Nov 2014 online groby spotlight by Michael Wilkinson

How a frozen Council Tax Letter New hotel erected can still cost you more in Groby Norman Griffiths hears that your brown bin will cost you £30 a year As shoppers we are pleased when shop prices are stable and aren’t rising quickly, but we are nevertheless aware that manufacturers have tricks other than price up their sleeves. One of them is to keep the price of a product the same but reduce the amount you get. When Which, the Consumer Association, conducted an investigation into shrinking products they found many examples of hidden price increases. These included a pack of Birds Eye beef burgers with four fewer burgers in it than before, Pledge furniture polish that had shrunk by almost a fifth and packs of Dettol anti bacterial wipes with fewer wipes. Manufacturers are under constant budgetary pressure and use the ‘less for the same price’ strategy to hang onto their market share. You are unlikely to see a ‘new smaller pack’ flash on the packaging. Local Government finds itself in a similar position as caps on spending, budget cuts and tax freezes or limits are imposed on our local councils. We are told that our Council Tax has been pegged for a further year, but just like the can of Pledge we get less for our money. No increase in the County Council(LCC) precept may sound like good news but families having to find cash from the household budget to pay for the bus to get their children to school are unlikely to agree. Neither will other groups affected, for example, by changes to concessionary fare arrangements. So some costs are stripped out of the Local Authority expenditure and transferred directly to the CONTINUED ON PAGE 6 ...>

APPLE DAY in Groby! Sunday afternoon 26th October saw much activity at the village hall car park as happy smiling faces arrived to press their windfalls and in some cases, locally purchased apples into delicious apple juice.

Autumn 2014 was great timing for Churches Together in Groby to celebrate the abundance of the earth’s apple harvest, which God gives us for free! This the churches did by holding Groby’s first community apple pressing event. As well as a flurry of activity on the car park, inside the village hall there were different varieties of delicious apples to sample, information, refreshments which included a mountain of homemade cakes, competitions and apple activities to keep the children occupied. The next outdoor Churches Together event will be the annual Carols ‘round the tree at the Stamford Arms car park on Tuesday 16th December 7.00pm – We hope to see you there.

I wonder if Spotlight readers might be interested to hear that a new 6 storey hotel just opened in Groby! It is of course an Insect Hotel, built to provide shelter for insects including bees and ladybirds during the winter months. Volunteers from Groby CIC built the insect hotel down at the Groby CIC meadow with invaluable support from local businesses including UKGAS and East Midlands Landscaping. Local residents also provided materials such as roofing felt and habitat material to the project, for which Groby CIC are extremely grateful

Groby CIC

Urgent – Can You Help? Want to meet people, get some exercise and help a local charity raise much needed funds? We urgently require a lottery collector to call fourweekly on a small, established round in Groby (Laundon Way area). Would you or someone you know be interested in collecting LOROS Lottery subscriptions for us? Maybe you have just moved house and don’t know anyone in your area? We are desperately looking for anyone with a couple of hours to spare. There is no cold calling involved and everyone on the round has indicated that they would like a collector to call. Most importantly, it is a very worthwhile way of supporting LOROS. Give Bree a call at the Lottery Office on 0116 2318430 if you would like to have an informal chat and find out more about becoming a LOROS Lottery Collector.

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Groby & Field Head Spotlight • NOVEMBER 2014 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk

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I like to hold hands at the movies. Which always seems to startle strangers.

Groby & Field Head Spotlight • NOVEMBER 2014 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk

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

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01530-244069 Email us at: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk Visit the website at www.grobyspotlight.co.uk 3,500 copies distributed 11 times a year (no issue in July) to homes and businesses in Groby, Field Head and The Brantings. Compiled and published in the Parish of Groby & Field Head. Printed in Ellistown by Norwood Press. The Spotlight is a monthly compilation of articles, press releases, events, general items of interest and news items submitted to us by local residents, groups, associations, sports clubs and local authorities. The opinions expressed by contributors are not necessarily those of the Spotlight Production Team. The inclusion of any group or organisation in this publication does not necessarily imply a recommendation of its aims, methods or policies. Groby & Field Head Spotlight cannot be held responsible for the information disclosed by advertisements, all of which are accepted in good faith. Every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of information in this magazine, but no liability can be accepted for loss or inconvenience caused as a result of error or omission. Groby & Field Head Spotlight reserves the right to amend, shorten or refuse to publish articles and/or advertisements submitted for publication. All contents © Groby & Field Head Spotlight. None of the articles contained in this magazine are to be reproduced in any way without first obtaining written consent from Groby & Field Head Spotlight.

NEXT ISSUE OUT Sat 13th December

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Jottings News in Brief with Norman Griffiths

Park and ride charges If you make use of one of the Park and Ride services into Leicester you will probably be aware that the County Council is consulting on it’s proposal to introduce a charge for concessionary bus pass holders who currently travel free at weekends, Bank Holidays, and after 9.30 on weekdays. The County and City Councils currently subsidise the service at an annual cost of £600,000, which they share equally. The service only generated £1.073 million income last year but cost £1.737 million to run.

The County Council wants to introduce a charge of £1 for a day ticket for concessionary card holders. The consultation suggests other options up to £3 or no charge. If it is introduced and several concessionary pass holders are travelling together, it may be better value to buy a standard Group Ticket for £3.50 which covers up to five people arriving in the same car and travelling together in both directions. The consultation document gives little financial background information, such as how many of the 800,000 passengers travelled free, an estimate of the income a charge

would generate or how many users would be likely to switch to service buses or take their car into Leicester. If you were unaware of the consultation but want to have your say you will have to move quickly as you only have until November 17th to respond at http://www. leics.gov.uk/park_and_ride_ consultation_october_2014-2.pdf

Business as usual at the post office It had to happen sooner or later and with retirement on the horizon there could be some new faces at Groby Post Office. There might even be new premises. For the moment it’s business as usual at Leicester

Road but it seems the Post Office have been in discussions with the management of Budgens. “I can confirm we did have previous communications with the post office,” explained a spokesperson for the supermarket. “Unfortunately this did not progress any further than discussions. We would love to offer the village a post office service, and if the opportunity did arise in the future we would put ourselves forward.” Budgens, along with Morrisons, was also in the news recently when a problem was discovered relating to milk supplied by Dairy Crest. Fortunately the local store was not affected by the recall as it doesn’t stock the affected product.

Get ready for Mega Monday: 1st December Brace yourself: next month begins with a frenzy of Christmas shopping. It seems that retailers expect that the first Monday in December is the day of the year when retailers will be the busiest for online shopping. Shoppers are promised cut-price deals, with up to 70 per cent off in some cases. Amazon has been known to sell 41 items a second on Mega Monday, while other shoppers visit sites from John Lewis to Asda to Maplin.

Christmas Art Exhibition and Sale! Local artist Mark Wilde will have many works on display at Groby Village Hall on Saturday 22 November. He’s having a year end studio clear out and is offering many framed and unframed pictures at reduced rates, featuring a wide range of styles and media to suit every taste. Also on offer are a selection of frames and mounts. Come and grab a bargain! Times are 10am to 4pm and admission is free. For details ring 07757 010982 or email markwilde8@gmail.com.

Who remembers when X Factor was just Roman suncream?

Groby & Field Head Spotlight • NOVEMBER 2014 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk

A year of progress at Groby Meadow Alistair Cooper reports

We had our last working party of the year at our Newtown Linford Lane meadow on Sunday 5th October and 22 shareholders and volunteers attended.

HENSTOCKS

Midland Quarry Products had very kindly donated four tonnes of mill waste so some of the time was used in moving this across to the new path between the new bridge and the land adjoining Groby Pool car park. There is now a ‘hard’ path from the Meadow towards Groby Pool. Completing the link to Groby Pool car park has been a major step forward. We also carried out some hedge cutting and general tidying up ready for the winter. This year we have had over 200 hours of volunteer work at the Meadow. Our thanks go to share holders and staff at GE (Druck) for their efforts. We would also like to thank the following people and organisations for their support over the last year: • Woodland Trust for the trees and hedging • Stepping Stones Project for supplying plants • Midland Quarry Products for the mill waste • GE (Druck) for the flower seeds and continued support with volunteers • Brian Rigby at the Stamford Arms for the refreshments after the working parties • A local farmer for cutting the hay and hedges • East Midlands Landscaping for helping with rotavating.

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We welcome any offers of help with the work and would very much welcome new share holders from the local community. If you want to become a shareholder email us at grobycic@hotmail.co.uk or contact the Parish Council. We will be holding an AGM in February or March 2015.

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Alistair Cooper Chair, Groby Meadow CIC

Help with technical gadgets If you are middle-aged and given a mobile phone or tablet this Christmas, take heart: almost any six-year old will be able to help you learn to use it. According to a recent report by Ofcom, people’s ability to cope with gadgets and new technologies peaks at the age of 15, and then drops gradually until their late 50s. After 60, their confidence and understanding of technology drops rapidly. Even so, the report found that for all ages, “the convenience and simplicity of smartphones and tablets are helping us cram more activities into our daily lives.”

When my wife and I argue, we’re like a band in concert: we start with some new stuff and then we roll out our greatest hits.

Groby & Field Head Spotlight • NOVEMBER 2014 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk

Jottings News in Brief with Norman Griffiths

Parking issues Last month’s appeal by a newcomer to the staff at GE Druck for an off street parking space produced a few offers, so hopefully it might result in some additional cars being taken off the road.

The company continues to look for ways to reduce the parking problem. “I myself have just started at GE and have been asked to have a think about possible ways of alleviating the problem due to being a fresh pair of eyes on the situation,” explained Emma. One of the initiatives is to look at car sharing opportunities and another is an employee survey to see whether there is any further interest in working with local residents who can offer driveway spaces, establish how much they would be prepared to pay and how far they would walk from the parking space to the site. It has been said that some employees have had their vehicles damaged and their tyres slashed, and so off street parking might seem an attractive option. If a demand is identified it will be time to consider what would make it an attractive option for residents. Some might welcome a monthly payment, though others may feel they do not need the money and they would prefer a regular donation to their favourite charity, the church, or even a community fund to support activities such as Groby library.

Groby Street Fair If you were one of the Leicester Mercury readers who nominated the Street Fair for help in the Nottingham Building Society charity giveaway you’ll be pleased to hear that an award of £527.85 was received.

New Homes Bonus Readers may remember that when the Coalition came to power it announced the ending of the Housing and Development Delivery Grant, which cost £250 million nationally.

The idea was to use this fund to give local authorities a different incentive to increase house building, a six year New Homes Bonus. “Local councils and local voters will know that by allowing more homes to be built in their area they will get more money to pay for the increased services that will be required, to hold down council tax, or both,” we were told. “This will be a permanent, simple, transparent incentive for local government and local people to encourage, rather than resist, new housing – of types and in places that are sensitive to local concerns and with which local communities are, therefore, content.” It seems that Hinckley and Bosworth is the only Council in Leicestershire still passing cash from the New Homes Bonus on to Parish Councils. Since its introduction Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council has transferred £864,764 of funding to parish councils and the Hinckley Special Expense Area. But all good things come to an end, as they say, and financial pressures mean the there will be no cash from this source after this financial year. The Borough Council points out that in contrast to all district, county and unitary councils, there is currently no cap or referendum limit for parish councils. Or to put it another way, if the Parish needs the money to pay for the increased services that will be required as a result of any housing development they didn’t want in the first place they can always increase the Parish element of the Council Tax Bill.

Governor Vacancy Martinshaw Primary School in Groby is currently seeking an additional person for its Governing Body. This is an exciting opportunity to ‘put something back’ into the community and help drive our fabulous school forward. We are looking for someone who can dedicate time to this role with plenty of enthusiasm and ‘common sense’. You will be required to attend a minimum of six evening meetings and three day time school visits per academic year. Other duties are available if your time will permit. This is an extremely rewarding and exciting role for which full support and training will be provided. If you would like any further information please contact Lisa Rimmer (our chair of governors) at bigredvee@yahoo.co.uk

Why a broken heart can kill the elderly This Christmas, try and give friendly support to anyone you know who is elderly and in bereavement. It seems that elderly people can literally die of a broken heart, because grief weakens the immune system. Bereavement causes stress hormones to become unbalanced in the elderly, and this can lead to a reduction in their immune system cells, according to research by the University of Birmingham. And while bereavement is bad enough, bereavement at Christmas time is probably a whole lot worse.

side every Russian doll there’s a Russian doll screaming to get out.

Groby & Field Head Spotlight • NOVEMBER 2014 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk

How a frozen Council Tax can still cost you more Norman Griffiths hears that your brown bin will cost you £30 a year FROM PAGE 1 taxpayer. But other costs stripped out are passed indirectly to the taxpayer through a middleman, to other councils.

Keeping the roadside tidy Grass cutting is an example. The County Council decides it will reduce the number of times it will cut grass on roadside verges. If a Parish Council wants to retain the better service it has to pay for it. The amount that LCC pay Groby Parish Council towards cutting the County Council’s verges is already subsidised by the Parish to give a better standard of service, however this sum is now to be halved, which will put a burden of an additional several thousand pounds on the Parish council’s expenses in order to achieve the same standard. The Parish Council may then have to increase it’s Parish Precept in order to achieve the same level of service and this increased precept would end up on the same Council Tax bill as the County Precept. There is no cut in public expenditure, just a little smoke and mirrors to move the cost from one part of the bill to another or, of course, to pay the same and settle for a reduced service for the same money. The customer chooses.

Double taxation for libraries? The library service is one of the most publicised of these price adjustments. In order to save £800,000 a year the County Council has to cut services. If this is unavoidable then most people would agree that it is more reasonable for libraries to take it rather than, say, services for the sick, disabled, disadvantaged children or the vulnerable elderly. But get the smoke machine going and pull out the mirrors again, as the electors are presented with options that mean the costs don’t go away but just get paid in another way. So we have the concept of community libraries for anyone who doesn’t live near one of the large libraries which will be saved. They will of course continue to contribute towards the cost of running these larger libraries for the benefit of those who live close to them. But if they want a community library in their

GROBY LIBRARY - will we effctively pay TWICE for our library service? own village they will have to pay for that as well, a situation which representatives of Braunstone Town Council described as ‘double taxation’ at the recent Libraries Scrutiny Panel meeting. Villages may decide to pay for their community library through a small monthly increase in their payment to the parish council, but they will have to supplement this with fund raising in the community as the County Council phases in the withdrawal of financial support.

There’s more to come Hooray. No increase in the County Council tax precept, just dip into your pockets to pay for grass cutting, libraries and there’s more to come. It isn’t over yet. It’s likely that from next summer you’ll have to pay to have your brown garden waste bin emptied. The Borough Council decided not to impose a charge when they considered it a few years ago but times and circumstances have changed. So prepare yourself for a new £30 charge for the first bin and £20 for the second, a fee that puts the modest cost of keeping the library open into perspective. Since 2006 Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council has received recycling credits from Leicestershire County Council. These credits are incentives to waste collection authorities to implement effective recycling arrangements, thus reducing landfill and saving Leicestershire County Council incurring disposal costs and landfill tax charges. The rate payable for 2014/15 is £49.97 per tonne. Leicestershire County Council’s Medium Term Financial Strategy (February 2014) identifies the need to make a saving in 2015/2016 of £1,480,000 from current expenditure levels.

Leicestershire County Council have advised they intend to cease payment of recycling credits for green waste from 31 March 2015. For the Borough Council the net impact of this reduction in funding would be reduction £345,792 per year based upon 10,988 tonnes of green waste collected in 2013/14. Some other Leicestershire councils already make a charge, with Melton Borough Council being the most recent with a fee of £47. The reduction in recycling was not significant as the residents who do not pay for the service now take their garden waste direct into the household waste and recycling centres. There will, of course, be the customary consultation to ensure the whole process is legal. “It’s going to be published in the next edition of the Borough Bulletin which will be delivered from 25 November to 14 December,” said a spokesperson for the Borough Council. “People can either fill in the coupon printed in the Bulletin and post it back or fill in the survey online. Once the survey is live, the link will be www.hinckleybosworth.gov.uk/brownbinsurvey. The survey link will go live from 25 November. The survey will be open until the end of December.” It’s acknowledged that the change may have an adverse impact on reputation of the Council, so a communications strategy will be put in place to ensure reasonableness of charge is communicated and the impact on other council services of not introducing this charge.

So what’s next? Tucked away in the same report is a warning that there could be more of the same on the way. Leicestershire County Council have also indicated that in the future they may also reduce the recycling credits payable for the dry recycling which goes in the blue bin. If these were totally removed then the potential additional annual funding loss is estimated at £484,109 based on 2013/2014 tonnages. Therefore the total impact on the Hinckley and Bosworth budget would be around £830,000. To put it another way the Borough would have to find the same amount of savings from it’s refuse collection budget as the County Council has had to make to its library budget.

The best way to forget all your troubles is to wear tight shoes.

Groby & Field Head Spotlight • NOVEMBER 2014 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk

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Groby & Field Head Spotlight • NOVEMBER 2014 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk

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The trouble with some women is that they get all excited about nothing and then they marry him.

Groby & Field Head Spotlight • NOVEMBER 2014 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk

Craft Fair at Sevenoaks Garden Centre in aid of LOROS Come and see our display of new Christmas Decorations, Flowers, Greetings Cards, Jewellery, Giftware etc.

Striking images at heart of new fostering drive Could you fit

fostering

into your life?

“We worried

about fostering

The fair takes place on Saturday 22nd and Sunday 23rd November 2014 from 10am to 4pm at Sevenoaks Garden Centre, Groby Lane, Newtown Linford - just along from Groby Pool. Sara Hill will be holding her annual Craft Fair raising funds for LOROS. Cafe 7 - within Sevenoaks Garden Centre - will be open for Tea, Coffee & Cakes, and Lunches. Please come and join us and support a very worthy cause.

Sue and Paul Barratt

because we hate to Say

goodbye Then we heard about

permanent foster care Ellie will be a part of our family until she’s ready to leave home,

but she still has contact

with her mum

”

0116 305 0505

www.spaceforachild.com spaceforachild@leics.gov.uk

What kind of foster carer could you be? Independent visitors | Permanent/long term foster Care | Short breaks | Foster care | Parent & child

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Don’t Dispose, Donate!

The build up to Christmas and the New Year is causing acute problems for Age UK Leicester Shire & Rutland. Whilst their shops are doing particularly well on sales, they are running into problems with donations of saleable items and are desperately short of stock, particularly furniture and bric-a-brac but also books and clothing. “During and after the festive season, many people will be contemplating how they will make space for their presents or dispose of household furniture in order to accommodate new purchases made in the sales. Our motto is: ‘Don’t Dispose, Donate!’ says Peter Ralphs of the local Age UK. “All I can say is that we desperately need help from the public so that we can continue to help needy local older people through the money which is taken through our shops. All of our 23 charity shops around the two counties will gladly accept donations whilst furniture can also be collected from homes by calling 0116 2781208.”

Christmas gifts

Grandfather was talking to his grand-daughter, “When I was a child all we got for Christmas was an apple and an orange.” The little girl clapped her hands in joy. “Brilliant! I’d love a new computer and a mobile!”

A drive by Leicestershire County Council to recruit more foster carers is being showcased through a new advertising campaign.

06/11/2014 11:51

Could you fit

FOSTERING

into your life?

“ I’M FOSTERING Jade and Kyle

The county council wants to to make sure they have the best start in life recruit an extra 100 foster carers TOGETHER this year, with a particular focus on supporting mothers and babies, siblings, teenagers and permanent fostering arrangements. The campaign includes a series of striking posters which will appear at railway stations around the I know WHAT IT’S LIKE TO BE A YOUNG MUM, but county, encouraging people to ‘fit I had a family to support me – Jade doesn’t. fostering into their life’. I’m no stranger to changing a FEW NAPPIES either... Ivan Ould, the county council’s ” cabinet member for children O116 3O5 O5O5 www.spaceforachild.com spaceforachild@leics.gov.uk and families, said: “The posters What kind of foster carer could you be? illustrate how important family is – foster caring is all about giving youngsters an opportunity to see what normal family life is all about. We hope they will encourage people to find out more.” Foster carers don’t have to be experts or specialists – but life skills and the experience of caring for youngsters as well as a positive approach are great starting points. Fostering information events are planned for November 11th and December 10th. If you would like to attend, call 0116 305 0505 or email familyplacement@ leics.gov.uk and for a broader look at fostering, visit www.spaceforachild.com Independent visitors | Permanent/long term foster care | Short breaks | Foster care | PARENT & CHILD

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You can tell a lot about a person by not keeping their secrets.

10/11/2014 11:56

Groby & Field Head Spotlight • NOVEMBER 2014 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk

Monday Morning Active Together Drop-in Group Come and have a cuppa and see what we are all about. Hinckley & Bosworth Borough Council provide the residents of Groby (and surrounding villages) with a drop in group held at the Community Centre, Forest Road, Groby on a Monday morning 10am – 12pm. The drop in group comes under the umbrella of ‘Active Together’ which aims to give the residents of Hinckley & Bosworth the chance to get together and be active in a friendly and informal setting. We provide the chance to try your hand at many activities which can range from playing cards, chess or games to ping pong, knitting, painting and quilting. If your ‘activity’ of choice is to get out of the house to chat with friends over a cup of tea we can do that as well. We are a small friendly group who will welcome new members. It is free to take part and we offer tea & coffee at 50p per cup. The group also comes under AGE UK and is run by two Age UK volunteers. As the group grows, we can suggest/offer more activities of your choice. Come and have a cuppa and see what we are all about you will be made very welcome. Ring Jane on 2321384 if you prefer to have a chat first. See you soon.

National Trust Leicester Association News Many National Trust houses are nowadays dressed for Christmas and usually they recreate one of the periods when the family celebrated Christmas. Woolsthorpe Manor, near Grantham, will be dressed for a 17th century Restoration Christmas and will celebrate Isaac Newton’s birth on Christmas day 1642. The Manor is open for tours at 11.15, 12.30 & 1.45 every Friday, Saturday & Sunday throughout December. Canons Ashby in Northamptonshire will take you back to the Victorian era with decorations and room stewards in period costume. The house is open for nine days from 29th November until 7th December from 10.30 to 3.30. Hardwick Hall outside Chesterfield goes back 400 years but this year celebrates the traditions of Duchess Evelyn in the early 20th century and starts with two 25ft trees in the entrance hall. The decorations can be seen each Wednesday to Sunday from November 29th to December 21st from 11.00 to 3.00 and there is an additional entry charge. At Kedleston Hall near Derby you can experience contrasting Christmasses with a contemporary lighting event bringing to life the state floor closed up for the season while the family enjoyed Christmas at their London home. Downstairs you can see how the remaining servants would have enjoyed a tradition Edwardian Christmas. Kedleston is open for the first three weekends in December from 11.00 to 4.00. Locally at Calke Abbey there is a “Lights and Labyrinths” illuminated trail around the grounds leading to the estate church on the first three weekends in December from 12 noon to 6.30. The tea room, shop and grounds will also be open at all of the above properties. The NT Leicester Association has an afternoon meeting on Wednesday 26th November at St Guthlac’s Memorial Hall, Holbrook Road, Leicester at 2.30pm when Nick Marshall will present an talk entitled Christmas on Coupons & Recipes from WW2. There is also an evening meeting on Tuesday 9th December when Stuart Bramwell will present an illustrated talk on The Farthest Isles. The meeting will be held at The Braunstone West Social Centre, St Mary’s Avenue, Braunstone at 7.30pm. Admission to both meetings is NTLA members £2.50, visitors £4.00 including refreshments. For details of the NT Leicester Association and its Talks Service for other organisations please call 0116 2229133.

Alan Tyler

Rural skills

Learn all about hedge laying

A hedge laying course is on offer from the county council and its partners. The course is at Sharnford on November 29th and 30th and costs £60-£80. The course is part of the Stepping Stones initiative – a partnership of the county council with district and borough councils in Blaby, Charnwood, Harborough, Hinckley and Bosworth and Oadby and Wigston, to enhance and protect the local countryside. People who live in the Stepping Stones area qualify for the lower course fees. For further details, visit the website at: www.leics.gov.uk/ index/environment/countryside/ environment_management/ stepping_stones/stepping_stones_ training.htm or telephone: 0116 305 7221.

I’m leaving my body to science because even scientists need a good laugh now and then.

Groby & Field Head Spotlight • NOVEMBER 2014 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk

Traditional Christmas Fair Friday 5th December 2014

Make your community zero tolerant to loan sharks

Trading standards officers in Leicestershire are teaming up with money advice teams to warn people about the dangers of loan sharks.

3.30pm – 5.00pm Martinshaw Primary School, Forest View, Groby, LE6 0BB Entrance 50p per adult, children free. Santa’s Grotto, biscuits to decorate, face painting, homemade cakes, refreshments, raffle, toy tombola, lucky dip and many more table top games. Come along and enjoy a festive, family friendly afternoon.

Don’t avoid the Christmas crowds Braving those Christmas shopping crowds, or attending packed Christmas parties or concerts can be very good for your mental health. It seems that ‘social identity’ is a key factor in predicting positive emotions, and that social identification with a crowd helps us to enjoy busy places. The research was done by psychologists from the universities of Sussex, St Andrews and Leeds. They found that some people even enjoy their daily rush hour commute.

A month-long campaign will focus on tackling the effect which the loan sharks have on communities. The county-wide campaign will be launched in Coalville with an awareness event at the Greenhill Community Centre in Cropston Drive on Saturday (15 November). It will also be supported by North West Leicestershire District Council, Leicestershire police and members of Greenhill Baptist Church. Illegal money-lending teams are based in Birmingham and will investigate reports of people operating as loan sharks - such as individuals who don’t hold credit licences, credit agreements and take weekly payments without producing receipts and sometimes resorting to threats, violence and intimidation to enforce the debts. Their work often leads to prosecutions and is supported by trading standards officers who put victims or potential victims in touch with the teams. During the campaign, the illegal money-lending teams will also be updating police teams (18 November) as well as holding training sessions with staff and volunteers at the Baptist Church’s food bank and with family support services at the community centre (25 November) . David Bull, head of trading standards, said “We have a zero tolerance approach when it comes to loan sharks and we need the public’s help in identifying who is illegally providing loans within our communities. We want people to report loan sharks so we can take enforcement action.” Joe Orson, the county council’s lead member for trading standards, said “This is all about partnership working to rid our communities of these criminals who target the most vulnerable. They need to be stopped.” Anyone who has been – or fears they may fall victim – to a loan shark, can contact the teams in the strictest confidence by calling 0300 555 2222. Lines are open 24/7. Text loan shark + your message’ to 0003 Email reportaloanshark@ stoploansharks.gov.uk Private message us on www.facebook.com/stoploansharksproject

Driving home for Christmas… Motorists will drive almost three times further over the Christmas period than they do normally, according to a recent report on driving statistics.

Visiting all those friends and relations, not to mention taking children to parties, will mean that the average family car will do more than 448 miles between Christmas and Boxing Day. Even on Christmas Day, three in ten of us will drive more than 25 miles.

My Retirement Plan hinges on having at least one successful kid.

Groby & Field Head Spotlight • NOVEMBER 2014 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk

We have ways of making you volunteer... Norman Griffiths writes about the Big Society and a plan to save Groby library The Big Society was big news a few years ago, though we don’t hear the term mentioned much now, and when we look back on the Coalition it probably won’t be the first thing that springs to mind. Although historians record the work of Governments in detail the electors remember the highs, and more likely the lows. So Margaret Thatcher may be synonymous with the Falklands, the miners and the Poll Tax, rather than the great benefit she introduced for mums that gave them pension tax credits when they stayed at home on family duties. The Iraq War and weapons of mass destruction are the millstones round Tony Blair’s neck, rather than changes such as the reduction in waiting times for operations in the NHS. So what will it be for the Coalition? We know Nick Clegg’s, tuition fees, and will probably forget the increases in tax allowances to help the lower paid in particular. David Cameron may be remembered for Localism, the Big Society or as the leader who kept us in, or brought us out, of the European Union. We’ll have to wait and see. Others may remember this as the administration that let a library system built up over a century wither on the vine. But when cuts were planned it may well be that no-one thought they could end with a 1950’s situation of a van crammed with books touring the villages once a week. It could well be an unexpected consequence. But it didn’t need to be this way.

A National Library service? County Councils used to run all our schools, but over the years this has diminished and directly funded academies and free schools have replaced them. If a National Library Service run by the Department for Education had been designed and implemented we may have avoided a situation where volunteer groups are having to scuttle around doing deals with local councils to keep village libraries running. The Department for Education website declares that it is responsible “ ... for education and children’s services in England. We work to achieve a highly educated society in which opportunity is equal for children

and young people, no matter what their background or family circumstances.” At a time when employers continue to complain about literacy and numeracy standards, and the Government pushes ahead with policies which mean only the computer literate can easily access some services, what better vehicle could there be for promoting and assisting their aims than a local library network. And this doesn’t mean that there couldn’t be cost savings and a role for a volunteer assisted service if finances demanded it. Dream on. What do we have instead? Councils and their officers all over the country duplicating work, desperately trying to preserve the libraries but knowing that there is a bottom line saving that has to be achieved. Noone mentions the words Big Society because what is happening is not the outpouring of philanthropic feelings from the electorate but enforced volunteering if services are to be saved. It seems that’s the way to make us volunteer.

The next steps But this is where we are. The County Council Scrutiny Panel will report this month on how they feel the offer of support to local community libraries should be structured. Locally this will be followed by a Finance Meeting at the Parish Council to consider whether they should set aside cash in 2015 for supporting Groby Library. There are lots of issues to clarify and overcome so it won’t be plain sailing, as they are not allowed to run the library themselves. That probably means the creation of a legal entity such as a Library Trust to be the responsible body for running the library. Daunting as this prospect may seem it should be remembered that the Village Hall is an independent organisation and Groby Meadow, part funded by the Parish and part by individual shareholdings, is a Community Interest Company. And local businessman David Ryan believes it can be done. He has an interesting background and runs Happy Kids Education, a new company that will offer a range of Childcare services in conjunction with schools across Leicestershire and beyond. These include breakfast and after school clubs, birthday parties and more. “I’ve written a draft plan which I see as being a back up should the

“I see the library building being used for a number of other activities for local residents which may include an Internet Café and Homework Club for the Children, amongst other activities.” Local businessman David Ryan, who is looking into the possibility of setting up a Library Trust. Parish Council proposal not come to fruition,” he explained. “It would involve the setting up of a Library Trust which would manage the day to day operations of the library and consist of local residents and hopefully a member of the council. Our plan would be to continue operating the library to the current opening hours as a minimum but this would depend on a suitable number of volunteers coming forward to cover these hours. I then see the library building being used for a number of other activities for local residents which may include an Internet Café, and Homework Club for the Children, amongst other activities.” It’s early days and there’s no further information available at the moment but David doesn’t underestimate the challenges. “I don’t want to raise expectations but I do feel there’s a credible opportunity here for the library to be community led,” he added. “ I’d be interested in hearing from anyone who may want to be part of a Trust Management Committee or those who feel they would like to be part of a volunteer bank to provide the library services, as it’s important that we can demonstrate the will and desire to keep the library in the village.” As David’s proposal is separate from the work being undertaken by the Parish Council he does not have access to the names of those who have already volunteered to help, which is understandable given Data Protection issues. But if you would like to register an interest in his solution you can email him at david@happykidsedu.co.uk. Groby is a fortunate village that has the resources and has residents with the experience and abilities to deliver a community library project. If the library closes it will not be because of the spending cuts but because we just didn’t want it to stay open quite enough.

All my passwords are protected by amnesia.

Good neighbours can help to stop rogue traders As part of National Consumer Week 2014, residents in Leicestershire were urged to look out for rogue doorstep traders preying on elderly and vulnerable neighbours. With as many as 170,000 incidents of doorstep crime occurring nationally each year, the ‘Good Neighbours Stop Rogue Traders’ campaign encourages neighbours, friends, families and carers to discourage rogue traders. These traders often cold call and offer to carry-out repairs which are poor quality, unnecessary and charged at extortionate prices, sometimes even driving the victim to the bank to withdraw money or threatening them. David Bull, head of Leicestershire County Council’s trading standards, said: “I would encourage communities to help us to tackle rogue doorstep traders and to prevent those most at risk from becoming victims. “While trading standards officers strive to track down and prosecute rogue traders, community intervention is the first step in preventing detriment caused by doorstep crime. The campaign highlights the impact community-spirit and the goodness of neighbours, friends and relatives can have in continuing to ensure that Leicestershire is a safe place live.” Councillor Joe Orson, the county council’s cabinet member for trading standards, said, “Our trading standards officers work hard to tackle these despicable criminals and they really need local communities to be their ‘eyes and ears’ in identifying where these traders are operating.” The Good Neighbours Stop Rogue Traders campaign is a partnership between Leicestershire County Council, the Trading Standards Institute (TSI), Citizens Advice and the National Trading Standards Board. If anyone has any concerns about rogue traders, they should contact the Citizens Advice Consumer Service Helpline on 03454 04 05 06, or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or contact trading standards on-line at: tradingstandards@leics.gov.uk

Groby & Field Head Spotlight • NOVEMBER 2014 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk

Groby Gardening Society News A Sensory Evening This was a thoroughly enjoyable evening which signalled a departure from our normal format for meetings. Members were presented with challenges to all of their senses. Although,to be fair, hearing was only tested by trying to pick up clues from others’ conversations! They were asked to identify seed heads, flowers and leaves as well as trying to to sniff out the names of presented, but hidden, herbs. Tasting of chutneys, marmalade and a squash were relished and sorting out various oils completed the quiz. The word on the streets is that Jane did very well as did our very welcome contingent from Ratby. Well done to all who took part, but especially to Beverley and Helen who made the whole experience possible. Many hours of work went into the evening and all are extremely grateful to them.

his repertoire of talks has been expanded and he now does, what he calls, “An amusing Christmas talk.”

Our Christmas meal The signing up for contributions to this meal is going well and the last chance to do so will be at our November meeting. However, if you are unable to be there and you have not already signed up, do not despair. A phone call to Alvar will soon get you on the list. A reminder that members are being encouraged to let Helen, Beverley or Alvar have a photograph of themselves in childhood. Their name on the back of the photograph would be useful. Identification of these will be attempted at the Christmas meeting!

Auction of donated painting

Birds in the garden October 9th saw a very welcome return of David Tideswell. To say that David was just amusing would not do justice to his superb delivery. The theme of his talk was the birds we can see in our gardens during Autumn and Winter. His photographs were as magnificent as those we remember from previous talks. Since his last visit, it is doubtful that any member could recall an evening when so much giggling, especially on the front row, occurred. Yet, behind David’s wonderful comic timing there lay the mind of a genuine expert. His knowledge appeared to be encyclopaedic, but his disarming technique allowed the audience to participate and join in with no embarrassment. It was with real pleasure that we learned that

painting can be viewed (give Alvar a ring) and if you would like to bid, you should but your offer in an envelope with your name and contact number. The bids will be assessed at our Christmas meeting.

Outings 2015 Although much still remains to be done, members may like to know that we have already arranged our stay for our three day (two nights) trip. Next year we are visiting the South West and are staying for two nights at The Swan hotel in Wells. The hotel is well appointed, being adjacent to Wells cathedral. More details will be available in due course. We are undecided about one day and/or half day trips and the committee would welcome suggestions from members. After last year’s enjoyable visit to Hodsock’s snowdrops, it has been suggested that a similar half day visit to a daffodil display would be good; but where???

Future Meetings

There have been offers for this painting of a Bradgate Park scene so kindly donated by Francoise Menestrey. Visitors to The Village Show may recall this as being an entry in “A Painted Picture” section. The

•

December 11th Christmas meal and entertainment

•

January 8th Annual General Meeting

•

February 12th “People in glasshouses shouldn’t” (Doug Stewart)

Our monthly meetings are held at 7.30pm on the second Thursday of the month, usually in the United Reformed Church rooms on Chapel Hill. Details about membership and the events programme can be obtained from Alvar Johnson tel: 0116 287 7870) or email: anjjmj1@outlook. com

Alvar Johnson

Gritters geared up for cold snap Leicestershire’s gritters have hit the roads for the first time this year as November’s cold snap bites. Seventeen gritters treated key routes on 5th November as temperatures dipped below zero. With 18,000 tonnes of grit in stock and the fleet of gritters on standby 24/7, the County Council is ready to keep the roads moving during wintry weather. Residents are urged to prepare too by using an online map to check out gritting routes, listening to travel advice on local radio, and allowing plenty of time for journeys. A 50-strong team of snow wardens is also on standby and ready to clear and grit key footpaths, and provide valuable information on weather conditions in their particular areas. Peter Osborne, Leicestershire County Council cabinet member for highways and transport, said: “Our barns are stocked with 18,000 tonnes of grit - enough to last throughout the winter – and our gritters and drivers are geared up to work round-theclock during bad weather. “We’re also encouraging residents to prepare by taking simple steps. Plan ahead by familiarising yourself with gritted routes, check your tyre pressure and tread depth, and research out how to drive in cold weather - this will take just minutes but could save you hours and will help to keep you safe.”

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Well, hello! If I had known you were coming over, I would have left the house.

Groby & Field Head Spotlight • NOVEMBER 2014 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk

Share your experiences of teenage pregnancy

Leicestershire Teenage Pregnancy Partnership is appealing to mothers who had children in their teens in the 1960s-80s to come forward and talk about their experiences, as part of an exhibition on teenage pregnancy.

The event which will be held from 26th January to 6th February at The Atkins Building, Hinckley, will look at the experiences of teenage parents through the decades, challenge misconceptions about teenage parenthood and explore how different becoming a parent under 20 is now, compared to previous decades. It will showcase work developed by local young parents and promote services that provide support in the locality. If you would like to take part in the event, please contact Katie Phillips, by emailing letstalktp@leics. gov.uk.

First and Only to be made into a crowdfunded film

Spotlight Small Ads

Best selling psychic thriller First and Only by Peter Flannery is to be made into a feature film by award winning director Magnus Wake.

• Easel, hardly used (Chad Valley) Price: £15.00. Tel 0116 287 3167.

As part of the ambitious project, Wake’s production company Encaptivate Films has launched an Indiegogo crowdfund to raise £100,000 of the film’s £1.6 million budget. TheFirst and Only campaign will be the largest crowdfunding campaign launched in Scotland for a film and the rewards on offer will allow funders to become movie collaborators giving them an opportunity to play a part in making the movie. As well as starring James Robinson (Young Wallace in Braveheart) the film promises to make the most of Edinburgh’s haunting backdrop in a fast paced action adventure that sees the hunt for a serial killer turn into a battle between good and evil. LIFTED: L-R Actor James Based on author Peter Flannery’s best Robinson uses his Psychic selling ebook of the same name First and power to levitate Director Only follows the adventures of Psimon - a Magnus Wake young man with exceptional powers who is haunted by the murder of an old friend. Channeling the cut and thrust of The Bourne Trilogy and the chilling realism of The Sixth Sense the movie follows our hero as he tracks down a serial killer whilst battling with his own inner demons as well as world governments who decide he is too dangerous to be allowed to roam free. A Kindle success story, the novel has become an Amazon best seller and received rave reviews from around the world. Director Magnus Wake was one of over 60,000 fans of the novel and recognising its cinematic potential, successfully secured the options to create his first feature film set in Edinburgh. Maverick producer and director of television, commercials and brand films, Wake has setup Encaptivate to make films using the latest online tools and techniques that are revolutionising the industry. Keen to demonstrate how exciting crowd funding can be as part of this he said: “We’re looking to create something truly ground breaking. We’re not just asking for a donation; we want to give back rewards that people will love. We’ve got one amazing reward which will bring our funders completely into the film making process. People will hopefully not only want to back this film but will really enjoy doing it”. For more about the campaign and to contribute to the crowd fund please visit:firstandonlymovie.com/back-us Follow the campaign on twitter at: @FirstOnlyMovie and on Facebook:Facebook. com/FirstOnlyMovie I think I may be a talented photographer. I took one photo with my camera phone and it asked me if I wanted to open a gallery. I normally play the trumpet with some buxom ladies. I am part of a big bras band. Tim Vine

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If you have any household items which you’d like to advertise FREE in the Spotlight, please SEND DETAILS by post or email - sorry, we can’t take them over the phone. Our postal address is Spotlight Small Ads, PO Box 8, Markfield, Leics. LE67 9ZT or you can email details to: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk

Children are welcomed at all theme parks as long as they are accompanied by Money and Daddy.

Groby & Field Head Spotlight • NOVEMBER 2014 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk

Free advice for those at risk of falls A SERIES of free workshops is being held across Hinckley & Bosworth for older residents at risk from falls. The Falls Awareness Workshops will be held during November and are intended for those who have had a fall or for those who have a healthrelated condition (including poor hearing or eyesight) that can affect their balance. Carers are also welcome to attend. The workshops have been organised by Age UK Leicester Shire and Rutland, together with Active Together, as studies have identified that older adults are more likely to require care or a stay in hospital after a fall. With Hinckley and Bosworth’s ageing population increasing each year, more and more people are living with long term illnesses or disabilities that could make them susceptible to falls. The workshops will provide advice and information on: • hearing services; • free eye tests; • free postural assessments; • alarm services; • free Tai Chi taster sessions. They will be held at the following locations: • Markfield Community Centre - Tuesday 18 November (1pm to 5pm) • St Francis Centre, Hinckley - Thursday 20 November (12noon to 4pm) • Age UK Senior Citizens Centre, Earl Shilton - Thursday 27 November (12noon to 4pm) Free tea or coffee and a buffet is included for those attending, as well as free transport. Booking is essential. For more information contact Emma Hopkins on 01455 255875 or 01455 619519 or email: emma.hopkins@hinckley-bosworth.gov.uk.

Book Week at Martinshaw

Think of a crazy place to read a book.

Well, during the recent Book Week at Martinshaw Primary School children from all age groups took up the challenge and read books in such places as swimming pools, at rugby matches and even on horseback. However, bouncing along on a horse and fighting to keep your book dry were not the only activities in and out of school that were used to celebrate books and the love of reading. In classes, the younger children linked all their learning to the brilliant ‘Lost and Found’ story by Oliver Jeffers, while the older children looked at the amazing picture book ‘The Lost Thing’ by Shaun Tan. Children also came in before school started for a ‘Breakfast Books’ session where they read and listened to stories with their parents and grandparents while enjoying healthy snacks provided by our MSA. Pippa Goodhart, the children’s author, came into school to talk to the children about her stories, read to them and sign copies of her books. Some children also had the opportunity to work with Pippa to create their very own Martinshaw story. They will be working with an illustrator to create pictures for the book, which will then be shared with children and parents in the school library. Book week was a lot of fun, the children produced some outstanding work which they enjoyed sharing with each other in assembly, but thankfully not in any swimming pools!

Owen Lawrence

My wife accused me of being self-important. I nearly fell off my throne.

Groby & Field Head Spotlight • NOVEMBER 2014 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk

DON’T BE ALONE CHRISTMAS DAY

Come and Join us at

ST MARY’S CHURCH ROOMS ANSTEY

For

DINNER AND FESTIVITIES For people over 60 in Anstey and surrounding villages TRANSPORT CAN BE ARRANGED

TO BOOK YOUR PLACE PLEASE RING

07979 607099-Kerry Sharpe or 0116 2368811-Julie Ford If anyone would like to volunteer or make a contribution please also contact above

Groby

Sings on

including songs from Disney’s hit film

Saturday 29th November 7.30pm and Sunday 30th November 3.00pm Groby Community College Sports Hall Tickets £4.00 each available from Chaplin’s Butchers, Groby For more information, contact Helen Hayes on 07867963328

Letter from Uncle Eustace

On why Carol Services are so dangerous The Rectory St. James the Least My dear Nephew Darren So: you are excited about being invited to plan your first Carol Service. The dangers involved are only slightly less than being invited to judge the best cake made by the Ladies’ Group. You seem to have no idea of the lifelong offence you will inevitably cause. In decades to come when you will either be a seasoned old clergyman – or more likely a double glazing salesman – you will be remembered as “the Curate who offended Mrs Smith.” First, you have to decide which groups are going to be represented to give the readings. If the Brownies were asked last year, then it has to be the Cubs this time. But don’t forget that every third year, the Boys’ Brigade must be asked, or they will take their revenge and get their flag tangled in the nave chandelier come Remembrance Sunday. If someone represents the choir, then over a four year period, all four voice parts must be called on – and if the organist isn’t asked on the fifth year, then all hymns subsequently will be played at double speed and with one verse missing. Should one person have been invited to read for two successive years, then their annual appearance thereafter will be taken as an inalienable right for the rest of their lifetime – and probably longer than that. To drop them may well invoke legal proceedings, Then there is the batting order to be considered. Someone from the church council will take it as a deliberate slight if they are placed lower in the order than a representative of the Men’s Fellowship and so self-respecting bell ringer would voluntarily follow a brass cleaner. If you do not specify where they should read from and how the readings should end, then a form of ecclesiastical inflation will happen. If the first reader speaks from the chancel step, the next one will go to the lectern; after the sanctuary and pulpit have been utilised, the final reader will probably ask you to move so he can take your place. The variations on “Here endeth”, “This is the Word of the Lord”, and “Thanks be to God”, are endless and will increase in length as the Service progresses. The final reader will probably end with a lengthy exegesis on what he thinks the passage means, correcting whatever you said in your sermon. I once made the mistake of not telling all readers which Bible translation to use. One, an Old Testament expert, therefore decided to read in Hebrew. Not to be outdone, another read her Gospel passage in Greek – apologising beforehand that it may not be a perfect rendering, as she was spontaneously translating it from the English. And some say Christians are not competitive. You have two alternatives: either repeat last year’s Service without any alteration, saying that it could not be improved, or design your own – and then take Christmas off. Your loving uncle,

Eustace I’m allergic to aspirin. If I take it, my head swells to five times its normal size. I take it all the time. My real head is the size of a walnut. Tim Vine

My biggest problem with the younger generation is I’m not in it.

Groby & Field Head Spotlight • NOVEMBER 2014 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk

THE FLYING SCOTSMAN Eighty years ago this month, on 30th November 1934, to be precise, a scheduled express train, pulled by a locomotive called the ‘Flying Scotsman’, broke a notable rail-speed record. On its journey northwards from London Kings Cross to Edinburgh Waverley it touched 100 miles per hour. I was a bit too young to see that journey, but a few years later, perched after school on a wooden fence just north of Wood Green station, I would often watch spellbound with my friends as the same train sped past, a mere matter of yards away from us, belching steam and deafening us with the roar of its wheels and engine. Sometimes the driver or the fireman would wave to us, but the privileged ones in the dining car, already addressing their late cooked breakfast, were oblivious of our envy. It was a highlight of our Saturdays and an unforgettable memory. To us boys, it was all about noise and power and speed, a magnificent piece of engineering but above all something that had never been done before. These new streamlined locomotives were built for speed, and speed was what they offered. A century earlier people wondered whether it was truly safe to carry passengers in the first steam trains at 60mph. Could the human frame survive at such speeds? It could, though a few who were not seated safely did blow off the uncovered carriages in the slipstream! Now we could see that 100mph was perfectly possible on land (it had already been done in the air) - and who could imagine what speeds human beings might be able to travel at in the future? The great race for speed, to knock minutes or hours off journey times, had begun It has, of course, gone on. We can now travel vast distances by air, getting from London to New York in not much longer than the ‘Flying Scotsman’ took to get to Edinburgh. We move heaven and earth to save five minutes (and often pay a small fortune for it, as well) and then wonder what to do with the time we’ve ‘saved’. Since those exciting days back in the thirties, I wonder what our obsession with speed has truly added to the sum total of human happiness? Yet I have to admit that there was something special about that great clanging monster, just as there was about the elegant sight of Concorde on its supersonic way across the Atlantic - and I must also admit I would never choose a slower train for a journey. I suppose it’s not so much ‘saving time’ that matters, as what we do with it when we’ve saved it. Now there’s a thought for the 80th anniversary of a land-speed record!

David Winter

former Head of Religious Broadcasting, BBC

Dog Watch ‘Keep it Clean’ working in partnership with Neighbourhood Watch This November the Borough Council’s Clean Neighbourhoods Team will be focusing on tackling the age-old issue of dog fouling.

The ‘Keep It Clean’ team has planned a series of activities until the end of the year aimed at reducing the incidence of dog fouling around the borough. It will include a combination of education (promoting the right behaviour) and enforcement (penalising the wrong behaviour). The campaign has been devised as a result of the council’s Clean Neighbourhoods Strategy, which is guided by the principle that ‘Hinckley & Bosworth is a place with clean, tidy and litter-free neighbourhoods where everyone takes responsibility for their waste and the surrounding environment.’ This will include enforcement patrols in the most notorious areas reported for dog mess along with visits to local primary schools to promote responsible dog ownership to children. Many other activities will also take place throughout this period. Our main focus will be working with Neighbourhood Watch groups around the borough who will help to carry our message and ensure that members of the public know their rights when it comes to reporting irresponsible dog ownership. They can submit reports to the council at any time, giving as much information as possible such as date, time, description of the dog and the owner will all help with our investigation. In nearly all cases the witness will remain anonymous whilst action can be taken against the offenders. To report an offender or for more information call 01455 255971 or email streetscene@hinckley-bosworth.gov.uk.

Laziness is nothing more than the habit of resting before you get tired.

Groby & Field Head Spotlight • NOVEMBER 2014 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk

THE MARKFIELD & THORNTON THEATRE GROUP

Beauty and the Beast At Thornton Community Centre 12th to 17th January 2015 at 7.30 nightly (Saturday Matinee 3.00 p.m.) Pantomime season is upon us again! We are busily rehearsing as the festive season craftily creeps nearer without much warning. This year’s offering is nothing at all like the Disney version of the story, but rather is my retelling of the magical fairytale I so loved as a child. I believe that it offers young and old alike an opportunity to escape for a brief while to a place where mysterious and magical things happen, music and merriment abound, and where, we can be assured, good will always triumph! The Ponsonby family, down on their luck, take up residence in Coppice Cottage on the edge of Whispering Woods. Hidden deep within the woods is a castle, and the youngest Ponsonby sister, Beauty, is intrigued by the local legend that the castle’s inhabitant is under an enchantment. Who is he? Why is he so feared? The secret of the woods is guarded by a loyal band of knights whose knees have obviously never been under any round table! Lancelot they ain’t! What they lack in other ways they make up with derring-do! Add to this mix everyone’s idea of a doting father, Beauty’s less-than-beautiful siblings, a daft domestic , a dancing dog, a beautiful fairy and one who disobeys all the rules of fairy etiquette and we’re off to a good start! You will see many of the old, familiar faces on stage or thereabouts as happily enthusiastic as ever. There will be new faces, too, as two more young men , Dale and Tristan, have joined us. Both bring their individual talents to the show and we consider ourselves fortunate to have them with us! Dale says he’s never had so much fun,(and can’t stop laughing), and Tristan says that he feels honoured to be with us... so we can hardly go wrong! Again we have with us a Chorus from “The Linda Williams’ Academy of Performing Arts”. Our troupe from last year has continued to enjoy successes at Midlands Dance Festivals throughout the year, picking up both individual and group trophies. They still chat happily about the fun they had in “The Pied Piper” last year. The girls’ teachers and parents so appreciated the experience the children gained by being in a show such as ours that they are most enthusiastic about their being with us again. However, regulations concerning the protection of children mean that the hours during which a child is allowed to perform are closely monitored. This year, our chorus will be drawn from a bank of twelve children so that only the oldest, (the eleven-year-olds), will be able to dance every night – even then, they have to leave at the interval! (Shades of Cinderella!) Ian Lay , ably assisted by Marie O’Neil, is working his magic on the sets.... how we wish we could give him the facilities which large theatres offer! As it is, he is given a list of the scenes he has to create by using his own artistic skill. Over the years, he has transformed our tiny village stage into forests, castles, sea-going vessels, medieval towns, desert islands, lunar landscapes, crystal caves... and many more. We can only stand back in admiration. All you have to do is stretch the imagination to be transported to fairytale locations. Now, at the time of writing in November, we still have lots more to do..thought is being given to costumes, makeup, lighting, sound and to front-of-house arrangements. All the cast members are as co-operative as ever. They will have a go at anything and teamwork shines through all the time – they certainly keep me on my toes. (Maybe that should apply to our choreographer , Charlotte!) Every one of our members is needed in order for us to get the show on the road, and each is valued. It’s not too late for you to be involved in some way... we are at Thornton Community Centre on Wednesday evenings from 7.30 onwards and would welcome you to come along. Any offer of help would be appreciated. We do hope to see you at the pantomime. I can guarantee a very happy evening!

Muriel Walker (Writer and Director )

Tickets: Priced At £5 (£4 Concessions) Are Available At Norm’s, (Thornton’s Corner Shop) Or On 01455 822148.

Groby Village Society

Preservation ~ Conservation Communal Interests

Forthcoming Events Thursday November 27

‘The Story of the Unknown Warrior’ Dr John Sutton

Thursday December 18

Way With Words (Christmas) Mrs Ruth Coward Meetings are held at Groby Village Hall Starting at 7.30pm. For Further Details Contact Hon. Secretary Mr. P. Castell Tel. 0116 287 9842 e-mail:- groby.villagesociety@ tiscali.co.uk Non Members are Welcome

Plan ahead! A Date for Your Gardening Calendar! Saturday 8th August 2015 is the date of Ratby’s Annual Show, and Ratby Sports Club is the venue. Now is the time to begin thinking and planning for the growing season ahead. All the usual classes will be on the schedule, including handicrafts, cookery, floral arrangements, a young persons section, and many more. We are looking forward to another great show but we can’t make it happen without you and your exhibits.

My wife and I always compromise. I admit I’m wrong and she agrees with me.

Groby & Field Head Spotlight • NOVEMBER 2014 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk

Groby Flyer Flashback

Norman Griffiths digs out his article on the A46 Western Bypass Earlier this month Groby Parish Council discussed the application for grant funding for the proposed Multi Use Games Area on Quarry Park. The outcome is unlikely to be known until February, but if the application is successful it will largely cover the costs. Former Council Chairman Rob Fraser had misgivings about the facility, however, and described the project as a ‘dead duck’. The residents of the area “don’t want it, nobody is going to use it, and you don’t have the money for it” he said. He recalled the public meeting he chaired at the Community Centre to discuss the previous proposal for a large community facility at which residents made it clear that they didn’t want a development which would increase the traffic flow on the narrow access road. Following the granting of planning permission for the much smaller MUGA facility the Council has conducted a public consultation through the Spotlight and although the response wasn’t huge it wasn’t characterised by opposition to the plans. There had been only one objection to the planning application, the meeting was told, but this did not satisfy Councillor Fraser. He recollected the planning implications and sadly few seem process leading to the construction to care,” he said. “The complete of the A46 Western Bypass and said Parish Council had to canvas that “it wasn’t until the trees started door to door throughout Groby to being felled that people woke up.” increase the number of opposition So is this recollection letters from 32 to 390.” supported by the facts? Was Councillor Allard said the new there no public outcry through road would have a detrimental the lengthy design and planning effect on Groby. With the result of process for the new road? A the Public Inquiry known he was rummage through the archives saddened not only by its outcome of Ted Hollick’s Groby Flyer but also the procedure that brought newspaper confirms that he’s quite it. right, there was no mass protest “Bearing in mind the effort we about the road plans and this was put into the Public Inquiry,” he said something that dismayed local in his report to the Annual Parish councillors at the time. Meeting, “it is a disappointment. Adrian Allard, Chairman Our influence has been zero. I feel of the Council, expressed his that the Public Inquiry was there to disappointment that so few listen to us only, they really support residents had objected to the the Department of Transport. proposed A46 Western Bypass. We must bear this in mind in the “Few parishioners realise the

future.” On the 27th day of the Public Inquiry the Inspector was presented with 123 letters from Groby residents objecting to the published route and suggesting an alternative to the north and west. The Department of Transport gave the opinion that such a route would attract much reduced traffic from Leicester and the outer village network and compare most favourably with the published route in achieving Government objectives for trunk road improvements. The Inspector agreed that this was not a

viable alternative. In a letter to the enquiry ARC Eastern pointed out that their plans to rationalise the development of their quarries could mean one lorry leaving the quarry every minute. With the principal markets for aggregate from Groby being the West Midlands and South East they believed that the route that provided the most direct link from the quarry to the M1 motorway was to be preferred. The company was opposed to any route crossing its land which could jeopardise its quarrying activities in the area.

When I left home, Mom said “Don’t forget to write.” I thought, “That’s unlikely. After all, it’s a fairly basic skill.”

Groby & Field Head Spotlight • NOVEMBER 2014 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk

GROBY ALLOTMENT SOCIETY NEWS “Life With A Lottie” - By Jane Marston I started my August story with the fact that we had the central heating on – at the time of writing this, we are into November and we have beautiful sunny, warm days! The white flies are dancing in the sunshine and midges are still out. Roll on the frosts. The boss is round at the plot preparing for winter – soft fruit bushes are being moved and winter digging is in progress. If only the weeds would stop growing. The season has extended, we are still picking autumn fruit and now the winter veg are coming in we are enjoying fresh fruit and veg when we think it should be over.

wildlife that maybe living in piles of wood etc. especially hedgehogs. The Bacon Buttie Sunday mornings have now finished till the spring, I would like to thank all those who have attended and those who have helped at these get togethers also those people who have donated items for sale – this year we have been very fortunate with the weather and have not had one event with bad weather. I made the first of the winter veg soup for lunch yesterday, it’s like welcoming an old friend – I call it fridge bottom soup – all the veg that is left in the bottom of the fridge goes into the pressure cooker with an assortment of seasoning and cooked for a few minutes – costs nothing, tastes fab and comes with no government health warning (if you don’t add too much salt).

Spare Allotment Plots Available John Thornton our chairman reports that we have spare plots available on both our Ratby Road site and Orchard Close – if you are interested in ‘growing your own’ please go on line and send in an application (Groby Online) or contact one of the committee members - you will be made very welcome at either site and help is always available to ‘newbies’. I can recommend both the produce you can grow and the social life it can give you if you like to mix. Plot holders can now have bonfires – until March. However please be aware of householders who live nearby and also please check for any

RECIPE OF THE MONTH Apple Slices • • • • •

3 apples peeled, cored and chopped 2 cups of plain flour 1 cup of sugar 2oz butter melted 1 egg

Stir the chopped apples into the flour and stir in the sugar. Melt the butter and stir into the apple mixture, beat the egg and stir in also. You can add spices or flavourings of your choice here – I added a little cinnamon. Spread into a 7in x 11in (approx) tin and bake in a medium oven for approx. 30mins. You could sprinkle with brown sugar or oats. As this is a very simple recipe you can add things of your choice. When cooled cut into slices and eat with your morning coffee afternoon tea or add custard for a sweet. Yummy!

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Groby & Field Head Spotlight • NOVEMBER 2014 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk

A thousand daffodils planted Pupils get together at Glenfield Millennium Green! Over 200 attend the King Edward VII Grammar School Reunion

We were delighted that the sun shone on October 25th when about 20 volunteers of all ages turned up to plant about a 1,000 daffodils.

Amazingly it only took just over an hour and then drinks and biscuits were served as a ‘thank-you’. It was also brilliant that a couple of those who came offered to take over a part of the garden to work on in their own time. We now have several areas that are ‘adopted’ and this is a great help in keeping the Green tidy and attractive to all who use it. The last two Saturday gardening sessions helpers were successful in cutting back the hedge adjoining the old A50, letting in more light to the Green and this will also encourage fresh new growth in the spring. If you want to find out more about gardening on the Green you can phone David Fawkes on 0116 225 5712. It may seem early to think about Christmas (although I understand that some organised people have already bought all their presents!) but please cut off and keep postage stamps attached to your Christmas Greetings which you may receive from all over the world. We collect used postage stamps in aid of the Millennium Green and sell them to raise money. You can deposit them in the box near to the main entrance on the Green or phone 01162991868 to arrange collection. After years of competing with the final programme of ‘Strictly Come Dancing’, which always seems to happen on the last Saturday before Christmas, we have changed the day for our annual ‘Carols on the Green’. This will now take place on Sunday December 21st at the earlier time of 4.00pm. It will follow the usual pattern and you will be rewarded with a warm fruit punch and mince pies afterwards.

Christine Tordoff Secretary Glenfield Millennium Green Trust

LETTER: Parking problems

There was an article in Spotlight regarding intended housing to be built on the small piece of land off Martinshaw Road, Groby. In the last issue, there was an article on page 9 appealing for help with parking problems for employees of GE Sensing. Instead of building property on this nice little open space – why not offer to rent the site to GE Sensing to turn into a car park for their employees and local residents. I would think the boundaries could be planted with thick hedging to restrict noise/pollution for adjoining properties?

Janet Lowe

Saturday October 18th 2014 saw the latest successful reunion of Staff and Scholars Of King Edward V11 Grammar School Coalville. They returned to Coalville from all over the UK to the site of the former school on Forest Road (now Newbridge High School) to reminisce and celebrate memories of school days. Everyone crowded into the Hall to be welcomed by Mr.John Coulton, Chairman of the reunion committee and to view the vast collection of memorabilia of the school , collected over the years, The lovely oak lectern, school cups, uniform (boy’s and girl’s) and satchels, school badges and many photographs going back to the 1920’s,all recalling memories and prompting conversation and much laughter. Over 200 students came, from the 1930s onwards. Miss Kath Bevan who was at school in the 1930s took the title of the oldest student present, Her vitality was amazing. One brave student came wearing an old school tie! Professor Peter Odell presented us with copies of his books: “An Energetic Life” (the story of his life so far) and his publication “Why Carbon Fuels will dominate the 21st Century’s Global Energy Economy”. Everyone seemed to enjoy the day, there were groups of people talking and smiling, listening to anecdotes of school days, swapping addresses and making new friends. Some memories were understandably sad as we heard of friends who were no longer with us, or who were unable to travel due to illness or advancing age, but there was a great deal of laughter and pleasure at meeting old friends. As students left , saying how much they had enjoyed the day, most were asking when the next reunion would be and urging us not to leave it so long until the next time. Receive Reunion News By Email! • If you feel you would like to keep the memories of The Grammar school alive, and join us at the next reunion of scholars, then please add your name to our email data base so that we are able to contact you. The present committee of four people would also like to appeal for help in planning and organising any future event. Any help would be welcome. You can contact any member of the reunion committee-Mr. John Coulton Chairman, Mr Allan Sutton Treasurer, Mrs Maureen Partridge Memorabilia and Mrs Elizabeth Riding Administration. Tel Number 01530 812500, elizabethriding789@btinternet.com.

My problem is that I appeal to everyone that can do me absolutely no good.

Groby & Field Head Spotlight • NOVEMBER 2014 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk

Groby Explorer Scouts Survive Groby Explorer Scouts (Mixed 14-18 year) travelled to Beaudesert Park on Cannock Chase for their week long annual Summer Camp. We slept in tents, prepared and cooked our own food on wooden fires and participated in a variety of old and new activities. Throughout the week, when not busy on other activities, the “Special K” project ran. This allowed each of the Explorers to build and craft their own personalised unique bushcraft tool – many hours were spent filing, sanding and carving whilst sitting around the fire chatting. Sunny Sunday was spent Geocaching (a real-world, outdoor treasure hunting game) in the local area, using GPS to find caches hidden by other people from a set of GPS coordinates and cryptic coded clues. On finding the cache, you sign the paper inside and leave a trinket in exchange for one from the cache. Monday was spent on a day hike across Cannock Chase. Our camp fell during the week when as a nation, we remembered the start of World War One, so we held our own “Lights Out” event. This was based around a format provided by the Royal British Legion, lighting a candle of remembrance, readings and singing of ‘Its a long way to Tipperary’ and ‘Pack up your troubles in your old kit bag’. On the Tuesday, the promised rain for the week finally arrived – its timing could not have been better, as the Explorers were about to disappear for over 24 hours on a Bushcraft Survival Course. Their instructor Mick served in the Army for over 23 years, completed his Survival Instructor training with the Special Forces, and put what he learned into practice in many parts of the world both in training and on operations. He became his unit’s Combat Survival and Escape and Evasion Instructor. He is passionate about Social Forestry and teaching Bushcraft & Survival in the outdoor classroom. He has even apparently shared a snowhole with Bear Grylls (Chief Scout) and borrowed his book! In his introduction, he explained how the downpour of rain would change their priorities in terms of Fire, Shelter and Food before they departed.

The next day the rain stopped and did not return, but the Explorers did, having had a very rewarding educational experience and full of stories to tell. Mick told them and us (their Leaders) that they were one of the best groups he had ever had and that they were a credit to both themselves and their leaders – a nice compliment to be paid by somebody with his experience. The day was completed with Orienteering around the Beaudesert Estate. On Thursday was Crate Stacking, involving them building the tallest stack of crates whilst standing on them – helped by others passing the crates up or belaying the stackers. This was then followed by Greasy Pole – a pillow fight whilst sitting astride a pole above a pool. Somebody was going to get wet – well everybody actually did, as fun was had by everybody. In the afternoon, we took the opportunity to visit the nearby National Memorial Arboretum at Alrewas. It is a very sombering place to visit and would really recommend it to everybody if you have not been. For the Explorers, they would have been able to see the name of Christopher Gray from Ratby, a pupil from Brookvale & Groby College, who was only 19 years old Whilst away they covered: • Theory of Survival and Bushcraft • Bushcraft and Survival (Ray Mears v’s Bear Grylls) • Priorities; (Protection, Location, Water and Food). Rule of three’s • Fire • Safety, fire triangle, tinder, kindling and fuel, small v large fire. • Firelighting with flint & steel and alternate methods of firelighting. • Shelter • Shelter types demonstrated • Group construct own shelters for overnight sleeping • Food • Wild food explained • Game preparation • Social gathering around camp fire stories!

when he was killed in Afghanistan in April 2007. The penultimate day of camp started with Via Ferrata based in the local quarry, consisting of exposed climbs, traverses around the quarry rock faces attached to steel cables, crossing rope bridges and finishing on a zip wire. These are often found in the Alps and are great for promoting self-confidence and helping individuals to challenge themselves. The afternoon provided another opportunity to get wet despite people efforts to stay dry. This activity was coracling on the lake. Traditionally this watercraft were designed for the swift flowing streams of Wales in order to enable fishermen to go out for the day in a lightweight craft that they could carry home easy. Mixture of games or just simply having two people in a coracle, provide that sinking feeling to howls of laughter. Our traditional last night BBQ completed a very enjoyable week with a great bunch of people and provided the leaders with a relaxing holiday away from work.

It takes money to make money because you have to copy the design exactly.

Groby & Field Head Spotlight • NOVEMBER 2014 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk

Putting The Boot In By Janet KellY There is something that many people do on Sunday mornings with a fervour I didn’t realise existed among the suburban population. No, not going to church or gardening Car Boot Sales. For the uninitiated I can only describe the experience as something akin to waking up and finding the End Of The World had been declared - and every human being was out to pillage whatever they could in quest of comfort during their final hours. Having decided that the contents of my garage were beginning to form the first stages of a Turner prize exhibit, I roped in a friend for a morning of fun at the fair. We had barely pulled on the handbrake of the people (or in this case, trash) carrier when a horde of people - obviously used to this hand-to-object existence - were ferreting through the contents of my vehicle like rats on speed. It was only the assurance that this attack on my worldly possessions was a trait of the CBP (Car Boot “Professional”) that persuaded me to stay. I blame the Antiques Roadshow. Everyone seems to think they are going to find that one thing that will exclude them from the need to earn a living - just by scavenging through the contents of other people’s waste. “Ooh, Mrs Jones! What a bargain. This rusty ironing board just happens to be a Hottity Hittity of the late 20th century and worth more than enough to pay off your mortgage,” goes the dream, particularly for those who practise how modest and surprised they would look on telly, being told such news. Having said that, there is a very basic appeal about things at Car Boot Sales. I found myself very attracted to other people’s shoes, a moth-eaten Backgammon set - and the burger van which sold very nice chips for Â£1.10 a bag (an essential part of the occasion). I sold four broken watches, a vase which the buyer thought was an umbrella stand, plus a box of my husband’s DVDs. Unfortunately for him it now appears they were not in the garage for the sale, but to keep them tidy. Still, he can always go and buy some more at a Car Boot Sale - there are some real bargains to be had! • Janet Kelly’s novel, Dear Beneficiary, will be published by Cutting Edge Press on March 19th 2015. Further details from info@freefeatures.co.uk This article was downloaded from http://www.freefeatures.com.

Rotary Club UPDATE Brian Rigby has kindly sent the Spotlight an update on the new Rotary Club at the Stamford Arms. Brian says: “We are forming as a fully fledged Rotary Club on February 28th 2015. At present we have 18 members and need 20 to form which we envisage achievable by February 2015. “This is a very modern Rotary Club with 13 lady members and 5 male members. We hold two breakfast meetings on Wednesday mornings at 7.30am and two evening meetings - also on a Wednesday - one being a social and one a speaker evening. “The new Rotary Club is a great addition for Groby and whilst it hasn’t been easy, we have achieved some early fundraising successes, including raising £1,500 for the Baby Loss Ward at the General Hospital and £849 for Cancer UK. “We also conduct a monthly litter pick and so far have completed these in Ratby, Newtown Linford, Markfield and Groby.” For more information about joining the new Bradgate Rotary Club, contact Brian by email at: brianrigby@icloud.com

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Your worst humiliation is only someone else’s momentary entertainment.

Groby & Field Head Spotlight • NOVEMBER 2014 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk

The Bricklayer’s Arms 213 Main Street Thornton T: 01530 230 808 QUIZ Nite: Thursdays We now have SKY and ESPN Ask about our new menus! www.bricklayersarms.net The Club, Thornton Main Street. T: 01530 230251 Open To Non-members Sat 15th Nov: Timeline - New To The Club - 60’S 70’S Band Sat 21st Nov: Ska Evening Sat 29th Nov: 60s Evening - A Prize For The Best 60s Outfit Sat 6th Dec: The Return Of Wellard Willy - Rock Covers Band Sat 13th Dec: Last Stand - Classic Rock Covers Band Sat 20th Dec: Thornton’s Own Punk & Disorderly Boxing Day Afternoon: The Del Sharrons New Years Eve: T.b.c. - Band - Twisted Medleys And Mash Ups Sky & BT Sports Free Room Hire Available For Your Perfect Party - Bingo Every Tuesday Evening - View Our Website On www. facebook.com/TheThorntonClub Bagworth Working Men’s Club, Station Road, Bagworth. Tel. 01530 230205 Find us on FACEBOOK - search Bagworth WMC New members welcome. Fri 21st November: Charity Dance in support of Wishes4Kids - 8pm £2.50 on the door - with Bingo and Raffle Sat 29th November: STEVE COOPER - live entertainment - FREE to enter Every Tuesday night - target shooting - call for details Every Monday night: DOMINOES only £1.50 entry, which includes supper. Bargain! Live entertainment – last Saturday of the month Bingo & Raffle every Wednesday and Saturday Andy’s Charity Quiz £1.50 each - last Friday of the month - and RAFFLE with excellent prizes. Sequence dances Sunday Nights with live organist - £2.00 admission 8 pm Tea Dance Wednesday afternoon 2 – 4 pm. £1 admission. Ask about our free room hire for those special family occasions. The Field Head Hotel Markfield Lane, Markfield Tel: 01530 245454 Christmas Market - Sunday 14th December - have a stall for FREE! See advert on page 30.

The Queen’s Head Ashby Road, Markfield. T: 01530 242 496 Sat 29th Nov: NEIL WARNER singer/all-round entertainer Sat 20th Dec: JOHN DANIELS brilliant guitar/vocalist ALL SKY SPORTS & BT SPORTS All live TIGERS games. The Bull’s Head Forest Road, Markfield T: 01530 242541 Sat 22nd Nov: MOJO HAND All FREE Entry! Garden & Pub Games etc. POKER NIGHT - Tuesdays - starts at 8pm The Coach & Horses Leicester Road, Field Head Tel: 01530 242 312 KARAOKE Nights Every Fortnight:Next two are Saturday 8th November and 22nd November with ‘King of the Road’. Sat 15th November: MICHAEL VICKERS Groby Ex-Servicemen’s Club, Leicester Road, Groby Tel: 0116 287 1809 www.grobyclub.co.uk Fri 14th November: Steve Jay male solo Sat 15th November: strange days - excellent covers band Sun 16th November: Super Sunday ‘50’ Bingo and Quiz Fri 21st November: Sarah Kidman - Very good female solo Sat 22nd November: Soul Providers - excellent male duo Sunday 23rd November: Super Sunday ‘50’ Bingo and Quiz Fri 28th November: Kelly Brazil - Brilliant female solo Sat 29th November: Evolution quality male duo Sun 30th November: Super Sunday ‘50’ Bingo and Quiz Fri 5th December: Zodiac - excellent duo Sat 6th December: Crackerjack brilliant showcase band Sun 7th December: Super Sunday ‘50’ Bingo and Quiz Fri 12th December: Joe Ross - very good male solo Sat 13th December: Dawn Allen excellent musician/singer Sun 14thDecember: Super Sunday’50’ Bingo And Quiz Newbold Verdon Jazz Club Friday December 5th: The Pheonix Jazzmen - at Newbold Verdon Social Club at 8.30, admission £8. More details from Kelvin 01455 822824 or Pauline 0116 2865496.

Send us your local entertainments news and we’ll publicise it here FREE! Tremendous!

Jottings News in Brief with Norman Griffiths

Streetlife.com Tucked away in the junk mail recently was a promotional leaflet for Streetlife.com For a change there was nothing to buy, it was just an introduction to a new social networking site. This one operates not at the person to person level like Facebook but relates to an area. Streetlife is described as a British social network for local communities, aiming to help people make the most of where they live by connecting with their neighbours and sharing practical information, advice and resources. People sign up with their postcode and email address, and can connect with other Streetlife users in their local area. Users can control how much information they receive, the areas they’re interested in, and what they share about themselves. They can ask for advice or help, post messages, events, and pictures, and locals can respond. A pilot version of Streetlife was launched three years ago, initially only in the London Borough of Wandsworth. The service now has 280,000 registered users and is being rolled out nationwide, county by county. When it launched an Oxford section it which attracted more than 2,000 users after just two weeks – making it the site’s fastest growing area outside London. Similar facilities are available on community websites such as www.

leicestershirevillages.com/groby, but they are not as easily accessible as a dedicated social networking site. So it will be interesting to see whether Streetlife.com is a local success. If you have joined why not let other readers know what you think?

Footpath re-opened The footpath from the Martinshaw School, Quarry Park and the Scout Hut area to Markfield Road near the junction with the A50 has now been re-opened. New way markers and steps have been installed. The footpath, known as R125, has been granted a Definitive Map Modification Order. Part of the footpath runs along the private access drive for vehicles to houses on a narrow lane, so users should exercise care when using the route. The re-opening follows a long drawn out procedure to challenge the closure. “We are pleased with the decision that was reached in the end,” said a spokesperson for those who campaigned against the closure. “Thanks must go to all those who gave evidence to support our case and in particular to the help given by the Ramblers Association. The footpath provides a valuable short cut between the two areas. We would ask that all users respect the property of those who live there, pick up after their dogs and leave no litter.”

Woodside Animal Centre’s Christmas Fair Woodside Animal Centre’s annual Christmas craft Fair is coming back to Groby Village Hall. Join us on Sunday November the 16th 10 till 4pm, all in aid of raising money to help care for our animals this winter. Kick start the Christmas period with festive craft stalls, a pet tombola, homemade delicious goodies and much more. There will also be Refreshments including traditional homemade cakes and soup. The Christmas craft fair will be the perfect place for visitors to start their Christmas shopping. This is going to be a great event for all the family. With a host of things to do there is no reason not to come down and get into the Christmas spirit early, plus you will be providing some much needed help for the animals over these cold months when they need it the most. Admission is just £1 and accompanied children go free. Don’t forget there will be an extra special VIP guest coming to join all the festivities ‘Santa’ as he shows his support for a good Clause! Animals need be remembered at Christmas time too! If you’d like to fundraise on behalf of Woodside Animal Centre, please email Rebecca Poole at fundraising@rspcaleicester.org

I had the right to remain silent, but I didn’t have the ability.

Groby & Field Head Spotlight • NOVEMBER 2014 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk

I went into the local record shop and said ‘Have you still got the Troggs?’ He said ‘How dare you!’

Groby & Field Head Spotlight • NOVEMBER 2014 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk

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I saw this bloke chatting up a cheetah; I thought, ‘He’s trying to pull a fast one.’

Groby & Field Head Spotlight • NOVEMBER 2014 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk

County Councillor’s Report from Ozzy O’shea Libraries Last month I reported that I had been appointed to serve on the Community Libraries Scrutiny Review Panel which was set up by the Cabinet to advise it on the future infrastructure support (IT, property etc) and to make recommendations as to what the future County Council “offer” should be for those communities wishing to run their local library. I want to make it clear I want as many people as possible to come forward with their ideas to help support our local libraries. I would urge any interested people or groups to contact the Parish and share your ideas and work with the Parish council as I know your Parish Council is actively looking at ways it can help run the Library. I want residents to know that I am working with both Groby and Ratby Parish Councils. As your County Councillor I will do everything I can within my power to protect the library services for residents.

Planning Application Ref: 13/01029/COU Wallace Drive Groby. Residents will be aware that the above planning application for the Gypsy and Traveller site was deferred at the planning committee in April.

Residents will be aware that this has been a continual problem over the past few months. The County Council decided to put two gates in one either side of the field this would then prevent the horses from straying both onto Sacheverell Way and into Ratby Village. I am pleased to say that both gates have now been installed and should put an end to the straying horses.

Consultation on the Leicester Park & Ride services Leicester City and Leicestershire County Councils jointly operate three Park & Ride services from sites at Birstall, Enderby, and Meynell’s Gorse (near Leicester Forest East). The current financial subsidy paid by the councils for Park & Ride is £600,000 annually shared equally between the two councils. Leicestershire County Council are proposing to charge for concessionary pass holders, which will help the councils to reduce the overall subsidy for the service. The proposal is to charge £1 for a Concessionary Day Ticket and we are seeking your views on the introduction of this charge. No other concessionary fare would be available on the Park & Ride service. The formal consultation on these proposals is from noon on the 6th October to the 17th November The consultation is open to everyone Full details about the consultation can be found at www.leics.gov.uk/ parkandridefares

I can now confirm that this application will be heard by the planning committee on Tuesday11th November at the Hinckley Hub the new Borough Council offices situated on Hawley Rd, Hinckley. The meeting will start at 6.30pm. The application is currently up for refusal on Highway Grounds.

Consultation on proposed change to Leicestershire Welfare Provision (LWP) from April 2015

Stray Horses Sacheverell Way

Government funding for direct support to vulnerable people in crisis may be withdrawn in March 2015.

I have been liaising with County Council officers and Cawrey Ltd urging them to take action to secure the field off Sacheverell Way in order to prevent the loose Gipsy horses straying onto Sacheverell Way and into the top end of Ratby Village.

If the funding is withdrawn, we will not be able to provide support in the same way we have done up until now, and therefore, the council needs to be prepared to deliver a different type of support service from April 2015. The county council is committed to support vulnerable people through early intervention and

prevention using the under spend from the current fund through a different type of service. The formal consultation on the proposals runs from 14th October 2014 to 6th January 2015. The consultation is open to everyone. Full details about the consultation can be found at www.leics.gov.uk/ haveyoursay/leicswelfareprovision Once again, I would like to take this opportunity to thank residents for your continued support and remind you I am only a phone call away. Regards

Ozzy O’shea Working for you Cllr Ozzy O’shea Tel 0116 2394336 or 07808585825 Email: ozzyoshea@hotmail.com

LETTER Thank you After about 20 years I have just walked, once more, the footpath between Markfield Road and Forest Rise. I would like to place on record my thanks, and I should imagine also the thanks of many long standing residents of the Groby community, for the stamina and persistence of the people who stood up to be counted in the efforts over a number of years to get the footpath reopened. The reopening has not only allowed people on the Forest Rise side of the village a more picturesque route to, for instance, Groby Pool and Bradgate Park, it has returned what was a long established safe route into the village for pupils of Martinshaw Primary School, which does not necessitate the crossing of up to six roads. Thank you.

Owen Lawrence MBE

Don’t Forget To Send Us Your News! Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk

Last week I sold the house for £100,000. I was very pleased with that because I was renting.

Groby & Field Head Spotlight • NOVEMBER 2014 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk

40 years on:

The disappearance of Lord Lucan and John Stonehouse

wo dramatic, high profile disappearances took place 40 years ago this month: one was quickly solved, but the other remains a mystery.

It’s still not known whether Lord Lucan, who disappeared on 8th November 1974 after his children’s nanny was bludgeoned to death and his wife was attacked, is still alive. Suggestions have been made that he committed suicide or was murdered, but there have been equally credible reports that he has been living in Africa, Canada or the USA. It’s the classic murder mystery, and one which Australian police believed they had solved in December 1974 when they detained a man they believed was the British aristocrat. But that man turned out to be John Stonehouse, a Labour MP who had faked his death by drowning in the sea off Miami on 20th November, leaving a pile of clothes on the beach. Both men had money troubles. Lucan was an inveterate, losing gambler called “Lucky”. He was estranged from his wife Veronica, who he had married at Holy Trinity Brompton in 1963, and he lost an expensive custody battle for their children after unsuccessfully trying to prove she was mentally ill. Stonehouse was an ambitious minister under Harold Wilson, but he ran into trouble through his use of creative accounting in an attempt to save companies he set up. He was also believed to be a Czech secret service agent. At his 68-day trial, he faced 21 charges, including fraud and wasting police time. He was sentenced to seven years in prison but released early when he suffered three heart attacks. He then married his former secretary, Sheila Buckley, who had been party to his plotting. He died seven years later, in 1988. He had been a volunteer fundraiser for the London charity Community Links for several years.

Fair Cuppa:

an opportunity to meet with friends at the village hall. Every Thursday, 10.30-12.00noon

Catch

meets for play, craft, story & chat for pre-school children with a parent or carer. Friday mornings 9.30-11.30am, at the URC.

Urban Saints groups this term: a safe

place where children and young people can build friendships, have fun and explore faith.

Carols Round the Tree

Please note, Quest will not be running this term. Groups meet at the URC: - for 7’s to 14’s on Mon evenings at 6.30pm or 7.45pm - for 15-18’s on Wed evenings at 7.30pm - for 15-18’s o Fri at 7.30pm

On Tuesday 16th Dec at 7pm in the Stamford Arms car park. Ratby Band and plenty of carols!

All of these activites,along with our work in schools, are provided by the two churches in Groby under the group name EXTEND.

Wrap up warm and come along! CHURCH OPEN FOR PRAYER

will restart in the Spring.

For further information please see websites and church magazines St. Philip and St. James www.bradgateteam.org.uk Revd. Louise Corke 231 3090 United Reformed Church www.grobyurc.com Revd Sue McKenzie 232 1733 Youth Worker Ruth Cross 07759 087804

If Plan A doesn’t work, the alphabet has 25 more letters. Keep calm.

Groby & Field Head Spotlight • NOVEMBER 2014 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk

All the latest news from Groby WI Farmhouse Cookery Demonstration Brenda Featherstone, our Speaker for October opened her demonstration by introducing herself as a farmer. I felt her tone of voice was a little defiant in case we should presume she was second in command. For the second time recently we were praised for singing Jerusalem, both verses. Apparently, this lovely hymn is often omitted nowadays. When she set the table out it was groaning with dishes, bowls, pans, utensils, slow cookers etc, the evening looked to be very rewarding. This proved to be so when recipe sheets were handed out for grapefruit plum pudding, tomato and squash soup, Christmas flan, clouds of grapes, Christmas gingerbread stuffing, pumpkin and ginger tea bread, chocolate cream, almond and lemon meatballs, carrot salad, port and stilton pate. The soup was already bubbling in a slow cooker and other ingredients already prepared. Brenda’s 15 year old daughter, Alice, was a very able assistant, taking dishes to cook in the Village Hall kitchen, making sure everything was to her mother’s hand for the next recipe and tidying up. She complained that her mum was so untidy! Surely a reversal of roles there. Brenda was quite laid back, managing to keep up a constant flow of information on all sorts of subjects, randomly reducing sugar in recipes, even advising’ just cook the ginger cake until its done’. A great example of multi-tasking. One or two tips to note; the mincemeat was from the supermarket, quite adequate for her recipe; the crisp topping on the Christmas flan was achieved by covering with grated frozen pastry; the carrot salad was delicious if slightly warmed in the microwave. The best was yet to come, a good supply of plates, cups and cutlery was available for tasting the goodies. Needless to say our members didn’t need twice telling to tuck in. It was obvious that she treated the stock on her farm up to the highest RSPCA standards. Separate from the actual beef herd, the specials were all given names. Ben, the bull, would only move on the command ‘move please’. He died on the farm from old age after he was no longer able to pleasure his harem of cows. The new bull was named Caesar. Brenda was a great rescuer of troubled animals including a pig who was being bullied, he now performs a sit up and beg routine. A trip to market for one animal could end with a purchase of two or more rather than separating mates. We were shown a map of the farm, marking the remains of a medieval 12th century barn. The land was split into two when the M1 was built. This creates a major problem with livestock straying on to the motorway. I am sure the excellent husbandry at Little Markfield Farm must be reflected in the taste of the beef they have on sale.

WI Centenary This year is a special one for the Women’s Institute. It is 100 years since the movement began in Britain. During the First World War it was formed to encourage countrywomen to get involved in growing and preserving food to help to increase the supply of food to the war-torn nation. Well to cut a long story short (rather difficult for me) Leics. & Rutland Federation took part in a national celebration. A baton was to be passed all around England and Wales from Federation to Federation. At each handing over there was a celebration. It started when our County Chairman Janet Kirk and Trustees were handed it and then the fun began. 114 WI’s from the County and Rutland were at Foxton Locks representing all the Federation. WI members had made and joined together the bunting down the flight of locks, by holding the bunting between each WI for 300 metres. Some were very ingeniously produced with bras and knickers, others were beautiful embroidered and had colourful names to celebrate our Federation having the baton as it travels around England and Wales. Pat, Lynn, Carole and Janet worked hard making the lengthy bunting which read out Groby, of course. Apparently it was an incredible sight, from one end of the Locks to reaching way beyond the end of them. Nobody had any idea how successful it would be and that there would be such a turn out. Later on the 9th there was a walk around Bradgate Park followed by afternoon tea. The next day it was paraded at the Hathern Band Concert. Finally on the 14th October at Rutland Water it passed on, again with ceremony, to Peterborough and Huntingdon Federation. Where it went after that I haven’t a clue but all this must add up to thousands seeing it in England and Wales. Well done to all.

Nottingham Subscription Library was founded in 1816 and moved in 1822 to its present home, Bromley House. There are many fine reading rooms spread over three floors of the Grade II* listed Georgian townhouse. In addition there is a beautiful walled garden, one of only two in the city centre. A tour of the building gave us great detail but very interestingly told. It has tables and chairs in each of the many rooms, members can just sit, pick almost any book up, have a cuppa and have a comfy and cosy read. It has the most novel of filing systems, I have never heard of this one, it appears to be a very complicated but the librarians and members don’t appear to have any problems. The oldest book is 1500 and something. You name it and it is most likely to be there. Famous visitors included Michael Faraday, the man who invented the dynamo, the transformer and the direct current motor, whose signature can be seen in the old visitor’s book. There are a lot of paintings, fine clocks and a working meridian line as well as a recently restored wind direction indicator. There is such a lot to know about this place. We finished up in the garden in sunshine, a lovely way to finish a very different but enjoyable visit. On leaving the Library, I asked where we could get a bite to eat. “Try the Malt Cross just a few yards away down an alley. Well did we have a surprise, it turned out to be the old Nottingham Victorian Music Hall. It’s one of only a few Victorian music halls still standing. It takes its name from a monument that used to be on the market square, a gathering place for people. It stands on a cave carved out by monks more than 800 years ago. It has just been turned into a pub but they are doing tours of the old dressing rooms etc. Whilst we were there, we spotted Connie Fisher, she played Maria in the Sound of Music. They were doing some sort of filming so naturally we had to have a few words with them.

Next meeting Next month’s meeting is our AGM, doesn’t it come around quickly.

Bromley Library visit Nine of us had a visit to the Bromley Library in Nottingham. Now that may not seem very exciting but believe me we spent over two hours just enthralled listening to the history of the building and learning about the 40,000 or so books. To start with unless you had specific directions you would never find it. It is on Angel Row alongside the Market Square. When you enter through a small old brown door you go into another world. When I told the others beforehand it was like a Tardis, I think they thought I was barmy but they soon realised how true it was. A Georgian building built originally by a Mr. George Smith, a banker, whose began Smiths Bank which after loads of ‘takeovers’ are now Natwest. Anyway in the l700s it was a very large house with land running alongside the market place. The house has a lot of history. The

We make very light nowadays of the business. We have Glenfield Country Markets with us, selling all sorts of goodies both edible and crafty, very welcome at this time of the year. The meeting will be on Thursday, 20th November at 7.30pm at the Village Hall. I know it sounds a bit mundane but I bet it will be quite the reverse. By the way we have a coach trip to Doddington Hall and Lincoln on Monday 1st December. The Hall will be all set up for Christmas and has a lovely farm shop, an India Jane shop and various other shops. There are a few spaces left on the coach which will leave from the Village Hall, the cost of £25.00 includes, coach, cuppa and mincepie on arrival, tour of the Hall and then a couple of hours in Lincoln, should be fun. Anyone interested please ring me on 0116 2878 323.

Evelyn and Margaret

Today is one of those days where I wish I could restore myself to the factory settings.

Groby & Field Head Spotlight • NOVEMBER 2014 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk Subscriber Login

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STORE Find the names of TWELVE Famous Chess Players in this month’s Wordsearch puzzle and you could win yourself a meal and a drink. This month we are offering a tasty prize of: A Main Course for Two, plus A Bottle of House Wine at The Fieldhead Hotel. To go into the draw, all you have to do is find - and mark a line through - the names of 12 world famous chess players. These can run vertically, horizontally or diagonally (and backwards!). Send your entry to: CHECKMATE, Groby & Field Head Spotlight, PO Box 8, Markfield, Leics. LE67 9ZT to arrive by Tuesday 2nd December 2014. Remember to include your name and address. The F Q T I C T V B first all-correct entry drawn out of the Editor’s balaclava will win the J V D O I O O O Meal for Two at The Fieldhead Hotel. Good luck!

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Here are the twelve CHESS WIZARDS you have to find: ALEXANDER ALEKHINE • ANATOLY KARPOV • BOBBY FISCHER BORIS SPASSKY • EMANUEL LASKER • GARRY KASPAROV JOSE CAPABLANCA • MIKHAIL BOTVINNIK • PAUL MORPHY PETER LEKO • TIGRAN PETROSIAN • WILHELM STEINITZ

Name: ................................................................................................. Address: ................................................................................................ .................................................................Postcode: .............................

Last Issue’s Wordsearch Winner The winner of last issue’s Wordsearch competition was: MRS MARY PAGE of Fieldcourt Road, Groby Your prize - a Voucher for a Main Course for Two plus a Bottle of House Wine at The Fieldhead Hotel will be sent to you within 21 days.

Newtown Linford Gardening Club NEWS A packed village hall heard a very interesting talk from Chelsea Gold Medal garden designer Adam Frost (right) earlier this month. He told us how he got involved in gardening; how his career developed through landscaping and design and about his project with Homebase to provide scholarships for young people to become skilled in horticulture. He then gave us an insight into the way his award-winning 2014 garden design went from drawing- board to fruition and we were able to realise the enormous amount of effort and cost involved in creating a garden which would be on show for only six days. We are grateful for the support of local businesses in providing prizes for the raffle – to The Bradgate Inn, Cook’s Farm Shop, The Grey Lady Kitchen and Deli, The Post Office Tea Room, Elegance in Glass, Loughborough Road Nurseries, Quorn and Hollybeck Nurseries in Southwell. All that remains in the programme this year is the Christmas Party on December 2nd which is again hosted at the home of our Vice-Chair Sue Pritchard. We have welcomed a large number of new members this year and will be pleased if others want to join us. If you are interested in our activities just contact the secretary (tel. 242452 or e-mail 01530242452@talktalk. net), or come to one of our meetings to see how you like it before making a commitment (£2 for visitors). Alternatively give us a ring and ask for a copy of our programme for the coming year and we will be pleased to send one to you.

Anne and David Couling Created by Puzzlemaker at DiscoveryEducation.com My Ultra Sensitive toothpaste doesn’t like it when I use other toothpastes.

Groby & Field Head Spotlight • NOVEMBER 2014 • Tel: 01530 244069 • Email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk

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If you enjoy reading the Spotlight, please pass it on to a friend or relative after you’ve finished with it. Thanks! I’m not saying my husband is fat, but we’ve been married six years and I still haven’t seen all of him.

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