Glenfield Gazette January 2023

MONTHLY NEWS, INFORMATION & ENTERTAINMENT FOR GLENFIELD

THE FINAL CONSULTATION FOR THE FORMER GOLF COURSE IS IMMINENT

LEICESTER City Council are expected to launch their final public consultation very soon.

It is vital that as many people as possible give their views on why the former course should be kept as a green protected space.

As soon as a link to the online consultation is available it will be published on the Glenfield Gazette website (www. glenfieldgazette.com), and also at Rewildwesterngolfcourse. co.uk and the Facebook group Western Golf Course AreaAction Group. It should also be possible to post objections.

Steve Walters

GLENFIELD COMMUNITY FOOD HUB

Mystery friends make a huge difference - and that’s no secret

AT GLENFIELD Community Food Hub, we always try to acknowledge every donation we receive – from individuals, families, schools, businesses and community organisations alike.

However, there are some donors we can’t write to. There are a sizeable number of friends of the Glenfield Community Food Hub who come regularly with donations or have a monthly standing order with us but wish to remain anonymous.

Food donations can be dropped off at Park House (the Council Office) on Stamford Street during working hours or direct at the Food Hub on Saturday mornings. Any Glenfield resident who needs some extra help with food can come along, no questions asked or ring 07710 174005.

So a big thank you to our mystery donors– and to all our anonymous friends. Each and every tin, jar, packet, bottle and cash contribution goes to help local people in crisis who are desperately struggling to get by.

We are hugely grateful to EVERYONE who donates food and money – anonymously or not!

THANK YOU.

Redevelopment of Glenfield Methodist Church

WE ARE DELIGHTED to say that the rebuilding of the Church premises is now finished including a glass fronted concourse on the front of the building with accessible toilets where we hope people will be able to mingle and sit at tables to enjoy a cup of tea!

Please come to an Open Day for everyone on Saturday 4th February with the opportunity to learn about existing and proposed activities and make your suggestions or volunteer to help at new activities you’d like to see.

We are hoping to set up a Warm space on a Monday in the New Year where you can come and enjoy some company, warmth and a cuppa!

Please see further details in due course on our website and facebook.

Glenfield Methodist Church - Home page Glenfield Methodist Church | Leicester | Facebook

Happy New Year To All Gazette Readers

News from the Millennium Green

Carols enjoyed by 40 hardy singers

IF YOU HAVE walked on the Millennium Green recently you will have seen some changes taking place in the entrance area.

Thanks to a small band of helpers led by one of our Trustees, Alex, the block paving has been jet-washed and repairs to the surface have been authorised.

At the beginning of December three flowering cherry trees were planted as part of the QUEEN’S GREEN CANOPY to celebrate her Platinum Jubilee in 2022. This work has been facilitated by a grant from Blaby District Council and donations from the families of two local residents who were long-time supporters of the Green. More planting will take place in the spring and we will be adding some bird boxes and bug hotels to increase the diversity of wildlife in the area.

CAROLS ON THE GREEN took place on 17th December and despite freezing temperatures a hardy band of around 40 carol singers turned out. Unfortunately it was too cold for members of Ratby band to attend. The singing was enthusiastic and those who took part obviously enjoyed themselves. Several people expressed their gratitude, some who had never visited the Green before, and have already noted it down for next year.

A hot fruit punch was served at the end with seasonal mince pies and a collection was held in aid of the Green, Thanks to those who contributed to the event.

The Trustees of the Millennium Green would like to thank everyone who has supported our activities throughout the year. Events are being planned for next year and you can find out more on Facebook and our website. If you would like to offer help or ideas (or both) please come to our AGM on February 10th. More details next month.

Chris Tordoff

Reminder about the A50 bus lane camera - don’t get caught

BUS LANE ENFORCEMENT is due to begin on one of our main routes into Leicester this month.

The A50 Groby Road is a major bus route but services often become delayed due to heavy traffic and a pinch point at which the road itself narrows.

A designated bus lane has been in place on Groby Road since July 2022 and Leicester City Council is now bringing in camera enforcement to ensure only permitted vehicles – buses, Hackney carriages and cycles – use it.

The enforcement camera will be on the city-bound section of the A50 near Medina Road. During the first two weeks –January 2nd to 15th – drivers will receive a warning notice, informing them they would be fined for driving in the bus lane once enforcement begins.

Drivers who continue to flout the law after the two-week grace period – from January 16 onwards – will be fined £70 if caught driving in the bus lane.

The camera will be active 24 hours, seven days a week, including bank holidays.

I once dated a girl with a lazy eye. It turns out she was seeing someone else on the side.

The Glenfield Gazette is a monthly local magazine delivered free to approximately 5,000 homes and businesses in Glenfield.

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 Glenfield Gazette 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 Glenfield Gazette 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 Glenfield Gazette reserves the right to amend, shorten or refuse to publish articles and/ or advertisements submitted for publication.

All contents © The Glenfield Gazette. None of the articles or adverts contained in this magazine are to be reproduced in any way without first obtaining written consent from The Glenfield Gazette.

Sign up this month for 10 per cent off GoLearn adult learning courses

WITH A NEW year on the horizon, now is a great time to think about learning new skills, improving job prospects, or developing a new interest.

Hundreds of part-time day, evening, and weekend courses, which start in early 2023, are now open for enrolment from GoLearn, Leicestershire County Council’s Adult Learning Service.

Anyone who signs up for a course before Thursday 31st January will get a discount of 10 per cent off tuition fees.

GoLearn also offers a range of FREE courses to help people who are seeking work and looking to gain some basic skills, including internet, email, CV writing and interview skills.

Many courses on offer are delivered either online or in person at venues across the county, so learning can be done at home or in the classroom.

Councillor Christine Radford, cabinet member for adults and communities, said: “GoLearn prides itself on making courses accessible, and the 10 per cent discount on course fees is a fantastic offer for people wishing to pursue a new interest or gain a new skill. To avoid missing out on this great opportunity, I would encourage everyone to look at the courses on offer and enrol before 31 January 2023.”

There is something for everyone with a broad range of subject areas on offer, from employability programmes to help people gain valuable skills for the job market, courses to help parents and carers support with their children’s learning and a wide range of mental health and wellbeing courses.

Language courses are also available, with beginner courses taught by native speakers that combine history, culture and language to offer an immersive learning experience.

Search and apply for courses online on our GoLearn pages https://www.leicestershire.gov.uk/education-and-children/ adult-education) or call the GoLearn team on FREEphone 0800 988 0308 (lines are open 8:30am to 7pm, Monday-Friday) to speak to an advisor to find out more about the courses, fees or paying by instalments.

The 10 per cent New Year discount is automatically applied to the fees displayed on the website and can be used in conjunction with the 70 per cent reduced fee, which is available to anyone who is in receipt of certain benefits or on low income. Depending on personal circumstances, some courses may be free.

How to give your children a head-start in life

MAKE SURE they learn and memorise their times tables.

Knowing any multiple up to 12 times 12 is a “basic building block for success in life”, according to experts. That is why times table tests for Year 4 pupils in England were introduced last year.

The schools minister, Nick Gibb, calls knowing your times tables an “immensely valuable skill” that has personally helped him both as a chartered accountant, and also in just figuring out the “best multi-pack supermarket bargains.”

The Happiness Year: How to Find Joy in Every Season

By Tara Ward

THE HAPPINESS YEAR encourages you to explore different ways of discovering happiness through each season and shows you how to nurture this in your everyday life..

Seasons tend to be associated with certain behaviours: spring with hope, summer with sociable relaxation, autumn with harvesting, winter with hibernating. The Happiness Year features a host of tips and exercises to encourage you to break away from certain patterns, including mindful breathing and meditation exercises to help you recharge and reflect, as well as simple projects and seasonal affirmations.

This uplifting book is for anyone seeking joy and wanting to explore the true meaning of happiness.

Sick

During a church service my young niece had to go outside, as she did not feel well. She returned a few minutes later and admitted: ‘I have been a little sick. But it doesn’t matter, there’s a box at the door marked ‘for the sick’.”

In a sack

Seen in a church magazine: “Bring your old newspapers (and your neighbours), put them in a sack and tie them in if possible.”

Letter Charity Stamp Appeal

EVERY YEAR more than 900 million Christmas cards are sent in the UK. If your readers find themselves receiving plenty of cards this year through the post we’d like to encourage them to save their stamps – at Kidney Care UK (the UK’s leading kidney patient support charity), we can collect these and turn used stamps into cash donations, at no extra cost to your readers.

Every year we receive around 250kg of stamps, generating around £9,000 to support thousands of kidney patients across the UK. Around 6% of the UK adult population have chronic kidney disease (CKD), that’s the equivalent to 1 in every 16 people in your area, who could benefit from our support. If your readers would like to help us, please request one of our free collector’s pack online by visiting, www.kidneycareuk.org/stamps

Kidney patients are disproportionately affected by the cost of living crisis; in the last two months alone, we have seen an increase of 240% in demand for our grants to help people pay their heating bills, and an increase of 51% in demand for our £300 emergency assistance grants. Donations allow us to be able to provide support to kidney patients when they need it most. Thank you, and we hope all of your readers have a merry Christmas and a happy New Year, Laura

Toop, Community Fundraising Manager Kidney Care UK

I had a horsedrawn wedding. Big mistake. I should have hired a photographer.

Love your pets wisely, but not too well

YOUR DOG AND cat should be allowed to be the wonderful animals that they are, and not treated as if they were small humans.

That is the advice of ‘EthicsFirst’, a group of campaigning vets and academics who are urging pet owners against the ‘Disneyfication’ of their pets, such as imposing dog jumpers and vegan diets on them.

Dressing pets up like dolls and imposing unsuitable diets on them can cause problems that include anxiety, overheating, obesity, malnutrition and joint pain.

Above all, EthicsFirst is urging owners not to put their pets through excessive medical treatment.

Professor Eddie Clutton, who teaches veterinary anaesthesiology at Edinburgh University, urges owners to stop authorising vets to give their elderly pets prosthetic legs or gruelling cancer treatments. He argues that it would be kinder to ask for euthanasia or less invasive treatment, because animals “experience life in real time” and do not have the capacity to accept pain and discomfort now, based on hope for the future.

New Year? Get First Aid training

HERE IS A very worthwhile New Year’s Resolution: consider doing some First Aid training this year, especially if you are a parent with young children.

In a survey by the British Red Cross, 96% of parents agreed that their main fears were of their children choking, or of finding them unconscious –when seconds could make the difference to their survival.

Even 15 minutes of proper First Aid training is enough to give you knowledge that could save someone’s life in an emergency.

For details of your nearest First Aid Course, visit: www.redcross.org.uk

Leicestershire County Council

Support for vulnerable at heart of budget plan

LEICESTERSHIRE COUNTY Council has set out an in-depth financial plan, designed to protect public services and support vulnerable people during tough economic times.

An extra £57m investment in support, a five per cent Council Tax rise, major capital investment, service cuts and efficiency savings are all included in the proposals to ensure the books will balance next year.

Although councils fared better than expected in the Government’s Autumn Statement, the financial outlook remains extremely tough with the authority’s budget gap set to rise to over £90m by 2026.

The report reveals that service demand is adding £70m and rising inflation is set to cost another £80m by 2026/27. The National Living Wage increase drives up social care costs significantly and adds another £18m.

Proposals also include a £508m four-year capital pot - for the cost of building roads, schools and other one-off projects – which is also subject to significant inflation pressures.

Cabinet member for finance, Lee Breckon, said: “As the lowest funded council, we pride ourselves on doing the best we can with the money we have.

“These are tough times. Even with the proposed Council Tax increase, our funding is going up by less than inflation, making savings and ultimately service cuts inevitable.

“This is an unsatisfactory situation. And unless new money is made available we can’t fund all the big capital schemes required for a growing county without impacting on core services.

“It’s never been more important for people to have their say on our proposals.”

The budget proposals include:

• £57m more to support vulnerable people - to pay for more home and residential care, and support people with physical disabilities, learning disabilities and mental health needs. The number of home care users has increased by 600 since January 2020.

• £59m of efficiency savings – reducing back office costs by maximising digital technology, simplifying processes and providing the right level of support to residents

• Service cuts totalling £4m - including reviewing waste sites, streetlighting, Green Plaques and Shire Grants

• A five per cent Council Tax rise for 2023/24– this equates to £1.39 a week for a band d home and generates £17.7m for front line services

Residents, organisations, businesses and staff will be able to give their views during a consultation set to run from 19 December to 15 January. Cabinet will then agree final proposals before the budget is agreed at a meeting of the county council on 22nd February.

If you enjoy reading Glenfield Gazette, please pass it onto a friend or relative.

THIS IS A strange request but my partner is travelling and currently based in Australia.

He is a Glenfield lad, born and bred, and on our last FaceTime, one of the things he said he misses is the Glenfield Gazette!

I’d love to send him a physical copy in the post, but I live in Groby so I only receive the Groby Spotlight.

Is there any way I could collect or receive a physical copy of the Gazette? It would definitely put a smile on his face.

Thanks so much.

Kiera

(Editor‘s Note: A copy of the Gazette is now on its way to Australia. Local and now global!)

King Charles‘s favourite dog breed surges in popularity with public

WHEN Queen Elizabeth II died last summer, there was a surge in the number of people wanting to buy Corgis.

Now, as the Coronation of Charles III approaches, it seems there is a trend to buy Jack Russell terriers.

King Charles III has long been a fan of Jack Russell terriers. He and the Queen Consort currently own two, Bluebell and Beth, whom they rescued from Battersea Cats and Dogs Home more than a decade ago. A spokeswoman for the Kennel Club said: “Breeds certainly wax and wane in popularity – and there are a number of factors that can play a part, such as high-profile ownership.”

I asked my barber what kind of cut would make me look good. A power cut was not the reply I was looking for.

What Did The Normans Do For Glenfield?

AFTER THE NORMAN conquest of England, the village and surrounds were owned by an Abbey in Normandy for some time, under the control of the Earls of Leicester before being granted to Roger de Quincey whose family took the name de Glenfield.

King William had a record made of all of his domain and Glenfield’s Doomsday Book entry reads “Erneisus holds of Hugo in Clanefelde 6 carucates of land less 3 bovates. There is land for 4 ploughs. In demesne there are 2 ploughs and 2 serfs: and 3 villeins with a priest and 3 bordars and 4 socmen have 3 ploughs. There (is) a mill rendering 16 pence and 8 acres of meadow. Wood 8 furlongs in length and 4 in breadth. It was worth 10 shillings now 40shillings.”

Hugo was Hugh de Grantemesnil, one of William the Conqueror’s most powerful barons, who was given numerous manors, especially in Leicestershire.

(If you wish to study the progression of great families who held title to the area I can commend ‘Glenfield, a Considerable Village’ by Jonathan Wilshire which goes into great detail.)

We can make some assumptions from the name itself. Names had specific meanings relative to the era when they came into being and as Swithland means land cleared of trees, so Clenefelde probably also meant a cleaned field, a clearing on the edge of Leicester Forest as it then was.

When the Normans took over Glenfield as such took in the surrounding hamlets of Braunstone and Kirby eventually being spun off.

By the start of the 14th century, Glenfield probably had about 30 families but after the Black Death knocked them back it struggled to recover and 200 years later it appears that there were only 15 families. There is evidence of early commercial activity towards the end of the 18th century when five knitting frames were apparently in use but following the enclosure acts this activity took off and was a major contributor to the local economy. Fifty years

later there were fifty frames.

With the coming of mechanisation and the start of the industrial revolution, these local frames were replaced and people lost their livelihoods. Ned Ludd a weaver from Anstey in 1779, smashed some mechanical knitting frames in a fit of temper which effectively led to the movement eventually known as Luddites - a term we use to this day.

It seems highly likely that there was a church here before the Normans came but the Parish certainly then came under the ownership of an Abbey founded by Hugo’s relations. After the reformation, it was owned by the Lord of the Manor of Braunstone.

The church and its two chapelries of Kirby Muxloe and Braunstone came under the Bishops of Lincoln until 1839 when the Archdeaconry of Leicester was transferred to the Diocese of Peterborough. It subsequently came under the Groby group of churches and eventually when Leicester Diocese was formed in 1927, the basic arrangements as they exist today came into being with Kirby Muxloe and Braunstone becoming independent. The ruined remains of an old Parish Church lie behind the present church. The old church was constructed about the start of the thirteenth century to replace a simpler earlier building. It was dedicated to St John the Baptist and quite when it was rededicated to St Peter is unclear.

The new church was built in 1877 and today is twinned with the Church at Newtown Linford.

Wise Words from the Strictly winner

STRICTLY COME DANCING winner Hamza Yassin shared some life advice with viewers watching at home.

“Number one, surround yourself with people whose eyes light up when you enter the room,” the Strictly champion began when sharing his three top tips for life.

“Two, the top of one mountain is the bottom of the next so keep climbing,” the star continued, “and three, slowly is the fastest way to get to where you want to be.”

Avoid the flu

How Vitamins C, D and Zinc can strengthen your immune system

RESEARCH has shown that daily doses of vitamin C, vitamin D-3 and Zinc offer significant boosts to the immune system. Zinc is also an essential mineral to the thymus gland, which orchestrates the immune function in the human body.

(https://doctorsnutrition.com/)

My neighbour passed away last night from severe indigestion. I can’t believe Gav is gone.

Councillor Roy Denney

Ned Ludd

Tree Surgeon

Tree Surgeon

Just like the rest of your property have you considered your trees may need some maintenance from time

Just like the rest of your property have you considered your trees may need some maintenance from time to time. Are your trees maybe too tall ? blocking light, unsafe or untidy? Do your hedges or shrubs need trimming or removing Do you need to remove that stubborn stump

Just like the rest of your property have you considered your trees may need some maintenance from time to time. Are your trees maybe too tall ? blocking light, unsafe or untidy? Do your hedges or shrubs need trimming or removing Do you need to remove that stubborn stump

With 30 years of experience working with trees in your area, I would be pleased to offer you free advise and a free quotation.

With 30 years of experience working with trees in your area, I would be pleased to offer you free advise and a free quotation. call me now on

My favourite band is called the Cockles & Mussels. I saw them alive alive-O in concert.

Planning Apps

Erection of 2 no. dwellings (Use Class C3) with access from Station Road and on site parking, together with associated works including landscaping - at Land East Of Station Road, Glenfield, Leicester.

Single storey front and rear extension - at 7 Fishley Close, Glenfield, Leicester LE3 8QR.

Partial garage conversion to form a ground floor home office area and link to extension - at 12 Nursery Rise, Glenfield, Leicester LE7 7DB.

Erection of 1.8m high fence to property boundary to replace existing hedge - at 2 Clovelly Road, Glenfield, Leicester LE3 8AA.

Erection of 1 replacement two storey detached dwelling (including demolition of existing dwelling) - at 43 Glenfield Frith Drive, Glenfield, Leicester LE3 8PU.

Two storey side and front extension with alteration to existing garage doors - at 6 Carpenters Close, Glenfield, Leicester LE3 8RS

Being bored is good for you

BEING BORED is a good thing – in fact, it can stimulate you to greater creativity. But keeping boredom at bay with endless scrolling on social media will ensure that your creativity is stifled.

So say researchers at Bath University. They warn that endlessly distracting yourself to avoid “superficial boredom” has the effect of preventing your mind from entering the deeper state of “profound boredom.” In this state of malaise, you are in “existential discomfort” which in turn can stimulate you on to develop new passions and skills.

As one researcher explained: “This research has given us a window to understand how the ‘always-on’, 24/7 culture and devices that promise an abundance of information and entertainment may be fixing our ‘superficial boredom,’ but are actually preventing us from finding more meaningful things.

“Profound boredom may sound like an overwhelmingly negative concept but, in fact, it can be intensely positive if people are given the chance for undistracted thinking and development.”

The new study was published in the journal Marketing Theory.

Leicestershire County Council

More than 30,000 trees given away to landowners

A RECORD 34,000 trees have been given away to landowners and farmers in a bid to encourage more tree planting across Leicestershire.

More than 100 community groups, parish councils, schools, landowners and farmers went along to Beaumanor Hall near Loughborough in November to pick up their tree packs, in what was the biggest tree giveaway ever undertaken by Leicestershire County Council in partnership with the Woodland Trust.

The free tree and hedgerow packs are designed to help renew and restore existing woodland and vegetation, as well as replacing trees which have been affected by diseases such as ash dieback.

Each tree pack includes 45 native trees - 15 each of oak, crab apple and hazel. The hedgerow packs are made up of 250 hedgerow shrubs, including a mix of hawthorn, hazel, blackthorn, field maple, dog rose as well as oaks to plant at regular intervals along the hedgerow.

They were offered to anyone living in Leicestershire with suitable areas of land to plant – including community groups, parish councils and schools, as well as landowners and farmers. Eligible applicants were invited to register for their free tree and hedgerow packs, in a bid to help the county council plant 700,000 trees – one for every person in Leicestershire.

Leicestershire is one of the least wooded areas of the country, with around six per cent woodland – well below the national average of 10 per cent.

Think happy thoughts to help your immune system

A STRESSED mind can put your body at risk.

If you constantly think about negative things, and dwell on stressful events in your life, you could weaken your immune system and make yourself more susceptible to illness.

A recent study has found that simply thinking about negative events, even if they are only imagined, can increase the levels of inflammation in your body. This inflammation, associated with the body’s response to trauma and infection, can weaken the immune system and has been linked to a number of conditions such as heart disease, cancer and dementia.

St Paul urged a better way of coping with the threats in our lives: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” (Phil. 4:6)

House for sale in Fairefield Crescent

BENTONS Estate Agents are offering for sale a four-bedroomed detached house in Fairefield Crescent, Glenfield.

The agents describe the property as ‘A substantial and most attractive detached family residence occupying arguably one of the most sought after residential positions on the outskirts of Leicester city. This family home offers deceptively spacious accommodation over two floors benefiting from gas central heating and a large garden plot extending to 0.3 acres.

The accommodation in brief comprises entrance porch, entrance hall, breakfast kitchen, family room, dining room, rear hallway, utility room, WC, living room, snug, secondary kitchen and a first floor landing which gives way to four bedrooms, en-suite shower room and a separate family bathroom. An early inspection is strongly advised as properties in this location are incredibly sought after and an internal inspection is highly recommended to fully appreciate this outstanding family home.

The asking price for this property is £695,000.

For more information, contact Bentons on 01664 563892 or view on the website at www.bentons.co.uk

Someone just rang me, sneezed, blew their nose and then hung up. I hate cold callers.

IN

BLABY DISTRICT CONSERVATIVE UPDATE

DIFFICULT

TIMES RESPONSIBLE LOCAL LEADERSHIP IS ESSENTIAL

WITH THREE CONSERVATIVE members on the Parish Council, you really do get joined up local Government.

Your Conservative Councillors across all levels of local Government within Glenfield are Lee Breckon, Nick Chapman, Roy Denney and Graham Huss. Local people looking after local matters.

Strong Leadership

We will continue to take difficult but necessary decisions and we will always be honest with you about the reasons for them. We will secure our financial position, thereby protecting crucial services. We would not have been able to put in place our support to the local community and businesses had previous difficult decisions not been made.

What we did during the Pandemic

We provided support to residents and businesses. We recognised and supported community groups either existing or new. We ensured financial support was delivered quicker than most other Councils. Over £18m in grants were delivered. We protected the most vulnerable, either directly or working with the voluntary sector

Comprehensive plans put in place

At a recent District Council meeting, we published a set of commitments to help residents during the cost-of-living crisis. This includes advice and guidance, financial support for hard pressed residents and a dedicated officer to assist those in need. You can find more details and the full statement from our website at www.blaby.gov.uk

Community grants

These have continued to be a valuable lifeline to community groups.

NET ZERO 2030 - Leading by Example

We reaffirm our commitment for Council to reach net-zero by 2030. This demonstrates the positive impact of initiatives already put in place. Numerous resources are available, including appointing dedicated staff and achieving a dramatic reduction in CO2 Emissions. We are also working with businesses and housing providers to assist them in achieving their own green targets.

Cost of living

We are committed to help residents during the cost-of-living crisis in any way we can. This includes advice and guidance, financial support for hard pressed residents and Blaby District Council has dedicated officers to assist those in need. Support also continues for our local food hub.

Green agenda

All levels of local government are actively working to reduce carbon footprints and Blaby District Council have made a commitment to reach netzero by 2030. This is quicker than any District or Borough Council in Leicestershire. Numerous resources have already been put in place to achieve this including appointing dedicated staff and moving our fleet to lower carbon emissions.

Your Views

Residents’ surveys tell us that the majority of you are happy with how Blaby District Council is run and the services we provide. Contact us at any time if you want a chat about any issues you may have, whether Parish, District or County Council related.

We Don‘t Play Politics

Opposition groups have a responsibility to show leadership, not just object to everything without providing credible alternative solutions. We were elected by you, so we get the job done, no matter what colour of politics you are.

LOCAL PEOPLE

Conservatives

County, District & Parish Councillor cllr.nick.chapman@blaby.gov.uk

LEE BRECKON

County & District Councillor cllr.lee.breckon@blaby.gov.uk

NICK CHAPMAN

ROY DENNEY

District & Parish Councillor cllr.roy.denney@blaby.gov.uk

We are all very proud to serve the people of Glenfield and to act as advocates for the village. We are here to help so feel free to contact us on any issue:

GRAHAM HUSS Parish Councillor

Conservatives

What A Holly, Jolly Christmas Concert!

GEOFF CLARKE warmly welcomed the first visitors into the recently-refurbished Glenfield Methodist Centre on Saturday 10th December, promising an exciting blend of traditional and modern festive music throughout the ages.

Musical Director, Laura Freeman, introduced the Glenfield Ladies Co-Operative Choir who began the concert with a rousing rendition of Angels Sing Glory and two short extracts from Handel’s Messiah.

Four children from the Akidemy Choir delighted everyone with Walking in the Air and as one proud parent remarked, “It’s not Christmas until the children have sung Away in a Manger.” The choir sang two lyrical carols, Holy Infant Child and Rutter’s Christmas Lullaby, and an alternative version of The Holly and the Ivy. Members of the audience were also in fine sing-a-long voice for Deck the Halls and Ding Dong Merrily On High. O Holy Night, arranged by Mac Huff, closed the first half making way for an eagerly awaited tea and mince pie break served in the newly revamped atrium. Raffle tickets were drawn in the break before the choir swung back into the second half with The Most Wonderful Time Of The Year, then a new version of an old favourite, Fiona Lander’s arrangement of We Three Kings with Ruben on saxophone. Academy soloist, Holly, gave her own interpretation of The Christmas Song and Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas to rapturous applause, before the choir sang the seasonal favourites Wonderful Christmastime and Jingle Bell Rock. The second audience sing-a-long sparkled with Winter Wonderland. Laura introduced the finale by thanking everyone who contributed to this Christmas event with special praise for accompanist Mary Starie saying “It was definitely worth rehearsing Last Christmas in September!” The choir donned festive headgear for a glam-rock classic raising the roof with Roy Wood’s I Wish It Could Be Christmas Every Day.

The evening’s entertainment was rounded off by The Rev’d Helen Ball who expressed season’s greetings to everyone who helped raise an incredible £1,000, benefitting both choir and church funds.

GLENFIELD LADIES Co-Operative Choir hope that you and your loved ones enjoyed a wonderful Christmas filled with joy and happiness, and would like to invite future choristers to join us for our next open evening at 7:15 pm on Monday 20th February 2023 in Glenfield Methodist Church, Station Road, Glenfield, LE3 8BT Carol Pick

Remembering Lewis Carroll, creator of Alice in Wonderland

JUST 125 YEARS AGO, on 14th January 1898, Charles Lutwidge Dodgson, an English author, poet, photographer and mathematician, died of pneumonia. His pen name was Lewis Carroll, and he was best known for Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, Through the Looking Glass and the poems Jabberwocky and The Hunting of the Snark. A brilliantly inventive writer, Carroll was also a deacon in the Church of England, and a firm Christian – some have even claimed that Alice is a biblical allegory, with the Cheshire Cat as God. (Carroll was born in Cheshire.)

Carroll was a maths lecturer at Oxford, and Alice Liddell – who provoked the story of Alice – was the daughter of one of his colleagues. She had two sisters, Lorina and Edith, who were also close to Carroll, a bachelor who remained celibate throughout his life. He was known to be good with children, unsurprisingly for an eldest son with eight younger brothers and sisters – and at one point was invited to entertain two grandchildren of Queen Victoria.

The book Alice in Wonderland and its sequel have been subject to huge numbers of unlikely interpretations, ranging from drug use to being the outpouring of migraine aura symptoms. But most people continue to regard them as masterpieces of fantasy literature, produced by a highly intelligent and sensitive man.

The Alice books might never have seen the light of day, had not novelist Henry Kingsley come across the first version on a visit to the Liddells, and urged Alice’s mother to persuade the author to publish it. Carroll consulted another author - his friend George Macdonald, whose son Greville, aged six, apparently said he “wished there were 60,000 volumes of it”.

By the time of Carroll’s death, the two-volume Alice was the most popular children’s book in England.

Robin Red Breast

Robin with your red breast

It‘s nice to see you each day You brighten up my garden

Even when it‘s dull and grey

As I awake each morning

Still yawning from my sleep There you are on my patio The first one I will meet

When working in the garden

I know you are watching me You seem to be so interested Chirping merrily in the tree

As I watched you this morning You seemed so full of zest Bits of straw were in your beak For you to build your nest

I‘m pleased you like my garden

Deciding to make it your own I hope to meet your young ones When they are fully grown

They will be welcome in my garden

When they stop for a rest More friends to meet each morning

With their pretty little red breasts.

Blaby Dstrict Council Business Breakfast

Business Breakfast is back!

The next meeting date is Friday 17 February 2023 from 8am to 10am at the Leicester Marriott Hotel. To reserve your FREE place visit: https://www.blaby. gov.uk/business-licensing-andinvestment/business-support/ events-training-and-skills/

My girlfriend’s always trying to put me down. One of the disadvantages of going out with a vet.

~ A Poem by Paul Tuff ~

A good time to get fit again

The Desford Striders are running Couch to 5K this January

THE COUCH TO 5K is a structured programme based on running science aimed at complete beginners, people who want to return to running after a period away through injury or personal choice and for anyone wanting to find a new pastime or way to stay fit and healthy.

The programme lasts for eight weeks and aims to take total beginners from a standing start to being able to run five kilometres without stopping.

It’s tried and tested to do just that and Desford Striders have a proud record of taking people from being complete novices to committed race runners.

The programme is aimed at complete beginners. If you have never run a step in your life we guarantee you will be able to take part and, with some perseverance and effort, will be able to run five kilometres non-stop by the end of the programme.

You will be supported all the way by members of Desford Striders, many of whom joined the club after completing the programme themselves.

When and where does the next programme start?

Our next Couch to 5K programme begins on the week beginning Monday 16 January 2023 and runs every week through to an extra-special ‘graduation’ 5K run on Saturday 11 March, when Desford Striders will take over the running of the Braunstone Parkrun.

Each week there will be a Thursday evening run at 6pm and, for those wanting to do their two extra runs with other people going through C to 5K, a Monday evening run at 6pm and a Saturday morning run at 10am.

All the runs will set off from Desford Striders’ HQ at Sport in Desford, on Peckleton Lane, and will always be run with safety in mind on footpaths, public bridlepaths and quiet back streets. There is no running on main roads.

The eight-week programme costs just £10 (an administration fee) and there are no hidden extras.

We hope all participants will consider joining Desford Striders at the completion of the programme, when the £10 fee will be deducted from the membership fee.

For more information, visit the Desford Striders website at https:// www.desfordstriders.co.uk/c25k

My house is so cold that when I open the door, the light comes on.

Explaining birth

An expectant mother let her four-year-old place his hand on her tummy and feel the baby kick.

The little boy was amazed and wondered aloud how the baby would ever get out. To keep it simple, the mother just said, “The doctor will help.”

Her son’s eyes widened: “You‘ve got a doctor in there, too?!”

Do you know how much the Parish Council is responsible for?

PARISH COUNCILSthe third tier of local government - is closest to you, the residents, and can assume responsibility for far more than most people - including councillorsrealise.

Some parish councils do very little and are run by a handful of people, part-time, while others are major enterprises. I keep discovering powers parish and town councils have which can be very useful but are rarely used often due to ignorance of these powers.

Parishes can ask to be notified of planning applications and make representations on such cases. They have a duty to provide allotment gardens if demand is unsatisfied and if reasonable to do. They have the power to acquire, provide and maintain burial grounds and cemeteries and contribute towards expenses of cemeteries if any land is available and maintain closed churchyards as St Peter’s is. They can also maintain, protect and repair war memorials as Glenfield just has.

They also have the power to make bye-laws for places of public recreation and can issue fixed penalty notices for litter, graffiti and offences under dogcontrol orders and importantly to acquire and maintain land for public recreation

They have the right to nominate assets as assets of community value and the

USING

right to bid to buy a listed asset when it comes up for sale. Glenfield has had the old golf course declared such an asset.

They have the power to repair and maintain public footpaths and bridle-ways and the power to light roads and public places. They can provide of litter bins and provide parking places for vehicles, bicycles and motor-cycles. They can provide roadside seats and shelters and can stop any extinguishment, stopping up or diversion of any highway and the power to provide traffic signs and other notices. Glenfield has organised the formalisation of three unregistered paths, one of which had been closed off.

Parishes have the power to plant trees etc. and to maintain roadside verges and Glenfield has planted literally thousands of trees and shrubs. They can acquire and maintain open spaces and Glenfield has purchased ten areas in the last few years.

Glenfield Parish Council a major enterprise with outgoings of nearly half a million pounds per year. It maintains five buildings and has seven rooms of various sizes available for hire. It owns and manages a sports ground, two multi-use all-weather games areas, two allotment sites, two dog exercise areas, four parks, two ponds, a bowling green, one wood and eleven other open spaces. It also manages

CHURCH BUILDINGS

two more for the Highways Authority. It employs ten staff and all this on a budget of the equivalent of about 60p per week per resident.

As you can see it is far more than a talking shop and needs councillors with a breadth of knowledge and a spread of ages to ensure it functions properly. Party politics plays no part in its deliberations.

Councils last four years and this council ends this May and there will be fresh elections and I would ask residents, especially younger ones to consider whether they could put themselves forward. There are 12 meetings a year on a Monday at 7.30 and they normally last about an hour. There are several committees as well which you can choose to join if you wish.

It is a sad reality that with the demands of work and young families most parishes end up with a council mostly made of retired people and Glenfield is no exception. This is hardly representative. The Parish needs you! Councillors can make a huge difference to the quality of life of local people and how local issues are dealt with. It wants people from all backgrounds and experiences who reflect the community.

If you want to learn more why not come along to one of the meetings. They are all public.

Councillor Roy Denney

FOR THE COMMUNITY

CHURCHES should improve the way their buildings are used by their community. And the survival of many local churches may actually depend on it.

So says a new report recently published the Cambridge Judge Business School, part of the University of Cambridge. Reimagining Churches as Community Assets for the Common Good (REACH Ely) found that one third of church buildings in the diocese of Ely cost more each year to run than they were able to raise.

As one expert pointed out: “The future survival of rural churches lies in their ability to serve the wider community.”

Happily, the report’s researchers found that even before the pandemic, numerous churches were beginning to offer community activities, ranging from blood donations to debt counselling to coffee mornings and concerts.

My father worked 12 hours a day to put food on the table. Great dad, slow cook.

Skip to the End

by Molly James

AMY HAS BEEN keeping a secret most of her adult life... The women in her family have a gift, or is it a curse?

Since her first kiss, Amy has had visions of how her relationships will end. A date fleeing through the bathroom window. At the altar - runawaybride style. There seems to be no end to the unhappy endings.

Then she drunkenly kisses three men at her best friend’s wedding, only to wake up with no memory of who she kissed. She knows she’s found ‘the one’ but now she must find out which one...

Roping in her friends, Amy sets off on a mission to find her true love.

Stocking up because of the war

THE SALES of portable generators, torches and candles have soared in recent months, amid concerns that Britain may face power cuts if it cannot import enough energy to maintain supply this winter. As the National Grid warns of possibly tight supply levels, generator sales have tripled, torch sales are up by 43pc on 2021, and sales of candles have risen by 114pc in a year, according to Toolstation and John Lewis.

Glenfield Park WI NEWS

Pam Wilson

WELL, WE HAVE HAD a busy few weeks. We began with a Christmas dabble day. What this means is that we dabbled in some Christmas crafts surprisingly!

At the end of the session we had achieved a gnome, a sock snowman, a fabric tree and a patchwork bauble. Not bad going but we did enjoy a faith lunch which spurred us on. Thanks to everyone who contributed and to the members who passed on their expertise. It was a very enjoyable day and lovely to see the delight of those who had not done any craft before.

Then on to the business side, our Annual Meeting. Did you say boring. Far from it. It turned out to be very informal with lots of banter, while still managing to fulfil the necessary requirements.

We recapped on the past year and were amazed at how much we had done. We have a good committee for the coming year, and the president and treasurer agreed to continue in their roles. Of course it goes without saying there was food, (surprise, surprise),contributed by members!

The next event was the Group Carol Evening organised by Kirby Muxloe WI. It was a lovely evening and as well as the usual carols and readings we were entertained by the LOROS choir and the Kirby Muxloe WI hand bell ringers. It definitely put us in the festive mood.

Finally we finished the year with a meal at the Copt Oak. We had a lovely meal, a convivial get together and not only did we have food for the body we also had food for the brain with a quiz devised by a member.

Roll on 2023 when we hope for another successful year. Do join us. We meet on the 1st Thursday of the month in the Memorial Hall at 7.30.

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• Kings WHEELCHAIR - very good condition. Price: £25.00 o.n.o.

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SEND DETAILS by post or email - sorry, we can’t take them over the phone. This is a free service for private individuals, not businesses. Maximum 8 items please. Post to: Gazette Small Ads, PO Box 8, Markfield, Leics. LE67 9ZT or you can email details to: info@ glenfieldgazette.com

PLEASE ENSURE that you put ‘SMALL ADS’ in the subject line, and INCLUDE YOUR FULL POSTAL ADDRESS (not for publication, just to let buyers know where you are).

St Peter’s Church News

IDIDN’T MAKE much of it at the time, but the middle of 2022 marked 20 years of ordained ministry for me. Twenty years since I arrived as a very nervous curate in Biddulph, just north of Stoke-on-Trent, to continue the apprentice stage of my training, getting used to wearing this strangelybackwards collar.

I’m thinking about it this January for two reasons. The first, and main one, is because I’m taking on a new role alongside the day job as Rector in Glenfield and Newtown Linford.

From the beginning of the year I will also be spending a day or so a week as an Assistant Archdeacon, working across Leicestershire to help and support parishes in a variety of ways, particularly with buildings.

Don’t (entirely!) believe the TV portrayal of Archdeacons as the Bishop’s enforcers – usually the priorities are encouraging parishes with ideas and advice in working through tricky situations.

The second reason I’m looking back is that early in the new year the officer of the diocese who works with people who are trying to work out whether God is calling them to get ordained. When I look back to 2002, I would never have dreamed then that I would end up working alongside Archdeacons like this. It is, for me, an unexpected turn of the path of my life.

Sometimes God’s purpose for our lives is obvious from an early stage. Sometimes it takes time to work out what he wants, to work out what we are best at. Sometimes you can start on a path and not really know how it’s going to turn out. My life has been as a vicar, but that’s not the only role God calls people to. I believe God has a calling, a purpose for everyone’s life – that as we follow Jesus, he reveals more of this to us.

Richard Trethewey Rector of St Peter’s, Glenfield and All Saints, Newtown Linford. Tel: 0116 287 1604

Won my first cage fight last night. The budgie stood no chance.

From penning to BROADCASTING!

WELCOME 2023, and Happy New Year to all of our Glenfield community.

It is with mixed feelings that I write my article for January since this is an announcement that I‘m departing the Glenfield Gazette team, and this will be my final Lindzi‘s Lifestyle.

I‘m sad because in an ideal world I would still have the time to create a monthly piece. However to allow the continued building of A Different Human Design, I have made a couple of tough decisions which allow me to dedicate further time to my platform.

As well as closing this chapter, just before Christmas I also ended a role with an amazing, alternative education provider, for the same reasons.

I know these developments are founded purely in the name of progress. So although these weren‘t easy choices, I‘m also excited about my latest direction.

Blaby District Council Recycle your Christmas tree

WE HAVE SOME updated information for residents on how they can dispose of their real Christmas tree, if they decide to buy one this year.

Many households enjoy the colour and style of a real Christmas tree but what to do after the festive period is over? If you buy a real tree then it is up to you to dispose of it responsibly.

If your tree has roots of course you can choose to plant it in the garden. However, most trees tend to be sold as cut so in that case there are a couple of alternatives.

Please note there will be no Christmas tree drop off points this year, therefore for most people the simplest solution is to take it to your nearest household waste and recycling site where it will be accepted.

For residents in the District who have a garden waste subscription you can put it in your garden waste bin and it will be collected on the first garden waste collection day after Christmas.

Remember the tree must be fully in the garden waste bin with the lid closed to ensure it‘s collected.

Letter

Thank you Glenfield folk!

WHAT A WONDERFUL Christmas that was! So many letters I received, here are just a few of them.

Now I can finally get some rest and enjoy the sun. Rudolph is with me right now on the Hawaiian sands, which are nearly as white as snow. We have been sunbathing each day from dawn till dusk and coming up with whacky new toy ideas for next Christmas.

This month, A Different Podcast with Lindzi and Steph launches; fun, listen-along content covering a range of interesting and relevant topics.

We‘ll be featuring a range of people, representing all the wonderful diversity life has to offer, sharing stories, information and advice, stuff we have found useful and feel others might too.

The transition from penning to broadcasting is something I‘ve been seeking to establish the past few years and I am thankful for the experience and opportunities brought to me by this role as columnist. Over three years ago I was approached by Nichola, formerly of the Glenfield Gazette, and asked if I could create a monthly feature. I‘d recently published the full Jodie trilogy, and we decided I‘d write under the main character of my books, Jodie, offering advice in the form of a punchy problem page.

“Dear Jodie” ran from August 2019 until April 2020 when covid interrupted and ultimately halted normal service. Then in December 2020, under the guidance of editor Mike, I relaunched my article as Lindzi‘s Lifestyle and have had the pleasure of honing my skills until right now.

I am so grateful for the support given to me from this newspaper, and also the Glenfield community I‘ve written for. Thank you everyone!

I used to dream of one day being a writer. So I suppose the final statement I would like to end on is to have dreams and always keep on dreaming.

Please stay in touch with our journey and join our mailing list here www.adifferenthumandesign.co.uk Happy 2023!

Rudolph spends his time running around on the beach and surprising the tourists. The elves are trying to build snowballs out of sand, but it’s not going well so far. In the evenings, we drink coconut water talk deep into the night about our favourite sleigh rides.

As you already know, I visited thousands of homes to give away presents to all the well-behaved children. I hope you liked the ones that I brought for you this year. The elves tried very hard to ensure that everything was in order. We were happy to hear from your parents that you had a big smile on your face when you opened them.

Please remember to be good next year, and we will visit you next Christmas too!

See you in a year!

Santa

The woman next door to me is a golf widow. Her husband got run over by a Volkswagen.

When John Virgo came to Glenfield

CAN ANYONE remember the day when snooker ace John Virgo came to Top Spot Snooker Centre in the village to give an exhibition?

At the time, my brother-in-law and I used to play snooker one evening a week there, and when the event was advertised, we both booked tickets.

John Virgo was one of the top players around, and as well as performing a range of trick shots at his exhibitions, he also did comedic impersonations of the other snooker stars including Terry Griffiths, Dennis Taylor, Cliff Thorburn, Steve Davis, Ray Reardon and Alex ‘Hurricane’ Higgins.

If memory serves me correctly, Top Spot organised a draw to determine who got the chance to play a frame against the professional. The lucky winner made the mistake of spreading the pack of reds all over the table, at which point John Virgo shook his hand and said, ‘Thanks for the game.’ He then potted every ball on the table to a massive round of applause.

Top Spot also held a knockout competition for its members in the weeks leading up to the John Virgo night, with the winner earning the right to play against him.

Top Spot’s star player at the time - I think his name was Terry Davidson - duly won the knockout and provided a major upset on the big night by beating John Virgo!

Although understandably miffed by losing to a local amateur player, John still delighted the audience with his repertoire of trick shots, and finished off the show with a series of hilarious impressions, ending with ‘The Hurricane’.

I remember it being a great night - were you there?

SCIENCE FICTION CHARACTERS

WORDSEARCH

IF YOU can find 18 SCIENCE FICTION CHARACTERS in the Wordsearch grid above, you could win yourself a meal for two and a bottle of house wine at The Stamford Arms in Groby.

you have to do to go into the draw is find - and mark a line through - 18 WELL-KNOWN CHARACTERS FROM SCIENCE FICTION These can run vertically, horizontally or diagonally (and backwards!).

Send your marked entry forms to: LIVE LONG AND PROSPER, Glenfield Gazette, PO Box 8, Markfield, Leics. LE67 9ZT to arrive by SATURDAY 21ST JANUARY 2023. Please remember to fill in your name and address. (Some people don’t!)

The sender of the first correct entry drawn out of the hat will win the voucher for a Meal for Two and a Bottle of House Wine at The Stamford Arms, Groby. Good luck!

LAST MONTH’S WINNER WAS Beryl Mewis of Fairestone Avenue, Glenfield. Congratulations! Your prize voucher will be sent to you soon!

Not many people know that Yoda had a last name. It was Layheehoe.