming - some very amusing rhymes. Here are some examples ... • Female ‘Empire State of Mind’ singer preparing jumping parasites for the circus (Alicia Keys training fleas). • ‘Sherlock’ star dealing with an itch (Benedict Cumberbatch having a scratch). • Fred Flintstone’s best mate makes a trip to see the telescope that orbits Earth (Barney Rubble visits the Hubble). • Baldrick’s boss unable to get down from a runged tool that allows you to climb up buildings (Blackadder stuck up a ladder).

Well, now you get the gist of how the game works. It is available to pre-order from www.firebox.com and priced at £19.99.

A recent study has found that women who carry a little extra weight live longer than the men who mention it.

South Charnwood pupils open new Sports Arena in Leicester

Treat your Mum

to a delicious meal on Mothering Sunday - 6th March. Booking Essential.

The Bricklayer’s Arms 213 Main Main Street, Street, Thornton Thornton Tel: Tel: 01530 01530 230808 230808 213 www.bricklayersarms.net www.bricklayersarms.net

Wednesday is

“STEAK NIGHT” HOWARD DAYMAN from Leicester Forest East (front row, second from right) and Marley Moyo from Bagworth (back row, far right) are members of the Leicester Riders under 12 National Basketball team. The team had the honour of holding a training session on the new Leicester Riders basketball court housed in the brand new Leicester Sports Arena in the city centre which was officially opened at the end of January. Well done Howard and Marley and good luck for the rest of the season.

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Home-Made Pie Night - Tuesdays - £5.95 Lunches & Snacks: Tues-Sun Eves (Tues-Sat): ‘A La Carte’ or Snacks • Weekend Specials A Welcoming Homely Atmosphere, Garden & Great Food!

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Sell Your Stuff!

Important Notice

Temporary Road Closure of The Hollow & Thornton Lane FREE Small Ads at Bagworth & Thornton • COMPUTER DESK - light

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wood effect, 29½” high x 29¼” wide x 20¾” deep. Good condition. Price: £10.00 Tel: 01530 243577.

• PRO FITNESS MINI X TRAINER - as new. Price: £45.00 o.n.o. Tel: 01530 245323 SEND your Small Ads IN WRITING to: The Herald, PO Box 8, Markfield, Leics. LE67 9ZT or email to: info@markfieldherald. co.uk (please include your address - not for publication).

Letter Kirby Grange is looking for donations

MARKFIELD HomeMakers meet in the Congregational Hall, Main Street, Markfield, on the second Wednesday of the month at 8pm. March 9th ~ Canine Partners April 13th ~ Ken Schofield ~ A Banana for the Teacher May 11th ~ Sandy Leong ~Malaysia & My Chinese Family

• LARGE ‘POPPIES’ PICTURE - size 34” x 34”. As new. Cost £115.00 Price: £40.00 Tel: 01530 249040 • Ladies Dunlop Tour Pink Golf Club Set with bag - ideal for starter. Excellent condition. Price: £60.00 o.n.o. Tel: 07825 158989

Markfield HomeMakers

June 8th ~Virginia Wright ~ Leicester Clock Tower Aug 10th ~ Skittles ~ 7.15 for 7.30pm ~ At Little Markfield Farm

For more information, call: Brenda on 01530 242173 or Iris on 01530 242436.

LEICESTERSHIRE County Council Highways has agreed to the closure of the above road. The closure is required at the railway bridge and the road will be closed on the 17th February 2016, for 1 day. This will safely allow Leicestershire County Council Highways to carry out carriageway maintenance works. During the closure the alternative route will be signed on site - see map. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Steve Hunt Leics Highways Tel: 0116 305 0001

Coming up at The Club, Thornton •

Sat 13th Feb: EDDIE H with his vinyl’s. Any requests? You may also bring along your own vinyl’s, etc

•

Sat 20th Feb: The return of FARRELL “FAZ” CROWSON

•

Sat 27th Feb: THE FINDING GEORGIA BAND

WE ARE A local care home and we are looking for donations of DVD’s preferably such things as Only Fools and Horses, Some Mother’s Do Have ‘Em, any comedy really, also old films. We are also looking for old household items for our reminiscence sessions. The contact for this is either Pauline Bott or Judith Sisson on 01455 824167. Thank you.

The ‘cool’ way to propose marriage

ONCE UPON a time, if a man wanted to propose marriage, he might get down on one knee before his beloved, in order to demonstrate his affection. Not any more. Nowadays it seems he makes sure to pop the question while on an overseas holiday. Recent research by the insurer Liverpool Victoria found that 60 per cent of engagements now happen abroad – with Paris as still the romance capital of the world. After that come New York, Las Vegas, Orlando and Venice as the most popular cities in which to get engaged. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge got engaged in Kenya in 2010. Apparently Prince William carried the engagement ring which originally belonged to his mother Diana, Princess of Wales, in his rucksack for three weeks while waiting for the right moment.

Publicise your forthcoming events in The Herald!

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Many Marvellous Moths! A Talk and Slideshow by Adrian Russell 7.30 p.m. at Thornton Community Centre on Thursday, 11th February WE ARE DELIGHTED to have Adrian Russell, the County Moth Recorder as our speaker in February. The Leicestershire Moth Group evolved as an informal off-shoot of the Leicestershire Entomological Society and encourages and supports local moth recording and targeted recording of species and sites of interest. There are about 3,500 native species of moth in the UK, compared with about 65 species of butterfly It’s interesting to note that Shakespeare, that most famous of country boys, named one of his “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” fairies “Moth”. Very unflattering, I thought, until I considered the elusive and secretive nature of certain moths, and their unique beauty and rarity. Then there is the character “Moth” in “Love’s Labour’s Lost”, described as tiny, but with a power to irritate! Maybe William had wafted a good few moths away from the candle flame during his nocturnal scribblings! Moths certainly are fascinating creatures! They evolved long before butterflies - fossils having been found that may be 190 million years old. Did you know the following facts? • The silkworm is the larvae of a moth. • In August, 2012, a student found, at the Outwoods, Loughborough, a rare moth, the harpella forficella, which normally lives in warmer European climes. It had never been recorded in Britain until 2011 when it was recorded in Berkshire, there followed a second recording in Sussex in 2012. • In the Congo, more than thirty species of moth larvae are harvested as food and, as well as being sold in local markets, are shipped by the ton to other countries. • Most adult moths don’t eat at all – in fact, many do not have mouth parts. These and many more interesting snippets can be found by any internet search, but this doesn’t compare with the opportunity to enjoy meeting and learning from an expert in the field such as Adrian Russell. We look forward to seeing the slides he is to bring, and to hearing more about the moths native to our area and the efforts being made to record and protect the species. Hopefully, some visitors will come along to enjoy this opportunity and GENTLEMEN ARE INVITED, TOO.

Muriel Walker (Thornton WI President)

Markfield PlayAway Playgroup PLAYGROUP is based at the Methodist Church Hall Main Street Monday to Thursday from 9.00am until 12.45pm. Children from 2 years and upwards meet to play and have fun gradually becoming confident enough for parents to leave them. Come and see us in action. Funding for 2 year olds is available for families on low income and funding for 3 year olds and above is available for all children the term after their 3rd birthday. If you wish to use Playgroup before June 2016 please get in touch as places are limited. You can contact Angela Berry for more information on 07971 254165.

Extracts from the Unapproved Minutes of the Markfield Parish Meeting held on Tuesday 12th January 2016 at 8.00pm at the Methodist Chapel, Markfield. (May be subject to alteration or correction.) POLICE MATTERS, AntiSocial behaviour: - PC I Wardle and PCSO R Heath attended the meeting. PC I Wardle stated that both officers were part of the Bosworth, Ratby, Groby, Markfield and Stanton team. They were attempting to deal with reports of anti-social behaviour at Markfield Community Centre and the surrounding areas. They had increased uniformed police visibility in the area, worked with centre staff, the local community and were now liaising with the Parish Council. Mr M Lay informed the officers that Markfield Parish Council had always done everything in its power to support the police in the past but had struggled to engage the police over the last two years and as a result, incidents of anti-social behaviour, by a particular group of youths, had got worse; the youths in question were now over 17 years and now owned cars. PC I Wardle stated that they had received a lot of reports of young drivers behaving inappropriately and generally causing a nuisance in and around the Community Centre, Mayflower Close and around Markfield Surgery car park. He stated that anyone caught using a vehicle in an anti-social manner on more than one occasion would be given a Section 59 notice, which meant their vehicles would be seized by the Police. He had already issued several Section 59 warnings to some of the parents of the youths involved. He had spoken to the Manager of Markfield Surgery and as a result some of the youths had been banned from the site, so if they are caught on site again it would be a case of civil trespass. In order to enforce this PC I Wardle intended to install a covert wireless CCTV camera, so that the site could be monitored by a central control room. The cost of fitting the camera would be £500 and he hoped to get several partners involved to share the cost of this. Resolved, Markfield Parish Council agreed to fund the cost with other partnership organisations. PC I Wardle would be holding a beat surgery at Markfield Community Centre on Thursday 18th February 2016. PC I Wardle also stressed the importance of social media, to the police, as this now played an

integral part in sharing criminal activities. Mr M Lay would be interested in the creation of a Markfield Facebook page. He also urged residents to report crime or anti-social behaviour to the police directly by calling 999 in an emergency or 101 at any other time and not to ring Markfield Community Centre manager or the Parish Clerk. Mrs M Bowler thanked PC I Wardle for attending Markfield Library, as many of the volunteers were elderly and had felt reassured. Mrs A Cook asked him if it would be possible for him to do a similar visit to Markfield Court Social Club. Leicestershire County Council – Urban Grass Cutting: Mr D Sprason had been informed by Mr N Rushton, Leader of the County Council that no more Urban Grass Cutting would be contracted out to Parish Councils as it was proving not to be cost effective. Christmas lights & tree: Several members expressed disappointment with the tree this year and the clerk stated that she had to get a different contractor, Richards Environmental, to come out and straighten the tree after the initial installation. She would look into another supplier next year. Request for a new bench – Little Shaw Lane: – Mr M Lay stated that a resident had requested a new bench to be installed along a popular walking route midway along the pathway to the Flying Horse Roundabout. Resolved, the Parish Council would give further consideration to the installation of a bench but the precise location needed to be agreed. Mr M Lay would follow the matter up. The Community Partnership Library Service: - Mrs M Bowler stated that concerns about volunteer time would be discussed at the next management meeting. Mr B Walmsley asked if there was any data regarding present footfall at the Library? Mrs M Bowler stated that she was not aware of any data at present. Mr T Lockley informed the members that the Library was changing focus; instead of just lending books, DVDs etc. it was becoming more of a community hub. Government Funding: - Mr D Sprason stated that Leics County

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Council’s current £56 million Government Support Grant for local services will cease by 2020. Local Authorities were working towards full business rate retention by 2020 which would allow the County Council to retain all business, subject to equalisation. This would mean that Leics County Council would be worse off and would be one of the lowest funded authorities in the Country and was facing a £19 million black hole in expenditure. Leics County Council had already saved £80 million over the previous four years by making cuts to bus subsidies, Libraries, cuts to youth services, tougher rules to access social care and the closure of museums. The Government has included in its projections an annual council tax increase of 2% plus a 2% council tax levy ring-fenced for social care. Only elected Mayors would be able to increase business rates as long as they have the support of the Local Enterprise Partnerships. There would also be a cut of £1.9million Public Health Services and charges for waste and recycling collection and rural transport would disappear. The County Council’s responsibility for schools was also disappearing so the School Support grant will disappear by 2020. It was envisaged up to 1400 county council jobs would be lost over 10 years. Erection of temporary offices and storage compound, land South of Cliffe Hill Road: - Mr D Sprason stated that the site was

being used during the construction works for the M1 Junction 22 improvement scheme. The contractor had not applied for planning permission for the depot and was told to stop construction but after a meeting with Leics County Council, Hinckley & Bosworth Borough Council and the company, Planning Officers had agreed that the works could go on until retrospective planning permission was obtained. H & BBC – Green waste recycling: - Mr M Lay stated that there had been over 2000 responses to the public consultation and that there had been a high level of support for Option 1, an increase in council tax of approximately £16.00 per year for all households from the 2016/17 council year, based on an average Band D property. He stated that the highest support for this option was from Markfield residents at 86%. There had been a low support for Option 2, the implementation of a £35.00 annual charge for householders only who wished to continue with the garden waste collection service. He felt that the Borough Council was ignoring the consultation by proposing a £5.00 increase in Council Tax for all for 2016/2017. Taylor Wimpey housing development on land south of Jacqueline Road: - Mr M Lay stated that much to his disappointment Planning Officers had recommended approval for the development. He stated that the Government had revised planning guidance again to encourage housing development in the open countryside, despite

the fact that parishes such as Markfield having met the targets set out in the 5 Year Land Supply. He stated that developers were controlling the land supply by sitting on over 600,000 plots of land with permissions granted while seeking more, claiming the planning process was slowing new developments down. The application would be considered at the next Borough Council Planning Meeting, to be held in February 2016. The members agreed that further consideration be given to drawing up a Neighbourhood Plan between the three parishes of Markfield, Groby & Ratby to fight future large scale developments. Mr T Lockley would approach the Rural Community Council to ask for someone to come and discuss Neighbourhood Plans with the Parish Council. 2015/2016 Winter Tree Programme of Works: - A schedule of works had been drawn up by Mr T Lockley and the clerk had asked 4 companies to quote for the work – closing date 6th December 2015. • Johnson Tree Care: 5252.50 • Eden Tree Care: 8975.00 • George Walker: 5795.00 -10% discount = 5225.00 • LCC: 6548.00 -10% discount = 5893.20 Resolved, the quotation from Johnson Tree Care @ £5252.50 exc. VAT was accepted. The Library Community Group agreed to pay £350.00 for the tree works on their land, included in the scheme.

Rich – but lonely MANY high-earning men are not as satisfied as you might think. They often resent the time their job takes, and secretly hanker to be home with their partner and children. Given the option, they would choose to earn less, in return for more free time. The research was carried out by sociologists at the University of Leicester, who call the problem “a form of work-life conflict.’

Hedgehogs in need ONLY A few weeks to go, and hedgehogs will be waking up from their winter sleep. Keep an eye out for them this Spring, and do try and offer food to any that you see. For hedgehogs are in trouble: numbers have more than halved in rural Britain in the last 15 years, where intensive farming and poor hedgerow management have destroyed their habitats. In the city it can be just as bad: fenced off gardens and lawns laid to concrete can mean death to a starving hedgehog. There are now believed to be less than a million hedgehogs left in the entire UK, according to the ‘State of Britain’s Hedgehogs 2015’ report. So here’s how to help your local hedgehog: Cut a five-inch square hole in the bottom of your garden fence, or remove a brick or two from the base of a wall, to let hedgehogs get through. Where possible, replace fences or walls with hedges. Don’t pave over your garden. Encourage insects with nectar-rich plants. Leave out meaty cat or dog food. Avoid treating your lawn with herbicide. Pile up logs to create a habitat for hedgehogs. Take care when clearing piles of leaves, in case you disturb one. And finally, please avoid using slug pellets! (Advice from Hedgehog Street)

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South Charnwood High School ‘encouraging excellence, valuing people’ Headteacher: Andrew Morris: Deputy Headteachers: Simon Andrews, Tina Corker Assistant Headteacher: Kathryn Juszkiewicz Business Manager: Angela Preston

LEARNING SUPPORT ASSISTANT Part time (25 hours per week, term time) - Temporary Required from 29th February 2016 to the 1st July 2016 an enthusiastic Learning Support Assistant to work for 25 hours per week over five days, supporting pupils with learning difficulties/disabilities in mainstream classes across the school (Years 7-11). Grade: 5 – Actual salary £8601.77 - £9382.46 per annum (depending on experience). Please see the school website at www.southcharnwood.leics.sch.uk for an information pack and application form. Alternatively, telephone 01530 242351 or email: hcarnan@southcharnwood.leics.sch.uk South Charnwood High School is a “Safer Recruitment School” and this position is a regulated activity. Closing date for applications: 12 noon, Monday 22nd February 2016 Interviews: TBC Broad Lane, Markfield, Leicestershire LE67 9TB Telephone: (01530) 242351 Fax: (01530) 244258 Email: office@southcharnwood.leics.sch.uk

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Local council spending has come under huge pressure Borough Councillor Matthew Lay writes in the Herald IT’S THE budget round again at the Borough Council - this is the time when the Council decides how much it needs to charge residents via the Council Tax so that bills can be issued before the start date on the 1st April. Despite all the talk of localism prior to its election the present government has been more controlling of local government finance than any previous government probably on record. This has meant that the spending of local councils has come under huge pressure and for the first time many are beginning to question if the provision of basic statutory service will be possible into the future. This concern is not a political point, it is spoken of in Councils up and down the country whatever political persuasion is in control. Indeed in recent months we have seen the well-publicised but bizarre spectacle of the Prime Minister complaining (in his role as a local MP) about huge cuts his local authority are making (which is under Tory control) as a direct result of the funding cuts the Government he is Prime Minister of is making. The leader of that Council has not been shy in responding to these bizarre complaints inviting the Prime Minister to see for himself the carnage being wrought on local councils; an invite I suspect will not be taken up. I would make a distinction between the challenges the Borough Council faces and those of the County Council. I have to admit looking at the position objectively the problems the County Council face are massive, mainly because they are responsible for the provision of adult social care in the community, a service we will in all likelihood depend on when we reach a certain age in life which many more of us are doing hence the rapidly increasing costs. Now I don’t want to stray too much into the problems of the County Council as it is not my responsibility but suffice to say we should all sit up and take notice, because the impact will be felt by all who live in our community, maybe not just yet for many of us, but in time we will all come to wonder how we let things get so bad. We also know

that the situation looks set to get worse year on year. How do we know this? Well the Government gives us all a forward look at what financial support Councils can expect in future years. This support largely comes in the form of something called the Revenue Support Grant (RSG). This is money taken from you and me, via national taxes such as Income Tax and VAT, and redistributed back to Councils. Well the future on this looks grim as this source of income is predicted to be almost done away with. It is this source of income plus the redistributed business rates, that for many years made up the bulk of all income local authorities in the UK received and spent. On top of this came the Council Tax and any further income like car park charges or discretionary service charges, which made up the difference in what was required. This was not always the case and if you go back more than a hundred years or more you will find that local Councils received almost all of their money from local taxes. This was in the days when local councils had real autonomy and freedom. Localism back than was real and meaningful not simply some vote catching slogan easily discarded when power is achieved. This local freedom achieved huge social progress in many parts of our nation. Local Councils acted where central government refused to intervene and essentially started to build the civil society we have valued for so long and take for granted but which is now under real threat. Developments in: public sanitation, drainage, drinking water, refuse collection, gas, electricity, public housing, primary healthcare, hospitals, libraries, education, basic welfare, the arts and much more were often driven or supported by local councils funded via local taxation and accountable to local people via the ballot box at local elections. It was also a time when some of the political giants who dominated politics for a generation after the war, came out of these local municipalities with a vision of building a better Britain based on actual experience of what was required not simply an ideological standpoint. Some would argue we need to go back to this and as things start to disintegrate these calls will grow louder. However it is not so easy to simply turn the clock back and I see little sign of central government

wishing to let local Councils do more and little sign of local councils showing the sorts of leadership required. In fact Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council are a case in point. They went to the bother of actually inviting people to respond to a consultation on choices available to them on funding local services. This choice was essentially to ask householders to pay more Council Tax (average of around £12 per band C property) or to introduce a green waste bin tax for those who want to opt into the service (stopped for everyone else who doesn’t) a service currently provided to almost every household in the Borough. This charge would be around £30 per annum so would actually cost much more than the increase in the Council Tax despite the increase in Council Tax delivering financial stability for the Borough. The problem here is the increase in Council Tax requires a referendum of local residents for it to go ahead (the bin tax doesn’t) due to the Government’s desire to control what Councils do. The results from the consultation were pretty unanimous in support of paying less (that is supporting the increase in Council Tax as opposed to the Bin Tax) to retain a universal service for all residents. The consultation wasn’t close, around 76% of respondents supported the option to raise Council Tax rather than introduce a bin charge, nevertheless the current rulers at Hinckley have decided to ignore it. Instead they are going to increase Council Tax by £5 per annum the maximum allowed and in all likelihood introduce the charging for green

Matthew Lay waste service next year 2017. You may ask how that makes sense; well so much in politics is not about doing what is right but what makes political capital. So in essence the administration at Hinckley and likewise the administration at Leicestershire County Council would rather convince people that they can shuffle the decks on the Titanic than admit the ship is sinking. The truth is that in private many Councillors admit the ship is sinking but they are waiting for the SS Californian to come to the rescue, well we know what happened in that story. No doubt the same Councillors will dress all of this up as some sort of success in the hope no one notices what is happening but in time it will become all too obvious and when it is so obvious it will sadly be a little too late.

Field Head housing application Finally for those interested and/ or concerned about the planning application for 140 houses off Ratby Lane in Field Head, the latest position is that it will be going to the planning committee on the 23rd Feb. Both Groby and Markfield Parish Councils have been working together to ensure that we can present the best legal arguments for why this application should be refused. I hope the Borough Council listen. The committee meeting is a public meeting so all are welcome to attend.

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Reminder to get dogs microchipped DOG owners in Hinckley and Bosworth are being reminded that they have until 6 April this year to ensure that their pets are microchipped. After this date the law is changing and if a dog is not microchipped, the owner may be served with a notice by the dog warden requiring them to microchip their dog within 21 days. Failure to comply with the notice may result in a £500 fine. Councillor Kevin Morrell, the Borough Council’s Executive Member responsible for the Environment, said: “All dog owners whose dogs are not yet microchipped are encouraged to contact the dog warden service to discuss the need to microchip their dog ahead of the April 2016 deadline.” Most responsible dog owners already Councillor Kevin Morrell with his dog Kerry and Dog Warden Anne McDonald, who microchipped Kerry. have their dogs chipped but those who have yet to chip them should contact their vets or the dog warden service on 01455 255946. Some owners have not yet microchipped their dogs because they are concerned it may hurt the animal. However, a microchip is only the size of a grain of rice and the dog warden will implant it under the skin using a special implant gun. No anaesthetic is required and the procedure should cause no more discomfort than a standard vaccination. To give dog owners the opportunity to microchip their pets, the dog warden service is holding two microchipping sessions in March as follows: Thursday 3 March between 2.30pm and 5.30pm at the Sports Pavilion, Alan’s Way, Newbold Verdon LE9 9LB. Tuesday 15 March between 3pm and 6pm at the Hinckley Hub, Rugby Road, Hinckley, LE10 0FR (owners are asked to use the Rugby Road entrance to the Hub). It will cost only £10 per dog and no appointment is necessary.: Each microchip has a unique identification number, which is registered to the dog and the owner’s details are placed on a national database. This number can then be read when a scanner is passed over the chip, enabling the dog warden to search the national database to find the owner’s details. The owner can then be contacted and reunited with their dog. Owners with chipped dogs are encouraged to ensure that their details are kept up to date at all times.

Takeaways RECENT research has discovered what most older people would find astonishing: that many 16 to 24 year-olds are going into debt to buy takeaways – simply in order to eat. It seems that so many young people today have never learned to cook, that when they are faced with a meal to prepare, they opt for takeaways, ready-meals, or even restaurants. A recent survey by the BBC’s Good Food magazine has found that 16 – 24 year olds spend an average of £63.65 a week on food, as compared with the average for adults of £57.30. Young people also spend an average of £28.26 eating in cafés and restaurants, as compared to the typical spend of adults of £17.22. The survey also found that the average 16 – 24 year old knows how to cook only four recipes. Children’s food campaigner Henry Dimbleby warns that “learning to cook is so important. It’s very expensive if you don’t learn to feed yourself, and it can also be a one-way ticket to a life plagued by diabetes and obesity.”

Family History at Markfield Library IF YOU’RE interested in tracing your family tree, there’s a new Family History Class at Markfield Library - every Thursday afternoon, from 1.30pm to 3pm. I have been attending for the past weeks and really enjoy it. Through the library service, there is free access to the well-known family history website, Ancestry.co.uk. The library staff are very helpful, and thanks to Di, I’ve already discovered lots of information about my ancestors. I can highly recommend it.

Maureen Houghton, Field Head

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Is your Community Project worth an Award? THE RCC in their role of supporting celebrating and promoting communities in Leicestershire & Rutland invite entries for the 2016 Achievement Awards. We are looking for Community Projects and Community Buildings which show that your community is a good place for everybody to live and which exhibit a high degree of volunteer involvement We are particularly interested in projects which: · are making a long term difference to your community · make the best use of local community assets · support vulnerable and disadvantaged people of all ages Projects should be current and must not have been entered before, unless enhancement has been carried out. · The Achievement Awards are open to any community with a population of 15 000 or less. Closing date is Friday 6th May 2016. Judging will take place between June 13th and 24th. Full details and entry forms can be downloaded from our website http://www.ruralcc.org.uk/ or contact Pat Crane on 01455 823537 or by email on patcrane33@gmail.com

Get smart over children’s toys HOW MANY toys do your children have? How many do they actually play with? If you spend your time wading through, falling over and trying to occasionally tidy up a great variety of toys around your house, here is a poignant finding: while most ten year olds have 238 toys each, they play with only about 12 favourites on a regular basis. It seems that the UK has the second highest ‘spend’ per child in the world – with the average child receiving about £508 worth of gifts per year. MyGiftClues.com, who conducted the research, offer a free online tool that aims to help adults choose longer lasting toys and gifts that their children will prefer.

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Community Orchard to be created in Botcheston RAW N PURE & Leicester Heritage Apples are creating an orchard in your community. We believe creating an orchard and investing in our wildlife for future generations will be beneficial in so many ways for so many people. No only providing a sustainable free source of fruit for the community but a beautiful space to relax and a haven for plants and animals as well as reducing emissions and food miles and taking carbon out of the atmosphere. But we can’t do it without you! Come meet new people, plant trees, learn new skills or just chill and have a picnic. The first planning meeting is Sunday 13th March at 2:30pm, 3 Markfield Lane, Botcheston Get involved - get in touch! Contact Sarah on 07812 990603 or email: rawnpure@rawnpure.org

Women’s World Day of Prayer Friday 4th March Receive children. Receive me Prepared By The Christian Women Of The Republic Of Cuba

• • •

Markfield Retirement Village, at 11.00 am Congregational Church, Markfield, at 2.30 pm St Mary’s Church, Stanton under Bardon, at 7.30 pm

Everyone (men, women and children) is invited to join in one of these services, which are always inspirational. Women’s World Day of Prayer is an international, ecumenical, prayer movement that invites women, from a different part of the world each year, to prepare a worship service through which their hopes and fears for their country may be brought before the whole world in prayer. On Friday 4th March an estimated 3 million people in over 170 countries and islands will gather to observe the day of prayer, using an order of service written by Christian women in Cuba and translated into over 60 languages and 1000 dialects. In the British Isles alone over 6,000 services will be held. The day begins as the sun rises over the island of Samoa and continues until it sets off the coast of American Samoa, 35 hours later. The theme ‘Receive children. Receive me’ reflects St Mark 10:13-16, which is the focus of the service and a reminder that everyone is a child of God and equally worthy of our love and respect. The Republic of Cuba is the largest Caribbean island, located at the entrance of the Gulf of Mexico and called ‘the Key to the Gulf ’. Politically at odds with the USA, Cuba suffered greatly due to the economic embargo imposed upon it in 1960 but has found strength within itself to move on and overcome many of its problems. Everyone is welcome to attend the service, men, women – of all ages.

Meet the Parish Nurse: Providing friendship, emotional support and spiritual care PERHAPS, like me, you saw the name and telephone number for our “Parish Nurse” in the Village Link or the Herald, and you were not sure who she is or what she does. I had the pleasure of meeting our Parish Nurse, Mrs Vera Harding, in January and I thought it might be useful for our readers to be introduced, so to speak, by means of this magazine. Vera, based at Crosshills Baptist Church for the past 8 years, is a volunteer who is a fully qualified nurse with wide-ranging community experience, and also a practising Christian. Vera explained to me that Parish Nurses are ready at the end of a telephone to provide emotional support and spiritual care to anyone in our parish community, of any faith, or none. Anyone who feels low, lonely, poorly or vulnerable can call Vera - number: 01530 230 557 and she will chat on the telephone or visit you at home, in hospital or in residential/nursing care. (Parish Nurses do not ‘cold call’ – they only visit with consent of the person concerned and confidentiality is maintained). Vera attended a meeting about Parish Nursing near Skegness, after Garry Kelly (pastor at Cross Hills Baptist Church), had read an advert in the Baptist Times newspaper and suggested that Vera might go, which she did. This led to her attending a course at Rugby and, after completing a portfolio became a qualified Parish Nurse. As a qualified teacher, she now also enjoys her role as Parish Nurse Educator.

Invitation to join ‘The Olive Branch’ Vera established and still runs the local social group ‘The Olive Branch’ for any adult who is lonely, bereaved, a carer, or would like company and the occasional social activity. And you would be very welcome to join. The Olive Branchers meet the first Monday of every month at Crosshills Baptist Church from 2 – 4pm, and the third Monday of each month for lunch, approximately 12.30 – 2pm at a local pub or restaurant. Vera is also planning a big spring fundraiser, with food and music, at Bagworth Community Centre (please ‘phone for details). So don’t be lonely – please get in contact: 01530 230 557

Parish Nurse Mrs Vera Harding interviewed by Jo Leadbetter

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I’ve never seen a tombstone that read:- “Died from not forwarding that e mail to 10 people.”

News from The Hub An update from Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council Leader, Cllr Mike Hall MY MOST important role as Leader of H&BBC is in setting direction and showing leadership in our community, so in my first piece of “News from the Hub” I want to give you some insight into what that means to me in practical ways, and how that is shaping some of my decisions. I believe in fairness in the way that we deliver our services across all of our communities. That means I want to see investment across all parts of the Borough, perhaps not on the same scale that Hinckley has seen in recent years, but proportionate for the size and needs of each particular area. We should be fair to you, our customers and Council Tax payers, who should not have to pay for everything that Council does through tax increases. Council will be increasingly generating income through investment in its assets, but there are also likely to be fair Council Tax rises to contribute towards the increasing costs of our services. We should be fair to Council employees, who are constantly looking to reduce costs and improve efficiencies, but they should be able to expect fair pay for the work that they do, and the opportunity to take on new and more challenging roles in what is a rapidly changing workplace. We should also be fair to businesses, listening to their concerns and where possible helping them to expand and to create more jobs, recognising that the business rates they pay contribute to the delivery of some of our local services. When Council recently consulted on increasing Council Tax by £16 it was because we needed to know how people felt about that possibility, and if it came to it, would you be prepared to vote for a tax increase, which would have been a legal requirement if we needed to make such a change. We also asked if you would continue to use the green waste collection service if a £35 charge was made. We could not have considered that possibility without first gaining the views of residents. If we have to resort to either of those options it will be as a last resort, having tried all other options. An area that I particularly want to influence is the way in which we decide on where new homes will be built. Council has a plan of where homes should be built up to 2026, but as we have seen in recent years that does not always prevent other sites from being developed. Myself, Council Officers and other Councillors recently met with a group of builders representatives to consider options for how we might meet our housing requirements beyond 2026. We will soon be repeating that exercise with representatives from our Parish Councils, so that we have their views. I know it sounds a long way off to be discussing 2026 and beyond, but that is what we have to do if we are to have a plan that will work. I’m also going to encourage every Parish Council to work with their community in order to deliver a Neighbourhood Development Plan. These will help our communities to grow in a way that they want to, and will become increasingly more important. As Council completes its annual budget setting exercise there will be changes, some will be visible some may not, but I hope over time they will lead to the Borough of Hinckley and Bosworth becoming a better place to work and live.

Volunteers required for HBBC consultation WE ARE looking for volunteers to come along to the council offices, to tell us what they think about some of our services. Please be assured that any feedback will remain anonymous, but will be really valuable in helping us to improve council services. If volunteers or someone a volunteer lives with is diabetic (or has regular injections or uses an EpiPen) that would be very useful for the feedback session. It is not essential, however. Volunteers can attend anytime between 9am – 4pm, on either 17 or 22 March 2016. The session will take around 45 minutes and will take place at: Hinckley & Bosworth Borough Council, Hinckley Hub, Rugby Road, Hinckley, Leicester LE10 0FR (Please note there is up to two hours free parking on site at the Hub). If you are willing to support this important area of work, please contact Anne Jones on 01455 255914,anne.jones@hinckleybosworth.gov.uk, indicating when you would like to attend.

Predictive text really gets my toga.

Markfield Community and Sports Centre Toys on the Table Appeal – A BIG Thank you ON BEHALF of the Leicester Mercury’s Christmas Toys on the Table Appeal can I give a big thank you to all those who kindly supported the appeal. The Centre’s office was laden with a huge pile of donated toys and, no doubt, brought some happiness to many deprived children at Christmas. Well done Markfield and your support is much appreciated.

New Year’s RESOLUTIONS SITTING here writing this article I know that I have regrettably already broken my New Year’s Resolution to quit smoking as I am puffing away as I type. So, I was wondering how many of you have also failed or are on the verge of “giving up” with your efforts to stay fit and healthy. Here at the Centre we have many activities that can help you succeed in your endeavors. They include: • Fitness Classes for all ages and abilities • Martial Arts for all ages • Weight Watchers • Relaxation Classes such as Yoga and Arts classes • Dance Classes for all ages • Indoor and Outdoor games • Football Training for younger people • Community Groups for Parents and toddlers as well as older people There are currently 79 classes as listed above that are open to the public on a weekly basis and these can all help you with your own personal health and wellbeing so, come along and give them a try. Details and information on clubs, classes and sessions can be found on our website, posters at the Centre or by simply calling at the Centre.

Surprise 30th Birthday Party ON SATURDAY 2nd January a surprise 30th Birthday Party was organised by villager Dan Carr for his wife Kellie. Apparently Dan had to use a lot of subterfuge to get Kellie to the party without her knowing especially as their son Finley nearly let the “cat out of the bag” a few days earlier. Their daughter Kelly together with family and friends celebrated Kellie’s BIG Thirtieth with a live band Fire and Skill along with a delicious hog roast. Happy Birthday Kellie from all at the Centre.

60th Birthday Party Celebration On Saturday 15th January villager Audrey Keen along with her partner Barry Dunn and family and friends from far and wide across the country celebrated her 60th birthday at the Centre. People had come from Ireland, Scotland and many parts of England to join in the celebration. Audrey did not want any personal birthday presents but, as an animal lover, she requested that people brought along gifts of pet food. A huge pile of pet food duly arrived and is to be kindly donated to Redgates Animal Sanctuary and Leicester Animal Rescue – what a kind thought.

Barry Dunn and Audrey Keen and wellbeing. It only costs £1 per session and you get a “cuppa” and biscuits included.

Mayflower Friendship Club Dan & Kellie Carr and children

Mayflower Club Update After the Christmas holidays and “recovering” from the Mayflower Club’s Air Ambulance we started the New Year off with a gentile Beetle Drive session. However, things soon livened up when we held a “Day at the Races” event at the club’s session on the 20th January. The excited “punters” placed their bets ( mickey mouse money) on their favourite horses with the aim of accumulating the most cash at the end of six races shown on the big screen. The crescendo was the last race where punters furiously bid to own a horse for the race. The overall stakes and owner winner was Dinah Standley who scooped the biggest pop of “cash” and the owner’s championship with her horse Chinese Slipper. It was great fun especially watching them all enthusiastically banging the tables and cheering their horses on. On the 13th January Charlotte Mason came along to give a talk a very interesting talk about the work of the Air Ambulance Service. Like many others I didn’t realise that the service is a charity and receives no Government funding yet it is out there every day of the year saving lives. It’s Air Ambulance paramedics, doctors and pilots attend a variety of emergency rescue situations including road collisions, serious sporting injuries, severe burns, industrial accidents and medical emergencies that require rapid response. The service is four times faster than a road journey but costs £1,700 for each rescue mission. What a marvelous voluntary service this is and deserves every support we can give it. As you are reading this article we will have also held a special “Burns Night and a Memory Lane session and I will report back on these next month. If you have missed out, don’t worry as we have many more exciting sessions in the planning as follows: 10th February Valentines 17th February Pancake Day “Race” 24th February Personal Safety 16th March St.Patrick’s Day Celebration 23rd March Easter Parade 21st April The Queen’s 90th Birthday Tea Party If you would like to join in DON’T BE SHY just turn up at the Centre on Wednesday afternoons 2pm to 4pm. You will meet some lovely people and have some fun as well as getting good information on things that affect your life

Just a reminder that the Centre is now running the Monday afternoon Mayflower Friendship Club from 2pm to 4pm. This is a lovely social club for the more elderly residents who can enjoy indoor games and have light refreshments over a “cuppa” with friends old and new. It only costs £1 per session so, please come along and enjoy the company.

New At The Centre New Pilates Power Class starting Thursday 18th February class commencing at 7.30pm for further information please contact Keely-Anna on 07500 554736 Tots Play starting Wednesday mornings as from the 30th March

• Table Top Sales Weekly table top sales are now taking place at the Centre on Friday mornings from 8.30am to 12 noon. This is a chance for you to either pick up a bargain or sell goods you may have. Entrance is only 50p.

• Weight Watchers Now is your chance to lose a few pounds in weight after the Christmas festivities as Weight Watchers is back at the Centre on Monday evenings with sessions starting at 7.30pm.

• Mature Movers Mature Movers take place on Tuesday evenings from 6.45pm to 7.30pm – this is specifically for the over 50’s helping them to stay fit and active. For further information please contact Keely-Anna on 07500 554738

• Mature Keep Fit Friday mornings from 9.30am to 10.30am

• Insanity Keep Fit Tuesday evenings 6pm to 7pm for the more active – please contact 07944 291637 for further details

• Ballet Classes Royal Academy of Dance is now holding new ballet classes on Tuesdays as follows: Baby Ballet (2-4 years): 3pm to 3.45pm Primary Ballet (4 years plus): 3.45pm to 4.30pm Grade 1 Ballet: 4.30pm to 5.15pm

I had a happy childhood, my Dad would put me inside a tyre and roll me down a hill, they were Goodyears.

NEWS

Mayflower Club Christmas Party Grade 2 Ballet: 5.15pm to 6pm Grade 3 Ballet: 6pm to 6.45pm

Money Saving Special Offer Have you got a family celebration, party, charity fund raiser or other event coming up that requires a licensed bar? If so, why not take advantage of our special offer of free room hire for such events. This offer will save you lot of money and help you enjoy your special day. For further details please contact the Centre. For bookings and enquiries please contact Markfield Centre and Sports ,Mayflower Close, Markfield LE67 9ST on 01530 242240 or email markfieldcomunitycentre@hotmail.co.uk or you can visit our website www. markfield communitycentre.com to view our facilities, latest news, photo gallery and information about the Centre.

My mate bemoans the fact he canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t get a girlfriend, even though he speaks two languages fluently, English and Klingon.

New clinical computer system to be introduced at Markfield Medical Centre ON TUESDAY 5th April 2016 Markfield Medical Centre will be moving to a new clinical computer system called SystmOne. This is a major piece of work for the practice team and we ask for your help, support and patience over the coming weeks. There may be some disruption to services leading up to and during the ‘Go-Live’ week. The practice has made a decision to change the GP clinical record system to a new clinical records system, which brings additional benefits to both the practice and patients. SystmOne is currently used in GP practice, Child Health services, Community services, Prisons, Hospitals, Urgent Care and Out of Hours services, Palliative care services and Receive children. Receive me many more. SystmOne has an important function of records sharing, where, if you happen to use any of the above prepared by the Christian women of the Republic of Cuba services, they may be able to access your medical records. This will allow us to share your records, which would be in your best interest. Markfield Village, at 11.00 am Some of the advantagesRetirement of the new system: • Greatly enhanced functionality the Clinical &at Admin Congregational Church,forMarkfield, 2.30Team pm • Greater integrated working with other healthcare agencies reducing duplication and improving patient safety. St Mary’s Church, Stanton under Bardon, at 7.30 pm • Improved SMS messaging functionality The changeover is well planned; however we have been advised thatinwe will need to reduce services during some Everyone (men, women and children) is invited to join weeks. one of these services, which are always inspirational. Despite training and preparation, there is no doubt that for the first few weeks we are going to be slower and we ask that youWorld please Day be patient withisour staff as they get to grips with the new system. Women’s of Prayer an international, ecumenical, prayer Our main training period will be from 15th March 2016 15theach Aprilyear, 2016 and clinics will be slightly reduced in movement that invites women, from a different part of theto world to prepare a worship through which their hopes and fears for their order that the staff canservice receive training on the new system. country may be brought before the world in prayer. Pre-bookable appointments will bewhole limited during the period 22nd March 2016 through to the week of 11th April 2016. On Friday 4th March an estimated 3 million people in over 170 countries From the 25th repeat prescribing practice will be issuing double prescriptions in order and islands willFebruary gather tofor observe themedication day of prayer, using an the order of written by Christiandue women in Cuba and in translated into over period. 60 toservice avoid repeats becoming at critical points the changeover languages dialects. In the British Isles alone over services Patients willand not1000 be adversely affected by this change over;6,000 however, if you are registered for Online Access, you will be held. The day for begins as the sun rises over island of Samoa will need to re-register online prescriptions andthe appointments withand SystmOne. continues until it sets off the coast of American Samoa, 35 hours later.

Women's World Day of Prayer Friday 4th March

Online Appointments & Text Reminders The theme ‘Receive children. Receive me’Message reflects St Mark 10:13-16,

Newbold Verdon Jazz Club FRIDAY, 5TH FEBRUARY saw New Orleans Heat performing at Newbold Verdon Jazz Club. This popular traditional jazzband entertained us with a wide selection of New Orleans style jazz including lively versions of Weary Blues, Louisiana Fairytale and Kid Thomas Boogie. Roger Bird gave us a very good St Philip Street Breakdown on clarinet, always a challenging number. Barry Grummet as always was superb on piano playing various boogie style numbers. The other members of the band provided excellent accompaniments and vocals. It was very good to see several new faces in the audience, swelling the numbers and making for a great atmosphere. We always welcome new people and hope they will all come back next month when we have a superb band; Baby Jools and the Jazzaholics. They will be at the regular venue of Newbold Verdon Social Club on Friday 4th March at 8.00pm. The doors are open at 7.00pm and drinks and rolls at club prices are available. For all the family

Saturday 19th March Bagworth Community Centre 4.00-5.30pm

Children of all ages - get a parent, aunt, uncle, grandparent, friend or neighbour to bring you There will be lots of things to

whichTO is the focus of the service and a reminder that everyone is alogin child of DUE THE new clinical records system, the old for online appointments will, no God and equally worthy of March our love and respect. longer work from 7th 2016. The will identify patients who useisland, this service and we will automatically send you new details after Thepractice Republicstaff of Cuba is the largest Caribbean located at the entrance of the Gulfyou of Mexico ‘the Key to the Gulf’. Politically the 5th April so that can useand thecalled SystmOne online service.. However if you have not received any details by at end oddsofwith theplease USA, contact Cuba suffered greatlyWe duedo to apologise the economic embargo the April the surgery. for any inconvenience caused during this time. upon it in 1960 buthave has found withintelephone itself to move on in our records. Please help us to ensure Itimposed is also important that we up tostrength date mobile numbers andwe overcome many of its details problems. that have your current in our records. This service is to help patients from missing valuable appointments and to inform you of any the practice may need you to be aware of, however, if you do not wish to Everyone is welcome tochanges attend thethat service, men, women – of all ages. have this service, please inform reception to take this option off your records.

Refreshments provided including chocolate, hot cross buns and fruit drinks Children must be accompanied by an adult Organised by Holy Rood Church and the Benefice of Markfield, Thornton, Bagworth, Stanton under Bardon and Copt Oak

Are you in control of yo or do your finances con

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Can you save up to pay things you need... or do them all ‘later’ - with in

in Markfield initiative

Contact details:

An opportunity to relax, find peace and 'reflect' on our place in the world. With creative suggestions for reading, thinking and exploring prayer.

Congregational Church Hall - 6-7pm Thursdays 25th February, 28th April, 26th May, 23rd June Come for as long as you wish and leave when you want. Refreshments available. All are welcome.

Steph Beeston-Clarke Lead CAP Money Coach stephbc@hotmail.co.uk 01530 243606 07572 852684 https://capuk.org/i-wanthelp/cap-money-course/ course

Come on the CAP mone help with building a bud saving for the future. It for anyone and everyon their financial situation bad– and is completely

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Further information: Rosemary (242844)

While at the Chemists, they told me I should stop taking vitamins. “Why?” I asked. “Because shoplifting is illegal,” they said.

I was so disappointed after travelling all that way to see the Great Wall of China, it wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t made of china at all.

How much do you trust other people?

Markfield & Thornton Theatre Group

Sleeping Beauty Review INCOMPETENT fairies led by a Queen who won’t get out of bed and a King who thinks he’s a policeman. A hipswinging Elfin Safety Officer called Elfis. A wandering knight who wonders what he’s doing in the story. Two dastardly villains for the price of one. A cartwheeling Dame. A toybox full of dancing toys, including a Tellytubby. Choreography shimmying smoothly from elegance to hilarious parody. Love is an Open Door for Sleeping Beauty and the disguised Prince who was in the enchanted forest all along. Never mind your big celebrity pantos – local amateur panto is the real deal, and MTTG’s annual panto leaves many others far behind. Jokes tumbled so fast from the script that it was hard to keep up, only to be topped by the visual gags. My 8-year-old son (who wasn’t going to come because “it’s a girl’s story”) and I have not laughed so much since...last year’s Beauty and the Beast. Sleeping Beauty is the 20th panto Muriel Walker has written and directed. She’s at the top of her game. She is brilliant at mixing timeless stories and panto conventions with fresh surprises and contemporary twists. I enjoyed her pantos at South Charnwood School more than 30 years ago when I lived in Thornton. Now they really are outstanding. Her consistently strong cast knew how to get the best from an audience without ever overdoing it. And all for ridiculously low ticket prices. A show whose matinee sells out within an hour to people from all over Leicestershire scarcely needs a review. My local panto would love to be so popular. But if you haven’t seen one of MTTG’s shows recently, be sure to get your tickets early for the next - while they still last. Or join the Group, and have fun every Wednesday evening at Thornton Community Centre!

David Hawker, Long Eaton

Go ukelele crazy at Markfield Methodist Church! GO UKULELE CRAZY is a community of ukulele players of all levels, most of whom could not strum a chord when they started. Founded in 2010 after a ukulele was bought as a simple Christmas present, Go Ukulele Crazy now has over 200 players a week over 9 locations across the Midlands. All members have a passion for music within the community and like to share the thrill of playing and singing in a large group. Their enthusiasm is infectious and, under the baton of their vivacious leader Joanna Stevenson, audiences need little encouragement to tap their feet and join in an eclectic mix of songs. In fact it could be said that audience participation is almost obligatory! The band will be performing at Markfield Methodist Church on Friday, March 18th at 7.30. Admission is by ticket priced £6 adults, £3 children, and all proceeds are for Project Malwi Trust - a charity the church has supported for a number of years. So, join us for an evening of fun and Go Ukulele Crazy for Malawi! For tickets call: 01530 242607, 242166, 244867

HERE IS a rather depressing statistic: about half of the British population believes that those around them should not be trusted, and even admit that if they had the chance, they would take advantage of anyone who trusted them. This finding comes from the recent British Social Attitudes survey. Apparently this high level of overall lack of trust towards others has remained consistently high since the 1990s, throughout nearly two decades of major social and technological change. But there is always a bright side: for another full 47 per cent of those questioned believed exactly the opposite, and felt that other people COULD generally be trusted. As one researcher said, there is a big debate to be had “about what it is that underpins trust.” Doctor: ‘The best thing you can do is give up drinking and smoking and start eating healthy foods.’ Patient: ‘What’s the second best thing?’

Roll up, Roll up! At the Century Theatre, Coalville

Disney Delights & Musical Magic ! th

Saturday 5 March 2016 Starring the Dancers of Expressions Dance with fabulous singer Natalie Nightingale Programme includes a ‘Frozen’ sing-along!

Curtain up: 6.30pm Adults £8, Children (under 15) £5 Tickets: Century Theatre, Snibston Website or Box Office, or call: 01530 278 444 The timeless magic of toe-tapping music gorgeous songs, and fabulous dancing

I used to be in a band called ‘Missing Cat’. You probably saw our posters.

News from MARKFIELD COMMUNITY LIBRARY Knit and Stitch

OUR KNIT and stitch group have been meeting now for quite a while but always welcome new members. They are a really friendly group and not only do they knit, but they natter too, over a cuppa! Over time they have produced all manner of knitted items ranging from scarves, baby clothes, jumpers, hats, gloves even necklaces. They would love new people to join them, whether you are a novice knitter or a Kaffe Fassett. They meet every Thursday lunchtime between 1.00pm and 3.00pm here in the library, so just bring your needles and wool, meet new friends, enjoy a cuppa and knit away.

Blind Date with a Book IT’S VALENTINE’S Day so why not make a blind date with a book. It could be a lorra lorra laughs! Here’s how it works…we have handpicked books from various genres and wrapped them up with a personal ad on the front tempting you to take the book out. You pick a book which looks the most appealing and take it out on loan…..but please don’t unwrap it until you get home. You will then have a surprise surprise and the possibility of reading a book you would never have chosen. So let us know what your thoughts are Did You Turn It Down or are you planning to go on a Second Date with the Author.

Book Sales WE ARE pleased to say that we are now able to offer books for sale. We have been donated hundreds of books and we have filled a full rack of books for sale. We believe we have priced them fairly with

most paperbacks 50p whilst the hardback and childrens books have been individually priced. Many of the books are almost brand new, including some of the latest autobiographies. We have even been given almost complete works by authors like Alexander McCall Smith and trilogies such as the Millennium series. There might have been the odd rare find too, but we couldn’t possibly say - the donor might want it back! So next time you call into the library to take a book out on loan have a peek at our sale rail too.

Volunteers IF YOU can spare an hour or so a week, please join us as a library volunteer. We are open most days each week and you will be given all the help, advice and training you need to be part of our wonderful volunteer group. You may be interested in the administrative side of the library such as working with the public behind the counter issuing, renewing or ordering books. Perhaps you might be interested in helping with some of the events in the library or maybe with some of our clubs and groups. We would like to start an IT class, so if you can help with that please let us know. Whether you can spare 1, 2 or 12 hours a week and no matter what you would like to offer we would love to hear from you. Call into the library, or if you prefer email markfieldlibrary@gmail.com for more details.

Oral History IN CONJUNCTION with the Markfield Local History Group we are hoping to begin oral history sessions where people can come to the library and talk to us about their experiences of life in and around Markfield - or further afield for that matter.

We hope to record the sessions on tape and keep them for posterity to share with future generations or more generally for people who are interested in social history. If you are interested in taking part or for more information please email markfieldcommunitylibraryevents@mail.com

Half Term REMEMBER we are open throughout half term and have childrens’ and teen books aplenty. We have everything from picture books to Twilight and remember you an take out up to 12 - yes 12 - books at a time. Don’t forget also we have our regular Reading and Rhymes session every Friday between 9.15 and 10.00. For more information about any of our activities or events please call into the library or email markfieldcommunitylibraryevents@mail.com

Spring Harmony - an evening of Spring Music THE GRIFFIN Singers is a long established choral group which has been singing for over 30 years, performing a variety of music for many events and community groups. On Saturday 19th March 2016 the Griffin Singers will be visiting Kirby Muxloe Free Church to present Spring Harmony - an evening of spring music. The Musical Director is Lance Atter. There will be a wide variety of items including showbiz numbers, choral classics, humorous items, both sung and spoken and some Easter items. All proceeds from the evening will go towards the Kirby Muxloe Free Church roof repair project. Everyone is invited the show starts at 7.30pm. Entry costs £8, and this includes tea and coffee. For tickets, call 0116 239 3173 or email: admin@kirbyfree.org

My girlfriend and I like to dress up as Adrian Balboa and Apollo Creed, I think we’re going through a Rocky patch.

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Saturday 19th March Bagworth Community Centre 4.00-5.30pm

Children of all ages - get a parent, aunt, uncle, grandparent, friend or neighbour to bring you There will be lots of things to

Are you in control of your money... or do your finances control you? Can you save up to pay for the things you need... or do you pay for them all ‘later’ - with interest? Contact details: Steph Beeston-Clarke Lead CAP Money Coach stephbc@hotmail.co.uk 01530 243606 07572 852684 https://capuk.org/i-wanthelp/cap-money-course/ course

Come on the CAP money course for help with building a budget and saving for the future. It is suitable for anyone and everyone whatever their financial situation – good or bad– and is completely confidential. There will be a new course starting in the Spring - watch this space! Contact Steph to find out more or to book your place. Come on your own, with a friend or in a group.

I couldn’t find the oxo cubes anywhere in our local shop today. They must have been out of stock.

Gardening Spot with Joanne Kennedy NOW IS THE time to look at summer flowering bulbs - a wonderful addition to borders and a great infill between perennials and shrubs. Try the Bishop series of Dahlias: Llandaff (bright red with black leaves); Leicester (pink) and York (pale yellow). Cannas’ 100cm height gives an exotic feel to borders – Wyoming (bright orange) or Tropicanna Black (red flowers and black leaves). Try Apaganthus and Lily varieties. All of the above should be started off in pots filled with multi-purpose compost, initially in a conservatory or greenhouse, before planting out in May when the threat of frost is over. Other bulbs such as Crocosmias and Irises will survive throughout the winter in borders. There are many Irises to choose from – tall bearded varieties such as Jane Phillips (pale mauve flowers - pictured), or Sable (dark purple flowers), with both growing to 90cm. Smaller varieties such as Iris Pallida (lavender blue flowers) grows to 60cm. Look on the internet and in books for colours and varieties to suit any border. There are several sizes of Crocosmias to choose from - flowering from August onwards. Taller varieties such as Lucifer (dark red flowers); Masonorum (orange flowers) and smaller varieties such as George Davidson (lemon/yellow flowers) or Emberglow (orange flowers). It’s definitely worth adding some summer bulbs into your garden as they are low maintenance, popping up each year to give additional colour in your garden.

Things to do in the garden this month • • • •

• • • •

Clean greenhouses, sheds and tools Prepare vegetable beds and cover with cloches Buy potatoes and leave them to chit in a cool dry place Prune winter flowering shrubs if they have finished flowering – see websites such as Crocus and The RHS website. The RHS Pruning and Training manual by Christopher Brickell and David Joyce is a good reference book Cut back any ornamental grasses before new growth appears Prune evergreen hedges Divide snowdrop clumps if finished flowering Move established deciduous shrubs - but not if the ground is waterlogged as the roots will rot

Plants of the month •

•

Hellebores are small evergreen perennials that start to flower from February through to April. Cut off old leaves to see the flowers and then cut off the old flower heads in May. Daphne odora Aureomarginata - This evergreen shrubs has intensely fragrant, pink blossoms which appear in early spring. Eventually grows to 1.5m high and wide. Carex oshimensis Evergold (pictured) A small evergreen grass which brings brightness to a drab winter garden.

Joanne Kennedy has been designing gardens for over 10 years and since then she has helped hundreds of clients with their gardens.

News from Cross Hills Baptist Church Serving the villages of Thornton & Bagworth plus the surrounding area We’d love to welcome you during 2016 to our services that start each Sunday at 10.30am. We have an active Sunday Club for children and young people catering right through from babies to age 15. Please feel free to come along and join in with us as we sing, pray and praise God for all that is good in our lives and in our lovely community. If you wish to talk to or have a visit from our Pastor then please feel free to call him on the number below between 9.30am to 12.30pm, remembering that shared problems and troubles are God’s special subject. Watch out for Easter this year as it’s early, Palm Sunday 20th March and Easter Day 27th March. We shall be meeting each morning during Holy Week at Robert Holmes’s house and anyone is welcome to join us during this special time more details to follow next month.

We have a message below from Vera, our Parish Nurse:

Olive Branch Club The Olive Branch Club has been increasing in numbers and members always enjoy our meetings, held on the first Monday of each month from 2pm to 4pm in the hall at Cross Hills Baptist Church. Chat, refreshments and fun – these always go down well! We have also had many interesting speakers and some of those coming up in the next few months are: • Monday 1st February: Sharon Bee, who is starting a Stroke Club at Thornton - we are hoping to work together. Unfortunately, by the time you receive this issue of The Herald you will have missed our February meeting, but you can always come along in March and April! • Monday 7th March: AGM, followed by a Quiz. • Monday 4th April: Tai Chi with Michael Cashmore. Tai Chi is advocated for maintenance of good posture and balance,

important for the prevention of falls, which is a huge problem for older people. The Olive Branch Club also goes out to lunch each month to a variety of places and these are always happy social occasions. All adults are welcome to join us, whether you come alone or with a partner or friends. There is no charge for the meetings but we do ask for £1 towards the refreshments. Why stay at home alone with your TV? – come along and make new friends. I am always available for a confidential chat or advice if required at these meetings. If you want any more information, or perhaps you would like to speak to me about getting to a meeting, please contact me on my number below as I may be able to help.

Vera (Parish Nurse) Church Services For further details about our services, please see the Church Service Information towards the back of this magazine or use any of the contact numbers below. We are known as a very friendly and welcoming church and look forward to meeting you.

Contact Numbers Pastor: Garry Kelly: 01455 457802/07816 616189 Secretary: Lynda Kelly: 01455 457802/07910 440243 Treasurer: Glynis Straw: 01530 230272 Parish Nurse: Vera Harding: 01530 230557

Glynis Straw

On behalf of the Cross Hills Church family

It’s easy to spot people who can’t count to ten. They’re in front of you in the supermarket express lane.

I always go to work wearing baggy trousers in honour of my favourite band. My wife thinks it’s Madness.

26 Budget 2016 YOU WILL all have been aware of HBBC’s recent consultation to address the deficit left to us by the outgoing Lib/Dem Administration in which residents were asked to choose between a 16.76% increase on your Council Tax or a £35.00 charge on your green waste. Obviously an increase over 2 % would need a referendum and the response was an increase on the Council Tax. Due to a change in Government Laws, we are now able to bring forward a balanced budget that will include a £5.00 increase only on Council Tax as HBBC are in the lowest quartile of Local Authorities nationally, and that amount is to be charged at Band D so C & B will be cheaper. This will be a yearly charge on properties. Also we are introducing a yearly £25.00 green waste charge on the brown bin. This charge will be optional and the payment will be spread across the year. Those not wishing to pay will have their brown bin taken away at no cost. These charges regrettably have to be brought forward as we are all residents and share the same burden. It will mean that front line services are protected and will continue to deliver. We also have agreement that our HRA Building Programme has been given the green light to go ahead. We have just undertaken a 2 day consultation in Groby about our plans to build 9 new bungalows on Martinshaw Lane which we had very positive feedback from together with a development in conjunction with a housing association company in Hinckley and the refurbishment

Borough Councillors’ Report Chris Boothby & Ozzy O’Shea

forward education programmes and help with home security. To that end, we have secured a further £25,000 to help with improving this service and will be working with the voluntary community sector (vcs) so we can look at more wide ranging issues including mental health and vulnerable people.

Heath Road THERE HAS been activity on the land known locally as Finney’s Hill and our Enforcement Officer has been on site.

Cllr Chris Boothby Tel: 0116 2388301 or 07880 711222 Email chris.boothby@hotmail.com

Cllr Ozzy O’shea Tel 0116 2394336 or 07808585825 Email ozzyoshea@hotmail.com

of Ambion Court in Mkt Bosworth. Despite the 1% reduction in council rents over the next 4 years we are still able to deliver these building projects.

and not indicative of the village. This is an ongoing issue across the Borough as a whole and these measures are being brought forward to protect the residents of the Borough as every person has the right to live in their community free of the above.

Public Space Protection Orders THERE HAS been a lot of media interest in these new orders recently which are under consultation as we speak but unfortunately they have missed the bigger picture altogether. These orders, which will replace the Designated Public Place Orders in June 2016, have a wide ranging effect which include dangerous dogs, dog fouling, drug and alcohol misuse, gatherings of youths in public places and anti-social behaviour. The story of Ratby and the collection of gas cannisters found on a business park is an old one

Community Safety Investment AS CHRIS is the Exec. Member for Community Safety and working alongside Ozzy, he felt that this service had not been given enough attention or investment compared to other front line services. Community Safety is such a diverse and wide ranging issue that it was was felt that more investment was needed. We do have an existing budget that is topped up from the Office of Police & Crime Commissioner to bring

We have obtained a court injunction preventing any further work as the top soil had been removed and the entrance widened. Today the entranced had tarmac laid down and a caravan and a vehicle were on site. HBBC will be going to court to have these vehicles removed as this does not comply with previous court conditions.

Increase in domestic burglary WE ARE aware of an increase in domestic burglaries in Barlestone and Bagworth. The Community Safety Team at HBBC and the Police are now on the ground in these villages reassuring residents that this was a temporary spike of 24-48 hrs caused by a travelling group of criminals who have since moved on. We take your safety very seriously and work in conjunction with the Police to prevent such actions .To that end , please report any further incidents or suspicious vehicles to the Police. Regards

Chris and Ozzy Working for you.

St Peter’s Church Spot

A delve into the Visitors’ Book THE ORIGINAL Visitors’ Book in St Peters was opened in June 1995 at the Festival Weekend when the Friends of St Peter’s organisation was launched. The present version replaced it in 2011 to mark the centenary of the installation of the organ. Some time after Christmas I received a telephone request from a person who described himself as a member of staff at Canterbury Cathedral, to visit St Peters. This reminded me of a previous occasion when I answered the door to two people who similarly wished to borrow the church key. Nothing unusual in that, except that it transpired that these folk, whose home was in Surrey, had been spending a weekend in Lincoln with relatives and were making their way home. Now admittedly my Geography isn’t that good - but Lincoln to Surrey via Thornton? It turned out that they had read about St Peter’s in Simon Jenkins’ book, ‘A Thousand Best Churches’, in which St Peter’s is mentioned. What fame is ours! (As an aside, it is worth recording that St Peter’s received, a grant of for the recent organ restoration from a trust set up by a pupil of Simon Jenkins so that ‘people may derive as much pleasure from England’s heritage as I have’.) As always I ask such enquirers to record their visit in our Visitors’ Book. I find the entries fascinating and commend the exercise to you. The book records the visits of people from such far away places as Australia, Canada, America, Japan, China and New Zealand, as well as those from the four corners of our own country:- from Peterborough and Plymouth, Lichfield and Liverpool. And, of course, it brings to mind those youngsters of ours whose names are recorded in childish hand, who have ventured forth to pastures new in the Armed Forces, at College and University, or to employment of various kinds. It is our hope that at some time in the future they will return to look up this record of their visit to this historical place of worship.

Martin Foster My friend Sid has started calling himself S. He’s had to, someone stole his ID.

Enjoy Laughter at LOROS! Friday 19th February at 8pm

LOROS HOSPICE will be playing host to their very own comedy gig after teaming up with Dave’s Leicester Comedy Festival as part of their latest campaign. Comedians Jack Campbell and Lloyd Griffith will be performing at the event, which is taking place on Friday 19th February at the Hospice and is a new addition to the annual festival programme. The gig, which is called ‘Laughter At LOROS’, is part of the Hospice’s two-week long campaign, ‘Laughing With LOROS’ which will be running alongside the comedy festival from 3rd to 21st February. CEO of Dave’s Leicester Comedy Festival Geoff Rowe said: “We’re really pleased to be working with LOROS this year, and supporting the great work they do. “The comedy show at the Hospice, together with the ‘Laughing With LOROS’ campaign, are great additions to the programme for Dave’s Comedy Festival 2016.” Jack Campbell, who was crowned English Comedian of the Year in 2014 and has also performed at the likes of Australia’s Adelaide Fringe Festival, will be hosting the evening. Performing on the night will be Lloyd Griffith, who has not only appeared on BBC3’s ‘Sweat the Small Stuff ’, and BBC Radio 1’s Live Lounge Comedy Club but also supported up-and-coming comedian Rob Beckett on his 20132014 sold-out tour. Fundraising Co-ordinator Dave Nicklin said: “We’re so pleased to be working with Dave’s Leicester Comedy Festival. “Although the main aim of the campaign is to have a laugh for LOROS, we are also trying to dispel some of the myths surrounding Hospices. “Some people might be scared of coming to LOROS, others might feel worried it is an unhappy place to be but we want people to see that, while we do care for terminally ill people at LOROS, it’s actually a very bright and happy place. “Not only will the campaign and event raise money for LOROS but it will get people through the door, so they can see for themselves, what an amazing place the Hospice is.” Throughout the duration of the festival, as part of ‘Laughing With LOROS’, the team at the Hospice are asking people to do something funny to raise money for them. From taking a bath full of baked-beans, to telling a joke a day, LOROS wants everyone to get involved. Dave added: “This is a completely new campaign that we want everyone to get involved with. “And if people don’t necessarily want to do something funny for LOROS themselves, they can always put a smile on our patient’s faces by donating through the campaign’s JustGiving page.” The event, ‘Laughter At LOROS’, will be taking place at the Hospice on Friday 19th February, at 8pm, with tickets costing £9, all of which goes to LOROS. To find a link to the JustGiving page, to buy tickets to the show, or to find out more about the campaign, ‘Laughing With LOROS’, visit: loros.co.uk/laughing

Success for local dance students CONGRATULATIONS to Keely-Anna’s dance students, who recently took Royal Academy of Dance (R.A.D.) ballet exams at grade 1 (pictured), grade 2 and grade 6. All the students did a fantastic job, each passing with merit, bringing pride to their whole dancing family. Though few students go on to become professional dancers, R.A.D. qualifications are universally recognised as a hallmark of excellence, so this amazing achievement will remain something to be proud of throughout their lives. R.A.D. qualifications are also recognised by universities, and the Grade 6 girls now have fantastic extra 35 UCAS points to use to help achieve their dreams! Well done girls! Keely-Anna is so proud of you all. Now you need to keep up the hard work ready for the April spectacular: Beauty and the Beast.

When I say I’m in a really good place, I don’t mean mentally. I mean the alcohol section of the grocery store.

Local Church Services Without Walls Christian Fellowship, 135 Main St Stanton Under Bardon Sunday 14th February. Special guest speaker Service 10am with church lunch after Tuesday 16th Feb. Singing cafe Shepshed Library 10-11am Fellowship meal 6.30pm Friday 19th Feb singing cafes Loughborough library 10.15-11.15am, Coalville Library 1.30-2.30pm

There is a Sunday Club in our hall for children & young people during the Morning Service. For further details, our contact list is in the Cross Hills News section in this magazine.

Trinity Methodist Church, Markfield Sunday 14th February - Lent 1 10.30am Morning Service 4.00pm Afternoon Café Service

Sunday 21st Feb. Service 10am

Sunday 21st February - Lent 2 10.30am United Churches Together Service at Anglican Church 6.00pm No Evening Service

Tuesday 23rd Feb. Singing cafe Shepshed 10am

Thursday 25th February 2.00pm - 4.00pm Music Café

Bible study 6pm

Sunday 28th February - Lent 3 10.30am Morning Service 6.00pm No Evening Service

Friday 26th Feb. Singing cafes Loughborough library 10.15am, Coalville Library 1.30pm Sunday 28th Feb. Cafe 4U 4pm

Sunday 6th March - Mothering Sunday 10.30am Morning Communion Service 6.00pm Evening Taizé Service

Tuesday 1st March Singing cafe Shepshed library 10am

Thursday 10th March 2.00pm - 4.00pm Music Café

Friday 4th March singing cafes Loughborough library 10.15am, Coalville library 1.30pm

Sunday 13th March - Passion Sunday 10.30am Morning Service 4.00pm Afternoon Café Service

Markfield Congregational Church 01530 242142

Sunday 20th March - Palm Sunday 10.30am United Churches Together Service at Methodist Church 6.00pm Special Service for Easter

Sunday 21st February 10.30am United Service at St Michael’s Parish Church Sunday 28th February 10.15am Morning Worship followed by Communion Sunday 6th March 10.30am Joint Service for Mothering Sunday at St Michael’s Parish C hurch Sunday 13th March 10.15am Morning Worship

Cross Hills Baptist Church, between Bagworth & Thornton Sunday 7th February 10.30am Morning Service Sunday 14th February 10.30am Morning Service with The Lord’s Supper Sunday 21st February 10.30am Morning Service

Thursday 24th March 2.00pm - 4.00pm Music Café Thursday 24th March - Maundy Thursday 7.00pm Communion Service Sunday 27th March - Easter Sunday 8.30am Easter Morning Communion 9.00am Easter Morning Breakfast 10.30am Easter Morning Service 6.00pm No Evening Servicee

St Michael and All Angels’ Church, Markfield 10:15-11.30am Sunday Club for Children in the Congregational Hall on the 1st, 3rd, 4th and 5th Sundays, term time. All Age Service in Church on the 2nd Sunday each month. Wednesday 10th February 7.30 pm Ash Wednesday Communion

Sunday 28th February 10.30am Morning Service

Sunday 14th February 10.30 am All Age Service 6.00 pm Holy Communion

Sunday 6th March 10.30am Morning Service

Friday 19th February 8.00 pm “Still Friday”

Sunday 13th March 10.30am Morning Service with The Lord’s Supper

Sunday 21st February 10.30 am Churches Together in Markfield 6.00 pm Evening Prayer

Sunday 28th February 8.00 am Holy Communion 10.30 am Open Church 6.00 pm Evening Service Sunday 6th March 10.30 am All Age Mothering Sunday Service Sunday 13th March 10.30 am Holy Communion 6.00 pm Holy Communion

Sunday 14th February 9.00 am Holy Communion Sunday 21st February 10.30 am Holy Communion Wednesday 24th February 10.00 am Midweek Communion and Coffee Sunday 28th February 10.30 am All Age Service

Friday 18th March 8.00 pm “Still Friday”

Sunday 6th March 10.30 am Mothering Sunday Service

Sunday 20th March 10.30 am Churches Together in Markfield Palm Sunday Service and Walk Palm Sunday at the Methodist Church 6.00 pm Evening Prayer

Sunday 13th March 9.00 am Holy Communion

Friday 25th March 2.00 pm Good Friday “Hour at the Cross” Sunday 27th March 6.40 am Sunrise Service at Hill Hole Easter Sunday 8.00 am Holy Communion 10.30 am Open Church 6.00 pm Evening Service

St Mary and All Saints’ Church, Stanton under Bardon Wednesday 10th February 7.30 pm Ash Wednesday Communion at St Michael’s, Markfield Sunday 14th February 10.30 am Holy Communion Sunday 21st February 10.30 am Morning Service Sunday 28th February 10.30 am “Something Different” Service

Sunday 20th March 10.30 am Palm Sunday Holy Communion Friday 25th March 10.00 pm Good Friday Family “Stations of the Cross” Sunday 27th March 10.30 am Easter Day Holy Communion

Holy Rood Church, Bagworth Please note: Services will be at Bagworth Community Centre Sunday 6th March 10.30 am Holy Communion Saturday 19th March 4.00 pm Messy Easter

St Peter’s Church, Copt Oak Wednesday 10th February 7.30 pm Ash Wednesday Communion at St Michael’s, Markfield Sunday 14th February 3.00 pm Praise Service

Sunday 6th March 10.30 am Mothering Sunday Service

Sunday 21st February 9.15 am Holy Communion (said service)

Sunday 13th March 10.30 am Holy Communion

Sunday 28th February 6.00 pm Evening Prayer

Sunday 20th March 10.30 am Palm Sunday Morning Service

Sunday 6th March 6.00 pm Mothering Sunday Holy Communion

Thursday 24th March 6.30 pm Maundy Thursday Fish and Chip Supper followed by 7.30 pm Holy Communion

Sunday 13th March 3.00 pm Praise Service

Friday 25th March 7.30 pm Good Friday Meditation Sunday 27th March 10.30 am Easter Day Holy Communion

St Peter’s Church, Thornton Wednesday 10th February 7.30 pm Ash Wednesday Communion at St Michael’s, Markfield

Sunday 20th March 9.15 am Palm Sunday Holy Communion (said service) Tuesday 22nd March 7.30 pm Tenebrae Service Sunday 27th March 10.30 am Easter Day Evening Serviceer

Catholic Church of St Wilfrid of York

I’m getting worried. My boomerang should have been back hours ago.

29 53 London Road, Coalville, LE67 3JB

Sunday Mass Saturday Vigil: 6 pm Sunday: 10 am See Newsletter on the website for details of weekday Mass times, Benediction & Confessions. Parish Priest: Fr Tom Breslin – 01530 832098, www.stwilfspriest@gmail.com Parish Website: www.stwilfscoalville. blogspot.co.uk St Clare’s R C Primary School, Coalville: 01530 837747, www.st-clares.leics.sch.uk De Lisle RC College, Loughborough: 01509 268739, www.delisle./leics.sch.uk Markfield Masses in the Congregational Church Hall, Main St, beside the Chinese Takeaway: Wednesday 20 April 2016 at 7 pm Wednesday 15 June 2016 at 7 pm Wednesday 21 September 2016 at 7 pm Wednesday 16 November 2016 at 7 pm

If you enjoy reading The Herald, please pass it on to a friend or relative after you’ve finished with it. Thanks!

Cook serves time on 34-year school dinner career PUPILS AND STAFF at a Nailstone primary school have bid a fond farewell to their beloved cook who has finally hung up her apron after 34 years of service. Joan Wain has retired from her role as Kitchen Supervisor at Dove Bank Primary School – a role she has held since the school was first opened in 1982. The school has estimated that Joan has served up nearly 700,000 meals during her 34 years. Children presented Joan with a big bouquet of flowers as well as an array of cards, poems and gifts as a thank you for serving lunchtime meals. Joan, who lives in Ibstock, said she was sad to leave but was looking forward to spending more time with her family. “I have loved every minute of my time at Dove Bank and it really has been a privilege to play such an important role in ensuring that the children have delicious and nutritious meals at lunchtime to feed their appetite for learning,” “I’ve made a lot of friends over the years and I’m very sad to go – but I am looking forward to retirement”. Headteacher, Fiona Shields said: “Joan has been exceptionally well thought of by pupils and colleagues, both past and present. She has been an outstanding and dedicated staff member at Dove Bank Primary School and has been fully committed to providing a high quality of service to our pupils.” “On behalf of the school, I would like to congratulate Joan on her retirement and thank her for her contribution to the school.”

What do they call Peter Pan in China? Peter Wok.

30 2/3/2016

Word Search Puzzle

Valentine’s Wordsearch Forgot username or password?

Passcode/Crea

FIND THE NAMES OF 14 WORDS ASSOCIATED WITH VALENTINE’S DAY in this month’s Wordsearch puzzle and you could yourself a meal and a drink. This month we are offering a tasty Solutions forwin Districts Free Resources prize of: A Main Course for Two, plus A Bottle of House Wine at The FieldHead Hotel.

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To go into the draw, all you have to do is find - and mark a line through - the names of 14 words you might associate with Valentine’s Day. These can run vertically, horizontally or diagonally (and backwards!). Send your entry to: LOVEY DOVEY, The Herald, PO Box 8, Markfield, Leics. LE67 9ZT to arrive by Wednesday H S V G E C T O Z G X D C J G V A 2nd March 2016. Remember to include your name and address. The E W W E U M R K N J J I P E P F S first all-correct entry drawn out of the Editor’s Top Hat will win the H E I Y R G Q I C L E P O S F U E Meal for Two at The Field Head Hotel. Good luck!

K E Z G B I N M U C R U I E I M S W T A X E R S I R Q Y C C H Q W O H H Q R A V X E T G M T I N J O R B E Q E T I B S D R I B E V O L D M A Y S F T D J J O U Y J U X R E B R X V R Q H Y N E D O V S O A R O T N A D M I R E R S M C M X M G U R O T I U S W O A I M A K U L U Q B R M G J A W S B I N I M P Q L U N Q J B W J C G A C V Z T Z A P E Q I J R M D J P E A U S A T R H T B K K S G W B O L O S T P X E G R M M H O I X I V L Z E G L G N N U G S W B Y P Q T C T P Q G B N N ADMIRER AFFECTION BOUQUET COURTING CUPID DESIRE HEARTTHROB LOVEBIRDS REDROSES ROMANCE SMITTEN SUITOR SWEETHEART YEARNING

Find the following 14 Words To Do With Valentine’s Day: ADMIRER • AFFECTION • BOUQUET • COURTING CUPID • DESIRE • HEARTTHROB • LOVEBIRDS RED ROSES • ROMANCE • SMITTEN SUITOR • SWEETHEART • YEARNING

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

Last Month’s Competition Winner The winner of last issue’s Wordsearch Competition was: G A PORCH of Oakfield Avenue, Markfield Congratulations! Your voucher will be sent to you soon.

Letter from Uncle Eustace

On how to run a church council meeting

The Rectory St. James the Least of All My dear Nephew Darren CLEARLY, the sight of your Vicar running out of the room half way through your last church council meeting, saying he should have stayed as a traffic warden, where he was universally liked, has unnerved you. It would have unnerved me too, since a universally popular traffic warden is an exceptional creature. But perhaps it is necessary to give you some advice for the day when you do chair your first church council meeting. 1. Consider every agenda issue carefully beforehand and decide what you would like to do. Then, at the meeting, consult widely, listen to every opinion, weigh all the arguments, and then do precisely what you had decided before the meeting ever took place. 2. Never, ever, let council members discuss hymns, which avoids getting blood on the carpets. 3. Arrange the seating in rows, all facing the front, so that everyone has to respond directly to you. The last thing you want is for council members to be able to discuss matters freely with one another. 4. Start smoking a pipe. At those times when you are faced with an issue when you really are unsure of how to respond, taking out your pipe, dismantling it, searching for a pipe cleaner, squinting down the stem to see if it is clean, mopping out the goo in the bowl, searching for your tobacco pouch, filling the pipe, tamping it down, asking if you can borrow matches and attempting to light it several times over, will give you more than sufficient time to formulate a reply. Once you have perfected the routine, the silence will have been so protracted, that most of the committee will have long forgotten what the question was anyway. 5. If someone is talking too long, consult your diary, noisily and obsessively, about next month’s appointments, or write a note to a committee member who is at the back of the room and get it passed to him. The speaker should soon get the message. These are the simpler techniques of committee management. The advanced procedures must wait until you are strong enough to bear them. Your loving uncle,

Created by Puzzlemaker at DiscoveryEducation.com

Eustace

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