May 2017 groby spotlight online by Michael Wilkinson

Message from Brookvale Groby Learning Campus

Polite notice to Dog Walkers

HERE AT Brookvale Groby Learning Campus we love our dogs just as much as you do, but for the health and safety of our students we are making a change that will affect local dog walkers. In order to improve security and safety for students we will be installing a fence at the back of our campus soon after the May Bank Holiday, the effect of which will be to secure our site and to block the pedestrian access from Woodbank Road. It is commonly believed that there is a public right of way through our campus, but in fact that is not the case. There is a public footpath at the back of the campus, and the new security fence will not affect the footpath. As part of the increased security and health measures on campus, we ask that local dog walkers please use alternative routes. We are very regularly used as a cut through to the woods, and unfortunately the resulting dog mess is a health threat to students and staff. Some dog walkers even try to use our campus as a cut through during the school day. The safety and health of students is our first priority, and we ask the local community to support us with this change. Thank you and good wishes to every member of the local community, including our four legged friends.

Katie Rush, Headteacher, Brookvale High School and Robert Coles, Headteacher, Groby Community College INSIDE THIS ISSUE

Affordable Housing Update ............................... 5 County Councillor’s Report ................................. 10 Groby Community Library News ......................... 22 TED Talks - Ideas Worth Spreading .................... 25 Borough Councillors’ Report ................ .............. 26 PLUS LOTS MORE!

Carl Hits The Target In Branch Easter Raffle GREAT BRITAIN international archer Lizzie Warner arrowed in to The Nottingham’s Groby branch and presented a huge chocolate bouquet to the winner of an Easter raffle.

Seventeen-yearold Lizzie, who hails from Glenfield, hit the bullseye when she handed the sweet treat over to customer Carl Lawrence. The branch building society and estate agency teams sold tickets for £1 each over the seasonal period and raised just over £170, which will be split between LeicestershireCarl receives his Easter bouquet from archer Lizzie. based homelessness charity One Roof and SportsAid, which supports young aspiring athletes.

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Are you an early bird? • • • •

Don’t mind an early start if it comes with breakfast? Got an hour or two to spare each week? Do you like to be sociable and make new friends? Could you support local charities and the community?

If so, we would love you to join our modern style Rotary Club. We welcome all ages- male and female. Please come and see us at our special “new members” meeting on the 5th and 19th July at 7.30 – 8.30 am at The Stamford Arms, Groby – Free breakfast included! Or come along to any of our breakfast meetings on the 1st and 3rd Wednesdays of the month to find out more about who we are and what we do. If you want to know some more before you do please contact jblack1954@hotmail.co.uk or ring 07876 561954. We would love to meet you.

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Groby & Field Head Spotlight • MID-MAY 2017 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk

Violet and Andy meet Her Majesty The Queen ON MAUNDY Thursday in a tradition going back many hundreds of years, men and women are selected, in recognition of their services to both their church and local communities, to receive Maundy Money from their Sovereign. This year was the turn of Leicester Cathedral and 91 ladies and 91 men were selected to attend the Cathedral to receive their Maundy personally from the hands of Her Majesty The Queen. This is the one occasion when the Queen goes to the recipient of the award, rather than them to her. The number of recipients and the face value of the coins is determined by the age of the Monarch. Violet Atkins and Andy Cereseto (pictured above) were chosen from the congregation of St Philip and St James Church Groby and attended the Cathedral, joining both the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh in the Maundy Thursday service, before both being presented with the two purses - one red and one white containing specially minted and symbolic coins. Violet was accompanied by her sister Frances and Andy by his step-daughter Liz, who all enjoyed this wonderful and special day, steeped as it is in history, which I am sure will be remembered by them all.

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Groby & Field Head Spotlight • MID-MAY 2017 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk

Groby Cat (& Hedgehog) News ...from Lindy

W E L C O M E

O F F E R

I HAVEN’T seen a hedgehog for several years until David brought one home from the pub last week. He had been to see Leeds Rhinos being beaten again and was considerably cheered to encounter a baby tiggywinkle toddling down the close. I fetched David’s biking gauntlets and he carried little Reggie through to the back garden. We fed him cat food and left him to explore. Our garden is a paradise for hedgehogs – not a scrap of bare earth to be seen, lots of groundcover and gaps in fence in both top corners to allow for exploration. We have seen foxes passing through and one memorable summer before we were invaded by cats we were visited daily by a little brown rabbit. One noticeable absentee from the garden at present is our widowed pigeon Plip. We can see his favourite branch on the silver birch from our bedroom window and we have spotted one or two prospective mates join him briefly but the branch has been deserted for the last few days. My theory is that it was not Plip at all, but his wife Plop who survived and that she has mated and nested. We will only know for sure if pigeon fledglings appear on the lawn. Or lunch, as the cats call them. Peter, our new kitten, is growing bigger and bolder by the day. He has the voracious appetite of most adolescent males. Olaf, coming up to his third birthday, is depressed. Having driven his sister away he was enjoying being an only cat. He reminds me poignantly of my eldest son when I presented him with a little brother. I don’t think he and Peter will ever been friends but as long as there is an endless supply of chicken and cuddles we can avoid outright warfare. We may need a bigger bed if Peter grows into his ears and feet.

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Groby & Field Head Spotlight • MID-MAY 2017 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk

SO FAR THIS year it has been a royal season for Leicestershire with visits from Prince Harry in March followed by Her Majesty The Queen in April.

The Big Sleep Struggle – Every New Parent’s Biggest Battle

It must have been wonderful to have been present at the Royal Maundy service in Leicester Cathedral but for those of you who weren’t lucky enough to be there, why not come and be royally entertained by your community choir, Groby Sings, on Saturday 1st July at 7.30pm or Sunday 2nd July at 3.00pm at Groby Community College. Groby Sings Rock & Royal is the very apt theme for our latest performances where we will be Getting to Know You as well as making sure you are All Shook Up with plenty of exercise for the hands and arms in We Will Rock You! You might now have guessed that our songs this summer are taken from The King and I, Elvis and Queen. Tickets will be on sale shortly and yet again we have managed to keep the cost down to only £5 per ticket, fantastic value for such first class entertainment. Tickets will go on sale to choir members from 22nd May so if you know someone in the choir, get your order into them as soon as possible. Remaining tickets will be on general sale from 6th June. Selling points have yet to be confirmed but please keep checking our posters around the area for further information or look at the website www. grobysings.org. Finally, it is not too late to come along and join the singing and laughter at our rehearsals, even if you aren’t able to perform in July. We get together at The Groby Club on Mondays - 1.15-3.00pm or 8.00–9.30pm for the adult choir and 3.40–4.40pm for the children’s choir (age 7 and above). Our choir leader, Helen Hayes (0786 796 3328) will be very happy to give you more information.

Research from The Baby Show with MadeForMums, which returns to the Birmingham NEC from Friday 19th to Sunday 21st May, has revealed that sleep deprivation is the worst thing about having a baby. Three quarters of new parents say they get as little as four hours sleep a night in the first six months of their baby’s life while more than one in five (21%) are woken up seven to 10 times a night on average in the first six months. Chireal Shallow, author of The Gentle Sleep Solution and speaker at The Baby Show says: “Sleep deprivation is so common amongst new parents and you can’t underestimate the impact this can have on your day-to-day life. Routines are important in establishing good sleep, but don’t compare your baby to others. It’s important to remember that every baby is different and you’ll be able to find a routine that suits you. Alleviate the pressure by finding out what works for your family. Researching the options out there and talking to your friends, family and health visitor are crucial.” To give you a helping hand, innovators in the baby industry have seen the need and responded. This month, The Baby Show, with MadeForMums, will play host to a plethora of sleep products and aids to help the UK’s new mum and dads – and their babies - achieve a great night’s sleep.

WHILE BECOMING a new parent is one of the most exciting times in our lives, the biggest issue that almost all new parents face is lack of sleep.

Never resist a mad impulse to do something nice for me.

Groby & Field Head Spotlight • MID-MAY 2017 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk

New twist in the Affordable Housing controversy

Remarrying later in life

DOES SPENDING most, or even all, of your retirement on your own appeal to you?

Norman Griffiths learns how the commuted sum will be spent LAST MONTH the Spotlight reported that members of Groby Parish Council have been dismayed by the response of Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council (HBBC) to their Freedom of Information request relating to failure to secure the building of 11 affordable homes at Jelson’s Brant housing development. The reply was described by members as a disgrace, and a “disgusting, arrogant and dismissive reply.” The housebuilder was required under a ‘Section 106’ agreement to build up to eleven new affordable homes on their Brant site in Groby, but these will not now become available as it says it has been frustrated in its search to find a housing association with the cash to buy them. Instead the developer has paid a commuted sum in lieu which, if affordable homes were bought on the open market, would pay for 2 at current house prices in Groby. A formula is used to arrive at the amount it would be reasonable for the developer to pay as a commuted sum. “It is fair to say that a commuted sum will not fund the same number of affordable homes as on site provision, which is why, where possible, the Council’s first preference is always for on site provision of affordable housing,” a spokesperson for the Borough Council explained. “Since the use of the formula will give a different value on a site by site basis, the Council asks the developer to provide evidence of how the commuted sum figure is achieved, and has the developer’s calculation externally validated in much the same way as a viability assessment is carried out. This was the

“The Brant commuted sum will allow the Martinshaw Lane scheme to come forward. “There are very few other sites in or around Groby where this money could be spent so effectively.” HBBC Spokesperson

case with the Brant Inn site and specialist advice was sought to determine the level of commuted sum that would be appropriate. It was on this basis that a sum was negotiated.” The Parish Council would like to know just how the sum was arrived at, but the spokesperson added that the financial information provided by the developer is commercially sensitive so cannot be disclosed by the Council. The Borough Council’s Supplementary Planning Document adopted in 2011 explains that the use of commuted sums should initially target the use of the sum to the local area of the development (within three miles). The spokesperson confirmed that the contribution will now be put towards the Council’s development of nine bungalows on land at Martinshaw Lane, Groby.

Martinshaw Lane development On 29th June 2016 the Borough Council Executive approved a local lettings policy for the Martinshaw Lane development and applicants with a connection to Groby will be given priority for 100% of new build properties and 50% of re-let properties, subject to a review after one year. Housing Register figures as at 1 April 2016 illustrated the demand for affordable homes locally with 56 applicants stating they had a local connection to Groby. Of these applicants 17 are over 60 and would qualify for properties designated for older people. The Martinshaw Lane development has been on the table for years, but the Borough Council says that without this money, the project was now at risk of not being delivered. “Money for the Martinshaw Lane scheme was originally intended to be drawn from a government grant via the Homes and Communities Agency under the Affordable Homes Programme,” explained the Borough Council spokesperson. “Unfortunately last year the eligibility criteria changed so the grant was no longer available and we had to consider other funding options so that the project could still be delivered. “We looked at funding from the County Council but they were oversubscribed with projects and Martinshaw Lane could not be funded this way. The Brant commuted sum will allow the Martinshaw Lane scheme to come forward. There are very few other sites in or around Groby where this money could be spent so effectively.” The Parish Council has not yet had the opportunity to discuss this latest development.

If not, then join the queue: more and more women are remarrying later in life in search of companionship. They don’t fancy spending up to 30 years on their own. No wonder, then, that the marriage rate for over-65s increased by 56 per cent among women and 41 per cent among men between 2009 and 2014, according to the Office of National Statistics. A woman aged 65 can now expect to live for 21.5 years more.

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Groby & Field Head Spotlight • MID-MAY 2017 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk

“We didn’t think that this would work” Norman Griffiths learns about the success of Groby Tasters THE SATURDAY morning Groby Tasters sessions at Groby United Reformed Church continue to go from strength to strength. Villagers love not only the informal environment and children’s activities, but also the opportunity to chat over coffee. It’s also a great opportunity to indulge in some delicious cakes and succumb to the aroma of freshly cooked bacon rolls. Last year a video was made for an international conference about the philosophy of outreach to the community behind the weekly sessions and this can now be viewed online on www. grobyonline.tk or You Tube. Originally launched for a short trial period it soon became clear that this initiative was something that had the hallmarks of a successful project. “A couple of people had the bright idea that we should meet one of the needs that we had identified in the community for a place to come and be together, to share good coffee and conversation,” explained Minister Sue McKenzie in the video. “Somewhere perhaps for kids to come on a wet Saturday morning or when all the other groups are closed during the summer. We’d considered possibly using other premises but in the end we agreed that we had good premises and that we would hold this new style Saturday morning cafe arrangement in our own church building. That seemed the easiest option but we never expected it would become something that would roll on week after week.” Groby Tasters has become a meeting place where residents share their good news and their bad news with their friends, confident that if they need support someone is there to help them.

“What’s happening on a Saturday morning is that people are coming along and they are not just being pastored by volunteers, they are pastoring each other and meeting one another outside of this particular group, so they are forming a community themselves,” explained Team Member Kevan Hall.

Large group of volunteers All such activities have to face the dilemma of whether or not there will be enough volunteers. It actually takes 10 or 11 people every Saturday to do this,” he added. “Some of us thought we would run out of volunteers very quickly but we’ve ended up with a large group of volunteers and they are really keen to come along because they enjoy what’s going on, they’re being Christians openly in an environment that nurtures them and cares for them as much as we nurture and care for the people who come along.” What starts as an introduction to the church on a Saturday morning often becomes in an interest in other activities. “We have a number of men who come along on Saturday morning as well as women and children, but

interestingly we have a regular film evening, for instance, where it was just people from the church. We now have more people from outside the church as opposed to those who are inside the church and that’s specifically people who have been along to Love Groby.”

The advice? Just do something Kevan encourages others to use the Groby Tasters formula or think out of the box about something completely different that might work for them. “Anybody could do

this. I would encourage anybody in any church, no matter their age, no matter what background they have, no matter how small their group is, just do something. If it doesn’t work then try something else. We didn’t think that this would work, this was the last thing we thought would work, we had other initiatives that we thought would work but they didn’t.”

Watch the full video on www.grobyonline.tk. It will give you something extra to talk about at your next visit to Groby Tasters.

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Groby & Field Head Spotlight • MID-MAY 2017 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk

National Trust Leicester Association News

Eyam Hall lease to be surrendered EYAM HALL near Bakewell in Derbyshire is one of the very few leasehold properties owned by the National Trust. However, it has recently been announced that the Trust will surrender the lease at the end of this year and the Hall will then no longer open as a National Trust property. The village of Eyam is best known as the “plague village” as it quarantined itself from the outside world in the late 1660’s while the plague raged in the village for two years. Eyam Hall was completed in 1672, a few years after the village opened itself up again to normal life. It was built for John Wright, “Gentleman”, and has been owned continuously by 11 generations of the Wright family up to the present day. The house is built of local millstone grit and there are seven main rooms open to the public including the Tapestry Room, the Dining Room, the Library and the Kitchen. All of the rooms contain original features and the main staircase is also original. The house is fully furnished with furniture ranging from the time of its construction up to the late 19th century. The garden is also open to the public and there is the usual tea room and shop. Eyam Hall is open every Wednesday to Sunday, 10.30 to 4.30pm, until 29th October. Whilst visiting the Hall it is also worthwhile taking a walk around the historic village and to visit the excellent Plague Museum just up the road from the property. For details of the Leicester Association and its Talks Service for other organisations please call 0116 2229133.

Alan Tyler, Publicity Officer

Do you tell fibs to your children? IF YOU are a parent, chances are that there was a moment when you slipped the batteries out of your child’s most screeching toy, or even quietly dispatched it to the charity shop.

A recent survey has found that ‘losing’ or sabotaging a toy, and then claiming it was broken are solutions which many parents have turned to in desperation. Others include pretending that the phone is broken, or that the iPad has stopped working. Other parents are driven to pretending to phone the police when their children are doing something very naughty, or even telling them that the ice cream van plays music only when the ice cream is all gone. Then there are the jaded parents who explain their hangovers as ‘feeling poorly’ to their children, or assuring their offspring that Taylor Swift’s favourite pastime really, really is brushing her teeth. The survey was by NowTV.

What ruses have you employed to manage your offspring?

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Groby & Field Head Spotlight • MID-MAY 2017 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk

I’m so busy!

How do you boast to others about your importance?

IT USED to be done with yachts and exotic beaches, polo-playing or other luxurious lifestyles. Now, instead of impressing people with how indolent our lives are, we want to impress them with how constantly busy we are. Having no time to yourself seems to be the new way to succeed. According to recent research by Harvard University, urbanites are boasting about their hectic lives as a way to prove that they are in demand. As one American researcher put it: ‘Signalling busyness at work impacts perceptions of status in the eyes of others’…. We tend to think that people who skip leisure and work all the time are of higher standing.”

Redgate Open Day raised over £1,200 REDGATE Animal Sanctuary’s Open Day on 7th May was a great success. Jo Leadbetter says: “It was a fabulous and hugely enjoyable day. “We estimated about 170 people – mostly very local - visited over about four and half hours. “At one point in the morning there were 45 cars parked on the show field. Even the workmen came in from the A511 ! “Dozens of people visited the newly finished catteries and said they were the best they had ever seen in a rescue centre. “The money raised was an incredible £1,226.” “Thanks to everyone who supported the event.”

Letter

Red light cameras needed HAS THE law regarding traffic lights been changed without anyone telling me? I always thought that a red traffic light meant ‘Stop’, but it seems that for an increasing number of drivers, it means ‘Put your foot down and to hell with other road users.’ It’s only a matter of time before a serious collision is caused by these ‘red-light-runners.’ The obvious answer is to fit cameras to EVERY set of traffic lights. The initial cost would be high, but the revenue raised by fining these road hogs would be significant. And gradually, the roads would become safer. A win-win solution.

Name & Address Supplied

Grab a bargain REGISTERED charity the Shuttlewood Clarke Foundation is pleased to be hosting three fundraising car boot sales in 2017! The events will take place on Tuesday 27th June, 25th July, 29th August from 10.00am – 2.00pm at Ulverscroft Grange, Whitwick Road, Ulverscroft, Leicestershire, LE67 9QB The Shuttlewood Clarke Foundation provides support care and friendship to the elderly and adults with disabilities through a variety of different services. Helen Baxter Activities Coordinator at the Shuttlewood Clarke Foundation said “we would love for you to join us for our fundraising car boot sales at Ulverscroft Grange! The ideal opportunity to grab a bargain or clear out your pre-loved items!” She added “your support at our fundraising events in much appreciated and we hope that you will enjoy browsing the sale field whilst benefitting the Foundation. The tearooms will be serving delicious light refreshments and the fabulous model railway will be open for viewing, join us if you can!’ Entry to this event is £5.00 per car and £7.00 per van. Trailers admitted at £2.00 extra. Vehicle access will be from 8.30am onwards. Entrance to the Sale field 50 pence per person. Please be advised that management reserve the right to refuse entry and no new items or traders will be permitted. For more information please contact. Helen Baxter on 01530 244914 or email hello@shuttlewood-clarke.org or visit www.shuttlewood –clarke.org

We had a lot in common. I loved him and he loved him.

Groby & Field Head Spotlight • MID-MAY 2017 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk

That supermarket shopping trip might cost more than you expect... Norman Griffiths reports on excess parking charges

UCH HAS changed since 1961 when Tesco’s Leicester supermarket at Lee Circle entered the Guinness Book of Records as the largest such store in Europe. It’s now an area thought by many to be in need of regeneration, and this central store has been replaced by a multitude of outlets across the city. Groups such as Aldi and Lidl that hadn’t reached the UK in the sixties. Customers have benefited from price competition and the availability of car parking at most supermarkets, but one reader has a cautionary tale. The savings you make could be quickly wiped out if your shopping trip takes longer than you expected. “When a brown envelope dropped through the letterbox I thought perhaps I had inadvertently exceeded a speeding limit or wandered into a bus lane,” he explained. “I was really surprised when I opened it to find it was a Parking Charge Notice for £70 relating to a visit to an Aldi store. I thought it was a mistake as shoppers are allowed one and a half hours parking, but when I checked my receipt I found that I had used up most of my 90 minutes before queuing at the check out. By the time I had packed my shopping, gone back to the car and returned my trolley I had overstayed my welcome by 12 minutes. Timed photographs of my car entering and leaving the car park provided incontrovertible evidence of my misdemeanour.” The car park, which is managed for Aldi by Parking Eye, has no barriers and the reader thought it rather harsh that is seemed that someone who didn’t shop at Aldi

could park free of charge as long as they left within 90 minutes but a genuine Aldi customer who overstayed by 12 minutes could be charged the equivalent of £5.83 a minute, or a reduced charge of £3.33 a minute if paid promptly. “Surely this can’t be legal,” he wondered. But the short answer is that it is quite legal. Notices in the car park draw attention to both the 90 minute rule and the excess charge, so by parking you enter into a contract with the company.

Supreme Court decision The Court of Appeal dismissed a claim by Barry Beavis against Parking Eye that an £85 charge for breaching a two-hour limit in Chelmsford in April 2013 was “unfair and disproportionate”. Mr Beavis,was charged by Parking Eye after over-staying the free parking period at Riverside Retail Park by

nearly an hour. He appealed to the Supreme Court, but judges there also rejected his case. The company said its charges were “fair” and “legally enforceable”. A spokeswoman for Parking Eye said the ruling “provided much needed clarity to motorists and the parking industry as a whole and confirms our parking charges, which are approved by the British Parking Association, are fair and legally enforceable.” A joint written ruling from the Supreme Court said Parking Eye could not charge over-stayers whatever it liked but added that “there is no reason to suppose £85 is out of all proportion to its interests.” If you spend too long choosing your groceries or are enticed by those special offers on non-food items, or have to queue to get through the checkout, you could find a brown envelope on your doormat one day. The notice

What tops your list of things to fear? WHAT ‘key events’ worry you?

There are the obvious ones like dreading the death of a loved one, fear of serious illness, the angst of planning a wedding or even moving house. Then there are the modern concerns such as fearing identity theft, commuter delays and going on holiday. What about terror attacks? Well, in a recent study that scored only one point ahead of our fear of losing our smartphones and Brexit. The survey was done by the Physiological Society.

will explain how you can appeal against the charge and if you were a genuine customer and have a receipt you can also take the matter up directly with the store. Taking both routes simultaneously is probably the best option as in this case Aldi arranged for the charge to be cancelled within 24 hours of receiving a copy of the receipt. They don’t want to drive genuine customers away but do want to deter those who abuse the parking facility they have provided for their customers. If you pay with cash and don’t keep a copy of your receipt you may have difficulty is getting the charge cancelled. If you pay by card and lose the receipt your bank or credit card statement may be accepted as proof that you shopped at the store.

Other supermarkets Other supermarkets use similar car park management schemes. One reader who was visiting the optician at Beaumont Leys Shopping Centre was advised not to drive home after drops had been put in his eyes. The optician arranged for an extension to the time limit because of the extraordinary circumstances, so if there is a particular problem it is worth raising it with the staff on site. When you arrive in an unfamiliar car park look around for signs that tell you how long you can park, note the time you arrived, and make sure you have left the car park before an excess charge comes into effect. There may be a short ‘period of grace’ to give you time to leave the car park after your parking allowance ends but don’t push your luck. Watching the time is is a lot easier than having to deal with a parking charge notice once it is on your doormat.

When I was 10, my father told me never to talk to strangers. We haven’t spoken since.

Groby & Field Head Spotlight • MID-MAY 2017 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk

Coffee shops becoming the ‘new local’

WHEN YOU arrange to meet up with your friends, do you choose a pub or coffee shop? It seems more and more of us are choosing coffee shops, where we can escape the social pressures to drink alcohol, and the need to buy expensive rounds of drinks. If coffee shops continue to grow, then it is reckoned that there will be more than 32,000 coffee shops in the UK by 2025. They could even outnumber pubs by 2030. There are currently 50,000 pubs, but the number is in steady decline. The research was done by research firm Allegra Strategies.

Cabbage is cool

YOU MAY have nightmare memories of boiled cabbage at school dinners, but forget them. These days, cabbage is totally cool. It all has to do with the ‘clean eating’ craze that is sweeping the UK. Pickled cabbage can do no wrong, it seems. Sauerkraut and kimchi are appearing in all sorts of restaurants. Sales of cabbage at Sainsburys are up 39 per cent since Christmas, and sales of cider vinegar is up by 17 per cent. The British Brassica Association asserts that cabbage is very good for you – high in vitamin C, vitamin K, and it also has anti-carcinogenic properties.

County Councillor’s Report ... from Ozzy O’shea County Council Election 4th May 2017 I WOULD like to thank all the residents who have again put their faith in me at the County Council elections on May the 4th. I am truly honoured and proud to be able to continue representing you at the County Council. The result was very humbling. Thank You.

A50 Bradgate Hill Speed Reduction Scheme and Closure Of Gaps MOTORISTS please be aware that the speed reduction scheme came into force during April. The Speed on Bradgate Hill has been reduced to 40mph from the previous 50mph speed limit, which brings continuity to the speed limit from Field Head. Previously the speed limit went from 40mph to 50mph and then back to 40mph over a short distance. The gaps have also been closed for safety reasons.

Tourists Targeted By Fake Police Officers THERE HAS been a series of recent incidents reported to Action Fraud where a lone fraudster has approached victims whom they believe to be unfamiliar with the local area. They make an excuse to talk to the victims such as enquiring about directions or offering a recommendation for a good hotel. After this interaction, several other fraudsters will intervene purporting to be police officers in plain clothes and will sometimes present false identification as proof. The fake officers will then give a

reason to examine the victims’ wallet, purse or personal items. They may also examine the first fraudster’s items or try to tell victims that the first fraudster is suspicious in order to gain victim trust and appear more realistic in their guise. After all the fake police ‘checks’ are finished, victims have then reported being handed back their personal items only to later realise that a quantity of money or valuables were missing. How to protect yourself: • If an individual claims to be a police officer ask for their name and rank, force, and examine any identification presented; this is always good practice but especially important if they are not wearing a uniform. • The Police will never ask for your passwords or PIN details. Do not give this information to anyone. • The Police will never request that you withdraw/transfer any money to them or to a ‘safe’ account. If you have been affected by this, or any other fraud, report it to Action Fraud by visiting www. actionfraud.police.uk You can contact Action Fraud on the following telephone number 0300 123 2040

Beware of this DHL Scam email - do not click Download PLEASE BE aware of the below email scam I received this email this week. If you receive any similar email scams please delete. Please DO NOT click any link or download. Dear Valued Customer, On the 24th of April, 2017 A Package arrived our office for you through DHL WORLDWIDE. You are required to download your receipt and bring to our

Tel 0116 2394336 or 07808 585825

Email: ozzyoshea@hotmail.com office today to claim your parcel. Note: Password protected (login to download) Track your Package till it gets to your doorstep. click to download Image of DHL invoice displayed here. DHL Worldwide Delivery ©2017.

Thank you I WOULD like to thank residents and councillors for your continued support. Should you need my help or advice on any matter or issue, I pride myself on always making myself available to residents and councillors and getting straight back to you. Remember I am only a phone call or email away. Kind Regards

Ozzy O’shea

Working for you Tel 0116 2394336 or 07808585825 Email: ozzyoshea@hotmail.com

It only takes four men to wallpaper a house, but you have to slice them thinly.

Groby & Field Head Spotlight • MID-MAY 2017 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk

The new ‘great night out’? Doing a jigsaw at home

ADULT JIGSAWS have made a comeback, with sales soaring as a growing number of over50s discover ‘Jomo’ – the ‘joy of missing out’. It seems that more and more people are actively choosing to stay at home and relax, and even do jigsaws. Traditional watercolours and old-fashioned scenes are the most popular. Adult jigsaws are just one of a number of recent retail trends reflected in the latest Consumer Price Index. Other items include gin (after a 13-year absence) and soya milk (for the first time).

Groby Wine Circle GROBY WINE Circle is a very sociable group which usually meets on the third Monday of the month at Groby Community College. Speakers are invited to give talks on a variety of interesting topics after which there is a chance to catch up socially over a drink with a cheese and French bread. Throughout the year we organise fun nights out such as skittles, quiz nights, meals out and visits, etc. The March meeting was on Monday 20th, and our Guest Speaker was Mary Matts. Mary has given talks to the group on several occasions previously about the canals around the UK but this time it was about the “lost canals of Leicestershire” those that don’t exist anymore but where, amazingly, considerable evidence remains around the country side indicating where they were located and where they went. It is astounding how many canals were dug out over the 18th and 19th centuries to carry goods between towns before the railways got a grip. The April evening (24th) was a wonderful and nostalgic fun meeting. Bob Neil bought twenty items (“More Bits & Bobs”) from times gone by and we left to guess or work out what objects were. Simple in principle but some taxed the old grey matter somewhat. Objects ranged from an early ravioli maker, simple razor blade sharpener to a device used to blow pills down the throats of cattle. The answers were quite simple and obvious at the end but no-one got everything correct and some of the guesses were quite amusing. Meetings coming up: • Monday 15 May - The AGM followed by supper. • Monday 19 June – Walk round Water Mead Park followed by a pub meal. If you feel you would be interested in coming along or would like more information about our Wine Circle please contact either:

Dave Cooper (0116 2392844) or Robbie Grundy (0116 2393853).

Worrying works! 90% of the things I worry about never happen.

Groby & Field Head Spotlight • MID-MAY 2017 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk

Klondike Appeal Update The following is a joint statement by Cllr Martin Cartwright, Cllr Ted Hollick (Hinckley & Bosworth Borough Council) and Cllr Ozzy O’shea (Leicestershire County Council) IN ORDER to represent the best interests of Groby, together with Groby parish councillors Peter Batty, Pete Smith and the Clerk to the parish council we attended the Klondike planning appeal which was scheduled to be heard by Public Inquiry over 2 days on Tuesday 4 April and Wednesday 5 April 2017

Lesson in Lying A MINISTER told his congregation, “Next week I plan to preach about the sin of lying. To help you understand my sermon, I want you all to read Mark 17.” The following Sunday, as he prepared to deliver his sermon, the minister asked for a show of hands. He wanted to know how many had read Mark 17. Every hand went up. The minister smiled and said, “Mark has only 16 chapters. I will now proceed with my sermon on the sin of lying.”

It is fair to say that the public inquiry did not start in the manner we were expecting, as the barristers for both sides entered legal arguments as to whether the appeal should take place or not. This was based on a legal argument as to whether the application for the Appeal was for “operation” or “use”. It was argued by the council that the application was for a Certificate of Lawful Use, while the appellant’s barrister argued it was for a Certificate of Operation i.e. the existence of the structure. Eventually, it was agreed by all parties that errors had been made in the application form but that this should have been clarified by the council at the time of submission. The outcome was that the Borough, County and Parish Council believed we were attending an appeal whereby the appellant was claiming to have lived on the site in a dwelling house when in fact they were making the claim that the “dwelling house” (we strongly disagree that this structure could even remotely be described as a “dwelling house”), but had to accept that a structure of some sort had been in place for four years or more.

Protracted argument All your councillors representing our community were in agreement

and would vehemently dispute that the structure located on this part of the Klondike is a dwelling house but could not challenge that a structure of sorts had been there for this amount of time. Without going into too much detail the barristers for each side fought out this argument until lunchtime on the Tuesday, a very protracted argument with the appellant’s barrister conceding the point that mistakes had been made in the submission of his client’s planning application. Quoting this is not a model application on behalf of our clients The inspector came to the conclusion that whilst the two parties were looking at different reasons for the appeal she was equally confused and while seeking clarification was not minded to adjourn the appeal pointing to the fact that this would simply result in a delay and another appeal.

Dwelling house During the Tuesday afternoon the appeal continued with arguments pursued by Groby’s councillors of what was required to meet the definition of a “dwelling house”. All councillors representing Groby expressed strong concerns whether the structure on the site could reasonably match the criteria expected to meet the definition of a “dwelling house” and their belief that it could only be described as a structure and not legitimised on the basis of plans drawn up on the appellant’s behalf considerably after the original application had been submitted. The Planning Inspector listened intently to our arguments and was left with no doubt just how strongly Groby’s councillors felt about this argument but ultimately it will be in her gift to conclude what definition to include in her determination.

The public inquiry, scheduled for 2 days closed early later on in the afternoon of the first day ending with a site visit by the Planning Inspector, which Cllrs Cartwright, Hollick and O’shea attended along with Planning officers from the Borough Council. The site visit only confirmed what we had strongly argued earlier; that it was inconceivable that the structure on the site could even remotely be described as a “dwelling house” or in any way be fit for permanent human habitation in the 21st Century, being no more than a rough structure with serious issues not making it fit for occupation in our opinion. Of course they had a different view.

Inspector will decide We have no way of knowing what the Planning Inspector will decide in this case but will update you along with our overview of the outcome once the decision is published in a further joint statement. No matter what the outcome of this appeal, the issues surrounding this wholly unacceptable blot on the local landscape known as the Klondike are far from concluded we shall remain committed to working together to ensure that a long overdue positive solution to this long running controversial matter is achieved for our community. . On the day, we all tried hard to do the best we could for our community, against a rapidly changing situation as the day progressed, leaving us effectively with our arms tied behind our backs and unable to present our important and compelling evidence.

Kind regards Martin, Ted, & Ozzy

As a kid, I was made to walk the plank. We couldn’t afford a dog.

Groby & Field Head Spotlight • MID-MAY 2017 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk

Some simple tricks to help you eat less this summer

NEW Specialist Plant Fair: 24th June

DRINK more water – especially a glass about 20 minutes before each meal.

COME ALONG to Bosworth Battlefield for a great new Plant Hunters’ Fair featuring highly respected specialist nurseries with a great mix of plants and specialities to delight plant lovers of every level of experience.

At home, keep as much food as possible out of sight – ‘out of sight’ can really help with keeping food ‘out of mind’. Use smaller plates. Large plates encourage large portions. Split your portions up – cut the pizza or cake into six pieces, and put only one on your plate at a time. If possible, eat in front of a mirror – it helps you acknowledge how much you are eating. If you eat in front of your TV, beware: you will probably eat 15% more.

Now’s the time to pick out some perfect plants to keep the colour going right through the season and where better to find them than at this new event. The nurseries will have just the right plant for all types of garden. The plants are lovingly grown by small specialist nurseries and these enthusiastic plants people are on hand to give honest, straightforward advice on choosing and growing the right plants for your garden. The fair runs on Saturday 24th June from 10am-4pm. Plant fair entry is £1 and there is P&D parking. Entrance to the Country Park is FREE so at the same time why not enjoy a walk on the country park trail which invites you to discover the Battle of Bosworth whilst enjoying breath-taking views. Award winning exhibition optional at normal entry prices. Enjoy a delicious range of hot and cold food and refreshments in the beautiful historic Tithe Barn Café. For full details of nurseries attending see www.planthuntersfairs.co.uk. Bosworth Battlefield Heritage Centre & Country Park, Sutton Cheney, Nuneaton, Warwickshire CV13 0AD

Drug that is blighting our cities

THIS IS beyond sad: there is a drug called Spice that, though it was once a ‘legal high’, has killed hundreds of users, and has turned many a teenager “into a ‘zombie”. The Manchester Police are now warning that Spice is now so widespread that it has now become ‘a problem we cannot afford to get any worse… Those who take Spice are often left incapacitated or seriously ill … they can also become aggressive and a danger to themselves and others.’ Spice was reclassified as a class B drug last December. Although users believe it is similar to cannabis, in reality Spice can be up to 900 times more potent and far more addictive. Because the drug is synthetic, no two batches are the same, making it incredibly unpredictable. Tragically, users are as young as 15.

I accidentally went grocery shopping on an empty stomach, and am now the proud owner of Aisle 4.

Groby & Field Head Spotlight • MID-MAY 2017 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk

News from Elizabeth Woodville Primary School Music Extravaganza at Elizabeth Woodville THE BEGINNING OF a new term brings a new topic to all the classes at Elizabeth Woodville. This term our theme is ‘Don’t Forget Your Passport!’ The children enjoyed two activity-packed days based on music from around the world. Year 3 and 4 took a ‘Road trip to USA’ and learnt the notes, rhythms and lyrics to the famous Route 66 by Chuck Berry. They also had a great time learning the states of America in the form of a rap! Year 5 & 6 said “Hola Mexico” by learning to sing – in Spanish – La Cucaracha. They also made their own set of pan pipes to play along to a Justin Timberlake track – ‘Can’t stop the feeling.’ Key Stage One children had a fantastic day learning all about the Brazilian carnival. They had a fun time dancing and playing the Samba, learning all the rhythms within Samba music and playing them on lots of different musical instruments. Our Foundation stage children learnt a brilliant Samba routine and proved to be excellent dancers! At the end of each day the children gave amazing performances to the school and were ready to continue their journey around the world!

Caythorpe Court, Lincolnshire – Year 4 Residential OUR PUPILS together with the Year 4 class from Lady Jane Grey enjoyed an adventurous 3 days at PGL! The children demonstrated their teamwork 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!

TES Schools Awards 2017 ALL STAFF AT Elizabeth Woodville are delighted to announce that we have been shortlisted in the final 8 schools nationwide for the award of Digital innovation/ed tech school of the year 2017. Elizabeth Woodville will compete for this prestigious award alongside finalists which include technology specialist primary and secondary schools from across the country. The award recognises our school’s innovative approach to integrating technology throughout our curriculum to enhance pupils’ learning. Introducing iPads and CleverTouch interactive screens has been a transformational experience. Activities such as sharing information to pupil devices, using video clips while simultaneously notetaking and collaborating on-the-fly to create multi-media presentations are features of lessons in every classroom. Pupils in all junior classes are trained as Digital Leaders, supporting classes across the school, teaching new techniques such as video editing and programming alongside our staff. One example of many, is the recent field trip to the Apple Store, Leicester. Pupils used green screening to create videos to introduce a whole school curriculum theme. These skills are always shared, this time to our Foundation class to make videos to parents of their recent farm trip. Our partnerships with specialists enhances learning opportunities, such as bringing our geography curriculum to life through VR technology with Google Expeditions.

THUMBS UP for the Caythorpe Court, Year 4 Residential Trip Digital technology is truly at the heart of our curriculum providing our pupils with new skills and experiences every day. Members of our school team are looking forward to attending the awards evening in June at The Grosvenor House Hotel in London. Headteacher, Andrew Pridmore has also been invited to the House of Commons to discuss our school’s approach to technology. This is a huge honour for our school and we would like to thank all pupils, staff, governors and parents for their support.

Bosworth Football League Champions 2017 THE FOOTBALL league season ended dramatically as Elizabeth Woodville were able to win their remaining games and clinch the league title for the third successive year. Congratulations to the team and staff coaches!

Rice Bowl Cup Finalists 2017 ELIZABETH WOODVILLE are aiming to go one better than last year as they reached the final of the Leicestershire Rice Bowl Cup for the second successive year! It was an incredibly competitive game against Hugglescote Primary that ended 0-0 at full time. The sides could only be separated in the final minute of extra time as Finlay Stafford was able to turn the ball home from a corner, to clinch a famous victory! A truly heroic effort from the entire team, we are so proud of your achievements! The whole school is looking forward to representing Groby in the final in May, look out for upcoming match information on our website.

Y4 Tag Rugby Finalists WELL DONE to our amazingly talented tag rugby team who having qualified for the Hinckley and Bosworth Finals put on an amazing display, finishing 4th out of 8 schools in the competition, a superb achievement.

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I don’t mind taking a risk, as long as I know everything will turn out OK.

Groby & Field Head Spotlight • MID-MAY 2017 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk

Will Arriva drop the Stephenson Way service? Norman Griffiths looks again at some transport issues IT’S NEARLY 3 months since changes were made to the buses serving Groby. The major changes were the withdrawal of the 28 and 29X services and the re-routing of the 26 up Stephenson Way/Woodbank Road once again. But one reader wonders whether this diversion off Ratby Road will also get dropped. The route change means that the bus stop outside the allotments on Ratby Road is redundant, so the question put forward last month for readers to comment on was whether it could be re-allocated to parking to ease the pavement parking problems. Reader Peter Castell suggests that the current diversion of service 26 up Stephenson Way may not last. He points out that while it is true this stop is not currently used it should be remembered that the 26 has previously been removed from it’s present route to Ratby Road to improve punctuality. He adds that “As it rarely runs to time now it is reasonable to wonder if it will revert to Ratby Road once the dust has settled after the removal of the 28 route.” This is an interesting thought, but probably not one which those residents of the Stephenson Way and Woodbank Road areas who rely on the service would wish to countenance. Another reader, Carol York, says we have been in this situation before. Sometimes it is a bus stop, sometimes it isn’t. It was used for about a year by the short lived Starburst service to Coalville and later it came into use again when the route of the 26 bus to Coalville was changed. Now it is redundant again as the 26 is serving Stephenson Way and the other residential roads instead. Bearing in mind it has been redundant before Carol asks “Who knows when it might be needed again?” She believes it is still used each week by the Tesco bus and is concerned that “If parking is allowed it will be very difficult to stop it.” Carol adds that when cars

are parked on the opposite side of the road it makes the carriageway quite narrow and the bus stop is useful for cars to pull in and allow oncoming vehicles through.

July review for proposed route change Arriva has not yet reviewed the suggestion put forward by County Councillor O’Shea that the route of the 26 is changed to include the Glebe Road/Pymm Ley Lane area, bypassing the Post Office and the village centre. “It is too soon to review this just now, as I we do not believe we have sufficiently gathered enough information to accurately reflect the changes,” a spokesperson said. It will be included in the next wave of reviews scheduled for July.

Timetable errors A reader warns Sunday travellers to beware of the timetables on the Groby village centre stops on Leicester Road. He reported timetable errors to Arriva some months ago but no corrections were forthcoming, though they hope to have put them right by the time this edition of the Spotlight arrives. “The times on the bus stop opposite the Post Office are wrong,” he pointed out. “The departures given as at 50 past the hour are in fact at 55 past, so you will have an extra 5 minutes to wait. Not too serious. But watch out if you are going the other way, towards Coalville.” It seems that the time given outside The Stamford Arms as 12 minutes past the hour is incorrect. It should read 2 minutes past the hour, so the chances are you’ll miss your bus and have to wait nearly an hour for the next. “Is it unreasonable to ask that the posted times should be correct?” he asks. A spokesperson for Arriva said : “We have removed the information at the Stamford Arms and the Post Office as the information was indeed incorrect. These stops are the responsibility of the Local Authority who are still in the process of receiving updated information from their print supplier. We are supporting them

with the roadside updates as they come through and envisage this to be completed in the week commencing 8th May.” If you are affected and want to check the current timetable online, or see an interactive map showing whether your bus is on time and where it is, just Google grobylinx and click through.

Smaller buses After years of travelling to Leicester on a clearly oversized 28 bus, those who use the buses have been dismayed to see that, although there are fewer buses, the size of some buses has shrunk as well. On some services 12 passengers have boarded at the stop opposite the post office and they sometimes travel onwards with standing room only. This has been mentioned to Arriva.

Parking at Rugby station The Spotlight articles on how to save money on rail fares by travelling from Rugby rather than Leicester were very well received. The station is easily accessed in 30 minutes and there is plenty of station parking. After the articles were published parking charges were increased but are still only £4 a day at weekends, and £5 cheaper than Leicester station on weekdays. One reader reports advance online booking problems at Rugby if a stay extends from a weekday into the weekend. The charge rate is for a 24 hour period, but if you want to park on a Friday(£9) and collect your car more than 24 hours later on Saturday(£4), the system will tell you there are no

They told me I was gullible and I believed them.

spaces. Don’t believe it, just make a booking for each day. Virgin trains and NCP (who manage the bookings for them) are aware of the issue so hopefully it will be fixed in the near future. “We’re working with NCP to resolve this and we’re sorry for any inconvenience caused,” a spokesperson explained. “We have been experiencing a few reports of customers being unable to make a booking longer than a day each time,” a booking assistant added. “I would recommend making a booking for each day, then press for assistance at the exit barrier to speak to the advisor over the intercom when you are leaving. If you give them all of your reference numbers and explain that you have made multiple bookings for one stay, they will be able to raise the barrier for you once these have been confirmed.” If you find yourself in this position check your card statements after the event to ensure they do not charge for an ‘excess’ stay. If all this puts you off there is alternative parking on the opposite side of the road at £7 for 24 hours (http:// millroadparking.co.uk tel : 07855 751787.) There is no online booking facility. If you missed the article when it was published just google rail fares groby online. The savings are still there – a day return trip to London in mid July, leaving around 10am and London around 9pm, was available at the time of writing at £38 from Leicester and £12 from Rugby. That’s a saving of £52 for a couple.

Groby & Field Head Spotlight • MID-MAY 2017 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk

Groby Gardening Society News A FULL HOUSE of 60 garden society members greeted our speaker Jeff Bates who came and gave use a very interesting and knowledgeable talk on climbing plants. Jeff started his career in1970 gardening for the Queen at Windsor he then went on to College in Yorkshire. He then worked as a landscape designer in Wakefield, went on to teach Horticulture, and finally became a RHS Examiner of Horticulture. Climbing plants support themselves in many different ways some by tendrils, (suckers i.e., shoots that come from under the ground the plants roots)and others by adventitious roots (i.e., roots that appear from the stems of plants). These plants need a little help from us with supports i.e., trellis. One of the first rules when planting a climber is to plant at least 18 inches away from walls and fences to avoid drying out of the roots, and most climbers can be planted safely alongside your homes unless your house is on shrinkable clay. If you do decide on a Virginia Creeper to plant on

Clematis ‘Anna Louise’ - described as ‘show-stoppingly gorgeous’ your wall or house, plant your plant 18” - 2ft away from the wall, then lay the main part of the plant on the ground. The plant itself will naturally travel along the ground to

the wall and then start to self-cling. Do beware that these creepers grow rapidly and soon engulf a wall or house and regular cutting back is required Jeff showed us many beautiful Clematis and made it easy for us to remember the Group pruning codes:Group 1: Early flowering species such as Alpina good varieties include Rosy Pagoda, Constance, Pamela Jackway, and Macropetal which is a slightly bigger flower than the alpina, Montana’s come into the group 1 again a very vigorous variety Montana Elizabeth has the added bonus of being fragrant, Clematis Armandii is evergreen and again fragrant again very vigorous up to 100 metres per year. All of these varieties flower on the old wood so straight after flowering prune back if required, any further growth will then support next year’s flowers. Group 2: These are the large flowered hybrids, again flowering on old wood. Trim these varieties in late Jan /early Feb, after flowering take off the dead flowers and trim back to the next set of healthy buds. Jeff recommended Dr Ruppe, Nelly Mosa, Multi Blue, Elsa Spath, and Anna Louise which Jeff described as show stoppingly gorgeous. Speices varieties were Florida Sieboldii and Clematis Rosemoor. Group 3: These varieties flower from June onwards and are known as the Viticella’s. Cut these back to 4 inches above the ground in January/February

before the new growth starts. These varieties can be used to scramble amongst the bushes and other plants. Varieties include Minuet -very pretty rosy/white in colour (Also Princess Diana, and Prince Charles). Species type include Clematis Flammula which is very fragrant, Clematis Tangutica and Bill Mackensi orinentalis grown for their wonderful seed heads loved by birds to line their nests. And Clematis Tubulosa Cassandra which has a fragrance of vanilla Other climbers mentioned by Jeff included the Wisteria Sinensis - which flowers before the leaves come out and is fragrant. Wisteria Floribunda can have flowers over 2 foot in length and these need to be pruned in August back to 5 leaves, approx 6 inches off the main stem. Roses were another popular climber and advice from Jeff was to train the main stem sideways to allow the buds to break and to cut out one long stem every year to allow new growth to develop. Varieties recommended were Warm Welcome - gorgeous red leaves and beautiful red rose, Rosa Banksia Lutea - a beautiful yellow. Then to finish off, the queen of the summer garden, the Sweet Pea good for cutting and fragrance. Clematis are related to the Hellebore family and Ranunculasis (Buttercup family). After pruning feed with Blood,Fish,Bone as per manufacturer’s recommendation. Most breeders now are growing Clematis in pots with canes to accommodate the smaller modern gardens. Most clematis for sale in the supermarkets are home grown for the market in Lincolnshire.

Beverley Future Meetings • May 13th - Plant Sale @ Village Hall (10.15a.m.) • June 8th - Our evening trip (see notice above) • July 13th - A “Posy” evening • August 10th - “Bats” 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

If I had known my grandchildren would be so much fun, I would have had them first.

Groby & Field Head Spotlight • MID-MAY 2017 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk

Martinshaw Girls Football ON WEDNESDAY 26th April, Martinshaw Girls enjoyed a fantastic tournament at the Girls Football League in South Charnwood High School despite the bitter weather conditions (including hail!) and losing a player to injury (Evie).

A man’s (new) best friend

FORGET dogs: now men in Britain are turning to cats for comfort and cuddles.

In the opening game the girls played St Peters. It was a tough match which saw the opposition score two excellent goals, ending 2-0 to St Peters. During the second match, the girls faced a strong Stafford Leys side (the eventual league winners) who scored before half time. In the second half, despite a good strike from Erin, the opposition went ahead with another goal to end the match 2-1 to Stafford Leys. A disappointing start soon changed though for the girls. In the third game against Millfield Erin scored another 2 and Francesca scored 1 to win the game 3-0. Milly also made some fine saves in goal! A final game was played against Newbold to decide the overall 5/6th place which Martinshaw won convincingly 3-1. Erin sealed a hat-trick with a screamer into the bottom left hand corner! The girls (Erin, Francesca, Bella, Chloe, Milly, Kyra and Faith) worked well as a team to finish in 5th place out of 8 schools!

Something like a million men have acquired feline companions in the past couple of years alone. In all, there are reckoned to be eight million pet cats in the UK. Now 17 per cent of men (5.5 million) own a cat, which is an increase of 13 per cent on 2016. As Hugh, one cat lover explains: ‘We both love cuddles, jelly, and the outdoors! We get on really well. I’d definitely recommend it to other guys. My cat Nigel is fantastic.’ Sam, another cat lover, rescued three new-born kittens from a dustbin. He fed them milk from syringes, and placed a clock under their blanket to replicate their mother’s heartbeat. He has never regretted the hours he spent rearing them. “When a cat gives you attention, it is not false.” (As opposed to a woman?)

Owen Lawrence/Mrs Thurlow

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I knew I was going bald when it was taking longer and longer to wash my face.

Groby & Field Head Spotlight • MID-MAY 2017 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk

No internet? You can still check if you could cut your energy bills Norman Griffiths hears how to find out if you could save HOUSEHOLDERS are continually being told by the energy regulators that to get the best prices customers should be prepared to switch suppliers. They believe there are big annual savings to be made by those customers who have never switched. Some customers switch every year or two, often opting for fixed tariffs that lock in the saving. Unless, of course, prices go down. But they seem to go up more often than they go down. Even with a fixed term tariff some firms allow customers to leave without penalty, whist others may impose a fee of perhaps £30 per fuel. Switching may seem a bit daunting to those who have stayed with their supplier through thick and thin. Those with internet access have it easiest as there are companies that will compare prices for you using your annual consumption figures or annual charges and then organise the switch, if that’s what you decide to do. Switching supplier can take up to 21 days (plus a 14 day ‘cooling-off period’). In most cases, it’s believed to be around 17 days. If you change your mind you’ll have 14 days to cancel from the date you start a contract with a new supplier. This period is also referred to as a ‘cooling-off period’. After this there may be a cost to exit the contract depending on your agreement. You must contact your supplier to cancel any contract.

Energy auctions Although internet comparison sites help find cheaper tariffs they don’t always deliver the greatest savings following the growth in the popularity of energy auctions, or reverse auctions or collective switching schemes as they are also called. Energy auctions rely on the strength of customer numbers to try and get the best prices from suppliers and are based on the principle of an auction for which any household can sign up, with no obligation. The organiser gets as many customers to register an interest as they can, all the registrations are grouped anonymously and the energy suppliers submit their best deal. There is no obligation on customers to accept the offer. Examples of organisers of energy auctions are the Daily Telegraph and the Money Saving Expert website.

The Big Community Switch There is another organisation, the Big Community Switch, which is an independent collective energy switching scheme in which a large group of local authorities throughout Great Britain join forces. These councils collectively offer their residents the opportunity to group together and (hopefully) pay less for their energy. Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council participates in the Big Community Switch, and the good news is that if this interests you there is an auction about to take place. To participate you’ll have to register up to and including 22 May 2017. The auction will take place on 23rd May 2017 and the supplier who puts forward the cheapest tariff will get to offer you a new contract. From 5th June 2017 you will receive your personal offer and you can see how much money you could save. You then have until 11th July 2017 to decide whether to accept your personal offer or not. If you accept the offer the Big Community Switch will take care of the entire switching process. You can register online at https://bigcommunityswitch.ichoosr.com, but if you are interested in finding out if there is a cheaper tariff out there for you, and don’t use the internet, there are other ways to register. If you know somebody who uses the internet and is willing to help you can use their email address, though remember that your offer will be sent to their email address.

If you don’t use the internet you may prefer this next suggestion. You can also register by telephone through the Hinckley & Bosworth contact centre. The number is 01455 255988 and lines are open 9-5pm Monday to Thursday and 9-4:30pm on Friday. Whichever route you choose you will need look at your bills and have the following details to hand to complete your registration: • Your name, address and contact details. • The name of your current energy supplier(s) and the name of your current tariff plan(s). • Your current consumption in kWh or spend. You can find this on your energy bill or your annual energy statement.

18 million households could save Based on Ofgem’s “typical domestic consumption” household annual usage the Department of Energy estimated last year that of the 18m UK households who use gas and electricity, and do not have a pre-payment meter, well over half could save £200 a year or more by switching to the best deal on the market. Of these people they estimated that 9.5 million can save over £300. Over half of these 9.5 million pay by standard credit, so would need to move to direct debit to achieve the estimated savings.

Smart meters Readers will no doubt be aware of the multi million pound scheme to persuade customers to fit smart meters which continuously monitor your consumption and send readings automatically to your supplier. Switching rights are not affected if you have a smart meter, but your new supplier may not be able to offer you the same smart meter functionality as your old supplier. If this is the case, your new supplier has a responsibility to tell you about any potential loss of functionality, such as remote meter readings, before you complete your switch. Your new supplier can operate your meter as a traditional meter, taking manual meter reads, so you can still switch. Some believe that at the moment the meters are smarter than the administrative systems of the energy companies that provide them.

A final thought You may be able to save hundreds of pounds if you haven’t switched before. But if you have doubts or don’t feel completely confident about making the change, and don’t have anyone who can help and support you, think twice before you do it. Staying with your current supplier may cost you more and getting the best value for the money you spend may be important, but so is peace of mind.

We didn’t lose the game. We just ran out of time.

Groby & Field Head Spotlight • MID-MAY 2017 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk

Have a Go at Archery in Kirby Muxloe

Friends of Charnwood Forest

The Archery Big Weekend 17 & 18 June 2017

Living Wild in South America

LAST YEAR Kirby Muxloe Archery Club took part in ‘The Big Weekend’ for the first time. Following the success of that initial event, the club is repeating it this year and is welcoming members of the public to come along and ‘Have a Go’ at archery. If you’ve never shot an arrow but always wanted to try, now is your chance. In addition to being good fun and sociable, archery has many physical and mental benefits. It strengthens your upper body, improves co-ordination, balance and concentration and improves your maths skills as you keep score! Archery is one of the few sports that is inclusive to everyone, as all ages and abilities/disabilities can participate. Kirby members range from 9 to 80 years and we cater for those for whom shooting is a weekly relaxation or family evening out, through to those who aspire to shoot competitively. The Big Weekend will be on Saturday 17 June and Sunday 18 June from 12.00 hours to 15.00 hours at Kirby Muxloe Sports and Village Club, Ratby Lane, Kirby Muxloe, LE9 2AQ. Those of you aged 9 and up will be able to have a go at archery, shooting at various targets, you may even win a prize! If you require any further information please contact the club secretary: secretary@k-m-a-c.org

THERE WAS a full attendance of members and visitors at Woodhouse Eaves Village Hall on Monday April 24 to hear a fascinating talk by Michael and Paula Webster. This was the fourth or fifth talk they have given us over several years. Michael and Paula Webster have been life-long conservationists as well as wildlife photographers. They are now exploring the continent of South America , discovering why it is so rich in birds. The continent is home to the richest diversity of species, especially birds. We saw many beautiful photographs, from the Toucan to the Hooded Grebe. This talk covered their adventures in search of wildlife in the deserts of Chile, the Andean mountains, the Patagonian steppes and the jungles of Peru; the whole continent from Cape Horn to the Caribbean and from the Atlantic to the Pacific. They are meeting conservation organisations, universities and schools. We heard their wildlife stories and learned of their passion for protecting the unique biodiversity of South America. Have a look at their website www.living-wild.net Further information Peter Bertram 01162 100 572 Next meeting Herbert’s Meadow, Ulverscroft on June 7. Members onlyregister with Dick Howard.

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Groby & Field Head Spotlight • MID-MAY 2017 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk

Groby Surgery Patients Group

The summer is coming – be ready for the sun IN THE LAST month the wind has been cold and the sky overcast for much of the time. But there have been the first signs of something better with some beautifully sunny days. And as May moves into June hopefully there’ll be more sunshine to come. That’s good news but noone should underestimate the strength of the sun as we get into the summer months. Sunshine not only lifts the spirit it also helps us produce vitamin D when our skin is exposed to it. Vitamin D helps regulate the amount of calcium and phosphate in the body, nutrients needed to keep bones, teeth and muscles healthy. A lack of vitamin D can lead to bone deformities such as rickets in children, and bone pain caused by a condition called osteomalacia in adults. Vitamin D is found naturally in a small number of foods, including oily fish, red meat, liver and egg yolks. It’s also found in fortified foods like breakfast cereals and fat spreads. However, it’s difficult for us to get the recommended amount of vitamin D from food alone. Our main source of vitamin D is from the action of sunlight on our skin. From October until the end of March the sun isn’t strong enough in the UK to produce vitamin D. That means we have to rely on getting it just from the food we eat or by taking an inexpensive supplement. The new advice from Public Health England is that adults and children over the age of one should consider taking a daily supplement containing 10mcg of vitamin D, particularly during autumn and winter. People who have a higher risk of vitamin D deficiency are being advised to take a supplement all year round. These at-risk groups include people whose skin has little or no exposure to the sun, like those in care homes, or people who cover their skin when they are outside. People with dark skin, from African, African-Caribbean and South Asian backgrounds, may also not get enough vitamin D from sunlight in the summer. They should consider taking a supplement all year round as well. The dilemma we face is that when it comes to helping us produce vitamin D the sun is good for us. But too much sun can damage the skin and getting sunburnt should

be avoided as it is a risk factor for skin cancers. So we slap on the sun cream to protect our skin in the summer months. One study suggests that properly applied Sun Protection Factor (SPF) 15 sunscreen can reduce production of vitamin D in the skin by over 99% and so the frequency of use of sun cream should be borne in mind when considering whether or not to take a supplement all year round. The authors of one report warn that sunscreens should not be used as an excuse for excessive sun exposure. They also say that the protection obtained from sunscreen depends to a large extent on how it is used, and that people often apply it too thinly. They suggest that using a sunscreen with a high SPF of 30 is a way to counteract this. The following measures to reduce exposure to the damaging effects of sunshine should be taken: • limiting exposure to direct sunlight between 11am and 3pm in the UK in summer • seeking shade • wearing clothing that provides a high level of absorption of UV • wearing a hat that shades the face and neck The advice given is that sunscreen should be used in addition to, rather than instead of, these measures. Go to http://www.nhs.uk to read the articles that have been used to write this item. Just enter sunscreen or vitamin D into the search box to read lots more.

addressing. So, whatever the outcome of an inspection, the certainty is that there is more work to come implementing any recommendations that follow from a report.

March PPG meeting

regulator of health and social care in England, making sure health and social care services provide people with safe, effective, compassionate, high-quality care and encouraging care services to improve. The whole spectrum of care is covered, including local GP surgeries, and key questions that are asked about services they inspect include • are they safe, • effective, • caring, • responsive to people’s needs • and well-led. After reporting on nearly 7,000 inspections the CQC has found that most care is good – with over 300 practices, serving over 1 million patients, now rated Outstanding. Their experience has been that where practices fall short in some respect the inspection usually results in the practices working hard to make improvements. The inspections are thorough and, just like other audits such as OFSTED school inspections, the CQC will find areas that they feel are in need of improvement even in those practices they rate good or outstanding. At one Leicestershire surgery rated Good the Inspectors nevertheless found more than 10 issues which they felt needed

The Patients Group March meeting had a visitor from the local Well pharmacy on Ratby Road. A problem highlighted was the expectation by some patients that they had to have a specific brand of drug, and refusing to accept another branded substitute even when of identical composition. One of the other issues raised has been mentioned before – the amount of prescription drugs that are wasted. Every pill returned to the pharmacy for disposal represents money which isn’t being spent on patient care in the NHS. Someone who needs a drug that is so expensive that it has to be rationed must feel very frustrated when they hear that the value of drugs returned to pharmacies in our local West Leicestershire Clinical Commissioning Group alone was estimated at more than £2million. And that was back in 2013! Once you leave the pharmacy the drugs in your hand cannot be returned for use by someone else, so before you leave it is important to check that you have the right prescription and be confident you intend to use the drugs.

Practice Nurse The new Practice Nurse has settled in and is enjoying her work at Groby Surgery. She has been able to take over some of the routine checks previously undertaken by the Doctors, which has been a great help.

Norman Griffiths

for Groby Patients Participation Group

A busy time for Groby Surgery This is proving a particularly busy year for everyone down at Groby Surgery. In addition to all the day to day work there has been a visit from the West Leicestershire Clinical Commissioning Group and, this month, an inspection by the Care Quality Commission.(CQC) The CQC is the independent

My uncle had a rabbit’s foot for 30 years. His other foot was quite normal.

Groby & Field Head Spotlight • MID-MAY 2017 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk

SLEEPING is nothing to be ashamed of DO YOU try and live on little sleep? It is not a good idea. Just one night without proper rest quadruples your risk of catching a cold, because your immune system is suppressed. You will also face the day with less motivation, less empathy with others, slower reaction times, poorer concentration, and feeling far more hungry! For constant gnawing hunger can be caused by lack of sleep. Researchers at Pennsylvania State University found that less than six hours a night causes levels of the hormone ghrelin, which signals hunger, to rise, and levels of leptin, the sense of fullness hormone, to drop. So when you are overtired, you will feel hungry, but never full. Also, too little sleep can have grave long-term effects. Harvard Medical School found that less than five hours a night increases the risk of certain cancers, diabetes, Alzheimer’s, obesity, cognitive decline, depression and heart disease. As one expert puts it: ‘There is not one single good thing about poor sleep, yet we live in a society that at best disregards it, and at worst, views getting by on very little as a badge of honour.’ Bad sleep ages your brain. Good sleep ‘shampoos’ your brain. During sleep, the space between brain cells actually expands 60 per cent, allowing the brain to flush our built-up toxins. “Under-sleeping is the next sugar scare – it’s a health time bomb.’ So says Dr Sara Gottfird, a sleep expert. (Her book on the subject is, Younger, by Dr Sara Gottfried, Vermillion £14.99)

Superb collection of oil paintings at the Atkins Gallery A SUPERB selection of oil paintings by local artist Neil Prior will go on display in Hinckley’s Atkins Gallery this month. Visitors to the exhibition, which opens on Saturday 13 May and runs until Saturday 27 May, will see a whole range of paintings from animals and people to landscapes and still-life in his chosen medium of oils. “I like to create depth and realism into my works for the viewer to feel they can engage with the subject,” said Neil. “For me, portraiture, both with people and animals, is about creating expression within the eyes. “My paintings have been popular enough to have them made into high quality giclee prints that have enabled more people to own a copy”. In 2016 Neil created two oil paintings depicting the current police uniform, one male and the other female. They have been on display at the Newarke Houses and Museum in Leicester and were exhibited in the Atkins Gallery’s ‘180 Years of Leicestershire Police’ winter exhibition. In addition to hosting the exhibition, Neil will be spending time in the Atkins Gallery to showcase the tools and techniques he deploys to create his artworks and to speak about his inspiration and choice of subjects. He will be selling raffle tickets to raise money for the Macmillan Cancer Trust, with the winner of the first prize being able to choose a mounted print of his original artwork. Second prize is three greetings cards from his range of original paintings of the winner’s choice. For more information about Neil and his artwork please visit www.neilpriorartist.com or call 07739 182 220. He also has a Facebook page @NeilPriorArtist For more information about the Atkins Gallery please email info@atkinsbuilding.co.uk or telephone 01455 247070.

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Groby & Field Head Spotlight • MID-MAY 2017 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk

Latest News From OUR VERY first Annual General Meeting had a good turnout of over thirty people, including Brian Rigby (the Parish Council chairman) and library customers that live in neighbouring villages. The meeting ran for just under an hour with a Chairperson’s and financial update, the stepping down and reappointing of trustees, followed by a questions from the floor session. The last 12 months has been a learning curve for most of us on how to run a library and work together as a team of trustees, keeping the library open on a daily basis. We would like to express our sincere thanks to our 30 plus volunteers, who have worked tirelessly over the year and without this group of individuals the Library would not have be able to open and would have been lost. On the 22nd April 2016, Groby Community Library Group took over the Library from Leicestershire County Council whose strategy is to either transfer a number of the smaller libraries to community ownership or to close them. We are pleased to say that since this time the Library has maintained the opening times that are required as part of our agreement with Leicestershire County Council. We have also seen an increase in the number of Library members over this period. This is particularly pleasing given the national trend that book loans are declining at Libraries with the onset of electronic devices and tablets. We have had the continued support of Wriggly Readers and the Friday Knitting Group, using the Library as a base for their activities, and we hope that we can encourage more groups into the building over the next few months. As you’d expect, keeping the Library open requires a combination of dedicated time, effort and money. Over the past twelve months we have raised money through holding several events such as our Summer Craft events for children, our fun themed Halloween and Christmas Craft Afternoons, our Christmas Coach Trip to Chatsworth and our stall at the Groby Victorian Street Fair. I would like to thank all those that have attended these events and supported the Library by supplying cakes, items for sale or raffle and other kind donations. I would also like thank the local businesses for

their support. Flint, Studio J, Cathy Stephens, The Stamford Arms, Hyphen, Bradgate Stores, Chaplins Butchers, Wilsons and both of our local Co-op stores. As well as these fund raising events we have also had the support of some funding opportunities which are a great source of support to the library.

Financial Report Over this period, income was £23,500 and expenditure was £8,000, resulting in an increase in funds (in our bank account) of £15,500. The main sources of income were £16,500 from a Groby Parish Council grant and £4000 from a Leicestershire County Council grant. The remaining income was from donations (including £200 from Groby Gardening Society), fundraising, library income and a £140 grant from the Thomas Herbert Fund. The Groby Parish Council grant money was raised from the village precepts paid by each household in the 2016 council tax. A percentage of this money was used to pay the wages of the librarian, Jan Elliott, who remained with us until the end of August, and ensured the smooth transition over to a volunteer run library. The balance of the money has been ring fenced for the library alterations required for the addition of a coffee shop later this year. The Leicestershire County Council grant funding goes towards the day to day running costs of the building and they also directly pay and are responsible for other bills, but this will diminish on a sliding scale to nothing by 2021. At this time we will need to be completely self sufficient. The main sources of expenditure were £4,000 for librarian costs and £2,500 for running costs. We spent £400 on equipment including some additional tables and chairs for use when running activities within the library, and a gazebo for use when running fundraising activities outside.

Our Plans For The Next Twelve Months After researching other community managed libraries, the most successful way of providing the library with an income is by selling refreshments along with cakes and biscuits etc. Groby Library is well placed within the village and with no other coffee/tea shop in the area, we feel that this addition within the library will be a huge benefit to the village,

as well as a source of income. We have plans drawn up and have had several quotes on the work which is required. At present we are awaiting approval and a licence to alter the building from Leicestershire County Council. Once we have this we are hoping to commence the work over the summer months, opening the coffee shop kitchen and new disabled toilet with baby changing facilities in September. With some adjustments to the library layout we will be able to maintain the number of books on loan, as well as creating a space for people to sit and relax while reading or enjoying some refreshments. The introduction of this space will then give us a workable area for introducing clubs, holding events and room hire possibilities. Over the next 12 months we are looking to add a Coding Club for both Children and Parents/Carers and a Friday Lunchtime Club to name but a few.

Appointment of Trustees Firstly I would like to thank the following trustees for their help and support over the last 12 months: David Ryan, Christine Fowler, Theo Potter, David Robinson, Janet Hall, Pet Rose, John Martin and Claire McCormack. The legal requirement of the very first AGM of the Groby Community Group is that the nine trustees, who have held that position for a year, step down and then put themselves forward for re appointment. The following trustees have put themselves forward for reappointment for a period of 15 months: David Ryan, Janet Bishop, Theo Potter, Christine Fowler, David Robinson, John Martin and Pet Rose. Janet Harrison and Roz Smith have put them selves forward as trustees and we hope that they

enjoy this exciting phase ahead of us. We would like to thank the retiring trustees, Claire McCormack (our secretary) and Janet Hall for their hard work over the past twelve months as trustees. They have been involved with the library since the very beginning of us forming a group to secure the libraries future and will continue to support the library on a volunteer basis. The meeting ended with questions from the floor, which varied from alterations to the library for the coffee shop, finances and whether there would be future support in the way of funding from the Parish Council through the Council Tax. Also how members of the public could make monthly or one off donations. Hopefully we managed to answer these questions and we will have more news on ways to donate in the June issue of The Spotlight.

Amazing Support For The Library As some of you will be aware, Groby Community Library Group was chosen by the Co-Op as one of three local charities supported through their community initiative. Money spent in the Laundon Way Co-op by their members raised a huge sum of money for these charities and we are delighted to announce that the sum of £3,368.14 has been raised for the Library. We would therefore like to express our sincere thanks to Kenny and his team at the Laundon Way Co-Op for their support with this scheme and their continued support of the Library. We would also like to thank all those Co-op members who take part in this scheme and who chose Groby Library as their charity. We have received a very kind and generous private donation of £5,000 in contribution for the alterations to the library and its running costs. One of the areas that Leicestershire County Council ceased financial support of, as part of its diminishing support, is the cleaning of the library. We have been extremely lucky and we are extremely grateful to a local cleaning company, The Housewives, who have volunteered their time for free. This has saved the library a couple of thousand pounds. We have had a good first year with even more exciting times ahead in the very near future. Once again thank you for all of your support.

Janet Bishop on behalf of Groby Community Library Group.

It’s hard enough to remember my opinions, without also remembering my reasons for them.

Groby & Field Head Spotlight • MID-MAY 2017 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk

Word Search Puzzle Eurovision Winners Wordsearch

4/30/2017

Forgot username or password? Passcode/Create New IF YOU can find the last 12 COUNTRIES TO HAVE WON THE EUROVISION SONG CONTEST in this issue’s Wordsearch puzzle, you could win yourself a meal and a drink. This month we are offeringSolutions for Districts a tasty prize of: A Main Course for Two, plus A Bottle of HouseFree Resources Wine at The FieldHead Hotel.

Who We Are Teachers To go into the draw, allWhat We Offer you have to do is find - and mark a line through - 12 MOST RECENT WINNING COUNTRIES OF THE EUROVISION SONG CONTEST. These can run vertically, horizontally or diagonally (and backwards!). Send your entry to: COME ON LUCIE!, LUCIE JONES sings the UK entry this year Groby & Field Head Spotlight, PO Box 8, Markfield, Leics. LE67 N Q Y K K V A X R A X A A J L N C 9ZT to arrive by Saturday 3rd June 2017. Remember to include your name and address. The first all-correct entry drawn out of the hat R O C E X Z Y W U K K G Z F H Z E will win the prize. Good luck! Y E R M K R V L S D F T E E P I F W R W W P R Z P S K H J R N W O X D K Y T A S U P I X L F B T P J X O V S V C Y U T A Q J Y A V Q E G Z A M G L K M X S H S H I M D U E V P E Y R K V S Z B A Y J L R N D R P J A H Y R H B Z W W A N Q N F Y E I C T X P A B I H U N Y A P O U N S W E D E N M V U E Y L V G W E U L B R S X X S N V J N Y I B S T S Z F E B W P J S E I A O Q X I H V N R E C E E R G F D M H I J H W C B X G R Z M Y M B Z R R C G O O I A I R T S U A N U R E G N V Z A P E G S O Z Y I Q Z E G H K F B

Here are the 12 Winning Countries you have to find:

AUSTRIA • AZERBAIJAN • DENMARK • FINLAND GERMANY • GREECE • NORWAY • RUSSIA SERBIA • SWEDEN • TURKEY • UKRAINE Name: ................................................................................................. Address: ................................................................................................ .................................................................Postcode: .............................

Last Month’s Wordsearch Winner The first correct entry drawn out was from:

HILARY SMITH of Sycamore Drive, Groby Congratulations! Enjoy your meal!

AUSTRIA AZERBAIJAN DENMARK FINLAND GERMANY GREECE NORWAY RUSSIA SERBIA SWEDEN TURKEY UKRAINE

To Advertise in Groby Spotlight, contact Mike Wilkinson on 01530 244069 or email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk

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Groby & Field Head Spotlight • MID-MAY 2017 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk

There but for the grace of God ...

Can you help this worthy cause? HOPE and Faith is a local community based organisation that help the homeless. Born from the need to have both hope and faith in their lives when they became homeless themselves, Chris and David started Hope and Faith to use their experiences to benefit others in the same unfortunate position. From our normal perception of a homeless person - a rough sleeper, to those hidden homeless (those in hostels, sofa-surfing etc) a recent survey by ‘Crisis’ shows that almost 1 in 10 people, have been homeless at some point in their lives. A frightening statistic that helps emphasis how close we could all be whatever walk of life we come from (both Chris and David were from respectable, educated backgrounds themselves). Following years of decline the number of homeless is now also on the rise again due to the shortage of housing, our economic recession and cuts to housing benefits.

How can you help? * Blessing bags - Hope and Faith make up blessing bags which we distribute locally to homeless people and through the Salvation Army. We aim to be doing this on a nationwide scale, helping more needy people very soon. Blessing bags contain personal and toiletry items for men and women, baby products, drink and soup sachets etc. We are always in need of donations of these items, so please if you can help please see more details on how you can, on the list in this article. * Volunteering - Hope and Faith is kept going by volunteers, and we are always on the lookout for kind hearted people to join our friendly team. https://Facebook.com/hafhth1/ * Our online shop contains a range of beautiful gift items, gorgeous clothing, as well as electrical goods at highly discounted prices, and all profits go to fund our ongoing projects helping the homeless. Take a look now at http://www.hafhth.co.uk/online-shop/4593490142/_page/1

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Catch meets for play, craft, story & chat for pre-school children with a parent or carer 9.30-11.30am every Friday at Groby URC Chapel Hill Fair Cuppa for FairTrade refreshments in fairly traded mugs. Every Thursday 10.3012am at the Village Hall

Take a nap – and be happy

IF YOU want to be happy and smarter, grab a 30-minute nap during the day. Recent research has found that a nap of that length is ideal for boosting your performance and your personal feeling of happiness. ‘No-nappers’ can struggle through the day, and ‘long’ nappers risk some health problems, but a nap of up to 30 minutes in length seems to be the perfect ‘downtime’ your body needs to get up and running again. As one scientist put it: ‘Naps of under 30 minutes make you more focused, productive and creative… and you can also become happier just by taking a short nap.’ The study was carried out at the University of Hertfordshire.

The cost of owning your dog and cat

EVER ADD up what your pet has cost you? Consider this: •

Getting a cat, then buying its food, bedding, toys, equipment and insurance will set you back an average of £2,455 for its first year. • Getting a dog, and all the necessaries, will cost you an average of £4,791 in the first year. • On either end of that, the set-up and first year running costs of owning fish is about £769, a rabbit about £1,802, and a horse a staggering £12,654. The study by Nationwide Home Insurance warns: “It’s important to plan ahead and budget for the potential costs involved, otherwise animal ownership could turn into a financial headache.” Yet it seems to be worth it: one in eight people claim they love their pet more than their partner.

Weekly events for children and young people

for 6’s to 14’s on Mon evenings, at 6.00pm or 7.45pm; for 15-18’s on Wed evenings at 7.30pm; for 15-18’s on Fri at 7.30pm. We meet at the United Reformed Church All of these activities, along with our work in schools, are provided by the two churches in Groby under the group name EXTEND.

For further information please see websites and church magazines St. Philip and St. James www.bradgateteam.org.uk Revd. Louise Corke 231 3090 United Reformed Church www.grobyurc.com Phil Holmes (Church Secretary) 225 3335 1733 Children and Families Worker John Fryer 07540 957926 I hate coffee - it keeps me awake at work.

Groby & Field Head Spotlight • MID-MAY 2017 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk TED is a nonprofit organisation devoted to spreading ideas, usually in the form of short, powerful talks (18 minutes or less).

TED began in 1984 as a conference where Technology, Entertainment and Design converged, and today covers almost all topics — from science to business to global issues — in more than 100 languages. Meanwhile, independently run TEDx events help share ideas in communities around the world. Our Mission: Spread ideas TED is a global community, welcoming people from every discipline and culture who seek a deeper understanding of the world. They believe passionately in the power of ideas to change attitudes, lives and, ultimately, the world. On TED.com, they’re building a clearinghouse of free knowledge from the world’s most inspired thinkers — and a community of curious souls to engage with ideas and each other, both online and at TED and TEDx events around the world, all year long. In fact, everything they do — from their Conferences to their TED Talks to the projects sparked by the TED Prize, from the global TEDx community to the TED-Ed lesson series — is driven by their goal: How can we best spread great ideas? TED is owned by a nonprofit, nonpartisan foundation. Their agenda is to make great ideas accessible and spark conversation. Here is a taster of some of the most popular talks on TED: Ken Robinson: Do schools kill creativity? Sir Ken Robinson makes an entertaining and profoundly moving case for creating an education system that nurtures (rather than undermines) creativity. Simon Sinek: How great leaders inspire action Simon Sinek has a simple but powerful model for inspirational leadership — starting with a golden circle and the question “Why?” His examples include Apple, Martin Luther King, and the Wright brothers Brené Brown: The power of vulnerability Brené Brown studies human connection — our ability to empathize, belong, love. In a poignant, funny talk, she shares a deep insight from her research, one that sent her on a personal quest to know herself as well as to understand humanity. A talk to share. Jill Bolte Taylor: My stroke of insight Jill Bolte Taylor got a research opportunity few brain scientists would wish for: She had a massive stroke, and watched as her brain functions — motion, speech, self-

TED - ideas worth spreading Visit the website at: www.ted.com

awareness — shut down one by one. An astonishing story. Tony Robbins: Why we do what we do Tony Robbins discusses the “invisible forces” that motivate everyone’s actions — and high-fives Al Gore in the front row. Dan Pink: The puzzle of motivation Career analyst Dan Pink examines the puzzle of motivation, starting with a fact that social scientists know but most managers don’t: Traditional rewards aren’t always as effective as we think. Listen for illuminating stories — and maybe, a way forward. Julian Treasure: How to speak so that people want to listen Have you ever felt like you’re talking, but nobody is listening? Here’s Julian Treasure to help. In this useful talk, the sound expert demonstrates the how-to’s of powerful speaking — from some handy vocal exercises to tips on how to speak with empathy. A talk that might help the world sound more beautiful. Pranav Mistry: The thrilling potential of SixthSense technology At TEDIndia, Pranav Mistry demos several tools that help the physical world interact with the world of data — including a deep look at his SixthSense device and a new, paradigm-shifting paper “laptop.” In an onstage Q&A, Mistry says he’ll open-source the software behind SixthSense, to open its possibilities to all. Pamela Meyer: How to spot a liar On any given day we’re lied to from 10 to 200 times, and the clues to detect those lie can be subtle and counter-intuitive. Pamela Meyer, author of Liespotting, shows the manners and “hotspots” used by those trained to recognize deception — and she argues honesty is a value worth preserving. Shawn Achor: The happy secret to better work We believe we should work hard in order to be happy, but could we be thinking about things backwards? In this fast-moving and very funny talk, psychologist Shawn Achor argues that, actually, happiness inspires us to be more productive. Dan Gilbert: The surprising science of happiness Dan Gilbert, author of “Stumbling on Happiness,” challenges the idea that we’ll be miserable if we don’t get what we want. Our “psychological immune system” lets us feel truly happy even when things don’t go as planned.

David Blaine: How I held my breath for 17 minutes In this highly personal talk from TEDMED, magician and stuntman David Blaine describes what it took to hold his breath underwater for 17 minutes — a world record (only two minutes shorter than this entire talk!) — and what his often death-defying work means to him. Warning: do NOT try this at home. Apollo Robbins: The art of misdirection Hailed as the greatest pickpocket in the world, Apollo Robbins studies the quirks of human behavior as he steals your watch. In a hilarious demonstration, Robbins samples the buffet of the TEDGlobal 2013 audience, showing how the flaws in our perception make it possible to swipe a wallet and leave it on its owner’s shoulder while they remain clueless. Keith Barry: Brain magic First, Keith Barry shows us how our brains can fool our bodies — in a trick that works via podcast too. Then he involves the audience in some jaw-dropping (and even a bit dangerous) feats of brain magic. Elizabeth Gilbert: Your elusive creative genius Elizabeth Gilbert muses on the impossible things we expect from artists and geniuses — and shares the radical idea that, instead of the rare person “being” a genius, all of us “have” a genius. It’s a funny, personal and surprisingly moving talk. Robert Waldinger: What makes a good life? Lessons from the longest study on happiness

What keeps us happy and healthy as we go through life? If you think it’s fame and money, you’re not alone – but, according to psychiatrist Robert Waldinger, you’re mistaken. As the director of a 75-year-old study on adult development, Waldinger has unprecedented access to data on true happiness and satisfaction. In this talk, he shares three important lessons learned from the study as well as some practical, old-as-the-hills wisdom on how to build a fulfilling, long life. James Veitch: This is what happens when you reply to spam email Suspicious emails: unclaimed insurance bonds, diamondencrusted safe deposit boxes, close friends marooned in a foreign country. They pop up in our inboxes, and standard procedure is to delete on sight. But what happens when you reply? Follow along as writer and comedian James Veitch narrates a hilarious, weeks-long exchange with a spammer who offered to cut him in on a hot deal.

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When I was little, my grandfather asked me how old I was. I said ‘Five’. He said ‘When I was your age, I was six.’

Groby & Field Head Spotlight • MID-MAY 2017 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk

Borough Councillors’ Monthly Report Farewell to Louise Corke Ted and I would like to wish Louise Corke good luck in her new role and thank her for all she has done for Groby over the last fifteen years and her many achievements. Many of you will remember I was Mayor of the Borough during 2012 – 2013 and it was an honour and privilege to have had Louise as my Chaplain. Thank you Louise and good luck!

Klondike Appeal I advised you last month that a full update would be provided this month with regards the Klondike appeal. It has been decided to produce a joint article on this between the Borough Council, County Council, and Parish Council members. Please refer to the separate article giving details on this.

Scam Recycling Bin

The Shoe, Clothes, Handbags and Belts recycling bin pictured above was located at the Laundon Way Co-op just inside the Pymm Ley Lane car park sometime during Friday 21 April and Saturday 22 April, most likely on the Saturday. The recycling bin was placed without approval from either the Co-op or the Borough Council and does not display any details of the charity or a charity number. In order to protect residents from being scammed the manager of the Co-op (Kenny) and Cllr Cartwright moved it to the service yard of the Co-op which is covered by CCTV

how it can help you, your group or your relatives and friends.

Dial-a-Ride

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

Ted Hollick Call: 0116 287 5955 Mobile: 07962 373983 E-mail: ted.hollick@tesco.net Write: 7 Shaw Wood Close, Groby, LE6 0FY

waiting to see if anyone makes a claim to it. You may think this is very trivial but in reality it is serious as we suspect it is a fake anyone putting goods into it will be affected in one of three ways. The reality of this scam is criminal gangs will sort through the “donations” and sell the best on the internet for a significant profit. While other items not fit for sale in the UK are driven to Eastern Europe, where there is an increase in British-style clothing in local stores. The remaining items – to put it mildly – are rubbish. These are not the kind of people who are going to pay trade rates at the local rubbish tip to dispose of that rubbish. Instead, the criminal gangs will double up on their dishonesty by fly-tipping their unwanted clothes, shoes and other items. They’ve got no social conscience, and they don’t care that the likes of you and I have to pay for the cleanup out of our Council Tax. None of the profits are returned to UK charities in this scam. It costs you and me via your council tax bill far more than the value of those items left as they are no more than rubbish. A reasonable sized vehicle was used to get this bin to the location did you see anything or can you shed any light on when it was placed and by whom.

Times dates and vehicle registration number would all help as I doubt it went un-noticed but suspect anyone seeing this would have thought it perfectly legitimate. If you can help in anyway please contact Martin, details above. Thank you

New Community Transport Bus Hinckley & Bosworth Community Transport are delighted to announce that the Department of Transport has donated a brandnew Mercedes Benz minibus to support the essential service it provides within the community. This is a clear indication that the Government acknowledges the value of community-based transport. We are particularly proud that our long-established local community transport scheme has been singled out to continue its work to benefit local people. The dark blue “Sprinter” minibus has been adapted to be fully accessible for people who have mobility difficulties. It has a capacity for 16 passengers or 15 and 1 wheelchair user and is available to groups for outings or lunch clubs and also for individuals for supermarket shopping. If you spot it parked outside supermarkets or garden centres the driver may be able to show you the interior. Otherwise, please ring 01455 250462 to learn more about

Hinckley & Bosworth Community Transport also operates Dial-aRide, a social car scheme which is an important service to people who live in the Hinckley & Bosworth area. Dial-a-Ride drivers are all volunteers who use their own cars (in return for a mileage repayment) to take elderly and less mobile people to G.Ps, hospital appointments or visits, the shops and hairdressers and many other essential outings. At the moment, there are approximately 1200 people who use Dial-a-Ride and the demand for the service is continually growing. There are many opportunities for people who have some time to spare no matter how much or how little, to become a volunteer driver and help to provide the service which is both appreciated by the passengers and rewarding for the drivers. More volunteer drivers are urgently needed to help Diala-Ride deliver its essential and expanding service to our local community. If you think you can help and would like more information, please contact 01455 250462 or email on dialaride21@ hotmail.com or l.short@ unicombox.co.uk.

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

Do you know why Turtle Wax is so expensive? It’s because turtles have really tiny ears.

Groby & Field Head Spotlight • MID-MAY 2017 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk

Heritage Sundays give chance to peer into city’s past

SOME of Leicester’s best historic buildings will be opening their doors to the public in a new monthly programme of heritage-themed activities.

St Mary de Castro Church Leicester Castle Great Hall

The latest programme of Heritage Sundays: Tours and Open Days 2017 will Turret Gateway give visitors the chance explore some of the city’s finest historic buildings. The Magazine A number of new attractions have been added for the first time this year, Herb Garden clustered around the city’s picturesque Castle Gardens, The Newarke and Newarke Houses nearby De Montfort University’s campus. Museum The Heritage Sundays take place on the last Sunday of each month until November 2017, running from 11am to 3pm. Trinity Chapel New sites for 2017 include the 14th century Trinity Hospital Chapel and the DMU Heritage Centre nearby tranquil Trinity House Herb Garden in The Newarke, which was once used to grow medicinal herbs for the hospital patients. De Montfort University’s Heritage Centre will also be open to visitors, showcasing the only remaining ruins of the Church of Annunciation, where King Richard III’s remains were publicly displayed following his death at Bosworth in 1485. Visitors can also explore the nearby 15th century Magazine gateway building or climb to the top of the neighbouring Castle Motte for views over the picturesque Castle Yard, The Newarke and waterside Castle Gardens. From May 28 onwards, Leicester Castle’s Great Hall will also be open for Heritage Sundays. Other key buildings on the route include St Mary De Castro Church, where Henry VI was knighted and Geoffrey Chaucer was married, and the medieval Turret Gateway which originally separated the religious church precincts from the castle. Newarke Houses Museum will open its fine herb gardens – some of the oldest in Leicester – which along with its later Regency-style garden offer visitors a beautiful haven of plants and wildlife. The original Newarke Wall can still be seen, complete with the gun loops used to defend the castle in 1645 during then English Civil War. Leicester City Council’s heritage manager Sally Coleman said: “Heritage Sundays give people the chance to explore the city’s fascinating history, including being able to visit places which aren’t normally open. “This year we’ve joined forces with De Montfort University, whose campus contains a number of important medieval sites such as the Trinity Hospital and herb garden, as well as being home to the university’s own heritage centre. “There really is a wealth of history in Leicester, and these events are a great way to learn more about the city’s past and appreciate the historic buildings around us.” Full details and dates of all Heritage Sunday events are available at: www.visitleicester/info Castle Motte

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My wife says I never listen, or something like that.

Groby & Field Head Spotlight • MID-MAY 2017 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk

Groby Village Society Forthcoming Events Thursday May 25 The underage Soldiers & Nurses of WW1 Peter Cousins Thursday June 22 Life in Maasai Villages Wendy Martin Meetings are held at Groby Village Hall Starting at 7.30pm. Except for October which will be at Groby Library Starting at 7.30pm. For Further Details Contact Hon. Secretary Mr. P. Castell Tel. 0116 287 9842 email: groby.villagesociety@ tiscali.co.uk Non Members are Welcome

Scientist puts us straight!

Letter

How many words does it take ...? MY NAME is Nathan Dickinson, and I write to you in response to the above segment in the most recent issue of the Spotlight. I work as a scientist, and I make use of statistics and numerical data every day, and understand the power that is has to inform everyone on how to make decisions, weigh up arguments and form opinions. Having worked on occasional outreach and public engagement events with learned societies, universities, and schools over the years, I have also seen the power that incorrect numbers have on people’s opinions and attitudes, and have experienced great frustration when trying to explain something when an opinion based on misinformation is ingrained. To this end, I thought you might be interested to know that the EU regulations on the sale of cabbage do not number 26,911 words. In fact, this number comes from a memo in the USA during the second world war, and has been blindly applied many time to illustrate excessive bureaucracy (there’s a good BBC article about it here http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/ magazine-35962999). The estimated real length of the EU regulations regarding cabbage sale in the referenced article is 263 words. Even taking a more right leaning new source, the Express cites a 5,000 word directive, again well short of the 26,911 quoted in your publication (http://www. express.co.uk/news/uk/651286/Brussels-EU-bosses-produce-thousandswords-cabbages-directive-leaflet). In the current climate of ‘fake news’, and my personal experiences, I felt compelled to highlight this. While the actual article is rather trivial, this speaks to a societal misuse of numbers to influence people in alignment of one agenda or another. We have the vast majority of all the knowledge accumulated by mankind at our fingertips through the internet; I googled ‘EU cabbage 26,911 words’ and in five seconds got back a wealth of information on this subject. Blindly reproducing statistics, unreferenced and unchecked, serves only to misinform your readership, and in more serious circumstances perpetuates significant dis-information (the behaviour of the current USA government attests to this). I implore you to please be more critical of what is published, if a number sounds ridiculous it normally is, and it takes no time at all to check. On a lighter note, I’d be more than happy to write a short piece on this issue and the wider issues around the use of statistics (particularly highly specific numbers such as 26,911), as boring as it sounds I see this problem every day and find myself frustrated with the unnecessary anxiety and anger that falsehoods, perpetuated deliberately or accidentally, cause people. A little critical thinking goes an awfully long way, and I encourage everyone to try it! Best wishes and kind regards,

Nathan Dickinson

Small Ads • Tom Tom Start 25 Sat Nav 1 year old. Price : £40 • Digital Photo Frame Price: £5 • 4 Piece Companion Set (Brass) Price: £20 • Needlework Frame (Large) Price:£5 • 4 Franklin Mint Teddy Plates Price: £3 each Tel: 07547 901657 • Classic Inspirations Australian Embroidery magazine. Complete with patterns. 10 magazines. Price £20.00 Tel: 0116 233 6974 • BBQ - M&S Kettle Barbecue, charcoal, 2 side shelves, includes cover. Good condition. Price: £15.00 Tel: 0116 287 6761 • Writing Desk - kneehole type, four drawers, medium brown wood. Measures 41cm x 61cm x 36cm high. Good condition. Price: £25.00 • Single bed headboard. Padded, beige plush. As new. Price: £15.00. Tel: 0116 260 1865. • Shoes: Size 5, 3” Heels. 1 Navy, 1 Pink Slingbacks 1 Red, 1 Blue Court Shoes 1 Black with White trim £10 each. Tel: 0116 287 5654 IF YOU HAVE any household items which you’d like to advertise FREE in the Spotlight, please SEND DETAILS by post or email - sorry, we can’t take them over the phone. Maximum EIGHT items please. Our postal address is Spotlight Small Ads, PO Box 8, Markfield, Leics. LE67 9ZT or you can email details to: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk. Please put ‘Small Ads’ in the subject line, and include your postal address (not for publication).

No matter who you vote for, the Government always seems to get in.

Groby & Field Head Spotlight • MID-MAY 2017 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk

Trans Fat Bans Reduce Heart Disease Deaths

LISTENERS to the Nick Abbot radio show on LBC (Friday & Saturday nights) heard recently that a ban on trans fats in Denmark resulted in a 70% fall in cardiovascular disease deaths. Nick called for a similar ban to be imposed on the use of these fats in foods in this country. We went onto the internet to check Nick’s facts ...

Denmark sees 70% fall in cardiovascular disease deaths THE NUMBER of Danes who died from cardiovascular disease fell by 70% between 1985 and 2009. No EU member state has a recorded a greater decline in mortality. A ban on trans fat acids in 2003 could be the cause. 46% of all deaths in Europe are caused by cardiovascular disease, making it Europe’s biggest killer. Steen Stender from the Clinical Bio-chemical unit at Gentofte Hospital told the news agency Ritzau that though the fall in mortality rates could be attributed to prevention and better guidance on smoking, physical activity and diet, a ban against added trans fats in food also needs to be taken into consideration. “In 2003, Denmark became the first country in the world to ban this kind of trans fat. Research has shown that eating more than five grams of trans fats per day increases the risk of cardiovascular disease,” he said. The Danish law on trans fat acids sets a maximum level on the content of industrially produced trans fat acids in processed foods. For example, the content of trans fat acids in oils, fats and food products must not exceed two grams per 100 grams of oil or fat. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), chronic maladies, such as cardiovascular disease and cancer, are by far the leading cause of mortality in the world, representing 60% of all deaths. Approximately four million people in Europe and 1.5 million people in the EU die of cardiovascular disease each year, according to the European Heart Network (EHN) and the European Society for Cardiology (ESC). The main forms of heart disease are coronary heart disease, and stroke. To reduce the number of deaths from heart diseases, European Union countries agreed to tackle the underlying health determinants behind cardiovascular health in its 2014-2020 health programme. A key element in fighting cardiovascular disease is to address the underlying health determinants, including bad cholesterol, tobacco use, obesity, diet and physical activity and high blood pressure.

Live & Local What’s On at Local Pubs & Clubs Groby Ex-Servicemen’s Club Leicester Road, Groby Tel: 0116 287 1809

Every Tuesday From 8 pm Target Shooting With Rifle And Pellets Plus Tuition If Required£2-00.

Friday 19th May: - Two Pianos + Nina Tickets are Available at the Bar

Wednesday Afternoon From 2-4 pm Tea Dance £1-00 With Tea/Biscuits.

Saturday 20th May: - River Rea Duo Excellent fun 2 Piece

Wednesday Evenings: Bingo From 8 pm. With Members Jackpot Also Raffle.

Friday 26th May: - Heidi Deacon - Very Good Local Female Solo

Thursdays Line Dancing With Jeff From 8 pm

Saturday 27th May: - Lesley - No Words For This Lady Just Excellent Comic Female Solo

Last Friday Of Each Month - Andy’s Quiz Night.

Sunday 28th May: - Family Fun Day/ Open Day - See Separate Advert on Back Page For More Information Friday 2nd June: - Carl Merry - Super Young Vocalist Saturday 3rd June: - Kelly Jenns Outstanding Interactive Solo, Kelly Is One That Puts Everything Into It! DO NOT MISS! Friday 9th June: - Vinny Deane Excellent Guitar Vocalist Saturday 10th June: - Simon Henley Fantastic Elvis Tribute Be Here Early To Get A Seat!

Every Saturday Bingo In Lounge With Free Supper For All Players From 8 pm. Every Sunday Dancing To Organist From 8 pm. £2-00 Entry On Door With Raffle/Eight Houses Bingo(Optional)

The Club Thornton, Main Street, Thornton LE67 1AH 01530 230251 Fri 12th May: Rebel Rock - Rock N Roll DJ Sat 13th May: Farrell ‘Faz’ Crowson Solo Guitar/Vocals Sat 3rd June: The Return Of ‘Lucy & Luke’ - Duo

Friday 16th June: - Rob Tyler - Great Male Vocalist

Sat 10th June: The Boneyard Blues Band

Saturday 17th June: - Above And Beyond - Fantastic Duo That Specialises In Reggae And The Likes

Sat 24th June: The Dirty Water Band - 10th Anniversary of Playing @ The Thornton

The Club Bagworth, Station Road, Bagworth LE67 1BZ 01530 230205. Every Monday From 8 pm, Dominoes With Supper £1 -50.

Sat 1st July: The Boodons - Rock & Pop Covers Band Sat 15th July: Beat 45 - Covers Band Playing All Of Your Favourite Singles

I wish people who have trouble communicating would just shut up.

Groby & Field Head Spotlight • MID-MAY 2017 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk

News from Groby WI

Groby & Field Head Spotlight PO Box 8, Markfield, Leics. LE67 9ZT

Telephone

01530-244069 Email us at: info@ grobyspotlight.co.uk Visit the website at www.grobyspotlight.co.uk 3,500 copies distributed 11 times a year (no issue in July) to homes and businesses in Groby, Field Head and The Brantings.

THE COMMITTEE held their meeting in the Stamford Pub, where we began business by having a very enjoyable meal! There are now 13 of us, thanks to our two new members, Annette and Michelle who have joined us, which just goes to show we are not that stuffy or frightening. Both said it was the best Committee they had ever been on. Eventually we got around to business, well in a sort of a fashion. Saying that it was surprising how much work we managed to get through, I think the beverage may have helped, I had tea of course. It was pure coincidence that our next meeting was in The Club. This time it was a meeting of the Bradgate Group which compromises of half a dozen local groups and it was our turn to play host. We began with Group business but that over, it was entertainment time. Andy Smith, a talented musician, gave us a variety of songs including quite a lot of comedy material. He also played various instruments including guitars, banjo, ukulele and mandolin, trust a man to be so talented. It was very enjoyable and when we weren’t laughing at his songs, we were joining in. It was quite an evening.

Violet met the Queen Another great piece of news is that our Violet (Atkins) was presented with Maundy Money from Her Majesty the Queen. Violet was accompanied by Frances her sister and they never said a word about it to us, well done Violet. It takes a good deal of willpower to keep a secret like that. When we set off on our trip to the National Memorial Arboretum it was raining, not a good start we thought. However, luck was with us, whilst not great on arrival it got better as the day went on. I went a few years ago and was amazed at the change. Prince William opened the new Remembrance

Centre a month or so ago and it is great. It has a large restaurant into which, of course, we trooped for a cuppa. Then most of us went into the Chapel at 11 o’clock to hear the history of the Arboretum and observe a two minute silence. It is routine each day for a recording to be heard of Jeremy Paxman speaking but for the first time, so our host told us, something had happened to Jeremy, nothing to do with us! Our host gallantly gave a great talk and we finished with the silence. Then onto the land train, which goes around the perimeter and takes nearly an hour. The train holds 50 or more passengers and has an excellent guided commentary. Guess where we went next, into the restaurant for lunch, all very well organised, with a good variety and very enjoyable. There are approximately 350 memorials from military, charitable, emergency associations, fraternity groups and individuals, each year new ones are added plus various exhibitions and talks. My friend and I went to the Far East Prisoners of War exhibition passing various memorials all very poignant. Jean’s Uncle was on the Burma railway and it wasn’t until after the War that the family were told he had died, they had never received any news during his captivity. You are able to search a name, which we had done on a previous trip and had found where he was buried etc. It was in a small well kept (from the photograph) War Grave Cemetery, in the middle of the jungle. There was a postscript saying that unless you were fit it wasn’t advisable to visit as it entailed a three day train ride to get there. Others went to the “Shot at Dawn” memorial. This is at the most eastern point of the Arboretum because that is when the “guilty” were shot at dawn. 306 soldiers were shot accused of cowardice. In recent years they have been posthumously pardoned. They are represented by tall wooden stakes and a statue

Aerial view of the The National Memorial Arboretum, which Groby WI visited last month of a young, blindfolded solidier tied to a stake. Some of our ladies were in tears. The Armed Forces Memorial, a stone structure with two curved walls and two straight walls, honours members of the Armed Forces who were killed on duty. The tragic part for me were the names that had been added since my last visit and the space for more to come in future. If you have never been, I can really recommend you visit, it is really worthwhile.

Walks & Socials We have also had three walks this month. The usual month end one around the local area, the weekly walk to Glenfield Country Market (for a cuppa and natter) and a walk from Calke Abbey. On this one we were fortunate with the weather, a very cold wind but sunshine. It was absolutely lovely, a walk we have done only once before. We passed bluebells, crocuses and four ponds, all very pretty. Other social events included a visit to the Curve to see “Dirty Dancing” and a skittles match between Astill Lodge and Groby. Astill were short so heroine Janet stepped in and played for the other side. She said she enjoyed the game and was not at all biased. This took place at a favourite venue, Cossington where the food is good, needless to say. Next month’s meeting is our Resolutions meeting, I will let you know what Resolution we will be lobbying next time. This, will be followed by a social evening where anything goes! So come on the 18th May, it may sound dull but we always have fun, you are very welcome, see you at the Village Hall at 7.30 p.m.

Margaret

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: 17th June 2017 DEADLINE: 3rd June

I am willing to make the mistakes if someone else is willing to learn from them.

Groby & Field Head Spotlight • MID-MAY 2017 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk

New Top Trumps game puts spotlight on Leicester A POPULAR card game that has captivated fans of all ages since the 1970s now includes a version that is dedicated to Leicester and its attractions. The new Top Trumps game – ‘Leicester: 30 Things to See and Do’ – pits the Guildhall (dating from 1390) against Curve Theatre (built in 2008), the Clock Tower (five decorative details) against Jewry Wall (one decorative detail), and the National Space Centre (Top Trumps rating: 96) against the city’s leafy New Walk (Top Trumps rating: 75). Each of the 30 playing cards also bears a special rating of blue ducks to reflect the attraction’s ‘ey up me duck’ status and indicate how ‘Leicester’ it is. Deborah Hunter of the city council’s Arts & Museums Service said: “These new Top Trumps cards are a fun way to learn about Leicester’s 2,000-year history. “The game will encourage people to discover the buildings and places that link us with the past – and it also makes a unique souvenir for visitors and a great gift for anyone who knows our city.” The new game – which includes a special city map – is on sale at the Visit Leicester information centre and at New Walk Museum, priced at £5.99. It joins two other Top Trumps games with Leicester connections that are already available. King Richard III features in a ‘Top 30 Moments’ game, while Leicester’s National Space Centre is included in a ‘Play & Discover’ pack.

Redgate Farm ‘cat couples’ in Markfield

Feline Friends and Sibling Cat Pairs awaiting Adoption !

IT IS ALWAYS harder to re-home pairs of pets rather than individuals, but they are actually easier to look after as they keep each other company and they play with each other when you have to be out. Being together also reduces the stress of a move (as it would with humans too). At Redgate Farm Animal Sanctuary we currently have several ‘pairs’ of cats – siblings and bonded pairs – who cannot be separated as they (quite simply) love one another. Might you have the love, and the space, for two Redgate beauties? Do come to the Markfield sanctuary and visit Fluffy and Pepper, Jet and Smudge or Pepsi and Mindy. All have different tales to tell and they all need a new home desperately. We also have individual cats who will bond closer to their new human owner than to another cat – these include shy Tilly, elegant Evie, and bold, handsome ginger Poco Pepsi (left) and Mindy with half a tail! So there is a cat (or cats) for everyone. Do come along to the sanctuary – we are open to the public every day of the year except Christmas Day, from 11.00am – 3.30pm. Or you could telephone Hayley or Paul during those same times on 01530 243 925. or email Jo on Redgate@mail.org www.redgatefarmanimalsanctuary.co.uk

I considered atheism but there weren’t enough holidays.