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MID-MARCH 2020
Thank you BILL RICHARDSON and family wish to express their sincere thanks and gratitude to everyone who attended Eileen’s funeral on Friday 14th February, and for their kind messages and cards. Also for their generous donations to LOROS, which amounted to £1,100.
Talent Show
Time to get your act together! CALLING ALL young people of Leicestershire, the Queen Bee Youth Project are holding a talent show on Saturday 8th August 2020 at Markfield Community Centre. It’s time to show everyone what you are made of! Got a talent? Let’s showcase it. The details: • You must be 18 or under, living in Leicestershire • One performance per entrant • Register to enter by 1st July 2020 by sending name, contact details & nature of performance via Facebook messenger @ queenbeeyouth or email: queenbeeyouthproject@gmail. com • Maximum 5-6 minutes per performance • 25 spaces available, first come basis - register now! There’s plenty of time to practise so what are you waiting for? Follow us on Facebook @ queenbeeyouth for event updates and details on purchasing tickets. Money raised will go towards taking the Queen Bee Youth Project on a week long residential full of activities to boost their physical and mental wellbeing.
Bagworth, Thornton and Stanton-under-Bardon Neighbourhood Planning Steering Group
Drop In and Examine our Draft Neighbourhood Plan! FOLLOWING many months of hard work by our various Theme Groups, our draft Neighbourhood Plan is now ready for your inspection. A ‘Drop In’ Event has been arranged for Saturday 28th March at the following locations:• Bagworth Community Centre 11am to 1pm • Thornton Community Centre 11am to 1pm • Stanton-under-Bardon Village Hall 11am to 1pm You will have the opportunity to view our draft Neighbourhood Plan and to examine the policies it features regarding the future development of our villages. Members of the Neighbourhood Planning Steering Group and Theme Groups will be on hand to answer your questions and you will have the opportunity to record your comments and opinions. The Neighbourhood Plan is a significant document which will afford our Parish Councils an opportunity to influence planning decisions in our designated area and to prevent inappropriate, speculative development. It has taken almost three years and a vast amount of work by the members of the Steering Group and Theme Groups, with the supervisory assistance of our professional planning consultants ‘YourLocale’ Ltd., to create this very important document so:
Drop In & See What We Have Achieved!
Library ‘saviour’ Ann retires MARKFIELD LIBRARY Trustees presented Mrs Ann Aveling with a gift to mark her retirement as a founder Trustee and Secretary of Markfield Community Library.
Herald readers will have recently read that she was there at the beginning of the journey to take over the library from Leicestershire County Council (LCC). I was Treasurer then and now Chair and I can say that if it were not for Ann, the library would not have survived the first year. Ann trained volunteers alongside LCC staff and became our first Volunteer Co Ordinator putting in place many of the practices we follow today. The former Chair David Pegg and I always suspected Ann slept in the library that first year, such was the number of hours she put in covering those first shifts as we all went through a steep learning curve. As a Trustee we have valued her integrity and as a volunteer she has trained and supported volunteers. Ann will continue to be on shifts when needed and involved particularly in events such as our forthcoming VE celebrations. She is also the only one that can understand the footfall survey for LCC twice a year! We are delighted that Mrs Jacqui Williams has stepped into Ann’s shoes as a Trustee .
Margaret Bowler (Chair)
NEXT ISSUE OUT ON 18TH APRIL - ARTICLE/ADVERT DEADLINE: 4TH APRIL
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THE HERALD • MID-MARCH 2020 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@markfieldherald.co.uk
Message from Dr Luke Evans MP PO Box 8, Markfield, Leics. LE67 9ZT Tel: 01530 244069
IN THIS FIRST monthly column for The Herald may I start by thanking all of you who lent me your vote on 12 December last year. Whether you voted for me or not I am here to represent you all and will work tirelessly to be the strongest possible voice for the Bosworth constituency in the coming years.
Contact Mike Wilkinson with your articles, news items or advertising enquiries.
I hear quite a lot that sometimes the constituency’s northern villages; Markfield, Thornton, Bagworth, Stanton-under-Bardon and Field Head, sometime feel forgotten by the rest of the constituency. My job as your MP is to make sure you are every bit as important as Hinckley or Bosworth. This month I have had a meeting with Rt Hon Grant Shapps, the Secretary of State for Transport, to discuss reopening the Ivanhoe Line which runs from Burton on Trent to Leicester, and which of course historically ran through and stopped in the constituency. The reversal of Beeching era cuts could improve our public transport significantly and I’m very happy to work with my fellow MPs whose constituencies run along the line to make the case for reopening it. I asked the Church Commissioners for England about an increase in the theft of lead from church roofs, something which I know has been an issue in this area, and heard that representations are being made to strengthen the Scrap Metal Dealers Act to tackle this troubling rural crime. I have also been elected by my fellow MPs as a member of the Health and Social Care Select Committee. This is an important role in holding the department to account, and one I will hopefully bring my professional knowledge to. Meetings of the committee will start in March. I hosted my first Parish Council Forum this month where I asked parish councils from across the constituency to meet with me and tell me about the issues which are most pressing to them. Parish Councils are at the very heart of the communities that they serve and I thought it was a very productive evening which certainly highlighted the issues that I need to be taking with me back to parliament such as rural crime, public transport, and planning. It’s been a very tough month with the weather too. Storms Ciara and Dennis have brought with them a lot of destruction and I know that several areas have been affected by flooding. I continue to be in contact with the Environment Agency and Leicestershire County Council to press them both on tackling flooding hotspots. If you do have difficulties with flooding in the future please do report it straight away to the Environment Agency’s 24 hour incident hotline on 0800 80 70 60. Finally, I have started holding my regular surgeries which I am very eager to take around the constituency. If you have a problem or issue that you would like to talk to me about then don’t hesitate to contact my office and my team will be happy to make an appointment for you. Please keep in mind surgeries are very popular, so sometimes there is a short wait. And of course if you see me around the constituency please do stop me and say ‘hello’.
Printed by Norwood Press in Ellistown.
Dr Luke Evans MP
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.
Member of Parliament for Bosworth Write c/o: House of Commons, London, SW1A 0AA Website: drlukeevans.org.uk Tel: Constituency: 01455 635741 Tel: Parliament: 0207 219 4250 Mobile: 07920 619812 Twitter: @drlukeevans Instagram: drlukeevans
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.
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, Lyn, Ian, Sandra, Jeanie, Callum, Lisa, Yvonne, Margaret, Daniel, Jessie, Maisie, Ray, Stacey, Andy, Oliver, Mackenzie, Mary, Emma, Emily, Conor, Hannah, Rowan and Mike.
What’s on at The Club, Thornton • Sat 14th March: 3rd & Lindsley Country Americana & Roots band. • Sat 21st March: Midnight Angel local 1980’s rock covers band • Sat 28th March: 1980’s disco with D.J.Tom • Sat 4th April: The Travelling Riverside - blues band • Sat 25th April: Punk & Disorderly - local punk & rock covers band • Sat 9th May: Malpractice - Dr Feelgood tribute and rock covers band
Everyone welcome! No membership required.
On the 90th day of Christmas, my true love said to me: “You take Christmas too seriously.”
THE HERALD • MID-MARCH 2020 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@markfieldherald.co.uk
Markfield & Thornton Theatre Group Spring Production SAVE THE DATE – MTTG will be performing their Spring production from Wednesday 29th April to Saturday 2nd May. The play is ‘Where there’s a Will’ written by Norman Robbins. There’s an old Yorkshire saying: “Where there’s a will, there’s relations”, but even phlegmatic Northerners would raise an eyebrow when these dry-eyed mourners turn up for Edie Puddiphat’s funeral. To their dismay and fury, they discover the eccentric Edie has deftly outwitted them and left everything to her sole godchild. As they reel with shock, a fatal accident raises their hopes and prompts the venomous Velma to hatch a cunning plot. But even as they conspire, a ruthless killer begins to stalk the house and bodies fall like flies. Will the ghastly Donna live to make it to the alter in time and how is Elvis Presley involved? Why was the Vicar disinherited and is that really tea in those innocent looking cups? What happened to the incontinent cat and where does the male stripper fit into the proceedings? All will be eventually revealed in this murderously funny farce. As always our cast members will be providing the audience with plenty of laughs along the way, this production promises an entertaining evening for all. Tickets (£5) are on sale now at Thornton’s Corner Store, or from Anne, our Bookings Organiser on 01530 469714.
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Fairytale News: The Pied Piper has 12 rats behind him, more to follow...
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THE HERALD • MID-MARCH 2020 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@markfieldherald.co.uk
News from Stanton under Bardon Village Hall Film Nights
STANTON UNDER BARDON Village Hall Trust are pleased to confirm that Midland Quarry Products have once again agreed to sponsor our Film Nights for the 2020/2021 season starting in the autumn. Our sincere thanks and appreciation to MQP for their continued support of these increasingly popular community events. We have two more Film Nights in the current season, and will be showing “Judy” starring Renee Zellweger as Judy Garland in the award winning biography of this tragic icon, on Saturday 14th March. The final film, “Downton Abbey” has also received a number of awards and will be shown on Saturday 25th April. Even if you have never watched the TV series you cannot fail to be enchanted by this full length film version. Tickets for both events are available in advance from Stanton Stores for £4.00, or £5.00 on the door. Doors open at 6.30pm and curtain up is 7.00pm sharp. As usual there will be an interval for tea and coffee and a raffle. We hope you can join us. We are also delighted to announce that we shall be hosting another musical evening on Saturday 30th May. We will be welcoming back Four Men and Friends for a relaxed, fun evening of entertainment complete with a bar. Please look out for our leaflet through your door nearer the time.
Welcome to Vivien THE VILLAGE Hall Trust are very pleased to welcome Vivien Campbell to our small team of volunteers. We are sure Vivien will be an invaluable support. We are still seeking more volunteers to join us as Trustees or key holders. We are a small, friendly group that manage the Village Hall. We work as a team, so the workload is spread between us. It is an excellent way to get to know your neighbours and take an active role the community. If you have a few hours a month to spare, and would like to help out, please get in touch through our website, or email stantonvillagehall@gmail.com with your contact details. We look forward to seeing you at one of our events soon.
Mark Stephens
Chairman, Stanton under Bardon Village Hall Trust
Christian Aid Lenten Coffee Morning WE ARE DELIGHTED to inform everyone that the Coffee Morning held on Saturday 22 February in the Congregational Church Hall raised £141.42 which is an excellent sum.
Very grateful thanks is extended to all who came and enjoyed the pancakes, and donated so generously. We would also like to thank all the volunteers who gave so generously of their time and effort. We are also very grateful to those who donated raffle prizes, particularly the hair treatment and blow dry voucher donated by Louise Woods Hair Studio (Braunstone Gate, Leicester) and prizes from a parishioner from St Michael’s. The event was arranged by Markfield Churches Together to raise funds for Christian Aid in their work in the drought affected parts of Kenya. Due to lack of rain, crops cannot be grown or livestock cared for. Helping the local people to build sand dams ensures that any rain that falls is retained so once again they may grow their crops and look after their livestock. The lack of rain is due to climate change and this aid transforms their lives.
Have a go at BOWLS! COALVILLE Town Bowls Club (rear off Council Offices, Whitwick Road)welcomes anyone to drop in any Monday or Friday evening 6pm onwards from Mid-April to try your hand at bowls and have a look around. Just bring some flat shoes. Visit the website at www.coalvilletownbowlsclub. co.uk
I don’t always have a valid argument, but when I do, it’s later that day, in the shower.
THE HERALD • MID-MARCH 2020 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@markfieldherald.co.uk
National Trust Leicester Association
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Those meetings at your workplace
LAST YEAR I described the National Trust “Partner” houses or museums in London. Recently the Trust has announced details of a similar agreement with six heritage buildings and museums in Birmingham. Blakesley Hall is a fine timber framed Tudor House built by a local merchant, Richard Smalbroke, in 1590 and is one of the oldest buildings in Birmingham. Aston Hall was built by Sir Thomas Holte between 1618 and 1635 and was one of the last large Jacobean houses to be built in England. In 1858 it was opened by Queen Victoria as the first public museum in a country house. A third large house is Soho House. This is a three storey Georgian House which began life as a large farmhouse. It was enlarged, extended and enriched by Matthew Bolton between 1766 and 1809. Bolton was a local industrialist who worked with James Watt to develop the steam engine and was a member of the influential Lunar Society. The Museum of the Jewellery Quarter is a remarkable time-capsule. The factory was one of the main jewellery and silver workshops in the UK and can be viewed just as it was left totally intact when it closed in 1981. The Coffin Works museum is where Newman Brothers produced the world’s finest coffin fittings from 1894 until 1999 and is again a time capsule with everything preserved in situ from the day it closed. Finally Sarehole Mill is a 250 year old working water mill, again preserved as left. An additional feature is the fact that the building was a childhood haunt of J.R.R Tolkien. All of the above are open Wednesdays and Thursdays until early April when all except Soho House extend their opening days from Tuesday to Sunday. • THE NT LEICESTER Association has an afternoon meeting on Wednesday 25th March when Janice
YOU HAVE often suspected this: those meetings at work are largely pointless, except they do provide you with a chance to talk. That is the conclusion of a team of academics from the University of Malmo in Sweden. They have found that the growth of managerial and strategy jobs in business has in turn fuelled a rise in the number of meetings that are called; even though the meetings achieve little. But still the meetings continue, because many managers are unsure of their role, and so they organise meetings to at least give the impression that they are achieving something. The meetings do achieve one good thing: they are therapeutic in that people like to feel acknowledged by their colleagues, and talking together helps them ‘find a role.’
Mould will present a talk entitled “Gardens of the National Trust”. The meeting will be held at St Guthlac’s Memorial Hall, Holbrook Road, Leicester, at 2.30pm. • THERE WILL ALSO be an evening meeting on Tuesday 14th April at The Braunstone West Social Centre, St Mary’s Avenue, Braunstone, at 7.30pm. Following a brief AGM, Felicity Austin will present an illustrated talk entitled “Life on the Home Front During WW2”. Admission to meetings is NTLA members £2.50, visitors £4.00, including refreshments. For details of the NT Leicester Association and its Talks Service for other organisations please call 0116 2229133.
Alan Tyler Publicity Officer
I just passed a whole field of sheep on the bus today. What on earth they were doing on the bus I don’t know.
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THE HERALD • MID-MARCH 2020 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@markfieldherald.co.uk
MARKFIELD HOMEMAKERS
MARKFIELD HOMEMAKERS meet in the Congregational Hall, Main Street, Markfield, LE67 9UU on the second Wednesday of the month at 8pm.
8th April Peter Coombs For more information, call: Brenda on 01530 242173.
String Quartet Concert St Mary’s and All Saints Church Friday 15th May 2020 at 7.30pm Admission £8 including light refreshment Children free admission Contact Claire on 07906 238893 Proceeds to British Heart Foundation and The Church
Advance Notice:
Mid-Life Re-assessment Course WHAT CONSTITUTES ‘mid-life’ these days ? Anyway, if you would like to join in with other people who are reassessing their lives, be it after a separation, bereavement, redundancy, or the children leaving home, just as a natural part of getting older, etc then please could you register interest with Mr R Lincoln, via judith. lincoln@methodist.org.uk with “Mid-life Re-assessment” in the subject line. Atheists, agnostics and non-Christians do not panic, this is simply a public e-mail address, I will NOT be ramming religion down your throats or seeking to change your ideology: it IS offered as a help to those who feel they might need it. I apologise for the e-mail only contact, but in these days of fraud and such like, I am not feeling confident about publicising my home address or home telephone. The initial contact is on a no-commitment basis, and it doesn’t matter if you subsequently do not want to turn up (you might be asked why just in case I have done something wrong, but that will be all). It is hoped that the course will be FREE, especially if it takes place in a church, or church hall, but that is simply because it is a venue with a roof, toilets, and a kitchen. Should there be a sufficient level of interest, then details of the venue, times and dates will be announced at a later date. At the moment I am looking at a time during summer term.
What God looks like
An infants teacher was observing her classroom of children while they drew. One little girl was working away furiously, and so she asked her what the drawing was. The girl replied, “I’m drawing God.” The teacher paused and said, “But no one knows what God looks like.” Without missing a beat, the little girl replied, “They will in a minute.”
URGENT HELP IS NEEDED VOLUNTEERS TO DELIVER ENVELOPES CHRISTIAN AID WEEK 10-16 MAY THE CHARITY works for and with people of all faiths and none, as well as with churches and other organisations, to promote sustainable development, strive for social justice and pursue their vision of a world without poverty. In 37 countries, they support poor and marginalised people, whatever their beliefs, sexuality, gender and ethnicity, to lift themselves out of poverty. We would really appreciate any help in delivering envelopes to the village – this is literally just popping an envelope through a letter box during the week of 10-16 May, then it is up to the individuals if they wish to return the envelope, so no door knocking etc… Can you help? Even if just to deliver on your own street, anything is very much appreciated.
If you can help, please contact Margaret Bodle on 01530 243295
South Charnwood High School ‘encouraging excellence, valuing people’ Headteacher: Andrew Morris: Deputy Headteachers: Simon Andrews, Abigail Lear Assistant Headteacher: Kathryn Juszkiewicz Business Manager: Angela Preston
Lunchtime Supervisors We require as soon as possible Lunchtime Supervisors to join our caring team. This is a term time position (39 weeks). The hours are 1.00pm to 1.55pm daily (£8.70 – £8.81 per hour). If you are interested or require any further information, please contact Angie Preston, Business Manager on 01530 242351 or email: office@southcharnwood.org As this job is designated as a ‘regulated activity’, an enhanced DBS check with Barred list will be carried out by the school. ‘South Charnwood High School - Committed to Safeguarding Children and Young People’ www.southcharnwood.leics.sch.uk Broad Lane, Markfield, Leicestershire LE67 9TB Telephone: (01530) 242351 Email: office@southcharnwood.org
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I’ve spent all day searching for a U2 CD... but I still haven’t found what I’m looking for.
THE HERALD • MID-MARCH 2020 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@markfieldherald.co.uk MARCH’S JAZZ concert at Newbold Verdon was one of the best nights ever according to the audience, thanks to the Tenement Jazz band. This relatively new band of five young talented musicians from Edinburgh play traditional style New Orleans jazz with great enthusiasm. Their leader, John Youngs the banjoist and vocalist, was well supported by the other band members; Patrick Darley, trombone, Chuck Dearness, trumpet, Doug Kemp on bass and Steve Feast reeds player. They played many favourite jazz numbers like “Louisiana Fairytale” and also less often head tunes such as “New Orleans Wiggle”, the title song from their recent CD. Everyone agreed it was great to see a young band continuing the tradition of jazz music and look forward to seeing them again in the future. • NEXT MONTH ON FRIDAY, APRIL 3RD we welcome New Orleans Jazz Bandits. If you love traditional jazz do join us at Newbold Verdon Social Club, admission is £9 payable on the door and the music begins at 8.00pm. For more details please ring Kelvin on 01455 822 824 or Pauline on 0116 286 5496.
How to Fail: Everything I’ve Ever Learned From Things Going Wrong By Elizabeth Day Inspired by her hugely popular podcast, How To Fail is Elizabeth Day’s brilliantly funny, painfully honest and insightful celebration of things going wrong. “This is a book for anyone who has ever failed. Which means it’s a book for everyone. “If I have learned one thing from this shockingly beautiful venture called life, it is this: failure has taught me lessons I would never otherwise have understood. I have evolved more as a result of things going wrong than when everything seemed to be going right. Out of crisis has come clarity, and sometimes even catharsis.” Part memoir, part manifesto, and including chapters on dating, work, sport, babies, families, anger and friendship, it is based on the simple premise that understanding why we fail ultimately makes us stronger. It’s a book about learning from our mistakes and about not being afraid. Uplifting, inspiring and rich in stories from Elizabeth’s own life, How to Fail reveals that failure is not what defines us; rather it is how we respond to it that shapes us as individuals. Because learning how to fail is actually learning how to succeed better. And everyone needs a bit of that.
Never underestimate a woman’s ability to make anything your fault.
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THE HERALD • MID-MARCH 2020 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@markfieldherald.co.uk
Sign of the times in Bagworth Community Centre PARENTS and their children have been enjoying Sign & Rhyme’s baby and toddler singing and signing group at Bagworth Community Centre for some time. Now a new Sign & Rhyme class is being introduced on Friday mornings where parents and their babies can learn a range of signs to use in their daily routines. Children are born with an instinctive ability to communicate, but learning to talk takes time and requires the type of motor skills that babies begin to master around their first birthday. Studies have shown that while babies may lack the motor skills to speak, they do have the ability to use and understand language. And given the right guidance, they have much to say – with their hands. The Sign & Rhyme course is designed for babies from 6-13 months and is spread over five, weekly hour-long sessions that centre on their daily routines and activities. Each session provides multi-sensory learning designed to capture the interest of adults whilst effectively engaging the younger participants. Sign & Rhyme also runs its ‘Song in a Bag’ weekly classes for children aged birth to five years at Bagworth Community Centre on Wednesday mornings. The classes are relaxed, friendly and great fun and include a mix of signing, singing, musical activities and signed stories. Bookings are now being taken for the five-week course (places are limited for this) and you can contact Marie at Sign & Rhyme for more information about the course.
• MUSIC also plays a big part in another activity that takes place at the Centre. One of our very popular groups whose activities have gone from strength to strength is Dance-tastic. The people who attend these dance classes not only enjoy the lessons but also the success that they achieve, whether it is in exams or in dance competitions. The dancers take part in national competitions and do very well. Other schools look to Dance-tastic for ideas. Jo should be very proud of herself as she is proud of her students, whatever age they might be.
• ANDY is also achieving a great deal with the people that attend his classes in the martial arts. Again this includes people of all ages. His students gain a great deal from his teaching, which is also translated into awards at various levels. For more information about the Zen Goshin Ryu martial arts school, please contact Andy on 07975 833078 or visit www.leicestermartialarts. co.uk All of the groups who call Bagworth Community Centre ‘home’ contribute to the success of the place and the buzz that can be felt in the building on most weekday evenings.
Bookings Now Being Taken For EASTER SUNDAY
The Bricklayer’s Arms 213 Main Main Street, Street, Thornton Thornton Tel: Tel: 01530 01530 230808 230808 213 www.bricklayersthornton.co.uk www.bricklayersarms.net
Wednesday is
“STEAK NIGHT” 2 Steaks, With Hand-Cut Chips, Peas, Tomato, Mushrooms & Two Glasses of House Wine - £19.95
Traditional Sunday Lunch 1 Course - £9.00 2 Courses - £12.00 3 Courses - £15.00
With personal service to your table
Home-Made Pie Night - Tuesdays - £6.45 Lunches & Snacks: Tues-Sun Eves (Tues-Sat): ‘A La Carte’ or Snacks • Weekend Specials A Welcoming Homely Atmosphere, Garden & Great Food!
I was given the sack at work today, but that’s what happens when you’re a postman.
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THE HERALD • MID-MARCH 2020 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@markfieldherald.co.uk
Markfield WI Programme 2020 Mar 18th: Pilates and Me Jane Thomas April 15th: Paperweight Owl Carolyn Boulter May 20th: Resolutions/Sari talk & demonstration - Kishoni June 17th: Leics & Rutland Blood Bikes - Elaine and Paul Bivins July 15th: Run Racing Mum writing Free Fall in Stilettos! Catherine Tinker (Personal Trainer) Aug 19th: The Real CSI Paul Taberner Sept 16th: Everything you wanted to know about cocktails but were afraid to ask - The Cocktail Shaker Boys (to be held at the Scout Hut)
Meetings are the 3rd Wednesday of the month, 7.45pm at the Methodist Church, Main St Markfield. Further information from Fran Johnson 01530 243350 or Jane Barrington 01530 243285.
Don’t miss Drive it Day! Sunday 26th April
at Little Markfield Farm, Forest Road, Markfield, Leicester, LE67 9UQ JOIN US at Little Markfield Farm for a road run around the local area; meet at the farm at 10am for a cuppa, before setting off at 11am taking in the local scenery before returning to the farm. Meals will be available at the farm on your return see Little Markfield Farm Facebook for menu. We will be raising money for the Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Rutland Air Ambulance, £3 donation per vehicle to be paid on the day. • Have a good day, enjoy the run, the company and the nostalgia. • Obey the speed limit • The event is open to all classics cars, commercial vehicles, motorcycles and kit cars, however in order to avoid congestion we have limited the number of vehicles to 50 so entry will be on a First come first served’ basis. All entries to be received by the April 20th 2020 please. • For more information contact Brenda on 07774 047571 • Please book your Vehicle in via our Facebook page event or contact Brenda
Markfield Brownies need your help I AM the leader of 2nd Markfield Brownies and we are looking for more volunteers to help out. For more information, contact me on the email address below.
Francesca Rossa
Frugal
Incredible Newspaper Entry in August 1946 WHILST LOOKING for some entries in old newspapers with regard to the Second World War in Markfield. Whilst doing so I found an amazing quip for 24th August 1946 in The Kington Times in Herefordshire. HOW ABOUT THIS FOR MARKFIELD 1946:“Markfield a good sized Leicestershire village has been considering the question of numbering the houses and naming the streets but as it would cost a twopenny rate and the postmen know everybody in the area, the parish council decided to defer the matter for the time being. Kington Times.”
Di Lockley
Email: franrossa@hotmail.com
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THE HERALD • MID-MARCH 2020 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@markfieldherald.co.uk
Asperger’s Workshop WITH EVER increasing numbers of children being diagnosed, as well as adults, there is a complementary ever increasing chance a relative will have been diagnosed. Yet despite all of the publicity, books, tv documentaries, and famous people being diagnosed, there is still widespread ignorance of the condition, what it is like to have it, and what to do to / for / with people with Asperger’s. An AS’s / Aspie’s view of what it is like to have the condition is much different from how a neuro-typical medic views the condition. At some point in the Summer Term it is proposed to have an Asperger’s Workshop in Ratby. The host for this event is Mr R Lincoln, who lives locally and was diagnosed as an adult, having suffered with social exclusion, bullying and neuro-typicals being anti-social all through his life. Being diagnosed has meant he can now fight this discrimination, prejudice and ignorance through informing people of what life is like to actually live with the condition. Autism comes in many different varieties, and the workshop will be concentrating on Asperger’s. It will not be covering Classic or Severe Autism, nor the milder form Pervasive Personality Disorder. To help the organisers gauge how popular this event will be, please contact Mr R Lincoln via judith. lincoln@methodist.org.uk with “Autism Workshop” in the title. Once there is a sufficient level of interest, a venue can be booked and those expressing an interest can be informed of the dates and times.
Rise in people living alone
Borough Council calls for new firework legislation OVER THE YEARS great advances seem to have been made in fireworks, particularly those used professionally in public displays. As the sky fills with colour and light they really do give spectators a visual treat. But not everyone is a fan of fireworks, and for them New Year’s Eve and the extended firework season in November can fall somewhere between an irritation and a nuisance. Members of Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council have been told they can cause significant problems and can be a source of fear and distress for many pet animals, farm livestock and wildlife. They may suffer psychological distress and also cause themselves injuries as they attempt to run away or hide from the noise created which it is said has a far larger impact on their hearing than our own. Many cats are terrified of the sudden noise caused by fireworks, the unpredictable, loud, and high intensity noises that many fireworks make can cause fear. Members were told that it is estimated that 45 percent of dogs show signs of fear when they hear fireworks, the most common cause for fear responses in dogs. The RSPCA believes there is a real need to raise awareness amongst owners of animals about fireworks phobia. It seems that this phobia can be often be treated in dogs at least, in the long term, but owners need to prepare themselves and their pets sooner, rather than just before the fireworks are let off. The RSPCA also feels that the law does not prevent or sufficiently reduce the risk of fireworks causing distress, injury or anxiety to people, as well as death, injury or distress to animals, and the wider public should be encouraged to be more considerate of those with pets, horses and livestock as well as wildlife.
Carbon concerns There is also concern that fireworks and their debris will cause disturbance to wildlife, and are likely to cause suffering or distress, depending on the distance from the explosive and the noise level. The debris, if found on the ground, may pose a hazard to animals, such as horses and farm livestock. Professional organised displays significantly reduce the risk of harm to humans. There is, however, concern that fireworks and bonfires release carbon, but Fantastic Fireworks, one of the UK’s longest established professional fireworks company businesses, defends their position and says that an average November 5th display will will only produce about 17kg of CO2. They argue that most new petrol engines will produce about 190gm of CO2 per mile, so travelling 88 miles would emit the equivalent amount of CO2 of a typical fireworks display.
What did the Council decide to do? The Borough Council decided to lobby government to limit the number of days and events to which fireworks can be set off, and to urge them to introduce legislation to limit the maximum noise level of fireworks to 90dB for those sold to the public for private displays. In addition they will encourage local suppliers of fireworks to stock ‘quieter’ fireworks for public displays. They also intend to promote a public awareness campaign about the impact of fireworks on animal welfare and vulnerable people, including the precautions that can be taken to mitigate risks, and also on the declared climate emergency in Hinckley & Bosworth. All public firework displays within the local authority boundaries will have to be advertised in advance of the event, allowing residents to take precautions for their animals and vulnerable people.
Norman Griffiths
Supporting you in your home We are leaders in the community helping people to live at home indepenently. Our friendly and supportive staff have been providing assistance to our clients for over 25 years our staff have full references, an enhanced DBS and have completed extensive training.
THE NUMBER of middleaged ‘bachelors’ (aged 45–64) who live on their own is soaring.
They now make up 1.4 million of the 8.2 million single households in the county. Overall, there are 27.8 million homes in the UK, according to the Office for National Statistics’ 2019 figures on families and households.
Don’t forget to send us your news! Thanks
At Bosworth Homecare we build and tailor packages of support to meet our client’s individual needs. Our support plans can be any combination of the many services we offer including, medication, personal care, assistance with domestic tasks and shopping. We also support our clients to hospital appointments, social activities and offer a befriending service.
Domestic Duties • Shopping • Meal Preparation Medication Assistance • Personal Care Support with Social Activities, Hospital Appointments and a Befriending Service
Tel · 01455 292648
We have been rated GOOD by the Care Quality Commission and became the first homecare provider to achieve the local authorities Dignity and Respect Award. If you would like to discuss any support needs for yourself or your loved one please contact our dedicated team.
Friendly and Compassionate Carer’s also required to support our clients in your area
Email · managementteam@givecare.co.uk | www.bosworthhomecare.co.uk Bosworth Homecare 7a Main Street Market Bosworth CV13 0JN
I haven’t seen you since that one time I hoped I’d never see you again.
THE HERALD • MID-MARCH 2020 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@markfieldherald.co.uk
It’s hardly the London Marathon, but it could save your life IF YOU go for a run just once a week, it could be enough to cut the risk of your early death by up to a quarter. A recent analysis of nearly a quarter of a million people has found that those who head out regularly for a jog – no matter how fast or how far – had far lower death rates. In fact, it seems that any amount of running can be linked to a 27 per cent reduction in mortality from any cause. This includes a 30 per cent lower risk of heart death and a 23 per cent reduction in the chances of dying from cancer. Even one run a week of less than 50 minutes is enough to have a significant impact. And there was no evidence to suggest that doing more than this confers any greater benefit. The study was carried out at the Victoria University in Melbourne and published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine. Meanwhile, according to Public Health England, four in ten of us aged 40-60 fail to manage even a brisk 10-minute walk once a month.
Letter from Uncle Eustace
On how to run your notice board The Rectory St James the Least My dear Nephew Darren YOUR DECISION to place a notice board outside your church seems a good one – and its design in blue plastic with luminous red detachable letters seems entirely in keeping with the aesthetics of your building. Make sure that it is lockable, however, as an innocent notice saying ‘all are welcome’ may be modified by a devotee of anagrams to say something far less polite by the following day. We recently replaced ours, which had disappeared shortly before last bonfire night. That the Scouts’ bonfire had a board which closely resembled our old one in its centre was, I am sure, a complete coincidence. The Venture Scouts’ collective smirk during the following week’s Parade Service did give one pause for thought, and the Cubs’ collapse into helpless laughter at the chorus ‘So light up the fire and let the flames burn’ only increased suspicion. On reflection, you may not have been wise to use your notice board to tell everyone your holiday dates. Certainly, various local burglars were tripping over each other inside the vicarage while you were away. However, the note the last one left you, saying that next time he broke in, he would bring you something, since you had so little left, was quite touching. Inevitably, now that your church has a notice board, there will be open warfare over who is allowed to display notices on it. Will the Slimmers Club be seen as biblical? Why is the Ladies Guild notice twice as large as all the others? And do remember that while everyone will want space to display their notices, no one will ever remove them once the event is over. Plaintive announcements of Christmas parties in April or of Summer Fetes in November only serve to take people down memory lane. Here’s the best way to manage a notice board: create that panacea for all problems: a sub-committee. These poor people only ever exist in order to get the clergy out of tight corners and to make sure that matters are discussed at such inordinate length that every issue eventually dies a natural death. And if even that fails, you could have a quiet word with our Scouts before next year’s bonfire night. Your loving uncle,
Eustace
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For more information or to book visit www.babybelleswithsam.co.uk or call: 07446802781 When a woman 57780_RKH_Baby Belles-Ad-Herald-130x95px.indd 1
says, ‘We need to talk’, why is it never about 14/10/2019 17:31 football?
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THE HERALD • MID-MARCH 2020 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@markfieldherald.co.uk
County Councillor’s Report Budget ON WEDNESDAY 19th February the County Council agreed its budget for 2020/21, and set out its Four-year plan to cater for growing demand for services and infrastructure investment.
To advertise in The Herald, call Mike Wilkinson on 01530 244069
Supporting vulnerable people, tackling climate change and delivering infrastructure are at the heart of the County Council’s budget. The plan is made up of a £390m revenue budget for next year to run services, and a four-year capital pot of £600m for one-off spend to build and invest in new roads, schools, social care and more. With growing demand for services and inflation set to ramp up costs by £120m, it sets out £80m of savings, half of which have already been identified. It also includes investing an extra £34m to support vulnerable people and £7m more in road maintenance next year. The £600m capital pot features a range of one-off investments supporting new homes, new roads, school places and social care accommodation and further rolling out broadband, as well as maintaining roads and drains, and a £16m investment in green initiatives help tackle climate change. Did you know: The number of children with ‘Special Educational Need & Disability’ (SEND) education, health and care plans has increased by over 50 per cent since 2015 and is now at 4,730. Investment in adult social care accommodation would allow 60 people a year to move into housing that helps them to live more independently; and that Leicestershire’s population is set to rise by 107,000 between 2016 and 2041! A 3.99% Council Tax increase equates to just over £1 a week and reduces the impact on services by generating £12m next year to support vulnerable people.
Thornton Reservoir Parking On Wednesday 5th February I chaired a meeting at Thornton Community Centre with representatives of Severn Trent (STW), Highways, Leicestershire Police, and Hinckley & Bosworth Borough Council to discuss the ongoing issue of parking in the village. I would like to thank the 70 or so local residents that attended for their input and support. The issues: • The problem days are weekends, bank holidays and school holidays primarily, although the number of problem days is perceived to be increasing; • Visitors are parking across residents dropped kerbs and blocking access, parking along the dam forcing vehicles to drive on the pavement, parking on the pavement in the village preventing use of the pavement; • The issues are replicated at school run times so it is not isolated to reservoir visitors therefore a holistic plan on vehicle movements and parking in Thornton is needed. Ideas/options under consideration: • Immediate: Signage on STW land for those entering site to ask them to be considerate in their parking. Something like: ‘Park with care; please respect our community. If you have parked across a dropped kerb or on the pavement please turn back and move your car to a more suitable place, thank you.’ • Medium term: STW can support the Parish Council in agreeing a poster, messaging signage campaign in the village around a ‘park with care’ approach. • Medium term: STW can support
Peter Bedford the Parish Council in applying for a TMO as a trial for a super busy day that would then result in official cones being placed out by the council to prevent parking in the village. Worth a trial to see where this pushes the problem to as this could inform the thinking on yellow lining which is a longer term option. • Medium term: Parking at other end of Dam to be explored to create a couple more spaces. • Longer term: STW to explore creating parking from the flat area below the dam. There was agreement from the residents present that this would be a good thing and it was suggested that car parking charges should be introduced to provide a revenue stream to pay for this. The parking issue has been exacerbated by Charnwood BC introducing charges at Bradgate Park and this may help to balance out demand. Others voiced concern that charges would push people to park in the village which is why this would need to be done in conjunction with better control with the village regardless. • Longer term: STW will carry out an appraisal of where else they could look to bring people to site and create parking elsewhere that would mean any overflow isn’t impacting the village directly. • Longer-term: It was suggested by residents that STW create a footpath the other side of the wall on the Dam to enable it to be used for parking and a separate path for pedestrians. Other actions: • The police are going to do some sporadic enforcement on the junction where there ’dangerous
Don’t worry about avoiding temptation. As you grow older it will avoid you.
THE HERALD • MID-MARCH 2020 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@markfieldherald.co.uk
from Peter Bedford obstructive’ parking takes place. • STW to keep up discussions with Highways and explore getting yellow lines. • Parish Council to explore how it can use its assets, and relationships locally to assist in alleviating this issue. I will keep residents updated as we work through the solutions to this important local issue.
Planning On Tuesday 18th February I attended a meeting of the Markfield Neighbourhood plan committee; where we discussed what the medium/long term development plans for the village should be. We were all in agreement that the needs of local residents should be paramount particularly preserving the integrity of the village in the context of many ongoing issues such as speeding, parking enforcement, and the increasing demand on local services such as GPs. The lack of a robust 5 year land supply has exposed our villages to speculative planning applications; and it is therefore crucial that the Planning Committee at Hinckley & Bosworth Borough Council (HBBC) uses the full extent of its
powers in protecting residents from the impact of these housing developments. To be clear Leicestershire County Council is a consultee in the planning process and it is the responsibility of HBBC to consider “material planning considerations” before granting permission. These considerations can include: Loss of light or overshadowing, Overlooking/loss of privacy, Visual amenity, Adequacy of parking/ loading/turning, Highway safety, Traffic generation, Noise and disturbance resulting from use, Hazardous materials, Smells, Loss of trees, Effect on listed building and conservation area, Layout and density of building, Design, appearance and materials, Landscaping, Road access, Local, strategic, regional and national planning policies, Disabled persons’ access, Previous planning decisions, and Nature conservation. Please do not hesitate to contact me about these or any other issues, Best Wishes,
Peter Email: peter.bedford@leics.gov.uk Telephone: 01455 824733 www.facebook.com/ peterbedfordmdt
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Markfield Congregational Church Events Hire the Church Hall Markfield Congregational Church Hall is next door to Ma’s Cuisine Take Away and is available for hire daytime or evenings. It has a large kitchen and toilet. If you would like to know more contact Angela Berry 07971 254165 or 01530 242578.
Jay Brothers Advance notice for your diary, Saturday 5th December 7.30pm We are pleased to have booked the Jay Brothers for another enjoyable evening at Markfield Community Centre. Don’t miss out make sure it’s in your diary.
Flicks In The Sticks - FREE FILM SHOWS The article in last months Herald for Flicks in the Sticks has caused much interest and with your help we will be putting a programme together for the next 12 months. Therefore, if you have any suggestions for any films that you would like to see please let me know. There is no charge but donations for the refreshments would be appreciated. Our next film will be shown on Friday 27th March at 2.00pm at Markfield Congregational Church Hall. There will be no film shown in April due to Easter. We will begin the programme for the next 12 months starting on Friday 29th May.
Quiz Evening At Markfield Congregational Church Hall on Friday 12th June. We are a small group of members working to support our village. Church services are held at 10.15 most Sundays. Information is on the Church notice board. Please ring if you require any further information.
Angela Berry 07971 254165 or 01530 242578
My grandfather keeps a record of everything he eats. It’s called a tie.
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THE HERALD • MID-MARCH 2020 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@markfieldherald.co.uk
Planning system favours developers Borough Councillor Matthew Lay writes in The Herald LAST YEAR you may have received a survey from either the Markfield or Stanton neighbourhood planning groups asking for various opinions from residents concerning the community in which we live and our needs for the future. The work of these groups is attempting to give local people more say in how and where development happens in our communities. This is no easy task because instinctively we want to preserve the open countryside around us and limit further development. This will not however serve us well anymore because the Government is so loading the dice in favour of developers that we need to be more proactive than ever before. The neighbourhood planning groups are working hard to bring forward suggested sites for potential development to meet a theoretic housing need well into the future. In doing so it is hoped this will protect the local community from unplanned or speculative development and ensure any development is sustainable and proportionate to local need. Make no doubt from the submissions the Borough Council has already received from landowners and developers, every acre of unbuilt open countryside around us has the potential to be built on by one developer or another. This becomes an even greater reality with the Borough Council failing to maintain a five year land supply, the Government heaping more pressure on local councils to support housebuilding and recent announcements that the ability of Leicester to absorb increasing housing units has reduced significantly. Last time around (about 12 years ago), when developing the last local plan, we had to find land for around approximately 80 houses for Markfield and about 30 for Stanton, and we did do this. But what followed was Jelson with its plan to develop houses on land to the South of London Road and two applications for land (both south of the preferred site where the village hall was built) in Stanton well in excess of the numbers required. And while the Borough Council supported us in turning down these application, they all succeeded in winning their appeals to the Government’s planning inspector which was a great disappointment at the time.
Finding what will be the local community’s preferential housing site/s will be controversial, but it is essential that it is done. Once the neighbourhood plan is ready, it goes to a community ballot and this becomes adopted, subject to that ballot being successful. This will then become formal policy and help us in defending unwanted or speculative applications. That is, of course, providing that local planning powers remain as they do today. There has been a great deal of speculation in the last few months that the Government might decide to remove significant planning powers from Borough/ District Councils and instead give developers much greater freedom to build houses as they see fit, with few restrictions and no opportunity for local residents to raise objections. Such suggestions are sadly based on a total misunderstanding of what is really happening on the ground and who ultimately has the ear of Ministers and the Government. It is following a well worn path over recent years of blaming councils for the slow delivery of new houses rather than the real culprits who have never had it so easy. Local Councils and Councillors are being punished for often raising genuine concerns over developments especially (as is so often the case) when so little new infrastructure is provided to make the said development truly sustainable. It is however just worth reflecting on the numbers. On the ground in the past 10 years, some 2.5 million units of accommodation have been granted planning permission by Councils with some 9 in 10 applications now being approved. However, only 1.5 million units have actually been built by developers in the same time. This leaves a million outstanding permissions. This doesn’t look like it is a planning problem for local councils but rather a clear delivery problem for developers. In truth there are good reasons why only 1.5 million units have been completed. Builders have long recognised that to build over 250,000 units a year is incredibly hard. This is due to labour and material supply constraints which are not likely to improve in the future. The planning system is however so rigged in favour of developers that the slower they go in building the more chance they have of getting favourable planning outcomes for controversial sites. We have a situation in Hinckley and Bosworth where two massive sites allocated
for development years ago (that would have secured the housing needs for the Borough) at Barwell and Earl Shilton have taken so long to come forward, the Council is now missing all its development targets by some margin. While the Council is not without blame in this, it is not lost on me that developers have no incentive to move quickly or even slowly, yet they do have an incentive to do almost nothing on housing delivery to get permissions elsewhere which they wouldn’t get if everything was going to plan. Some ideas are being promoted to correct this imbalance, such as the ability of Councils to compulsorily purchase sites with permission in place but not being developed, or specific charges/taxes for sites laying dormant and not being brought forward. Such measures are controversial and not without risks but I am of the view the something must be done. I am though not optimistic on this because it would be an about turn for a Government that has seemingly made its mind up to scapegoat local Councils when at best the evidence on this is patchy, if it exists at all. Still, that does not absolve any of us of the requirement regardless of targets to meet a reasonable housing need community by community. Those leading the neighbourhood planning
groups are trying to do just that and they have my support, but what that figure is, and how it is determined is likely to be subject of disagreement. My great fear though is that whatever we do, it will be judged by the powers on high as not enough and we therefore face a massive challenge, even greater than the one we faced in the early 1970s with the development of the old Markfield District Plan, that changed the village of Markfield forever. If the Government really does strip away local powers of determination, or simply creates a situation that planning permissions become almost pre-determined to go through, it will be a very sad day indeed and it will change the face of our local communities forever. If you care about such things you should, like me, be very worried about what is just around the corner.
Matthew
Daffs in Bagworth HOPEFULLY you will have noticed the first signs of spring with the appearance of daffodils in Bagworth’s grass verges with the promise of more to come. The vast majority of these have been planted by the Bagworth Forward Group (BFG) with money raised from a variety of endeavours. At present we are thinking about the planters and how best to make them look really good in the village. Don’t forget that we are organising a Table Top Sale at Bagworth Community Centre from 10 am to 2pm on Saturday 21st April. A table top will cost £10 and it is entirely up to you what you want to sell. The chances are that people will be having a spring clean so there will be bargains galore. People have also booked craft fair type stalls so there will be lots to look at. Admission will be 50p for adults and there will be hot food and drinks available so why not peruse the items on sale and stay for lunch. Let someone else do the cooking and washing up. To book your table top, please contact Karen on 01530 230573. Our thoughts are also turning to the Bagworth Show on Saturday August 29th which, as well as the vegetable, fruit, flower, baking, arts and crafts and children’s items, there is also the Bagworth Dog Show. Lots of trophies and rosettes to be won for a variety of exhibits. Start planning as well for the Front Garden Trophy. There are two classes, best large and best small front garden. All gardens in the village are automatically entered and the judge considers them throughout the year. Maybe this year it is your turn to look after that trophy for the year!
Bob Austin
Originality is the fine art of remembering what you hear but forgetting where you heard it.
THE HERALD • MID-MARCH 2020 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@markfieldherald.co.uk
Honouring volunteers who ‘make a difference’ THE HUNT IS ON to find Hinckley and Bosworth residents who make a difference to the lives of others through volunteering. The Council is urging residents to nominate a person or group that deserves recognition for the help they give to others. The Making a Difference community awards are sponsored by the Borough Council and include individual and group categories as follows: • Inspirational volunteer(s): An individual or group that you admire or feel are inspirational in respect of their voluntary work. • Young volunteer(s): A young person or a group (under 18) who volunteer and contribute their time and skills to benefit others within our community. • Creating a sense of community: Volunteers who help individuals or groups of people to feel included, supported, involved and enabled to enjoy life within their community. • Protecting, improving or supporting our environment: An individual or group who contribute to, and benefit our environment, making it a better place for us all. • Contributing to our local heritage, culture or tourism offer: An individual or group who enable others to appreciate and benefit from our local heritage and cultural offer, making this a borough for us all to enjoy and attract visitors. • Keeping people safe and well: An individual or group who volunteer for the benefit of others safety and wellbeing. To find out more about the different categories, nominate online or download an application form visit www.hinckley-bosworth.gov.uk/ makingadifference
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Markfield Local History Group Presents
‘The Archaeology of Leicester Castle’
A talk by Mathew Morris Project Officer, University of Leicester Archaeological services (ULAS) Tuesday 17th March 7.30 pm The Methodist Church Rooms, Main Street, Markfield Non-members £3 to include refreshments www.MarkfieldHistory.info
Alternatively contact the council’s Community Planning Officer, Tracy O’Grady, for a nomination form on tel: 01455 638170, email: tracy.o’grady@hinckley-bosworth.gov.uk Nominations must be received by Friday 1 May 2020.
My girlfriend had a facelift, a tummy lift and a buttock lift. Now she’s nearly two feet off the ground.
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THE HERALD • MID-MARCH 2020 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@markfieldherald.co.uk
All the latest news from
MARKFIELD LIBRARY WILL BE CLOSED ON THE FOLLOWING BANK HOLIDAYS:
Whatever your experience or expertise you will be welcome. We meet every two weeks at Markfield Library on Monday evenings. Why not give it a try? If you would like more information or to try one of our sessions, please contact John at jakfiction@ gmail.com
April 10 Good Friday April 13 Easter Monday May 8 VE Day May 25 Bank Holiday Monday
Quiz Night was a great success
Profile of a volunteer at the library
A VERY successful quiz night was held in February attracting 34 people. We would like to thank David and Mary Pegg for their help getting the quiz night going again. David was an excellent quiz master and the questions were just right to engage across the age groups. It was pleasing to see so much support. We have already had an offer from someone willing to set the questions for the next one on Thursday April 30th at 7.30pm
MY NAME is Julie Grace and I have volunteered at the library now for almost four years.
So many people are touched by dementia.
I was brought up in Quorn and Mountsorrel but left the area in the early seventies to seek fame and fortune in London (actually I worked for a bank). After working at Heathrow airport, then owning a public house and finally counselling in a prison setting I retired and decided to return to Leicestershire. Not knowing anyone in Markfield I saw an advert in this paper, The Herald, where the library were asking for volunteers; and we still are. I thought, well I have never worked in a library but it must be a good way of meeting people and to find out what goes on in Markfield. There is a lot more to the library than checking out and returning books and I really enjoyed the social aspect; even though some shifts we may only have one customer. Now four years on I am one of the Trustees as the library is a community-run charity and I am also one of the volunteer coordinators. If you have an hour or two to spare each week and would like to volunteer we would love to see you. However, if you do not have any spare time please support us by coming in joining for free and borrowing a book because if we are not used we could close down. There are also several groups run in the library if you fancy joining one. We look forward to seeing you soon!
PLEASE COME TO OUR FRIENDLY COFFEE MORNING at MARKFIELD LIBRARY at 11am on Wednesday 18th January.
Seaside Fun
Would you please spend just one hour to understand a little more about dementia? It could help you, family, friends, neighbours 3. What did your family do in Library invites you to their - our whole community. the war? coffee morning to share
A PICTURE POSTCARD of some of our regular library visitors imagining they are “by the seaside” which is the title of our new memory box designed to get people talking about their memories of trips to the seaside.
memories of VE Day and wartime work and lives. We are teaming up with The Mayflower Club and we are very much looking forward to the memories of their older members about that historical event 75 years ago.
Adults: If you would rather talk to us, then come into the library for a chat and cuppa and we will do the writing on the following dates: • March 6 and March 13 from 1-3pm (Friday) • March 2 1from 1-3pm or 6-7pm (Monday)
Our free, valuable and interesting Dementia Friends Information Session is just about asking everyone to understand a bit more about dementia and how we might make life that bit easier and more pleasant for those Markfield Groups may borrow the box by Children can help us: people who live withWriters’ it. asking at the library.
Group You are invited to share your family memories of the VE celebrations WE ARE looking for more Saturday 9 May and wartime work and life. Please members to join our write them down andbe send them COFFEE MORNING TO Please do aWeDementia Friend. meetings. to us by 8 April for our display. COMMEMORATE THE Ever thought you could be a can also display mementoes of that 75TH ANNIVERSARY OF novelist, create short stories or time. flash fiction. Perhaps be a poet or VE DAY 1. Stories of street parties and FOLLOWING the Bank Holiday on Friday, 8 May Markfield Community
2.
celebrations Memories of queues for food, shortages and “make do and mend”
write reviews, a journal, memoirs, articles? At the Writing Group we discuss, suggest, critique or simply listen.
Monday
9.00am to 10.00am
1.00pm to 3.00pm
6.00pm to 7.00pm
Tuesday
9.00am to 10.00am
1.00pm to 3.00pm
6.00pm to 7.00pm
Wednesday
Closed
Closed
Closed
Thursday
9.00am to 10.00am
12.30pm to 3.00pm
6.00pm to 7.00pm
Friday
9.00am to 10.00am
1.00pm to 3.00pm
Closed
Saturday
10.00am to 12.30pm
Closed
Closed
Sunday
Closed
Closed
Closed
Hear about the detective who thought he’d found a mass grave of 1,000 snowmen? It turned out to be a carrot field.
THE HERALD • MID-MARCH 2020 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@markfieldherald.co.uk
Markfield WI News
Cyber awareness and a trip to Leicestershire’s highest pub AT OUR JANUARY meeting we had Samantha Hancock, a cyber protection officer with Leicestershire Police, to give a talk on cyber awareness and on-line safety. Whilst trying not to be too scary she talked us through how to make sure all apps and programs should be kept up to date and to be aware and cautious on-line remembering A,B,C - accept nothing, believe no-one, confirm everything, before making any decision. There is a very good website at lwdpc.org.uk which sets out everything you need to know about being safe on-line and gives details of other sites which can be used to find out if your personal data has been compromised by data breaches. It was a very interesting and eye-opening session and one that probably had some of us going home to check our passwords. • ON 12TH FEBRUARY members of the WI Committee got together for a meal at the Bulls Head at Abbots Oak. We had a very good evening with a chance to chat about things other than WI business. •AT OUR MEETING on 18th March Tanya Davis will be talking about ‘Pilates and Me’ and could be expecting us to do some seated exercise. The competition is an action photo of yourself or another!
Lynda Owen
Debut photographic exhibition ‘Hinckley on Canvas’ at Atkins Gallery - Monday 16 March to Friday 20 March A DEBUT photographic exhibition ‘Hinckley on Canvas’ by Hinckley resident and photographer John Coward is to be held at the Atkins Gallery from Monday 16 March – Friday 20 March. The display of 33 canvasses captures the town throughout the seasons and features local landmarks such as St Mary’s Church, Argents Mead War Memorial and Hollycroft Park and many more. A range of large photographs of the town will also be on display. Keen photographer John Coward, who is the Assistant Town Centre Manager for Hinckley & Bosworth Borough Council said “Hinckley on Canvas is a celebration of the town that I live in and love. I have been posting my photographs of Hinckley on a number of community social media sites for a couple of years which have been getting a really positive reaction. This has motivated me to take my hobby one step further and hold this first exhibition of my works. All of my photographs are taken on mobile phone, which I hope will encourage others to appreciate that expensive cameras are not required.” John’s work can be seen on Facebook and Instagram @ JohnCowardPhotography Atkins Gallery is open Monday to Friday 08:305.30pm with FREE entry. For more information please call Tel.01455 247070 or email info@atkinsbuilding.co.uk
I wish I hadn’t bought that corrugated iron. If anything, it’s made my clothes more creased.
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THE HERALD • MID-MARCH 2020 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@markfieldherald.co.uk
News from St Peter’s Church, Thornton I AM VERY pleased to report that our lovely church building now has a new roof after the lead thieves removed several tons last October.
Saturday 4th April, 10am to 12pm ‘Get a Spring in your Tail’ - join our Charity Ambassador Barrie Stephen for a sponsored dog walk !
It took a while as we needed permission from various bodies to replace the chancel lead with Terne coated stainless steel. Hopefully with the top of the range roof alarm constantly monitoring the whole roof 24 hours a day and a less valuable chancel roof that is the last time we are roofless. It has been a bit trying at times and the storms Ciara and Dennis didn’t help much. Ciara managed to loosen the tarpaulins and again we had a very wet chancel. However, the tarpaulins didn’t completely blow off. Things could have been much worse! A huge thank you to William who, despite my advice, climbed onto the roof to batten down the madly flapping tarpaulin, thus saving a lot more flooding of the church interior. Happy days. We did have to move the service to the community centre during storm Dennis but that was me being over cautious after the previous weekend! I feel it will be awhile before the church walls have dried out properly. Let’s pray that is the end of this saga. The remedial repointing and stonework identified as necessary back in 2017 should start very
Leicester & Leicestershire Animal Aid fundraiser in Desford
Roof repairs have been carried out at St Peter’s Church in Thornton, following theft of the lead covering last October soon. So at last we can begin to concentrate once again on creating an easy access into St Peter’s church. For those who have never visited, St Peter’s was built between 700 and 800 years ago on the side of a steep hill and now overlooks Thornton reservoir. A beautiful but not ideal spot for a large building! We often feel that the church might one day slide into the reservoir!! Anyway, as a result there are 6 steps down into the building. For a number of years a way to create an easy way into church has been sought and many professionals have been consulted. Several ideas have been put forward, and plans drawn up, but then discarded as not being practical or suitable.
Now at last we believe we have found a way forward. The plan is for a vertical lift to be added on the right-hand side of the steps by the entrance. A few other changes will be needed to make this possible, but rest assured we have the unique beauty and history of St Peter’s at the fore front of all our ideas. If you haven’t found your way to our websites these are the addresses. The benefice website www. j22churches.org.uk The Friends of St Peter’s website www.friendsofstpeters.yolasite. com
Shirley Garlick Churchwarden
Come and blow the winter cobwebs away and get some fresh country air in and around the lovely village of Desford. It will be a fairly gentle walk and you don’t even need to bring a dog – it will be a sociable fundraiser for everyone to be part of. Meeting up at the Lancaster Arms pub, Station Road, Desford at 09.55am, we will head off shortly after 10am for a sociable and enjoyable springtime dog walk. ALL money raised by the event will go straight to Leicester & Leicestershire Animal Aid (LAA) in Huncote, who care for, and rehome, over 400 dogs and cats each year. Contact details for a sponsorship pack: If you would like to participate and help raise some much-needed funds for the animals, please email LAA’s Charity Ambassador, Barrie Stephen, in advance: barrie@ barriestephenhair.co.uk or text your details to: 07843 890 843. Registration fee is just £5 and includes a coffee and a roll on the day. So please join us, and Barrie and Dolly, on Saturday 4th April. And don’t forget – no matter how much you raise, every penny will be wisely spent on the animals in LAA’s care. Thank you!
I haven’t seen my wife for three days. I don’t know whether she’s left me or gone shopping.
THE HERALD • MID-MARCH 2020 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@markfieldherald.co.uk
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Borough Councillor Andy Furlong’s UPDATE LAST MONTH my friend and cocouncillor, Matthew Lay, used his column to make the case for general taxation. He offered a strong argument against separate charges for individual public services, describing such arrangements as costly and inefficient. Regular readers of the Herald won’t be surprised to learn that I agree. The 2020 Council Tax bill will be landing on your door mats shortly, so let’s take a look at the charges being levied by Hinckley & Bosworth Borough Council.
Council Tax increase FIRST the bad news. Council Tax is going up. In some ways this is inevitable because of that old bogeyman - inflation. Inflation is the term used by economists to describe the general increase in prices and the fall in value of the money in your pocket. The inflation rate in the UK currently tracks at around 2%. Every time you pop to the shops and spend a tenner, you’ll need to find an extra 20p to buy the same things that you were buying last year. Not a huge amount, but it all adds up and it’s no different for local councils who face the same inflationary pressures when it comes to spending on public services.
This year’s charges When people talk about Council Tax comparisons, they generally refer to a ‘Band D’ property. In England we have eight Council Tax bands based on property values and the band your property falls within determines how much council tax you pay. A ‘Band D’ property is one that is valued at between £68,000 and £88,000. But “Hold on.”, I hear you say. “You can’t buy a house round here for that price?”; and you would be right. This is because your council tax is based on the value of your property in 1991. “That’s mad!” you might say; and I would agree. If Council Tax was based on real values, our bills would skyrocket. Successive governments have been terrified of the consequences. Matthew and I don’t make the rules so please don’t blame us! At the end of February, Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council approved a Council Tax increase of 2.1% taking the bill for a ‘Band D’ property to £134.87. But that’s not the whole story as this table shows. I’ve rounded up the figures to the nearest pound for ease of reading. This year’s Council Tax
% Increase
ONE THING we would certainly miss is the bin collection. This is something that we all depend on, so I thought it would be worth exploring what might happen if I waved a magic wand, abolished the borough council and gave you back your £135. The first thing that you would notice is the rubbish piling up outside your house. Assuming that you have a car, you might consider taking it to the waste centre in Coalville yourself, but that’s a bit of a pain and just think about the traffic jams. The only practical alternative would be to arrange your own collection. How much would that cost? A quick search on the web returns a few companies who offer private collections at a cost in excess of £600 per year. Maybe the Council Tax isn’t so bad after all. Taking this magic trick a step further, you could have the cash that goes to the Leicestershire Police back as well; but I think you’d struggle to find a private security firm that will look after you 24/7 for less than £5 a week. Perhaps we could save money by clubbing together with our neighbours to handle all of these things on a community basis? We could bundle all of the services together for a single charge and get someone else to sort it out. A local council maybe? We could even call it the ‘Council Tax’.
Tax and civilised society MATTHEW LAY was right. General taxation isn’t perfect and local government can always be improved.
LET’S EXAMINE your Council Tax bill more closely.
Last year’s Council Tax
Abolish the council
But collective provision is efficient and cost effective as my examples suggest. If, like me, you believe in fairness, equality, social justice and strong communities, then you’ll recognise that tax is the price that we pay for a civilised society. So, I’ll pay my increased Council Tax bill with good grace; and, like Matthew, I’ll continue to do my best to ensure that all residents in the northern parishes get a good service from Hinckley & Bosworth Borough Council.
Andy Furlong
Contact me on 01530 231377 or via andy.furlong@hinckley-bosworth.gov.uk
Cash Increase
County Council £1,292
£1,344
4.0%
£52
4.5%
£10
2.1%
£3
2.0%
£1
3.3%
£2
3.8%
£68
Police Service £223
£233 Borough Council
£132
£135 Fire Service
£67
£68 Parish Council
£54
£56 Total Bill (Band D)
£1,768
£1,836
What do we get for our money? COUNCIL TAX is made up of five elements, with most being swallowed up by Leicestershire County Council. A typical household in Markfield, Field Head, Stanton, Thornton or Bagworth will be paying £2.60 per week for services provided by Hinckley & Bosworth, including access to elected borough councillors like Matthew and myself. What else do you get? Broadly speaking, the borough council is responsible for social housing, leisure and recreation, environmental health, planning, and for bringing the money in – although bear in mind that it keeps less than ten pence in every pound collected. The rest gets passed on to the other organisations listed in the table. Borough council services cover many things ranging from dealing with abandoned vehicles and fly tipping to the licencing of pubs and taxis and tackling noisy neighbours. We don’t think about these things much of the time, but we’d miss them if they weren’t there.
I was disappointed after travelling all that way to see the Great Wall of China, it wasn’t made of china at all.
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THE HERALD • MID-MARCH 2020 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@markfieldherald.co.uk
More Bagworth Conversations - from Bob Austin Bagworth History recorded 11th June 1991 Mrs Harbutt: I had a father, four brothers and a husband mining in Bagworth. The whole family relied on jobs at the colliery for our livelihood. There were no bathrooms in those days, we put the tin bath in the kitchen and filled it with hot water from the coal-fired copper. We had to wash the men’s backs when they came home black at the shift end. If the men were late home we used to worry in case they’d had an accident. George Farmer: The colliery was a playground for kids. We used to go and help all the men when we were children. The Manager was a big churchman, Mr Jabez Emerson, and he ruled Bagworth. Everybody knew him. He was like the local Squire. Very dignified, he was, wearing his knee breeches and stockings. What HE said, went! Nobody dared argue. He was the law in Bagworth. Mr Emerson had a massive hold over the village, really, because he held such power over people’s livelihood. When you went for an interview for a job at the Colliery, he’d say, “Does your father work here?” If you answered, “No, Sir,” Mr Emerson would look you over with a steely eye and reply, “If it’s not good enough for him, it’s not good enough for you, lad.” And that was that! Mrs Elsie Chiswell: I remember them dropping loads of coal off in the road, and we women, and often the kids, had to wheel it in the barrow all the way up the yard to the coalhouse. We did it to save our husbands getting it in when they’d been at the pit all day. Mrs Harbutt: Before they put electric power in the pit houses, I often saw my mother patching father’s trousers with the light from a candle. The miners who had to travel to work by Ben’s Hut, had often to wade through persistent floods there. We had to wade through the flood water as well. We made snobs out of boot buttons, stitching a number of them together in clumps. That’s how we got to play snobs. George Farmer: The coal haulage firm’s lorry had a dual purpose. It would fetch loads of coal in the daytime, and then they’d put seats on it to fetch the ladies home from work at Leicester. It was called the Louellen and the haulier’s name was Cyril Wright. If it was foggy, one person was delegated to walk in front of the lorry. The only lighting on the vehicle came from oil lamps. The people living adjacent to the pit
would collect hot water from near the pit ventilation fan to put in their baths. It was condensate from the steam winding engines. We have a photograph of our old tin bath hanging on the wall. When we took our work trousers off, they used to stand up rigid. They were made of moleskins, and as they dried out against the fire they would stiffen up. Mrs Harbutt: When some of the miners were short of firewood, if they were desperate they sometimes had to break a piece off the wooden railings at the front of the houses, to enable them to light a fire. But, unfortunately for them, Mr Emerson used to walk to the brickyard which was also owned by the colliery. And his journey saw him walking by the pit houses! If he saw a railing missing, he’d have it replaced, but as you can imagine, he was not amused. No doubt, many a miner would be brought to book over a missing piece of fencing! George Farmer: The most disgraceful thing happened if anyone got hurt at the pit. A chap had to go on his bicycle to fetch the coal haulier with his horse and cart. The haulier would then take the horse out of the cart and harness it in the shafts of a ‘float’, which was a lighter vehicle. Only then was the injured man loaded up and jogged along the second-rate roads to Leicester Royal Infirmary for treatment. The journey would take a matter of four hours in the horsedrawn float, during which time the poor man could be dead. My father broke four ribs at the pit, and by the time he had reached hospital by the bumpy roads, he believed he had broken many more! There were no safety helmets in those days. They used to cut a lady’s old felt hat down to a wearable shape and size and work down pit in that. The miners were always cutting their heads with having no adequate protection. We used to work 1¼ days a week in the summer. I earned half-a-crown a shift. When I went on the dole I got one shilling a day to keep a home
going. We couldn’t claim dole money for the ¼ of a day they let us work, so we landed up worse off. I used to have to walk to Ibstock pit, so it wasn’t very nice if they only let us work a ¼ of a shift. Mrs Harbutt: My father used to look after the Miners’ Welfare building, now known as the Community Centre. (PICTURED ABOVE) He would sell minerals, drinks and cigarettes. Woodbines at 2d a packet in old money. Mrs Finney sold chewing tobacco, and she used to wrap it round her neck to measure it for selling! Eliza Radford had a shop. She sold sweets and she would cut a sweet in two to make the right weight. She also sold a favourite in those days- aniseed balls. They were served from a big jar, and we’d suck them in chapel. George Farmer: The tobacco for chewing was rolled up like liquorice, in fact, one of its ingredients was black treacle. Horace Kenniwell sold specialist equipment for the pit. A favourite sweet that was sold locally was kali. This was a powder made of sherbet. We used to suck it up a liquorice ‘straw’. I have a photo of the little pit houses that were knocked down, one of which was my parents’ family home. Mrs Harbutt: We always shopped at the Co-op because of the ‘Divi’. Lees sold pit goodspit tools for all the miners (Alf Bancroft’s house). Mr George Percival was a haulier. The miners’ coal was tipped on the road outside their houses. Percival always kept a few cows and we went there for milk. Percival lived next door to Mrs Finney, the sweet seller. George Farmer: Next to Lees was a coal haulier, who did his round with a horse and cart, which could hold a ton. He’d deliver the miners’ coal allowance, which was exactly a ton a month for married miners. You could look along the road and see seven or so loads dropped on the road. The traffic had to weave round it all like an obstacle course.
Olive Burchell: Eliza Radford sold aniseed balls and sticks of liquorice. Tommy Walmsley had a sweet shop, where he also sold fireworks. Mrs Murby: Eliza Radford sold broken biscuits too. Fanny Statham’s shop was down Barlestone Road, and she also sold sweets and things. We had all these shops and now we have only one, the Post Office. Horace Whitmore was one newsagent, who also sold sweets. George Farmer: Mr Percival’s house-keeper sold ‘fever powders’, they were made by Carr’s. She also sold ‘Epsom Salts’ and mineral waters. Mrs Harbutt: You had your goods and groceries ‘on tick’ all week, then pay up on a Friday. When the wet fish arrived at Bagworth railway station, I used to unload it from the guard’s van and on to the station barrow. I was working at Bagworth railway station for 21 years, from 1943 to 1964. My maiden name was Watson, Francis Watson. I worked in the sidings as a ‘Number Taker’ for a time. That was taking the numbers and destinations of the coal wagons. I worked for British Rail, till Beeching shut the stations in 1964. Nearly all the coal went by rail in those days. The coal came in from all the nearby collieries to Bagworth station. Ellistown, Nailstone, Bagworth and Desford collieries all sent their daily coal output to Bagworth sidings. It was an important junction, and from here the coal was shunted into trains of wagons to be sent all round the Southern Region, Western Region, and everywhere. The first train went out to Leicester at 7.0 a.m., and thereafter about every two hours. The last train came into Bagworth station about 10.0 p.m. For passengers it was cheap travel then. About 1s-9d return to Leicester. Mr Shepherd, of Park Farm, used the railway to transport his horses. There were 76 houses on Barlestone Road, which had to come down through subsidence. Ida Gregory: My Granddad, Mr Charles Littler, kept the village fish and chip shop. It became Webster’s fish and chip shop years later. George Farmer: We had no cars so you used the many little village shops. There were real characters among the shop owners of the village. Take the barbers shop at Bagworth, owned by Mr Len Spencer. He would visit the Working Men’s Club at the top of Station Road, and shave miners with a cut-throat razor and beer froth. (TO BE CONTINUED ...)
I remember once we had a candlelit dinner, so everything was undercooked.
THE HERALD • MID-MARCH 2020 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@markfieldherald.co.uk
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Markfield Medical Centre and Patient Participation Group NEWS Dementia Friendly Practice AS PART OF ITS work to improve the experience for patients, Markfield Medical Centre is working towards becoming a ‘Dementia Friendly Practice’. The PPG is keen to help the surgery achieve this aim which involves enabling patients with dementia and their carers to more easily access quality care and support. In pursuit of this initiative, the surgery organised an awareness event one afternoon in February which was well attended by staff, patients and PPG members. Frances Leonardi, an information worker for the Alzheimer’s Society, gave an insight into the disease, its various forms and stages, and how someone suffering from this condition might perceive things. She provided leaflets detailing local groups and services which offer support and information. These are on display in the Surgery Reception and patients are welcome to take any that may be of use to them.
New telephone system THE SURGERY has introduced a new telephone system in an effort to help patients obtain information and book appointments more smoothly. The new system puts calls into a queuing system which are then answered in strict rotation thereby avoiding callers having to continually redial. Unfortunately in February there were some teething problems with the new system, mainly because the enquiry line was not transferred straight away. A number of patients were trying to use this line to call for appointments and that line was not connecting. Thankfully, this issue has now been resolved. There are now two numbers for contacting the surgery, a booking line for booking appointments and an enquiry line for information. • Booking line – 01530 242313 – open 8am -6.30pm. This line is for booking or cancelling appointments. • Enquiry line - 01530 249461 – open 9.30am – 6pm – For all prescription enquiries, blood test results, booking routine annual reviews etc Please note that the Enquiry line will only be open between 9.30am and 6pm.
Mental well being THE PRACTICE has noticed that there seems to have been a rise in patients struggling to cope with their Mental Health over the last few months. Whether it’s down to the very miserable weather we’ve been having and the long winter months or some other cause isn’t clear. Certainly, the winter blues, or seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is thought to affect around 2 million people in the UK and around 12 million people across northern Europe. Some ideas which have been put forward that might help combat this are keeping active, eating healthily, keeping warm and going outside into natural daylight, particularly at midday and on brighter days. Other suggestions include taking up a new hobby, which helps to keep the mind active, and seeing friends and family. If it would help to talk to someone then you can contact the ‘Let’s Talk Wellbeing’ service for Leicestershire and Rutland on 01509 561 100. Self referral is available to this service without need for an appointment with your GP.
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I was in this car wash and I started foaming at the mouth. I thought, I’m not having this, so I cycled out again.
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THE HERALD • MID-MARCH 2020 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@markfieldherald.co.uk
Markfield Congregational Church Sunday 15 March 10.30am United Service in our Church Sunday 22 March 10.30am Service in St Michael’s Parish Church for Mothering Sunday Sunday 29 March 10.15am Morning Worship followed by Communion Sunday 5 April 10.30am Palm Sunday United Service in Trinity Methodist Church Friday 10 April 7.00pm Good Friday Meditation in our Church Sunday 12 April 10.15am Easter Day Morning Worship.h
Cross Hills Baptist Church, between Bagworth & Thornton Sunday 15th March 10.30am Morning Service Sunday 22nd March (Mothering Sunday) 10.30am Morning Service Sunday 29th March 10.30am Morning Service Sunday 5th April (Palm Sunday) 10.30am Morning Service Friday 10th April (Good Friday) 7.30pm Joint Barton Fabis Group Communion Service at Barlestone Baptist Church Sunday 12th April (Easter Sunday) 10.30am Morning Service with Lord’s Supper Worship Group leading the music Decorating the cross with fresh flowers Sunday 19th April 10.30am Morning Service Sunday Club in our hall for children & young people during Morning Service. For Family Services they join in with the main church. For further details, our contact list is in the Cross Hills News section in this magazine.
Trinity Methodist Church, Markfield www.markfieldmethodistchurch.org Facebook : Markfield Methodist Church Sunday 15th March 10:30am No Service at our Church – United Service @ Congregational Church 6:00pm Evening Service
Sunday 22nd March (Mothering Sunday) 10:30am Morning Worship 6:00pm No Evening Service Sunday 29th March 10:30am Morning Worship 6:00pm No Evening Service
10.30 am Something Different Service Sunday 29th March 10.30 am Parish Holy Communion Sunday 5th April 10.30 am Morning Prayer
Sunday 5th April – Palm Sunday 10:30am United Palm Sunday Service 6:00pm Special Easter Service with the Choir
Thursday 9th April 6.30 pm Supper and Holy Communion
Thursday 9th April – Maundy Thursday 7:00pm Holy Communion Service
Sunday 12th April 10.30 am Holy Communion
Sunday 12th April – Easter Sunday 10:30am Easter Communion Service 6:00pm No Evening Service
Sunday 19th April 10.30 am Morning Prayer
Sunday 19th April 10:30am Morning Worship 6:00pm Evening Communion Service Other Events at Trinity Methodist Church - Everyone Very Welcome Music Café 2:00pm to 4:00pm 26th March, 9th & 23rd April Sparklers Group – Monday 3:15pm to 4:15pm - For Children Zero to Reception Age & Carers Church Club – Monday after School until 4:30pm - For Children from Mercenfeld School - Every Week during Term Time.
St Michael and All Angels’ Church, Markfield Sunday 15th March 10.30 am Churches together in Markfield 6.00 pm Evening Prayer Sunday 22nd March 9.00 am Holy Communion (said) 6.00 pm Evening Prayer
Friday 10th April 7.30 pm Meditation
St Peter’s Church, Thornton Sunday 8th March 9.00 am Holy Communion Sunday 15th March 10.30 am Holy Communion Sunday 22nd March 10.30 am Morning Prayer Wednesday 25th March 10 am Holy Communion and Coffee Sunday 29th March 10.30 Parish Communion at Stanton Sunday 5th April 10.30 am All Age Service Friday 10th April 10.00 am Stations of the Cross Sunday 12th April 10.30 am Holy Communion Sunday 19th April 10.30 am Holy Communion Wednesday 22nd April 10 am Holy Communion and Coffee
Sunday 29th March 6.00 pm Joint service of Holy Communion
Holy Rood Church, Bagworth
Sunday 5th April 10.30 am Palm Sunday at Methodist church
Sunday 5th April 9.00 am Holy Communion at the Community Centre
Friday 10th April 2.00 pm Hour at the Cross
St Peter’s Church, Copt Oak
Sunday 12th April 10.30 am All Age Service 6.00 pm Holy Communion
Sunday 8th March 3.00 pm Praise service
Sunday 19th April 6.00 pm Evening Prayer
St Mary and All Saints’ Church, Stanton under Bardon Sunday 8th March 10.30 am Holy Communion Sunday 15th March 10.30 am Morning Prayer Sunday 22nd March
Sunday 15th March 9.15 am Holy Communion (said Service) Sunday 22nd March 6.00 pm Evening Prayer
Sunday 29th March 6.00 pm Joint service of Holy Communion at Markfield Sunday 5th April 6.00 pm Holy Communion Tuesday 7th April 7.30 pm Tenebrae Sunday 12th April 6.00 pm Holy Communion Sunday 19th April 9.15 am Holy Communion (said Service)
Catholic Church of St Wilfrid of York 53 London Road, Coalville, LE67 3JB Sunday Mass: Saturday Vigil: 6 pm / Sunday: 10 am See Newsletter on the website below for details of weekday Mass times, Confessions, and other events. Parish Contact: Parish Priest: Fr Gabriel Offor – 01530 832098 www.stwilfspriest@gmail.com Parish Website: www.stwilfscoalville. blogspot.co.uk School Details: St Clare’s RC Primary School, Coalville: 01530 837747 www.st-clares.leics. sch.uk De Lisle RC College, Loughborough: 01509 268739 www.delisle.leics.sch.uk The Markfield Catholic Community is part of Markfield Churches Together and participate in the monthly United Services detailed in the Markfield Churches’ service details. Markfield Masses • Wednesday 18 March 2020 • Wednesday 20 May 2020 • Wednesday 16 September 2020. at Congregational Church Hall, Main Street, Markfield (next to the Chinese takeaway) at 7pm.
I’ve taken up speed reading. I can read ‘War and Peace’ in 20 seconds. It’s only 3 words but it’s a start.
THE HERALD • MID-MARCH 2020 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@markfieldherald.co.uk
Bardon Park Chapel www.bardonchapel.co.uk
FAMILY WORSHIP SERVICE: Come and worship the Lord with us on the 1st Sunday in every month at 10.00 am. Our gatherings are fairly informal. THURSDAY ART CLASS: Between 7pm and 9.00pm. Bardon Park Chapel, Shaw Lane, Bardon, Coalville LE67 1SY There is a large car park at the back. For more details on any of the above please contact: Richard Norburn on 01530 242526 ADVENT SUNDAY SERVICE: 10 am Sun 1st December CAROLS: 6.30 pm Sunday 15th December MIDNIGHT MASS: 9.00 pm Tues 24th December Christmas Morning Celebration: 10.00 am Wed 25th December New Year Celebration: 10.00 am Sunday 5th January
Leslie Edwards Trust
READ MY LIPS ARE YOU beginning to find that your hearing has deteriorated? Perhaps you are having difficulty in hearing when you are in a group of people, or a recent illness has left you with some loss of hearing? Or it may be that a family member is experiencing deafness and you would like to improve the communication between you? Suffering from loss of hearing can impact on many different areas of your life; family relationships, work, hearing the telephone, watching film and television. Because others don’t always understand and may be impatient at your constant need to have conversation repeated, confidence can quickly become eroded. Why not learn to lipread? It may help you to understand and communicate more effectively. Against a friendly background, you will have the opportunity to learn lipreading with a qualified tutor, share experiences with others, and find strategies to cope with some of the difficulties you may be encountering. L E T are pleased to announce that they will be commencing a Beginner’s weekly Lipreading Course beginning Thurs. 23rd April for 6 weeks to be held at the Baxtergate Baptist Church, Loughborough beginning 1.30p.m. and finishing 3.00p.m. Cost £12.00 (for 6 sessions)
If you are interested in joining this class, please phone or text Jane Futcher on 07989 146682 or visit the website at www.leslieedwardstrust.btck.co.uk
Invitation to future events
St Michael’s and All Angels, and Little Markfield Farm THE APPOINTMENT process to find a new rector for St Michael’s and All Angels Church, Markfield, and the other churches in the benefice, continues. In the meantime, the churches are functioning as normal and these the upcoming special events being planned. All are welcome to attend. • Messy Easter at Bagworth Saturday 4th April 2020 3.00 -5.00pm • Easter Egg Hunt at Little Markfield Farm Saturday 4th April 2020 11.00am- 3.00pm • Children’s Activity at Open Farm Sunday, Little Markfield Farm Sunday 7th June 2020 • Harvest Barn Dance at Little Markfield Farm September 2020 • Nativity Service at Little Markfield Farm Sunday 20th December 2020
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The trouble with an all-day breakfast is that you’ve got to eat it so slowly. 10/16/19 2:58 PM
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THE HERALD • MID-MARCH 2020 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@markfieldherald.co.uk
What’s Been Happening at Markfield Community and Sports Centre Words and pictures from Ron Grantham • Tel: 01530 242240 • www.markfieldcommunitycentre.com Lottery Grant Success I WILL start off with some good news. In October we randomly entered the online National Lottery Community Fund draw that celebrates its 25th Anniversary. To be honest we were not expecting to win anything, I had forgotten all about it until we received an email notifying us that we had been successful in our application. We had won a grant of £450 to develop our New Age Curling Club. This will enable us to purchase an additional Curling Kit that will benefit our new and thriving curling club. The club meets every Wednesday morning from 10am to 12noon. The club is becoming very popular and the new equipment will be much appreciated. We are also trying to get an additional evening club going on Wednesday evenings from 7pm to 9pm. New Age curling is good fun and an excellent form of exercise. It can be played by people of all ages and abilities. We even have ramps and “pushers” to make it easier for people with disabilities or mobility issues. It only costs £2 per hour so you can do either one hour or two hours. Just come along to either of the sessions and give it a go. You will enjoy it.
Sadly my brew failed miserably however, a couple of our members are now giving it a go. On the 19th February we marked Saint Valentine’s Day with a music quiz based on popular love songs from the 1950’s and 1960’s. It brought back many memories though often we knew the song but couldn’t remember who sang it. “Teenager in Love” by Dion and the Belmonts was clearly the favourite as they all sang along to it not once but twice. On the 26th February we held our annual pancake tossing competition. Yet again it proved to be hilarious with pancakes and debris flying all over the place. We even had a surprise appearance of our very own “Markfield Olympic Pancake Tossing” Champion namely Jo Rostock. Jo put in a valiant performance and smashed the record with 106 tosses of the pancake in 60 seconds. Well done Jo even though your arm was aching for days afterwards. SEE PHOTO BELOW:
Friday Night Bingo I WAS pleasantly surprised with how many people turned out on Friday 28th February for our re-launch of the Friday Night Bingo sessions. Not only did they brave the bad weather but the Leicester City football match was also on the television. It turned out to be a most enjoyable evening. If you fancy an evening out, have a laugh and hopefully win some cash just turn up on Friday evenings. There is no entry fee and sessions start at 7pm. Sessions include 10 games of bingo with cash prizes a roll over jackpot, flier and bonus ball plus the bar will be open for liquid refreshments. Please note that, due to licensing regulations, everyone must be over the age of eighteen.
Markfield Good Neighbour’s Scheme WORK IS still progressing on implementing the scheme in the village and we anticipate launching it in the next few months. There is still time for you to become a volunteer for this invaluable voluntary community service. Just let us know if you are interested.
VE (Victory Europe) Commemoration AS MENTIONED in last month’s edition of the Herald the 75th Anniversary of VE Day will be marked with a Bank Holiday on Friday 8th May. We are starting to plan a celebration to commemorate this special historical event the Centre. We would like to know your thoughts on what we could do to celebrate VE Day. Perhaps we could have a “street party” for our children and families. If you have any ideas or would like to be involved pleases let us know. Also if you have any memorabilia or photographs of VE Day we would appreciate it if we could borrow them. I promise we will take care of them.
We have now got some really exciting sessions in place for the coming months as follows: 18th March Saint Patrick’s Day at the Races 31st March Day visit to Ulverscroft Manor 1st April Nails Demonstration 8th April Easter Bonnet and Egg Hunt 23rd April Saint George Pub Quiz 6th May VE Day Celebration 20th May Terror from the Skies (Talk on WW1 Zeppelin Bombing Raids) If you are interested in coming along to any of our Mayflower Clubs simply turn up either on at Monday Afternoon Friendship Club or on Wednesday afternoons for the main Mayflower Club. Both clubs are from 2pm to 4pm and only cost £1.50p per session. You will have fun, meet new friends and be most welcome.
Annual Family Trip To The Seaside I AM PLEASED to inform you that we have booked the coaches for our ever popular and now annual family trips to the seaside. On Wednesday 15th July we will be heading to Llandudno in North Wales and on Wednesday 19th August we are off to “Skeggy”. Please reserve your places early as every year coaches are full and people are left disappointed.
Mayflower Club Update DO YOU remember making home non-alcoholic ginger beer that was so thirst quenching but had a “bite” to the back of your throat. It was really fizzy and, if you were not careful, could explode. Well, at our session on the 12th February we had a go at making some. It is quite difficult getting hold of the ginger plant but managed to find some online.
I normally play the trumpet with some buxom ladies. I am part of a big bras band.
THE HERALD • MID-MARCH 2020 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@markfieldherald.co.uk
Reminder of New Activities at the Centre HATHA YOGA is a fun class that focuses on mental and physical well being. Sessions are from 10am to 11am on Sunday mornings. It suits people of all abilities. Please bring a mat if you have one. Booking is essential. KUNG FU JUNIORS - These sessions will help youngsters to have skills for life, confidence and discipline.
Dates for your Diary • AN AUDIENCE WITH WARREN BAILEY Warren Bailey has been a working as a medium for many years touring venues throughout the country. We will be holding an evening with Warren during the evening of Saturday 16th May. Further details will be published at a later date but put it in your diary. • BLOOD DONORS The National Blood Service has arranged a session at the Centre on Friday 10th April. You can book your blood donation appointment on line so please book your place with the National Blood Service and “Do something amazing” by donating your much needed blood. • THE COUNTY COUNCIL LOCAL ELECTIONS These will take place at the Community Centre on Thursday 7th May.
Family Parties and Social Events Offer 2020 DUE TO ITS popularity the Centre’s Management Committee have decided to continue with our special offer of only charging £10 per room for any event or function with a bar (excludes 18th Birthday Parties). So if you are planning a family or other event during 2020 consider using the Community Centre. This hire fee is very competitive to other venues in the area and will save you a lot of money. Just contact the Centre and we will sort out what you want and see to your needs. For bookings and enquiries please contact MarkfieldCentre 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.
Trinity Methodist Church, Main Street, Markfield LE67 9UU
Friday 1st May 2020 at 7.00pm
Alistair Parnell
Saxophonist Extraordinaire!
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Friends of the Charnwood Forest
An interesting talk about Bradgate Park ON MONDAY February 17th, Peter Liddle, the former county archaeologist, gave a talk to the Friends of the Charnwood Forest about Bradgate Park, and in particular Bradgate House.
Using old documents and numerous photographic illustrations he was able to reconstruct at least some of the history of that estate, starting with mesolithic occupants some 14,000 to 12,000 years ago, up to the present day. His main subject, however, was centred around the house itself in which digs have taken place over the last 5 years. The first site was what was probably an old lodge or keeper’s house. Here he expressed surprise at how near the surface the actual archaeology lay. As much of his work previously had been concentrated on sites in the city, where the interesting levels could be several feet below the present-day surface, it is not surprising that he was a little astonished. The next year’s dig was in the courtyard of the old house, where foundations were found of an older building. As the oldest document had termed the ‘house’ as a ‘lodge’, it could be that the present ruin was of a later date. Did Lady Jane Grey live in that ‘lodge’ or was the brick constuction we know her home? Evidence is at present a little ambiguous. The ‘new’ house was abandoned in the mid nineteenth century, and the gable wall of the Great Hall collapsed in a gale in 1895. In the 1930s, when the park passed into public ownership, the council had the ruin ‘improved’, including the ruin of a tower which had not been there before. The digging then moved to the stables, where various interesting finds on its layout were made, including a dump of old horse leg bones – these may be the left-overs from dogs’ dinners. The building itself was still in use after the house was left to decay; its materials may have been taken finally to be used in other building works. They went back to the house for the final year of the dig. Here there were restrictions as to how far down they could dig, for they were not able to move any floors they came across because the building is a Scheduled Ancient Monument. In one place they did find a pit which was full of old pottery sherds. In another they followed the foundations of an older building up to a modern wall. They also found numerous drains, one of which contained a plastic glove, and gave a clue to the work of the restorers in the 1920s. . One thing that was evident in the old documents which may have deserved a mention – in the first document it was titled Brodgate park; in the second Broadgate park, and as we call it, Bradgate park. It does now look, however, both from the archaeology and from recently discovered documents, as if Lady Jane probably inhabited the stone house found in the excavations and that brick house mostly predates her short life. • THE NEXT MEETING of the Friends will be on 16th March at 7.30, when Richard Bailey will give a talk entitled ‘Not just field on a farm; diversification in Charnwood Forest’., showing how he has supplemented the income from an arable farm by organising a varied series of events. This will follow the short A.G.M.
All Jewellery Repairs Rings sized, reclawed & stones set Saxophonist Alistair Parnell returns to present an eclectic programme of music from Baroque to Jazz including new arrangements of some well known tunes.
Chains, earrings and bracelets repaired
He will also play the Roland Aerophone and demonstrate the amazing possibilities to this electronic wind instrument.
SYKES JEWELLERS
There will be music to suit all tastes and ages - a lovely evening is guaranteed! Tickets: £12, under 16’s £6 (includes programme & refreshments) available from our website by clicking on the “Contact us” button or by calling 07979 607099 www.markfieldmethodistchurch.org Facebook – Markfield Methodist Church
Comissions designed & handmade
Tel - 0116 236 2510 www.sykesjewellers.co.uk 8 Bradgate Road, Anstey, LE7 7AA
Why do porters get their own loos?
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THE HERALD • MID-MARCH 2020 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@markfieldherald.co.uk
Pick up a bargain
Herald Small Ads • Wheelchair / Scooter LOADING RAMP. 7ft (244cm), foldable in length and width, load weight 270kg (600lbs). Price £140.00. Tel: 0116 287 8976 (Groby) • Ladies size 12 SKIING JACKET. Colour: turquoise & silver. Price: £12.00 • Set of 3 HP printer 940 xl INK TONERS, old but unused and still in the packets. Black, magenta and turquoise for use in an office jet 940xl. Price: £25.00. • ‘Retro’ olympus micro transcriber CASSETTE MACHINE. Price: £25.00. • Old 1970’s south african HOME & GARDEN MAGAZINES. Price: £17.00. • Two ornamental blue fish PLATES. Price: £16.00. • Pair of size 4 ladies white canvas TAP DANCING SHOES. Price: £12.00. • Pair of size 4 ladies red leather English CLOG DANCING SHOES. Price: £17.00. • Dixons FLASHGUN 177 for camera. Price: £12.00. Tel: 0784 5241817 (Markfield) • Ladies black knee high LEATHER BOOTS, 3” heels, size 6. Price: £10.00. • Grey MOTOR BIKE HELMET with visor. Brand new. Price: £20.00. • Wooden BREAD BIN. Price: £5.00. • Light grey pencil pleat CURTAINS with BLACKOUT LININGS. (Laura Ashley style pattern). Never been hung. Width: 131.97”, Drop: 47.99”. Price: £50.00. Tel: 07881 885 927 (Markfield) • Mountfield Princess ELECTRIC LAWN MOWER, with spare blade. Price: £25.00. Other gardening items also available.Tel: 01530 244388 (Markfield) • Coopers lightweight push WHEELCHAIR for sale. Good condition. Price: £55.00 o.v.n.o. Tel: 07763 491231 (after 2pm).(Markfield) • STAR WARS BOXED FIGURES: Kylo Ren, Ray, C-3PO. Boxed, perfect, unopened. Price: £10.00 each. • Siskin VIRTUAL REALITY HEADSET. As new, boxed. Price: £5.00. • SMOOTHY MAKER, two bottles. Unwanted gift. Boxed. Price: £5.00. Tel: 07547 901657 (Groby)
• CAMERA TRIPODS (4). Prices: £20, £20, £10 and £10. • Camera lens RUCKSACK. Price: £20.00. • MONOCULAR, unused. Price: £20.00. • HD DVD MAKER, unused. Price: £8.00. Tel: 0116 287 6805 (Groby) • Complete STEAM CLEANING KIT. It will clean windows, carpets, ingrained dirt and stains, strip wallpaper, removes mildew, and even unblocks sinks, without using chemicals. Full instruction manual. Price: £15.00. Tel: 01530 242421 (Markfield) • TV STAND. Bought approximately 5 years ago for around £175 .Black glass, mid-grey legs in excellent condition. H51cm x W100cm x D46. Collection only. Price: £30.00 • WARDROBE. Blue doors and maple colour wood surrounds. Shelf inside with full hanging space underneath. H209cm x W89cm x D53cm. Collection only. £30.00 • MATCHING WARDROBE SET Colour Blue fronts, maple colour wood surround. Wardrobe unit including shelving unit (39cm wide) which can be separated w197cm x h172cm x d40cm. Desk w132cm x h74cm x d50cm Bedside drawers w40cm x h50cm x d45cm. Desktop slightly worn. Altogether in good condition. Collection only. Price: £120.00 Tel: 07727 156249 (Groby) WANTED: • Sewing machine FINE OIL for electric Singer machine. • NEEDLES for the same, mixed or otherwise. Tel: 07341 955917 (Markfield)
IF YOU HAVE any household items which you’d like to advertise FREE in the Herald, please SEND DETAILS by post or email - sorry, we can’t take them over the phone. Maximum EIGHT items please. Our postal address is Herald Small Ads, PO Box 8, Markfield, Leics. LE67 9ZT or you can email details to: info@markfieldherald.co.uk PLEASE ENSURE that you put ‘Small Ads’ in the subject line, and include your postal address (not for publication just so we know whereabouts you are).
~ News from Cross Hills Baptist Church ~ Serving the villages of Thornton & Bagworth plus the surrounding area
Lent – ‘A Time To Renew’ This year at Cross Hills for our Lent Study Group, we are very privileged to have the Rev. Dr. Anthony Thacker join us as our guest leader / speaker. Anthony will be introducing our group to the book of Revelation, a book of the bible very often avoided by many timid Christians. With Lent and the theme; ‘A Time to Renew’ in mind it is hoped that our group will be better informed, enlightened and feel more comfortable and able to explore the last and one of the most challenging books of the bible. Any one is free to come along and our evening meetings are not just for members but for all who through Anthony’s guidance would seek to move forward during this important time in the Christian Calendar. Study Group Dates are March 2020; Tuesday 10th, Tuesday 17th, Tuesday 24th, Tuesday 31st. For venue confirmation please contact Pastor Garry; email; pastor. garry@outlook.com or mobile 07816616189.
Holy Week: Prayer, Praise and Study Breakfasts, 6th to 10th April Our Holy week studies will again this year be led by the Rev David Butcher starting each morning with praise; breakfast; study and prayer. Again, all welcome to come and join us, Monday 6th to Good Friday 10th at 09:00.
Mothering Sunday 22nd March Our Sunday Club children and young people will be doing their usual gift for the ladies of the church on Mother’s Day, which they have made or crafted in their Sunday Club class. Everyone is welcome to come along to this service. There should be a Cross Hills
Puppeteers performance coming in the next few weeks but, as this isn’t finalised yet, stay posted to our Cross Hills Facebook page to find out more details.
Easter Sunday, 12st April Our Easter Sunday service is always an especially enjoyable one as it is so important to our Christian faith and we look forward to meeting anyone who would like to come along to see how we celebrate this special time of year. Our Worship Group will be leading the music and, during this service, the large cross will be decorated with colourful fresh flowers that we bring along. It will then be placed outside the church for a short while to celebrate the joy of the Resurrection of Jesus on that special day over 2,000 years ago.
Advance Notice The Awesome Holiday Club is back this Summer! For children up to the age of 11, it will be on the mornings of Monday 3rd and Tuesday 4th August at Cross Hills Church from 9.15 to 11.45am. Please put the dates in your diary and we look forward to seeing the children again for the usual lively fun-filled time with games, bible stories, crafts and lots more. Every Sunday, tea, coffee and biscuits are served in our hall so that everyone has the chance to spend a little time together before going home or on to enjoy the rest of the day. You’ll find we are a very friendly church and we’ll make you welcome whether you come alone or with friends or family.
Contact Numbers Pastor - Garry Kelly: 01455 457802 / 07816 616189 Secretary - Lynda Kelly: 01455 457802 / 07910 440243 Treasurer - Glynis Straw: 01530 230272
Glynis Straw
on behalf of the Cross Hills Church family
“Still Friday” 2020 Each evening will include simple reflective worship songs, silence, prayer, readings and responses and last up to an hour. All are welcome. Come along and enjoy the peace. 20th March, 15th May, 8th June, 16th July, 17th September, 15th October, 18th November, No “Still Friday” in April, August or December Fridays 8.00 pm at St. Michael & All Angels’ Church
My favourite overweight 70s band were the Obesity Rollers.
THE HERALD • MID-MARCH 2020 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@markfieldherald.co.uk 10/03/2020
27 Pu Word Search
Roman Deities Wordsearch
A F E J O G T C N M J F T M O H J
Q N N X C M U S E F E O F V A N J
W J A E M P B N T W D R P H N R F
V J R I B F B S L H D R C H P J S
X E Q S D U V X P T N I Z U V R K
S H N V C I V X C A K Y M Y R H H
FIND THE NAMES OF 12 ROMAN GODS AND GODDESSES in this month’s Wordsearch puzzle and you could win yourself a meal and a drink. This month we are offering a tasty prize of: A Main Course for Two, plus A Bottle of House Wine at The FieldHead Hotel. To go into the draw, all you have to do is find - and mark a line through - the names of 12 ROMAN GODS AND GODDESSES. These can run vertically, horizontally or diagonally (and backwards!). Send your entry to: OH MY GOD, The Herald, PO Box 8, Markfield, Leics. LE67 9ZT to arrive by Saturday 4th April 2020. Remember to include your name and address. The first all-correct entry drawn out of the hat will win the Meal for Two at The Field Head Hotel. Good luck!
E G U T A X P D C A P O L L O Y F
D Q A K R Q U L U H D G Q Y J F Z
A T S E V P U J D I S C M G U K N
S N I O G V V U G Z U I C Y N S H
P E Z H R Z I Z C Q N R N P O F R
E T S Q Z V S Z Y E E I E K L N M
C B I G Y Q Z V R E V F P A H P P
R E T I P U J V Q U Z L T J Q V G
C B H S B M A L I X C K U H Y W J
R M O F J T C F K J Z B N P J Y W
L H C B T N G G T R C J E O V L G
Here are the 12 ROMAN DEITIES you have to find:
JUPITER • JUNO • MINERVA • NEPTUNE VENUS • MARS • APOLLO • DIANA VULCAN • VESTA • MERCURY • CERES
Name: ................................................................................................... Address: ................................................................................................ .............................................................................................................. .......................................................... Postcode: ....................................
Last Month’s Competition Winner
The winner of last issue’s Wordsearch Competition was: VIC SHEFFIELD of Thornton Lane, Markfield. Congratulations! Your prize voucher will be sent to you soon.
APOLLO CERES DIANA JUNO JUPITER I HESITATE to bring up MARS MERCURY the subject of Brexit but MINERVA I was interested in the NEPTUNE on the new inscription VENUS 50p coin which was VESTA issued to commemorate VULCAN
Brexit, ‘Peace, prosperity and friendship with all nations.’ It seems to me that, whether we agreed with Brexit or not, those sentiments form a very positive aim for our nation.
Created by Puzzlemaker at DiscoveryEducation.com
With so much conflict around, both nationally and personally, we desperately need peace, in families, in relationships, in society, in the nation and between nations. True peace is not just an absence of conflict, it is shown in harmonious and positive relationships. Prosperity can be taken in different aspects. Even more important than financial prosperity is prosperity of heart, mind and spirit. How wonderful it would be to live in a society in which every person is able to prosper in meaningful ways, using their God-given gifts and abilities, discovering true wellbeing. Friendship is such a special gift. I hope and pray that as a nation we will learn to show friendship to one another and to all people. The best place to start is with ourselves, making sure that as individuals we offer real friendship to all.
Steve Clark
Minister, Markfield Methodist Church www.markfieldmethodistchurch.org • FB- Markfield Methodist Church
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17 The Nook | Anstey | Leicester | LE7 7AZ