CLEAN FOR THE QUEEN Ella is donating her hair to the Little Princess Trust “SWEEPS” INTO GROBY ELLA is a 7 year old little Groby girl who has decided to donate 8 inches of her beautiful hair to The Little Princess Trust.
CLEAN FOR the Queen has “swept” into Groby with more than a dozen colleagues and customers of The Co-op in Laundon Way, Groby, taking to the streets to tidy the village. Arranged by the Co-op’s Community Pioneer, Kelly Hearn, more than a dozen volunteers carried out the clean sweep earlier this month collecting 14 bags of litter and rubbish from a two mile area of Groby. The initiative forms part of a national campaign, supported by Keep Britain Tidy, designed to clear up Britain in time for Her Majesty the Queen’s 90th birthday. Kelly Hearn, Community Pioneer at the Co-op food store in Laundon Way, Groby, said: “As a community retailer the Co-op is committed to making a difference to local life. Clean for the Queen seemed like the perfect opportunity to roll-up our sleeves and tidy our village. We swapped our shopping baskets for brooms for the day to carry out a clean sweep of the village - it was good fun, and great to see the difference, and we would like to thank customers and members of the community who joined in.” · Photo: Co-op carries out a clean sweep of Groby. L to R: Kenny Hardy (Store Manager), Ross Milankov, Kelly Hearn (Community Pioneer) and Carol Milankov
Have you lost a ring? FOUND not far from the college, a girl’s ring. If you think it is yours, please telephone: 0116 287 5955 or 07962 373 983 with a description to reclaim.
The trust is a charity who make real hair wigs for children who have lost their own hair through cancer treatment. She heard about the charity from her Granny as one of her friends had donated her hair in memory of a little girl she had known that had had received a wig but unfortunately died shortly after getting it. Ella then made the claim that she would like to donate hers to help a little girl/boy who had lost their own. Ella is a lovely, bright little girl who is passionate about dance. Her dance school etoile performance academy are backing her as is our local salon Studio J. Jaimee-Lee who owns the salon has agreed to do the cut for her. I have attached a “before” photo for you and will send a during and after photo after the event. People can donate to the charity via our Just Giving page which is www.justgiving.com/fundraising/david-donlan
CAR PARK GRANT APPROVED GROBY PARISH COUNCIL has received confirmation from Hinckley & Bosworth Borough Council that their application for a grant from the Borough Council’s PCIF scheme towards the re-surfacing of the Sycamore Drive car park has been successful and that an award of £8,244 has been made. Together with the amount set aside in the budget for this project that leaves only a small amount (approx £2,000) short of the best quote the Parish Council have received to date. There is also a further small amount of Section 106 maintenance funding due for Stamford Park from the Jelson Brant Inn development, which would more than cover any shortfall. (Information supplied by Ted Hollick of Groby Parish Council.)
NEXT ISSUE OUT: Saturday 18th June - Advert/Articles needed by 4th June
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Groby & Field Head Spotlight • MAY 2016 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk
All the latest news from Martinshaw School Into the Jungle with Year 2 ‘Explorers’ was the theme, easy in a classroom, but that’s not good enough for the members of year 2, Action is needed. So, binoculars at the ready, trousers tightly tucked into wellies (in case of snakes of course) and sleeves rolled down, you never know what can nibble at you in the fetid, unforgiving, swamp infested jungle that surrounds Groby. Entering Martinshaw Wood from Woodbank Road our intrepid explorers, alert for whatever would greet them, went deeper and deeper as the light under the woodland canopy got dimmer and dimmer. Onward, ignoring the rustling in the undergrowth, was it just the wind or was it, perhaps, a man eating rabbit. With the eerie, scary shriek of creatures high in the trees above (probably a wood pigeon), the search for specimens continued. The odd crocodile was spotted, laying quietly and menacingly on the surface of the swamp, on closer inspection they turned out to be logs, thank goodness. Mr Elson would not be pleased if we brought those back to school. However, giant slugs, wood lice, snails, worms and various creepy crawlies were collected, examined and returned to their natural habitat. Wellies and children were lifted, eventualy, from the mud and tired, dirty and happy our explorers returned to school. Next task, to write about it and convince parent and carers that they should clean all the swamp mud from clothes and wellies.
Mountains with Year 3 While learning about Mountains during Geography lessons and combined with computer studies year 3, eager to hear stories about Mount Everest, started writing to mountaineer, John Shelton-Smith. Imagine their surprise when he, instead of just answering emails, arrived in the classroom to answer questions in person. It’s not every day that you get to meet someone who has conquered the worlds highest mountain. John talked about the food on his climb (very bland), the layers of clothes needed to keep warm and the dangers from the sun reflecting from the snow. The highlight of the talk, stories about the man tasked to empty the toilets on the mountain. Without exception John’s talk was met with enthusiasm and, you never know, may have inspired mountaineers and adventurers of the future.
It’s a Wonderful World with Early Years Foundation Stage The youngest children in the school have been studying farming and in particular the source of vegetables and fruit. They have built and stocked their own grocery shop in the classroom, learning about money, buying and selling but you can’t beat the real thing. A visit to a real store was arranged and the staff of Bradgate Stores in Groby agreed to entertain and answer questions from an eager bunch of 30 four and five year olds. The staff talked about how the produce arrived very early in the morning and was then prepared and made ready for sale. They demonstrated how to greet and serve customers and how to take the money and give change. The children asked questions and noted and learned from the answers, then returned to the classroom to put their newly acquired knowledge into action in their own classroom store.
New Pupil Friendly Kitchen for the School Using funding raised by the Martinshaw School Assoc. (MSA) the school has acquired a bespoke new kitchen. The kitchen has and will be used by all classes to teach various cookery skills, beside the usual biscuits and cakes. Flour covered students are now a regular sight in the area of the KS2 corridor, as are the smells of the increasing culinary expertise of the students. Speaking about the school’s fund raising efforts, Chair of the MSA, Tracy Shearer said, ‘To see the look on the children’s faces as they used the new kitchen made all the fund raising efforts worthwhile and I would like to thank, not just my MSA colleagues for running and organising the various events, but all the staff, parents and carers who supported us and our school.’
Owen Lawrence
THE NAIL LOUNGE CND SHELLAC & VINYLUX MANICURES AND PEDICURES By Appointment | 0116 3322935 or 07788582469 (Prices from £15) find ‘the nail lounge groby’ on Facebook I wish I could replace my central nervous system with a central confidence system.
Groby & Field Head Spotlight • MAY 2016 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk
Leicester City ... Worlds Apart
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Groby Village Society Preservation - Conservation Communal Interests Programme 2016
Thursday May 26 Medical Detection Dogs ~ Mrs Denise Taylor ~ Thursday June 30 Catherine Crompton’s Diary ~ Mr Stephen Flinders ~ Thursday July 28 From Golden Gate to Glitter Gulch ~ Mr Simon Coates ~ Thursday August 25 Elizabeth Woodville ~ Mrs Sally Henshaw ~ Thursday September 22 Violet Jessop ~ Mr Bob Massey ~ Meetings are held at Groby Village Hall Starting at 7.30pm. For Further Details Contact Hon. Secretary Mr. P. Castell Tel. 0116 287 9842 e-mail:- groby.villagesociety@tiscali.co.uk Non Members are Welcome
MIKE PRATT has created a truly unique ‘Worlds Apart’ image for Premier League Champions, showing that Leicester City are really out of this world! (Please visit his facebook page; images available for purchase on Etsy.com search for ‘Worlds Apart by Mike Pratt’ on each website.)
If you have some local news to share with Spotlight readers, send it to us and we’ll do our best to include it. Thanks!
Oh please. If I took the time to be embarrassed by my mistakes I’d never get anything else done.
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Groby & Field Head Spotlight • MAY 2016 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk
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Groby & Field Head Spotlight • MAY 2016 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk
CAT NEWS From Lindy Hardcastle of Groby IT SEEMED such a good idea to adopt two kittens, brother and sister, from the same litter – “keep them together, they’ll be friends for each other…” Sentimental claptrap. They were chocolate-box adorable when they were tiny, snuggling up together, feeding from the same dish. By the time they were six months old they were typical obstreperous adolescents, scrapping over food, territory and dominance. Now they hardly acknowledge each other’s existence. If they happen to encounter each other, he hisses, she growls Olaf and Ava are identical – mostly black with neat little white bibs under their chins. We tried giving them different coloured collars to allow us tell them apart without indelicate intrusion, but they were very adept at losing them. We soon learned to tell which was which by their habits and behaviour. Olaf sleeps on our bed and greets me every morning with effusive purrs and kisses. He is very vocal, greedy and affectionate. He joins us for dinner every evening – he has his own chair waiting more or less patiently for David to feed him tasty morsels. He is particularly fond of prawns. Ava is quieter, more reserved. She has taken over one small sofa and established a bolt hole under the bookshelves. She loves being stroked and fussed, but we have to seek her out – she doesn’t come to us. Recently she has been disappearing for a couple of days at a time. We think that like many cats she may have another home. She had been missing for two days over Easter when my grand-daughters, Holly and Lucy, were staying with us. Their friend Maria decided that we should make posters about her and attach them to lamp-posts (I am attaching one that Holly made). I’m sure you will recognize Ava from her picture if you see her. That adventure ended happily – we found Ava asleep on Holly’s bed when we came home from putting up the posters - but at the time of writing, we haven’t seen her for three days. She comes home apparently well-fed and healthy and ecstatically pleased to see us – as we are to see her, but we would really like to know where she goes.
Iced off with the wedding cake?
THE WEDDING season is upon us, but how many brides will choose the traditional decorated tiered wedding cake? In recent years, the sheer cost of one (which can reach £1000) has meant that many couples now opt for alternatives. These include cupcakes, cake pops, cheese cake, doughnut towers, croquembouche and even ‘naked cake’ (no frosting at all). The great traditional tiered wedding cake has been traced back to the 18th century, when a lovelorn baker’s apprentice, William Rich of Ludgate, was desperate to catch the eye – and heart – of his master’s daughter. He looked round for inspiration for a cake, saw the spire of St Bride’s Church … and the rest is history. Queen Victoria’s wedding cake in 1840 was three yards in circumference, and weighed 300 pounds. Her daughter, who married in 1858, had something more modern: three tiers – though it was nearly seven feet high. In the 1940s, with rationing in force, people kept up the ‘glamour’ by displaying beautiful cardboard cakes, made or rented, hiding (for eating) a very modest cake near by.
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Groby Allotment Society News “Life With A Lottie” By Jane Marston AS I SIT to write this article (end of April) the weather forecast is for snow – as I walked through the plots this afternoon I saw broad beans 2ft high and absolutely full of flower. The season is almost fully underway, what is not in the ground yet is being hardened off just waiting for the soil to warm up. The plots are looking full of promise, obviously much hard work and preparation was done in the winter and early spring. I have mentioned to many people what a joy it is to have the sprouting broc so readily available – it’s one of my favourite vegetables, the response has on several occasions been ‘would love to eat it but don’t know how to cook it’ well all I do is snap off any woody or tough stem – leaving the lovely ‘flower’ and the tasty young leaves and pop it in the steamer for a few minutes. It’s one of the easiest veg to prepare and cook and the tastiest. The boss and I have booked a few days away – it’s always difficult to plan a holiday – not in the planting season – not in the growing season – not in the picking season and never longer that 5 days! You see my difficulty. So a plan is drawn up to calculate the end of the planting season, before the picking begins and when hopefully the weeds are not in full swing then we can take a few days away from the plot – then the problem of the greenhouse and the trug add to the equation so we factor in – after all the plants have left the greenhouse and before the tomatoes and cucumbers are set up. We have good neighbours who have gardens and allotments who will take care of any watering that needs to be kept up! By this time I am more than ready for a few days away. Talking of the trug, ours is looking very healthy – the boss planted seed tapes of carrots and every one of them has sprouted so watch out Village Show I fully intend to have the prize winners again this year. We held our first bacon buttie Sunday morning at the beginning of the month and it was a great success we had some new faces attend and some old friends who continue to support us. I know some allotmenters from other areas sometimes read this article so if any other societies fancy visiting us on a Sunday morning (the first Sunday in the month) please come along and you will be made very welcome. There is a continuing problem on the Ratby Road site with a water leak – I think the problem is who actually owns the leak! John Thornton is on the case and hopefully we will have water turned on on Ratby Road before much longer. If you have any garden related news you want me to place in this article please get in touch I especially like garden gossip!
RECIPE OF THE MONTH Vegetable Rosti A very tasty combination for three of our ‘store cupboard’ veg • 4 large potatoes – peeled and grated • 1 large parsnip – peeled and grated • 1 carrot – peeled and grated • Pinch of dried herbs or some fresh Rosemary – chopped • 2oz butter and a little oil • Seasoning Place all the grated veg into a clean linen towel and wring dry to remove all the moisture. Place in a bowl and fold in the herbs and seasoning to form into rough scone shapes. Heat the butter and oil in a heavy based frying pan add the rosti and fry on each side for around 5 minutes until golden brown. You could add other flavours if required – a little crushed garlic or some chilli flakes whatever takes your fancy. A cheap and tasty lunch dish or added to a meat dish for a more substantial meal.
Have my doubts about this “smart water,” considering how easily it’s captured and bottled.
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Groby & Field Head Spotlight • MAY 2016 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk
Parish and community grants top £1million OVER £1MILLION has been awarded to community groups in parishes across Hinckley & Bosworth since the Borough Council launched its Parish and Community Initiative Fund in 2005.
Get some sleep
MOST OF us are not getting enough sleep. Instead of the 7.7 hours we feel we need, we are making do with 6.8 hours a night. A study by the Royal Society for Public Health (RSPH) points out that poor sleep impacts our ability to perform, and has been linked to a number of diseases such as cancer, diabetes, heart attack and depression. “We do need to wake up to the benefits of sleep,” says the RSPH.
The million pound milestone was passed with the award of another £110,438 to 38 schemes this year, bringing the total number of schemes that have been supported over the past 11 years to 223. The aim of the fund is to enable people who live in the parishes to improve local facilities and the quality of life in their communities, and was increased for 2016/17 from £100,000 to £125,000. In welcoming the awards, Cllr Kevin Morrell, the Executive Member responsible for Rural Affairs, said: “Our newly-established Rural Strategy for the Borough includes a commitment to seek to increase the fund during 2016/17, and I am delighted that this has been achieved, sending a clear message to our rural parishes that we recognise the value they place on this important funding stream.” This year’s successful projects are as follows: • Bagworth Thornton and Stanton under Bardon PCC - £1,460 for repairs to the church roof and guttering. • Bagworth, Thornton and Stanton under Bardon PCC - £2,100 for dry stone Wall repairs at St Peter’s Church, Thornton. • Barlestone Parish Council - £9,958 for new play equipment at Bosworth Road Park. • Barwell Parish Council - £1,854 for basketball and goal end for Radford Park. • Barwell Parish Council - £990 for public toilet refurbishments.
• Barwell Parish Council - £915 for installation of a WW1 commemorative bench at Barwell War Memorial. • Barwell Parish Council - £390 for new noticeboard at Kirkby Road Cemetery. • Barwell Parish Council - £509 for six market stalls within Barwell town centre. • Barwell Parish Council - £761 for re-carpeting the parish council offices. • Burbage Community Library - £6,712 for Burbage Library renovation.Cadeby Parish Council - £8,500 for refurbishment of Cadeby Church Hall. • Friends of St Andrew’s Church, Carlton - £2,225 for new marquee. • Carlton Parish Council - £193 for new pedestrian gate. • Carlton Parish Council - £2,306 for installation of kerbing to protect the village green. • Desford Parish Council - £2,275 for improvements to Kirkby Road Recreation Ground. • Desford Free Church - £598 for replacement of stacking chairs. • Sport in Desford - £7,757 for improvements to community sports club. • Age UK Leicestershire and Rutland (Earl Shilton) -£3,060 for upgrading the central heating system at the Earl Shilton Senior Citizens Centre. • Groby Parish Council - £8,244 for resurfacing Sycamore Drive car park. • Higham-on-the-Hill Parish Council - £7,930 for resurfacing of Church Road and footpath. • Market Bosworth Parish Council - £1,598 for improvements to cemetery. • Market Bosworth Sports Club - £4,187 for 1.8m high security fence and gates at Market Bosworth sports ground.
• Markfield Parish Council - £5,650 for installation of solar panels at Markfield Community Centre. • All Saints Church, Nailstone - £1,743 for improvements to disabled access. • Our Library @ Newbold Verdon - £1,000 for public access computers. • Peckleton Parish Council £256 for improved signage for Stapleton Methodist Church. • Peckleton Parish Council - £397 for dog bins. • Peckleton Parish Council - £4,661 for resurfacing at Stapleton recreation ground and the play area in Kirkby Mallory. • Ratby Parish Council - £2,365 for provision of electricity supply at Ferndale Park. • Ratby Co-operative Band £1,800 for refurbishment of the band room. • Shackerstone Parish Council £1,920 for four defibrillators in Shackerstone, Bilstone, Barton in the Beans and Odstone. • Sibson District Church Council £4,072 for repair and resurfacing of the pathway to Sibson churchyard. • Sheepy Parish Council - £1,275 for mobile vehicle activated sign. • Stanton under Bardon Village Hall Trust - £1,076 for village hall equipment. • Without Walls Christian Fellowship, Stanton-underBardon - £1,275 for access improvements. • Norton Juxta Twycross Village Institute Committee - £1,500 for secure doors at village hall. • Witherley Parochial Church Council - £725 for new noticeboard at St Peter’s Church. • Witherley Memorial Playing Fields - £6,201 for refurbishment of play equipment.
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Maybe mama duck isn’t leading her babies, maybe she’s trying to outrun them.
Groby & Field Head Spotlight • MAY 2016 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk
Groby Community College wins award for exceptional 2015 results GROBY COMMUNITY College has been nationally recognised for its exceptional 2015 performance by the Schools, Students and Teachers network (SSAT). Educational Outcomes data analysis from SSAT has shown that the school is in the top 20% of non-selective schools nationally for high average grades achieved by students. Mr Robert Coles, Headteacher, is delighted for the students, their families and the staff after receiving notification of the award during the Easter break. ‘This is excellent news for the students’ stated Mr Coles, ‘many of whom are now studying in the Post 16 centre, as it recognises their hard work in their GCSEs last year. I am thrilled that the college has been recognised in this way.’ The school’s SSAT Educational Outcomes award will be presented at a regional celebration event held to draw attention to the work of high-achieving, improving and innovating schools and teachers. Mr Coles would like to thank all the students, parents, carers and staff for their continued hard work on the campus. For more information regarding Groby Community College please visit www.grobycoll.com
On the struggle for life in a rectory The Rectory St. James the Least My dear Nephew Darren AT LAST I can return to the Rectory without putting on my overcoat before going inside. For the next four months, all windows and doors are left open in order to let the heat in. If anyone else tells me how lucky I am to live in a 12-bedroom Queen Anne house, I shall have them excommunicated. You will soon stop complaining about your one bedroom flat should you ever have to live in a rural rectory; the days of wandering about the house in shirtsleeves will become a distant memory. In my first winter here, I had the central heating on full blast 24 hours a day. The house was almost warm, even if the boilers sounded like the Queen Mary coming into port. But that quarter’s gas bill needed a substantial grant from the International Monetary Fund to cover it, so ever since, for six months of the year, I live in the kitchen. Parishioners find it either touching or sad that I sleep with my Labrador. It never occurs to them that I need her for extra heat. It does mean that evening meetings at the rectory on winter evenings can be un-Christianly satisfying. Watching committee members fighting – with infinite politeness - to get nearest to the one-bar electric fire is highly entertaining. They hold on to their coffee cups less for refreshment, more for a little extra warmth. At least it means that meetings are short. My predecessor was a model railway enthusiast and so several bedrooms were taken up with a system of such complexity that it made Crewe Junction seem trivial. He also found it helpful to put his teenage son in the turret bedroom, where he could play his drums without anyone else in the house being able to hear a thing. Nowadays, all these extra rooms are filled with cribs and nativity play costumes, Easter gardens and spare choir cassocks. It is remarkable how all these things used to be stored quite satisfactorily in the church vestry until the parish acquired a single priest; now the empty rooms in the rectory have become vital storage space. I so hope my successor has a plethora of children, so that parishioners have to find alternative accommodation for all the detritus vital to church life. No, dear boy, cherish your centrally heated, dry, draft proof, mice-free, bat-less, modern-plumbed accommodation. It will not be ever thus. Your loving uncle,
Eustace
My mother talks into the phone like a combat soldier calling in air support.
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Groby & Field Head Spotlight • MAY 2016 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk
Groby & Field Head Spotlight PO Box 8, Markfield, Leics. LE67 9ZT
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Email us at: info@ grobyspotlight.co.uk Visit the website at www.grobyspotlight.co.uk 3,500 copies distributed 11 times a year (no issue in July) to homes and businesses in Groby, Field Head and The Brantings. Compiled and published in the Parish of Groby & Field Head. Printed in Ellistown by Norwood Press. The Spotlight is a monthly compilation of articles, press releases, events, general items of interest and news items submitted to us by local residents, groups, associations, sports clubs and local authorities. The opinions expressed by contributors are not necessarily those of the Spotlight Production Team. The inclusion of any group or organisation in this publication does not necessarily imply a recommendation of its aims, methods or policies. Groby & Field Head Spotlight cannot be held responsible for the information disclosed by advertisements, all of which are accepted in good faith. Every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of information in this magazine, but no liability can be accepted for loss or inconvenience caused as a result of error or omission. Groby & Field Head Spotlight reserves the right to amend, shorten or refuse to publish articles and/or advertisements submitted for publication. All contents © Groby & Field Head Spotlight. None of the articles contained in this magazine are to be reproduced in any way without first obtaining written consent from Groby & Field Head Spotlight.
NEXT ISSUE OUT ON: 18th June DEADLINE: 4th June
Brookvale welcomes Key Stage 2 children BROOKVALE was delighted, once again, to welcome children from local Primary Schools to two exciting annual events. The aroma of cooking and baking filled our school corridors on Friday 12th February 2016, when we were joined by a host of Year 3 children, all eager to participate in our annual ‘Bake Off ’ activity morning! Aprons at the ready, flour a-flying, under the guidance of Ms Owen, our Food Technology Teacher, the children (and their relevant staff members) got well and truly stuck in to create their very own version of a Pizza Pin Wheel, where they practiced their dough making skills, perfected their knife techniques and learnt how to use an oven safely. Delicious and healthy fillings were loaded on to the pizza base all ready to cook and sample, and washing up and cleaning down was even thoroughly enjoyed! Well done Year 3. Brookvale looks forward to welcoming you again in the not so distant future, when you begin your Food Technology lessons with us in Year 7. On Friday 18th March 2016, we were thrilled to host another annual event involving our local Primaries. On this occasion, Mrs Pattison and Mrs Mawbey, two of our Science Teachers, welcomed Year 6 Scientists to our Primary Science Morning. As this Science morning fell on the day of the Sports Relief charitable event, the activities were centred round that theme. The budding Scientists burnt food to determine which food source gave the most energy, after which exercise was the name of the game, as the children monitored their pulse rate to find out what happened following a period of physical activity. Some of our own Year 8 students assisted the children whilst they used data loggers and recorded their findings. After such a hectic morning, refreshments for all were enjoyed, and it was a delight to hear the chatter between the children as they reflected on their experiences. It continues to be a pleasure to meet our future students, and to see them again as they begin the next chapter of their educational lives with us.
Elaine Freeman, Roving Reporter
Newtown Linford Lunch Club
Lunching Ladies LAST AUTUMN we enjoyed a wonderful variety of talks by a poet, a plantsman, a social historian and a funeral director. Then at Christmas Roxanne Dinsdale came to talk about and demonstrate Belly Dancing! In February David Tideswell delighted us with his humorous talk on garden birds which he illustrated with superb slides. Artist Pollyanna Pickering and her daughter Anna-Louise returned in March to tell us about their adventures tracking wolves. Anna-Louise’s photographs were a delight. We have talks coming up by: Caroline Roberts (a Local Belly Dancer Blue Badge guide) on Leicester; Eliza McCelland, Roxanne Dinsdale a many talented actress and embroiderer, with a talk entitled ‘A Woman for all Seasons’ then Colin Bower who will tell us about working on a cruise ship. And that’s not all. Do come along and see what else is on our programme. We meet at the Forest Hill Golf Club Botcheston once a month on a Wednesday for a three course meal after which we are entertained by a speaker. There is a friendly atmosphere, the venue is pleasant. Why not give us a try? The three course meal with coffee is £16. If you decide you would like to join our club membership is £20 per year; this pays for the speakers. For more details or to book a meal phone 0116 230 4420. Our club is called The Newtown Linford Lunch Club but you don’t have to live there to join.
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• 3 x Compatible Black & Colour 5 ink packs(unopened). Models of CANON Pixma printers Cartridges. IP: -- 4200 /4200X /4300 /4500 /4500X /5200 / 5200R / 5300 MP: - 500 /530/ 600 /600R / 610/ 800 /800R /810/830/950 /960 /970 MX: - 850 Price: £15.00 Tel: 0116 2878323 IF YOU HAVE any household items which you’d like to advertise FREE in the Spotlight, please SEND DETAILS by post or email - sorry, we can’t take them over the phone. Our postal address is Spotlight Small Ads, PO Box 8, Markfield, Leics. LE67 9ZT or you can email details to: info@ grobyspotlight.co.uk. Please put ‘Small Ads’ in the subject line.
A thing I learned at this week’s staff meeting is I like to cuddle as I fall asleep.
Groby & Field Head Spotlight • MAY 2016 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk
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I just assume I do everything wrong since I don’t have a wife to confirm it.
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Groby & Field Head Spotlight • MAY 2016 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk
Letter
Asthma and animals WE REFER to your article on asthma and animals, etc in last month’s magazine. I have for many years been affected with this health problem and one of the most common problems for sufferers is being near to dogs and cats. One myth that is often quoted is if you have a poodle or Yorkshire terrier breed of dog, then - as they don’t have fur and their coat is made of hair - then an asthmatic will be ok to have one, or touch it when visiting someone. This happened to me some years ago and feeling unwell after a few weeks, I spoke to a hospital consultant who advised me this was completely wrong as it was to do with the amount of saliva (spit) the animal put into the atmosphere by preening himself around the asthmatic person. The saliva dries out and then floats around the room ending up being breathed into the lungs where it reacts with the airways causing a reaction. The particles are so small, the human eye cannot see them, and it would take around 6 months of general cleaning to rid the particles from the house where the animal had been. So I hope that has helped anyone who might not have been aware of this situation with animals and asthma.
Nick Barston, Groby
Get a grip
IT WAS said that Archbishop Tench of Dublin, in his later years, had a fear of sudden crippling paralysis. One night at a formal dinner he sat looking more and more forlorn. Finally he confided to the guests around him: ‘Well, it’s come at last – total lack of feeling in my right leg.’ Whereupon the lady sitting next to him said soothingly: ‘Not at all, your Grace. It will comfort you to know that during the whole of this meal it has been my leg that you have been pinching!’
County Councillor’s Report A50 Bradgate Hill, Groby AS I REPORTED in April’s issue I arranged a residents meeting with our two Local MP’s Ed Argar and David Tredinnick to discuss the resident’s concerns over the speed of traffic both going up and coming down the A50 on Bradgate Hill Groby. I have been working on behalf of residents with officers at County Hall on trying to get the speed on this section of road reduced to 40mph from the current 50mph since I was elected. In my opinion it should have been reduced to 40mph at the same time as other sections of the A50 were reduced in speed in 2013. I have also requested that the speed limit on the northbound carriageway of the A50 prior to Markfield Road Groby should also be reduced to 40mph to allow for safe access out onto the A50 by local residents. On Friday 6th May I arranged a further meeting with residents, your local MP Ed Argar and officers from the County Highways department. I am pleased to announce that two consultations will now take place which will include reducing the speed limit to 40mph on Bradgate Hill and closing the central reservation gaps. The other consultation will include reducing the speed limit on the A50 North bound just prior to Markfield Road and keeping two of the central reservation gaps open and again reducing the speed limit to 40mph on Bradgate hill. These Consultations will start on May 13th and will run to 10th June 2016. Residents affected by these consultations will all be written to by the County Councils Highways Department. I will continue to work on behalf of my residents. You can take part in these consultations by going to any time from 13th May to: www. Leicestershire.gov.gov.uk/A50
Planning Application (16/00271/COU) 28 Ratby Road Groby. The Old Barclays Bank. AN APPLICATION has been
received for a change of use for the old Barclays Bank for a hot food take away. The planning authority has no further details at this time. I will update residents as soon as I have further details.
Mental Health and Dementia Awareness Weeks 16-21 May ON MONDAY 16 May local organisations will be promoting their services on Hinckley Market from 9am until 2pm. Representatives will be there giving out information about looking after your mental health and will be happy to have a chat to anyone that needs support either for themselves or someone they know. On Wednesday 18 May there will be a Living Well with Dementia afternoon at Markfield Community Centre from 2pm until 4pm. As well as promoting local support services there will be activities such as singing, walking football, seated chair exercise and card making. Then in the evening at 6pm at North Warwickshire and Hinckley College, Beauty and Utility Arts will be at the Creative Arts Network talking about their successful arts and health projects including ‘A Book of Me’ a creative resource for people living with dementia. On Friday 20 May at Earl Shilton Community House, from 10.30am until 12.30pm, the focus will be on the therapeutic benefits of arts and crafts including making wellbeing boxes, flower crafts and mindfulness colouring. On Friday 20 and Saturday 21 May there will be an exhibition in St Mary’s Church, Hinckley of artwork created by people with dementia in care homes working with Sandi Clark of Reminiscent Times. For more information about these events, the Creative Arts Network, Changing Minds and the Dementia Action Alliance please contact Lindsay Orton, Strategic Arts and
Mental Health Officer on lindsay. orton@hinckley-bosworth.gov.uk
Social Media Ticket Fraud THE NATIONAL Fraud Intelligence Bureau (NFIB) has recently received an influx of reports that fraudsters are targeting the public, via social media, in relation to football tickets. Fraudsters are posting pictures or statuses online telling members of the public to contact them via Direct Message for football tickets. This then leads to a mobile messaging conversation. During the conversation, bank details are provided by the suspect so that the tickets can be purchased. After the victim has paid for the ticket the fraudster blocks them to stop further conversation, leaving victims without the tickets and out of pocket. Protect yourself: • Check the security of the website and validity of the post • Avoid taking the conversation offline to private messages • When purchasing any products over the internet always try to make the payment via PayPal or a credit card where you have some sort of payment cover If you, or anyone you know, have been affected by this fraud or any other scam, report it to Action Fraud by calling 0300 123 2040 or visiting www.actionfraud.police.uk.
Wine Investment Fraud A NEW investment fraud trend is targeting members of the public who are seeking to sell their wine investment. Fraudsters agree to purchase the victim’s wine, but instead transfer the stock into their own account without paying the victim. The fraudulently obtained wine is then believed to be sold on to other, unsuspecting victims. How does it work? Fraudsters set up fake companies
I wish there was a way to keep in touch with dogs I meet outside of grocery stores.
Groby & Field Head Spotlight • MAY 2016 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk
from Ozzy O’shea •
Tel 0116 2394336 or 07808 585825
Email: ozzyoshea@hotmail.com
and websites as well as exploit the names of legitimate, established companies to facilitate this fraud. They cold-call the victims and offer to purchase their wine for significantly more than the actual market value. Fraudulent documents, such as purchase agreements, are used to facilitate the fraud and are sent to the victims via post and email. Some fraudsters have gone as far as setting up fake escrow services in order to fool the potential sellers that the payments have been transferred. The fraudsters send the victims instructions to transfer their wine into storage accounts held within legitimate bonded warehouses. The victims are informed that upon doing this they will be paid the agreed amount. The use of storage accounts held within legitimate bonded warehouses adds an air of legitimacy to the process but in actual fact these storage accounts are controlled by the fraudsters Once the wine is transferred into the new storage accounts the suspects break off all contact with the victims. The wine is then moved again, normally within days and often abroad, and, needless to say, the victim never receives the money from the agreed sale. Protect Yourself • Never respond to unsolicited phone calls – if in doubt, hang up
Always check that the details of the organisation or company contacting you (such as website, address and phone number) are correct – the fraudsters may be masquerading as a legitimate organisation • Never sign over your wine (or any other investment) to another party without first checking they are authentic • Don’t be fooled by a professional looking website, as the cost of creating a professional website is easily affordable • Escrow services are regulated by the FCA under the Payment Services Directive 2009. Only deal with a registered Authorised Payment Institution. You can check the FCA register online at www.fca.org.uk/register • Consider seeking independent legal and/ or financial advice before making a decision If you have been affected by this, or any other scam, report it to Action Fraud by calling 0300 123 2040, or visiting www.actionfraud. police.uk
HMRC Tax Rebate Scam FRAUDSTERS are texting and emailing members of the public offering a tax rebate. The text message contains a link to a website and requests to provide personal information, such as bank account information, to claim the nonexistent rebate. I personally have had two emails claiming I was entitled to a Tax rebate checking with HMRC I confirmed both were scams. Protect Yourself • Don’t click on web links contained in unsolicited texts or emails. • Never provide your personal information to a third party from an unsolicited communication. • Obtain the genuine number of the organisation being represented and verify
the legitimacy of the communication. • HMRC will never use texts or emails or tell you about a potential rebate or ask for personal information. If you have provided personal information and you are concerned that your identity may be compromised consider Cifas Protection Registration. www.cifas. org.uk I would just like to end by congratulating Leicester City on the success in becoming Premier League Champions. I would like to thank you all for your continued support and to remind you that I am only a phone call or email away. Working for you. Always keeping Residents updated.
Cllr Ozzy O’shea Tel 0116 2394336 or 07808585825 Email ozzyoshea@hotmail.com
World Blood Donor Day: 14th June THE THEME for this year’s World Blood Donor Day is ‘Blood connects us all’. The website offers three videos highlighting stories of people whose lives have been saved by a blood donor. Visit: http:// www.who.int/ campaigns/ world-blooddonorday/2016/en/
My favorite myth is the one where I tell you I’ll be there on time.
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Groby & Field Head Spotlight • MAY 2016 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk
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TOP SWIMMER RIMMER! JAMES RIMMER, a local boy aged 10 from our wonderful village took part in the Sport Relief Swimathon at Loughborough on Saturday 19th March. James swam 1.5k raising a fabulous £312 for charity. James, who swims for the Leicester Penguins Swimming Club wanted to use his swimming skills to help raise money for charity so thought that the Sport Relief Swimathon was totally perfect! Prior to his swim he watched the Sport Relief programme on tv reminding him of all the wonderful work done with the money raised via this great charity. Once at the pool James and all of the swimmers were issued with their allocated colour swimming caps as they were all representing a team colour across the UK making the experience even more fun! There were swimmers of various ages, all super keen to get going with their swim. The spectators were carrying banners and dressed up in their swimmers colours which made the whole environment like a great big party! The poolside officials kept count of the lengths completed by each swimmer and let them know when they had completed their swim. James finally finished his swim and received his medal. Feeling really proud he asked for his favourite post swim drink milk, looking forward to his next swimming challenge.
Smart dogs sit near the toddler at meal time.
Groby & Field Head Spotlight • MAY 2016 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk
New fly tipping fines promise some relief for rural areas, says CLA
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Brookvale students help to create a new woodland
THE CLA says new fixed penalty notices for fly tipping which came into force on 9th May are welcome, but fears they may not be enough to stem the rising tide of refuse dumped in rural areas. From 9 May, local authorities will be able to issue fines for small scale fly-tipping of up to £400 as an alternative to prosecution, following the introduction of new Government regulations on the unauthorised deposit of waste. According to DEFRA, 900,000 fly-tipping incidents were dealt with by local authorities in England during 2014/15. Yet the CLA, which represents farmers, landowners and rural businesses, believes the figures exclude much of the waste dumped on private land where it poses risks to local wildlife, livestock and the environment. Landowners are liable for any waste that is fly-tipped on their land and can be prosecuted if they do not clear it away, often at considerable cost to their business. CLA Midlands rural surveyor Mark Riches said that with fewer than 2,000 prosecutions for flytipping in 2014/15, more effective action is urgently needed: “We receive regular reports from our members of fly tipping, particularly when their land is located on the fringes of urban areas. The waste involved is not just the occasional bin bag, but large household items, from unwanted sofas to broken washing machines and building materials. “The CLA has been calling for offenders to be dealt with more robustly and we welcome this latest tightening in the regulations. “Fixed penalty notices will not solve the problem, but they are a positive step in tackling an issue which is estimated to cost rural businesses an average of £800 per incident and is a continuing and damaging blight on our countryside. Mr Riches added that May Bank Holiday often saw an increase in fly-tipping as people started work on their homes and gardens in earnest, with many having no plans for disposal of the rubbish generated. He urged people in rural areas to be vigilant, and to report fly-tipping incidents to the police, with as much information as possible.
Enjoy an afternoon of Board Games at Shuttlewood Clarke Foundation
FOLLOWING a period of rain, rain and more rain, Monday 14th March 2016 dawned bright and breezy, thank goodness! Wellies and spades at the ready, our Year 7 students prepared to meet a member of staff from The Woodland Trust, to embark on a second year of tree planting around the perimeter of our campus, organised once again by our Science Teacher, Mrs Pattison. 120 Year 7 students, to be precise, planted in excess of 200 young trees and were guided by The Woodland Trust with respect to the depth of planting and the types of soil in which young samplings grow. It will be wonderful for the students, as they continue their education across our campus, to see these trees grow and flourish, and who knows, the students may also return as adults in the future, with their own children, to see the woodland in all its glory once again.
Elaine Freeman, Roving Reporter
British to become the fattest people in Europe BRITAIN already has some of the worst obesity levels in Europe – only Malta and Turkey are worse.
And it will get worse: a new study warns that if present trends continue, then within 10 years Britain will have the highest proportion of fat women in Europe, and the most fat men, along with Ireland and Lithuania. In 1975 the average Briton had a BMI of 23, which is considered healthy. Today that has risen to 27, with the average person now overweight, and headed for obesity. Obesity currently costs the health service £47 billion a year, just under HALF the ENTIRE NHS budget. The study was done at Imperial College, London. Cancer Research UK predicts that obesity-related cancer will rise 45 per cent over the next two decades.
THE SHUTTLEWOOD Clarke Foundation is seeking new members to join its games club which takes place on the last Friday of the Month at Ulverscroft Manor, Priory Lane, Ulverscroft, Leicestershire, LE67 9PH – 1.30pm – 3.00pm, sessions cost £2.50 per person to include tea or coffee. The next three sessions take place throughout the summer on Friday 25th June, 29th July and 26th August. Helen Baxter, Activities Coordinator at the Foundation said ‘We are currently seeking new members to join our friendly and welcoming games club. We are a social, inclusive group playing a variety of card and board games, old and new depending on what members would like to play and bring along to share with the group’. She added ‘The Foundation has many activities and groups available to anyone living with an illness or disability. We are inclusive and friendly setting and pride ourselves on making it easy for people to find a sense of belonging and enjoy time out in beautiful surroundings’ If you would like to learn more about the activities and services that the Foundation has to offer the please call Helen Baxter on 01530 244914 or email helen@ shuttlewood-clarke.org. Details can also be found by visiting www. shuttlewood-clarke.org
Why do you look surprised in all your selfies? Didn’t you know you were taking the picture?
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Groby & Field Head Spotlight • MAY 2016 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk
Groby Sings The Beatles and Abba!
Performance dates: Saturday 25th June 7.30pm and Sunday 26th June 3.00pm in the Sports Hall at Groby Community College. Tickets still ONLY £5 will be on sale from mid-May from any choir member or Chaplin’s Butchers, Groby. For our summer 2016 performances, Groby Sings is going back half a century to the Swinging Sixties and Super Seventies when musical history was made with the coming of The Beatles and ABBA. Whatever their age, everyone knows at least one Beatles or ABBA song and we hope to delight our audiences this time with a fantastic selection of classic songs by these world famous artists. There should be some interesting sights on stage too as we raid our dressing-up boxes for Beatles wigs and sparkly costumes. Be prepared to be amazed in both sound and vision!! Our community choir, Groby Sings, goes from strength to strength with numbers increasing almost on a weekly basis. At the last count there were nearly 280 singers on the books which is a fantastic achievement for our fourth year of singing together. Many of this year’s newcomers have been encouraged to join by relatives, friends and acquaintances of existing choir members. Our posters have sparked a lot of interest, particularly because we are singing Beatles and ABBA songs which are proving to be a very popular choice. We know too that many choir members appreciate the social side of our choir. There is a great camaraderie which is encouraged by Helen, our conductor, who works us hard but makes us laugh too and, of course, who can resist the half-time cake? As the popularity of the choir is growing all the time and because Groby Sings The Beatles and ABBA is already eagerly awaited, we expect that tickets will be snapped up quickly so make sure to get your order in as soon as possible. Enquiries to: Helen Hayes 07867 963328 or Ruth Matthews 07759 395072 (not to the College).
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Groby & Field Head Spotlight • MAY 2016 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk
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Elizabeth Woodville News WE’VE BEEN making the most of the outdoors during April with both Year 5 and Year 4 embarking on adventures of a lifetime!
Year 5 – Dukes Barn Year 5 had a tremendous time enjoying the Derbyshire countryside at Dukes Barn. The class participated in daring activities in beautiful and picturesque locations. Their adventures included experiencing caving, abseiling off an incredibly tall bridge and canoeing through the local canal networks. What an amazing experience!
Year 4 – PGL Caythorpe Court Our pupils together with the Year 4 class from Lady Jane Grey enjoyed an adventurous 3 days at PGL! The children demonstrated their team work and bravery in activities which included orienteering, raft building and climbing the giant Jacob’s Ladder. They also displayed their nerves of steel to make a daring leap of faith, this involved climbing a telegraph pole to jump to a high flying trapeze – incredible! (See picture) Thank you to all the staff at both centres as well as our own team for two unforgettable experiences!
Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No it’s our Foundation superheroes! Pupils have been displaying their amazing superhero powers to write fantastic stories and comics! All the children designed and labelled their own hero complete with special abilities. The class then placed their superheroes into fantastic short stories making sure they had a beginning, middle and end. The highlight of the topic was on ‘superhero day’ when all the children (and staff!) became heroes for the day. They had heroic face painting and played a starring role in their own comic book stories! See our ‘Justice League of Avengers’ assemble in the photographs below!
Backing the Blues Elizabeth Woodville celebrated the amazing achievements of Leicester City Football Club on Friday 29th April by ‘backing the blues!’ Congratulations to the Elizabeth Woodville Football Team for reaching the final of the Rice Bowl (the FA Cup for Leicestershire Primary Schools). Elizabeth Woodville won a hard fought semi-final against Alderman Richard Hallam 4 – 2! The final will be played at the prestigious King Power Stadium, home of Leicester City in May! Look out for a full report in the next issue. Follow us on Twitter at ewoodvilleps to find out the date of the final, come and support us as we try to bring the trophy to Groby!
Y6 enter the Warning Zone! Our Year 6 pupils thoroughly enjoyed their visit to Warning Zone, they learnt about important life skills by experiencing special scenario zones organised by the centre. One of the highlights was the new e-safety zone, designed as a fun fair! Pupils learnt about how to keep safe online by playing a giant game of ‘Guess Who’ and by spinning the ‘World Wide Wheel!’ Warning Zone is a unique interactive learning centre that supports Year 6 pupils to understand risks and consequences. It covers themes such as peer pressure and personal safety, both online and offline.
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Groby & Field Head Spotlight • MAY 2016 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk
Cocoa Drink “That Can Reverse Old Age Memory Decline” THE FIRST-EVER drink which claims to boost memory and can even reverse cognitive decline in old age has gone on sale in Britain. MemoMax contains concentrated levels of a naturally-occurring compound called flavanols, which are clinically proven to improve memory. The chemicals are naturally found in foods like chocolate, but once they are processed they are almost totally lost and only exist in tiny levels. But experts working with UK-based Medifort claim to have found a way to process a special variety of cocoa bean which does not reduce its flavanol content. The drink provides more than 15 TIMES the amount of flavanols in a normal hot chocolate - matching the levels boffins created in the lab tests. MemoMax claims the supercharged cocoa drink can reverse age-related memory decline by up to 30 YEARS in some cases.
It is also being marketed to students, claiming the formula can boost their exam performance. Founder Andrew Parkinson said: “It works by using cocoa beans which have a slightly higher flavanol level than most, but it is the way that it is treated that really makes the difference. “When you buy any chocolate or cocoa drink it contains flavanols, but when processed it is alkalized which kills off over 90 per cent of the flavanols. “But we have found a company with a unique way to process the cocoa which doesn’t kill off the flavanols. “The company doesn’t actually reveal how they do it - they are very protective of it. “And after more than a year in development, Medifort are excited to announce the launch of MemoMax.” “Recent trials in the USA have confirmed the beneficial effect of flavanols in the improvement and treatment of memory loss. “MemoMax is the first and only
formula in the UK to utilise this knowledge.” The drink, which is made by mixing powder with milk, is based on scientific research by Columbia University Medical Centre in New York. According to the research team, past studies suggested memory decline could be down to changes in a part of the brain called the dentate gyrus. Flavanols found in cocoa beans have been linked to improvements in connections in the dentate gyrus of mice. The team tested 37 healthy adults between the ages of 50 and 69, to see if the same improvements were seen in humans, and if memory would improve as a result. For three months around half the participants were given a high flavanol diet - using a drink specially made by confectionery giant Mars, who partly funded the study. The diet saw them consume 900mg of flavanols a day - the equivalent of more than 16 standard cocoa drinks - via the
drink which was only made for test purposes. The other people had only 10mg of flavanols a day. Brain scans revealed those who had the drink had a better functioning dentate gyrus measured by blood flow in the area. The test subjects were also asked to perform a 20-minute pattern recognition task, and those on the higher flavanol diet performed better than their counterparts. Dr Scott Small, who led the study, said: “If a participant had the memory of a typical 60-yearold at the beginning of the study, after three months that person on average had the memory of a typical 30 or 40-year-old.” The study was published in Nature Neuroscience in 2014. The drink formulated by Medifort has 850mg of flavanol, and is created by mixing 11g of powder with milk, and is drunk once a day. It costs £31.50 for a month supply with discounts for multiple purchases at: www.medifort.co.uk or call: 01424 854232
Elizabeth Woodville to represent Leicester City in the Premier League Finals ELIZABETH WOODVILLE Primary School certainly gave their best at the recent Leicester City Football Club football tournament. Eight children from Years 5 and 6 competed in the annual football tournament organised by the Premier League. Each Premier League club has hosted a tournament to find the best Primary school football team in their area. Leicester City FC have found their best team and that team is ... Elizabeth Woodville! Competing against three other finalists; Desford, Dane Mill and The Pastures, Elizabeth Woodville knew that they were going to have to give their best to succeed in the tournament. The prize for the winners is a day trip to the home of Everton Football Club, Goodison Park, to challenge the other schools who qualified for the Grand final. With that great prize at stake, our Year 5 and 6 children showed the determination, skill and togetherness to romp to victory in each of the group games, scoring a total of 13 goals in 3 games. This set up a final against Dane Mill, who incidentally beat us in the final last year in a sudden death penalty shoot-out. Assistant Headteacher, Tom Coleman commented that the hurt of last year’s defeat would spur the children onto success in this tournament. The final started off at a blistering pace with Elizabeth Woodville storming to a 4-0 lead in the first half. Goals from Will Alves and Theo Coats delighted the on-looking headteacher, Andrew Pridmore. Stunning defensive performances from Mikayla Wildgoose in goal, Gabriel Hayre, Tyler Holt and James Hollingworth ensured that nothing was going to stop Elizabeth Woodville from lifting the trophy. Good work from Mackenzie Smith and Noah Watson resulted in a further three goals resulting in a final score of 7-1 to Woodville. Manager Alex Davis stated that he was extremely proud of the whole team. Their effort and teamwork was the key to success! Elizabeth Woodville will now go on to Goodison Park to represent Leicester City in the Premier League School’s Tournament. Good luck and well done Elizabeth Woodville. The team were congratulated on their success by Leicester City Under 21 star Hamza Choudhury, pictured with the team.
I can tell what kind of mood she’s in just by what she’s throwing at me.
Groby & Field Head Spotlight • MAY 2016 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk
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Groups can bid for climate change grant SHIRE CLIMATE change grants of up to £5,000 are available through a scheme, run by Leicestershire County Council. Projects must be located in the county, and, as well as improving energy-efficiency, the funding can help reduce the impact of climate change on community buildings. Schemes can include energy audits, installation of heating systems, roof or cavity wall insulation, and renewable systems. Councillor Pam Posnett, cabinet member for communities said: “The grant helps groups and organisations who want to improve the energy efficiency of their buildings, which can also reduce their running costs. We want to encourage groups to come forward.” The climate change grant has already helped parish councils, community and faith groups as well as charities and village hall management committees. Groups supported by the grant so far include the Fleckney Silver Band, who received help with an energy audit, and the Glenmore Centre in Shepshed, which hosts events for a variety of groups and used the funding for new windows. A further grant beneficiary was Sport in Desford, another community organisation offering a range of activities in and around the village. Development officer Jim Houghton said: “We used the grant to help with the installation of LED lighting in all our major rooms, and we are really pleased with the outcome. We have already seen a significant reduction in our energy consumption. “We also have a five-year warranty in place, so, thanks to the grant ,we shouldn’t need to worry about maintenance for a while.” For further information and how to apply for a grant, visit www.leicestershire.gov.uk/community-grants Opens another website in new window or call Nailesh Ramaiya on 0116 305 8111 or Di Braker on 0116 305 7082. Alternatively you can email strategicdevelopment@leics.gov.uk Kirby Muxloe Bowls Club Station Road, Kirby Muxloe Contact Des Smith 0116 238 6617
Calling all performers
OPEN DAY
DRAMA groups, musicians and other performers - as well as local schools now have the chance to air their talents for free in the bandstand in Hinckley’s Argents Mead.
Sunday 1st May 2016 1pm until 6.00pm
New Bowlers Welcome Beginners No Fees Age No Barrier Juniors 8 Years Upwards Free Coaching And Bowls Available Flat Shoes Required At All Times
A programme of summer concerts has been booked from May to August, but when the bandstand is not in use, the public is invited to book a performance slot free of charge. Performers will need to supply their own sound equipment but a member of staff will be on hand to hook the equipment up to the electricity supply. Councillor Russ Roberts, the Borough Council’s Executive Member responsible for Culture and Leisure, said: “I would encourage anyone who is looking for a performance space to consider hiring the bandstand, especially as there is no charge for doing so. “With the Mead coming into bloom and the imminent opening of the new leisure centre attracting plenty of visitors, performers will be hard pressed to find a more popular venue.” To book a slot, contact the council’s Cultural Services team on 01455 255856 or email paula.padmore@hinckleybosworth.gov.uk. Bookings will be made on a first come, first served basis.
Sometimes I do this cute thing where I talk my wife into a movie she doesn’t want to watch and then fall asleep halfway through. Maybe mama duck isn’t leading her babies, maybe she’s trying to outrun them.
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My wife just asked me if I was busy. Nothing good can come from this.
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Groby & Field Head Spotlight • MAY 2016 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk
Groby Gardening Society News
April Meeting
called “Anna’s Red” which has a long-lived deep red flower, a vigorous growing habit and which makes wonderful cut flowers. His array of wonderful plants were a source of much interest after the talk and he did a good trade in their sales. A trip to his wonderful and different nursery is to be recommended, especially since it is only about a one hour drive from Groby. * This year the R.H.S. are carrying out an extensive trial of penstemons in an attempt to identify one which they can give their order of merit.
COTSWOLD GARDEN FLOWERS was the title of our talk at the 14th April meeting. Some members will remember our visit to this nursery a couple of years ago as it involved getting our large coach down a very dodgy bridle path to a very small turning circle. Bob Brown is a renowned plantsman who writes extensively and is the current vice chairman of the Herbaceous Plant committee of the R. H. S. As well as being very knowledgable, he was an excellent speaker. His delivery was not only good, but laced with entertaining asides and rhetorical questions. He only has a small private garden which he opens up as part of his village’s open garden weekend. It seems he has some fun with visitors as he plants stalks of silk flowers or positions cut flowers in positions which would be impossible for them to flourish. He then sits back waiting for comments which apparently frequently involve requests for the origin of these unusual “plants”. He was rather scathing about gardeners who shun or decry common plants such as privet, as he maintains that they are common for very good horticultural reasons. They are likely to be hardy, easy to grow and are subject to few, if any, pests or diseases. He also has high expectations for plants that he grows in this small garden. He demands longevity in flowering and foliage displays and to this end he had brought many plants to illustrate his points. He grows three types of privet because they have lovely foliage and modest growing habits. He particularly recommended “Lemon & Lime”. These, and others like the pittesporums, are much favoured by flower arrangers. He is also keen on a skimmia called “Kew Green” thanks to its small height, its ability to grow in any soil type and its buds are present from August until it finally flowers in April. His longevity theme continued as he suggested
Change of date PLEASE NOTE that the October trip to Batsford has been changed to Friday 14th.
Trips, outings and events planned for 2016 • •
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May 14th (Saturday): The Plant Sale at the Village Hall June 9th (Thursday eve.): A visit to a private Earl Shilton garden July 14th/15th/16th (Thurs, Fri, Sat): Three day trip to Norwich area August 20th (Saturday): The Village Show October 14th (Friday): A day trip to Batsford Arboretum
Future Meetings • •
erodium (stork’s bill) “Spanish Eyes”. This, he maintained, flowers for 12 months. A green polyanthus called “Franscisca” was shown to members along with an amusing story about its discovery. It is too long to repeat here, but it involved an eighty year old plant enthusiast who saw it on a traffic island in Canada. The tale revolved about how she managed to obtain it. Bob is also an enthusiast of ribes
(flowering currant), but not the very common one which grows rather leggy and misshapen. He recommends “Koja” which is a very compact bush (max 2’-3’ high) with striking red flowers in springtime. There were many more examples of his favourite plants including a lavatera with large, tissue-like leaves (accompanied by another amusing tale), penstemons* and a few hellebores. He particularly likes one hellebore
May 14th: Plant Sale at the Village Hall June 9th: Evening trip to a private Earl Shilton garden
If you like the sound of what we get up to, why not come along to a meeting and try us out. You will be most welcome. Our monthly meetings are held at 7.30pm on the second Thursday of the month in the United Reformed Church rooms on Chapel Hill. Details about membership and the events programme can be obtained from Eric Atherton. (Tel. No. 01162876637) or E mail e.atherton637@btinternet.com
Alvar Johnson
Fibre broadband take-up doubles in just 12 months THE NUMBER of people signing up to a fibre broadband package in Leicestershire has doubled in the last 12 months. Figures published by BT show more than 25 per cent of homes and businesses in the Superfast Leicestershire area have signed up to a fibre broadband compared to around 10 per cent 12 months ago. The multi-million pound partnership between Leicestershire County Council and BT has made the new technology available to more than 63,000 homes and businesses across the county. Superfast Leicestershire remains on course to bring high-speed fibre broadband technology to more than 72,000 premises in Leicestershire by the end of 2017.
I have a feeling I already know which direction my “Get rich or die trying” lifestyle is headed.
Groby & Field Head Spotlight • MAY 2016 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk
Groby Post Office is closed for refurbishment ILA MASHRU is the new sub post mistress at Groby Post Office. The new owners would like to thank the whole community and local councillors for the warm welcome they have received since taking over the business. They would also like to apologise for the inconvenience caused whilst the Post Office is closed for refurbishment.
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The closure began at 5.30pm on Wednesday 4th May 2016 and the Post Office will re-open, following full refurbishment at 1.00pm on Friday 3rd June 2016.
The Royal Mail will continue to deliver the post as normal. Parcels/Undelivered mail can be collected from the rear of the Post Office between the hours of 3pm-5pm Monday to Friday and 9am to 11am Saturday. Dry cleaning collection - and dropping off - can also be done Monday to Friday 3pm to 5pm and Saturday 9am to 11am whilst the Post Office is closed. The new owners said, “We would like to take this opportunity to thank Sharon for her continued service in the Post Office. We would also like to thank Harry and Sue for their help, and wish them a happy retirement.”
Get out and walk!
MAY IS National Walking Month and there are over 100 walks to suit all ages and abilities taking place across the county throughout the month. In support, Leicestershire County Council has put together details of the organised walks covering some of the 1,896 miles of rights of way across the county. Councillor Peter Osborne, cabinet member for highways and transport said: “There are some fantastic walks to be experienced in Leicestershire’s countryside, parks and urban areas. Walking is a great way to stay fit and active and there are plenty of opportunities to get out and about right on our doorsteps. “We hope people will embrace National Walking Month this May and enjoy the great outdoors.” Walks taking place in districts and boroughs across the county include: • Five miles starting in Thornton, via Stanton under Bardon and Bagworth, on Thursday, 19 May • Six miles around Hallaton, on Saturday, 28 May • Four-and-a-half miles starting in Lutterworth, on Tuesday, 31 May More information on the organised walks and rights of way in Leicestershire is available online. Remember to log the number of miles you walk during the month through the LeicesterShire Sustainable Travel Challenge. A host of walks will also take place in North West Leicestershire, Hinckley and Bosworth and Charnwood as part of the National Forest Walking Festival which takes place from 14-26 May and this year celebrates the 25 anniversary of the creation of the national forest. Full details of all the walks on offer are available in the festival guide and are graded from easy to strenuous.
Tel: 0116 262 3202 Fax: 0116 261 9186 office@henstocks.co.uk
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Letter
Trust your instincts when voting on European Union AT A MEETING with a political journalist recently, I explained why the UK should leave the European Union. He told me that he wanted to believe everything I said but he felt that if someone who wanted to stay in the EU told him about why we should remain in the EU, he wouldn’t know who or what to believe. I remembered the early 1970s when I felt the same about what I read and heard, except I felt a gut feeling that there was something very dodgy about what we were being told about the Common Market. It was those suspicions, together with a worry about my children’s future that caused me to vote NO in the 1975 referendum. With a short time to go before we vote in the 23rd June referendum we are all being bombarded with information from both sides, much of it speculation and not hard facts, although thorough “Flexcit” research is available on the internet. Some people will want every scrap of information available to them, others will be far too busy or bored to want to pay much, if any, attention to what they hear, read or see. Many of those who study the benefits of leaving the EU or remaining in could still finish up uncertain which way to vote. Other people who are very busy all hours every day, might have switched off already or have little interest in politics. They are likely to want to decide how to vote well before Referendum Day 23rd June, so that they can free up their minds to concentrate on their everyday life. For everyone however, the task of making a decision which way to vote boils down to one very simple core question to ask oneself and to trust one’s own instincts. The core question is; who do you want to govern our country for years to come, either our own Parliament with our own elected Members of Parliament or the European Union with their unelected Commissioners? To remain in the EU requires we will have continue to pay a high membership fee, around £33 million every day, money better needed and used in the UK.
George West, Groby
Learn from your mistakes. Make better & better mistakes until you’re making the best mistakes possible.
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Groby & Field Head Spotlight • MAY 2016 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk
Ascot Ladies Day for LOROS at Leicester Racecourse Date: Thursday 16th June 2016 Women, grab your heels and gents, dust of your suits because Ascot Ladies Day is returning to Leicester Racecourse thanks to LOROS Hospice. The event offers ladies and gentlemen the chance to experience the extravagance and atmosphere of the world-renowned Ascot Ladies Day right on their doorstep. Marking the third day of the famous annual meet, on Thursday 16th June, giant plasma screens will broadcast all of the action live from Ascot directly into Leicester Racecourse where spectators will have the chance to wine, dine and have a flutter just as they would at the actual event. LOROS Events Lead, Laura Betts, said: “This event proved to be a real hit last year and we are delighted that our Charity of the Year partners, Leicester Racecourse is enabling us to host this event once again./We are anticipating that it will be a sell-out.” The day will encompass plenty of entertainment, including games and awards for “best dressed”, among others, a four course lunch and free access into the live race meet which takes place that evening. “Remember it’s not just ladies who are welcome to join us, we want to see lots of men there too,” added Laura. “This is such a fun event, so grab your friends and colleagues and come and enjoy a fantastic day out at the races. “And remember, our By Design Shop, in Market Street have got a selection of beautiful race day-ready outfits and hats available at bargain prices, so be sure to check them out.” LOROS hope that this fantastic fundraiser will raise in excess of £10,000, which could pay for 1,000 patients to be collected from their homes and brought to LOROS Day Therapy where they can take part in creative activities, access complimentary therapies and seek advice from specialist doctors and physiotherapists before returning home later that day. Leicester Racecourse director Rob Bracken, said: “The team at Leicester Racecourse are delighted to be working with LOROS once again. “As one of our charities of the year, we do as much as we can to support the Hospice and the work they do; and what better than holding a fundraising event right here at Leicester Racecourse.” Tickets for The Ascot Ladies Day Experience are on sale now from as little as £40 per person, when booking a table of 10. For more information or to book tickets please visit loros.co.uk/ascot or call LOROS fundraising on (0116) 231 8431/2.
Message from your MP: Ed Argar
THIS IS the first of what, I hope, will be regular contributions to the Spotlight as the MP covering Groby. As you may know, I have been active in working for some months with your County Councillor, Ozzy O’Shea, Parish Council Chairman Peter Batty, my colleague David Tredinnick MP, and local residents to get something done about speeding traffic on the A50 at Bradgate Hill. For too long traffic, often HGVs, has taken advantage of the speed limit changing from 40mph to 50mph for a short stretch of the hill to speed up, making the road more dangerous for drivers and local residents alike. Our campaign to get the County Council to make the whole of the hill 40mph, led by Cllr O’Shea, has made real progress, and we have persuaded the County Council to go out to consultation on Friday 13th May for one month on proposals to make the whole hill 40mph, and to look at whether some of the gaps in the central reservation should be closed off. I would encourage everyone who is keen to see 40mph on Bradgate Hill to go online on the County Council’s website when the consultation is launched and register their views. While there will be more to do, on
Groby Library is saved!
IT IS FITTING that on Saturday 23rd April the keys were handed over to the Groby Community Library Group, as it coincided with World Book Night. The library was open as normal from 10am till 1pm and then reopened at 4pm until 7pm to celebrate World Book Night. The Groby Community Library Group would like to thank everyone who came along to World Book Night and who helped to celebrate their first event as a Community Library. It proved to be a wonderful occasion with refreshments and homemade cake/biscuits for all to enjoy and crafts for the children to make and display. Free books, provided by the Reading Agency, were handed out to adults and the little ones didn’t miss out, there were BookStart bags/treasure boxes for them to take away too. Groby Community Library Group would like to thank the following local companies and groups for their continued support. Hyphen Marketing for producing the banner, Co-op Laundon Way for printing our community library leaflets and donating refreshments, the United Reformed Church for the use of tables and chairs for the event. Last but not least everyone in the community for their continued support and the library volunteers for helping to run the library. By working together Groby Library has been saved and Groby Community Library now looks forward to welcoming and serving everyone in the community for many years to come. Please pop along and see what is new. There is a toddler toy box, a book swap shelf, a quiet corner where you can spend a bit of time doing a jigsaw. Or be creative and feel relaxed with a colouring book for grown ups and there is children’s colouring too. Wriggly Readers continues every fortnight on a Thursday morning 10.30-11.00. There are exciting times ahead with the installation of a coffee shop and a disabled toilet with baby changing facilities to help Groby Community Library become the community hub in the heart of the village. Groby Community Library really is a place for everyone! enforcing speed limits and on longer-term solutions to the volumes of traffic passing the village on the A50, this is a real step forward and I believe has the potential to make a real difference to speeds and safety on Bradgate Hill. On a different topic, fast, reliable, broadband access remains a problem for a number of Groby residents and I have been taking the issue up with one of BT’s directors to see what can be done to solve the problem. More broadly, if you feel that I can ever be of assistance to you as your MP, or if you want to invite me to a community event, please do feel free to get in touch with me by emailing edward.argar.mp@parliament.uk or by writing to me at: Edward Argar MP, House of Commons, London, SW1A 0AA. I look forward to continuing to serve Groby, and the whole Charnwood constituency, as your voice in Parliament.
Edward Argar MP, Member of Parliament for Charnwood
I saw an ad for burial plots and I thought, that’s the last thing I need.
Groby & Field Head Spotlight • MAY 2016 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk
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Whenever my dog winks at me I wink back just in case it’s some sort of code I don’t know about.
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Groby & Field Head Spotlight • MAY 2016 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk
The coming European Football Championships THE 2016 European Football championships which will take place in France (10 June to 10 July) will have more British interest than usual with England, Northern Ireland and Wales having qualified – along with the Republic of Ireland. Spain is the defending champion. Before 2008. Spain had not won an international tournament since 1964 and this was to be the start of a sequence of dominating world football, winning the 2008 and 2012 European Championships and the 2010 World Cup. The 2008 Spain-Italy quarter-final was a really significant game. Marcos Senna who played in it recalls: “We really celebrated the victory over Italy in the quarter final as much as, if not more than, the final because Spain had this barrier or jinx of not getting past the quarter finals in big tournaments. And, of course, Italy were the reigning 2006 World Cup winners”. The game finished 0-0 with Spain winning 4-2 on penalties. Senna took and scored the third penalty for Spain. He recalls: “We had practised penalties the day before. But remember that on that day we had played 90 minutes plus 30 minutes extra time. I was exhausted and had cramp everywhere. I knew that would be one of the penalty-takers. I was calm and felt God’s Spirit coming on me and giving me peace and clarity and I was able to shoot well, score and do the business for Spain. It was all down to God”. Spain beat Germany in the 2008 final 1-0 with Fernando Torres scoring. Senna recalls: “It was a great day especially as all of Spain could share in the celebrations. From then on it was a time of great joy for all the players who were part of the team that won the trophy for Spain. Their lives changed because of being part of winning the Championship”. Senna referred to God’s help. His faith is an important part of his life: “If you are worried about anything I do not think that money is the answer. God has made me very happy and changed my life in every way. It is the best decision that anyone can make in their lives. The difference that Jesus made in my life is everything. Quite simply He makes all the difference. There is nothing I can do without Jesus in my life. Jesus is everything to me. And when I die I will go to be with Jesus in heaven, in the place He has prepared for us”.
Key games (with UK kick-off times) •
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Saturday 11 June Wales v Slovakia 5.00pm England v Russia 8.00pm Sunday 12 June Poland v Northern Ireland 5.00pm Monday 13 June Republic of Ireland v Sweden 5.00pm Thursday 16 June England v Wales 2.00pm Ukraine v Northern Ireland 5.00pm Saturday 18 June Republic of Ireland v Belgium 2.00pm Monday 20 June England v Slovakia 8.00pm Russia v Wales 8.00pm
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Tuesday 21 June Northern Ireland v Germany 5.00pm Wednesday 22 June Republic of Ireland v Italy 8.00pm Round of last 16 on 25-27 June, with 2 or 3 a day kicking off from 2.00pm to 8.00pm. All at different time so that you can watch all 8 if you have the stamina and nothing else to do! Quarter Finals 30 June to 3 July, one each day all at 8.00pm Semi-finals 6,7 July at 8.00pm Final 10 July 8.00pm
Affordable housing scheme approved in Hinckley A DERELICT former hosiery factory site in Hinckley will soon be redeveloped to create 68 affordable homes in the town centre. Westleigh Partnerships Ltd has been given permission by Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council’s Planning Committee (19 April) to build a mix of house types on the site of the former Richard Roberts factory in Southfield Road, on behalf of the Borough Council and the Nottingham Community Housing Association.
Blooming Groby! - Celebrating the Queen’s 90th birthday BRADGATE ROTARY are looking for the residents to get behind their campaign to turn Groby into a village of blooming flowers.
The campaign, backed by the Parish Council, is looking for the villagers to show how good their village gardens are with some help from the local Rotary. The Rotary Club will be selling planter kits, consisting of 9 plants with assorted red, white, and blue colours which will help celebrate the Queen’s 90th birthday, a pottery coloured oblongue moulded plastic planter and sufficient compost to fill the planter. All this at a cost of only £10. All profits from the sales will be donated to Rotary supported charities. To get one of the planter kits for £10 visit the Rotary stall situated on the frontage of the Stamford Arms from 10am to 4pm on Saturday 21st May. Bradgate Rotary President, Brian Rigby said, “I’m hoping families will purchase the planter kits and get children involved in what is a fun activity and will result in brightening up this brilliant village. At only £10 they represent great value for money and the profits will be going to charities supported by Rotary.”
A nice looking girl waved at me earlier today but there was no way I was swimming out that far to save her.
Groby & Field Head Spotlight • MAY 2016 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk
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Busy members
IT’S BEEN a rather quiet month, most unusual.
TWO OF our members have been busy this month.
Calke Abbey walk A NUMBER of us went to meet up with my Derbyshire friends for a walk around the Limeyards at Calke Abbey. It is a most interesting place, the remains of the lime pits are now overgrown but managed to preserve the workings making a really magical area. Now wild flowers grow all over, bluebells, of course, primroses and cowslips. It’s hard to imagine that the area employed quite a few workers and had a large complicated tramway, narrow train-like rails along which ponies pulled carts of the lime powder around all the Estate. The lime rock was put into deep pits and burned for three days, hence turning it into powder. I hope I have it correctly, but you know me. We passed by the deer park and were lucky enough to see most of the deer herd, usually we see only a few. It was a lovely walk, the downside was it rained. I think this must have been a first for these walks, normally we are quite lucky with the weather. It was a typical April day, rain then suddenly sun. After getting rid of our wet boots etc., off we went to one of our favourite watering holes - Staunton Harold - for lunch and the always welcome cuppa. We had a great morning regardless of the elements and considering the boggy walking, we had no casualties.
Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) CPR was the topic at this month’s meeting. One of our younger members Liesl is a trained CPR technician. She told us she attends events such as football matches, all places where crowds gather. Liesl has saved half a dozen victims from near death and is very inspiring.
Groby WI Members enjoying their rainy Calke Abbey Walk Here are a few tips from Liesl: • Always remember to keep calm! When dialling 999, make sure you have your address ready and any other important information about the patient, also stay on the line as the operator will help you and give you advice regarding CPR, child birth and choking. • Patients who still have a good airway and are slightly choking, DON’T slap them on the back. Instead encourage them to cough up the obstruction, if in any doubt call for help. • Where there is no sign of breathing – give chest compressions. Kneel down beside the casualty on the floor, level with their chest. Place the heel of one hand towards the end of their breastbone, in the centre of their chest. Place the heel of your other hand on top of
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the first hand and interlock your fingers, making sure you keep the fingers off the ribs. Lean over the casualty, with your arms straight, pressing down vertically on the breastbone, and press the chest down by 5-6cm (22½in). Release the pressure without removing your hands from their chest. Allow the chest to come back up fully – this is one compression. Repeat 30 times, at a rate of about twice a second. If they start breathing normally again, stop CPR and put them in the recovery position. Remember to always check for dangers when approaching a person, don’t become a patient yourself! Don’t be scared to try CPR if it’s needed as it can be a life saver. In other words, please excuse my very ignorant advice but don’t give up, keep trying.
Edna held a coffee morning on St. George’s Day for Help the Heroes and raised quite a bit of money. As usual the report on it was of lots of lovely cakes and good company. Kathleen, along with some of our members, did a walk around the Ratby Burroughs via the Ratby Library who now have a small café. After that it was homewards through the Martinshaw Wood which looks lovely at the moment with the bluebells. This walk was in aid of Canine Partners - Kathleen has puppies from them which she puppy walks until they reach adolescence and thereafter they are returned for training to help the disabled. She has had some lovely dogs and does a wonderful job with them. We are very lucky to have the likes of Liesl and her friend Sarah who acted as her patient. The younger members all say how much they enjoy our meetings so don’t be put off by thinking the WI is full of ‘oldies’, some of us are of course but there are plenty of younger ones joining the numerous institutes. Next month’s meeting is our Resolutions meeting where we choose one or two very relevant matters to go forward to our meeting. From there it/they will be debated and then, we will be pressing for matters to come to the notice of politicians, organisations etc who usually take notice of thousands of women backing the matter. After the debate - which I know will take place and will be quite lively - we shall have a social evening. I am not sure what this will be but you can count on it being as noisy as the debate. This will be at the Village Hall on Thursday 19th May at 7.30p.m all welcome.
Margaret Gamble
Don’t forget to send us your news! Email to: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk I just hired a private investigator to find out what I do all day.
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Groby & Field Head Spotlight • MAY 2016 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk
Groby Juniors Vixens Under-11s Fair Play Award Winners
CONGRATULATIONS to Groby Juniors Vixens u11s on their wonderful achievement. Our motto is to be strong whilst fair. Play to win , but play fair & most importantly enjoy it. The girls have gone from strength to strength in their first Season within the League. I am so proud of the girls achieving this award. I would like to say a huge thankyou to our Sponsor Harlow Timber. Manager & Coach Claire Kirkland is proud to say its been a pleasure to have started this team from scratch & to have seen the girls all develop into the team they are today. My aim was simple - to put a team into the League & what a team to have found. All the best for many Seasons to come. Never give up & stay strong.
The Archery Big Weekend Is Taking Place Near You Over 4 & 5 June 2016 OVER THE last four years, the ‘Big Weekend’ has successfully introduced thousands of people to the great sport of Archery. This year Kirby Muxloe Archery Club (KMAC) will be opening its doors and welcoming members of the public to come along and try archery. So, if you are a budding Robin Hood, Katniss Everdeen, Hawkeye or Merida this is your chance to give your bow hand a try at archery. Some of you may have been following the triumphs of Glenfield’s local archer Lizzie Warner, who won silver in her category at the Commonwealth Youth Games in 2015. Lizzie started out as a junior archer at KMAC and we are all extremely proud of her achievements. In addition to being good fun and sociable, archery has many physical and mental benefits. It will strengthen your upper body, improve co-ordination, balance and concentration. It will also improve your maths skills as you keep score! Archery is one of the few sports that is truly inclusive to everyone, as all ages and abilities/disabilities can participate. At KMAC the age range of our members is from 9 to 78 years young and, as we recognise that people shoot for pleasure, we cater for those for whom shooting is simply a weekly relaxation or family evening out, through to those who aspire to shoot competitively. The ‘Big Weekend’ will be Saturday 4 June and Sunday 5 June from 10.45hrs to 16.00hrs at Kirby Muxloe Sports and Village Club, Ratby Lane, Kirby Muxloe. Those of you who are age 9 and up will be able to have a go at archery, shooting at various targets, you may even win a prize! There will be a variety of other activities taking place on the day, so even those who do not fancy picking up a bow and arrow are more than welcome to come down and support the ‘Big Weekend’. If you require any further information please do not hesitate to contact the club secretary secretary@k-m-a-c.org
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Groby & Field Head Spotlight • MAY 2016 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk
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Summer of free concerts in Argents Mead
A NEW season of free concerts will take place in the bandstand in Argents Mead this summer, beginning later this month. It will see the return of some old favourites, such as Peter Crebbin’s Cool Swing Band and the award-winning acapella choir Tuxedo Junction, as well as performers new to the Mead this year.
There will be a few organised games for those who wish to join in. Including egg & spoon race, sack race and scavenger hunt. A small Prize will be awarded to the best decorated picnic site which reflects the Royal event.
www.glenfieldmillenniumgreen.org
charity No.1075162
Argents Mead will be transformed this year by the opening of the new leisure centre, giving a whole new feel to the bandstand area and park. Councillor Russell Roberts, Executive Member responsible for Culture & Leisure, said: “I look forward to seeing some varied musical styles in the Mead through the summer. Hinckley will be buzzing this year and a summer of Music in the Mead will add to the atmosphere”. All performances are from 1pm to 3pm with a short interval in the middle: • 28 May - Pieces of 8 (eight piece covers band with rhythm and brass) • 11 June – Tuxedo Junction (award-winning barbershop choir) • 25 June - The Bandicoots Blues Connection (blues) • 2 July - Covernote (10-piece covers band with brass section) • 16 July – Peter Crebbin and his Cool Swing Band (nine-piece jazz and swing) • 30 July – Beneath the Lights (alternative rock) • 13 August – Out of Gas (foot-tapping covers) • 27 August - Treacle Town (rhythm and blues) On 11 June Tuxedo Junction will give a special performance on Her Majesty the Queen’s 90th birthday. There will be a party atmosphere in the Mead, with Union Jack hand-waving flags. Why not bring a picnic and join the party?
Children and Youth weekly events
Every Saturday morning 9.30—12noon
For 6’s to 14’s on Mon evenings at 6.00pm or 7.45pm; for 15-18’s on Wed evenings at 7.30pm; for 15-18’s on Fri at 7.30pm. We meet at the United Reformed Church All of these activites, along with our work in schools, are provided by the two churches in Groby under the group name EXTEND.
Catch
Fair Cuppa:
fairtrade refreshments in fairly traded mugs! Every Thursday, 10.30— 12noon Pop in, meet friends and make new ones!
We will be collecting during Christian Aid Week next month. The website gives considerable information about Christian Aid’s policies and projects in communities of great need. There’s a lot we can do. Help people in poverty out of poverty www.christianaid.org.uk . For further information please see websites and church magazines St. Philip and St. James www.bradgateteam.org.uk Revd. Louise Corke 231 3090 United Reformed Church www.grobyurc.com Revd Sue McKenzie 232 1733 Youth Worker Ruth Cross 07759 087804 Children and Families Worker John Fryer 07540 957926
These mousetraps would probably work a lot better if I didn’t like cheese so much.
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Groby & Field Head Spotlight • MAY 2016 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk
Borough Councillors’ Monthly Report Additional Shops at Budgens
the Muga but did have a fully briefed substitute in place to insure Groby residents were represented.
ON TUESDAY 19th April at HBBC Planning Committee, the planning application for additional shops at the former Budgens store was granted.
Groby Library becomes Groby Community Library
Despite being featured three times in the Spotlight, once with a full page feature including a detailed drawing of the proposals, only eight letters of objection were made. One letter was sent in favour of the application effectively reducing the objection letters to seven. Whilst I argued that residents were against the proposals, unfortunately this was not backed up in written evidence from local residents. In the past I have seen this amount of official objections to a house extension! In conversations I have had with residents some were quite clearly against, some were welcoming the changes but the vast majority simply were not bothered either way! The three main arguments against were the mix of shops and duplication of businesses already in Groby, the smells and noise of the extraction from the ventilation, and potential litter and anti-social behaviour as a result. In my opinion all very valid concerns. The main argument for the application was a lack of infrastructure for the residents living on the Laundon Way, Lime Avenue estate. I am not a member of the Planning Committee but I did speak as ward member suggesting to the Committee that there was a mix of people against and in favour of the changes whilst suggesting amendments to the conditions that would lessen the impact and therefore make the proposals more acceptable to local residents if it were approved. These were supporting the removal of the north elevation window to the chip shop, setting the trading hours to an appropriate level given the positioning of the site, reducing the delivery hours, ensuring sufficient and suitable bins were provided and maintained, installing appropriate shutters and the provision of the service yard for employee parking. Taking these points in turn the trading hours for all the four units shall not be open to the public outside the following times: 08:00 and 22:00 Monday to Saturday and 10:00 and 21:00 on Sundays and Bank holidays. My reasoning for this was as the site is in a heavily populated residential area, 22:00 was late enough for the businesses
Martin Cartwright Call: 0116 287 4500 Mobile: 078 50 70 70 50 E-mail: hbbc@appliancehome. co.uk Write: Maverick House, 10 Pine Tree Avenue Groby, LE6 0EQ
to trade and 21:00 on Sundays and Bank Holidays. Originally deliveries were to be permitted between 08:00 and 22:00 without specifying any day. This was ridiculous as it meant that deliveries could take place on a Sunday whilst the shop was unable to open. I suggested this was amended to that there should be no deliveries outside the following times: 08:00 and 20:00 hours Monday to Sunday including Bank Holidays. My suggestion of this amendment was unanimously approved by the planning committee resulting in no deliveries before 08:00 and after 8pm. With regards noise and ventilation. I argued that cost of providing this should not be a barrier to installation of the most affective ventilation system to reduce the impact of smells from the development on the surrounding area. No development shall take place until a scheme for the ventilation of the premises which shall include: installation method and maintenance and management has been submitted to and agreed in writing with the Local Planning Authority. The approved scheme shall be implemented in accordance with the agreed details before the premises are first brought into use for the development hereby approved and maintained as agreed thereafter. The level of noise emitted from the extraction/ventilation system of the A5 unit (shown on the submitted plans as a fish and chip shop) hereby approved shall not exceed 30dB measured over any 10 minute period as measured at the external facade of the surrounding residential properties. It was also accepted that a sufficient amount of bins with a large capacity need to be provided and maintained so as to deal with the litter generated by the units especially the café and chip shop. Although shutters would be
Ted Hollick Call: 0116 287 5955 Mobile: 07962 373983 E-mail: ted.hollick@tesco.net Write: 7 Shaw Wood Close, Groby, LE6 0FY
provided these need to be in a way that allows the viewing of the shop when closed so as not to have steel shutters that would ultimately look more unsightly than the brick wall that is there now. Finally whilst the car park is not a school car park, by its location it is extensively used for this purpose. The impact of the new shops will produce more traffic resulting in fewer spaces for this use at school times. To reduce this I suggested that the original service yard be designated employee parking for all the shops employees resulting in more spaces being available during peak times to customers. Whilst this cannot be conditioned it has been suggested to the owners and hopefully they will see the merit in the suggestion and support it. This application has divided opinion in the village. I agree with the majority of comments that the mix of shops could have been much better and worry about the duplication of existing businesses but this is not a valid reason for refusal in planning terms. Throughout I have been seeking confirmation that the landowner actually has tenants lined up for the uses proposed but was unable to get an answer to this question. In the end market forces will prevail if the end users are as planned and the residents of Groby are unhappy with this then the lack of use will have its own impact outside of the planning process. In addressing local residents concerns whilst I was not on the Planning Committee numerous and comprehensive suggestions that I put forward were accepted by the Planning Committee. Cllr Hollick was not present as he had to attend another meeting at Groby Parish Council regarding
LEICESTERSHIRE County Council handed over the keys to Groby Community Library group on Saturday 23rd April. Ted and I would like to thank everyone who has offered encouragement and support to the project in many different ways including volunteering to help run the community library, and of course the financial help residents have given in the form of Parish Council funding with start up costs. Please extend the volunteers a friendly greeting next time you visit.
Abandoned Cars in Groby TWO CARS have been abandoned in Groby over recent weeks. One severely smashed up in the Stamford Arms car park has already been removed. The other left in a parking place which is a resident parking bay on Ratby Road has at my request had the 14 day removal notice attached to it. By the time this is published or very shortly after this should also have been removed.
Fly Tipping: Layby opposite Groby Community College SEVERAL incidents of fly tipping have occurred over recent weeks. The response from the Neighbourhood Wardens section of HBBC has been swift and very commendable for which Ted and I thank them. However, this is not without cost and blight on the landscape whilst the materials are removed. I have requested and been advised that additional signage will be provided; the covert CCTV operation will be stepped up to try and attempt to catch the offenders and prosecute them. If you see any suspicious activities please contact us immediately.
Free Swimming for 50+ THERE WILL be the opportunity for members of the public 50+ to access free lane swimming at 4 public sessions per week. These are varied daytime, evening and weekend sessions and include the following:-
Find that special person who’ll watch you stare at your phone for the rest of your life.
Groby & Field Head Spotlight • MAY 2016 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk Congratulations from Martin and Ted to Leicester City Premership champions, dreams can come true. Tuesdays Thursdays
14:30 – 15:50 15:00 – 15:50 20:00 – 21:00 Fridays 09:00 – 10:00 Sundays 07:00 – 09:00 Free Swimming for under 8’s All under 8’s will have access to free swimming when accompanied by one full paying adult. This applies to all public swimming sessions excluding Splash sessions. Free Swimming for disabled. All disabled users can access swimming for free at all public swimming sessions.
New Bridge over the M1 A NEW bridge across the M1 will soon take shape as the next phase of construction begins. Highways England, will install the bridge beams that will link Thorpe Astley to New Lubbesthorpe. The installation will take up to three
nights, across three weekends, and requires night time closures of the motorway between junction 21 and 22 The motorway will be closed in both directions on: • Saturday, 14th May, 8pm until Sunday 15th May at 10am • Saturday, 21st May, 8pm until Sunday 22nd May at 10am
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National Trust Leicester Association
Final residents of stately homes
We Are Here To Help You SHOULD YOU have any comments or problems you would like us to mention in our articles please get in touch. Please remember if we can ever be of service to you or your family please do not hesitate to contact us, our details are listed above. Kind regards
Martin Cartwright & Ted Hollick
Book Spot
5000-1: The Leicester City Story: How We Beat the Odds to Become Premier League Champions By Rob Tanner THE ESSENTIAL book on Leicester City FC’s incredible, victorious 2015-16 season, from the Leicester Mercury’s chief football writer Leicester City – a team facing relegation a year ago, priced at 5000-1 to finish top at the start of this season – won the 2015-16 Premier League in the greatest fairytale in football history. From the Leicester Mercury’s chief football writer Rob Tanner, and with unrivalled access to players, staff and fans, 5000-1: The Leicester City Story is Tanner’s diary of this astonishing season as it happened, recounting the growing sense of hope and disbelief as the Foxes close in on glory. The story begins with the explosive end of Nigel Pearson’s tenure as manager and the surprise appointment of Claudio Ranieri. From the loss of their talismanic midfielder Esteban Cambiasso to the 89th-minute winner against Norwich in February 2016, and the slaying of Tottenham and Manchester City with an unfancied team whose star man Riyad Mahrez cost less than Wayne Rooney earns in a month, it shouldn’t have been possible. With incredible insider access, Tanner’s book tells the full tale of the Premier League’s most remarkable story to date – the dream of anyone who has ever supported an underdog.
MANY PEOPLE know about the grand families that built our stately homes in previous centuries. However, often little is known about the final resident of these houses. The last resident at Hardwick Hall, near Chesterfield, was Duchess Evelyn Devonshire who died in 1960. She was born Lady Evelyn PettyFitzmaurice and married Victor, the 9th Duke of Devonshire. She loved the house but her husband hated it, but they still seemed to have a happy marriage. When the Duke died in 1938 Evelyn moved briefly to Edensor but then returned to Hardwick where she delighted in the house and its treasures and built up a tremendous amount of knowledge about the house and its contents. She lovingly repaired the tapestries and fully annotated Bess of Hardwick’s inventory of 1601. When Hardwick passed to the National Trust in 1959, via HM Treasury in lieu of Death Duties, the Dowager Duchess remained in a flat in the property until her death. Her son and grandson, the current Duke of Devonshire, both lived at Chatsworth. This year the middle-floor of the hall has been transformed to tell Evelyn’s story. It gives details of her family life and her sense of duty as a wife to her husband who became the Governor of Canada. There are also details of her work for the local community and her deep interest in the Hardwick collections. Her bedroom has been newly restored for the occasion. One of the highlights of the display is the coronation robe of letters which is connected to the story of Evelyn’s close friendship with Queen Mary. Also in June there will be a rose festival to celebrate Evelyn’s love of flowers. Hardwick Hall is open every Wednesday to Sunday from 11.00am to 5.00pm until 30th October and is signposted from junction 29 on the M1. For details of the Leicester Association and its Talks Service for other organisations please call 0116 2229133.
Alan Tyler, Publicity Officer
Available 26th May 2016 Amazon Price: £8.99.
My house has a panic room. It’s whatever room I’m in when I open the credit card bill.
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Groby & Field Head Spotlight • MAY 2016 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk
Introduction of charges for nonhousehold waste CHARGES FOR disposing of some DIY waste came into force on 4 May 2016. DIY enthusiasts across Leicestershire are being reminded of new waste charges that came into force this month. From Wednesday, May 4, anyone visiting the 14 recycling and household waste sites across the county will have to pay to dispose of some DIY waste. The charges are being introduced as part of a package of measures to help save Leicestershire County Council up to £670,000 per year from its waste budget. Joanna Guyll, Assistant Director for environment and waste, said: “We’re having to make difficult choices across the authority in order to make savings of £78 million over the next four years. “The charges we’re introducing are for non-household waste only. We recognise it is going to take some getting used to and have tried to make made the charges as simple as possible to help with this.” Example charges include: • Hardcore, rubble and soil - £3 for up to every 20 litres • Concrete slab/post -£3 each • Bathroom furniture (Bath, basin, toilet, shower tray, etc) -£3 per item or up to every 20 litres • Roof tiles, slates, ceramic wall and floor tiles - £3 for up to every 20 litres • Whole sheets or broken window glass - £3 per unit or up to every 20 litres • Plasterboard - £3 per sheet up to 1.8 x 0.9m, or every 20 litres • Asbestos - £10 per sheet up to 2.4 x 1.2m, or every 20 litres.
Beware of leptospirosis
IT’S NEARLY SUMMER, and many of us are out and about. Take care when touching anything wet outside, or when touching soil. Leptospirosis is a deadly disease which is spread through the urine of rats, and it can be caught by humans and unvaccinated dogs when the bacteria, found in soil or water, gets into the mouth, eyes or any small break in the skin. The wetter the summer, the greater the danger.
Payment can only be made on site, by credit or debit card. Cash and cheques will not be accepted. Changes to the sites’ opening hours have already been introduced. All sites are now open five days a week and have summer and winter opening hours. From April to September, the sites open from 9am until 7pm and from October to March, 9am to 4pm. All are open on Saturday, Sunday and Monday. Kibworth, Lount, Lutterworth, Melton, Mountsorrel, Shepshed and Whetstone are closed on Tuesdays and Wednesday. Barwell, Bottesford, Coalville, Loughborough, Market Harborough, Oadby and Somerby are closed on Thursday and Friday. More information on the changes is available online, or ring 0116 305 0001.
Life in the Circus
A COUPLE who worked at the circus wanted to adopt a child. Social workers had doubts about their suitability, but the couple produced photos of their large motor-home, which was equipped with a beautiful nursery. As for education, not only was there a nanny, but also a full-time tutor to teach the child all the usual subjects along with French, Mandarin and computer skills. Finally, the social workers were satisfied, and had only one last question. “What age child are you hoping to adopt?” “Oh, we don’t mind at all,” the couple assured them. “As long as he fits in the cannon.”
“Because it would be hilarious,” is probably not a good reason to elect someone to be president.
Groby & Field Head Spotlight • MAY 2016 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk
Dancing Divas get Eurovision Fever at Our Lady’s Convent School ON THE evening of 29th April the lights dimmed and the audience settled down to the start of an amazing evening showcase of dance and cheerleading prowess in the form of the OLCS Eurovision Dance Contest. At 7pm the curtain rose on students from Nursery up to Year 11 representing European countries as they battled it out in front of 11 judges and an audience of nearly 300 to win the coveted first place in the OLCS Eurovision Dance Contest. The competition was just as hotly contested as the traditional Eurovision Song Contest to be held in Stockholm later in May, but with a twist. This year the School’s Eurovision theme was ‘Divas’ and songs by everyone from Adele to Whitney Houston reverberated around the Hall and stage. This is the second year the School has hosted this event under the guidance of Mrs Clair Knowland, Head of PE. Through her links with the OGAE (Organisation Générale des Amateurs de l’Eurovision) she was able to secure the support of Mr Paul Marks-Jones as lead judge, who was until recently the OGAE President of Eurovision UK. With ten other judges, Mr Marks-Jones, had the unenviable task of allocating points according to Eurovision rules and there were several ‘douze points’ from the judges who in keeping with tradition spoke in their countries’ languages to say ‘Good Evening Europe’ before giving their points. In the end the winning country was Turkey with the Year 9 group called ‘Possessed’ representing the Diva Sia with her song Chandelier. Speaking after the event Mrs Knowland said, “I am delighted we were able to build on the success of last year’s event. This evening has been a huge success, the atmosphere has been electric and the supporters passionate. I have been delighted with how all the students have worked and how professional their performances have been. The judges had a very tough job deciding on a winner!”
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Book Spot
The Alone Alternative IT’S SAFE to say that breaking up with someone is never easy, whether you’re married or not. And if it is, then chances are you’re under no false illusions over the fact that separating is the best option. When we don’t feel the pangs of guilt, regret, disappointment and devastation then there’s no way on Earth we should have stuck around. For most of us, then, a painful split is an inevitable part of life and something that’s unavoidable unless you’re very lucky indeed. There are a million pieces of advice on the Internet about the best ways to cope and arm yourself with the necessary tools to move on yet, realistically speaking, very little information is available on the real process of getting over the loss. Take regular exercise, try not to hit the bottle too hard, eat well and occupy free time with friends, hobbies and work being obvious recommendations. It’s less easy to figure out how to prevent this trauma from affecting future relationships. Especially if you’re on the receiving end of a Dear John (whether spoken, texted or written by hand). The ability to carry on with your life and successfully re-engage with another partner is, unfortunately, one that very few of us are born with, hence the reason why it feels so hopeless when someone walks out. Like it or not, we have to actively choose not to give up on love, and that choice forms the crux of The Alone Alternative , a new work of fiction from acclaimed novelist Linda MacDonald, which is out to buy in paperback and e-book format now. Centred on two middle-aged protagonists, Edward and Marianne, to say that each has been damaged by experiences in the past would be an understatement. Both knew each other back in school and, after becoming estranged, manage to make contact again via the wonders of Twitter. Each has suffered a huge upheaval in their home lives as a result of things not working out, and therefore they are in similar positions when it comes to trying to figure out where to go from here. By the time we’re in our 50s, very few people haven’t become at least a little set in their ways, and after enduring heartache and watching the proverbial walls come crashing down around them, one decision must be made: is the risk of becoming involved with a new person worth it, or should they resign themselves to a life of romantic solitude? Poignant stuff to say the least. While The Alone Alternative forms the third and final chapter of MacDonald’s Lydia series, this is still the kind of text you can fully enjoy without having consumed the earlier instalments.
WANLIP SAILING CLUB
Open Event Saturday 11th June - 11am to 4pm
Would you like to try sailing. Come along to our Open Event. Please refer to our website for more details and directions. www.wanlipsc.co.uk
Think my wife is a little OCD since whenever I go out with the kids I need to come home with the exact same amount.
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Groby & Field Head Spotlight • MAY 2016 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk
5/3/2016
Word Search Puzzle
GIRL BANDS Wordsearch Forgot username or password?
Passcode/Cre
If you can spot the names for of 12 WELL-KNOWN GIRL BANDS in this issue’sFree Resources Solutions Districts Wordsearch puzzle, you could win yourself a meal and a drink. This month we are offering a
What We Offer
Who We Are
Teachers
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 POPULAR GIRL BANDS. These can run vertically, horizontally or diagonally (and backwards!). Send your entry to: STOP! IN THE NAME OF LOVE, Groby & Field Head J G A Y S X B Y B D F I W D P S T Spotlight, PO Box 8, Markfield, Leics. LE67 9ZT to arrive by Friday P S T T R L U A U W T G F D L S H 10th June 2016. Remember to include your name and address. The first all-correct entry drawn out of the Editor’s trilby will win the prize. M U U S O Q R O H H U Y N L C E E Good luck!
E L J G B M L I E H P W O S X L C Here are the twelve GIRL BANDS you have to find: F V Q X A A I R G A B D E W Q G R ATOMIC KITTEN • DESTINYS CHILD • ETERNAL U K B R S B O C G E T N N E E N Y GIRLS ALOUD • LITTLE MIX • SPICE GIRLS M F S L D N A J K A C N B N T A S C V R Z E K P B C I C I C H E B T SUGABABES • THE BANGLES • THE CRYSTALS K I M T R T V Y E Z T F P K R E A THE PUSSYCAT DOLLS • THE RONETTES • THE SUPREMES G E T K R Y S I Y S I T O S N H L S E G N T S C O F W G P E Z A T S Name: ................................................................................................. S Q I R U D F R M H C B R N L C V Address: ................................................................................................ U Y A P D E S T I N Y S C H I L D F N E S E M E R P U S E H T G Q S .................................................................Postcode: ............................. Last Issue’s Wordsearch Winner Y H L I T T L E M I X L F C V U D The winner of last issue’s Wordsearch competition was: T H M J D O G X J U I P T I W V X MRS B CARY of Stamford Drive, Groby R I Z A V Z A W K X U Q N T T F O Congratulations! Your prize will be with you soon. ATOMICKITTEN DESTINYSCHILD ETERNAL GIRLSALOUD LITTLEMIX SPICEGIRLS SUGABABES THEBANGLES THECRYSTALS THEPUSSYCATDOLLS THERONETTES THESUPREMES
Glenfield Millennium Green News THIRTY-FIVE young children and their families joined in the Easter Egg Hunt on the Millennium Green in spite of the rain, wind and cold. Unfortunately it was too cold for anyone to stay for long but thanks to everyone who took part. There has been warmer weather at Easter but on only one occasion have the Easter eggs started to melt. The next event on the Green will be our Annual Plant Sale. This takes Created by Puzzlemaker at DiscoveryEducation.com place on Saturday May 21st from 10.30am to 12.00 noon. We welcome donations of plants to sell. Please bring them to the Green on the morning of the Sale or phone 0116 299 1868 to arrange collection in advance of the day. We usually have a wide range of annual bedding plants as well as perennials and some vegetables. Come and buy what you need to finish your summer displays. Hopefully the weather will be warmer by then. If you use the Green regularly you will have seen the plans to add to the play equipment and to improve access for those with disabilities. We have submitted a grant application to Awards for All and are waiting to see if we have been successful. This work cannot be done without grant aid as we are a small Trust and have to raise money for maintenance etc by events on the Green or in local villages.
Christine Tordoff - Secretary
www.glenfieldmillenniumgreen.org (Charity number 1075162)
If you enjoyed reading this issue of Groby Spotlight, please pass it on to a friend or relative after you’ve finished with it. Thanks! Why don’t we wait for life on other planets to find us? Why do we have to do all the work?
Groby & Field Head Spotlight • MAY 2016 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk
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Visit Leicestershire’s largest antiques retailer
GREAT NEWS for antiques enthusiasts ... Leicester Antiques Warehouse is now open on Welford Road in Leicester, opposite The Donkey public house. With over 40 traders under one roof, the stock of antiques and collectables is constantly changing, so you’re sure to find something to suit your taste.
The warehouse opened earlier this year and has been popular with traders and customers from day one. Why not pop down and have a browse ... it’s a fascinating place packed with interesting items. Find Leicester Antiques Warehouse at 186 Welford Road, Leicester LE2 6BD. Telephone Mike on 07855 407421 or Jane on 07765 002929 or visit the website at www.leicesterantiqueswarehouse.com Opening Hours: Monday: closed / Tues-Fri: 10am – 5:30pm, Saturday: 10am – 5pm / Sunday: 11am – 4pm.
It’s Bluebell Time
Ted Hollick has sent us this charrming photo of local bluebells in bloom.
Visit a farm on Open Farm Sunday and discover the story behind our food.
A day for everyone to meet the people, who grow our food and care for our countryside, 5th June 2016 Where: Little Markfield Farm, Forest Road, Markfield, Leicester, LE67 9UN. Time: 10.30am to 5.00pm Contact: Brenda 01530 243252 or 07774047571
Activities: Come and see sheep being sheared, wool being spun, Cows, Sheep, Pigs and Chickens with their babies; feed the lambs! Cookery Demonstrations by 2 professional chefs, Hot dogs & Beef Burgers using farm produce, Bakanalia Border Morris Leicester, Beer, Greengrass Look-alike Meet Pen the Red-Tail Hawk, Fosse & Watling Land Rover Club Display, Modern & Vintage Farm Machinery, Over 30 Crafts & Food stalls, Mr Softee Ice Cream van, Sausage Making with the Sausage Master Alf, A Civil War Re-enactment and much much more!!! £1 entry fee per Adult Children Free We will be raising money for Gems Charity, Shuttlewood Clarke Foundation, Markfield Medical Centre & St Michaels and all Angels Church Markfield.
I accidentally took an extra step when I reached the top of the stairs and now I’m in a marching band.
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Visit us in branch or give us a call: 11 Ratby Road GROBY 0116 216 8477 harrisonmurray.co.uk | thenottingham.com
READ HEATH’S STORY ON OUR WEBSITE
*We will pay your interest free of UK income tax. Your tax treatment will depend on your individual circumstances and may be subject to change in the future. The tax treatment of ISAs may also change. AER stands for Annual Equivalent Rate. It shows what the interest rate would be if the interest was reinvested in the account each year. Interest rates are variable unless otherwise stated. Harrison Murray Limited, registered in England and Wales number 3190376. Registered Office: Nottingham House, 3 Fulforth Street, Nottingham, NG1 3DL. A wholly owned subsidiary of Nottingham Property Services Limited. Nottingham Building Society is a member of the Building Societies Association, the Council of Mortgage Lenders and Financial Ombudsman Service and is a participant in the Financial Services Compensation Scheme. Nottingham Building Society is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority. Registered under number 200785. Nottingham Building Society, Nottingham House, 3 Fulforth Street, Nottingham, NG1 3DL. REF1109E/0416