Groby Spotlight Mid-May 2022 by Michael Wilkinson

GROBY & FIELD HEAD

Spotligght Spotli

MID-MAY 2022

DELIVERED FREE TO HOMES & BUSINESSES IN GROBY, FIELD HEAD & THE BRANTINGS

May the 4th be with you…

I SPOTTED these two Star Wars characters walking up Leicester Road in Groby on the afternoon of the 4th May.

Brian Cross NATIONAL TRUST 17 BRADGATE STABLES 18 GROBY SURGERY 20 GROBY SINGS 3 NATIONAL FOREST WALKING FESTIVAL 4 INCONSIDERATE PARKING IN GROBY? 6 GARDENING SOCIETY 8 GROBY WI 10 MARTIN CARTWRIGHT 12 LIBRARY 14 ALLOTMENTS 15 OZZY O’SHEA 16

PLANNING APPS 21 FIELD HEAD HOUSING PROPOSALS 22 SMALL ADS 24 WORDSEARCH 25 PROPORTIONAL REPRESENTATION 26 TED HOLLICK 27 ROTARY CLUB 27

PLUS LOTS MORE!

Pledged to do ‘something massive’ for his late Mum, so ...

Loz runs 21 half-marathons in 21 days - raising £5,000

A GROBY MAN who has finished his pledge to run 21 halfmarathons in 21 days, dedicated each run to someone who lost their life to cancer. Laurance O’Shea says he was inspired to do the challenge after losing his mum to cancer three years ago. Laurance, more commonly known as Loz, donned 17 different outfits while taking part in the challenge, from Spiderman to Thunderbirds. Loz said each costume was picked by the person or loved one with cancer. He even went so far as to plan out each route so he ended each race at the doorstep of the person he was running for. The 44-year-old suffers from epilepsy, which he says was heightened during the loss of his mother, Jenny O’Shea. Despite the health risks, which prevent him from driving, Loz said he wanted to do “something massive” for his mum. Loz works at the Asda distribution centre in Lutterworth and cycles 40 miles a day to get there and back from his home in Groby. He is married to wife, Leila, and has two sons, 17-year-old Loz and 15-year-old Kyle. He said: “My family supported me every

SETTING OFF FOR THE LAST OF HIS 21 RUNS (l-r): Councillor Ozzy O’Shea (Loz’s dad), Loz O’Shea, Mike Kapur OBE (The Lord Lieutenant of Leicestershire) and Dan Harrison (Chairman of Leicestershire County Council) step of the way, my eldest was well made up. I just wanted to do something really big and I feel like I’ve achieved that. “I’ve done fundraising in the past, but after I lost my mum, my epilepsy got worse and my seizures started playing up, so I had to stop for a while. Her illness was really short, they found lumps on her chest and brain but before they could operate they found her on the floor with a bleed on the brain. “I’ve always wanted to do something that would make her proud and I really hope I have. I’ve lost my grandma and grandad and an aunty because of cancer too, and I just had the realisation that people from all walks of life have lost a CONTINUED ON PAGE 3 ...>

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Groby & Field Head Spotlight

Letter

In support of local shops I WAS INTERESTED to read in last month’s Spotlight about the imminent retirement of the Brother and Sister at Chaplins Butchers. I also wish them a long and healthy retirement. They have been at the heart of the village for so many years as were their Father and Mother before them. I must admit it is some time since I actually used their shop. As well as their tasty meat I really used to enjoy the delicious home made cakes and meat pies which they produced on the premises.

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. 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: 14th May 2022 DEADLINE: 30th April 2022

ON THE ROAD

again!

A VERY WARM welcome back to our

Children’s/Youth Choir which had its During the pandemic we took to receiving our groceries on line through onewarm of the welcome big four first session on Wednesday A very back to our Children’s/Youth Choir which 27th had itsApril first session o supermarkets. However, what we did do was to revert at the Groby Club. at the Groby Club. A small, but enthusiastic, group of children came along after schoo to having our newspapers delivered from Wilson’s A small,by butour enthusiastic, group of children were introduced to some enjoyable songs conductor, Simon, who was a music instead of going to the shop. This we have continued came along after school from 3.40-4.40pm and this since the pandemic came to an end. many years and has plenty of experience in coaching both adult and children’s choirs were introduced to some enjoyable songs by Whilst we have continued to leavewill the car at home bring along first session hopefully friends to future and any children our their conductor, Simon, who wassessions a music teacher and still have our shopping delivered, we always in schools to for come many years plenty of 7 and over who like to sing are encouraged alongand onhas Wednesdays to see wha make a point of leaving our milk, bread and eggs off experience in coaching both adult and children’s holidays). Remember, are no auditions as everyone is welcome howeve our list. We then buyschool these items locally from Wilson’s therechoirs. or occasionally the Co Op. singing This helps cut down the main aim is to have fun and eat cake! their voice is. The All our attendees at this first session will amount of food waste and gives you greater flexibility hopefully bring along their friends to future with regards what meals you have. sessions and anymade children and youngcontribution people Before the pandemic struck, our children’s choir a massive to the Another thing we do is never to order those sticky aged 7 and over who like to sing are encouraged that from is Groby Sings and we’d love totobuild it back up ready for performing in public ag watery packs of cut meat the supermarkets. come along on Wednesdays to see what it’s all Instead we go to the local Deli/Fruit shop and purchase about (except for school holidays). Remember, their ham which is far tastier, and sometimes we also are no auditions as everyone is welcome For enquiries, please contact us viathere our website www.grobysings.org. indulge in a cream cake. Well at least we’ve had a bit of however good, or not so good, their singing voice exercise walking to and from the shop. is. The main aim is to have fun and eat cake! Groby Sings is a Registered Charity no. 1180490. Who knows with the summer weather just around the Before the pandemic struck, our children’s corner I may take my husband along to carry the bags choir made a massive contribution to the whole and treat him to a pint at the Stamford. community choir that is Groby Sings and we’d love to build it back up ready for performing in I fully agree with what was written in the previous public again. article and wish more of the village would adopt this approach. For enquiries, please contact us via our website www.grobysings.org. As they say you don’t realise what you’ve got until its gone! Groby Sings is a Registered Charity no. 1180490. Another long term resident

21 half marathons in 21 days - from page 1 handful of people to the disease so I wanted to do my bit to help.” Loz’s challenge began on March 25, ending on April 14, raising just over £5,000 for Cancer Research UK. He said: “We did a JustGiving page and I’ve had cash donations, clearing just over £5,000. I used three weeks holiday from work and ended up running an extra 53 miles than I intended to - meaning I did 315 in total. “If I couldn’t run towards someone I had dedicated the run to - for example someone in Nuneaton - I would do miles around Leicestershire. I met so many people along the way and I can’t tell you how good it felt to see a smile on their face.” His outfits ranged from Batman and Robin to Superman, Wolverine, Captain America,

Spiderman, Mr Incredible, Mr T from the A-Team, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Darth Maul, Darth Vader, Where’s Wally, Deadpool, Garfield, a Storm Trooper, Thunderbird and Robocop. The runner’s favourite journey was day 17, when he ran 18.4 miles in a Deadpool costume. He said: “I didn’t want to stop. The public were loving it and kept horning their cars. I did it for a random woman who had taken a picture of me in my outfit on Day 5. “We got to talking and she told me she had also lost her son to cancer. She told me his name was Shay - which is like my surname. When she added me on Facebook I knew I had to dedicate one of my runs for him. “Another good day was the 19th run, when I dressed as a storm trooper. I was in Hinckley when this

man filmed me. He saw me again in New Parks and showed me a video he put together for his son, of me in my outfit. Stuff like that kept me going.” On the last day, Loz put on his Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle outfit and got family members to dress up, too. He said: “All four turtles crossed the finishing line that day. It was for my mum and her twin sister, who both lost their lives to cancer. It meant a lot to my grandma who lost her husband, her mum and both her daughters to the disease. “The Lord Lieutenant of Leicestershire and the chairman of Leicestershire County Council set me on my way and were both there to see me finish at the end. It was quite a thing to have them do that for me and help me raise awareness for cancer.”

Nothing says “I don’t take you seriously” like your dog wagging his tail when you are yelling at him.

Groby & Field Head Spotlight • MID-MAY 2022 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk

National Forest Walking Festival is Back!

USPENDED FOR THE past two years, the National Forest Walking Festival is back with lots of different types of walks taking place throughout the forest, making it accessible to all. Local community group, Ministry of Nordic Walks, will be leading some of them in nearby Groby, Ratby, Markfield and Thornton as well as providing some bluebell walks and some Nordic walking courses in the National Forest in early May.

Pet sitters wanted!

May is national walking month and is one of the best times to be outdoors in the National Forest. The drama of spring blossom, the heady scent of bluebells carpeting ancient woods, and the chance to see wildlife in abundance are all wonderful for the mind and soul.

PET SITTERS are in high demand these days, as millions of people have returned to work, and must leave their cats and dogs during each day.

Look out for the surprising range of wildlife in and around the Forest, and marvel at the geological stories beneath your feet. Included are many “wildlife” themed walks giving plenty of opportunity to celebrate and learn about nature.

According to the British Pet Food Manufacturers Association, one in ten households welcomed a new pet during the first seven months of lockdown. According to Adzuna, a job search website, a pet sitter can now earn an average salary of £24,000 a year for pet sitting.

The booklet containing the many different and varied walks (including history and geology walks, forest bathing, Nordic walking, trail running and of course nature walks) can be downloaded from the website https://www.nationalforest.org/visit/national-forestwalking-festival and the walking festival takes place between the 14th – 26th May.

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THE ARCHAEOLOGY of LEICESTER CASTLE

A talk by Mathew Morris Tuesday 17th May 2022 at 7.30 pm The Methodist Church Rooms, Main Street, Markfield Non-members £3 to include refreshments www.markfieldhistory.org

Soul Journey A recital of music and poetry from contemplatives and mystics with the Alma String Quartet From plainsong to gospel, celtic to ragas. Evocative music and words that invite us to stillness, wholeness and joy. Music by Max Richter, Hildegarde von Bingen, Kala Ramnath, Morten Lauridsen. Words by Rumi, Hafiz, Mary Oliver, Chelan Harkin

1st July 2022, 7.30pm

Markfield Methodist Church (LE67 9UU) • Tickets £10 • Available from Ann 01530 242166 or Karen 07739 555015 karensilverwood@gmail.com

How to discourage MOSQUITOES

Extensions - Refurbishments Patios - General Building Works

SUMMER BRINGS mosquitoes. We avoid them by using sprays, zappers or citronella candles. But now scientists may have found another way to discourage these blood-sucking pests. A recent study in Nature Communication suggests that we might also consider not wearing red clothes. It seems that mosquitoes see only certain wavelengths of light, and therefore only certain colours are seen to be a source of food. And red is their favourite colour! Fortunately, white, green, purple or blue clothes go unnoticed by the hungry bugs. So, it may be helpful this summer to cover your skin with cooler shades of clothes. But don’t expect miracles, because unfortunately, mosquitos are also attracted by our breath, our sweat and even the temperature of our skin. Which, sadly, puts you back to square one.

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I love how Prince Charming is so dumb he doesn’t recognise Cinderella without her shoe.

Groby & Field Head Spotlight • MID-MAY 2022 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk

Is Inconsiderate Parking a Problem in the Parish? INCONSIDERATE parking is a problem in Groby Parish according to 413 (59%) of the 695 responses we received to this question in the recent community survey. The problem appears to be widespread. Respondents identified 40 individual road names when identifying the location of parking issues. Although some respondents (5) said that inconsiderate parking on Ratby Road had improved since the double yellow lines were introduced, inconsiderate parking on Ratby Road received the most mentions (141) by far, followed by Glebe Road (23) and Leicester Road (23). When identifying inconsiderate parking, rather than name a road, many respondents gave a general description of the location or cited businesses, organisations, or facilities to locate the problem. Of these, Groby Village Centre received the most mentions (27), followed by ‘Everywhere’ (17), and the Post Office (9). As well as identifying where the inconsiderate parking was occurring, many respondents identified the nature of the problem: • Parking on pavements (48) • Parking on junctions (15) • Parking on double yellow lines (15) • Parking blocking driveways (8) • Parking opposite junctions (5) • Parking on both sides of the road (5) • Parking kerbside (2) • Parking in turning head or circle (1) Four major themes that emerged from the responses are examined in more detail below.

Ratby Road ALTHOUGH some respondents said that inconsiderate parking on Ratby Road had improved since the double yellow lines were introduced, one respondent said that the double yellow lines should have been put on the other side of the road where the houses have garages that they could use. Another respondent said that the double yellow lines had pushed the inconsiderate parking to neighbouring roads such as Martinshaw Lane. One respondent said that Ratby Road needs driveways or a parking area.

Schools SCHOOLS (including Brookvale Groby Learning Campus) were cited by 74 respondents in association with inconsiderate parking with many saying that it was all schools. Mentions by name were Brookvale Groby Learning Campus (24), Elizabeth Woodville Primary School (7), and Martinshaw Primary School (3). Lady Jane Grey Primary School was not mentioned by name. Given that many of the road names cited

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separately are also in the vicinity of schools, this suggests that schools are a major contributor to inconsiderate parking in Groby. One respondent suggested that parking on Glebe Road should be for parents dropping off children and that nearby residents should not park on the road because they have driveways they should use instead. Another respondent inferred that more children should be walking to school.

Pavement Parking PAVEMENT parking was identified as a problem by 48 respondents. Many of them suggested it was a general problem in Groby Village and the following places were specifically identified: Rookery Lane, Glebe Road, Ratby Road, Dalby Drive, Leicester Road, Chapel Hill, around the Laundon Way estate, south of Laundon Way, in the village centre, and near to shops and businesses.

New dog breeds WITH ALL THE new crossbreeds appearing, would you fancy one of the following? Collie + Lhasa Apso = Collapso: a dog that folds up for easy transport Pointer + Setter = Poinsetter: a traditional Christmas pet Great Pyrenees + Dachshund = Pyradachs: a puzzling breed Pekingese + Lhasa Apso = Peekasso: an abstract dog Labrador Retriever + Curly Coated Retriever = Lab Coat Retriever: the choice of research scientists Newfoundland + Basset Hound = Newfound Asset Hound: a dog for financial advisors Terrier + Bulldog = Terribull: a dog that makes awful mistakes

Parking on the pavement can cause an obstruction and inhibit the independence of many vulnerable people, especially older or disabled people with visual or mobility impairments. When pedestrians, for example families with pushchairs, are forced into the road, pavement parking is dangerous.

Bloodhound + Labrador = Blabador: a dog that barks incessantly

Druck

The power of earphones

INCONSIDERATE parking was associated with Druck by 20 respondents. One respondent suggested that Druck staff and visitors were parking in the streets instead of their car park and another said every street within 5 minutes of the Druck site was susceptible to inconsiderate parking. One respondent singled out Crane Ley Road for inconsiderate parking associated with Druck.

Neighbourhood Plan THERE IS little scope for neighbourhood plans to improve parking behaviours. When addressed in neighbourhood plans, typically this is done through guidance on design for example, guidance could state that any new homes must have two off-road parking spaces. Nevertheless, the Steering Group will share the results of the community survey with the appropriate authorities, and this may result in some action.

Community Survey FULL RESULTS from the community survey are available to download from http://www.groby.org.uk/ neighbourhood-plan or for reference as paper copies in the Parish Council Offices and in Groby Community Library. The Steering Group are working to produce more in-depth analysis that will be released periodically online and in the Spotlight magazine.

Groby Parish Neighbourhood Plan Steering Group

Collie + Malamute = Commute: a dog that travels to work Deerhound + Terrier = Derriere: a dog that’s true to the end

YOU ARE MORE likely to engage with a podcast if you listen to it through your earphones, rather than a speaker. You feel closer to what you hear, and are therefore more likely to change your views and behaviour. Those are the findings of recent research at the University of California, San Diego. As one scientist put it: “Headphones produce a phenomenon called inhead localisation, which makes the speaker sound as if they’re inside your head. As a result, people perceive the communicator as warmer, feel more empathically toward them, and are more easily persuaded by them.”

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Meet Dale Knight

Dale Knight has 29 years’ experience working as a mortgage and protection adviser, covering Groby and surrounding areas. He will be able to discuss and advise your mortgage and protection options in a personal and professional manner to ensure your experience is easy and hassle free. As a mortgage and protection adviser, Dale will be able to provide tailored advice to support you on your property journey, whether you are a firsttime buyer, home mover or simply looking to review your current mortgage options. Dale has lived his entire life in Groby and over the years, has helped hundreds of clients to achieve their property dreams. With access to more than 11,000 products from over 90 lenders, he will be able to offer the right package to suit you and your individual circumstances.

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My office has started random urine testing of employees to detect traces of hope or optimism.

Groby & Field Head Spotlight • MID-MAY 2022 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk

Groby Gardening Society APRIL 2022 WAS one of the driest on record for the UK, with only around one-third of the average expected rainfall. So much for April showers! No doubt we’ll catch up later in the year. Despite the sunshine, much of the month was subject to a cool breeze from the north/ north east, caused by a series of blocking high pressure areas to the north of the UK, which took the edge off the temperature on many days. One of the advantages of the dry spell was that the spectacTwo members eagerly anticipating the arrival of the tea ular displays from the cherry blossoms lasted longer, and and cake at the recent social event! began to fall whilst still dry, so that my car didn’t have soggy blossom plastered all over it! A social event was held in the afternoon of April 7th at the United Reformed Church. This was well attended by over 35 people, and included a quiz, with tea, cakes and scones provided. The event seemed to be well received, many attendees preferred having the meeting in the afternoon rather than the evening, and it was agreed that a further social event would be held on Thursday 9th June at 2pm at the same location. Many thanks to Joy Russell for procuring the food, and all the other helpers involved with setting up the tables, taking the food around to the tables, and washing up and clearing away afterwards, a real GGS event. Several people volunteered to help at the next event, which is appreciated. One of the points discussed at the event was the feasibility of arranging a day trip by coach to a nearby garden attraction, to be partially subsidised from society funds. This is still in the planning stage, as is the possibility of a bench or stand of trees commemorating the society. More details at the next social event in June. If any members of the society have any comments, suggestions or observations, please contact Helen Box in the first instance, via email at helen_box@hotmail.com. Enjoy your garden when you can. Stay safe.

Keith Poole

What 6000 steps a day can do for you A RECENT STUDY has found that doing 6000 steps a day can reduce your risk of an early death, if you are aged over 60. People under the age of 60 should aim for between 8000 and 10,000 steps a day. However, taking more than 8000 steps a day has no particular benefit, and the oft-repeated mantra that everyone should take 10,000 step a day has no grounding whatever in science. (The 10,000 steps idea came from a 1964 Japanese marketing drive to sell pedometers!) Researchers from the University of Massachusetts Amherst point out that: “Steps are very simple to track, and there is a rapid growth of fitness-tracking devices.” The major thing to remember is that there is a “lot of evidence suggesting that moving, even a little more, is beneficial, particularly for those who are doing very little activity.”

The Science of Living: 219 reasons to rethink your daily routine By Dr Stuart Farrimond IS SLEEPING 8 hours a night good for optimum health? If I exercise every day, why am I not losing weight? Should I brush my teeth before or after breakfast? Is coffee good or bad for you? These are all fundamental everyday questions explored throughout this wellness book, which combines popular science with practical self-improvement, factoring in the latest scientific research to debunk the common myths and provide easy-to-read and relatable content for every reader! The popular question and answer format brings an immediacy to the information provided, and the highly visually illustrations truly bring the science to life in a contemporary and accessible way. From fitness tips to circadian rhythms, productivity to popular science, this allencompassing healthy lifestyle book truly does have it all. What better way to redefine your routine and revitalise your life than gifting yourself a new you this New Years? This curated collection of self-improvement tips will teach you to become a better balanced version of yourself. So make 2022 the year of wellness and healing yourself!

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A heart-shaped pizza just means less pizza and that’s not a sacrifice I’m willing to make for love.

Groby Club’s

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Groby & Field Head Spotlight • MID-MAY 2022 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk

Latest news from GROBY WI

I WAS AWAY for the April meeting but many thanks to Philippa Brown for stepping in and taking notes on the talk from Julie Ede about the life of Marilyn Monroe. Marilyn was born on 1st June 1926 and died on 4th August 1962, aged 36, from a self-administered barbiturate overdose. Her name at birth was Norma Jeane Mortenson but she was christened Baker after her Mother, Gladys Pearl Baker. Her mother was very mentally unstable and was later diagnosed with schizophrenia. Her father was thought to be Glady’s third husband, Charles Gifford. At the age of 20, with a blossoming career in modelling beginning to take off, she adopted her mother’s maiden name and assumed her stage name of Marilyn Monroe. She became one of the most popular sex symbols of the 1950s and early 1960s and was emblematic of the era’s sexual revolution. Marilyn endured a loveless childhood being shuffled between orphanages and foster homes, and was trapped into marriage at the age of 16 to James (Jim) Dougherty but that marriage proved to be more of a friendship and eventually, police officer Jim joined the merchant navy and left Marilyn to her own devices. She was signed up to be a model in 1945 having been discovered by a budding journalist at an agency who was blinded by her beauty. In 1946, she progressed to pictures in adult magazines which displeased husband Jim and they subsequently divorced.

up her dress, although she apparently wore double plated, denim knickers to preserve her dignity! They divorced after only nine months of marriage. Her third marriage in 1956 was to playwright Arthur Miller, and although he is said to have made her feel wanted, secure and loved, this was only to last for four years and led to her emotional fragility. Other lovers included Marlon Brando, Frank Sinatra and Yves Montand. In 1948 Marilyn met Johnny Hyde who was one of the most powerful agents in Hollywood and 31 years her senior. He took Marilyn on as a client, helping her to get roles in ‘Asphalt Jungle’ and ‘All About Eve’. He fell in love with her, left his wife and begged Marilyn to marry him many times but she refused. When Johnny died in 1950, Marilyn was heartbroken and had nothing, but she enrolled on to a University Course - Art and Literature, as she wanted to be considered educated. She took solace at this time in alcohol and drugs. Some of Marilyn’s more popular films included: 1950 Asphalt Jungle - her 1st serious film 1950 All About Eve with Bette Davis 1952 Don’t Bother to Knock 1952 Monkey Business with Cary Grant 1953 Gentleman Prefer Blonds in which Marilyn thought she exuded innocence! 1957 The Prince and the Showgirl with Laurence Olivier. It was after she had finished filming this movie in London and her then husband, Arthur Miller, had the premier of his movie ‘The Battle of the River Plate’. She accompanied him to the premier and met Queen Elizabeth II, who Marilyn felt was very warm hearted. 1959 Some Like It Hot with Tony Curtis but they did not get on with each other.

Marilyn Monroe

She was loved by photographers and her pictures were noticed in a magazine by Howard Hughes. He phoned her agency and asked her to go for a screen test, which she initially refused but later succumbed in July 1946. Hollywood took complete control of Marilyn saying she was too plump; her nose was too long and her hair colour was not right. She took diet pills and dyed her hair blond becoming the Marilyn Monroe we identify with. In 1952, she was asked what she wore in bed and replied ‘only a few drops of Chanel No 5’! In 1954 she married baseball legend, Joe DiMaggio, but he quickly became uncomfortable with his wife’s sexy image and her popularity. She caused a near riot among US servicemen stationed in Korea during a performance she gave in the middle of the couple’s honeymoon! Joe was also extremely jealous of a film she did with Robert Mitcham where Marilyn wore only a blanket. The final straw was the iconic New York shot of Marilyn standing over an air vent which blew

1961 The Misfits with Clark Gable. He died before the film was released and his wife blamed his death on Marilyn In 1961 Marilyn booked herself into a clinic to ‘dry out’. She came out vowing charity, chastity and no alcohol but quickly lapsed and took up with both John F. and Bobby Kennedy. In May 1962, Marilyn sang her sultry rendition of ‘Happy Birthday Mr President’ to John F. Kennedy, wearing a dress that gave the illusion of her being naked underneath. This was to be her swan song and although she was still stunning, she was drinking massive amounts of gin and injecting drugs which ultimately led to her death. Her funeral service included Judy Garland’s song ‘Somewhere Over The Rainbow’, a sad end to a very troubled lady. Next month’s meeting on Thursday 19th May will be ‘Resolutions’ and a social evening.

Ruth Rolinson

Letter

Thoughtless dog owners I REALISE this is a contentious subject,but we can all do our bit and call the “Clean Neighbourhood Team” on 01455 238141. They are a very helpful team and your call will be totally confidential. Groby is a lovely village,so this sort of behaviour should be punished. Whilst all forms of dog fouling should be stamped upon (not literally), those selfish individuals who allow their pets to foul on Marina Park where the young children play football are even more thoughtless and selfish. I have witnessed the aftermath, though not the actual deed on several occasions. Is it right that somebody who gives their time freely, to help the children, should firstly need to remove any dog muck left behind. Lets all do our part in keeping children safe from dog faeces. It’s your dog so do the right thing and pick up your dog’s poo.

Groby resident That first kiss in the morning is so special, and the dog enjoys it too.

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Why should I waste my time reliving the past when I can spend it worrying about the future?

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HINCKLEY & BOSWORTH BOROUGH COUNCIL NEWS Tel: 0116 287 4500 Mob: 07850 707050 E-Mail: hbbc@appliancehome.co.uk

Thank you to Chaplin & Son Butchers

IM Properties Groby THE CHARNWOOD Draft Local Plan was at the same stage of the process as the Hinckley & Bosworth Borough Council Draft Local Plan, awaiting public examination. The Charnwood Plan was submitted earlier than Hinckley & Bosworth so is likely to be heard first at public examination. However, what both plans share are the Rothley Brook Meadow Green Wedge Policy and the importance and benefits of separation between settlements that this policy delivers. We now know the start date of the Charnwood Local Plan Public examination is 28th June 2022. We will learn a lot about what, if any, challenges are made by Leicestershire County Council or IM Properties - indeed anyone else too at this public examination being held before Hinckley & Bosworth

Hinckley & Bosworth Next Steps The next step in the process for Hinckley & Bosworth is a public examination of the Hinckley & Bosworth Borough Council Draft local Plan; the timetable is unknown but expected between November 2022 and April 2023.

THE LAST DAY of trading for Chaplin’s Butchers is Saturday 29th May 2022 between 9am and 1pm Margaret & Morris are inviting people along to have a cup of tea or coffee with them, and to look around the place, from behind the counter and the rear garden to celebrate as they trade for one last time on the above date. One can only imagine the many and varied conversations that have taken place at Chaplin’s Butchers whilst serving customers over the many years. Indeed, I have fond memories of many conversations myself. As well as many a purchase and always my Christmas lunch. I know a great many people will miss them, including me, but wish them well for their retirement. The outside of the premises will largely remain the same whilst inside will revert back to a family home. The ability to pop in and get your meat and poultry will be gone. God bless you both, you have served the public for so long.

Queen’s Platinum Jubilee HER MAJESTY the Queen will become the first British Monarch to celebrate a Platinum Jubilee after 70 years of service. An achievement that will not be repeated again in my lifetime, yours too I suspect. Indeed I doubt a British Monarch Platinum Jubilee event will ever take place ever again. The extended bank holiday weekend from Thursday 2nd June to Sunday 5th June will feature: • Thursday 2nd June – The Queen’s Birthday Parade – Trooping the Colour • Thursday 2nd June – Platinum Jubilee Beacons • Friday 3rd June – Service of Thanksgiving • Saturday 5th June – Platinum Party at the Palace • Sunday 6th June – The Big Jubilee Lunch, street parties across the country • Sunday 6th June – The Platinum Jubilee Pageant At my time of writing Leicester County Council have officially granted two road closures in Groby • Pine Tree Avenue – Sunday 5th June road closed from 10.00am – 8.00pm • Bedford Drive – Sunday 5th June The big Jubilee Lunch takes place on Sunday 5th June with hundreds and hundreds of street parties taking place to celebrate her Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee

Any challenge which is made by anyone, not just the current consultation consultee, to change the two plots designation from farmland will be met with a fight from myself as Groby Ward Member as I believe WE HAVE GOT THIS RIGHT and this is the correct designation of use for this land. Now that the IM Properties consultation period has closed, this is not a consultation by Hinckley & Bosworth Borough Council it is entirely up to IM Properties what happens next. This will hopefully be based upon the feedback received from the consultation events with the public, we shall have to just wait and see. It is clear to me, and so it should be to IM Properties, that the vast majority of people who engaged with them during their testing of the water with the consultation have fed back that they are against their proposals for many and varied different reasons. Indeed from all the contact I have had with people on this issue by e-mail, text, telephone and in person only one and half people have expressed support for IM Properties proposals. The one person in support by the way was an Anstey resident. You may recall back in February 2022 following the Webinar IM Properties promised to add the 108 questions asked and answers to their web site within days. This has now been added to the IM Properties web site - to view go to www.impgroby.co.uk Will IM Properties reflect upon the outcome of residents’ feedback & views to date? We will have to wait and see. However, IM Properties may decide to take: Option 1: Reflect upon the consultation events and in the event residents were mainly opposed to their proposals, as a result they may decide to drop the proposals completely and walk away. Option 2: Reflect upon the consultation events and in the event that residents were supportive in some way and or feedback tweaks to the scheme from residents’ views. Option 3: Irrespective of option 1, move to submitting a formal planning application. Option 4: Something else, it is entirely in IM Properties gift to decide their next move.

Cllr Martin Cartwright Hinckley & Bosworth Borough Council – Groby Ward. Executive member for: Licensing, Environmental, Climate Change, Rural Issues & Klondyke Community Hub

Call: 0116 287 4500 Mobile: 07850 707050

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Cllr Martin Cartwright

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FROM COUNCILLOR MARTIN CARTWRIGHT Should IM Properties move to the next stage and submit a formal planning application this will be accompanied by much more detail such as the access and site layout as well as the look, position and size of the buildings, construction materials etc. As a result of the above there will be so much more detail to make comments upon. It will be mandatory at this point for a further consultation period once the planning application is submitted, none exists to date. It is important to note that at each stage in this very long process you will be given the opportunity to comment should you choose to do so.

An update on Bradgate Stables is on page 22 ...> BRADGATE STABLES have continued to decline year on year for a long time now. Hinckley & Bosworth Borough Council have commissioned an urgent works report and are taking action to see that the works needed are carried out. See page 18 for more information. Please remember if I can ever be of help to you or your family please do not hesitate to contact me. My contact details are listed.

Cllr Martin Cartwright

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Library News THE LIBRARY is really getting back into its post-lockdowns swing now, with lots of opportunities for you to avail yourself of a growing range of (mostly) free services. So have a look at these! Firstly, a reminder that the library and café are now open every Wednesday morning from 10 to 12, as well as in the afternoon from 2 until 5. This adds to our usual timetable of Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday mornings and Monday and Friday afternoons, for your convenience! On Tuesday 17th May we welcome the second surgery with Work Live Leicestershire, a project by the Rural Community Council, Leicestershire and Rutland. The RCC will be here to provide advice to anyone 18 yrs. and above who is not working. They specialise in one-to-one support, providing short courses, CV and cover letter creation, business start-up advice and specialist support. They’ll be with us from 10.30-12.30am. On alternate Wednesday afternoons from 3-4.30 you can get busy with our popular, after-school, construction club, building amazing edifices with a well-known Danish system of plastic bricks that begin with L and end with O… The first session in May is on the 11th. If it’s Thursday, it might just be a day that the Wriggly Readers meet! They’re here every other week, they’re pre-school and they bring their Mums and Carers to have a great time listening to stories and singing songs! And sometimes their Mums like to drink coffee together after! And there is cake… From 10.30-11 am on the 19th May and alternate weeks after that. On Fridays, everything happens! In the morning of the second Friday of the month, when the library is closed, we meet for A Cuppa and Company. It’s an opportunity for you to come down and enjoy a free cup of coffee with old friends and friends you haven’t yet met. We chat about absolutely anything and everything, sometimes guided by one of the library service’s mysterious memory boxes. Our May meeting is on the 13th, from 10-11am. Then, in the afternoon, we alternate between Crafternoon, a chance to meet and engage in some light crafting with all materials provided plus help and guidance from volunteers from Community Houses organisation, and Knit and Stitch, our long-running group of people who like to…knit and sew! Both groups meet from 2-3.30 and the first Crafternoon is on May 13th and Knit and Stitch on May 20th. So you have no reason to sit at home with nothing to do! Come down and meet our willing volunteers and your neighbours, for a good time. And what’s more we have the latest books for you to borrow, such as these, taken from the Sunday Times bestsellers’ list and in our stock • Lee Child and Andrew Child - Better off Dead • Richard Osman - The Thursday Murder Club • Colleen Hoover - Ugly Love • Peter Robinson - Not Dark Yet • Colleen Hoover - Verity • Santa Montefiore - The Distant Shores • James Patterson and Adam Hamdy - Private Rogue • Sheila O’Flanagan - Three Weddings and a Proposal • Lucinda Riley - The Missing Sister •

Delia Owens - Where the Crawdads Sing

Dave Robinson

A Warning

Be careful if your mobile app tracks your jogging route BEST SELLING author Peter James is well known as the creator of Detective Superintendent Grace, whose adventures returned to ITV for a second series in April. Although he’s written enough Grace books for there to be many more series, he’s also written around two dozen other books, mainly thrillers but also including a children’s novel and non-fiction. One of his latest books, I Follow You, features a married man who is obsessed with a woman he meets who looks like someone he knew in his earlier life. She is a fitness trainer and engaged to be married, but that does nothing to cool the obsession, and he discovers he can track her daily routines through a mobile application used by runners. It’s a cautionary tale for anyone who uses an app that tracks movements and allows others to see the information. The idea for the plot was taken from real life. “My wife, Lara, is a keen runner, and has competed in thirteen marathons,” Peter James explained. “She had the spark of an idea about three years ago, while using a running app that plots your route, distances, times and all kinds of other data. Part of the fun of the app is to compare your times against other runners. As a runner myself, I know they are a competitive lot. But one day, she acknowledged a stranger who was running the same route as her, around local Sussex country lanes and footpaths. A short while after she got home, she discovered he had started to follow her on the app. That in itself didn’t initially bother her, but then she realized that, by looking at her start and finish point, this stranger could easily work out where she lived. And patterns in her routes, timing and locations could open up a wealth of information that, in the wrong hands, could be dangerous.” “From the moment Lara told me this, the idea for this book took root. I debated whether to write it as part of the Roy Grace series, but I felt I could write a more claustrophobic story just keeping the entire focus on the principal characters themselves.” He acknowledges that his books would never happen without an enormous amount of help and input from many other people, and this story required a huge amount of research about the world of the medics in the story, and his new home of Jersey, where it is set. To find out what happens next you’ll have to read this page turner, which is available at Groby Community Library.

Norman Griffiths

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Groby Allotments News Easter Fun AS PROMISED, here are the photos of the entrants to our Easter Hat Competition. Don’t they all look lovely! We had a fun day, a little while before Easter but all our entrants had been very creative, especially one who had fresh flowers on her Easter Hat and another whose hat was festooned with seed packets – very allotment-appropriate! We had ten adults, two children and two babies enter our competition, so it was a good turn-out. I have to say that the babies’ entries were outstanding for ones so young, but I have a slight suspicion that they had a tiny bit of help from their parents! Either that or they both have a brilliant career ahead of them in the creative arts! We had two judges to make sure that there was no favouritism (they are the people in the photo who aren’t wearing hats) and everyone who entered the competition received an Easter egg, with the bigger Easter eggs being given as prizes. We had one adult winner, two child winners and two baby winners, so everyone was happy and also suitably rewarded for their efforts. We also had a really good selection of plants for sale. Amanda, our incredibly greenfingered grower, has been germinating all the seeds using peat-free compost this year and the results have been very good indeed. The plant sales at each of our monthly Open Shed Sunday events are open to anyone to buy, so if you would like a few vegetable, herb or flowering plants, do pop down and buy a few. We would be happy to see you.

Donations Occasionally we have people contact us to say that they have a shed, greenhouse or garden implement that they no longer use and offer it to allotmenteers, either for free or for a small fee. We also had someone

Easter bonnets galore! contact us to offer some slabs for free recently. This is lovely of residents, very kind, and we are really grateful that they think of us and that, if possible, we can re-use some pre-loved items and save them from the waste tip. However, we also receive some items such as plant pots or other items which are just left in the Ratby Road car park, without contacting us first to ask if they would be useful to us. Sadly, many of these items we cannot find a new owner for and so we then have go to the trouble of transporting them to the waste tip ourselves. As you can imagine, this is not helpful. Please therefore, if you have some items which you think may be useful to our members, please contact us first before you leave them on our site. We can then ask our members and give you the names of those interested or ask them to contact you direct. Leaving items in the car park could be seen as fly tipping and we would not want you to be fined for your good intentions. Our email address is grobyallotments@yahoo.com or you can ask someone on the allotments to contact one of the committee for you or you can leave a message at the Parish Council and either way we will get back to you to let you know if we can make use of your kind offer.

New Tenants! As we walk around the allotment plots now, all is busy with people planting out and watching those

plants grow. It is lovely to see everything come alive again. The bees, butterflies and ladybirds are about as well, taking advantage of the early flowering plants and the tiny bugs. I noticed recently, when cutting the grass footpath that runs down the side of my plot that I had some bees in my compost bin. When I opened the lid to add the grass cuttings, several bees flew out looking quite annoyed and so I had to put the lid back on and leave using that bin, stuffing all the cuttings into the other, rather full bin instead. I love bees and respect them and the vital work that they do pollinating all our crops, but I would have preferred it if they had found somewhere else to nest! I’ve checked various beekeeper websites and they aren’t attracted to compost specifically, obviously my bin just suited their needs for now. Hopefully they will decide to find a more desirable place to nest for the rest of year fairly soon or I shall have to make a new compost heap!! We have recently had a couple of our allotmenteers give up their plots for one reason or another, so if you think that you would like to have a go at growing your own vegetables or have somewhere a little bigger to grow your favourite flowers or fruit, do contact us at grobyallotments@yahoo.com and ask for an application form or for a chat about renting a plot.

Carol Lincoln

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Groby & Field Head Spotlight • MID-MAY 2022 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk

County Councillor’s Report from Ozzy O’shea Email: ozzy.o’shea@leics.gov.uk or ozzyoshea@hotmail.com

Bus Service Improvement Plan Funding Turned Down

THE COUNTY Council were told to bid for money from the government for the bus service improvement plan. I can confirm that our bid was around £58m from Government over 3 years, but as outlined in the recent Cabinet report that was completely contingent on the county council being able to draw on additional funding from central government Councillor Ozzy O’Shea, Leicestershire County Council’s cabinet lead member for highways and transport, said: “Once again we are extremely disappointed Leicestershire has been overlooked in a bid for Government transport funding. “The announcement that we will receive no Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP) money is a blow because bus services in the county have suffered during the pandemic and support from the Government is vital if we are to protect and improve them.

Please be aware by using security screws to attach your vehicle’s number plate’s makes it harder for thieves to get your number plate.

Remote Access scams Awareness

NEVER ALLOW remote access to your computer following an unsolicited call, text message or browser pop-up. Some of the most common scams reported to Action Fraud involve fraudsters connecting remotely to a victim’s computer. This month Action Fraud launched a new national awareness campaign about remote access scams. The City of London Police, explains more. More than £50 million was lost last year to scams where victims were tricked into handing over control of their computer or smartphone to criminals.

Never allow remote access to your computer following an unsolicited call, text message or browser pop-up. Some of the mostNew common scams reported to reporting data from Action Fraud, the national centre for fraud and cybercrime, reveals that Action involve connecting remotely to fell a victim's computer. “Although Fraud our bid was a strong fraudsters one, demand for funding by 20,144 people victim to scams where they other councils considerably outstripped the pot of money available. The Government has advised us to bid again once more funding becomes available.

were persuaded to grant criminals remote access

79 BSIP bids by councils were funded and we have missed out alongside other rural authorities such as Lincolnshire, Cumbria and Suffolk.

remotely to a victim’s computer. Never allow remote access to your computer following an unsolicited call, text message or browser pop-up.

to their awareness device. This month Action Fraud launched a new national campaign about Some of the most common scams reported remote access scams. London explains more. “We are far from alone in beingThe turnedCity down.of Only 31 of the Police, to Action Fraud involve fraudsters connecting

More than £50 million was lost last year to scams where victims were tricked We have already raised the Government decision with local into handing over control of their computer or smartphone criminals. HOW to DO REMOTE MPs. “We have asked the Department for Transport to explain why the bid was turned down and we can then consider our next steps.”

ACCESS TOOL SCAMS WORK?

Remote access tool scams will often begin with a browser pop-up saying that your computer is infected with a virus, or with a call from someone claiming to be from your bank saying that they need to connect to your computer in order to cancel a fraudulent transaction on your account.

New data from Action Fraud, the national reporting centre for fraud and cybercrime, reveals that 20,144 people fell victim to scams where they were Theft oftoVehicle Number persuaded grant criminals remote access to their device.

Plates is on the rise

THE POLICE have had numerous reports of Some of the most common scams reported thefts of number plates from vehicles.

Criminals will try to persuade the victim to download and connect via a remote access tool, which allows the criminal to gain access to the victim’s computer or mobile phone. If the victim allows the criminal connection via the tool, they

to Action Fraud involve fraudsters connecting toidentity a victim’s Never allow remote access to your The easiest wayremotely to change the of a stolencomputer. vehicle or avoid speeding tickets and parking tickets is to fit stolen computer following an unsolicited call, text message or browser pop-up. number plates.

Ozzy O’shea are able to steal money and access the victims banking information. The City of London Police advise: Only install software or grant remote access to your computer if you’re asked by someone you know and trust, such as a friend or family member, and never as a result of an unsolicited call, browser pop up, or text message. Finally I would like to thank you all for your continued support and remind you that should you need my help or advice, I always pride myself on making myself available to residents. Remember I am only a phone call or email away.

Ozzy O’shea Always Working for you Cllr Ozzy O’shea

Tel 0116 239 4336 Mobile 07808 585825 Email ozzy.o’shea@leics.gov.uk Email ozzyoshea@hotmail.com

Groby Village Society Meetings Meetings held at Groby Village Hall Starting at 7.30pm. unless stated otherwise For Further Details Contact Hon. Secretary Mr. P. Castell Tel. 0116 287 9842 or e-mail:

pcastell42@gmail.com Non Members are Welcome

Save time when crossing a one-way street by only looking in the direction of oncoming traffic.

For publication dates and details of advertising rates, visit the website at www.grobyspotlight.co.uk WHEN, IN 1966, the National Trust acquired Sir Winston Churchill’s former home, Chartwell in Kent, Sir Winston requested that there should always be a marmalade cat named “Jock”, with a white bib and four white socks, in comfortable residence at the house. The Trust has always honoured this request and in May 2020 welcomed Jock VII, a six month old rescue kitten from the RSPCA, to the property to take up his unique role. Jock VII has a white bib and white paws as in the request and also a mischievous character. He is regularly seen by visitors as they tour the property. Jock has settled in well. His favourite pastimes are exploring the 80 acres of grounds, investigating what the gardeners are up to and trying to persuade people to give him snacks. He also like lots of cuddles from staff at the end of the day. At Attingham Park, near Shrewsbury, there is a midnight-black cat called “Scrap”. She was born to a feral cat in Attingham’s orchard and has lived in the Walled Garden for most of her life. She also takes her role of protecting the produce from mice and rabbits very seriously. In summer she finds time to entertain visitors by arranging herself on the bench in front of the garden bothy to catch their attention. In winter she heads inside to warm herself in front of the log burner or relaxes in the sunshine inside the glasshouses. She will also steal cakes and biscuits from NT staff and volunteers on their break. At Coughton Court in Warwickshire there is a cat called “Ariel”. This spirited tabby moved to Coughton in September 2011 and is not named after a Disney princess but after the name for “Lion of God” in Hebrew which is much more fitting for this feisty feline. She was a seven week old kitten when she arrived and has grown up exploring the grounds. Her favourite spot is the Cain Brook, where long grasses provide the perfect mouse-hunting ground but she also explores far and wide. She wanders the fern-lined paths in the bog garden, stalks visitors as they walk around the property and charges over the lawns and up trees. However in winter she is happy to lounge in front of a blazing open fire.

SECOND HAND

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In the East Midlands, at Gunby Hall in Lincolnshire, the gardens belong to the resident cat called “Committee”, who is often seen mooching near the greenhouse. The cat was christened “Committee” by staff as she looks like she was designed by one, but is also known as “M’Lady”. She is very friendly and loves to get a tickle on her tummy or a scratch behind the ears and is often found sleeping in a flowerbed or in her crate near a window in the glasshouse. She is an excellent mouse catcher and sometimes brings her prey into the staff to show off her skills. The National Trust Leicester Association has now moved on to its summer programme of Outings and Local Visits to places of interest. For details of the NT Leicester Association please call 0116 2229133 or visit our web site at www.leicesternt.com New members always welcome.

Alan Tyler, National Trust leicester Association

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Groby & Field Head Spotlight • MID-MAY 2022 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk

News about Bradgate Stables

Local project funding via the Co-op THE LAUNDON WAY, Groby Co-op and the Wanlip Lane Birstall Co-op are now looking for local causes to apply for the Co-op’s community fund for 2022/3. Applications are open from now until the end of May. Three causes will be selected between the two stores with the new scheme commencing in October.

BRADGATE STABLES and Kennels are located to the north of the A50 between Bradgate Hill and Markfield. They formed part of a much bigger development that included Bradgate House. Sadly the house was demolished in 1926 but its elaborate stable block, Bradgate Stables still survives, albeit in a dilapidated condition. The loss of the house completely makes the significance of the stable block all the more important and significant. Both the house and stable block were constructed in 1856 for the 7th Earl of Stamford, Master of the Quorn Hunt 1856-63. The Stables and Kennels are a grade II* listed building due to their special historic and architectural interest. As featured in one of my earlier Spotlight Borough Council articles the Bradgate Stables feature on a number of Historic Buildings at risk registers, including Historic England. The building is now in disuse, has been for a considerable time and is in a very poor state of disrepair, at significant risk, being identified by the Borough Council and Historic England as “at risk”.

The current building owners, Hanson Quarry Products Ltd, who are ultimately responsible for the listed building status requirements upon their land have failed to undertake much of the works required for its preservation. Regrettably, as a result the Borough Council, with the support of Historic England, are progressing with a statutory course of action under Section 54 of the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 to ensure that the works urgently required for the preservation of the building are undertaken either voluntarily by Hanson or in default by the Borough Council. Where if the latter, the cost of the work, currently estimated at just under three hundred thousand pounds, can be recovered from the land owner. If works are carried out in default, Historic England would pick up 80% and HBBC 20% of the bill before recovery. The specified urgent works include vegetation clearance, scaffolding repairs to the existing scaffolding and additional, wall repairs, and repairs to the tower and armorial panel. The urgent works identified in the report will be undertaken throughout the summer of 2022. Although the urgent works are only a short-term measure, they are imperative and are urgently required to ensure the condition of the building does not deteriorate any further at this time, allowing options for the Stables and Kennels to be explored and the proper preservation of this special building to be secured in the longer term. As ward member for Groby I am extremely grateful for the comprehensive report that has been undertaken by the experts in this field that not only identifies what the urgent work needed to be completed right now is but also gives a complete true picture of the current state of the building. I am also very grateful to the Borough Council officers that have taken an interest and pursued this issue over many years resulting in the recommendation that I was delighted to second and support at the Borough Council on April 26th 2022. Once the urgent works have been undertaken to stop further deteriation to the Bradgate Stables, I would welcome talks with the landowner and the Borough Council officers as to what happens next in respect of the future of Bradgate Stables. One step at a time springs to mind. Any works carried out will be closely supervised, and monitored by those with the skills to do so. I will update you in due course. Finally, can I remind residents that the Bradgate Stables are located on private land. Absolutely no attempt should be made by anyone to visit the site, as you would be trespassing.

Cllr Martin Cartwright

The Co-op Local Community Fund helps pay for local projects that our members care about. Every time a member shops at the Co-op, 2p in every £1 spent on selected own-branded products and services goes to help fund community projects where they live. We also give all money raised from carrier bag sales to our causes, to help even more. The amount received by the cause would depend on members choosing the cause to support. Some of the past and present beneficiaries of the Local Community Fund in the area include: Groby Community Library, Elizabeth Woodville PTA, Ratby Community Orchard and the Baldwin Trust. A brief summary of the scheme: To apply, you must meet the organisation requirements set out by Co-op’s Local Community Fund. Your cause and your project also need to be in keeping with Co-op’s values. You can make an application if your project: Bring people together for fair access to food; create opportunities for young people to be helped and make a difference, Help improve people’s mental wellbeing and help people protect local biodiversity or tackle climate change by reducing carbon emissions. For eligibility details go to https://causes.coop.co.uk/ terms-and-conditions

Adrian Walker

Coop Member Pioneer, Groby & Birstall Stores

Are you a Velcro person or a Teflon person? HOW MUCH daily stress do you allow to stick to you? When it comes to coping with stress, David Almeida, a professor of human development at Pennsylvania State University, says that people can be divided into two categories. ‘Velcro’ people allow the stressful moment to stay with them, leaving them irritable and frustrated. ‘Teflon’ people see the moment of stress for what it is, but then let it slide away from them, leaving no effect on their mood. In a ten-year study, Almeida found that people who become easily upset in the moment and who then dwell on their negative feelings and resentment are much more likely to suffer subsequent health problems such as pain, arthritis, cardiovascular complications, and mental health issues.

Wise Words: Today and Regrets “Today is life--the only life you are sure of. Make the most of today. Get interested in something. Shake yourself awake. Develop a hobby. Let the winds of enthusiasm sweep through you. Live today with gusto.” Dale Carnegie “Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do, so throw off the bowlines, sail away from safe harbor, catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore, dream, discover.” Mark Twain

A sombrero in a bin liner makes a trendy ‘hands-free’ umbrella.

For publication dates and details of advertising rates, visit the website at www.grobyspotlight.co.uk

Letter

Awful public transport PEOPLE TRAVELLING into and out of Leicester faced long delays on Arriva 29 and 29A in the week leading up to Easter. Some workers waiting in Gravel Street were kept waiting over an hour for a bus when they need to get to work. I am lucky as I can use the 27 to Ratby, which is soon being made hourly, which is awful as at the moment people are being urged to use public transport. There are no timetables and seating facilities or loos in Gravel Street. I have seen drivers of the 29 having to walk to the Haymarket bus station for a loo. Why cut services at a time when you see money being spent on road improvements, especially on the A50 soon at Fosse Road (which I feel we do not need) with all the delays to come for everyone? It has never been an accident blackspot but the money should be spent on improving bus services not cutting them and getting people out of cars! Leicester City Council must be spending a terrific amount of money doing other roadworks projects, such as those at Abbey Park Road and in the City Centre. I feel that today that everything is done for the car rather than public transport. It is such a shame

D A Cookson, Groby

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Groby & Field Head Spotlight • MID-MAY 2022 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk

Pressures continue in Primary Care services AT THE LATE APRIL meeting of the Groby Surgery Patients Group Dr Chotai talked about vacancy for a lady doctor and the increasing difficulty in recruiting General Practitioners. This is a subject that has received extensive press coverage in May. A survey of 11,000 GPs by Menlo Park, recruitment consultants within Primary Care, found that working in Primary Care is less attractive than prior to Covid-19 according to 87% of GPs. In addition, 72% of GPs also said that working in primary care throughout the pandemic has negatively impacted their mental health with the recent pressures the profession has been facing making it less appealing for clinicians. “GP-bashing media headlines, record demand for appointments, ‘name and shame’ league tables and lack of clear government support are all contributing factors to current low GP morale which has significantly increased the difficulty in recruiting GPs” the survey concluded. Although, in February 2020, the Government announced a drive to recruit an additional 6,000 GPs by 2024, it seems that there has actually been a reduction in the number of GPs. with 913 leaving primary care between September 2020 and September 2021. The Nursing Times reported earlier this year that the Chair of the General Practitioners’ Committee at the British Medical Association, Dr Farah Jameel, described the current demands on general practice as “simply not sustainable”. He said that GP appointment figures for December 2021were 20% higher than two years ago, adding that as well as vaccination rollout, surgeries continued to care for patients with Covid, and deliver the day-to-day care communities needed.

patients has increased during the pandemic,” she said, “putting more pressure on the nurse team.” She added that the pace and stress of the work was often demoralising, and that it was leading to problems keeping nurses in the practice. One advanced nurse practitioner who has worked in GP surgeries in Lincolnshire, told Nursing Times that she recently left the NHS after 29 years, and that many colleagues wanted to do the same because they were “tired and demoralised.” She said that the pressures to catch up on the backlog of care and the additional work created by the pandemic were exacerbating the already existing problems of recruitment and retention of nurses in general practice. “General practice nursing staff have been as pivotal in responding to the pandemic as the rest of the health and social care workforce,” she added. She stressed that, to “ease these unrelenting pressures”, there must be a “fully-funded workforce plan” drawn up by the government.

Booster jabs Over 75’s and those with compromised immune systems are being offered additional booster jabs which will hopefully help keep patients out of hospital even if they contract Covid. This was recommended, along

with jabs for older residents in care homes, by the Joint Committee for Vaccination and Immunisation(JCVI). The JCVI has also advised that a further booster in the autumn of 2022 is likely to be advised for people who are at higher risk of severe Covid-19. Those booking online may soon see Glenfield Surgery as one of their options.

Primary Care Networks GP practices work together with community, mental health, social care, pharmacy, hospital and voluntary services in their local areas in groups of practices known as primary care networks (PCNs). Groby Surgery is now part of a PCN with just two other members – Glenfield Surgery and the Groby Road Medical Centre at the intersection of Groby Road, Fosse Road North and Blackbird Road. The core characteristics of a PCN include: • Practices working together and with other local health and care providers, around natural local communities that geographically make sense, to provide coordinated care through integrated teams • Providing care in different ways to match different people’s needs,

• Focus on prevention and personalised care, supporting patients to make informed decisions • Use of data and technology to assess population health needs and health inequalities; support clinical decision making, and monitor performance and variation to inform continuous service improvement • Making best use of collective resources across practices and other local health and care providers to allow greater resilience, more sustainable workload and access to a larger range of professional groups.

Norman Griffiths For the Groby Surgery Patients Group

Spot the Spot TheDifferences Difference

“GPs and their teams are now also facing an extraordinary backlog of care – not only from patients with currently undiagnosed conditions, but also those currently waiting for hospital treatment who need GP support while they wait. These demands on general practice are simply not sustainable” The teams that support doctors are also under pressure. Michelle Heaney, a general practice sister working in a medical centre in Lichfield, told Nursing Times that she agreed with Dr Jameel that current working conditions were unsustainable. “The demand from

Can YOU spot the 10 differences in the cartoons above? Answers are on page 22. Good luck!

SAVE electricity by turning off all the lights in your house and walking around wearing a miner’s hat.

For publication dates and details of advertising rates, visit the website at www.grobyspotlight.co.uk

Planning Apps Proposed single storey rear extension measuring 6.0 metres in depth; 3.10 metres in height to the ridge; and 3.10 metres to the eaves - at 6 Branting Hill, Groby, Leicester LE6 0DB Proposed two storey rear and first floor side extension - at 19 Fern Crescent, Groby, Leicester LE6 0BF Proposed first floor side extension and changes to external fenestration - at 207 Leicester Road, Groby, Leicester LE6 0DT Proposed single storey side and rear extension (following demolition of existing garage) - at 30 Woodbank Road Groby Leicester Leicestershire LE6 0BN The erection of a single storey rear extension which would extend beyond the rear wall of the original dwellinghouse by 5.8m, for which the maximum height would be 3.4m and the height to the eaves would be 2.2m - at 3 Glendale Avenue, Glenfield, Leicester LE3 8GF Single storey rear extension - at 18 Groby Road, Glenfield, Leicestershire LE3 8GJ First Floor Side Extension - at 8 Glendale Avenue, Glenfield, Leicestershire LE3 8GF Single storey rear extension and loft conversion with roof alterations including side gable extension and dormer window to rear - at 25 Glen Park Avenue Glenfield Leicestershire LE3 8GH Rear extension measuring 4.35 metres in depth; 3.00 metres in height to the ridge; and 3.00 metres to the eaves - 18 Beech Close Markfield Leicestershire LE67 9RT Proposed conversion of former Public House into 6no. self contained flats and erection of 3no. terrace houses with associated parking, amenity space, cycle store and refuse/recycling facilities - at The Reservoir Inn, 286 Main Street, Thornton, Coalville Leicestershire LE67 1AJ

Some simple tricks to save ENERGY THE ON-GOING rise in energy costs is eye-watering. Here are some well-proven ways to save money: • Always turn off the lights when you leave a room. Forget about maintaining an ‘ambience’ in your home. • Turn down your thermostat by at least a degree. Or two. Or three? • Get some LED bulbs – they are six times more efficient, last much longer, and use 90 per cent less energy than oldstyle bulbs. • Shower rather than bath. Don’t worry about a bit of dirt on your children. It can strengthen their immune systems and help prevent them from becoming allergic to everything. • Don’t boil the kettle all the time – it eats up about six per cent of all your electricity per year. Why not consider making a pot rather than a mug, so that you drink as much overall, but less often? • Make a draught excluder - you know, the ones that look like sausage dogs. Don’t turn up the

heat to combat a draught, fix the draught. • Keep doors closed. If you don’t need to heat your WHOLE house, don’t. • Put some more clothes on. We all know people who like to wear only tee-shirts at home, even in winter. If they belong to your family, get them to put on a jumper, cuddle the dog, wrap up in a blanket, or run up and down the stairs, not turn up the heating. • Set your washing machine at 30. Washing at 30 rather than 40 degrees can reduce your energy consumption by 60 per cent per cycle, according to the energy experts.

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• Use your electric clothes dryer less. It can account for five per cent of all household electricity. Far cheaper to buy a washing line! • Use your oven only when you can fill it up. Never cook just one thing at a time. And when you are done, leave the oven door open to help heat the house.

All of these are small steps, but together they could make a big difference this year.

Is your house welcoming to SWIFTS? THESE boomerang-shaped little birds have recently been added to the list of endangered birds because they have a severe housing crisis: modern homes do not have nooks and crannies for them to nest in. Swifts are in serious decline: they have faced a 58 per cent drop in their numbers since 1995. Because modern homes are less likely to have spaces between bricks and in the eaves, the RSPB is now pushing for special ‘swift bricks’, that contain small tunnels and nesting space, to be installed in new-build homes.

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Call Mike today on 01530 244069 or email your details to info@grobyspotlight.co.uk

EXPENSIVE hair gels are a con. Marmalade is a much cheaper alternative, but beware of bees in the summer.

Groby & Field Head Spotlight • MID-MAY 2022 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk

Field Head housing proposal opposed by local residents ALTHOUGH Parish boundaries result in Field Head falling within Groby Parish Council for administrative purposes, for the infrastructure which affects day to day life it is essentially part of Markfield.

The nearest schools, medical facilities, shops, and employment are all in Markfield. Any development in Field Head inevitably has consequences for the village, but residents of this development will never contribute to the Markfield community because they will pay local taxes to Charnwood and Newtown Linford Councils. They will also have no democratic say on how the community operates or how resources are allocated. The news that Davidsons Builders are consulting on the provision of between 100 and 150 new homes on a land locked wedge of land between Leicester Road and Markfield Lane, near the Fieldhead Hotel, has been met with dismay from Field Head and Markfield residents already alarmed by the attractiveness of the area to speculative development. Davidsons Homes has put together proposals for the land, and would like to build on their 15.9 acre site. Harvey Singh, 45, who lives off Leicester Road in Field Head told the Leicester Mercury that the company has bought two properties, presumably to connect the development to local roads. The access location suggested is on a bend in Markfield Lane, where the limit is 40mph but

the traffic often goes much faster. “It’s going to be dangerous for traffic turning out on Leicester Road” he said. “Most people will be turning to go onto the A50 and that roundabout is already very busy at times and dangerous because of the speed of traffic crossing the roundabout from the M1 direction towards Leicester. There will be more queues and more accidents.” Mr Singh added that although a 13ft-wide lane joining the site with Leicester Road had been suggested, this would be a pedestrian route for children walking to school, and would be dangerous as it is a rightof-way for vehicles. The group formed to oppose the proposal also intends to draw attention to the impact on wildlife. “There has been work already carried out to the site,” explained local resident Linda Allen. “Mature trees have been removed, and a hedgerow has been flailed to virtually nothing. This time last year and in previous years it has been home to an array of birds and wildlife.” The challenge the residents face is not to be underestimated, and they are appealing for support from the wider community. The site does not have planning permission, but it is reported that the land is earmarked as being suitable for a residential development of up to 150 homes. The Charnwood Borough Council view is said to be that the site is in a suitable location in terms of its access to Markfield, a sustainable location in the Hinckley and Bosworth Core Strategy. But it is this proximity to Markfield which gives weight to the argument that any development of the site

should be considered in the context of the overall vision for the village. Matthew Lay, Borough Councillor for Markfield, has written a comprehensive letter to the agents for the developer, explaining that Markfield has taken steps to provide for its housing requirements, and has a Neighbourhood Plan which has allocated land to the south of the village. This is a significant allocation that is underway and will lead to 284 houses being built over the next 10 years, providing 112 affordable housing units. The Neighbourhood Plan, Cllr Lay explained, ensures that the settlement of Markfield benefits from enhanced protection in national planning policy. This enhanced protection includes a variation of the requirement for a Planning Authority to maintain a 5 year supply of deliverable housing sites. For communities with a Neighbourhood Plan this is reduced to 3 years supply, which the Borough Council currently satisfies. The Plan also delivers its housing requirement up to 2039 in full. We will have to see whether Charnwood Borough Council, who will be responsible for determining any planning application in due course, will take all these factors into account. Some residents may feel that the boundary issue provides the potential developer with a back door into Markfield. What is clear to most, however, is that neither developers nor planning authorities should be allowed to cherry pick the rules in boundary situations like this.

Norman Griffiths

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Did you spot all 10 differences?

1. Colour of Kite, 2. Boy on hill, 3. Boy stood in different direction, 4. Extra Hill, 5. Heel patches on boy’s shoes, 6. One eyebrow missing, 7. Different colour sleeves, 8. Bottom teeth on second boy, 9. Hand missing on kite of second boy, 10. One fewer bows on second boy’s kite

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For publication dates and details of advertising rates, visit the website at www.grobyspotlight.co.uk

Christian Aid Week: 15th- 21st May 2022 PLEASE LOOK out for the Christian Aid Week red Christian Aid envelope 15thwhich we will be delivering to 21st May 2022 every home in Groby during Christian Aidout Week Please look for the red Christian Aid envelope Christian Aid Week.

15th21st Maybe 2022 which weable, will If you are pleasedelivering donate and to every home in Groby help to change lives forAid the better. during Christian Week. Please look out for the red Christian Aid envelope For the first time in a generation, global poverty is rising. Covid, conflict wecrisis will are bepushing delivering every home in Groby andwhich the climate more ofto our global neighbours intodonate a If you are able, please and help to change lives during Christian Aid Week. struggle for survival. for the better. In Zimbabwe, drought makes every day a struggle for survival for mums likeIfJessica Mwedzi. Jessica is hungry. Hungry for ahelp good meal. Hungry lives to you are able, please donate For theand first time to in achange generation, global earn a decent living. Hungry to provide a more hopeful future for her family. for the better.

poverty is rising. Covid, conflict and the climate crisis are pushing more of ‘My children crave a good meal, but I can’t provide.’ Jessica says. ‘It pains our global neighbours into a me to send them to bed hungry.’ For the first time in a generation, global poverty is rising. struggle for survival. Money raised will provide Covid, conflict and the climate crisis are pushing more of seeds to grow drought-resistant our global neighbours intoIn a Zimbabwe, drought crops. Set up water taps on struggle for survival. farms and train people to grow makes every day a struggle food in the harsh climate. Turning dry, dusty land into gardens of hope.

for survival for mums like In Zimbabwe, drought Jessica Mwedzi. Jessica is makes every day a struggle hungry. Hungry for a good Envelopes can be returned for survival for mums like meal. to earn Envelopes can be returned to manyHungry drop off points in the a to many drop off points in village including Groby Library, Laundon Way Co-op, Jessica Mwedzi. Jessica isdecent the village including Groby living. Hungry to Classic Cuts Hairdressers and Chaplin’s butchers. The hungry. Hungry for a goodhave collecting Library, Laundon Way Co-op, Stamford Arms will also provide tins on the bar. a more hopeful Classic Cuts Hairdressers and meal. Hungry to earn a future for her family. For those whoon prefer Chaplin’s butchers. The Stamford Arms will also have collecting tins the to give online donations can also be decent living. Hungry to Together in Groby Justgiving page. made via our Churches bar. provide a more hopeful children crave a good For those who prefer to give online‘My donations can also be made via ourmeal, but I can’t provide.’ https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Churches-Togetherher family. Churches Together in Groby Justgiving page.future Jessica says.for ‘ItIn-Groby-Christian-Aid-Week-2022 pains me to send them to bed hungry.’

https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Churches-Together-In-Grobyuse the following QR code for quick access to the page. ‘My children crave good meal, but for I can’t provide.’ Christian-Aid-Week-2022 useathe following QRraised code Money will provide seeds to grow drought-resistant quick access says. to the page. Jessica ‘It pains mecrops. to send them to bed hungry.’ Set up water taps on farms and train people to grow Last year, thanks to your generosity, Groby food in raised the harsh climate. Turning over £5,000 during Christian Aid Week to helpto some of drought-resistant Money raised will provide seeds gardens ofgrow hope. thecrops. world’s poorest this yearand if youtrain people to grow Set uppeople. waterPlease tapshelp on farms can. Thank you and God Bless.

dry, dusty land into

food in the harsh climate. Turning dry, dusty land into

Mary Pringle and Chris Davies gardens of hope. Churches Together in Groby

Packed lunches are back in style

Last year, thanks to your generosity, Groby raised over £5,000 during Christian Aid Week to help some of the world’s poorest people. Please help this year if you can. Thank you and God Bless.

WITH FOOD prices soaring, who needs a bought sandwich or salad?

Mary Pringle Chris Davies Churches Together in Groby

They can cost nearly £8 a day from LEON or Pret or other food outlets. Instead, it seems we are investing in plastic food containers (John Lewis reports sales are up 64 per cent on last year) and taking our own lunches to work. As one cookery blogger explains, “You can’t reduce your council tax, but you can make little savings on everyday meals, which add up to a significant difference.” “It’s ‘cool’ these days to take a packed lunch to the office,” says Suzanne Mulholland, author of The Batch Lady: Shop Once. Cook Once. Eat Well All Week. “Being organised and prepared is seen as a good thing.” As for coffee, consider this: buying a £3 cappuccino every day adds up to £1,095 a year. Far cheaper to fill a flask at home.

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Groby & Field Head Spotlight • MID-MAY 2022 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk

Spotlight Small Ads • 56 CM KETTLE CHARCOAL BARBECUE. Used once - plus 50L lumpwood charcoal. Price: £50 o.n.o. Tel: 01530 245323 (Markfield) • DOUBLE PANEL RADIATOR - 112 cm x 44 cm. as new. Tel: 07821 035348 (Markfield) • FISHING KIT: One Angler’s Hold-all containing 11ft match rod, 12ft match rod, 12ft fishing pole (brand new), fishing Umbrella (unused), landing net + Pole (brand new), keep net + pole plus kit box containing assorted floats, hooks made up rigs and floats, Pike lures and hooks, line, Child’s Rod.Would accept £70 for the lot. Tel: 07756 799 402 (Groby) • LOVELY ORIGINAL WATERCOLOUR by Albert H Findley 1880-1975 of the Leicester Castle Gateway. Original Gilt Frame 14” x 16”. Price: £120 Tel 07841 780282 (Markfield) • CORDED POWER TOOLS for sale: • Bosch Duotac PTK14E STAPLER: £20. • Bosch PSS23 HAND SANDER: £20. • Bosch PST54E JIG SAW: £20. • Bosch PHG 500-2 HEAT GUN: £20. • Bosch PWS 600 ANGLE GRINDER: £20. • Black & Decker KW715 HAND PLANER: £20. Buy all six items for £100. Tel: 07514 900530 (Markfield) • 8 NO. QUALITY TOMATO PLANTS. Ready for planting now. Price: £12 for the 8 plants. Tel: 01530 230389. Collection from Bagworth. • MAMAS AND PAPAS 3 IN 1 PRAM. Navy blue.(Pushchair,carry cot and adapters).Matching foot muff and two sizes of rain covers.Excellent condition. When new,approximate cost £900. Price: £395 or near offer. Tel: 0116 225 1789 (Groby). • SNOOKER TABLE. Free standing. As new. Pureline 6ft x 3ft. two cues, rest, triangle and balls. £299 new on Amazon. Price: £150. Tel: 01530 243200 or mobile 07841 780282 (Markfield). • Twelve 1000-piece JIGSAW PUZZLES - countryside, village and winter scenes. Only used once. Excellent condition. Price: £3.00 each. Can supply photos. Tel: 07790 734858 (Groby) • Antique Mahogany Ball & Claw Foot TABLE. 53” long x 42” wide x 28½” high. Extends to 70”. Price: £100 o.n.o. • Oak high back rush seat CHAIR. Price: £30. Tel: 0116 223 8380 (Glenfield) • Sensas Jumbo Match SEATBOX 3700 model. Very good condition. Price: £150. Tel: 0116 287 6078 (Groby)

• Lakeland Magic OVEN LINER – reusable non-stick oven liner for your oven floor. Cut to size and remove for easy cleaning. Size 50 x 50cm. New and unused - still in original packaging. Price £6 • Coopers of Stortford two pack OVEN LINERS – each liner measures 40 x 50cm. Cut to size. Dishwasher safe. New and unused - still in original packaging. Price £4 • Brita Maxtra Plus WATER FILTER JUG – Used but in good condition. Dishwasher safe (but not lid). Price £2 • Brita Maxtra Plus WATER FILTER CARTRIDGES - New and unused - still in original packaging. Will sell for 50% current Tesco price. Single – price £3. Three pack - price £8. Six pack – price £15. • Men’s short OVERCOAT – The Collection from Debenhams. Size 48 inch chest. Black. Wool / polyester mix. VGC – rarely worn. Price £15 ono. • Men’s long OVERCOAT – Black. Jeff Banks. Size 48R. Wool / polyester / cashmere mix. VGC – rarely worn. Just dry cleaned. Price £25 ono. • Sony DVD+R RECORDABLE DVDS. Pack of 25 on a spindle. 4.7GB – 120 minutes. Unopened, still in original packaging. Price £10 Tel: 07902 469298 (Markfield) • Heavy duty BIKE CARRIER for sale. Carries 3 bikes, 30mm tubular frame. 6 Anchor straps, Adjustable rake angle. Rated to carry 45kgs. £30. Tel: 07821 094472 (Markfield) • TOTE BAG - New genuine Armani Jeans tote bag with authentic medallion - tan faux leather - blue fabric interior - 40 x 25 x 12 Price: £16. • GARDEN CHAIRS - Four green sturdy plastic garden chairs in excellent condition and a bonus of one wooden folding chair. Price: £10 the lot. Tel: 01530 242318 or 07763 110929 (Markfield) • SETTEE, CHAIR AND FOOTSTOOL - bought about a year ago - still like new. Reason for sale wrong colour. Navy Blue, modern and stylish ‘square’ style with light wooden legs. Cost £1,100 from Wayfair for all three items. Will accept £550. Tel: 07843 290665 (Markfield).

SEND DETAILS by post or email - sorry, we can’t take them over the phone. Maximum EIGHT items please. No business ads. 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 ENSURE that you put ‘SMALL ADS’ in the subject line, and INCLUDE YOUR FULL POSTAL ADDRESS (not for publication, just to know where you are).

Letter

Football programme from 1986 IN THE MID-APRIL 2022 edition of Spotlight you printed a request on page 28 for information about an ‘Interesting Football Programme’ and a football match that took place in Groby on 4th May 1986. I was part of that team, in fact over the years we played various charity fund raising matches against the Leicester City veterans both in Groby and down at St Margaret’s in Leicester. Groby MF was Groby Men Fit and we met at Brookvale Gym one evening a week for men’s keep fit which usually finished off with a game of football. We were always fitter than the LCFC veterans, but we never actually beat them, although I did score a couple of times against them! Thanks for stirring up great memories.

Matthew Smith EDITOR’S NOTE: As promised last month, here are the programme notes by ‘The Birch’: Myself and the rest of the ‘Geriatric Megastars’ are really looking forward to our second visit after last year’s highly successful day - I say day because not only was the game a cracker but the hospitality of your organisation after the game was first class - plus, of course, the reason we were all there, the fantastic amount raised towards two guide dogs for the blind. By the way, I think Groby might borrow them this year for their forwards! Also Gordon Banks wants to be unleashed this year as he is now purring like a Rolls Royce, so ‘BEWARE’. Certain players are ready to burn themselves out, but Len Glover swears it means at the bar after. However, on behalf of all the ‘Geriatric Fallen Hero Megastars’, it’s a pleasure to come along and we thank you all for your fantastic effort again this year. As I wrote this before the game, I obviously didn’t know the result, but anyway bad luck lads!!

THE PROGRAMME from 36 years ago - also included advertising placed by some local businesses including Wilson & Sons, The Stamford Arms, Lawn Stores, Cathy Stephens Jewellery, Pat Keeling Model Agency, St Christopher School of Motoring, G M Hull & Son, Betty & Tony (Hairdressing), Bluebell Service Station, The Brant Inn, The Top Shop (Markfield), and J K Plumbing.

Store any empty cardboard boxes at the bottom of the stairs just in case someone has a fall.

For publication dates and details of advertising rates, visit the website at www.grobyspotlight.co.uk 09/05/2022, 09:54

COMMON BRITISH

BUTTERFLIES

WORDSEARCH This your Word With the is correct grid this month! Search!

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

GLENFIELD DRAMA GROUP PRESENTS

NOEL COWARD’S

HAY FEVER

BLISSFULLY BONKERS, BEAUTIFULLY BAD, BIZARRE BOHEMIA

THURS 30TH JUNE - 7:30PM FRI 1ST JULY - 7:30PM SAT 2ND JULY - 2:30PM TICKETS

£10 INCLUDES CREAM TEA

MARTIN HIGH SCHOOL LINK ROAD,ANSTEY LEICESTERSHIRE LE7 7EB

TO BOOK TICKETS CALL: 07704 991 334

OR EMAIL: GLENFIELDDRAMAGROUP@OUTLOOK.COM

All you have to do to go into the draw is find - and mark aHEATHFRITI line GREENHAIRSTREAK through - 18 BRITISH BUTTERFLIES. These can overlap and run LARGESKIPPER MARBLEDW vertically, horizontally or diagonally (and backwards!). Send your marked entry forms to: VANESSA ATALANTA, PAINTEDLADY PEACOCK Groby Spotlight, PO Box 8, Markfield, Leics. LE67 9ZT to arrive RINGLET by SATURDAY 28TH MAY 2022. Please remember to fillSMALLCOPP in your name and address. (Some people don’t!) SPECKLEDWOOD SWALLOWT The sender of the first correct entry drawn out of the hat will win the voucher for a Meal for Two and a Bottle of House Wine at The Stamford Arms, Groby. Good luck!

Find the find word in the puzzle. Please the following 18 butterflies: Words canBLUE• go in any direction. HOLLY LARGE SKIPPER • ORANGE TIP

PAINTED LADY • PEACOCK RED over ADMIRAL Words can share letters as they •cross each other. SMALL TORTOISESHELL • SPECKLED WOOD BRIMSTONE • COMMA • GREEN HAIRSTREAK WALL placed. BROWN • SMALL COPPER 18 of 18 words MARBLED WHITE • HEATH FRITILLARY GATEKEEPER • RINGLET • SWALLOWTAIL

Name: .............................................................................................................. Address: ............................................................................................................. .............................................................................Postcode: ............................. Last Issue’s Winner was:

MRS C J PALFREYMAN of Elsalene Drive, Groby. Very well done! Your voucher will be sent to you in the next few weeks.

KEEP AN empty milk bottle in your fridge in case someone wants black coffee or even tea.

Groby & Field Head Spotlight • MID-MAY 2022 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk

Borough Council urges Government to extend proportional representation AT ITS APRIL MEETING Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council decided to write to Rt Hon Michael Gove MP, Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, to call for an end to the first past the post system (FPTP) and to support the introduction of a form of proportional representation (PR) for parliamentary general elections.

“The UK is the only country in Europe to still use the (FPTP) system for general elections aside from Belarus,” said Councillor P Williams when proposing a resolution. “Created in the 1800s when the electoral choice was between the aristocratic Tories and Whigs and women were denied the right to vote, FPTP is structurally undemocratic. It means millions of votes do not matter, millions of votes are wasted, both “safe seats” and tactical voting are commonplace, and seats won in Westminster often bear little relationship to votes cast. In short, it is an archaic rigged system. How can Britain of the 2020s move forward when, in some constituencies, the same party has won every election since those constituencies were created in 1832?” He went on to say that more than 80 nations around the world already elect their legislatures this way, including in Scotland, in Wales and in the Republic of Ireland. The discussion that followed was predictable, with those who oppose change arguing that proportional representation leads to weak Government, and the referendum on the subject had been held in 2011 which resulted in 67% voting against PR. The first-past-the-post electoral system is well known for its tendency to produce big differences between a party’s national vote share and its share of seats, as the overall outcome depends not just on the total number of votes cast for each party, but also crucially on where these votes are cast. With regards to Borough Council elections Councillor Stuart Bray, who supports a change, said that the current system is unfair and although for 8 years his party didn’t come first in the number of votes cast, they ran the council as they won a majority of seats. The distribution of votes and seats at the 2019 general election was as follows Party

Share of the vote

Share of the seats

Conservatives

43.6%

56.2%

Labour

32.1%

31.1%

Liberal Democrats

11.5%

1.7%

Scottish National Party

3.9%

7.4%

Greens

2.7%

0.2%

Brexit Party

None

Cost of living: your support is even more urgently needed

THIS MONTH, millions of households in the UK will be pushed into fuel poverty as the higher cost of energy really begins to bite. So warns CAP (Christians Against Poverty). “Now more than ever, people in financial crisis need urgent help.” CAP uses the example of Jayne, a single mum who fell into debt after her dad died. Jayne tells how her life became an endless cycle of debt, misery and fear. In desperation, Jayne phoned CAP for help. A few months later, she is on her way to becoming debt-free, and meanwhile she has become a Christian, joined a local church, and has developed money skills for life. As CAP explains, this means that Jayne is now far better prepared to withstand the growing cost of living crisis this autumn. If you would like to help those in need, or if you need help yourself, please go to: https://capuk.org

INTRODUCING: the Anne Robson Helpline

Looking at Scotland alone, the SNP it won 45% of the vote but 81% of Scottish seats.

Norman Griffiths INTRODUCING the Anne Robson Helpline - if you or someone close to you is dying, you can talk to us.

Please see our on-line links below for up to date information.

!"#$%& ! !"' () *+,-$%. 0116 2396520

!!!"#$%&'(()"%(*+,-.$/0,-1 !!!"$%234%2/&$45(3"%(*+%234%2+6678 15th May 930am Joint service at P&J with URC for Christian Aid Week, 4pm Super Sunday 22nd May 8am Communion, 930am Morning Worship, 6pm Evensong 29th May 930am Communion, 6pm Evensong 5th June 8am Communion, 930am All age worship 6pm Holy Communion . 12th June 930am Communion, 6pm Evensong 19th June 8am Communion, 930am Morning Worship 4pm Super Sunday

!" #$% &''( )&# *+,-,.%)/ *%++$-. $- +-)#'-* +/')*' .'0.12'**)3' #$%- &)2' )&( 4$2' .'/'+4$&' &%25'- .$ !"# !$ !!& #'"#&) !" *+,*+*-./00 ! 1!! 23'' 4#5 6 76'' back. Services in church every Sunday at 10am see below. ===@")>'5$$?@>$213-$5#%->1 !"#$"% &'(%)*%+ &%(,$-%& ./"+)0& during or after live service ! 12##23 /& 2" 4)%5226 12( *2(% $"12(*)'$2" )"+ +)$#0 72&'& '2 &/772(' 8 %"-2/()9% 02/:

At the Anne Robson Trust we aim to be there to listen to anyone who faces dying or the imminent death of someone they care about. We know that facing the end of life can leave you feeling isolated and alone. Being able to access support is so important. Gaining knowledge of what may happen towards the end of life and being prepared helps both the person dying and their loved ones to feel a sense of control.

On line Compline every Tuesday 9pm via Facebook page Every Wednesday at 930am Communion

Calls are free and confidential. Call us on 0808 801 0688 - we have time to talk

Telephone church every Sunday at 11. (Tel 0333 0164 757 Room No 10336316# pin No 1920# call charged at local rate)

Please visit www. annerobsontrust.org.uk/helplineservice to find out more.

She called me egotistical and I was fine with that because at least we were talking about me.

For publication dates and details of advertising rates, visit the website at www.grobyspotlight.co.uk

HINCKLEY & BOSWORTH BOROUGH COUNCIL NEWS Councillor Ted Hollick reports St George’s Day Parade

Bradgate Rotary News Bumper Easter Well-Being celebration with the Bold Ukulele Band

APRIL 23RD - St George’s Day - was the day of the annual Scouts parade in Hinckley where I took the salute accompanied by my chaplain the Rev Noel Colley. It was a pleasure to see so many youngsters marching to the sound of the Leicester Seaforth Highlanders Pipe band. The parade was followed by a service held in St Peters Catholic Church where Revd Colley gave the blessing.

Paralympic Festival ON TUESDAY 26th April, Ann and I attended the Leicester Leicestershire and Rutland Paralympic Festival at Loughborough University.

THE BRADGATE Rotary hosted Easter Well-Being event held at Groby Ex-Servicemen’s Club proved a huge success with an audience of over 40-local residents enjoying the musical fun provided by the 21-strong Bold Ukulele group.

The Festival is specifically tailored for young people with special educational needs or disabilities and consists of the County finals of Boccia, and New Age Kurling - both new to me!

The audience was made up of residents from Groby, Markfield, Ratby and Anstey. Bradgate Rotary hope to organise further events over the coming months and are on the lookout for other free venues and entertainers.

Boccia was rather like French Boules but with soft balls, and for New age Kurling they used discs like small flying saucers on castors which were hurled towards a target on the floor both of which are olympic sports I am told. There was an activity carousel which included Wheelchair Basketball, Judo and Badminton. This gave young people encouragement to try different sports.

As well as the usual prize bingo, raffle, and fun quiz, all who attended received an Easter Cracker along with cups of tea and cake.

Ideas for the theme of this year’s Scarecrow Festival in Groby? BRADGATE ROTARY, the organisers of the Groby Scarecrow Festival are appealing for ideas for a theme to the next Festival, which will be held over the weekend of September 24th & 25th. Could it be a Royal theme to continue the Platinum Jubilee? Film characters? Nursery Rhymes? Any ideas you have please email walk77a@ yahoo.com with your suggestions by June 5th.

Call out to all photographers visiting Bradgate Park PLANS ARE already in place for the 2023 Bradgate Park calendar raising funds for Bradgate Park and other local charities.

Over 300 children took part in these games and it was clear that they were having a really enjoyable time. There were ten partnership squads from all parts of the County including participants from South Charnwood High School (I have to declare an interest there as a past pupil), Bosworth Academy Desford and Stafford Leys Primary School. I was invited to join the Mayor of Charnwood Cllr. Paul Baines in presenting medals to the winning teams. Later that evening I chaired my last Borough Council Meeting as Mayor of Hinckley and Bosworth, a task which I have thoroughly enjoyed. The year does seem to have flown by and has been hectic at times but rewarding. The Covid 19 Pandemic has caused restrictions on a lot of indoor engagements until recently. I do still have two engagements to fulfil before I hand over to my Deputy Cllr. Dawn Glenville and her Consort Cllr. Barry Walker at the Annual Borough Council meeting on 17th May. Best wishes to both.

Councillor Ted Hollick Call: 0116 287 5955 Mobile: 07962 373983 E-mail: ted.hollick@outlook.com

Write: 7 Shaw Wood Close, Groby, LE6 0FY

Bradgate Rotary who create and produce the hugely successful fundraising calendar are looking for another 12 top-notch photos to grace next year’s prints. Full details of how to submit photos visit www. bradgatecalendar.wordpress.com or on Face Book @BradgateRotary Entries All winners will receive an acknowledgement with the photo in the calendars as well as a framed copy. Over a dozen stall holders, who sell reloved or repurposed goods, have already booked to attend the ReLoved Sale being held on September 24th. There are still places available but please act fast. The Reloved Sale at Groby Village Hall, should suit all pockets with organisers especially looking for local stallholders selling eco-friendly crafts, gadgets, and re-claimed items. Bradgate Rotary are also looking for good quality toys, baby equipment and clothes that people would like to sell or donate for the September event. The Club can store items or organise to see what people have so they can be priced ready to sell. With budgets for families getting tighter, and the need to be more ecologically aware this should be a welcome and much needed event throughout the area. For further details or a booking form for a stall please contact bradgaterotary@gmail.com or call/text, Lesley Trivett on 07813 623873

Making a difference in your community – new members welcome! WE ARE A Breakfast Club that take a keen interest in the community, the environment, and local causes. Visit a Bradgate Rotary breakfast meeting to see what can achieve with some help. Email your contact details to Adrian Walker – walk77a@yahoo. com and we’ll be in touch.

I come from a long line of successful people. I decided to stop that tradition.

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Groby Spotlight Mid-May 2022

Articles inside

FIELD HEAD HOUSING PROPOSALS

SMALL ADS

GROBY SURGERY

MARTIN CARTWRIGHT

LIBRARY

GROBY SINGS

OZZY O’SHEA

GROBY WI

NATIONAL FOREST WALKING FESTIVAL

ALLOTMENTS

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