Mid-May 2020 Herald

ONLINE ONLY THIS MONTH DUE TO CORONAVIRUS LOCKDOWN

Queen Bee Youth Group Is Carrying On - Online

MID-MAY 2020

Dancing in the Street!

THE QUEEN BEE Youth Project has continued to run throughout lockdown moving its services online.

We’ve had hypnotherapy, yoga, dance workouts and a quiz along with challenges for the group to keep busy at home.

Over the last month we have potted, packaged and delivered 1400 sunflowers to homes in Markfield to lift spirits and start a village growing competition.

Send us your photos and join the Markfield in Bloom growing group on Facebook.

A big thank you to the Markfield good neighbour scheme for helping to deliver our sunflowers.

We are really missing seeing the girls buzzing around at the community centre but we are so grateful that they are all safe and we can continue via Zoom temporarily.

CROFT WAY’S daily dance has been causing quite a stir on social media and now on the BBC! After a brilliant fancy dress daily dance the videos were picked up by BBC East Midlands and have been cheering people up all around the UK. BBC Radio Leicester are dedicating a 15 minute social discoing event to Croft Way on the 3rd of May. Its been fantastic seeing neighbours at the end of their drives checking in on each other.

We do 5 songs a day and have a Croft Way playlist on Spotify. We take requests, do tributes, sing Happy Birthday and have danced to over 140 songs!

We will miss the daily dance when things start going back to normal!

We are glad it has brought so much cheer and community spirit during Covid-19. Thanks!

Jo Norwood & Clemency Al-Toma

New Book from Local Author A Psychic In The Picture: True Life Stories Of A Psychic

By Patricia Bown This book tells, in her own words, the true life stories of a Psychic, PATRICIA BOWN. From the ‘Dancing Lights’ she saw in the corner of her bedroom at just eight years old, to Premonitions, Pictures of the Future, A Ghostly Wedding Guest and so much more.

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THE HERALD • MID-MAY 2020 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@markfieldherald.co.uk

Hinckley & Bosworth Borough Council PO Box 8, Markfield, Leics. LE67 9ZT Tel: 01530 244069 info@markfieldherald.co.uk

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Planning Meetings to Resume Remotely PLANNING COMMITTEE meetings for Hinckley & Bosworth Borough Council will resume remotely from next week following the Government’s decision to grant local authorities powers to meet and make decisions using digital technology to ensure public safety.

Council meetings across the country were suspended following the government’s social distancing and lockdown measures, introduced in response to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Planning committee meeting will be the first remotely held meeting on Tuesday 19 May starting at 6.30pm.

Meetings will be conducted using Zoom and members of the public will be able to watch the live stream of the meeting via the council’s YouTube channel which can be accessed from the council’s web site here: www.hinckleybosworth.gov.uk/planningcommittee. Alternative arrangements can be made for any members of the public who do not have internet access to enable them to listen to the meeting over the phone, please contact the committee clerk on 01455 255879 for more information.

Public speaking arrangements at the meeting will still go ahead in accordance with the Planning Committee procedure rules. Members of the public who are entitled to speak at the meeting will have received a letter with information on how to register to speak.

Planning Committee Chair, Councillor Joyce Crooks said “We are pleased to be able to resume meetings using IT solutions that to allow us to meet virtually. It is a first for this council and it has been a learning curve for all of us but it’s important we all do what we can to ensure the decisions we make continue to be democratic, open to debate and public scrutiny whilst also ensuring the safety of the public, councillors and officers.”

Meetings will be held remotely until the government restrictions in relation to public gatherings are lifted or relaxed.

In danger from domestic abuse?

DOMESTIC ABUSE is soaring just now. Even as far back as early April, it was up by 30 per cent.

No wonder, then, that charities are urging us to keep an eye out for anyone in danger. The warning signs include bruising, repeated shouting and all types of controlling behaviour.

Dare not speak?

If someone is in immediate danger, call 999 and ask for the police. If you dare not even speak, then use the silent solutions service by dialling 999 and press 55.

If there is no immediate danger, you can still contact the 24-hour confidential National Domestic Abuse helpline on 0808 2000 247.

Refuge, the national domestic abuse charity, estimates about 1.6 million women already experienced domestic abuse last year, and that “self-isolation has the potential to aggravate pre-existing abusive behaviours.”

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Hinckley & Bosworth Borough Council

Events cancelled BOROUGH Council organised events that were due to take place in June have been cancelled in response to the government’s continued advice around coronavirus and social distancing.

The events that have been cancelled are:

• • • • • •

Music in the Mead on Saturday 6 June Mallory Mile cycle ride on Monday 8 June Traditional Sports Day on Saturday 13 June Hinckley BID Classic Car Show Meet on Thursday 18 June Music in the Mead on Saturday 20 June Armed Forces Day event and parade on Saturday 27 June

Simon Jones, Cultural Services Manager at the Borough Council explained: “we have to continue to follow government guidance and support all social distancing procedures and all non-essential contact with others, this includes large gatherings and crowded places such as our events and those we are involved with.

“We are all incredibly disappointed as a lot of hard work goes into the planning of these events but completely necessary at the current time in order to enable all of us to do as much as we possibly can to reduce infections.

“We will continue to monitor and review government advice before making a decision about events that are due to take place later in the summer and advise people in due course.”

The Atkins Gallery at the Atkins building continues to be closed until further notice and there will be no conferences taking place for the foreseeable future.

For more information about any changes to council services or upcoming events look out for information in local media, follow the council on social media or sign up for free email updates at https://www.hinckleybosworth.gov.uk/emailupdates

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THE HERALD • MID-MAY 2020 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@markfieldherald.co.uk

National Trust Leicester Association NEWS DURING THE first few weeks of the Coronavirus lockdown you may have watched the TV series “Belgravia” on Sunday evenings. What was probably not apparent was the fact that six of the main film locations were National Trust properties.

Firstly, Ham House near Richmond on Thames (above) became the Brussels office of James Trenchard from where he made his fortune supplying the Duke of Wellington. The house was built in 1610 for Sir Thomas Vavasour, Knight Marshal to James l.

The interiors of the Trenchard’s London home were provided by the interiors of Basildon Park near Reading. This beautiful manor house was built in the 1780’s by Francis Sykes, a self-made man who accumulated a vast fortune in the service of the East India Company. Luckily it was rescued from demolition in the 1950’s by Lord & Lady Iliffe.

Montacute, in Somerset, is a beautiful Tudor manor house which has barely changed since it was built in 1610. It has an awe-inspiring golden exterior, a historic Long Gallery and intricate gardens, so was an excellent choice for the Trenchard’s country estate.

West Wycombe Park, built in the early1700’s, has opulent interiors which stood in well as the Duchess of Bedford’s London townhouse. The Music room (above) was used as the set for the afternoon tea party, a custom that was first popularised by the real Duchess of Bedford.

The expensive life style of the second Lord Berwick at Attingham Park in Shropshire led to his bankruptcy around 1830 and the house only fully recovered by the time of the eighth Lord. The property was therefore ideal as the home of the Brockenhurst’s with their own trials and tribulations.

Finally, Quarry Bank textile mill was used as Girtons Mill in the production.

Quarry Bank was built in 1781 and its giant waterwheel, the most powerful in the UK, still drives the restored Victorian spinning machines and looms.

The National Trust Leicester Association has cancelled or postponed all of its meetings and events until further notice. To find full details of the Association, to check the current situation regarding its programme and to see updates on Stoneywell Cottage please check the Association web site at – www.leicesternt.btck.co.uk All National Trust properties are closed to the public until further notice.

Alan Tyler Publicity Officer NT Leicester Association

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Lockdown leading to lasting business change, new figures suggest THE COVID-19 LOCKDOWN is causing lasting changes to the way UK companies operate, new figures from the Institute of Directors suggest.

In a survey of hundreds of business leaders, four out of ten said their organisation had made adjustments that they intend to keep in place after lockdown.

Increased working from home and a greater focus on digital services were common actions directors expected to continue in the long term.

Businesses have been innovating in response to the lockdown, with almost one in six of those polled reporting that they had launched a new product or service due to the circumstances. The majority of these were related to the country’s medical response, from producing hand gel to procuring PPE. Meanwhile, with digital skills being put under pressure like never before, more than a third of those surveyed were likely to use the next three months to pursue online training for their staff.

Edwin Morgan, Director of Policy at the Institute of Directors, said: “The coronavirus crisis is throwing up colossal challenges for business, but directors are nothing if not adaptable. Lockdown means few businesses can operate as they used to and, as a result, many companies are finding a way to innovate through the obstacles. The solutions they create might just end up becoming the new normal.

“Some changes, such as distancing on production lines or providing PPE to staff are virus-related necessities, but others, in particular making services digital and more flexible working, bring benefits of their own. With it looking likely that restrictions will continue in some form for months, more and more directors will fundamentally change their business models.

“The country’s digital and management skills are under the spotlight, and despite everything, there is still appetite among businesses to help their people continue developing. The government has a role to play here. The Department for Education has moved quickly with its new Skills Toolkit, but there are other steps that should be considered like helping firms use untapped Apprenticeship Levy funds on shorter-form digital courses.”

“The coronavirus crisis is throwing up colossal challenges for business, but directors are nothing if not adaptable.” - Edwin Morgan

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Two-thirds of UK public has no plans to shake off bad lockdown habits BRITAIN is set to emerge unhealthier from lockdown, with four out of five people (81%) reporting an increase in harmful habits, including smoking, poor diet and staying up late.

Yet only a third (31%) of those surveyed plan to shake off their new habits after lockdown, according to a YouGov survey, by self-care app and website Your.MD. According to leading behavioural economist, Denise Hampson, the sudden disruption to our old way of life has shaken our routines and habits, with the ambiguity of life in lockdown leading us to replace them with new ones that we find comforting.

The survey found that detrimental habits have emerged during the course of lockdown. A combination of the habits identified will, over time, lead to long-term implications for individual health, earning lockdown another place in the list of risks to our health.

Almost a fifth (17%) of people claim to have started drinking more than 14 units of alcohol a week (approx. two bottles of wine) during lockdown, and 9% have taken up smoking. This is more common in 35-44-year-olds (20% and 13% respectively).

Eating habits are less healthy A third (33%) of the public say their eating habits are less healthy now than before lockdown began, with full-time students and 18-24-year-olds at the forefront of the trend (47% and 49% respectively).

In spite of a rise in online fitness classes and government encouragement to get outside to exercise, 30% said they had become less active during lockdown. This peaks in London, where 39% are exercising less than before lockdown began. Across Great Britain, ONS data which looked at ‘Coronavirus and the Impacts on Great Britain’ reveals that 42% of people are unable to exercise as normal, due to the implications of the virus.

Poor sleep is also impacting people, with just under one third (29%) saying they’re not sleeping as well during lockdown, and over two thirds (67%) are not making extra efforts to get a better night’s sleep. This rate is higher among men (73%). Nearly half of the population (40%) are waking up later and a third (34%) staying up

later at night.

Denise Hampson explains, “Now that our normal lives are suspended, so are the cues we used to be exposed to and so our habits will have changed too. We will have replaced them with new ones based around the routine of our lockdown lives.

“We are also facing an extreme period of collective anxiety. Nothing we used to do can be taken for granted anymore and we are less clear on what the future holds.

This leads to soothing behaviour, to make us feel better, so it’s no surprise we are drinking more alcohol, consuming more social media, smoking and snacking unhealthily.”

The public do seem, however, to be prioritising mental wellbeing the most. Almost half the nation (45%) have been taking extra steps to look after their mental health during lockdown - from seeking WhatsApp group advice (14%) to following YouTube videos (8%) and using smartphone apps (10%).

When it comes to managing their mental health, 18-24-yearolds unexpectedly prefer to write in diaries (17%) more than use smartphone apps (12%).

Full-time students have come out on top in terms of looking after their mental health and wellbeing (63%), with retired people coming in last, at 36%. This correlates with the latest ONS data w ​ hich reveals that 65% of people feel more stressed and anxious and 27% say it is making their mental health worse.

Denise explains that there will be difficulties faced in adapting to postlockdown life and our perception of this may be underestimated.

“What’s most interesting is how aware we seem to be of our wellbeing during lockdown and the impact it has had on our behaviour.

“Despite what the data suggests, we don’t assume that people have a conscious desire to keep their unhealthy habits going postlockdown. It’s more likely that most of us expect to be able to just shake off our new lockdown habits quite easily. Like getting back to normality after the Christmas break.

“Lockdown happened very fast, so all our old routines were fractured and disrupted all at once. It’s easy to think we’ll just snap back to the way we used to be, but getting out of lockdown is likely to be a much slower process, so we’ll be more likely to carry these new habits with us for some time, and they’ll take a bit of effort to shake off.”

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THE HERALD • MID-MAY 2020 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@markfieldherald.co.uk

Serendipitous inventions

Q

By Christina Dalcher Elena Fairchild is a teacher at one of the state’s new elite schools.

Her daughters are exactly like her: beautiful, ambitious, and perfect.

A good thing, since the recent mandate that’s swept the country is all about perfection. Now everyone must undergo routine tests for their quotient, Q, and any children who don’t measure up are placed into new government schools. Instead, teachers can focus on the gifted. Elena tells herself it’s not about eugenics, not really, but when one of her daughters scores lower than expected and is taken away, she intentionally fails her own test to go with her.

But what Elena discovers is far more terrifying than she ever imagined...

Don’t forget to send us your news. Thanks!

THE TERM “serendipity” is often applied to inventions made by chance rather than intent.

Andrew Smith, editor of The Oxford Companion to American Food and Drink, has speculated that most everyday products had serendipitous roots, with many early ones related to animals. The origin of cheese, for example, possibly originated in the Nomad practice of storing milk in the stomach of a dead camel that was attached to the saddle of a live one, thereby mixing rennet from the stomach with the milk stored within.

Other examples of serendipity in inventions include: • The Post-It Note, which emerged after 3M scientist Spencer Silver produced a weak adhesive, and a colleague used it to keep bookmarks in place on a church hymnal.

• Silly Putty, which came from a failed attempt at synthetic rubber.

• The use of sensors to prevent automobile air bags from killing children, which came from a chair developed by the MIT Media Lab for a Penn and Teller magic show.

• The microwave oven. Raytheon Photo courtesy the Science Museum London / scientist Percy Spencer first patented Science and Society Picture Library - Sample of the idea behind it after noticing that emissions from radar equipment had penicillin mould presented by Alexander Fleming to Douglas Macleod, 1935 melted the candy in his pocket.

• The Velcro hook-and-loop fastener, whose idea came about on a bird hunting trip when George de Mestral viewed under a microscope the cockleburs stuck to his pants and saw that each burr was covered with tiny hooks.

• The Popsicle, whose origins go back to San Francisco where Frank Epperson, age 11, accidentally left a mix of water and soda powder outside to freeze overnight.

• The antibiotic penicillin, which was discovered by Sir Alexander Fleming after returning from a vacation to find that a Petri dish containing staphylococcus culture had been infected by a Penicillium mould, and no bacteria grew near it.

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We worship at St Sofa’s now Since Covid came to stay We don’t dress up or do our hair But still we come to pray!

Our Vicar is a clever chap A Zoom with his IT And so we sit down ev’ry week And meet up virtually!

Our Parish Church stands empty With praise she does not ring; But still her people gather round To pray, and praise, and sing!

The virus is a nasty thing Yet it has helped us see The church is NOT a building But folk like you and me!

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Sarah Gunn fundraises for Dad, John, who died from Covid-19, to help National Kidney Federation SARAH GUNN sadly lost her father, John, 74, from Barwell, Leicestershire to COVID-19.

He had end stage kidney failure and had dialysis three times a week at the Hamilton Renal Dialysis Unit in Leicester to keep him alive. Patients with chronic kidney disease and end stage kidney failure have to adjust to many difficult changes in the way they live their life’s. That’s why Sarah has decided to walk, run and cycle 150 miles during May for the National Kidney Federation.

The charity is run by kidney patients for kidney patients, supporting the three million people with Chronic Kidney Disease in the UK. Around 63,000 patients are being treated for kidney failure.

John enjoyed family day trips on his canal cruiser, loved holidaying in Cornwall and adored his two dogs. “Having dialysis is very life changing, talking to other people who are going through your situation can really help in accepting and understanding it. Being 74, my dad wasn’t a great user of modern technology so my mum used the National Kidney Federation website and Facebook page for advice and information on everything from dietary changes, to medical information, to holiday dialysis so that he could carry on living life as best as he could.”

“I wanted to something positive during my bereavement leave that helps other people going through the same thing my Dad went through, something to keep me motivated. I thought combining cycling, running and walking would be an ideal challenge! I picked 150 miles because I wanted it to be manageable with my recurrent anterior crucial ligament injury from years of figure skating.”

“The NFK patients’ helpline is free to use and offers medical information leaflets, help and advice – with trained staff answering hundreds of calls each week. The service has seen a large increase since COVID-19 and is supported entirely by generous donations and through supporters such as Sarah.

Without Sarah’s support, we would be unable to offer the services to kidney patients,” says Pete Revell, Head of Fundraising.

Sarah is completing the challenge in the villages around where she lives, Stoke Golding in Leicestershire. She is returning to work at Leicester Royal Infirmary so will be fitting in the mileage between working in the hospital as a Medicines Management Pharmacy Technician.

“My inspiration for this challenge will always be the spirit and courage that of my Dad, John” There’s still time to support Sarah by visiting https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/sarahlgunn

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THE HERALD • MID-MAY 2020 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@markfieldherald.co.uk

Hundreds of key workers get help from Leicester Bike Aid NEARLY 400 key workers have been helped

by Leicester Bike Aid since it was launched by Leicester City Council a month ago.

Under the scheme – which offers free bike loans for key workers and free repairs to existing bikes - almost 200 people have applied for a bike.

In addition, the scheme has fixed more than 180 bikes for free to help keep essential workers moving during the coronavirus crisis – with some of the first customers being nurses, in uniform, on their way to work at Leicester’s hospitals.

Further recipients have included care workers, teachers, bank and supermarket staff, and food production workers.

Doctor Rachel Wong (pictured) got her free bike last week and said: “This is a fantastic scheme – I am one very happy cycling anaesthetic registrar! Thanks to the team at Leicester Bike Aid, I can get to work during the pandemic.”

To further support key workers, the city council has created two new temporary cycle tracks to make one of the UK’s first ‘pop-up’ cycleways, with other cities following suit. The tracks run along a section of Saffron Lane and Aylestone Road, close to Leicester Royal Infirmary.

The routes – designed to take advantage of the current lower volumes of motor traffic – help cyclists to complete their journeys safely.

Data from the council’s count sites shows numbers of cyclists and pedestrians have dropped in the city centre – as expected while people heed Government advice

to stay at home. However, at other count sites - including Braunstone Park, Glenfield Road, Forest Way and the riverside – there is an increase compared to the same time last year, suggesting people are using these routes to commute or for their daily exercise.

The city council’s Wheels2Work scheme and grants for businesses to help more of their employees choose active travel are continuing despite the lockdown. Twelve Wheels2Work bikes – including 10 e-bikes – are currently out on

hire, to people studying or working in diverse roles such as nursing, probation, manufacturing and lecturing. The bikes are used to travel anything from five to 13 miles a day.

Leicester Bike Aid is open to city and county residents.

To find out more about Leicester Bike Aid, walking and cycling routes visit the Choose How You Move website.

Donations are welcome – Contact cycle-city@leicester.gov.uk to offer your support.

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Nationwide house price index for April 2020

Drop in house price growth last month, but significant annual increase TWO PROPERTY leaders have reacted to the latest Nationwide House Price Index figures: Jamie Johnson, CEO, FJP Investment comments: “Nationwide’s house price index has delivered the news we were all anticipating – a month on month drop in the rate of house price growth. However, it is surprising and positive to see the positive rate of annual growth.

“Let’s put things into context. We are in the middle of a health pandemic. As a result, accessing finance has become difficult and lockdown measures have naturally deterred or prevented people from buying a property. Of course, house prices will naturally adjust to reflect this new climate.

“What we should really be asking is why house prices are dropping.

Is it because there is no longer market demand or is it a result of the challenges posed by the COVID-19 social isolation measures? I think most people who accept that it is the latter; demand at the start of 2020 was soaring, so the medium- and long-term outlook needn’t be bleak.

“I believe a price recovery is imminent. After all, the index shows a significant annual increase in house prices. What the UK Government should consider, however, is whether tax reliefs are needed to reignite transactions in the immediate aftermath of COVID-19. A Stamp Duty holiday has been touted as a potential reform – this would be beneficial, and I would be more in favour of reforms to Stamp Duty as part of any 2020 Autumn Budget.”

Paresh Raja, CEO, Market Financial Solutions says: “House prices have dipped, and they will continue to do so as long as lockdown measures are in place. This will affect property valuations and no doubt play on the minds of sellers and those in the middle of a transaction.

“However, I am optimistic – a short-term fall in house prices may open new opportunities for buyers. Taking advantage of the current circumstances could mean buyers see notable price growth once COVID-19 has passed and the market recovers. As was witnessed in the aftermath of the global financial crisis, the property market is able to bounce back quickly.

“The challenge for buyers, however, is finding lenders who are still receiving new loan applications and have the resources to undertake on site valuations. I’d expect to see a general increase in the number of buyers looking beyond high street banks to specialist lenders for loans during this pandemic.”

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THE HERALD • MID-MAY 2020 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@markfieldherald.co.uk

Depression implant transforms patient’s life A GRANDFATHER FROM GROBY who struggled with severe, treatment-resistant anxiety and depression for 30 years has become the first East Midlands patient to be fitted with a vagus nerve stimulation implant.

And Johnny Spillane says the tiny device – which sends a small electrical stimulus into his brain - is transforming his life.

And he says it is giving him the strength to support the people he loves through the COVID-19 crisis.

(Read his story below) Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust is one of just a handful of NHS Trusts with a vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) service.

The special battery-powered ‘pacemaker’ style device is implanted surgically by a neurosurgeon beneath the left side collarbone and wired up to the vagus nerve at the base of the neck. Fitted as a life-long treatment, the device delivers regular pulses

Dr Girish Kunigiri with Johnny Spillane in a pre-lockdown check. to the nerve, at intervals of around five minutes, transmitting to areas of the brain known to be critical for the treatment of depression.

The treatment is being pioneered

by LPT’s electro-convulsive therapy service, based at the Bradgate Mental Health Unit. The team of

~ Johnny’s story ~ Johnny Spillane, 56, from Groby in Leicestershire, was diagnosed with anxiety and depression in his mid 20s and has been taking medication for more than three decades.

He spent three weeks in intensive care after attempting suicide, had a number of admissions to mental health wards including two nine-month stays, and tried a variety of treatments – including electro-convulsive therapy – without finding an effective treatment for his severe mental health needs.

His illness resulted in having to give up driving, long spells off work, the loss of his job as a manufacturing production manager and led to the break up of his marriage.

He said: “I came out of hospital and had to go through divorce and finding a new home. I had a lot of family support and work colleagues were supportive but I couldn’t go back. Then when I was discharged from the ward I was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease – I had thought my tremor was medication induced.

“Dr Kunigiri reviewed my medication and we talked about different options before referring me for a second opinion. We spoke to a neurologist who agreed that VNS was the best option for depression and because it can have a positive impact on Parkinson’s symptoms.

“I had no hesitation about agreeing to VNS and I haven’t regretted it. I am now on the optimum level of stimulation for depression. Physically I feel just a little surge as the impulse starts up, and it changes my voice.

“My life just keeps improving. I used to need carers and couldn’t leave the house but I have been able to travel abroad on holiday for the first time in years, Before the Coronavirus outbreak I was having alterations made to my house and going out socially. I’ve also been participating in Recovery College courses and volunteering with two charities, The Shuttlewood Clarke Foundation and Age UK, promoting wellbeing for people with dementia.

“One of the best things is that I was able to start picking up my little granddaughter Imogen from nursery and feel independent again.

“For five years of my life I didn’t want to wake up in the morning and now my life is fantastic. My depression was so bad before, I didn’t get off the sofa for two years and now I feel really well and I’m able to help others who are struggling with having to stay at home during the pandemic.

“My sister and son both work in the NHS and I miss being able to see them and lmogen, my granddaughter but the lockdown hasn’t had a negative effect on my mental health at all.

“I have been decorating and gardening at home and now I feel I have the strength to support others, like my mother and my neighbours. I go shopping and help with their gardening. I’m going to bed at night looking forward to the next day.­“

doctors and nurses worked together to train and set up the VNS service, which is being supported by health commissioners for Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland.

It comes after the Trust hosted a symposium in 2018, bringing together experts from across Europe to explore its use in the UK and Europe.

Consultant psychiatrist Dr Girish Kunigiri, who is also an international speaker on this subject, explained: “Ours is the first NHS Trust in the UK to get sign off from commissioners and we

have developed a partnership with neurosurgery services in Nottingham to implant the device.

“VNS is established as a treatment for intractable epilepsy and growing evidence highlights it as a successful long-term approach to treatmentresistant depression.

“We have developed a robust pathway with neurosurgery specialists in Nottingham and collaborated with them on the region’s first implant in September last year.

“Since then the patient has reported significant improvements in his mood and quality of life after experiencing treatment-resistant depression for more than three decades.”

Once fitted, the implant has a battery life of up to a decade and Johnny’s progress is being monitored and reviewed regularly

by Dr. Kunigiri’s team and together they agree on appropriate changes to the level of stimulation the implant delivers.

“VNS not only results in better outcomes and quality of life for patients but we expect it to reduce mental health hospital admissions and reliance on community mental health services. In the long term it will also mean patients will need to take less medication.”

Just a pint of social media for me, please EVEN BEFORE the lockdown, social media seems to have been replacing the role of pubs in socialising, as far as young people are concerned.

In 2005, an estimated 18 per cent of young people aged 16 to 24 were non-drinkers.

According to one study, that has now risen to 29 per cent.

“Online technology has made friends and family instantly accessible and the role of pubs and clubs for initiating and consolidating social networks appears to have changed.” So says Dr Dominic Conroy, a psychologist at the University of East London.

Dr Conroy adds: “With the internet being used to initiate and maintain social relationships, both romantic and otherwise, the use of alcohol as a social lubricant may be less necessary.”

He co-authored a recent study on the subject with Prof Fiona Measham, a criminology expert at Liverpool University.

Have a go at BOWLS! COALVILLE Town Bowls Club (rear off Council Offices, Whitwick Road) welcomes anyone to drop in any Monday or Friday evening 6pm onwards - after the Coronavirus lockdown rules end - to try your hand at bowls and have a look around.

Just bring some flat shoes. Visit the website at www. coalvilletownbowlsclub.co.uk

Two dogs walked over to a parking meter. One said to the other: ‘How do you like that? Pay toilets!’

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The new dieter’s 10 commandments 1. If you eat something and no one saw it – it has no calories.

2. When you eat with someone else, the calories don’t count if they ate more.

3. Tasting someone else’s food doesn’t count.

4. If people around us gain weight, we automatically become thinner.

5. If your movie ticket comes with a free tub of popcorn, it doesn’t count as food.

6. Every food you split into smaller pieces will contain less calories.

7. Tasting food while preparing it is essential, and therefore – healthy.

8. Foods with similar colors contain the same amount of calories. This is why it’s fine to eat pistachio ice cream instead of spinach.

9. Chocolate has a dedicated area in the stomach, which is why you should have it with every meal.

10. Frozen foods, such as ice cream, contain no calories.

The reason is that a calorie is a measurement of heat units.

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The Carer

By Deborah Moggach From the bestselling author of The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel and Tulip Fever, a deliciously funny, poignant and wry novel, full of surprising twists and turns.

James is getting on a bit and needs full-time help. So Phoebe and Robert, his middle-aged offspring, employ Mandy, who seems willing to take him off their hands. But as James regales his family with tales of Mandy’s virtues, their shopping trips and the shared pleasure of their journeys to garden centres, Phoebe and Robert sense something is amiss.

Then something extraordinary happens which throws everything into new relief, changing all the stories of their childhood - and the father that they thought they knew so well.

Developing tiny minds and enhancing well-being We offer a number of different classes: • Baby Yoga • Messy Crafts • Sensory Play • Baby Massage • Rhythm and Rhythm

10%

off your first booking use code: ALJ860

For more information or to book visit www.babybelleswithsam.co.uk or call: 07446802781 I used to work in a garage which had a jet wash. It was pointless - there was nowhere for them to land.

57780_RKH_Baby Belles-Ad-Herald-130x95px.indd 1

14/10/2019 17:31

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THE HERALD • MID-MAY 2020 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@markfieldherald.co.uk

County Councillor’s Report from Peter Bedford Email: peter.bedford@leics.gov.uk or phone: 01455 824733 or www.facebook.com/peterbedfordmdt

I WANTED to start this month’s update again by thanking the many volunteers across Markfield, Stanton, Bagworth & Thornton, and at the other side of the County Division in Desford for their tremendous work in supporting the most vulnerable in our communities at this difficult time.

partnership working continues across the county with the district/borough councils. Volunteers engaged by Voluntary Action Leicestershire (VAL) are undertaking “safe and well checks” by visiting homes where possible.

It’s great to see the Markfield ‘Good Neighbours Scheme’ go from strength to strength with volunteers now assisting with ‘social distancing’ at the Post Office; helping to keep this vital service going through the ‘lock down’. So ‘THANK YOU’ Dawn, Ron and the many volunteers that are making this happen!

Since my last update I am pleased to confirm that Leicestershire County Council have approved, in full, grant applications for the Markfield Good Neighbours Scheme and the Bagworth & Thornton (including Stanton) Community Response Teams.

That’s over £30,000 of funding to support these groups who are directly supporting our communities through the crisis.

ADULT SOCIAL CARE

Leicestershire Coronavirus Regional Testing Site A DRIVE-THROUGH coronavirus testing facility is to open at the Birstall Park & Ride as part of the Government’s UKwide drive to increase testing for thousands more NHS and other key workers.

The site sits alongside a rapidly expanding network of testing sites being set up around the UK, and is operating on an appointment-only basis for NHS staff and other key workers. The facility will be piloted for its first few days of operation.

This follows the launch of the Government’s partnership with universities, research institutes and companies to begin rollout of the network of new labs and testing sites across the UK, with 43 regional testing sites opened to date.

This network will provide thousands more PCR swab tests - which are used to identify if you currently have the virus - for critical key workers. This means those who test negative for coronavirus can return to work as soon as possible, and those who test positive are able to recover. The testing centre is being operated in partnership with G4S, and will offer assisted and self-administered tests. Those tested will receive their results within a few days.

Coronavirus Public Health Data As at 27th April there were 1,483 lab confirmed cases in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland (LLR) and 217 people who tested positive with coronavirus have sadly died in Leicestershire’s hospitals.

Peter Bedford

THE ANTICIPATED surge in demand from hospitals has not materialised in this current phase of the pandemic due to the impact of social distancing and the lockdown.

All requests therefore for home care and residential care/nursing home placements continue to be met.

• Home Care A DAILY survey is conducted with home care providers across the county. 30% of providers have confirmed that they have had at least one service user with Covid-19, however most have only had one case.

Less than 1% of staff are self-isolating due to Covid-19, and overall absence within the sector is currently 12%. The providers have said that the two areas in which they would value support are recruitment and training.

In response the County Council has been running a very successful recruitment campaign on behalf of all providers in Leicestershire.

• Residential Home Care CARE HOMES are contacted individually 3 times a week to provide support and gain intelligence on current capacity and status.

There is currently sufficient capacity within the care home sector; we estimate that there are over 500 (10%) care home beds available in the county. Approximately 100 beds are available for people who are Covid-19 symptomatic. Around 60 care homes have experienced at least one suspected Covid-19 resident; at least 37 of these have more than one case and have confirmed outbreaks. Across the sector there is an absence rate due to staff self-isolating of around 9%, although this can be much higher in specific care homes.

CHILDREN AND FAMILY SERVICES • Schools and Early Years Settings OVER THE first week of the summer term between 220 and 230 schools have been open, with around 1,700 children attending each day.

The number of vulnerable children attending school has increased to around 360 a day. In Leicestershire every child has been risk assessed in order to establish the level of visits required to the child but also whether it is safer for them to be in school. The Department monitors closely the attendance of the children who are assessed as being safer in school. The Safeguarding Children’s Partnership has launched a media campaign to encourage communities to watch out for children’s welfare during lockdown. This is accompanied by a number of posters that will be distributed across Leicestershire.

IT equipment for disadvantaged and vulnerable children *N.B: Please bear in mind this weekly data is being updated continuously and we are likely to see a data lag with these figures.

Shielding and Protecting Vulnerable People IN RESPECT of the Government initiative, 14,837 residents of Leicestershire have been identified as requiring shielding, of whom, 11,531 people have registered for support.

The County Council has contacted 6,730 people who have registered, of whom 3,968 have registered for support in obtaining essential supplies.

Over 3,000 Government food parcels have been delivered and a further 150 County Council emergency food parcels have been delivered. Close

A FEW weeks ago, the Department for Education wrote to all directors of children’s services to set out the scheme for ensuring all disadvantaged and vulnerable children have access to IT equipment and internet access, where they do not currently have it.

Leicestershire has been allocated around 850 devices to distribute to children with a social worker and year 10 pupils, who will sit GCSE’s and who do not currently have access to IT. Academies are responsible for distributing the equipment to Year 10 pupils within their schools.

REGULATORY SERVICES Registration Service REGISTRARS processed 73 death registrations in the week ending Friday 24th April 2020, double the norm for this time of year.

I come from a broken home, although it was just a hairline crack before I came along.

For Advertising Rates & Publication Dates , visit: www.markfieldherald.co.uk Discussions are underway with the General Registry Office around recovery, in particular reintroducing birth registrations and wedding ceremonies, both of which are currently suspended. We envisage high demand as we tackle the backlog and deal with new business.

Trading Standards FOLLOWING discussions with the Office for Product Safety and Standards and UK Border Force, our trading standards officers are to return to East Midlands Airport (EMA) to undertake product safety checks.

The location of EMA places the logistics facilities within four hours of 90 per cent of the population of England and Wales, handling over 1,000 tonnes of cargo per day. The substantial increase in online shopping and the need for UK businesses to access supplies further afield has increased the risk of unsafe products, including PPE, entering the UK marketplace.

The detention of unsafe products at the border is critical to protecting public safety and provides some assurances to the business community that despite the challenges, regulatory controls remain in place.

RECYCLING AND HOUSEHOLD WASTE SITES THE COUNTY COUNCIL is planning to reopen some sites in the week commencing 18th May once the necessary arrangements, including social distancing and traffic management, and public communications, are in place.

To ensure that the re-opened sites are not immediately overwhelmed the Borough Councils have all been asked to ensure there are two weeks’ worth of operational green and bulky waste collections completed prior to reopening of sites.

The County Council is liaising with the other waste disposal authorities in the East Midlands with the intention of minimising additional traffic on the roads by having consistent reopening arrangements across the region as far as possible.

Rural Post Office Provisions DURING the past few months a number of residents and small businesses have contacted me on the issue of access to rural post offices across the area.

I know this is a particularly ‘hot topic’ for the residents of Stanton since the Shop/Post Office facilities ceased. Although in the very early stages I am working with colleagues at the County Council on a number of ideas on how we can support preserving and extending access to these vital services in rural communities such as ours.

At County Hall our meetings continue to take place via Skype and seem to be working well.

I continue to work closely with the Parish Councils and by the time that this is published would have attended my first “virtual” Parish Council Meeting with Stanton under Bardon Parish Council on 5th May! I would like to wish you and your families well and please do not hesitate to contact me if there is anything you need.

13

‘Thumbs up’ for bin crews YOUNGER residents in Hinckley and Bosworth can now show their appreciation for bin crews by colouring in a #thumbsup poster and displaying it in their window or sticking it to their bin.

The poster is available to download at www. hinckley-bosworth.gov.uk/ colouringposter or across the council’s social media channels. The poster was inspired by the Royal Mail’s campaign to support our local postmen and women.

The move comes after the council received lots of thank you messages from residents for bin crews for their service during the coronavirus pandemic.

Council Leader, Councillor Stuart Bray said: “The crews have really appreciated all the good wishes and thank you’s they have received over the past weeks and whilst the vast majority of children are home from school, this is a small project they could complete and families could continue with their appreciation.

“The crews empty around 70,000 bins during the course of a week and are out in all weathers and whilst a vital service to the borough often do not receive the recognition they deserve. The teams have worked incredibly hard in difficult circumstances and displaying a #thumbsup would be a small token of gratitude. We hope children and families will enjoy supporting the campaign.”

For more information about any changes to council services look out for information in local media, follow the council on social media or sign up for free email updates at www.hinckley-bosworth.gov.uk/emailupdates

Peter

(County Councillor for Markfield, Desford, Bagworth, Thornton, Botcheston, and Stanton under Bardon) E: peter.bedford@leics.gov.uk or T: 01455 824733 www.facebook.com/peterbedfordmdt

My wife said we needed to communicate more. I knew she was right so I gave her my email address.

14

THE HERALD • MID-MAY 2020 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@markfieldherald.co.uk

Charnwood Forest secures National Lottery support CHARNWOOD FOREST in Leicestershire has been awarded a National Lottery Heritage Fund grant of £2,767,300 to put this little known, but internationally important, heritage landscape very firmly on the map.

This unique landscape is one of the most significant in the East Midlands, but very few people are aware of its value, both locally and internationally. The landscape is currently at risk and this grant will support new projects to protect and enhance it.

The grant, made possible by money raised by National Lottery players, will fund the Charnwood Forest Landscape Partnership Scheme.

This five year scheme will promote awareness and understanding of the importance of Charnwood Forest through geological conservation, habitat restoration, improvements to connections between sites for visitors, creating innovative interpretation, outdoor learning opportunities for young people and adults, and a five-year programme of cultural and heritage activities and events.

John Everitt, Chief Executive of the National Forest Company, host organisation for the project, said: “Charnwood Forest’s future hinges on our ability to convey its story effectively. We need to fill people with surprise, delight and awe when they hear it. Only when they understand Charnwood Forest will they be moved to care for it. This Scheme will support more than 80 sites across Charnwood Forest and enable over 1,000 volunteers to learn about and help us to protect this precious landscape.”

Charnwood Forest’s rocky outcrops, some of the oldest rocks on the planet, were thrown up by volcanic activity in the southern oceans more than 600 million years ago. Millions of years of global plate tectonic movements brought the Charnwood rocks to their current location, and with them the fossilised remains of the first moments of complex life on earth. These fossils are only found in a handful of places across the globe, and the most ancient are found in only two places on Earth: Newfoundland in Canada and Charnwood Forest in Leicestershire.

Roadshows, events, outdoor activities and Citizen Science projects will enable 10,000 people to explore this incredible history.

But the area is not just important for its fossils. The ancient volcanic geology created the steep, rocky ground and thin soils that are characteristic of Charnwood. These

are conditions which make arable farming difficult, so historically much of the area was grazed or left as woodland. Because the land has not been heavily cultivated, it still contains a wealth of nationally and internationally important wildlife, including the Charnwood Spider and rare lichens.

John Everitt explained further: “When most people are asked where Charnwood Forest is, they point to a tiny area east of the M1 around Bradgate Park and Beacon Hill. But Charnwood Forest covers more than 150 square kilometres. It extends north and west of Leicester, into the National Forest and includes parts of Coalville and Loughborough and villages along the A6 corridor. This project will help reconnect local communities with the landscape and its incredible heritage. Working together to protect this unique landscape is now more important than ever as we mitigate and adapt to climate change. Charnwood is a hidden gem in the East Midlands and this award will help ensure its unique story and character are celebrated and secured for the future.”

These fossils are only found in a handful of places across the globe, and the most ancient are found in only two places on Earth: Newfoundland in Canada and Charnwood Forest in Leicestershire.

Atul Patel, Chair of the Landscape Partnership Steering Group, said: “Many organisations and volunteers throughout Charnwood Forest have put in masses of work to achieve this award for the Charnwood Forest Regional Park. A huge thank you to the Fund’s Midlands and East Area Committee and lottery players for their support. This award will

What kind of STRESS do you have?

THESE ARE stressful days. The towering storm clouds of coronavirus and financial trouble are casting a long shadow over all of us.

Many of us deal with our stress by expressing it. Loudly! We lose our temper, swear, shout and even throw things at our loved ones. We overreact to various personal setbacks because we can’t retaliate against the virus or the stock market.

But some of us do the opposite: we under-react. We display ‘quiet stress’.

“We quietly hold our stress within: we don’t speak up about how we feel.

And crucially, we become inert. We don’t act on situations that require action.” So warns Jillian Lavender of the London Meditation Centre.

“We stay in unhappy relationships and unfulfilling jobs. We feel overwhelmed, yet we ignore important admin tasks. We procrastinate.

Quiet stress creates an emotional paralysis that keeps us ‘stuck’ in unhappy situations. Inaction is just as much of an inappropriate response to stress as over-reaction is” A further danger of ‘quiet stress’ is that instead of taking positive action, people can withdraw into themselves, and turn to comfort eating or drinking too much. This further lowers their immune system.

unlock further match funding, and we can’t wait to get started on work on the ground as soon as the Covid-19 situation allows.”

Cllr Blake Pain, Cabinet Lead for Environment at Leicestershire County Council, said: “I am delighted that the Charnwood Forest Landscape Partnership bid to the National Lottery Heritage Fund has been successful, and thank everyone involved for their hard work and commitment.

The £2.7m will provide much needed and welcome investment in Charnwood Forest and I am confident it will enable people to explore, understand and care for Charnwood Forest and its hidden gems and provide the impetus for the creation of a valuable legacy for Leicestershire.

“Leicestershire County Council has been proud to support and contribute to this project and we look forward to continuing to work with the wide range of partners involved over the next five years and beyond.”

The award, match funded by additional contributions to the value of £963,000, ensures that 18 coordinated projects will go ahead.

These include: • Geological conservation and research • Innovative interpretation • Habitat restoration • 15 natural flood management projects • 10km of improvements to Rights of Way and the creation of a safer, off-road path between Beacon Hill and the Outwoods • Heritage and health programmes, in particular for those with access and special health needs • Roadshows, events and Citizen Science projects involving 10,000 people • 1,250 volunteering opportunities • Participatory arts programmes to engage people to record and celebrate Charnwood • Outdoor learning • Improved visitor information • Mapping of Charnwood’s distinctive stone walls.

• Advice and support for farmers and landowners, small businesses, and community organisations through training programmes and grant schemes.

The projects are designed to engage and attract many different audiences, and build a wide passionate base of Charnwood supporters: local residents, families, walkers, people with restricted mobility, urban communities, small businesses, visitors, older people, non-car owners, schools and special interest groups.

They demolished my local Domino’s Pizza today, and all the other shops in the street fell down.

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District councils issue almost £100 million in coronavirus funding to 8,000 businesses DISTRICT and borough councils in Leicestershire have distributed almost £100 million of vital government coronavirus funding to thousands of local businesses in the county.

Since early April, officers at Blaby, Charnwood, Harborough, Hinckley and Bosworth, Melton, North West Leicestershire and Oadby and Wigston district and borough councils have been working hard to ensure the funding reaches eligible businesses as quickly and as securely as possible.

In total, they have awarded just over £96 million to 8,000 businesses in the county.

They have been distributing two grants for businesses, one for those directly impacted from the hospitality, leisure and retail industry, and another for those that already receive business rate discounts.

On behalf of all the councils, Cllr Jonathan Morgan, leader of Charnwood Borough Council, said: “All the districts and boroughs quickly realised how vital this funding would be to keep some of these businesses afloat during these difficult times.

“We have all worked very hard to set up safe and secure systems to distribute the funding and I would like to thank everyone involved for the efforts they have made.

“The feedback we have had from local businesses has been very positive and at times very touching. We are talking about people’s livelihoods, with some businesses having taken years to build up from nothing and facing the very real prospect of being wiped out in weeks. These grants have bought vital time.

“However, all the councils are fully aware that there is a long way to go. We are all fully committed to continue working with businesses, partners, communities and each other to ensure we offer the support needed to get us all through this crisis.”

Not all eligible businesses have yet received the grant funding. For more information on the grants, businesses should visit their local council’s website.

I surveyed 100 women and asked them what shampoo they used when showering. Ninety-eight of them said: ‘How did you get in here?’

I said to the gym instructor, ‘Can you teach me to do the splits?’ He said, ‘How flexible are you?’

I said, ‘I can’t make Tuesdays.’

15

160 groups have received funding

Most vulnerable helped during COVID-19 thanks to successful scheme VOLUNTARY GROUPS have been praised for their ‘remarkable’ response to a scheme aiming to support the most vulnerable across Leicestershire during COVID-19.

The Communities Fund was launched so that organisations were able to continue to carry out vital work across the county, despite the impact Groups receiving the funds to support coronavirus is having on their vulnerable and isolated people finances. operate in the following areas: It saw 245 community and voluntary groups apply for a • Blaby (3 groups) - £12,537 slice of a £1.5m pot – with the • Charnwood (21 groups) - £206,344 amount applied for exceeding • Harborough (14 groups) - £110,613 £3m.

• Hinckley & Bosworth (10 groups) £121,662 The third, and final, round • Leicester & Leicestershire (eight groups) of the fund has seen £486,000 £42,844 awarded to 62 groups.

• Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland (11 A charity that supports groups) - £85,671 older people and the most vulnerable in Syston was • Leicestershire (55 groups) - £543,953 awarded £5,000 of the • Leicestershire & Rutland (two groups) - £33,636 funding, meaning that those • Melton (15 groups) - £112,628 in need are still able to access • North West Leicestershire (16 groups) the service. £167,311 Elaine Connor, from Age • Oadby & Wigston (four groups) - £41,938 Concern Syston, said: “This grant has enabled us to keep our office open at a time when coronavirus forced us to stop all our community activities, and all our income had ceased.

“Using community volunteers coordinated by our office staff we have quickly set up a telephone support service for the elderly and most vulnerable in the Syston area. So far, we have supported over 140 people, and carried out more than 200 tasks for them including collecting prescriptions, shopping, signposting to other organisations and providing help for many other essential services.”

As part of the fund, the council also focused on ensuring that local radio stations received some funding to enable vital COVID-19 messages to be communicated to listeners.

Nick Rushton, leader of the county council, said: “The response we have had to the Communities Fund has been nothing short of remarkable.

“I’m happy to announce that we’ve awarded all of the £1.5m fund to 160 groups. It’s great to see that groups are doing all they can to keep communities thriving during these challenging times and I’m proud that we’ve been a part of it.

“It’s never been more important for communities to band together and support each other. These awards will help groups to continue their crucial work and step up activities to support vulnerable people and those isolating.

“This fund enables people to stay safe by staying at home and ultimately, saves lives.

I’d like to thank our volunteers and community groups for their fantastic work and for keeping the community spirit going.”

For a brief moment, I got excited because I thought my toothpaste said anti-plague instead of anti-plaque.

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THE HERALD • MID-MAY 2020 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@markfieldherald.co.uk

Dandelions are amazing!

Virtual Christian Aid Week 2020 and Coronavirus MANY OF US actually like dandelions. Their amazingly cheerful colour always brings a smile to our faces. The not-so-neat-and-tidy gardeners among us can simply enjoy flowers where they grow.

The name ‘dandelion’ apparently derives from ‘dent de lion’ – lions’ teeth, owing to the tooth-like shape of its leaves. There are many different varieties of dandelion, but they all have the toothed leaves arranged in a rosette around the single flowers, each one made up of up to two hundred [yes, really!] tiny florets on a smooth stem, that when picked, releases a milky substance known as latex.

The golden heads, which close up at night, in wet weather, or if picked to go in a vase, give way to the seed-heads we all know as clocks. Who cannot remember proclaiming the time as a child, having blown the seeds away, counting each breath as an hour? And who, if this happened in the garden, remembers the reaction of a parent, or grandparent, to the efficient dispersal of the seeds all over the vegetable patch or flower bed!

In the past, dandelion drinks and concoctions have been valued for their medicinal powers in combating a variety of complaints, and the Victorians used to cultivate them in order to fill sandwiches with the young leaves.

Fizzy drinks manufacturers still produce a variety known as Dandelion and Burdock, and intrepid wine-makers can use the flowers to concoct a heady brew.

The roots, some say, can be dried and ground up for use as a coffee substitute. It is those same roots, long and strong, that our grandmothers would water carefully, to the amusement of onlookers, in order to pull them up completely. To many of us, dandelions are one of Nature’s joys.

After The End

By Clare Mackintosh Max and Pip are the strongest couple you know.

They’re best friends, lovers—unshakable. But then their son gets sick and the doctors put the question of his survival into their hands. For the first time, Max and Pip can’t agree. They each want a different future for their son. What if they could have both?

A gripping and propulsive exploration of love, marriage, parenthood, and the road not taken, After the End brings one unforgettable family from unimaginable loss to a surprising, satisfying, and redemptive ending and the life they are fated to find.

With the emotional power of Jodi Picoult’s My Sister’s Keeper, Mackintosh helps us to see that sometimes the end is just another beginning.

ALTHOUGH Christian Aid Week is cancelled this year in reality now, it is taking place online.

The coronavirus outbreak threatens the health of our neighbours near and far. Together we must respond quickly to help the most vulnerable.

Coronavirus has shown us that our futures are bound more tightly together than ever before.

And now it is spreading across the world’s poorest countries, putting people living in poverty at great risk. These people are already facing a lack of water, food and healthcare. Some are homeless. Some are living with underlying health issues such as HIV. As coronavirus infection rates speed up, they will feel the impacts of the virus deeply. We must respond now. Coronavirus impacts all of us. But love unites us all. Christian Aid is responding to the coronavirus outbreak in Africa, Asia and Latin America and the Caribbean. For further information, please visit online: www.christian.org.uk.

At the same time, we are very aware of how disastrous the virus’s impact is on the health and well-being, and financial circumstances of the homes and families in our village.

DONATIONS Unfortunately, under the current circumstances regarding Covid-19, there is a delay to processing donations by post. Please give via the website where possible or call 020 7523 2269 to donate by telephone. Adverts on the TV give details how donations may be made by text.

Online donations: https://www.christianaid.org.uk/give-money/makedonation VIRTUAL RESOURCES – WORSHIP, FUNDRAISING AND FUN ACTIVITIES Christian Aid have prepared online resources to enable live streaming of daily worship during Christian Aid Week, a virtual quiz and other virtual fundraising ideas on their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/christianaid/ and https://www.christianaid.org. uk/christian-aid-week/daily-prayer-reflection.

Very grateful thanks is extended to everyone who can help Christian Aid carry out this most important work at this time.

Contact: Margaret on 01530 243292

For a cheap laugh when walking through town, it’s always funny to bump into someone in a camouflage jacket and say. ‘Sorry, didn’t see you there.’

I wish my uncle was still alive. He used to pull coins out of my ear and now I could really use the change.

If you think Special K is boring, wait till you try Normal K.

IT'S OKAY TO ASK FOR HELP Do you need someone to pick you up some milk, a prescription or perhaps you feel lonely and need a chat.

We are here to help you!

YOU WILL NOT BEÂ A BURDEN!

THE GOOD NEIGHBOURHOOD SCHEME HAS PLENTY OF VOLUNTEERS AVAILABLE TO HELP. YOU SHOULD HAVE RECEIVED A NOTE THROUGH YOUR DOOR WITH A CONTACT NAME AND NUMBER. PLEASE USE IT. IF YOU HAVE NOT RECEIVED ONE PLEASE CONTACT DAWN: MARKFIELDCOMMUNITYCENTRE@HOTMAIL.CO.UK / 07885243033

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THE HERALD • MID-MAY 2020 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@markfieldherald.co.uk

Looking for Hope Amongst the Clutter IN THIS strange locked down season, because of the coronavirus pandemic, I’ve noticed a change in the type of pictures posted on social media.

In place of the look-here-atme selfies are snapshots of buds opening to display the colours of spring.

Such hopeful images counterbalance gloomy statistics in the news media.

There are also more memory pictures – this is what I was doing on this day years ago with people I love – I wish we could be together now.

While we’re not allowed to make the kind of memories depicted in those pictures, we find comfort in memories we already have.

One thing I’ve done with this unexpected free time is to organize printed photographs into albums. The photos and the albums have been there for a while, waiting for me to get a round to it. You remember the old joke?

Imagine people finding their round tuits in cupboards and drawers all over the country. How would you use yours? To sow seeds that had not been planted? To read the book gathering dust on a shelf?

What else needs tackling? Now may be an ideal time to face the daunting corner where clutter lurks. Daunting because of what you may disturb among age-old piles of unsorted belongings. Looking squarely at the past may be an unwelcome prospect. It makes us face uncomfortable questions.

Projects we may never finish, equipment we cannot use any more, objects of attachment from people we’ve lost. Isn’t that like what we’re doing as a nation in these unprecedented times? Issues we have been avoiding are suddenly highlighted through unfamiliar circumstances.

There is much talk about how we’re looking forward to getting back to normal on the other side of this international crisis. Some people say they hope things will have changed, that normal will not look the same as it used to, because we have learned valuable lessons about what really matters in life. It’s up to us whether or not we rise to the challenge, to reorganize society more fairly, to care more for the environment.

By myself I cannot change the world, but I’m determined to look after the little space that is in my care, not to let it be overwhelmed with needless clutter. Be brave. Use this negative time to make a positive change in your small corner. If you choose to sort it out, I guarantee that amidst all the mess you will find at least one thing, however small, to bring you joy – even if it’s just a clean and tidy corner.

The Premonition Code: The Science of Precognition, How Sensing the Future Can Change Your Life

by Theresa Cheung and Julia Mossbridge Have you ever had a feeling something was going to happen and it did? Have you had a dream and then seen it play out in your waking life?

Most people dismiss these premonitions as coincidences, but scientific evidence suggests that some of these experiences are far from coincidental. What if we could use information from the future to guide our choices, and to drive positive change in our lives and in the world?

Now you can learn about the science behind precognition, read real life case studies, and cultivate your precognitive abilities to participate in the largest scientific experiment of its kind on precognition.

Has Anyone Seen My Sex Life?

by Kristen Bailey (Author) I wake up, bleary-eyed.

It’s been two years, six months and three hours since I last shaved my legs, and the llamapatterned knickers I’m wearing have seen better days.

We have seven minutes before the kids wake up, and my husband shuffles closer. ‘Ouch,’ he says, a piece of Lego sticking into his back.

Then, a light comes on in the landing. Small footsteps creep down the stairs. A little voice screams, ‘IS SOMEONE COMING TO MAKE BREAKFAST?!’

All hope of having some ‘alone time’ is replaced with wondering if we’ve run out of Cheerios, thinking about the overflowing laundry, and remembering that I forgot to take out the recycling. Again.

Just a typical Monday morning for the Morton family…

Except today, when I go downstairs in my dressing gown, I find something.

Something belonging to my husband. Something that definitely wasn’t in the wedding vows. And it’s either going to make us… or break us.

How to make your wife more efficient AN EFFICIENCY expert was delivering a seminar on time management for a company’s junior executives.

He concluded the session with a disclaimer: “But whatever you do, do NOT attempt these task-organising tips at home,” he said.

When he was asked why not, he explained: “Well, I did a study of my wife’s routine of fixing breakfast. I noticed she made a lot of trips between the refrigerator and the stove, the table and the cabinets, each time carrying only one item. So, I told her: ‘Darling you are making too many trips back and forth carrying one item at a time. If you would only try carrying several things at once you would be much more efficient.’” He paused.

“Did that save time?” one of the executives asked.

“Actually, yes,” the expert answered, “It used to take her 15 minutes to fix my breakfast. Now I get my own in seven minutes.”

Fed up with Lockdown?

Travel the world on YouTube!

A RECENT CALLER to the Nick Abbot show on LBC said he was passing the time during Lockdown by watching road and rail trip videos on YouTube. In the previous few days, he’d ‘travelled’ from Namibia to South Africa by car, New York to Montreal by train, across the Falkland Islands, and even journeyed through Greenland.

There are loads of filmed road trips available - some better than others, naturally - but they all give you the experience of travelling in foreign countries without having to leave the comfort and safety of your living room.

The ‘Traveling Robert’collection of road trips includes a series of journeys across the USA, and elsewhere in the world, and are quite interesting.

Amongst the others he came across was ‘The Ultimate East Coast Road Trip’ by car from St Johns in Newfoundland to Key West in the southern tip of Florida. A journey of 3,030 miles. The video of the journey lasts 12 hours and 15 minutes, so make sure you pack your lunch before setting off!

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#Thisisfostering theme for awareness fortnight

It’s time to celebrate Leicestershire’s foster carers IT’S FOSTER CARE Fortnight and the spotlight is being shone on the life-changing work of families supporting children in care in Leicestershire.

The awareness campaign runs from May 11 -24 and this year’s theme is #ThisisFostering During the fortnight, Leicestershire County Council is celebrating the contributions of local foster carers and the difference they make to children and young people in care.

Lorraine, who has been fostering in Leicestershire for two years, said: “We considered becoming foster carers over many years but the time never seemed right, what with our family and work commitments.

“As a result we were both aged over 50 by the time we started our fostering journey.

“Fostering a child has been one of the most challenging but rewarding things we have done to date, from his pure excitement and joy at getting his first matching tracksuit, through all the ups and downs of his emotional turmoils.

“All our hard work is rewarded by hugs and genuine smiles from the child. We can honestly say we would not change a thing.”

Ivan Ould, county council cabinet member for children and families, said: ”We’re always grateful to our incredible foster carers but particularly now, for providing much-needed support and stability for our children and young people when there is so much disruption to routine and change to everyday life. Thank you for everything you are doing.

“For anyone who has thought about fostering, and is now wondering more than ever about what you can do to help, we would encourage you to get in touch and find out more about making a difference to a young person who needs you.”

There are many different ways to foster and although the council’s regular ‘find out about fostering’ events have been cancelled until further notice, the fostering team are available via phone, email and social media to talk through the various ways people can help. Find out more about fostering at https://www.leicestershire.gov. uk/education-and-children/ fostering or call 0116 305 0505 (Mon-Fri, 8:30am-4:30pm).

I decided to follow the health advice given in the news recently and avoid alcohol three days a week.

Now I just have to decide which week.

I was quite drunk last night, so I ended up taking a bus home.

That may not be a big deal to you, but I’ve never driven a bus before.

Boots helps domestic abuse victims as cases rise during lockdown • Boots provides safe space for domestic abuse victims during coronavirus lockdown • The health & beauty retail giant has teamed up with charity Hestia BOOTS has set up a safe space for domestic abuse victims at its UK pharmacies as cases rise during the coronavirus lockdown.

Domestic abuse victims will be able to access the spaces at Boots pharmacies under measures to improve access to support.

The Metropolitan Police said it was making an average of about 100 arrests a day for offences linked to abuse in the home since the lockdown was imposed last month.

Many victims, who are unable to seek help while at home trapped with their abusers, will still be expected to shop for food and medicine.

Meanwhile, domestic abuse charity Hestia is overseeing a safe space model in consultation rooms at most of the 2400 Boots pharmacies across the country.

Those who need to use the safe space consultation room need to ask at the pharmacy counter.

They will receive access to the 24-hour national domestic abuse helpline, the men’s advice line and phone numbers for services specific to Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

“We recognise that key workers in pharmacies hold a unique position within the community as a single point of contact for victims,” Hestia head of UK Says No More campaign Lyndsey Dearlove said.

“By creating this safe space in Boots pharmacies, we hope many will be able to safely access support while following government guidelines.”

Locations of Boots Pharmacies in Leicestershire • Leicester Highcross Shopping Centre, 38-39 Shires Walk, Leicester, Leicestershire, LE1 4FQ • Leicester Gallowtree Gate, 30-36 Gallowtree Gate, Leicester, LE1 1DD • Leicester 149 Uppingham Road, 149 UPPINGHAM ROAD, Leicester, LE5 4BP • Leicester 212 Uppingham Road, 212 Uppingham Rd, Leicester, LE5 0QG • Leicester Beaumont Leys, 20-22 Fletcher Mall, Leicester, LE4 1DG • Leicester Braunstone Lane, 532 Braunstone La, Leicester, LE3 3DH • Birstall Sibson Road, 123 Sibson Road, Birstall, Leicester, LE4 4ND • Leicester Fosse Park Shopping Centre, Fosse Park Shopping Centre, Leicester, LE19 1HJ • Leicester Oadby The Parade, 35 The Parade, Leicester, LE2 5BB • Leicester Oadby Leicester Road, 11C-11D Leicester Road, Leicester, LE2 5BD • Leicester Thurmaston Shopping Centre, Barkby Thorpe Lane, Leicester, LE4 8GP • Leicester Wigston Bell Street, 27 Bell Street, Wigston, Leicestershire, LE18 1AD • Leicester Syston, 1326 Melton Road, Leicester, LE7 2EQ • Sileby Swan Street, 54 Swan St, Sileby, Loughborough, Leicestershire, LE12 7NW • Loughborough Quorn, 16 Station Road, Quorn, Loughborough, Leicestershire, LE12 8BS • Loughborough Barrow Upon Soar, 21 High Street, Barrow Upon Soar, Leicestershire, LE12 8PY • Loughborough Market Place, 11-13 Market Place, Loughborough, Leicestershire, LE11 3EQ • Coalville New Broadway, 9-11 New Broadway, Coalville, Leicestershire, LE67 3XJ • Hinckley Britannia Centre, 2 Britannia Centre, Hinckley, Leicestershire, LE10 1RU • Asfordby Bradgate Lane, 5 Bradgate Lane, Asfordby, Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire, LE14 3YD

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THE HERALD • MID-MAY 2020 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@markfieldherald.co.uk

Groby Sings Choir News Update Strange times. It is May already and by now, we at Groby Sings should be well ‘on the road’ to polishing up our songs from Calamity Jane and Simon and Garfunkel ready for our summer concerts at the end of June.

Sadly, like so many events up and down the country, Groby Sings On The Road has had to go Off-Road for the time being. Thankfully, it’s not tied to a season like last summer’s concert, Groby Sings On The Beach, so we hope to pick up where we left off and, with luck, we’ll meet back at the Groby Club in the Autumn.

For now, choir members are staying connected using technology such as email and Facebook, as well as the more traditional methods of the telephone, both mobile and landline (remember those?!) and occasionally face-to-face. As we have all found out, the latter is quite rare these days except when people meet by accident on the permitted daily walk or shopping trip or maybe over the garden fence, being careful to observe the 2 metre social distance, of course! However, for those of us who are not ‘shielded’ and confined to the house all the time, it has been good to experience walkers/cyclists passing by and actually exchanging a smile and a greeting. We at Groby Sings always aim to be sociable and friendly at our singing sessions so it’s good to see our ethos spreading as we share this current feeling of all being in it together at this difficult time.

As a choir we are trying to keep up with our songs as much as we can. We have a rehearsal cd that we can sing along to and on Mondays, at the times we usually meet, we are encouraged to sing along to the Song of the Week from Groby Sings On The Road so that we can feel like we’re all together again.

Unfortunately, we haven’t got the resources to do a Gareth Malone version of Groby Sings where we would all record ourselves and some technical wizard would merge all the voices to sound like we’re singing as a choir again but we’re together in our thoughts. Of course, Monday’s Song of the Week wouldn’t be the same without cake and, as the absence of flour in the shops at the moment indicates, there must be a lot of baking going on during lockdown so we’re encouraging singers to have a cake break during their home singing session just as they would at the Club. We hope to have a picture gallery of Groby Sings bakes on Facebook so keep a look out for that and it might not be just the singing that encourages a few new

choir members when normal life resumes.

As a bit of fun for choir members, we put together a few words to showcase 52 songs from the Groby Sings repertoire of over 200 songs performed over the last 7 years, including 3 from our current programme.

See how many you recognise and, if you regularly attend our concerts, you might even remember which season each was from. Answers are on page 29.

Groby Sings says ‘Thank You For The Music’ As 2020 dawned I had a million dreams of what the year would bring. I planned to do one of my favourite things and booked a summer holiday to the Greek Islands in June.

I thought that when summer is icumin in I would be enjoying walkin’ on sunshine and inhaling the fragrance of the wild mountain thyme on the beautiful island of Rhodes. Now I’m resigned to saying so long, farewell to a holiday abroad this year.

Sadly, I’ll have to let it go but maybe, with a little bit of luck, we’ll all soon be able to travel the lovely country roads of the UK again, perhaps ending up at Scarborough fair or even singing the Skye boat song in the highlands of Scotland.

Now we have all this social distancing, I wonder what is happening on the street where you live? You might see a super

trouper entertaining the neighbours by singing from the rooftops (or maybe a balcony – we mustn’t forget Health and Safety!) or there are sure to be some little people (and their parents) having fun, fun, fun on their daily walks. Wouldn’t it be loverly to hear them singing over the rainbow whilst spotting the rainbow pictures in people’s windows? Then tonight, and every Thursday at 8pm, every street will be joining the national Clap For Carers event to celebrate the caring services who are looking after us all in this time of crisis. At the end of the day there are so many stars to be thanked.

This morning, the master of the house said to me, ‘What shall we do today? Here comes the sun and there are blue skies’. Last week I could have said, ‘Let’s go fly a kite’ as Leicester was a very windy city! I suggested, ‘Shall we dance?’ because I used to love pretending to be a dancing queen and I could have danced all night in my youth, though my husband could only move like greased lightning on the football field in his youth and if we dance now I have to look down to protect my toes!

After a month of lockdown, most of us are saying that we’re a bit fed up with the four walls of our house and some people would like to be able to go out and climb every mountain or even go on safari in Africa if only they could get a ticket to ride somewhere. Even a day trip to Bangor would be a miracle of miracles at the moment. However, as we are more confined to the garden, it’s lovely to be able to hear the birds and see the Spring flowers which help us to appreciate what a wonderful world we live in.

As the world is all shook up by current events, this is perhaps a good time to say, ‘Thank you for the music’ as we’ve seen how it’s helped people all over the world to come together. I’m a believer in the power of music to bring people together and the sound of music has been heard from balconies, in the streets, in virtual choirs and as accompaniment to all the online fitness videos.

I whistle a happy tune, listen to my concert cds and think of something wonderful every day to help me stay positive. With a little help from my friends I am staying safe and healthy. I hope we’ll all be back soon on Mondays at Groby Sings, not only to sing songs from Calamity Jane and Simon and Garfunkel but for some happy talk and food, glorious food in our cake breaks!

Stay Safe Everyone!

Pizza Project

Bradgate Rotary continues during lockdown BRADGATE ROTARY is holding its weekly meetings on Zoom during lockdown to carry on its work of raising money for local charities, and giving support to the local community.

They have already teamed up with the Stamford Arms to set up a pizza project for people living in the Groby area. Pizzas can be ordered from the Stamford Arms and delivered to the door - a service available on Friday and Saturdays between 4 and 7pm.

Twenty per cent of the proceeds from pizza sales will go towards Bradgate Rotary’s charity work, including the production of next year’s Bradgate Park calendar, which raises much-needed funds for the Park. Bradgate Rotary is grateful to the Stamford Arms and its staff for their help and support in the pizza project.

Pizza sales, together with a regional Rotary grant, will also enable some households to receive a free pizza.

The club welcomes new members. Look for Bradgate Rotary on Facebook for more information.

I fell in love with my girlfriend at second sight. The first time I met her, I didn’t know her father was a millionaire.

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Queen’s University awarded funding to conduct COVID-19 rapid testing trial QUEEN’S UNIVERSITY Belfast has received funding to conduct a trial with the aim of developing a rapid diagnostic test for COVID-19.

The study is in partnership with HiberGene Diagnostics Ltd, Medcaptain in China, and Italian Hospital IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, who along with Queen’s, has been awarded 930,000 Euros from EU H2020 to develop a highly accurate diagnostic test for COVID-19 that aims to show results within an hour.

The test would enable clinicians to test for COVID-19 on site, eliminating the need to send tests to a centralised laboratory, saving time and resources.

Professor Cliff Taggart, lead researcher from the Wellcome-Wolfson Institute for Experimental Medicine at Queen’s University, said: “The local availability, speed and accuracy of the test will help inform public health preparedness and response in the ongoing pandemic.”

The test for COVID 19 disease utilises LAMP technology and Hibergene’s proprietary technology know how.

The Belfast Health & Social Care Trust carried out the initial development work on a prototype Meningococcal Disease test in collaboration with Queen’s University Belfast and funded by the Meningitis Research Foundation and Health & Social Care Research and Development Division. The prototype technology was exclusively licenced by HSC Innovations to Hibergene Diagnostics Ltd, Dublin, Ireland, who subsequently commercialised the test for sale via Hibergene’s network of 45 Distributors covering over 70 countries worldwide.

Seamus Gorman, CEO of Hibergene said: “We are delighted to lead an international consortium to quickly develop and bring to market a rapid easy to use molecular diagnostic test for COVID 19 disease. Rapid diagnosis and reporting of results is the key to containing the COVID 19 disease and this test can play an important role in its diagnosis and control.”

Mercenfeld Primary School Love to learn, have fun and make a difference Head Teacher: Mrs J Shephard

Deputy Head Teacher: Mrs R Noon

Oakfield Avenue, Markfield, Leicester LE67 9WG Tel: 01530243151 Email: admin@mercenfeld.com Website: www.mercenfeld.com

Mercenfeld Primary School Require School Governors Are you enthusiastic about education?

Do you have some time to spare?

If so, then you may be just the person we need!

We are looking for committed people to join Mercenfeld Primary School’s Local Advisory Board as Co-opted Governors.

What are we looking for?

Our Local Advisory Board is made up of Governors from all walks of life and many come to use through a variety of routes and with a range of different backgrounds, skills and experiences, but they are all volunteers who work together for the benefit of the School and are a valuable link between the school and the community it serves.

We want you We have a number of vacancies in the Co-opted Governor category and would be delighted to hear from anyone who has:  an interest in the performance of the school  a desire to contribute to and represent the community  an open and enquiring mind  the ability to look at issues objectively  the confidence to ask questions and join in debate  a willingness to listen and make informed judgements  the ability to work well with others

Mercenfeld Primary School are looking for committed people to join the Local Advisory Board as Co-opted Governors.

There are a number of vacancies in the Co-opted Governor category.

No special qualifications needed, but we are keen to complement the skills/experience of the rest of the Local Advisory Board membership.

We particularly welcome applicants with the following experience:

Whilst there are no special qualifications needed, we are keen to complement the skills/experience of the rest of the Local Advisory Board membership. Therefore, we would particularly welcome applications from individuals with experience of any of the following:  Finance (Accountant, Finance Manager etc)  Human Resources  Legal (Paralegal, Solicitor etc)  Health and Safety (H&S officer, compliance, union rep etc)  Premises or Facilities Management  Experiencing of chairing a board or committee  Experience of safeguarding

• Finance (Accountant, Finance Manager etc) • Human Resources • Legal (Paralegal, Solicitor etc) • Health and Safety (H&S officer, compliance, union rep, etc.)

• Premises or Facilities Management What does the Local Advisory Board do?

• Trust Experiencing chairing a board or committee The Board provides guidance of on governance to all academies, and is supported by the development of sub-committees at academy level known as Local Advisory Boards (LAB). The Local Advisory Board of our school is made up of parent, staff, local • Experience of safeguarding authority and co-opted governors.

The Local Advisory Board operates at a strategic level and is not involved in the day-to-day running of the school. We are responsible for both the conduct of the school and for the promotion of high standards. We carry out this role by setting the vision for the school, ensuring that the school works efficiently and effectively towards achieving its vision, and that the school provides a high quality education for its pupils. This is done by building a thorough knowledge of the school and its community, by both supporting and constructively challenging the school, and by ensuring accountability and compliance.

If you are interested, email Sally Collins, Chair of the Local Advisory Board, for further information and an application form, at:

scollins@mercenfeld.com

Depending on the number of applications there may be an election Mercenfeld Primary School is a part of Offices, Wreake Valley Academy, Parkstone process, which will be advised inTrust due course.

BRADGATE EDUCATION PARTNERSHIP Road, Syston, Leicester, LE7 1LY Company number 08168237

The best thing about homeschooling is that now I can add “I’ll fail you” to my repertoire of empty parenting threats.

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THE HERALD • MID-MAY 2020 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@markfieldherald.co.uk

All the latest news from

WE ARE DELIGHTED to report that there has been a big demand for digital books during our closure.

Nostalgic film revisits classic Leicestershire literature

New film shines spotlight on local connections to iconic Ladybird Books LADYBIRD BOOKS conjure up fond childhood memories for many – and a new film is offering residents the chance to revisit their favourite titles.

New titles have been added for adults, young adults and children. There many people are touched by dementia. are digital books, audio books, magazines and newspapers. Please refer to the mid-April Herald for full details or visit libraries@leics.gov.uk Unfortunately, if you are not already a member of Leicestershire Libraries and have your membership card and PIN number, you will not be able to access this service. Markfield Community Library will be ready and waiting when we open again to welcome back our wonderful volunteers and our members. Come and join Markfield Community library – you never know th when it might come in useful!

On that note everyone in Markfield is aware and thankful of of the sheer number of people who have stepped forward to volunteer in the village during the lockdown. Please consider coming to volunteer at the library when the current urgent need in the village is ended.

We may not be able to have some volunteers back straight away due to health issues. The library will need to be cleaned and put back together, windows cleaned and the gardens/ground tidied. The library is a volunteer opportunity going forward and we would love to have you on board. You may have some fresh ideas to put in place in the community that can be run from the library.

We are pleased to see that there has been a keen interest in the history of the village on some social media sites and that our wonderful Di Lockley has made available the remainder books of her own “Markfield Times”.

Di had donated all the profits to the Markfield Community Library and many of you have picked up a copy from the end of her drive and promised to make a donation to the library when open again.

If it has awakened an interest in the history of the village, The Markfield Local History Group meets several times a year with interesting talks and visits. The library also has a local history section with many of Di’s other books in the collection.

Thank you Di. Finally, parents and Primary age children in the village will know of the Summer Reading Challenge we run in conjunction with Leicestershire Libraries each summer. It is hoped there will still be a challenge this year which is currently being adapted and details will be announced soon.

The short video – made available

online by Leicestershire County SE COME TO OUR FRIENDLY COFFEE MORNING Council - features a writer of several of the cookery books and siblings at MARKFIELD LIBRARY at 11am who donated their entire collection of Ladybird memorabilia to the museum on Wednesday 18 January.

and was recorded at the Secret History of Ladybird Books event held at Charnwood Museum.

The film gives people an insight into the history of these iconic Leicestershire books and includes interviews and stories from those involved in the creation of the stories and the members of the public who loved them.

Richard Blunt, county council cabinet member for heritage, leisure and arts, said: “Ladybird Books are fondly remembered by generations of people, including myself, who read them as children.

“It was a real honour for Charnwood Museum and our teams to be involved in the national Being Human festival, as well as being recognition of the important role heritage plays in the life of our county and I am delighted that we are now able to share this wonderful film as a permanent record of the event.”

The event was part of last year’s UK-wide Being Human Festival which celebrates the importance of arts, literature, history, and language in the human experience.

Over 150 people, from former Ladybird employees, collectors and members of the public, came together at Charnwood Museum to share their memories of these cherished books, which were produced and published in Loughborough from 1914 to 1999.

As part of the day, the county council team asked people to share their memories of the books. All footage taken of the day has gone into the national Ladybird Books Archive at the University of Reading, the Record Office for Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland and Leicestershire County Council’s Museum service collection, to be kept for future generations.

Visit this link to view the short video: https://youtu.be/GylK8AN7L1I

uld you please spend just one hour to erstand a little more about dementia? ld help you, family, friends, neighbours - our whole community.

ree, valuable and interesting Dementia Friends mation Session is just about asking everyone to and a bit more about dementia and how we might life that bit easier and more pleasant for those people who live with it.

Please do be a Dementia Friend.

Margaret Bowler Chair – Markfield Community Library

No plastic please, we’re the National Trust THE NATIONAL TRUST is going to get rid of its plastic membership cards.

Replacing the five million membership cards with a paper alternative will save 12.5 tons of plastic each year.

The new cards will be made from a strong and durable paper, with a water-based coating. The cards will be recyclable and compostable.

The National Trust also has plans to almost completely remove single-use plastics from its sites by 2022. It has already replaced all disposable food packaging with compostable products.

Next, it wants to remove plastic drinks bottles and eliminate plastic packaging from its shops.

I just realized why I don’t look good in pictures anymore. It’s my face.

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23

Borough Councillor Andy Furlong’s

UPDATE

In praise of public footpaths

Tel: 01530 231377 Email: andy.furlong@ hinckley-bosworth.gov.uk AS I WRITE these words, we look to be heading for a seventh week of lockdown and restriction on our free movement.

We’ve experienced nothing like this in peacetime, and it seems ironic that we were forced to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the allied victory over fascism in Europe while under strict orders to stay in our homes. Truth can sometimes be stranger than fiction, and we are living through the strangest of days. Nonetheless, most people seem to be keeping their spirits up, and those that are finding the going difficult can count on the support of the terrific band of volunteers who are coordinating help and assistance in Markfield, Stanton, and surrounding villages.

Post Office After a short closure, the Markfield Post Office on Chitterman Way is back in action following a technical glitch and then some issues with social distancing. Several residents contacted me about the loss of this vital public service at a particularly testing time. I have been in contact with the Post Office Corporate Affairs Team in the East Midlands, and with the Leicestershire Police - who could find no record of any public complaint about behaviour in the Post Office. Both organisations are comfortable with the arrangement where door stewards in full PPE are provided by Dawn Grantham’s Markfield Good Neighbours volunteer team.

Markfield in bloom Many Markfield residents will have woken up one morning back in April to find a small gift on the doorstep in the shape of a potted sunflower seed.

This was delivered courtesy of the Queen Bee Youth Project, and I was delighted to work with their leader, Jo Norwood, to find a sponsor for the initiative. We can all look forward to seeing Markfield in bloom later in the year, and I will confess to having pinched two from outside Jo’s house on Croftway. Both have now germinated and are doing nicely on my kitchen windowsill at home. One is called ‘Dawn’, the other is ‘Jo’. Hats off to the Queen Bees for brightening up our lives.

Every cloud has a silver lining, and in addition to the huge surge in community solidarity brought about by COVID-19, many other good things are happening. One of these is the rediscovery of the beautiful countryside that surrounds our villages.

I’ve always thought that public footpaths and bridleways are vital features for any community. Many of them are ancient features on our local landscape – routes that have been used for centuries by generations of residents and visitors to, from and through Markfield, Stanton, Thornton and Bagworth. I believe that the local network of Public Rights of Way should be protected, cherished and expanded. It’s important to carefully consider rights of way issues as an integral part of local planning and development work, and where possible to extend and link up the network to improve public access and public health.

Since the lockdown began, as part of my regular daily exercise, I’ve discovered new routes from Thornton to Markfield and Stanton. I’ve explored hidden corners of the National Forest and discovered hidden archaeological gems like the Bagworth incline. What’s more, I’ve clocked up over 100 miles in the process! Sadly, I’ve also found that Leicestershire County Council (which is responsible for footpaths) and local landowners aren’t always terribly good at maintaining access and signposting; so I’m compiling a big list of broken stiles, poorly marked paths and overgrown hedges as I go.

Herald readers should search online for the Leicestershire Footpath Association and download walks 31 and 32. You’ll be amazed what’s right on your doorstep. (Editor’s Note: These two walks are included at the end of this issue of The Herald, and are also downloadable from the Herald website - www.markfieldherald.co.uk) Stay safe everyone, and if you or someone you know is facing difficulties as a result of shielding or self-isolation during the lockdown, complete the online form at hinckley-bosworth.gov.uk/coronasupport or call 01455 238141 for assistance. All requests are logged and passed to our local volunteers who will make contact with you and do their best to provide help.

Andy Furlong Contact me on 01530 231377 or via andy.furlong@hinckley-bosworth.gov.uk

Thumbs up for bin crews For elected members like Matthew Lay and myself, regular council business is on hold. I haven’t been anywhere near the Hinckley Hub since the beginning of March. Still, I’m pleased to report that the borough council staff are continuing to provide good service under difficult circumstances.

Doorstep refuse collection and recycling has continued as normal, and the green waste collection has now resumed after a brief interruption due to staff shortages. Give the crew on the bin wagons a thumbs up when you see them next, they deserve it.

Planning woes Many of the big planning issues facing the community are also delayed.

There’s not a lot to report on hot potatoes like Poundstretcher, Bardon 3 the Cliffe Hill Quarry extension and the A511 upgrade scheme. That said, HBBC is still required to progress planning applications, and despite an appeal to applicants to ‘pause’, it looks as if the Planning Committee will meet in May to consider four controversial proposals. Thankfully, none of these affect residents in this ward, but spare a thought for people in Desford, Market Bosworth and Stoke Golding. They are likely to be forced to accept unwanted major housing developments outside their existing settlement boundaries. This sad situation has arisen due to significant failings by previous administrations at Hinckley & Bosworth. The problem has still not been solved by the current Liberal Democrat leadership, and precious green space remains under threat in Markfield and Thornton as a result.

COVID-19 hasn’t managed to stop Stanton under Bardon Parish Council in its tracks though. By the time you read this, the Parish Council will have held its first-ever ‘Zoom’ meeting with councillors and other participants, including me, joining from home. I am grateful to the acting Parish Clerk, Mary Briggs, for keeping the show on the road.

I went on a bus tour yesterday - what a rip-off. £10 just to look round a double-decker.

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THE HERALD • MID-MAY 2020 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@markfieldherald.co.uk

Twelve parish councils signed-up to take part in the project

Special collection service re-introduced County council wildflower HINCKLEY & BOSWORTH Borough Council are reintroducing their Special collection service accepting online bookings for additional refuse sack collections and removal of small clearance items. However due to the coronavirus pandemic this service is a one person operation with strict front boundary rule for sacks of waste.

In accordance with coronavirus guidelines residents/households need to be aware that if they have coronavirus or are still symptomatic need to ensure that the waste is 72 hours old before it is presented for collection and is double-bagged.

Items which will be accepted: • General household waste, including recycling • Garden waste ie grass and hedge clippings etc • Textiles, although if these can be recycled, passed onto charity shops when they re-open it would be encouraged Items not accepted: • No electrical items will be accepted. These can be disposed of using our Bulky Waste Collection Service • Soil • Rubble / hard-core • Paint tins which contain paint • Hazardous wastes such as asbestos or chemicals The cost for collection and disposal of items is: · £15 for a maximum of 10 sacks · £25 for a maximum of 25 sacks Small sized cardboard boxes filled will be accepted as one sack but they must be dry.

Any additional bags or items a quotation is required. For full information visit www.hinckley-bosworth.gov.uk/otheritems The service may also be able to help with small types of shed or garden clearances but this work would need to be completed with one member of staff and would require strict social distancing from residents. To request a quotation please contact 01455 255977 or email streetscene@hinckleybosworth.gov.uk

LOCKDOWN

By Peter May ‘They said that twenty-five percent of the population would catch the flu. Between seventy and eighty percent of them would die. He had been directly exposed to it, and the odds weren’t good.’

A CITY IN QUARANTINE London, the epicenter of a global pandemic, is a city in lockdown. Violence and civil disorder simmer. Martial law has been imposed. No-one is safe from the deadly virus that has already claimed thousands of victims. Health and emergency services are overwhelmed.

A MURDERED CHILD At a building site for a temporary hospital, construction workers find a bag containing the rendered bones of a murdered child. A remorseless killer has been unleashed on the city; his mission is to take all measures necessary to prevent the bones from being identified.

A POWERFUL CONSPIRACY D.I. Jack MacNeil, counting down the hours on his final day with the Met, is sent to investigate. His career is in ruins, his marriage over and his own family touched by the virus. Sinister forces are tracking his every move, prepared to kill again to conceal the truth. Which will stop him first - the virus or the killers?

Written over fifteen years ago, this prescient, suspenseful thriller is set against a backdrop of a capital city in quarantine, and explores human experience in the grip of a killer virus.

scheme to bloom

A SCHEME is set to blossom thanks to a trial that will see wildflowers and wildlife flourish on roadside verges across Leicestershire.

The Urban Wildlife Verge Project will aim to improve biodiversity and encourage wildlife. It forms part of our wider work to tackle climate change and commitment to becoming carbon neutral by 2030.

We have been working alongside parish councils, giving them the opportunity to turn urban roadside verges into dedicated wildflower verges.

A total of twelve parish councils signed-up to take part in the project, which will involve volunteers giving up their time to make a difference in their community by weeding, planting seeds and developing areas of wildflowers at identified locations in the county.

Councillor Trevor Pendleton, cabinet member for highways and transport, said: “We take our climate and environmental responsibilities seriously.

“This trial will help to introduce new areas that will be managed differently to encourage growth of a range of wildflowers and provide habitats for wildlife to thrive.”

We began our annual grass-cutting programme on rural verges earlier this month.

Currently only grass in rural areas where it impacts on road user’s visibility at junctions and on bends will be cut to ensure highway safety.

We maintain nearly 3.8million square metres of urban grass in residential areas.

Trevor continued: “We reviewed our highways work due to COVID-19 and initially delayed our urban grass cuts as they are primarily for aesthetic rather than safety reasons. In line with further government guidance and our social distancing practices, we are now in a position to carry out our urban grass-cutting operations as well as the rural visibility splays at junctions.

“We will review our current approach regularly to make sure we’re working safely and maintaining social distancing.

“At the moment, we can’t specify cutting dates for individual areas and therefore unfortunately can’t respond to individual queries. Thank you for your patience and understanding while our staff work hard to cut the grass across the county.”

Nine two-person gangs using a ride-on mower with flail and a strimmer cut the grass in towns and villages.

Although the majority of highway verges are our responsibility, some are privately owned, and some are managed by contractors on our behalf.

Run run run!

DO YOU think of yourself as a runner? If not, now may be the time to consider taking it up.

According to the NHS, running burns more calories than any other mainstream sport, which is perfect if you want to shed a few pounds.

Running is a cardio exercise, which means it gets your heart rate up and your blood pumping. That not only improves your general fitness, but it is also great for protecting you from heart disease, type 2 diabetes and stroke.

Running also improves your sense of well-being because it releases natural endorphins, which are your mood-boosting hormones. And if you want maximum benefit, try running in green spaces – being out in nature has a measurable positive impact on your psychological health.

Don’t be afraid to start slow. Remember that ANY fitness activity which raises your heart rate and gets you a bit out of breath is good for you. One excellent way to begin is to try alternating a few steps of running with a few steps of walking. That will help build your fitness levels in record time!

Go to https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/exercise/running-tips-for-beginners/ for the best way to get started.

I don’t understand fast food. I’ve been eating it for years but I seem to be getting slower and slower.

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Movie Quotes QUIZ BELOW are 20 well-known film quotes. Can you identify the films? Answers are on page 26.

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

“They may take our lives, but they’ll never take our freedom!”

“If you let my daughter go now, that’ll be the end of it.

I will not look for you, I will not pursue you. But if you don’t, I will look for you, I will find you, and I will kill you.”

“I’m walking here! I’m walking here!”

“Badges? We ain’t got no badges! We don’t need no badges! I don’t have to show you any stinking badges!”

“You’ve got to ask yourself one question: ‘Do I feel lucky?’ Well, do ya punk?”

“Frankly, my dear, I don’t give a damn.”

“What we’ve got here is a failure to communicate.”

“Every time a bell rings, an angel gets his wings.”

9.

10.

11.

12.

13.

14.

15.

16.

17.

18.

19.

20.

“Keep your friends close, but your enemies closer.”

“I am serious. And don’t call me Shirley.”

“I’ll have what she’s having.”

“I don’t want to sound like a sore loser, but when it’s over, if I’m dead, kill him.”

“You’re gonna need a bigger boat.”

“A boy’s best friend is his mother.”

“Your mother was a hamster and your father smelt of elderberries.”

“Get your stinking paws off me, you damned dirty ape.”

“There’s no crying in baseball!”

“If you build it, he will come.”

“Roads? Where we’re going we don’t need roads.”

‘I need your clothes, your boots, and your motorcycle.’

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DREAMLAND

by Bob Lazar Bob Lazar was a brilliant young physicist that found himself employed at a topsecret facility in the middle of the desert outside Las Vegas.

Under the watchful eye of the government elite, he is tasked with understanding an exotic propulsion system being used by an advanced aerospace vehicle he was told came from outer space.

The stressful work and long, odd hours start to wear on Bob and he becomes concerned for his safety.

He tells his wife and a couple close friends about what he’s doing in the desert, and his employers find out and are furious. When they station goons outside his house, Bob seeks help from wealthy UFOlogist, John Lear, who encourages Bob to take his story to award-winning investigative journalist George Knapp at KLAS-TV. To prove he’s telling the truth, Bob takes a group of people out into the desert to watch a test flight of the ‘flying saucer.’ On the way home, they are stopped by the police, who notify the base, and Bob loses his job.

In a series of interviews with CBS TV, he then blows the lid off ‘Area 51,’ blows the whistle on the effort to conceal this craft from the American people, and blows up his career as a top physicist. Bob Lazar’s reports have been the subject of intense controversy for decades. He has been interviewed numerous times and his story has been corroborated by other individuals he worked with and who were present when these events happened. But until now, Bob has never told his own story, in every detail in his own words, about those exciting days in the desert outside of Las Vegas and how the world came to learn about the experiments being conducted at Area 51.

Supporting you in your home We are leaders in the community helping people to live at home indepenently. Our friendly and supportive staff have been providing assistance to our clients for over 25 years our staff have full references, an enhanced DBS and have completed extensive training.

At Bosworth Homecare we build and tailor packages of support to meet our client’s individual needs. Our support plans can be any combination of the many services we offer including, medication, personal care, assistance with domestic tasks and shopping. We also support our clients to hospital appointments, social activities and offer a befriending service.

Domestic Duties • Shopping • Meal Preparation Medication Assistance • Personal Care Support with Social Activities, Hospital Appointments and a Befriending Service

Tel · 01455 292648

We have been rated GOOD by the Care Quality Commission and became the first homecare provider to achieve the local authorities Dignity and Respect Award. If you would like to discuss any support needs for yourself or your loved one please contact our dedicated team.

Friendly and Compassionate Carer’s also required to support our clients in your area

Email · managementteam@givecare.co.uk | www.bosworthhomecare.co.uk Bosworth Homecare 7a Main Street Market Bosworth CV13 0JN

If it weren’t for marriage, men would spend their lives thinking they had no faults at all.

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THE HERALD • MID-MAY 2020 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@markfieldherald.co.uk

Markfield Medical Centre & PPG News FIRSTLY, we would like to extend a really big ’thank you ‘to those people and organisations who have made PPE face visors for the surgery over the last few weeks - Ashby School Design and Technology department, Leicester Grammar School Design department, Graphic Packaging International, Bardon and one of our patients who has a 3D printer and has also kindly made visors.

Such acts of generosity not only help to keep our surgery staff safe but also demonstrate the great community spirit that has developed during this very difficult time.

Secondly, we thought it would be useful to update everyone on how Markfield Medical Centre has reorganised their practice in order to help patients whilst observing the necessary safety protocols.

Most importantly, the surgery echoes the request of the NHS that people seek medical advice and help when they need it.

Any patients who have any medical concerns or who are unwell should call the surgery as normal but please do not go into the practice unless arranged (see below). Ten-minute GP appointments are still available but they are done in the form of telephone consultations instead.

The practice has also enabled ‘ENGAGE CONSULT’ which can be found on the practice website and which can be used for online consultations and administration queries. Information on how to register and use this service is also on the website.

Doctors have the ability to carry out a video consultation if this is necessary or they may ask for a photo of an ailment to be sent through.

Patients can still be seen in the surgery in the GREEN ZONE (main reception, doctors’ and nurses’ rooms) which is for patients without any Coronavirus symptoms. Once the GP has triaged a patient over the telephone they may decide it is safe for a face to face consultation and will book

that for you. Patients may be asked to stay in their car until called into the surgery. Patients are asked to attend alone although in some cases this may not be possible. This area is disinfected every 2-3 hours to ensure it remains a clean area.

Clinicians may still decide to wear PPE if they deem it appropriate.

The surgery also has a RED ZONE, which is at the end of the corridor and is accessible via the door next to Masons Chemists. Red zone appointments are for patients that have any respiratory issues, exacerbation of asthma, chesty productive coughs, breathless etc.

Patients will be asked to enter and put on a face mask and take a seat.

Please call reception by mobile phone to inform them you have arrived and DO NOT ENTER main reception. If you do not have a mobile phone at the time of your appointment someone from reception will come down and check to see if you are there.

Clinicians will wear full PPE in this area.

Nurses are still carrying out dressings when needed although have been advised to show patients how to do their own to reduce the footfall into the practice.

VitB12 injections have been temporarily stopped following national guidelines, with a few exceptions. Patients have been sent a letter regarding this.

Screening such as smears and bowel screening has been delayed for 3 months, as have all routine reviews that cannot be done over the phone. The surgery continues to do medication reviews, Asthma and COPD reviews, over the phone.

Urgent bloods for prechemo or drug monitoring are continuing unless the clinician feels it safe to delay for 3 months.

Shielded patients should all have now received letters, and the Surgery is working through these lists to ensure patients have suitable care plans, summary care records and special patient notes as well as giving everyone a wellbeing call.

However if anyone is feeling unwell or needs help and does not know how to access any please call the surgery and they will try to help.

The surgery has received a number of enquiries about dental services. The advice they have

Movie Quotes Quiz Answers - FROM PAGE 25 1. Braveheart, 2. Taken, 3. Midnight Cowboy, 4. The Treasure of the Sierra Madre, 5. Dirty Harry, 6. Gone With The Wind, 7. Cool Hand Luke, 8. It’s a Wonderful Life, 9. The Godfather Part 2, 10. Airplane, 11. When Harry Met Sally, 12. Butch Cassidy & The Sundance Kid, 13. Jaws, 14. Psycho, 15.

Monty Python and the Holy Grail, 16. Planet of the Apes, 17. A League of their Own, 18. Field of Dreams, 19. Back to the Future, 20. Terminator 2 Judgement Day.

received includes the following – Urgent Dental Care Hubs have been established across the East Midlands, including Hubs in Oakham, Melton Mowbray, Loughborough, Leicester, Corby and Kettering.

People with an urgent dental need should not visit local dental practices but contact them by telephone, between the hours of 9am-5pm, Monday to Friday, for information or advice on alternative arrangements in place. During evenings after 5pm, weekends and bank holidays patients should contact NHS 111.

All dental practices are offering telephone or video-link consultations and can prescribe painkillers and antibiotics if needed.

They will also be able to onward refer those patients in need of urgent treatment to a service where they are triaged and arranged to be seen if appropriate. People seeking help should not visit A&E departments or GP surgeries for dental care.

It is very important for their own safety that patients are clear about whether they have a temperature, are symptomatic, self-isolating or in a vulnerable or shielded group or

have no symptoms so this can be included within an onward referral to access Urgent Dental Care services.

The important message to all patients is that Markfield Medical Centre is still there for medical care and medication needs. If you have a medical problem please telephone the surgery and they will do their best to help.

Letter

M.E.Awareness Month AS THE nation gets to grips with containing the Coronavirus pandemic, attention must be given to the possible impact on long-term health.

Some of your readers will have personal experience – or know someone who has – of the serious neurological condition, Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (M.E.), or seen stories being shared to mark May’s M.E. Awareness Month.

We know that many of 250,000 men, women and children in the UK with M.E. became ill following an infection or virus. This means we face the possibility, being raised by our medical advisors, researchers we work with and international experts, of a spike in post-Covid illnesses – including M.E. Already some people who have contracted Covid-19 are reporting lingering dizziness, nausea and crippling fatigue – all common symptoms of M.E. We know that it is sensible for anyone with a virus to take proper time to recover. They should not push themselves, but instead listen to their body and rest as much as needed, to give themselves the best chance of making a full recovery.

Action must now be taken to investigate the long-term post-viral effects of Covid-19, and put appropriate support in place for those whose health is affected beyond initial viral infection.

To those reading this who already live with M.E., we know that living under “lockdown” thanks to chronic and often disabling symptoms is nothing new. Action for M.E.’s Crisis, Advocacy and Support Service can help source practical local assistance, and advocate for health and social care needs, as well as offering comprehensive information and support to manage M.E. Please call on 0117 927 9551 or email questions@ actionforme.org.uk and we will do what we can.

Sonya Chowdhury Chief Executive, Action for M.E.

The bank says this is my final notice. Isn’t it fantastic that they’re not going to bother me anymore?

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On why holding an Arts Festival in church is not a good idea The Rectory St James the Least My dear Nephew Darren Your decision to hold a Summer weekend Arts Festival in church, bringing culture to your innercity streets, was most commendable. Pity, how it all turned out.

The Friday evening started well with the concert of Scott Joplin piano music. Obviously knowing that the pieces were originally played in seedy bars on pianos wildly out of tune with several notes missing, your committee must have gone to endless trouble to find precisely the right instrument. Your stage-hands, were, however, less careful and hadn’t noticed that the platform had a noticeable list to port. After each piece, the pianist had to relocate the piano stool closer to his nomadic piano, with the last piece being performed with both entirely out of sight behind the pulpit.

It created much innocent entertainment for the audience, but the fault really should have been remedied before the Saturday evening choir concert. Discarded kneelers and rotting hymn books do not form a stable base for a stage supporting an 80-strong choir. So when it came to the enthusiastic rendering of hits from ‘Oklahoma’, with copious hand movements, it came as something of a relief that the stage took this as the moment to signal defeat, tipping the tenors behind the altar. The audience’s thunderous applause, assuming this was a carefully choreographed part of the performance, was quite touching. I am sure all the compensation claims will soon be sorted out.

Your one great mistake was to take on responsibility for organising the refreshments afterwards. Church entertainments committees have centuries of collective experience in judging the numbers of ham sandwiches and bottles of milk required. I am forever proud that our own ladies – through years of experience – can now get five cups of tea from every tea bag and can butter bread so thinly that one pack can last several months.

What you now do with 29 surplus loaves of bread is a problem you have brought upon yourself. You could possibly use them for supporting the stage next year.

Your loving uncle,

Eustace

AL

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It’s hard to explain how good I am at describing things.

10/16/19 2:58 PM

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CATHOLIC CHURCH OF ST WILFRID OF YORK 53 London Road, Coalville, LE67 3JB DUE TO COVID-19, ALL SERVICES ARE CANCELLED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE. • The parish website below contains links to the live streaming of Masses and devotions as well as links to prayer and scripture resources.

• The EWTN Channel (Eternal Word Television Network), not on Freeview unfortunately, also broadcasts Masses and devotions.

• Fr Gabriel is available throughout this time if a priest is needed.

Parish Contact Parish Priest: Fr Gabriel Offor – 01530 832098 www.stwilfspriest@ gmail.com Parish Website: www. stwilfscoalville.blogspot.co.uk Markfield Masses Congregational Church Hall, Main Street, Markfield (next to the Chinese takeaway) Wednesday, 16 September at 7 pm if the Covid-19 restrictions are lifted.

Markfield Village Contact: Margaret on 01530 243292

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THE HERALD • MID-MAY 2020 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@markfieldherald.co.uk

What’s Been Happening at Markfield Community and Sports Centre Words and pictures from Ron Grantham • Tel: 01530 242240 • www.markfieldcommunitycentre.com

Markfield Community Association Markfield Good Neighbours Scheme IT’S HARD to believe that is now just over a month since the Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, announced the Corona Virus Lock Down in the UK on the 23rd March. So much has happened since.

Fortunately and perhaps with a bit of foresight we were ahead of the game. A full week before the lock down we had already considered how we could utilise the fledgling Markfield Good Neighbours Scheme to help and support our local community in the event of a lock down and the worsening of the Corona Virus Pandemic.

Within a matter of days of the lock down, and having put out an appeal for volunteers on emails and social media, the offers of help and support came flooding in. This enabled us to allocate a volunteer to every street in both Markfield and Field Head. The volunteers then delivered leaflets to every household offering help and support especially to the elderly, vulnerable and those who are self isolating. The leaflet gave residents a street contact telephone number and a description of what help and support the Markfield Good Neighbours Scheme could provide. We now have over 70 volunteers on the scheme which is truly amazing.

Communications AT FIRST we soon found that trying to coordinating the scheme by email was too confusing, cumbersome and slow. The dedicated scheme telephone number was also overwhelmed, so we had to find a better way of communicating.

The answer was to provide a dedicated scheme Whatsapp platform. We also soon found that one platform was insufficient and had to open up two Scheme Whatsapp platforms i.e. One for general chat amongst volunteers where they could exchange ideas and “ what’s going on” updates and any other concerns or ideas, and the other platform for requests for help, sharing information and situational updates.

Apart from volunteers we have put key people on the scheme to ensure that they are in the loop as to what is going on and to give advice and support. These include our County Council, Borough and Parish Councillors as well as our local Police PCSO. This has proven to be successful and provides a more controlled and rapid communications response system even though the phone is “pinging” away from dawn to dusk!

This system has also enabled us to give volunteers guidance or advice on a whole host of issues that, in “normal times” would not normally be a problem. Problems and issues encountered include such things as Safeguarding, Social Distancing, Data Protection, DBS requirements, cash withdrawals for clients, food supplies, bereavement, personal protection equipment, help with documentation and even the (temporary) closure of the local Post Office. The list goes on and on as the crisis evolves and there is rarely a day when there isn’t a problem or issue to resolve.

One bonus from the scheme’s Whatsapp system has been its ability to allow us to rapidly inform volunteers and their street contacts of any emergency situations. It also enables the Police and ourselves to quickly inform each other of local crime, anti social behavior and breaches of self isolation rules. A recent incident demonstrates the effectiveness of our communications system. Information on a suspicious person cold calling at houses in the village asking for cash donations for “Corona Virus” was immediately sent out as an alert to our volunteers who in turn advised people in their streets. The Police attended and fortunately no one became a victim of crime on this occasion.

The help, support and imagination of our volunteers and other members of our community here in Markfield and Fieldhead has been truly amazing and heart warming. Below are just some examples of what has been done to help the community over the last six weeks.

well as those who have had Shielding letters.

Apart from numerous shopping trips to provide essential food to the elderly, vulnerable and self isolating, we now have a dedicated team of volunteers who have delivered dozens and dozens of prescriptions from our local pharmacy. Other requests include taking of samples or medical forms to our Medical Centre.

Volunteers also found that people are reluctant to ask for help. They designed an “It’s Ok to Ask” poster that has been displayed in windows and key points in the village to encourage people to ask for help if they need it. Retained Community Centre staff have been calling some of our most elderly and vulnerable customers on a regular basis to ensure that they are coping and if they have any needs.

Markfield Post Office A MAJOR concern was the closure of the Markfield Post Office.

This is a vital service for our community. Without it many people could no longer collect pensions, benefits, withdraw cash or use other Post Office Services. So, without hesitation and with risk to themselves our volunteers have come forward to support the re-opening of the Post Office.

Every Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday from 9am to 1pm volunteers are helping to control limited entrance to the Post Office and support social distancing rules.

Supporting The NHS And Health Care Workers VOLUNTEERS and local people have been magnificent in trying to help NHS and our Health Care Workers.

Volunteers have been busy making “scrubs” and face mask head bands to help with the current shortage of Personal Protection Equipment. People have been donating volumes and volumes of material and buttons and even a sewing machine was donated to a lady who wanted to help make such items.

Staff working in NHS and Health Care Services are suffering from skin damage to their hands from continual washing and disinfecting. After an appeal for unused hand cream and lotions a torrent of supplies came in and are still coming in. One volunteer has joined a Cosmetic Company so that villagers can buy reasonably priced hand creams for donation and even her commission is being used to purchase more supplies.

On Friday 10th April we opened up the Community Centre for the National Blood Transfusion Service for them to obtain vital emergency supplies of blood. There will be other sessions in July and August to support the NHS One volunteer has been raising funds by auctioning paintings and obtaining sponsorship. To date he has raised £2,000.

Help In The Community VOLUNTEERS have donated and delivered food to people and families in need. They include those who have been referred to us by the Borough Council’s Emergency Hub as

My girlfriend left me because I ‘take things too far’. So I called the police.

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Lifting Community Spirit AFTER WEEKS of lock down and social isolation and possibly more weeks to come, this is where the enthusiasm and ingenuity of our volunteers and villagers has sprung up to lift spirits and help us all “Keep Smiling Through”.

The list is endless and apart from rainbows in windows and the children’s Teddy Bear Hunt so much has been and is being done to lift our spirits including:

• • • •

Dancing in the streets and even street BINGO Social Media Work out Sessions and chat The wonderful Queen Bees Sunflower Project Weekly “clapping” for the NHS and key workers. What a racket throughout the village it is fantastic.

• Happy Birthday choruses for the Queen and of course the inspirational Captain Tom. • Bunting being made ready for a V.E.Day 75th Anniversary commemoration

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Six people in one street shared the jackpot

Postcode Lottery winners share £1,000 each after Markfield neighbours scoop the prize

There is so much going on in the village and so much support and voluntary help being offered that EVERY ONE of you deserves a medal.

This couldn’t have done without YOU. Thank you all so very much on behalf of all the village and YES we must have a village party when these difficult times have passed.

Ron and Dawn Grantham Please remember that if you would like to join our band of volunteers or need some help please contact us at markfieldcommunitycentre@hotmail.co.uk or ring us on 07885 243033.

Groby Sings Quiz Answers From page 20.

52 songs from 15 seasons (including our postponed season, Groby Sings On The Road) A Million Dreams My Favourite Things Summer Holiday Summer Is Icumin In Walkin’ On Sunshine Wild Mountain Thyme So Long, Farewell Let It Go With A Little Bit of Luck Country Roads Scarborough Fair Skye Boat Song On The Street Where You Live Super Trouper Singing From The Rooftops Little People Fun, Fun, Fun Wouldn’t It Be Loverly Over The Rainbow Tonight At The End Of The Day So Many Stars Master Of The House What Shall We Do Today Here Comes The Sun Blue Skies Let’s Go Fly A Kite

Windy City Shall We Dance Dancing Queen I Could Have Danced All Night Greased Lightning Look Down

SIX PEOPLE in Markfield are celebrating after winning £1,000 each thanks to their lucky postcode.

The Chambers Close neighbours netted the windfall when LE67 9NB was announced as a daily prize winner with People’s Postcode Lottery on Sunday.

People’s Postcode Lottery ambassador Judie McCourt sent her well-wishes to the winners. She said: “What amazing news to get on the weekend.

Congratulations to our winners.”

The latest draw was promoted by the Wildlife Trust, which has so far received more than £12 million in funding from the players of People’s Postcode Lottery.

The trust looks after more than 2,300 nature reserves and operates more than 100 visitor and education centres across the country, working to make life better for wildlife, people and future generations.

Many other good causes have also benefited from the lottery and local charities can next apply for funding in August.

For more information on People’s Postcode Lottery, visit www.postcodelottery.co.uk

Our House Climb Every Mountain Africa A Ticket To Ride Day Trip To Bangor Miracle Of Miracles What A Wonderful World All Shook Up Thank You For The Music I’m A Believer The Sound Of Music I Whistle A Happy Tune Something Wonderful With A Little Help From My Friends Be Back Soon At Groby Sings Sing Happy Talk Food, Glorious Food

If I had a billion pounds for every time I underestimated, I’d be a millionaire.

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THE HERALD • MID-MAY 2020 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@markfieldherald.co.uk

The Big Bakes Reveals Top Secret Sausage Roll Recipe

Mend and make do

WITH GREGGS stores remaining closed around the country, The Big Bakes has unveiled its secret sausage roll recipe to help self-isolating Brits recreate the iconic snack at home As lockdown continues, there will be plenty of things that people will be missing. Yet The Big Bakes, the UK’s first and only live baking competition, is proving that Brits needs not be deprived of their favourite things during selfisolation. The award-winning baking events brand has unveiled its top secret, mouth-watering sausage roll recipe, to help Brits recreate the iconic savoury snack at home.

The news comes in the wake of Greggs making a u-turn on its decision to re-open some of its stores. At the end of April, the bakery chain announced plans to open 20 shops on a trial basis, but less than a week later the company confirmed that the trial will begin in-house, meaning its loyal customers will have to wait a little longer to get hold of their favourite Greggs goodies.

Yet worry not, because Brits will soon be able to make the ultimate sausage roll at home, using The Big Bakes’ secret, tried and tested recipe, which YouTube star LadBaby recreated during a hilarious bake off session last September. The Big Bakes invited the renowned lifestyle blogger to its London tent, for a husband and wife sausage roll off – an event that has been viewed online almost half-a-million times, and for good reason!

Now, in the wake of the disappointing news from Greggs, The Big Bakes has decided to reveal the sausage roll recipe that LadBaby has already mastered, to give the public the opportunity to have a go at home. Keen bakers can cook along to a simple tutorial video, available via The Big Bakes’ social media channels, and will need the following ingredients to take part:

The Big Bakes - Top Secret Mouth Watering Sausage Roll For the pastry: Strong flour - 200g Salt - ½ tsp Chilled butter - 200g cubed Chilled water - 40g For the filling: Pork sausages - 450g Green apple - 1 (peeled and grated) Fennel - 2 tsp Salt & Pepper to taste 1 Beaten egg for brushing and finishing METHOD: How to make the ultimate sausage roll Preheat your oven to 190c. Mix the flour and salt together in a mixing bowl.

Add the butter and rub in using your finger tips, stop when the butter is pea sized. It will not be completely mixed in.

Add enough chilled water to make a shaggy dough - you may not need all of it.

Turn the dough out onto your work surface and work the dough with your hands into a ball, flatten

slightly and wrap your disc of dough in cling film. Chill in the fridge for 30 minutes.

Once chilled, remove the pastry dough from the fridge and dust your work surface with flour.

Roll the pastry out to a 30 x 15cm rectangle, then take the short ends of the rectangle and fold towards the middle of the dough. Repeat again to form a book.

Repeat step 6 and rest the dough in the fridge for a further 30

Remember traffic jams?

ONE GOOD thing about the lockdown is that you’ll have spent less hours stuck in traffic this Spring.

Recent research has found that in 2019, car-using commuters lost an average of 115 hours stuck in traffic.

No surprises that London was the most congested, with people losing 149 hours over the year. After all, London comes 8th in the world for bad traffic jams.

Belfast was the next worst, with 112 hours lost per commuter. That is closely followed by Bristol (103 hours), Edinburgh (98 hours), and Manchester (92 hours).

London and Edinburgh have tied for the title of UK’s slowest-moving city centre, with the average speed being about 10mph.

minutes. While the dough is resting make your filling.

METHOD: To make your Filling.

Remove the sausages from their casings and place in a large mixing bowl.

Peel and grate the apple and add to the pork along with the fennel, salt and pepper.

Mix to combine and shape into 2 logs 30cm long and wrap in clingfilm. Rest in the freezer.

Now split the dough into 2 portions, roll each portion into a rectangle 15 x 30cm.

Lay half your sausage mixture down each piece of dough, lengthways in a cylinder shape leaving a 1-2cm edge.

Brush the long edge with beaten egg and tightly fold the pastry over the sausage mixture until the edges meet each other.

Turn the sausage logs over and cut into 8cm lengths, brush with egg and top with fennel seeds.

Rest in the freezer for 20 minutes Bake on a greased baking tray for 20 minutes.

ACCORDING to handicraft expert Kirstie Allsopp, a missing button was the number one reason why 350,000 tonnes of wearable clothing may end up in UK landfill this year.

But that was before lockdown.

Now you have time to make do – and mend! Rescue and reuse your clothes. After all, it saves money and the planet.

Sweet dreams?

FROM LARGE pink hamsters that smile and wave at you, to cars that can’t get off roundabouts, a lot of us are reporting weird, vivid, and intense dreams just now.

Experts say that financial worries, cabin fever and boredom may all be factors.

But – on the plus side, there is also the fact that many of us are finally catching up on our sleep.

And by waking up without an alarm, we will have better recall of our dreams.

Crime up and down THERE ARE four crimes on the rise during lockdown: domestic abuse, the online grooming of children, commercial property theft and coronavirus-related frauds.

Nearly all other offences have declined, including murders, robberies, domestic burglaries and assaults.

Breaking News: ‘Rare Picasso sells for £106 million.’ Who the hell would pay that for a Citroen?

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WALK 31 - BAGWORTH (Markfield) Thornton

3 or 6 miles (5 or 9km)

Page 1

How to get there A50 north to Markfield (Field Head roundabout) then left via Thornton and Bagworth The Square, Bagworth (SatNav – LE67 1DQ).

Car parking Street parking only. The Square, Bagworth.

Public transport Service 26 (hourly) from Leicester See http://traveline.info/ or phone 0871 20022 33 Map Explorer 233 Leicester and Hinckley Route Undulating ground over a mixture of meadow and arable land. The waymarking is good and the route not difficult to follow.

The outward and inward sections of the walk meet at a stile close to Thornton reservoir. At this point you could omit the (uphill) section to the motorway and shorten the walk to 2 and a half miles. The walk can also be varied by adding a very pleasant 2 mile walk round Thornton reservoir.

Refreshment Pubs in Thornton and Markfield.

Items of interest Bagworth, a former mining village. Thornton reservoir. Ashley's Wood, recently planted with 3,000 poplar trees as part of the National Forest. Bagworth Park was the site of a great house planned to equal Kirby Muxloe and Ashby Castle, built for William Lord Hastings in the time of Richard III. Leicester to Swannington railway line, opened by Stephenson in 1832, the first public railway in the Midlands (and now re-opened as the Ivanhoe line.) The Bagworth Incline, where Stephenson's trains were pulled up the hill by an extra engine at the top is now a lovely, quiet, hedged track.

The walk From Main Street, The Square, in Bagworth cross into Church Hill. The little church is well hidden at the top of Church Hill. Keep to the right of the churchyard and walk close to the hedge on your left. Turn left when you are about halfway along the field. Cross the graveyard, passing the church over to your left. Make for the far right corner of the field and continue in the same direction, walking diagonally downhill (in a field planted by the Woodland Trust) to meet the road where it crosses under the pylon lines.

Cross the road and continue on the wide green track (past the former site of Little Bagworth on your right). Thornton village lies on the hill ahead. The needle point church spire soon comes into view, slightly to your right. Keep the hedge on your left and follow the enclosed track. When you come to an open field (where hedges have been removed) continue in the same direction to the hedge opposite.

Once over the small ridge you can see stretching along the valley, the old railway line.

Cross into the corner of the field where the hedge juts out and walk downhill close to the hedge on your right. Cross up over the railway line and down to cross the farm road. Continue in the same direction, still with the hedge on your right. Turn right and walk close to the stream on your left. Cross the footbridge over the stream and the mill race and swing left to walk past Thornton Mill, over the cobbles and past the old millstones set in the lane. (The lane leads straight up to Main Street, Thornton, but our path turns off the lane after a few yards.) Turn right at the stile and cross the field going slightly left to enter a small spinney. Turn left through the spinney and then right. Ignore a roadway on your left and join Hawthorn Drive. Walk past the houses to meet Main Street, opposite Thornton primary school.

Our route goes straight ahead, but Thornton village is worth a stop. There are two pubs, both serving food, a shop and buses to Leicester and Coalville. The beautiful church lies to your right. A very small detour takes you past the church, where you can go down to the reservoir and turn left on the reservoir path.

You are now approaching the Charnwood Forest area, and the hills get steeper!

A walk from 32 Short Circular Walks based on The Leicestershire Round Copyright: Š Heather MacDermid for Leicestershire Footpaths Association 2000 Leicestershire Footpath Association Visit our website at http://leicestershirefootpaths.wordpress.com/

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THE HERALD • MID-MAY 2020 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@markfieldherald.co.uk

WALK 31 - BAGWORTH (Markfield) Thornton

3 or 6 miles (5 or 9km)

Page 2

From Thornton Main Street take the path by the school which leads straight down to the reservoir There are fine views here. To your left lies Stanton under Bardon and the half-quarried Bardon Hill. Ahead is the Charnwood Forest area, beyond the beautiful Thornton reservoir.

Turn left along the perimeter path and swing right, round the narrow end of the reservoir. Go through the kissing gate on your left and walk uphill with the hedge on your left at first. Cross into the corner of the field on your left and then go uphill to pass the wood on your right.

From the top of the hill Markfield church can be seen ahead, beside the rocky outcrops of Altar Rocks.

The motorway which cuts through Charnwood lies ahead.

Go downhill towards the motorway, with the hedge on your right. Continue in the same direction downhill with the hedge on your left. Go uphill in the same direction. (Do not follow the track to the left!) Make for the big tree on the hill. Descend steeply through the spinney, cross the footbridge and go up to the far right arrow-head corner of the big field. (Look back to see Thornton reservoir in the valley.) Continue cutting across the corners of the next two fields. Turn left to walk beside the motorway on your right.

(TO PEACH MARKFIELD village turn right through the kissing gate and go under the motorway bridge.

Follow the concrete farm road up into Markfield, emerging near the Bulls Head pub.)

IF YOU DO NOT WISH TO GO INTO MARKFIELD turn left when you reach the motorway bridge and go up a concrete road and over a stile. Walk close to the hedge on your right and cross into another field using a stile in a holly hedge. Keep close to the hedge on the right in this field and the next and exit via the right hand corner into a farm lane. Turn right and then left at a farm gate into the playing field of South Charnwood High School.

Follow the right hand hedge and cross the stile in the corner and continue with the hedge still on your right. Cross the (broken) stile and join the field road. Turn right and walk to Markfield Lane.

Turn left towards Thornton and after about 100m turn left into Ashley's Wood. Keep the hedge on your left and go through the gateway in the hedge. Turn right and walk to the end of the wood, keeping the hedge on your right. In the next field Thornton church can be clearly seen ahead. Aim for it, going downhill close to the right hand hedge. In the next field continue downhill to the far left corner. Turn left into one field and then right into another. The field path takes a line just to the right of Thornton church spire.

Cross the stile onto the Leicestershire Round footpath and turn right and immediately right again to go over the stile onto a farm track and on to Markfield Lane. Turn left and then cross the stile on your right.

Cross the field keeping close to the brook. (The waymarks are on the right of the brook.). Cross a series of stiles to Stanton Lane. Turn left and walk uphill to the north end of Thornton. At the top of the hill, just before the road turns left, turn right onto the footpath. Follow this path round the left edge of the field to reach a waymark post.

At this point Bagworth village is visible on the hill ahead.

Cross the stile into the next field and walk diagonally downhill to the waymark post. Continue in the same direction into the plantation for about 20 paces to the stile. Two paths cross here. Take the left path and go towards a railway arch. Pass through the arch and turn right immediately to go through the kissing gate. Head uphill towards a clump of trees hiding Bagworth church. Cross the stile and continue uphill.

When the slope eases go towards the wrought iron kissing gate and then into Bagworth village. Turn right to reach The Square, where the walk began.

Clive Fennell: "Perhaps a word of warning is called for! There are about 20 stiles, some in need of repair. Some fields may be ploughed. Near the M1 hollow the traffic fumes could be very irritating to sensitive nostrils."

A walk from 32 Short Circular Walks based on The Leicestershire Round Copyright: © Heather MacDermid for Leicestershire Footpaths Association 2000 Leicestershire Footpath Association Visit our website at http://leicestershirefootpaths.wordpress.com/

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WALK 31 - BAGWORTH (Markfield) Thornton

A walk from 32 Short Circular Walks based on The Leicestershire Round Copyright: Š Heather MacDermid for Leicestershire Footpaths Association 2000 Leicestershire Footpath Association Visit our website at http://leicestershirefootpaths.wordpress.com/

3 or 6 miles (5 or 9km)

Page 3

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THE HERALD • MID-MAY 2020 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@markfieldherald.co.uk

WALK 32 - MARKFIELD Newtown Linford Markfield

5 miles (8km)

Page 1

How to get there A50 north from Leicester. (SatNav – Main Street LE67 9UW) Car parking in Markfield on the main street. There is a Pay and Display car park in Bradgate Park, for those wishing to start from Newtown Linford.

Public transport Arriva 29A from St. Margaret's towards Coalville. See http://traveline.info/ or phone 0871 200 22 33 Map Ordnance Survey Explorer 233 Leicester Route Hilly, wooded countryside. Well waymarked paths. Lovely views of Charnwood at all seasons.

Mileage 3 miles.

Refreshment The pub and cafes in Newtown Linford serve excellent food. Shops and various pubs in Markfield.

Items of interest Markfield has an interesting mixture of buildings. It is a gateway to the Forest. The Altar Rocks were donated to the public. Newtown Linford is a charming village with thatched cottages.

The walk From the top of Main Street, Markfield, take the right hand fork, past the No Entry sign. Turn right along the Leicester Road and turn left at the footpath sign near the bus shelter. Follow the metalled subway under the A50 dual carriageway. Turn left and then immediately right, to walk along the sloping bank close to the hedgerow beside the main A50 road, on your right. Just before the Reduce Speed Now sign, fork left and go down the short slope with a hedge on your left. Cross the stile and go down to the right hand corner of the field.

Cross a double stile with a slate bridge over the stream. The next field is a large one. Pass the left corner of Cover Cloud wood and continue with the hedge on your right in the next field. Cross the stile on your right and go over the concrete bridge and stile. Turn left to continue in the same direction, with the hedge now on your left.

Tangle Trees farmhouse is ahead. Move right to reach the stile to the right of the house. Go over the stile and cross the drive. Keep the hedge on your right. Pass the house and outbuildings on your left and continue in the same direction to pass John's Lee Wood on your left.

When this track bears to the left, after about 500 yards, aim for the stile in the hedge straight ahead across the field corner. In the next field the hedge is on your left. Cross the stiles and the footbridge and continue in the same direction across the open field. Keep in the same direction, close to the hedge on your right in the first field (cross the footbridge) and on your left in the second.

In the open field continue downhill towards the road. At the road (Markfield Lane) turn left to the road junction, where we turn left. (Bradgate Park entrance lies three quarters of a mile along the road to your right, through the pretty village of Newtown Linford.)

From the Newtown Linford junction with Markfield Lane, turn left and walk along Main Street. Turn left opposite the Johnscliffe Hotel and follow the footpath sign past cottages on your left. Cross the stile and move slightly left as you cross the field, with the tree- lined brook over to your left. Cross the little stone bridge and the waymarked fence and go straight across the next field to the gap in the hedge and continue in the third, small field, to the waymarked fence in the far left corner Cross the footbridge and turn left along a track signposted to Markfield.

A walk from 32 Short Circular Walks based on The Leicestershire Round Copyright: © Heather MacDermid for Leicestershire Footpaths Association 2000 Leicestershire Footpath Association Visit our website at http://leicestershirefootpaths.wordpress.com/

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WALK 32 - MARKFIELD Newtown Linford Markfield

5 miles (8km)

Page 2

Pass on your right the ruined Ulverscroft Mill and turn immediately right to go up the steep bank close to the ruins on your right. Cross the fence and follow the signs to Ulverscroft, going diagonally left. Cross the footbridge over the stream and go over the farm track. Do not swing left but keep the hedge and stream on your left. Cross one footplank and then make your way diagonally right uphill to reach the waymarked stile.

In the next, narrow, field make your way up to the far right top corner. Join a green hedged lane and swing right to go uphill to meet the Ulverscroft Lane. Turn left and walk along the road for about a quarter of a mile and then turn left again to walk along Polly Botts Lane. This quiet country road rises steadily between Lea Wood and Stoneywell Wood and eventually bends right to reach the lovely old houses of Lea Cottage and Stoneywell. Here there is a welcome seat with fine views over the Chitterman Hills.

Cross the waymarked stile on your left, opposite the seat and go downhill close to a drystone wall on your right.

Keep in the same direction, crossing the rather awkward stiles. Cross the drive to Chitterman Hills farm and continue with a hedge on your left. As you approach the bottom of the field move slightly right to cross the fence to the right of the farm gate. Continue along the narrow hedged path and cross the pretty bridge over the delightful brook. The path curves left between barbed wire fences and climbs the hill beside Ulverscroft Wood.

It continues as a hedged track and meets the bank of the A50 road. Swing right, up the bank and then go under the tunnel of the road to meet the Leicester Road, Markfield, where the walk began.

Bill Ibbs. "In such beautiful countryside, urban areas seem a million miles away."

A walk from 32 Short Circular Walks based on The Leicestershire Round Copyright: Š Heather MacDermid for Leicestershire Footpaths Association 2000 Leicestershire Footpath Association Visit our website at http://leicestershirefootpaths.wordpress.com/

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