VACANCIES: BREAKFAST CLUB MANAGER: page 2 - LUNCHTIME SUPERVISOR: page 9 - PARISH COUNCILLOR: page 13
Community groups urged to apply for grants COMMUNITY groups in parishes across the borough are being encouraged to apply for their share of the Borough Council’s Parish and Community Initiative Fund before applications close in February.
Grants totalling £100,000 per year are awarded to support community projects in the parished areas of the borough. These grants fund a wide variety of projects such as play areas, community buildings, new pathways, heritage trails, and sports facilities. Grants for 2014/15 will be provided on the following basis: • Projects must be within a parished area of the borough • Maximum of £10,000 per parish area • Maximum of £10,000 per project • Maximum of 50 per cent of total project costs funded • All works must be completed within the financial year • Projects must demonstrate that they meet the council’s corporate aims and that they are of community benefit Applications forms, guidance notes and general information are automatically sent to parish and town councils and to community groups that have applied in the past. For further copies, or for more information, please contact the Green Spaces Team on 01455 255707 or email greenspaces@hinckley-bosworth.gov.uk
Martinshaw Year 6 Supports Macmillan Cancer Charity A number of the students and staff in Martinshaw Primary Schools Year 6 have personal reasons to be grateful to Macmillan Cancer Support; therefore they decided, as a class, that they would run this year’s school coffee morning. Form Teacher Mrs Ong and TA Mrs Berry registered the school with the Macmillan charity and then supported the children as they produced invitations for parents, grandparents and staff. They baked cakes, decorated the school hall, then acted as waiters as their guests arrived, even making and decorating suitable collection boxes. The event was a complete success raising well in excess of £200. The children had a fantastic time and hope that similar events will be run in the future.
Martinshaw Year 6 Pupils Arron, Luke and Oliver Collect Donations
Owen Lawrence
Lady Jane Grey Primary School Academy Celebrates 25 Years! Lady Jane Grey Primary School which opened in 1988 recently celebrated 25 years of educating children in Groby and the local area. On September 24th a reunion of past members of staff was held at the school. All previous Headteachers of the school FORMER HEAD TEACHERS (l-r): Julia Beckreck, Jim Nind, and the Current Michael FitzGerald, Sue Townsend and Bill Glasper Headteacher, Michael Fitzgerald attended the event. Several governors, teachers teaching assistants and past pupils turned out to celebrate the silver jubilee. CONTINUED ON PAGE 3 ...>
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I envy people who drink - at least they know what to blame everything on.
Groby & Field Head Spotlight • NOVEMBER 2013 • Tel: 01530 244069
LJG celebrates 25 Years!
Groby & Field Head Spotlight PO Box 8, Markfield, Leics. LE67 9ZT
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Groby Goes to Europe
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.
Four Year 13 A2 French students from Groby Community College have just returned from a three-day trip to Strasbourg, France, where they were lucky enough to attend Euroscola, an event for 400 European students. The event took place at the prestigious European Parliament, the home of important policy-making and decision-making at a European level. Students listened to and debated with European officials and were able to simulate voting on key questions. The opportunity also arose for students to work in committees where they put forward their ideas and contributed to drafting a set of proposals based on issues such as the environment, immigration and the future of Europe. One student from Groby, Beckie Ford, was selected to present these proposals in front of the entire chamber. She rose to the challenge and presented a convincing argument, tackling any counter arguments with aplomb. Students from Groby were joined by peers from Robert Smythe, Market Harborough and the Melton Sixth Form Centre. The trip was a great opportunity for students to develop their understanding of European institutions, as well as getting to practise their French and experience French culture.
Christmas unwrapped You may welcome your Christmas presents this year, but will you be able to unwrap them?
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A recent report from Which? magazine reveals that four in 10 of us have hurt ourselves while trying to open the packaging on everyday household items. Brillo Mr Muscle soap pads, Listerine mouthwash, Warburtons crumpets and WH Smith rounded blade scissors are named and shamed, but top of the list comes the Oral-B Vitality electric toothbrush and all things wrapped in moulded plastic packaging. Opening those can end in bloodshed. No wonder, for 89 per cent of us use scissors, eight per cent of us get out the Stanley knives, and four percent of us use a razor blade. The remaining two per cent of us seemingly go berserk - and resort to smashing the thing with a hammer. Whatever you use, be careful: in the last two years, a million Britons ended up at their GP or in A&E, just because they were trying to open a tin can.
On display in the main hall of the school was a selection of documents, articles and photographs that depicted the last twenty five years of education at the school. Guests toured the school and recounted their memories of their time at the school. Many old acquaintances were rekindled as past events were recalled. A well attended night cumulated in the cutting of a special commemorative cake which was baked by Mr Steve Bullman. The following day Wednesday 25th September the exhibition was open to current pupils and their parents. Many parents commented on the excellent exhibition. The school will be celebrating the Silver Jubilee throughout this academic year and have already re-launched the school library and a whole school garden party will follow in the summer. The school are currently in search of the original time capsule which was believed to have been buried on the school site not long after it opened in 1988. The school has received quite a few suggestions as to where the time capsule has been buried but are continuing with their search until a firm confirmation of its whereabouts is found. Are you an ex pupil or ex member of staff Do you know where the capsule was buried ? Why not contact the school on 0116 232 0031 and help with the ongoing search!
My uncle Sammy was an angry man. He had printed on his tombstone: What are you looking at? I videoed my hair this morning, tonight I’m watching the highlights. There are worse things in life than death. Have you ever spent an evening with an insurance salesman? I’m very proud of my gold pocket watch. My grandfather, on his deathbed, sold me this watch. Most of the time I don’t have much fun. The rest of the time I don’t have any fun at all. Basically my wife was immature. I’d be at home in the bath and she’d come in and sink my boats.
My parents stayed together for forty years, but that was out of spite.
Groby & Field Head Spotlight • NOVEMBER 2013 • Tel: 01530 244069
The Snow Queen at Kirby Muxloe Free Church
NEWS from local schools ... Brace yourself for Cyber Lady Jane Grey and Elizabeth Woodville sing at the Groby Street Fair Monday The recently held Groby street fair was a huge success. It was with great pleasure that children from LJG and Elizabeth Woodville formed a joint Choir and sang at the event. Indeed the joint choir started the fair off with some terrific singing. A great time was had by all and many compliments were received on behalf of both schools. This joint effort is a really important imitative. It brings children together across the village in readiness for the transition to Brookvale. Well done!
Fitness in schools fundraiser LADY JANE Grey Primary School has once again taken part in the Fitness In Schools fundraiser.
ENJOY a brand new adaptation of Hans Christian Andersen’s classic winter tale. Join Kai and Gerda on their icy adventure this Christmas. Filled with song, dance and plenty of festive wonder, the Snow Queen is suitable for all ages. Thursday 12th December at 7pm Kirby Muxloe Free Church, Main Street, Kirby Muxloe, Leicester, LE9 2AN Adults £6 Children (Under 12) £3.50 Call 0116 2393173 (Tues/Weds am) or 0116 2392731 Or email tickets@kirbyfree.org
This joint fundraiser brings in much need money for the local charity LOROS and the school. Any money raised is shared between LOROS and the school. The fundraiser involves children being sponsored to carry out a number of physical activities and exercises. All children at the school took part and this year they have raised an amazing £838. 50% of this will go to LOROS and 50% will be used to purchase new books for the Jubilee Library. Thank you so much for supporting two worthwhile causes. Well done to all involved.
Christmas Fair at Lady Jane Grey The LADY Jane Grey Primary School Christmas Fair will take place at LJG on Friday 29th November from 6.00pm until 8.00pm. Why not pay a visit to the many stalls on offer? There will be craft stalls, the crazy cracker stall, the biggest ever Tombola stall and lots more ! You can visit Santa with your Christmas list or have a relaxing cup of tea and a mince pie in the cafe. Come along and have a great evening!
Monday 2 December is Cyber Monday – set to be the busiest online shopping day of 2013. Cyber Monday is a marketing term originally used in the US for the Monday following Thanksgiving, and refers to the surge of shopping people do as the frenzy of buying Christmas presents gets underway. Cyber Monday is recognised from Chile to the USA, from Portugal and Japan to the UK.
I have an answering machine in my car. It says, I’m home now. But leave a message and I’ll call when I’m out. I had a friend who was a clown. When he died, all his friends went to the funeral in one car. My friend has a baby. I’m recording all the noises he makes so later I can ask him what he meant. I went down the street to the 24-hour grocery. When I got there, the guy was locking the front door. I said, ‘Hey, the sign says you’re open 24 hours.’ He said, ‘Yes, but not in a row.’
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Groby & Field Head Spotlight • NOVEMBER 2013 • Tel: 01530 244069
Latest news from ... The Greys of Groby
The Greys of Groby have had a great time recently welcoming new friends and listening to old colleagues. Michael Benson came with his selection of sweaters, skirts and men’s apparel. Over thirty of us browsed his rails and the commission from the sales swelled our club funds nicely. Kate Webb, AgeUK’s development worker for Leicester Shire and Rutland spent time with me this month organising and leading a ‘Talk the Walk’ + Pumpkin Soup. The day itself was a beautiful Tuesday and the outside Halloween Treasure Hunt around the Community Centre was eagerly undertaken by twelve teams of two. Three teams won a selection of root vegetables and everyone was given the recipes to make their own Pumpkin and Harvest Soups. To entertain the people in the Community Centre we showed Reg Sykes’ DVD of Groby in the 1960’s & 70’s first shown to Groby Heritage Group in 2006. What changes there have been! Over this term Classes 5 & 6 at Martinshaw School have had a project about Evacuees and some of us, who were in Groby in the 1940’s went one Friday afternoon to answer questions from the children about what it was like in Groby at this time. Martinshaw is a delightful school, thank you Mrs Brown for inviting us. WHAT’S NEXT? Well on the 19th November we are making Christmas Decorations on the themeof ‘Christmas Carols’ ready for our entry into the Church ‘tree’ competition. On the 26th November, we have our final Chair Aerobics for this year and then it’s ‘Party-Time’ for December, decorating the Hall, welcoming Martinshaw School Choir to entertain us and closing the year with Reverend Sue and Festive eats. So don’t forget to come if you can, any Tuesday 10-00 til 11-30 at Forest Rise Community Centre. You will be VERY welcome.
Jean Anyone can admit they were wrong; the true test is admitting it to someone else.
Groby & Field Head Spotlight • NOVEMBER 2013 • Tel: 01530 244069
Jottings
News in Brief with Norman Griffiths
The Parish Precept 2014
Date set for lights switch on
The Parish Council is busy looking at how much it will need next year to run the services it provides.
The countdown to the Christmas Lighting display has begun.
Although it won’t be able to be certain until January it is hoping to hold any increase to no more than the rate of inflation and this will add a few pence per week to the average household bill. It seems, however, that the Government is concerned that even such modest increases are excessive, according to a report in the Daily Telegraph. Not everyone enjoyed the reduction we had this year and apparently the charges imposed by parish councils across the country rose by 5% and for the average Band D home that means an annual bill of £50. Nevertheless this is enough to appal local government minister Brandon Lewis who declared that the Government might consider capping parish charges in the same way as council tax bills. Other councils who wish to increase bills by more than 2% have to put that decision to a very expensive referendum. “We are considering extending the council tax referendum provisions to parish councils which we have the power to do in law,” the Telegraph reported. If he does introduce such a cap hard working Groby householders will be able to put the £1 a year they save towards the £130 extra they are going to pay to keep their homes warm following the hike in energy prices. The Council tax issue was also at the heart of the the recent cost cutting consultation by the County Council. The results are now available online at http://www.leics.gov.uk/future in an interactive form which allow results to be viewed by gender, age range and district council. For the Hinckley and Bosworth area 29% of respondents wanted no increase over the next few years, whilst 22% would accept an increase of 3% or more.
Switch on is scheduled for Friday 29th November 2013. The lights will operate between the hours of 4.00 pm and 01.00 am.
The wrong kind of rain? Open Reach, the part of BT that maintains the telephony infrastructure, has been busy installing fibre optic cable in the village in preparation for the roll out of faster broadband. Coincidentally some broadband users have been noticing an increased incidence of drop outs, that’s when the connection fails, and sometimes slower speeds. One local business found they couldn’t accept PIN credit and debit card payments as the link to the card providers failed. And some residents dialling a village number were surprised when the phone rang in not one Groby home but two, resulting in a three way conversation. The engineer in the street said “Not us Guv, it must be the rain.” And clearly we are very tolerant and uncomplaining in Groby as a spokesperson said “We can see nothing that would link this at all. We are not aware of any particular rise in faults.” It doesn’t help anyone who is suffering but some residents in Ratby and as far away as East Goscote are experiencing similar problems. Clearly the wrong kind of rain.
Norman Griffiths
Don’t get locked in Once the gate at Groby Pool car park is locked, and throughout the winter this happens at 4.30pm, any visitors who haven’t removed their cars find themselves locked in. There are plenty of signs warning motorists of the time the car park is locked but occasionally someone finds themselves on the wrong side of the gate. They then have to call for help and although this is a Borough Council car park the request is passed on to the Parish Council who manage the gate locking. No payment is made by the Borough to the Parish for this service, though it looks as if this is about to change. The Borough Council has offered the pay the Parish £12.50 to pay for staff to open the gates. If you received a call in the evening, maybe on a dark wet winter night, and were asked to go down to Groby Pool car park and open the gate what would you expect to be paid? The potential risks to staff are obvious but the council does have a ‘no lone operative at night’ policy to ensure the safety of staff, so the suggested payment equates to £6.25 per person. You may well think that this is derisory and, although they haven’t actually used this word, the members of the council would agree with you. They have asked the Borough Council to reconsider and to come up with a more appropriate release fee.
Signpost recovered Visitors to Stamford Memorial Park and Marina Park may have noticed that the £404 triple post sign located at the footpath junction disappeared. Apparently it had been stolen sometime on Sunday 29th or Monday 30th September. Searches throughout both Parks did not locate the missing sign but it was eventually recovered in early October, damaged and in need of repair. The matter has been reported to the Police.
Stronger
Statistics prove we’re all getting stronger. Fifty years ago you needed an estate car to hold £50 worth of Christmas presents. Twenty years ago, it took two people to carry £20 worth of Christmas groceries - now a fiveyear-old can do it.
A team effort is a lot of people doing what I say.
Groby & Field Head Spotlight • NOVEMBER 2013 • Tel: 01530 244069
Lucy Whitfield wins Karate Gold! Groby Community College A-Level student Lucy Whitfield represented England at the WIKF World Championships in Crawley at the end of September, coming away with a Gold medal in the Kata.
Lucy, who won Sportswoman of the Year at last years Sports Presentation Evening, has been working hard towards this event and it is a fantastic achievement to be crowned the world’s best in her category. She has previously competed at the European Championships in Greece, winning a bronze medal in the team event. However, the experience of standing on the podium, wearing her Gold medal with ‘God Save The Queen’ playing, will take some beating. Lucy is also training towards her 3rd Dan, which would make her one of the youngest 3rd Dan members of the WIKF, ever! Well done Lucy!
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Groby & Field Head Spotlight • NOVEMBER 2013 • Tel: 01530 244069
Groby Gardening Society News Our September 12th meeting welcomed Mr Gibson who spoke about his experiences in growing and showing daffodils. His talk was very interesting and astounded many when he revealed the very many different types and cultivars that exist.
and thickening of the skin beneath the nails). It is blamed on exposure to calcium oxalate in the sap. The narcissus has a place in many is a national cultures. It symbolises the new year in the Kurdish culture and in ancient China there is a legend about a poor but good man who holds he was brought many cups of gold and wealth by this flower. Since the flower blooms in early spring, it
persevered with the cultivation of brassicas on his club root- infested allotment. He now has developed a technique that appears to have mastered this gardening scourge and his description of this was interesting and practical. He grows the plants in 3 L pots which he then buries in the soil after they have developed a good root system in this compacted environment. Roots which eventually are produced through the pot openings develop club root, but do not affect the production of excellent crops. It seems that if the root system is strong enough before being exposed to club root, then the plant does not unduly suffer.
along nicely. On the panel there was Graham Jackson, Beverley Shooter and Stan Reed from our society and a guest appearance of Peter Russell who is well known for his wonderfully productive allotment on Ratby Road. Graham and Stan are well- known and respected for their work as qualified show judges as well as their immense knowledge built up through a lifetime of gardening. Beverley is a stalwart of the society and an active committee member, sharing the duties of monthly programme organisation. Beverley’s knowledge is wide ranging and was ideally suited to many of the questions. As well as other attributes, Peter has
Apologies Oh Dear! We have a couple of apologies to make……. 1. We awarded the W.I. Trophy to be shared, but it was won outright by Anne Brandon ... Sorry Anne! 2. The Firth and Croxtall shields were won by Lynda Hawkes, not Lydia Hawkes ... Sorry Lynda!
Club Root
Narcissus is a genus of mainly hardy, mostly spring-flowering, bulbous perennials of the Amaryllis family. Various common names including daffodil, narcissus, and jonquil are used to describe all or some of these plants. For horticultural purposes, all Narcissus cultivars are split into 13 divisions by the Royal Horticultural Society based partly upon flower form and partly upon genetic background. Growers register new daffodil cultivars by name and colour with the Royal Horticultural Society, which is the international registration authority for the genus. More than 27,000 names were registered as of 2008. Registered daffodils are given a division number and colour code. Flower colour varies from white through yellow to deep orange. Breeders have developed some daffodils with double, triple, or ambiguously multiple rows and layers of segments, and several wild species also have known double variants.
Health issues There have been health issues associated with daffodils related to their toxicity. In May 2009, a number of schoolchildren fell ill at a Primary School in Suffolk after a daffodil bulb was added to soup during a cookery class. The bulbs could often be confused with onions, thereby leading to incidents of accidental poisoning. Florists can develop skin problems and one of the most common problems for florists, “daffodil itch” involves dryness, fissures scaling,
has also become a symbol of Chinese New Year. Narcissus bulb carving and cultivation is even an art akin to Japanese bonsai. If the narcissus blooms on the Chinese New Year Day, it is said to bring extra wealth and good fortune throughout the year. Its sweet fragrances are highly revered in Chinese culture. In classical Persian literature, the narcissus is a symbol of beautiful eyes, together with other flowers that equal a beautiful face with a spring garden, such as roses for cheeks and violets for shining dark hair. The daffodil is the national flower of Wales, where it is traditional to wear a daffodil or a leek on Saint David’s Day (March 1). In Welsh the daffodil is known as “Peter’s Leek”, (cenhinen Bedr or cenin Pedr). In some countries the yellow variation is associated with Easter. The German for daffodil is Osterglocke that is “Easter bell.”
October Meeting The meeting on the 10th October represented a departure from our normal format. There was no speaker as a question and answer session had been arranged. A brave panel of local experts offered themselves as the focus for questions gleaned from members. All involved approached the evening with some trepidation, but there was no basis for concern. Not only did the panel manage magnificently, but an array of interesting questions kept the evening ticking
Forthcoming events •
Club root is an infection of the roots of brassicas and related plants by Plasmodiophora brassicae, a soil-dwelling micro-organism related to the slime moulds, leading to massive swelling, distortion and severely retarded growth. It can infect whenever the soil is moist and warm, so most new infections occur from midsummer until late autumn. It affects cabbages, cauliflowers, turnips, swedes, radishes, and ornamental relatives such as wallflowers, stocks, aubretia and cabbage-family weeds, such as shepherd’s purse.
• •
November 14th - Oriental Vegetables with Sally Cunningham December 12th - Christmas Meal and Entertainment January 9th - Annual General meeting
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. No. 01162877870) or E mail alvar3@ talktalk.net
Alvar Johnson
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I’ve always wanted to be normal, but lately I’ve come to suspect that this is it.
Groby & Field Head Spotlight • NOVEMBER 2013 • Tel: 01530 244069
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The man who recently fell into an upholstery machine is now fully recovered.
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Groby & Field Head Spotlight • NOVEMBER 2013 • Tel: 01530 244069 Charnwood Blinds Advert_Layout 1 30/09/2013 12:51 Page 1
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Most people who are as attractive, witty and intelligent as I am are usually conceited.
Groby & Field Head Spotlight • NOVEMBER 2013 • Tel: 01530 244069
Spotlight Small Ads 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 • ANTIQUE WALNUT DISPLAY CABINET - Glass doors, sides and shelves. Size: 3’ 10” tall by 2’ 9” wide by 11” deep. Very good quality and condition. Price: £100 or near offer Tel: 0116 287 0378 • GARDEN ROLLER, 15” diameter, cast iron. Price: £20 Tel: 0116 287 1532 • Ladies (K) Black Leather boots calf length, Size 6 (width fitting E), Worn very little (still in box) Price: £30 Tel 0116 287 4920. • Computer desk with keyboard tray, cupboard and drawer and two drawer filing cabinet. Both items are pine effect laminate and in good condition. Price: £50 for both. Tel: 0116 233 9855 • LARGE RUG - 7’ by 5’, beige with two-tone brown leaves. Brand New. Price: £20 tel: 0116 287 0864 • Sturdy Raleigh Mustang Bike - all terrain, lots of gears. May suit gentleman. Unused retirement present. Good gondition. Price: £60 o.n.o. Tel: 0753 180 4839 (Markfield) • TWO MATCHING ARMCHAIRS - green, Queen Anne style, comfortable, in reasonable condition. Price: £40 o.n.o. Tel: 0116 287 3119
• Soulcal & Co quilted ladies coat - size 10 with detachable fur collar, as new £7. • Soulcal & Co ladies size 10 bright green skinny jeans, as new £3. • Soulcal & Co ladies size 10 bright blue skinny jeans, as new £3. • Ladies firetrap red tEE shirt size small £3 • Topshop petite size 6 black leggings with white cross design, as new £2. • Chrome dimmer light switch £3. • Gu10 50w halogen 240v 2000h light bulbs brand new x 7 £5. • Gu10 50w halogen 240v 2000h light bulbs used x 14 £5 • Chandelier style light fitting, takes 3 candle bulbs (included) (dark silver/pewter colour) £20 • Jason Statham dvd Death Race (brand new in packaging) £2. • Pilgrim Earrings, silver and black with butterflies and diamante, brand new with packaging, long dangly style. • Gcse revision and activity books, as new, £3. • Oxford Learners French Dictionary £2. • Cpg key Stage 3 English Revision And Practice Book - as new £3. • A View From The Bridge By Arthur Millar - script book, as new, £1 • A View From The Bridge - Notes For Gcse, as new £1 Call Sarah on 0116 287 4260 / 07753 198340 (Groby)
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News from the Air Training Corps Glenfield Wing Swimming Competition 2013 Wing swimming is an annual competition, for the whole South and East Midlands Wing, with all the Squadrons in the Leicestershire, Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire area, competing in many different swimming disciplines. This year the Squadron came 11th, out of the entire Wing and were only 2 points away from our best ever place of 7th. A special mention goes to the Squadron girl’s teams who performed in exemplary style. This was the first time that a full girls’ team was entered. Well done to Cadet Bird for being selected for the Wing team.
Hockey and Football Trials The South and East Midlands annual Hockey and Football, trials were held in September and as usual 2070 (Glenfield) Squadron fielded a selection of Cadets trialling for both sports. This year the Squadron was very successful in gaining a Silver Medal in Hockey and also having some Cadets selected for the Wing Teams. Cadet Flight Sergeant Holford was picked to represent the Wing in Hockey and gained a silver medal in the competition. She was delighted to get a positive reply to her tweet on the Squadron Twitter account by the AOC Air Commodore McCaffety. Cadet Corporal Davies impressed the selection Staff Cadet Flight Sergeant Holford and was picked to represent the wing in Football. Well done to both Cadets who will now go on to the Central and Eastern Region, trials and competitions.
Bronze Duke of Edinburgh Award Expedition
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. The fair takes place on Saturday 23rd and Sunday 24th November 2013 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.
Four Cadets have recently completed the expedition section and seven Cadets completed an expedition practice towards their Bronze Duke of Edinburgh Award. The expedition lasted two days, over the weekend of 5th and 6th October, with the Cadets embarking over the terrain of Charnwood Forest. The cadets had to demonstrate a number of skills including map reading, sound camp craft, observe the country code, effective use of their kit and they also had to demonstrate an awareness of their surroundings as part of their expedition project. Cadets were said to enjoy the challenge of the expedition and now look forward to either embarking on the next Silver Level or finally completing the actual Bronze expedition. For two of the cadets, the expedition section, was the final piece of the jigsaw and have now completed their Bronze Duke of Edinburgh Award. For more information on the Duke of Edinburgh Award and 2070Sqn, please visit http://dofe.org/ and www.2070sqn.co.uk
Flight Sergeant ATC M Parker
To me, old age is always fifteen years older than I am.
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Groby & Field Head Spotlight • NOVEMBER 2013 • Tel: 01530 244069
World War Two at Martinshaw School Creative Curriculum is a style of teaching and learning used throughout the year groups at Martinshaw Primary School, linking all aspects of the curriculum’s core subjects, such as maths, literacy, science etc. by using a shared theme. In the first half of this Autumn term, years 5 and 6 studied the Second World War. They discussed the Holocaust and read extracts from Anne Frank’s Diary, discussing her father’s wish that the book would hopefully prevent similar events happening again. They talked about evacuees, made models of Anderson Shelters and gas masks., painted pictures of aircraft and scenes from the 1940’s and even baked cakes using the ingredients and methods of the austere war years. Then on 11th October, the students enjoyed an exciting trip to ‘The Battle of Britain ‘ exhibition at RAF Hendon. The whole experience culminates in early November when two second World War veterans are visiting the school to talk to the children about their experiences, before joining them for school World War Days lunch, where the students will be dressed as children from those years..
Owen Lawrence
Charity searches for new recruits in Leicestershire and Rutland Number with dementia due to rise in Leicestershire and Rutland over next decade. People in and around Leicestershire and Rutland are being urged to help Alzheimer’s Society to support people living with dementia. The charity is looking for volunteers for its Side by Side Befriending Service. Volunteers would need to give up to four hours a week to support people in the early stages of dementia. There are already thought to be 12000 people with the condition in Leicestershire and Rutland. By 2021, that number is likely to reach 16000. Suna Tilley from Alzheimer’s Society in Leicestershire and Rutland says: “The Side by Side service provides stimulation for people with dementia, which could be mental or physical. It may be companionship, such as sitting and having a cup of tea or it could be helping and joining them in an activity or hobby. The service is important because it reduces people’s feelings of isolation.“ “Volunteers will be matched with people with dementia who share similar interests. They will gain valuable experience and develop a sense of value by providing a much needed and worthwhile voluntary service.” The Leicestershire and Rutland Locality of Alzheimer’s Society provides ongoing training and support to all volunteers, who will be CRB checked and who should be over the age of 18. Potential recruits are asked to contact Suna Tilley on 0116 231 1113 or email: suna.tilley@alzheimers.org.uk
A politician will always be there when he needs you.
Groby & Field Head Spotlight • NOVEMBER 2013 • Tel: 01530 244069
Lady Jane Grey Silver Jubilee Library opened by Shoo Rayner! The LADY JANE GREY Silver Jubilee Library was officially opened on Friday October 18th by the Children’s author Shoo Rayner (pictured). Shoo has written over 150 children’s books. Shoo spent the day with the school demonstrating the skill of writing stories, reading skills and the skill required to complete your own illustrations. It was a thoroughly enjoyable day and the ribbon to the new library was officially cut by Shoo and Ewan Tuck from Year 3. To children dressed as their favourite book character for the day and they looked terrific in their various outfits.
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There is currently a vacancy on the Parish Council
As a result of an election not being called by electors, a vacancy has arisen which can be filled by co-option. If you are interested in becoming a Councillor please can you submit a short résumé stating:
Why are you interested in becoming a Parish Councillor?
Why and how do you want to serve the local community?
Do you have any particular skills or interests? These could be as varied as knowledge of planning, highways, finance, insurance, administration, engineering, safety, community service e.g. voluntary work, youth work or environmental and wildlife matters.
The Council is very concerned to have some fresh views - do you have thoughts on how you would like to see things in the Parish improved or done differently?
Parish Council work can be personally very rewarding but largely low profile. The time commitment is not onerous overall, but the work can occupy quite a lot of time if a particular issue needs to be addressed. Are you able to give high priority to Parish Council work when necessary?
The Council meets once a month for its main meeting at 7pm. Apart from sickness, attendance is expected at these meetings. Are you able to give this commitment?
If you have any questions please telephone either Councillor Jim Coley, Chairman, on 07860 523567 or Parish Clerk, Beverley Greenwood on 0116 2876985
They will be happy to speak to you or arrange a meeting with you if necessary. Contact details Clerk to the Council, Groby Parish Council, Parish Council Offices, Village Hall, Leicester Road, Groby, Leicester, LE6 0DQ Closing date for applications is 30th November 2013 All applicants will be invited to attend an interview TBA
Princesses, Buzz Lightyear, a Lord, Batman and many other super heroes all turned out to take part in Shoo’s workshops. The library refurbishment was funded by the HSA who pledged a terrific £4000 to the project. The money raised helped purchase new fittings and fixtures as well as several new books for the children to enjoy. A huge thank you to all the HSA members and to all parents and carers for your continued support. What a great day it was !
It’s amazing how long it takes to complete something you’re not working on.
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Groby & Field Head Spotlight • NOVEMBER 2013 • Tel: 01530 244069
Change to the opening hours of the Recycling and Household Waste Sites
Here are the changes to the opening times and days at the County Council’s fourteen Recycling and Household Waste Site (RHWS) which took effect from the 2nd November 2013. In the winter period up to the 31st March the sites will be open from 9am until 4pm and will close for two days a week. To avoid the closure of all the sites at the same time an alternating pattern of closures has been developed. The following table sets out the pattern of closure for each site:-
The summer opening hours will come into effect on the 1st April and will run until the 30th September, during this time the sites will be open 7 days per week from 9.00am to 7.00pm. The sites will continue to close on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day.
National Trust Leicester Association News
Lots of events coming up Like most other National Trust properties Calke Abbey closed the doors of the house on 3rd November. However the property has a number of events in December. On Sat 7th & Sun 8th there is a Christmas Craft Show from 11.00am to 6.00pm and on Sat 14th there is a Christmas Fine Food Fair from 11.00am to 4.00pm. Both events are in the Riding School. Also on all three weekends in December the house is open with a display of “A Christmas of Past Presents” from 11.00am to 6.30pm. On your journey through the house you can unwrap a traditional Christmas searching for hidden presents. There will also be children’s craft activities and the possibility to visit Father Christmas in his grotto and as darkness falls you can experience the grounds between the house and church fully illuminated for the season. Other local properties are also offering various Christmas events. • Belton House, near Gantham, has a Christmas Food & Craft Market from 15th to 17th Nov, 10.30am – 4.00pm. • Sudbury Hall, near Burton on Trent, has a Christmas Bazaar from 29th Nov to 1st Dec, 11.00am – 4.00pm. • Canons Ashby, near Towcester, will be decorated for a Victorian Christmas, with costumed volunteers in the rooms, for 8 days from Sat 30th Nov to Sun 8th Dec, 12noon – 4.00pm. The NT Leicester Association has an afternoon meeting on Wednesday 27th November at St Guthlac’s Memorial Hall, Holbrook Road, Leicester, at 2.30pm, when Helen Peden will present a talk entitled A Tale about a Tale – Jane Eyre. There will be an evening meeting on Tuesday 10th December when Stuart Bramwell will present an illustrated talk entitled Mountains, Lochs and Glens. The meeting will be held at 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 please call 0116 222 9133.
Alan Tyler, Chairman
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Groby & Field Head Spotlight • NOVEMBER 2013 • Tel: 01530 244069
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“What would you like for Christmas?” Norman Griffiths discovers an interesting alternative gift
org account. You usually get your money back in full and on time but you might have to wait longer if the entrepreneur is not able to keep up with their repayment schedule. And if the entrepreneur is unable to pay back their loan, you might not receive the full amount of that part of your loans.
When you are young these are six words which fill you with excitement and anticipation. But when you reach your more mature years, or to put it another way start to get a little long in the tooth, answering the question may be a bit more challenging. There may be things you badly need, so the choice is an easy one. Or there may be some little luxury that you’d really appreciate. Sometimes senior members of the family hierarchy feel that times are currently particularly difficult for children and grandchildren and prefer to be on the giving, not the receiving end of Christmas gifts. Those younger members, however, can be persistent as there is great pleasure to be had from both giving and receiving. So if there’s nothing you need you may start to think whether they can make a small gift on your behalf which would benefit someone less fortunate. Thoughts turn to those suffering real hardship, perhaps in the Third World. But what to do? If you’ve done it before you may feel there’s a limit to how many bags of seed one can give to a struggling farmer or how many chickens or goats you can give at Christmas. And you may have read somewhere, or been told, that although most are a great help such gifts don’t always work out the way you thought they would.
Alternative gifts There are many worthwhile causes that can make great use of the donation that may be made in lieu of a Christmas gift, but if you are still uncertain there is another option. It’s an option which can give great benefit to the recipient but has a unique aspect – it costs the donor virtually nothing. Now that must be pretty special. A gift which can cost as little as £15, and which makes everyone feel good but doesn’t leave a hole in your bank balance. So what is this special gift? It’s microfinance in Togo, Benin, The Philippines, Cambodia, Ecuador, Pakistan and Zambia. Poor people often lack access to basic financial services and are appreciative of small loans to start or grow businesses. This scheme isn’t an outright gift, it’s an interest free loan which will be repaid. So if all goes well the lender will get their money back. If it doesn’t go well the lender may lose part or all of their money. The Typhoon Haiyan devastation in the Philippines may have destroyed the hopes of some to lift themselves out of poverty
The borrowers
Your loan could help a Third World entrepreneur to build a business
along with the ability to fund their repayments, but from the lender’s point of view that’s no worse than making a charitable donation in the first place. Overall the risk of default is very low at around 1% and your microloans can be spread over several recipients, with each receiving a minimum of £15. When a loan is repaid the lender can withdraw it from the scheme or lend it to someone else. You have the satisfaction of knowing that you have helped someone work towards a better life whilst at the same time helping your family. If you repeat the process year on year and include birthdays the amount in the microfinance account will quietly grow, though its value will of course be eroded by inflation and may be affected by exchange rates. So how do you help your family? You tell them you want the account to be in their names, which means that they can withdraw the money at some future date if they badly need it. The CARE International confederation, which is one of the world’s leading aid and development organisations, works in 87 countries to help the world’s poorest people find routes out of poverty. It also delivers emergency aid to survivors of war and natural disasters, and works to create lasting change in poor communities. The microfinance scheme described is managed by the part of the organisation that can be found at www.lendwithcare.org.
How does it work? The website explains it like this. An entrepreneur in the developing world approaches a local microfinance institution (MFI) with a business plan. MFIs are effectively local banks that have longestablished working relationships with CARE International. If the MFI is satisfied that the entrepreneur’s
business plan is promising and sound, they approve the proposal, provide the initial loan and then help them write their profile for lendwithcare.org. This explains where they are, what they will do with the loan, how much they need, how much has been raised so far from other lenders, and how it will be repaid. Currently there are nearly 40 profiles on the website. When you’ve decided who you wish to support you provide a loan to get the entrepreneur’s business plans off the ground. You can make a contribution towards the total needed, in increments of £15 or more. Or you can invest the full amount yourself. As soon as the entrepreneur’s loan is fully funded by you (and other supporters) this money is then transferred to the MFI, and used to replace the initial loan already paid out to the entrepreneur. You are now funding the entrepreneur; the MFI and CARE International will continue to manage the progress of the loan to completion. Importantly, now that you have covered the loan, the MFI can move funding onto another hopeful business plan.
Follow their progress While all this is happening, the entrepreneur is busy growing their business. The MFI and CARE International regularly updates the entrepreneur’s profile on the lendwithcare.org website, so you can follow their amazing progress. And you can see how their new source of income (and your loan) is transforming every aspect of their lives – paying for food, medicine and school fees, and providing a better future for their whole family. The entrepreneur gradually pays back their loan. The MFI transfers these repayments to CARE International who then credit the repayment to your lendwithcare.
Gargling is a good way to see if your throat leaks.
Many of the beneficiaries are women. Kossiwa is 31 years old and lives in Togo with her husband and 6 children aged between 13 and 3 years who are enrolled in school. She sells in her house maize, beans, millet and sesame but needed £441 to travel to the north of the country to buy these cereals directly from the farmers. Her loan will be fully funded when 10 more donors have pledged a minimum of £15 each. Loans can also go to groups of entrepreneurs. There are 15 aged between 22 to 50 years women in the Umodzi group based in Zambia. Some of these women are married, some are single and others are widowed and all have children and/or look after orphans. All the children go to school. The women of the Umodzi group run small scale businesses like tailoring, grocery stalls and second hand clothes. This group has already accessed three loans from the MicroLoan Foundation and already has £1945 of the £2497 loan pledged. Mirriam Nalawala is a member of this group. She is 40 years old, a widow and has one child who completed his secondary school in 2012. She runs a tailoring and design business and would like this loan to top up on her business capital and buy more tailoring machines for over locking and embroidery. She started her business after being sponsored to attend college where she learnt her skills. She also wants to send her child to college and pay school fees for the orphans she looks after. She runs her business in the market and has been doing so for 10 years. She hopes to employ someone to help with the day to day running of her tailoring stall. She has dreams of diversifying her business. If you feel that you want to try a different way of helping people who have demonstrated that they are committed to helping themselves you may find this microfinance scheme rewarding. When you hear those six words asking what you want for Christmas you could perhaps reply in six words. “I want to help through lendwithcare.org.”
Norman Griffiths
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Groby & Field Head Spotlight • NOVEMBER 2013 • Tel: 01530 244069
Children learn about local democracy
Two meetings planned for potential founders
New Rotary Club to be formed in this area
A new Rotary club is being formed for men and women in the Ratby, Markfield and Glenfield and Groby areas.
CHILDREN and young people from eight primary schools in Hinckley & Bosworth found out how local democracy works during a special event that was held during October. The Borough Council hosted an interactive session in the council chamber for 25 children, aged between 9 and 11 years old, as part of Local Democracy Week. They had the chance to talk to councillors, the chief executive and meet the mayor, then do various exercises including a matching game about what services are provided at the different levels of democracy. They also did an exercise to discuss what they think the perfect councillor should be like. The ideas and suggestions really were incredible and will be shared with other councillors. The children were told all about how the council operates, what voting is and were given the opportunity for debate and also to vote on issues that affect them. The results will be used
DEMOCRACY: The Mayor, Councillor Lynda Hodgkins, and Councillor Matthew Hulbert surrounded by children from local schools. to help plan other work with children aged from 5 to 11 years. Along with the children were 11 teachers and support staff, who all took a work-pack away with them to use at school with the children who were unable to attend. Some children are already planning to do a presentation in their assemblies. Rebecca Ball, Children and Young People’s Strategic Co-ordinator, said: “It’s great that the borough embraced Local Democracy Week, capturing the voice of 5-11 year olds. It was a good way to engage this age group and inform them of what democracy is and how this impacts locally.” Councillor Matthew Hulbert, the council’s Children and Young People’s Champion, said: “It was a great occasion and it was really good to see so many young people engaging in finding out about the work of councillors and of local elected representatives.”
My wife’s jealousy is getting ridiculous. The other day she looked at my calendar and wanted to know who May was. My wife can’t cook at all. She made chocolate mousse. An antler got stuck in my throat.
Two meetings have been arranged for potential founders to learn more about Rotary. The first will be held at 7.30am on Tuesday, January 21, 2014, at the Heathley Park restaurant, near LOROS, Groby Road, Leicester, Leicestershire, LE3 9QE. The second will be held at the same venue during the early evening of Wednesday, January 29. Like all Rotary clubs, it will offer amazing opportunities for networking and making lasting friendships with like-minded people. Using hearts and minds, Rotarians from diverse backgrounds pool their different skills to take positive action to enhance health, empower youth, promote peace and advance community. It will be up to the new community leaders to decide which projects to adopt; perhaps encouraging local schoolchildren to develop skills in writing, performing, designing. Or the new club might raise funds for Rotary’s wide range of international efforts, like Shelterboxes, Aquafilters and Trade-Aid Boxes. The new club’s pioneers might innovate to create a brand-new project which might change the world. After all, that’s what happened in the 1980s when a group of Rotarians decided to rid the world of polio. Nearly 30 years on, Rotary is amazingly close to achieving that goal which seemed impossible, except to a few bright, determined, friends having fun while making what seemed like an impossible dream come true. Rotary clubs meet weekly. In this country, most – but not all – share a meal. Some meet for breakfast, others over lunch and some for an evening meal. The men and women who establish the new club will be able to choose what they want it to be. At the first two meetings, free hot drinks and biscuits will be available. There will also be free parking. Rotarian Roger McDermott, of Coalville Rotary Club, is leading the drive to create the new club. Having led the 3,000 Rotarians in the East Midlands, he has loads of experience of different sorts of Rotary clubs. “Each and every club sets its own agenda to suit the characters of its members,” he says. Jim Matthews, a member of the Rotary Club of Oadby, says: “I’ve been in Rotary 29 years. The fun I’ve had, the friends I’ve made and the lessons I’ve learned prove to me that joining Rotary is one of the best decisions of my life.” To find out more about the new club or to book in for your first meeting, ring Roger on 01530 810464, Graham on 01509 213675, or Jim on 0116 292 8267.
Beat the five o’clock rush. Leave work at noon.
Groby & Field Head Spotlight • NOVEMBER 2013 • Tel: 01530 244069
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County Councillor’s Report from Ozzy O’shea The New A50 Speed Reduction Field Head and Lena Drive I have been contacted by residents still concerned with regard to the speed of traffic travelling down the A50 in the new 40mph speed restricted area. I have spoken with the camera safety team supervisor who informs me that their team are actively monitoring the speed of traffic on the A50. Residents were concerned that the mobile camera van was not monitoring traffic coming down the hill around Lena Drive. The supervisor informed me they were unable to do as there were where for them to park safely to monitor the traffic coming down the hill. However there are two 24/7 fixed camera’s monitoring the speed coming down the hill, one monitors the 50mph limit and the other is a dual camera on the junction of Lena Drive that monitors vehicles jumping the red light and also monitors and acts as a speed camera when it is on green. The road safety partnership is doing everything possible to reduce the speed and enforce the speed limit along this section of road. I have the figures for the monitoring of the new 40mph limit on the A50 (Leicester Road, Field Head
Section) by the Safety Camera Vans from 12/08/13 – 01/10/13 inclusive are: 9 visits, 15hrs 20mins which detected a total of 801 vehicles travelling above the preset threshold. Mobile speed enforcement was recommenced on Monday 14/10/13.
Trading Standards Alert I was contacted with regard to workmen approaching vulnerable elderly people in Groby stating they were part of the construction team working on the A46/ A50 Island working for the County Council. They were offering to Tarmac these vulnerable peoples’ driveways. Realising that this was a scam I immediately contacted officers at County Hall; I established that I was correct and arranged for trading Standards officers to attend the area. I am pleased to say positive intelligence was gained
and due to the quick and efficient actions of the Trading Stands Team evidence was obtained and the persons involved identified. This is now a current ongoing and active investigation. Trading Standards have put the following Alert out. Leicestershire County Council’s Trading Standards Service has received reports of cold-callers in the Groby area offering to carry out driveway work. This trader states that they are working for Leicestershire County Council, which is not true. Trading Standards always advises residents to be aware of rogue traders as some take advantage of road work being carried out in the area such as the A50/A46 road island improvements, by going from door to door offering to re-surface drives with “left over” material. Neither Leicestershire County Council nor its contractors would operate in this way. Trading Standards advise all residents not to open their doors to
Are you fed up with the rises in energy prices? I know I am. It seems that every year, the bills go up another 10% for no apparent reason. And the message to Joe Public seems to be: ‘There’s nothing you can do about it. We can charge what we like. Just pay up or freeze to death in a cold and dark house.’ But maybe there is something we can do about it. Prime Minister Dave has been urging us all to change supplier to achieve savings. Maybe he has a point. What would happen if EVERYBODY changed - or threatened to change - to the SAME SUPPLIER? Do you think this might encourage the remaining suppliers to have another think about their prices, sharpen their pencils, and maybe consider offering us a more realistic deal? Well according to a caller on a recent LBC radio programme, something along these lines happened in Belgium. An enterprising individual created a website and recruited 50,000 customers of one of the major energy suppliers. He then contacted the energy supplier and said effectively: ‘If you don’t reduce your prices, you’re going to lose 50,000 customers overnight, because we’ll all change suppliers.’ Apparently, savings of up to one-third resulted from this gentle act of persuasion. What are we waiting for? It’s time to use our collective power as customers and give our wonderful energy suppliers something to think about.
IS FRED RIGHT? Should we get slightly stroppy with those kind souls who supply us with heat, light and power? TELL US WHAT YOU THINK by writing/emailing to: PEOPLE POWER, PO Box 8, Markfield, Leics. LE67 9ZT (email: info@grobyspotlight.co.uk)
strangers or buy goods or services on their doorsteps. If you receive any reports of similar trading activity, please contact Trading Standards on 08454 04 05 06 or use telltradingstandards@leics.gov.uk I would like to thank residents for their continued support. I would also like to remind you all that I am only a phone call or email away.
Ozzy O’shea
Cllr Ozzy O’shea Tel 0116 2394336 or 07808585825 Email ozzyoshea@hotmail.com
Lady Jane Primary School, Wolsey Close, Groby
Christmas Fair - Friday 29th November 2013 - 6.00pm to 8.00pm Come along and enjoy a funpacked evening. There will be Christmas games with great prizes to be won, Craft and Christmas present idea stalls to help you find that special or unusual Christmas present, Christmas cafe, serving hot food and drinks. Santa’s Grotto and much much more. Free entrance - all children must be supervised by an adult. We look forward to seeing you at this great Christmas event.
My family was so poor that the lady next door gave birth to me.
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Groby & Field Head Spotlight • NOVEMBER 2013 • Tel: 01530 244069
Coffee, Chat & Children Coffee, Chat & Children is a small friendly supportive group run by a group of mums in support of issues surrounding:
Home workers work longer
People who work from home actually work harder than those in an office, putting in an average of seven hours a week longer than those who commute. Research at the University of Texas has found that rising petrol prices and demand for a more equal work-life balance has prompted many white-collar staff to work from home. Yet such people end up working far more than the standard 40 hour week.
• Post Natal Depression • Anxiety/Stress • Multiple births • Relationship problems • Single parenting • Isolation • Low self-confidence/self esteem • Struggling with aspects of parenting We all have personal experience of some or all of the above and understand what it is like to deal with these issues so we can support each other in a non-judgmental & caring environment. This was once an organised Home Start group but in the summer of 2012, they were no longer able to run the group as there was no funding available, some of the mums who attended decided to keep the group running by funding it themselves. In addition to this, we received donations from generous supporters which enabled us to keep the group running for several months. Earlier this year we put a bid together and were successful in securing some funding from Comic Relief so we can continue to benefit from the group and offer places to other parents who may also benefit. The best way to describe the feel of the group is the thoughts of those that use it: • “An understanding non- judgmental group of people who have been or are going through similar issues, we don’t always find things easy, but knowing you are not on your own somehow makes it better. Lots of laughs, silly chat, coffee, cakes and biscuits, arts, crafts and activities for kids, mum and child bonding
session, what more can I say, oh and amazing friends made” • “It’s the best group for all the mums who think ‘I can’t do groups’, relaxed, nonjudgemental, fun and friendly!!” • “I look forward to Friday mornings just knowing I`m not on my own” • “I can’t put into words what the group means to me you just know” • “I had to give the group up as I went back to work. But I looked forward to every Friday and made some lovely friends” • “It’s a wonderful, supportive group of ladies who have helped me through some very difficult times to which I am so grateful, I am so glad I found this group and would recommend it to anyone who needs support” The group takes place on a Friday morning at Groby Community Centre, Forest Rise from 9.45am to 11.45am. There is free play and organised activities for the children including craft, snack time, music and movement, story time. Also time for parents to meet and chat with other likeminded parents over a drink. If you think this group may be of benefit to you or someone you know, please contact one of the following – you will be assured of a warm and friendly welcome • Lisa: 07900 695728 • Cath: 07795 421617 • Tracey: 07989 109139 Or if you prefer to email: traceybrooke2@aol.com and we will get back to you.
The details of our Christmas activities will be on a Christmas Card delivered to
Urban Saints is held during term time, at the URC chapel: games, friends, crafts and a Christian basis to discussions. - for 5’s to 14’s on Mon evenings at 3.45pm, 6.30pm or 7.45pm - for 15-18’s on Wed evenings at 7.30pm - for 15-18’s o Fri at 7.30pm More details on the church websites or check with Ruth Cross 07759 087804
Catch meets for play, craft, story & chat for pre-school children with a parent or carer. Every Friday in term time, 9.30-11.30am, at the URC.
Fair Cuppa:
th
For further information, particularly about the Christmas activities, please see websites and church magazines
an opportunity to meet with friends at the village hall. Every Thursday, 10.30-12.00 Carols with your Cuppa on 19th Dec at 11am
However Carols Round the Tree at the Stamford Arms is so popular, you may want to put the date on your calendar now:
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
I’ve named my car ‘Flattery’ because it gets me nowhere.
Groby & Field Head Spotlight • NOVEMBER 2013 • Tel: 01530 244069
Kirby Ostomy Emma Pye – UK-German Support Group Youth Ambassador We are a support group in Leicestershire for anyone with an Ileostomy, Colostomy or Urostomy.
Our aim is for members to come along for coffee, tea etc and chat to others who understand the benefits and problems of living with a stoma. This can be an ostomate, their partners, friends or someone who is thinking of having the operation. We usually meet on the third Saturday of the month, 10.30 am to 12.30pm usually at Glenfield Hospital where we have free parking. We normally have a speaker for the first hour on a variety of subjects followed by tea, coffee etc and catch up with the member’s news. If you feel you would like to join us or would like more information then please ring Janet on 01162392844 or email: kosg2013@ btinternet.com
Get your sleep
A good night’s sleep clears your mind - literally. A recent study has found that our brains use our sleep time to flush toxic material out of the brain’s cells. This is because the brain only has limited energy at its disposal, and must juggle its jobs a bit. Think of it like one of the Christmas parties you will attend this month: your hosts can either entertain you or clean up the plates and clutter, but they can’t really do both at the same time. The study was done at the University of Rochester in the USA.
This September Emma Pye (Year 13) from Groby Community College applied to the UK-German Connection to become a UKGerman Youth Ambassador. After writing a detailed and wellcrafted application, she sent it off to London. Despite a very high volume of exceptional applications, we found out that she had beaten off the competition to secure one of ten places on the fully funded scheme. What an amazing achievement! Emma will now participate in a conference in London in October 2013 as well as a trip and conference in Berlin in July 2014. She will be working with other likeminded students from around the country as well as developing networks and partnerships with students from Germany. The main aim of the Ambassador role is to increase awareness of the benefits of studying the German language and Emma’s passion for languages will certainly help her with this. We wish her luck with her endeavours and look forward to hearing about them throughout the year! “I was so excited to find out that my application to be a UK-German Youth Ambassador had been accepted! I have always had a passion for languages and so this is a great opportunity for me to make a difference and encourage people to be more interested in both German language and culture. I have lots of ideas and I am currently in the process of trying to set up some links with Primary schools in the local area in order to organise some activity days based on celebrations in Germany. In terms of including students at the college both pre- and post-16, I am hoping to set up links with a school in Germany with students contacting each other individually via emails or as a group by Skype in order to really encourage them to learn and practice some German! I am really looking forward to making the most of this opportunity and cannot wait to organise various other activities and events in the year ahead!” I have six locks on my door all in a row. When I go out, I lock every other one. I figure no matter how long somebody stands there picking the locks, they are always locking three. If you live to be one hundred, you’ve got it made. Very few people die past that age.
Don’t Forget to Send Us Your News! Thanks! Never pick your nose when working with superglue.
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LETTER
Anyone heard of E Childs Brickmaker? Having just made some alterations to my bungalow, I was interested to find onin-six bricks were stamped ‘E.CHILDS’. It’s a good quality brick, but who was E. Childs and where was his brick yard? Do any readers know the answer? I would be interested to hear any history of Mr Childs.
Peter Clarke, Markfield Road, Groby 01530 243713
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Groby & Field Head Spotlight • NOVEMBER 2013 • Tel: 01530 244069
All the latest news from Groby WI It’s not often that I run out of events etc to write about but this month I must apologise about the lack of them. Unfortunately I had to cancel our planned Derbyshire Walk. It was dated for the 28th October, the day of the forecast storm. So after making phone calls it was called off. The good news is that we are planning to do another in the middle of November, fingers crossed. However, our Luncheon Club made a return visit to Earl Shilton for a lunch time nosh up. This venue is a favourite one, the result of which means we came out rather heavier than we went in. As usual there was the usual nattering but apart from that we just had a great meal.
and a little boy hasn’t - there I bet you didn’t know that. It only takes a few weeks to become fully grown. They are noisy little things, making a singing noise and snuffle a lot. (I know one or two folk like that.) They do not have many enemies, badgers being the main ones. The worst killers are slug pellets to which there is no antidote. (Colleen suggests oats instead of slug pellets as the oats swell up inside slugs and bursts them, or you could use coffee grounds.) They also get trapped in old tins, six packs plastic wraps, garden netting and fishing lines. A 6” gap in a wire fence is needed to
Hedgehogs I thought what is there to know about hedgehogs the subject of October’s meeting. Just how wrong can you be. It began ordinarily enough, reciting the history of this mammal, records say they lived 20 million years ago etc. However after learning various facts it became so much more interesting. Apparently they have a soft fur underneath topped by at least 5,000 spines (someone must have taken the trouble to count them). These spines act as shock absorbers. Colleen and her husband sometimes have a bit of “domestic” as her husband gets fed up picking out spines from his jumpers etc. This is because Colleen washes the hedgehogs bedding in the washing machine. They are nocturnal creatures who do not have particular territories and can travel quite far distances. So far as the male hedgehog is concerned he is a bit of a lad. He has his evil way, doesn’t hang about and just goes on to find another lady friend. Young hedgehogs are born with soft spines under the skin to protect mum, with a second set emerging within days this is known as quilling. One peculiarity of all hedgehogs is the way they cover their spines in foamy saliva, the reason why they do this remains a mystery although it has been suggested it might be a sexual attractant, or be used to reduce parasites, or as additional protection. The young are called hoglets. I now know how to tell a male from a female. A female when turned on its back has a smooth tum
enable them to move around. The result often is a trapped leg, it costs £70 to amputate a leg. Once she asked the vet to save the evidence i.e. the fishing line; he saved both line and leg. My husband can remember his grandfather telling him (he was a Norfolk gamekeeper) that he watched a fox roll a hedgehog to a pond where it unrolled itself and of course met the inevitable end. Hiberation is triggered by a loss of temperature. Hedgehogs feed up in autumn, the body rate drops until it gets stone cold. They sleep for 3-4 months but if the climate is mild they often wake up and refresh themselves. Colleen adopted a brother and blind sister. Her blindness didn’t appear to have made her less appealing to her sibling as she later produced hoglets. They are ‘known’ for having fleas, another wrong assumption. They have very few. Mostly it’s (I hate to say it) the females and they only pass them onto other females, how typical. Hoglets are fed every four hours mainly on goat’s milk. Any other milk is poisonous to them so don’t leave out bread and milk. When out and about feed on cat or dog food, chopped peanuts (not whole ones) or crunchy peanut butter, raw or cooked meat leftovers, muesli and a small amount of vegetables. This time of the year before you
light your bonfire always check to make sure one of our little pals isn’t there. At the end Colleen took Lollipop out of her box, put her in a blanket and she was passed around, she didn’t seemed bothered at all. When fully recovered she will be put in a pen in some safe garden to reacclimatise to the outdoors and be released into the wild and will live happily ever after, well I do hope so.
Pink Walk update A rather breathless nurse from the Glenfield Breast Care Centre at Glenfield Hospital came to thank us for our donation. As previously reported our Pink Walk raised £2,000. This year the nurse explained the money is going to refurbish the two “quiet” rooms in the Centre. They are hoping to have comfy things but whatever they get they must be washable etc, no doubt we shall learn in the future what they actually did buy. Our December meeting will be a little different. We shall have a bit of a “do” but it will be secret until the actual night, so secret that I am not sure what’s going to happen. So what’s new.
Margaret Gamble
Free Hinckley Leisure Centre membership YOUNG sports people in Hinckley & Bosworth, who compete at county level or above, may be entitled to a year’s free membership of Hinckley Leisure Centre. The free membership offer forms part of the ‘Backed for the Future’ scheme, through which the Borough Council supports talented young sports people, in partnership with Everyone Active. To qualify, young sports people must be under 21 years of age. For more information and to apply please visit www.hbsha.gov. uk or contact Anna MacDonald via email at Anna.MacDonald@ hinckley-bosworth.gov.uk or tel: 01455 255818.
I’ve given up reading books. I find it takes my mind off myself.
Markfield Library Book & DVD Sale! Head over to Markfield library and bag yourself a bargain! Our sale includes both adult and children stock and will be held from Saturday 16th November until Saturday 14th December. Stock up your book shelves with popular authors and recent best sellers and check out our ex-rental DVDs and talking books too. For more information call the library on: 0116 305 3642.
ADAPT Prembabies Christmas Fair Saturday 30th Nov 2013 Broughton Astley Village Hall 12.00-4.00 pm Entrance £1.00 (Children free) Come along and support your local premature and poorly baby charity. Over 25 gift and craft stalls, as well as Santa’s Grotto, children’s entertainment and taster sessions in Music & Movement and Sing and Sign.
For more details please contact Sue Williams on sue@prembabies.co.uk
Groby & Field Head Spotlight • NOVEMBER 2013 • Tel: 01530 244069
Bloors court challenge is due next month Norman Griffiths takes a quick look at local housing issues
The availability of housing land in the village and the impact that development may have on overstretched resources is a cloud which never seems far away. In fact the cloud is back, on this occasion it takes the form of the judicial review of the Inspector’s refusal of planning consent to Bloors for their site next to Groby cemetery. The company is making a challenge on legal, not planning, grounds to seek an order from the High Court quashing the decision of the Planning Inspector. This will go to court in Birmingham on 16th December. In the meantime work continues on the quest to find sites suitable for development in what most people already consider an overcrowded village. Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council is required to carry out a Strategic Housing Land Availability Assessment (SHLAA) to identify future sources of land for housing. The SHLAA will provide the evidence for future allocations documents, including the Site Allocations and Development Control Policies Development Plan Document. Anyone with a piece of land they consider suitable for development can submit details to the council, but it’s important to remember that the SHLAA does not represent policy and will not determine whether a site should be allocated or granted permission for development. It will simply determine which sites are suitable, available and achievable for housing development. The 2013 Review was completed in September and can be seen online at http://www.hinckley-bosworth.gov. uk/info/856/local_plan_2006-2026_formerly_ldf/429/strategic_housing_land_availability_assessment_shlaa/2 or by following the much easier to remember link from www.grobyonline.tk. Appendix 9 of the document contains a full listing of the sites but does not include addresses. The more useful Appendix 10, which will include settlement overview maps and assessment forms, plans and photographs of the assessed sites, is not online yet. “Appendix 10 which includes all the site proformas and plans are still being designed before being loaded onto the Council’s website,” explained a spokesperson. “If individual site proformas are requested by members of the public they will be made available in advance of them being placed on the website.” It will not be an easy document to review the sites being put forward to the Council until Appendix 10 is available. However early indications suggest there may again be controversial locations, some new such as the former A50 behind Leicester Road put forward by Leicestershire County Council, and some which have been around the block a few times already. Amongst all this the affordable housing issue has not been forgotten, and at the November meeting the Parish Council backed the report prepared from the consultation earlier this year.
Neil Elson appointed Head of Martinshaw School Mr Neil Elson (right) initially joined the School in a temporary capacity during 2013’s Summer term and then gained the permanent position from September 2013. He came to Martinshaw with over 20 years experience in Primary School teaching having taught in several schools around the county. His last post was that of Deputy Head at Waterleys Primary School in Wigston. He is married with three children and tends to be something of a ‘hands on’ Dad. With his children being involved in a variety of clubs in his own local village, he appreciates the importance of the local community and, although he is new to Groby, he is very much impressed with the wonderful feel of community spirit around the village and already encourages Martinshaw children to become involved with village projects. He intends to open up our school to children attending local groups and charities. Mr. Elson says, “We are lucky at Martinshaw as we have extensive grounds which I am looking forward to develop further, with a view to possibly gaining ‘forest school’ status within a few years.” He further asks that if anyone has a particular interest in this sort of area and would be willing to volunteer a little of their time, he would be delighted to hear from them. Finally, he would like to thank everyone both in the School and the community who have made him feel so welcome.
Owen Lawrence
If you don’t like my opinion of you, you can always improve.
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Groby & Field Head Spotlight • NOVEMBER 2013 • Tel: 01530 244069
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Groby Elizabeth Woodville School News Village The Big Knit 2013 Society Preservation ~ Conservation Communal Interests
Forthcoming Events
Thursday November 28 - The Museum of Childhood Mr Trevor Parr Thursday December 19 - History of Loughborough Carillon Caroline Sharpe (Carillonneur) Meetings are held at Groby Village Hall Starting at 7.30pm. For Further Details Contact Hon. Secretary Mr. P. Castell Tel. 0116 287 9842 Email: groby.villagesociety@tiscali.co.uk Non Members are Welcome
Traditional Christmas Fair Friday 6th December 2013 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 .
Elizabeth Woodville’s Knitting Club, with the help of Mrs Greaves and staff have been extremely busy over the last few weeks, supporting the Big Knit campaign to raise money for Age UK. They have knitted an incredible total of 61 hats to be sold on Innocent Smoothie bottles throughout November. 25p will be donated to Age UK from every bottle sold to support this important charity. Look out for them soon in local stores!
‘Nose in a Book’ We have had an exciting start to term, launching our new Creative Curriculum theme ‘Nose in a Book.’ Children enjoyed a number of different events throughout the week, which included children and staff dressing up as book characters and sharing their favourite stories. Our thanks go out to all parents and carers who donated books and helped to prepare such amazing costumes.
Author Visit – Damian Harvey We were delighted to welcome author Damian Harvey to the school for a storytelling and workshop day on Tuesday 29th October. Damian is the author of more than seventy books including the popular Robo-Runners series. The children and staff were not disappointed! Damian brought to life a wide range of his stories and told them in a brilliantly funny and interactive way. He captivated all our children from Foundation to Y6 and it was particularly fascinating for pupils to learn first-hand the process an author goes through from initial idea to published book. The children are now excited to try out his ideas and become budding authors themselves by writing their own stories in class!
Harvest Festival
We celebrated our Harvest Festival with an assembly for parents on Friday 18th October. The children enjoyed sharing the importance of Fair Trade with everyone in attendance. Our collection of Harvest food was donated to the British Red Cross Refugee and Asylum Project to support families across Leicestershire.
Applications now open for county heritage awards The search has started to recognise the work of independent museums and heritage groups in Leicestershire and Rutland. Leicestershire & Rutland Heritage Awards 2014 will be presented next April, but applications in seven categories are now being sought. The free-to-enter event is run by Leicestershire County Council, in partnership with the Leicestershire
& Rutland Heritage Forum. The awards celebrate exhibitions, events and collections as well as recognising innovative ways which use digital resources, bring heritage alive and open doors to new audiences. Richard Blunt, Leicestershire County Council cabinet member for heritage, said: Independent museums do a great job in helping to boost the Leicestershire economy and delivering excellence for tourism. These awards will
recognise the best.” A panel of judges will also award prizes for the outstanding voluntary-run museum of the year and outstanding heritage group of the year. Janet Slatter, chairman of Leicestershire & Rutland Heritage Forum, said: The awards offer a fantastic opportunity for museums and heritage groups to showcase their work. It also recognises the efforts of volunteers who work so hard to present and preserve our
heritage.” The War Memorial Museum in Loughborough and Castle Donington Museum were among the winners when the awards were last held in 2012. Application forms can be downloaded from: www.leics.gov.uk/ heritageawards2014.htm Applications can also be e-mailed to heritageawards@leics.gov.uk and the closing date for entries is 5pm on Friday, 31st January 2014.
There’s a remote African tribe that worships the number zero. Is nothing sacred?
Groby & Field Head Spotlight • NOVEMBER 2013 • Tel: 01530 244069
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I have a new philosophy. I’m going to dread one day at a time.
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Groby & Field Head Spotlight • NOVEMBER 2013 • Tel: 01530 244069
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I would enjoy jogging if it wasn’t for those long walks back.
Groby & Field Head Spotlight • NOVEMBER 2013 • Tel: 01530 244069
Help Rainbows!
Willie Thorne Needs More Golfers
In recent years Snooker and Strictly Come Dancing star Willie Thorne has played golf with around a 100 golfers to raise money for RAINBOWS CHILDREN’S HOSPICE. The event is again being held at The Forest Hill Golf Club and it is your chance to meet and play golf with Willie as well as raise money for an excellent cause. You are welcome to come and play – or just be a spectator on November 22nd. Arrival time is 9.00am with a shotgun start at 10.00 o’clock. This is a full handicap stableford competition with excellent prizes. The entry fee includes soup, sandwiches and mulled wine after the game. Players will be given a Santa Suit and must wear it to play. This adds to the FUN element of the day and also to the difficulty of playing competent golf! Entry forms and enquiries can be obtained from David Hollins on 0116 229 0495 or 07930 200213 or email: david.hollins3@ntlworld.com This is a great day of FUN, Willie is a keen golfer and is looking forward to meeting all the players. Please make a special effort to make up a team of 4 and join in the fun and also help Rainbows.
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New Multi Use Games Area at Quarry Park reaches planning stage Norman Griffiths looks at the planning application Groby Parish Council has now submitted a planning application to the Borough Council for the construction of new multi use games area(MUGA) with floodlights and additional car park on Quarry Park. The application says that it will be open from 9.00am to 10.30pm and will be enclosed by 3 metre high sports fencing. Although there will be four 8 metre high floodlights no dwellings will be affected by light pollution. The application also says that it has been designed to meet Sport England specifications and encourages a wide range of potential sports including soccer and handball. It will serve both the community, the scouts, local football clubs and Martinshaw Primary School. It includes a new car park so car parking provision will not be affected. When proposals for a more ambitious leisure project were put forward local residents expressed concern about the traffic problems that might be created because of the narrow access roads from Ratby Road. Although some members of the Parish Council still have concerns about traffic others believe that additional volumes for this smaller facility will not create problems with the daily peaks caused by parents on the school run to Martinshaw Primary. Leicestershire County Council, the Highway Authority, has raised no objection to the proposal, though it considered there should be secure parking for cycles and/or buggies. From time to time the issue of pollution on the site has cropped up but the Borough Council has raised no objections and not recommended any conditions. “The site began operation as a granite quarry in the 1830’s/1840’s and ceased operation in the 1920’s,” a Borough Council explained in his comments on the application. “In the 1950’s the site was used as an ex Ministry of Defence materials store. Tipping of household waste began in the early 1960’s and much of the waste was domestic ash. Due to local objection the depositing stopped and totalled only roughly 2 metres deep as far as the neck of the quarry. The coal board filled the site with colliery spoil to the current gradient.” He adds that after a land drainage system was installed the site was capped with a 200mm deep clay cap by the Parish Council who seeded and planted the site. Although landfill gas monitoring has detected no gas he concludes that it cannot be ruled out and the developer should be aware of the history of the site. It is not considered that the development will be affected by the historic use of the site. As a precaution burning should not be undertaken, digging depth should be kept to a minimum and should be undertaken carefully in case fill materials are disturbed. Although the online comments facility closed on 7 November 2013 comments can continue to be made after that date by post or by email to planning@hinckley-bosworth.gov.uk up to the date that the application is determined. You can view the planning application and supporting documents online by searching on the Borough Council website (the reference is 13/00798/FUL) or by following the link from www.grobyonline.tk. You can also view the application at the Parish Council offices.
It’s like magic: When you live by yourself, all of your annoying habits are gone.
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Groby & Field Head Spotlight • NOVEMBER 2013 • Tel: 01530 244069
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 Autumn and Christmas menus! Thursday 28th Nov to Monday 2nd Dec: Beer, Sausage & Cider Festival www.bricklayersarms.net
The Club, Thornton Main Street. T: 01530 230251 Open To Non-members Sat 16th Nov: 80’s Disco, Fancy Dress - Fletcher’s 30th Birthday Party! Sat 23rd Nov: The Return Of Eddie’s Classic Sounds Sat 9th Nov: The Del Sharrons Sat 30th Nov: Angelz Sat 7th Dec: Wellard Willy Fri 20th Dec: Children’s Christmas Party Sat 21st Dec: Punk & Disorderly Boxing Day Afternoon: The Del Sharrons New Year’s Evening: The Dirty Water Band Sky Sports In Both Rooms, Bingo Every Tuesday Evening, Bar Snacks Mon Wed Fri, No Membership Required. www.facebook.com/thethorntonclub The Queen’s Head Ashby Road, Markfield. T: 01530 242 496 Sat 30th Nov: A Male Vocalist TBA Sat 28th Dec: MIKE LEE - male vocalist ALL SKY SPORTS & BT SPORTS Bagworth Working Men’s Club, Station Road, Bagworth. Tel. 01530 230205 Find us on FACEBOOK - search Bagworth WMC New members welcome. Live entertainment – last Saturday of the month Andy’s Charity Quiz £1.50 each - last Friday of the month Sequence dances Sunday Nights. £1.50 admission 8 pm Tea Dance Wednesday afternoon 2 – 4 pm. £1 admission. Sat 16th Nov: SOCIAL DANCE £1.50 entry - 7.30pm start Fri 22nd Nov: CHARITY SEQUENCE DANCE in aid of WISHES 4 KIDS - £2.50 entry 7.30pm start Sat 30th Nov: TERRY MARTELL - free- in the lounge Tues 31st Dec: Looking Ahead to New Year’s Eve - AXIS DUO will be playing their last ever gig! £1 entry. Ask about our free room hire for those special family occasions.
The Field Head Hotel Markfield Lane, Markfield Tel: 01530 245454 Tribute Nights/£2 Entry after 7pm. Thurs 28th Nov: MOTOWN NIGHT Fri 29th Nov: MOTOWN & SOUL Fri 6th Dec: SWING MANIA Sat 7th Dec: MICHAEL BUBLE and ROBBIE WILLIAMS See ad on page 30. The Bulls Head Forest Road, Markfield T: 01530 242541 Garden & Pub Games etc. POKER NIGHT - Tuesdays - starts at 8pm Sat 16th Nov: WAYNE CURTIS Sat 30th Nov: LEE RIVERS & FRIENDS - cabaret
Letter from Uncle Eustace
On how to make the most of carol singing The Rectory St James the Least of All
My dear Nephew Darren
The Coach & Horses Leicester Road, Field Head Tel: 01530 242 312 KARAOKE Nights Every Fortnight:- Next two are on Sat 23rd Nov & Sat 7th Dec with ‘King of the Road’.
Carol singing is not what it used to be. My fond memories of a group of choristers, muffled in scarves and overcoats, carrying lanterns and walking from door to door in the snow, as they sang ‘While shepherds watched …’ had to be suddenly revised when I saw your own music group, in T-shirts inscribed with ‘Jesus loves You’, singing ‘Little donkey’, in your shopping centre.
Groby Ex-Servicemen’s Club, Leicester Road, Groby Tel: 0116 287 1809 www.grobyclub.co.uk Fri 15th Nov: Laughing Legends - A Night Of Comedy And Song Sat 16th Nov: Vegas Cabaret Show - Something Completely Different Sun 17th Nov: Super Sunday ‘50’ Bingo And Quiz Fri 22nd Nov: Exit - A Very Good Duo Sat 23rd Nov: Coyote - A Superb Rock Band Sun 24th Nov: Super Sunday ‘50’ Bingo And Quiz Fri 29th Nov: Kellie Jens - A Quality Lady Performer Sat 30th Nov: Sharp Experience - Music And Comedy From These Guys Sun 1st Dec: Super Sunday ‘50’bingo And Quiz Fri 6th Dec: Sarah Simms Wonderful Female Artiste Sat 7th Dec: T.b.a. Sun 8th Dec: Super Sunday ‘50’ Bingo And Quiz Fri 13th Dec: T.b.a. Sat 14th Dec: Nightshift - A Quality Male Duo Sun 15th Dec Super Sunday ‘50’ Bingo And Quiz
I suspect any money you raised would just about have paid for the electricity used to power your banks of electronic equipment. Singing in the main square of the Centre next to the fountain may have looked good, but it seemed to mean that the choirmen were obliged to make constant trips to the lavatory. Here at St. James the Least of All, carol singing is regarded as a staff perk for the choir; the year when the Boys’ Brigade tried to break their monopoly was suppressed with a ruthlessness that would have impressed Genghis Khan. Our annual carol-singing route involves months of meticulous planning. We find that a transparent collection box is vital, so that donors can see what earlier patrons have given. This means that those who are bound to put in notes must be visited first – ‘pour encourager les autres’. It also needs a detachable base, so that if coppers are given, they can be removed from sight before the next call. Those homes that contain several children are visited just after bedtime, so that parents will give generously simply to get the choir to go somewhere else. Veiled threats to stay and sing more carols (unless they give generously) are usually very effective. Getting whoever looks the most innocent and photogenic to ring the bell and ask for money is a far more subtle way of ensuring a donation than planting any number of mafia lookalikes (such as our church treasurer) on the doorstep. The choir always finishes its evening at the local pub – but again, the timing has to be carefully managed. Too early and there will only be the landlord, his wife and their Labrador to listen; too late and people will be so full of Christmas cheer that any carols will be hi-jacked and become the equivalent of back-of-the bus rugby songs. I am never entirely sure what charity our choristers collect for, but the fact that all the men return to the pub once the boys are taken home does rather give one pause for thought. Your loving uncle,
Eustace
If you enjoy reading Groby Spotlight, please pass this copy on to a friend or relative when you’ve finished with it. Thanks! What disease did cured ham actually have?
Groby & Field Head Spotlight • NOVEMBER 2013 • Tel: 01530 244069
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RATBY VILLAGE SOCIETY Open Meetings Ratby Village Society meetings start at 8.00 pm in the Village Hall, Main Street, Ratby, on the third Tuesday monthly with the exception of JULY, AUGUST & DECEMBER when there are no meetings. Admission for members is £1.60 (Membership £5.00) and casual guests £2.50 refreshments included. You do not have to live in Ratby to attend everyone welcome. • 19th November 2013 Chris Mitchinson – Life as a Criminal Lawyer answering “How on earth can you act for someone you know is guilty?” How many times have you quoted that after an appalling crime has been committed! Come and find the answer a talk not to be missed also enjoy a glass of mulled wine and a mince pie. • Tea Dances in Ratby have proved very popular. The venue is Ratby Sports Club (centre of the village, opposite Co Op) on the first and third Wednesday of each month from 2pm-4pm. It is a good social afternoon in great company with fabulous music from your DJ and host, eddie ‘The Collector’. Dances are a mix of Ballroom, Latin and popular Sequence and everyone is welcome whether couples, singles, or a group. Admission is £2.50 on the door which includes tea and biscuits. Licensed bar and free parking. For more information, telephone 0116 239 5350.
Groby Street Fair Winning Raffle Tickets Hire of bouncy castle for the day - 12 x 12 ft - Donated by Big Bob Bouncing Castles (white 4) 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20.
Designer Necklace - Donated by Cathy Stephens (beige 561) Designer Necklace - Donated by Cathy Stephens(b1ue 109) Designer Necklace - Donated by Cathy Stephens (blue 470) Designer Necklace - Donated by Cathy Stephens (white 130) Grey Material Handbag - Donated by Flint. (Yellow 683) Pink Material Handbag - Donated by Flint (white 449) Glenfiddich Whiskey 70cl - Donated by Mr and Mrs Hawksworth (yellow 381) Meal for two - Donated by Groby Chinese (yellow 576) Meal for two - Donated by Groby Fish Bar (white 23) Basket of Fruit or Bouquet of Flowers Donated by Bradgate Stores (white 312) 4 Crystal glasses in box - Donated by Mr and Mrs Johnston (white 233) Teddy Bear - Donated by Wilsons Newsagents (pink 235) Bear Children’s Hat - Donated by Wilsons Newsagents (white 156) Wooden Wine Rack - Donated by Mr and Mrs Hollick (pink 234) Red Wine - Donated by Mr and Mrs Hollick (yellow 355) White Wine - Donated by Mr and Mrs Hollick (blue 445) Red Wine - Donated by UK Gas (yellow 455) Photo Frame - Donated by Pricegate (pink 142) Hair trimmers - donated by Martin Cartwright (pink 72) Hair curler - donated by Martin Cartwright (yellow 512)
THE BIBLE comes to Channel 5 this December December sees the launch of THE BIBLE, a mini-series to be broadcast on Channel 5. It will be followed by a Blu-ray and DVD release by Fox. From Genesis to Revelation, THE BIBLE series features some of the most famous stories, such as Noah’s Ark, the Exodus and Daniel in the Lion’s Den, to the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus. Visit www.thebibleuk.org/resources
Christmas has arrived at Ulverscroft Grange!
The Shuttlewood Clarke Foundation is delighted to announce that Christmas has arrived at Ulverscroft Grange Communality Support and Wellbeing Centre! The charity shops are now stocking the new Christmas selection which offers a wide range of festive items – gifts, decorations, stocking-fillers and much more! Groups and individuals are invited to book in for a Christmas Lunch, served in the Tea Rooms. These are available on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 26th November, 2013 and pre-booking is essential. Santa will also be making a special appearance on Saturday 7th December, 2013 between 10.00 a.m. – 4.00 p.m. There will a small selection of Christmas stalls, Christmas music and the opportunity to meet Santa’s delightful friends from Charnwood Forest Alpacas. Admission to Santa’s Grotto is £5.00 per child. Alan Norman, Chief Executive of the Foundation, said “this is a wonderful opportunity to come along and enjoy the festive spirit; whilst relaxing in the Tea Rooms, browsing the charity shops and enjoying the magnificent views.” For more information about please contact the Admin Team on 01530 244914 or via admin@shuttlewood-clarke.org.
I have all the money I’ll ever need - if I die by 4 o’clock today.
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Groby & Field Head Spotlight • NOVEMBER 2013 • Tel: 01530 244069
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Glenfield Millennium Green News It has been a relatively quiet time for the Millennium Green Trust during the summer and early autumn. Gardening activities have happened regularly and we are grateful for the hard work of two volunteers, John and George, who have managed to clear excess grasses and weeds from the grass beds in preparation for planting a more varied display. The willow tunnel has been trimmed and the hedge around the garden area has been tidied. Other members of the community have continued with their excellent work on their ‘adopted’ plots. Your support is needed for our next fund-raising event which is a Table Top Sale to be held at Groby Village Hall on Saturday November 30th. It will run from 10.00am to 12.00 pm (noon). Hopefully this time it won’t snow (we had to cancel our last one in March!). Admission is 50p and refreshments will be available during the morning. There will be a wide variety of stalls – something for everyone, so come and join us for the morning. Phone 0116 2991868 for details.
Chris Tordoff
Secretary Glenfield Millennium Green Trust
Bradgate Flower Club Events • “My Christmas’ is the theme for the Bradgate Flower Club meeting on Wednesday 4 December at Newtown Linford Village Hall. The renowned demonstrator is Andrew Lloyd of Stourbridge, West Midlands. The meeting is open to visitors and members’ guests - the entry fee is £5. Details from Lilian Coleman on 0116 2363191. • The St. Peter’s Church Flower Festival will take place at Copt Oak (LE67 9QB) on 7 and 8 December. Entitled “How far is it to Bethlehem?”, the Festival will be open between 10.30 and 4.00pm on both days. In addition to the floral displays, refreshments are available along with charity stalls and sales of plants, cards and chocolates. Entry £2, ample off-street parking.
Geraldine Abbott
The Christmas present your children will love the most This Christmas there is one very special Christmas present that only you can give your children. Don’t give it all at once, on Christmas day, but in regular chunks throughout the month (and on into next year). It is your time in letting your child talk to you. Sounds silly? Think again: nearly 30,000 head teachers across the UK are now so concerned at certain trends in modern family life that they have launched a national campaign to wake parents up. The problem is this: parents enjoy their mobile phones and TV in the evenings. It is so easy to get engrossed in these that they cut time in talking with their children (who can be much harder work!). So children are put to bed without much conversation and no story-time. Days and weeks (and years) slip by, and children do not get a chance to develop their speaking and listening skills. Eventually, the child arrives at school – and really struggles to know how to talk and how to listen in the classroom. The head teachers are warning that the problem is now so critical across the UK that many parents risk damaging their children’s long term social development. The campaign, Ready to Learn Everyday, has been backed by the school minister, and will be distributing four leaflets through nearly 30,000 schools. The campaign urges parents to turn off electronic devices. “Give your child your attention. Don’t check your mobile phone at the same time as they are talking to you. Switch off the television and laptops well before bedtime and chat with your child, or read a bedtime story together instead.” The guidance also urges parents to be patient when their child is talking, and not to interrupt them. Instead, ask them questions, discuss their day, and have a family meal together where possible. Praise your children when they in turn listen to you, and follow your instructions.
I went to see a concert in Bermuda and the guy playing the triangle just disappeared.
Groby & Field Head Spotlight • NOVEMBER 2013 • Tel: 01530 244069
Council helps 230 first-time buyers
A total of 230 homes have been bought by first-time buyers, thanks to support from Leicestershire County Council.
The council has supported 300 low-cost mortgage applications, totalling £33.6 million, of which 230 have been completed. Last year, the county council agreed to lend Lloyds TSB £10 million, enabling it to offer low-cost mortgages to up to 400 first-time buyers. Under the scheme, buyers have to find a deposit of just five per cent. So far, the council has deposited £7.4 million with Lloyds, of which £6.7 million has been used to underwrite mortgages. County council leader Nick Rushton said: I’m delighted that 230 firsttime buyers have got a home, thanks to support from the county council. We know first time buyers are struggling, so it makes sense to lend the bank some of our reserves, to help them get on the property ladder. This helps people into homes, boosts the economy and enables the council to get its money back, with interest, from the bank.” Stephen Noakes, mortgage director at Lloyds TSB, said: With the launch of Lend a Hand in Leicestershire, we’re making the housing market more accessible to more people. Helping people to buy their first home is crucial in achieving and maintaining a sustainable housing market.” How the scheme works: • The council lends money from its reserves to the bank • The money allows the bank to offer mortgages of up to £142,500, reducing the size of deposit that first-time buyers have to find to just five per cent • After five years, the bank repays the money, plus interest, to the council For further details, or to apply for a mortgage, see staff at any Lloyds TSB branch in Leicestershire. For interviews with first-time buyers, please contact the Lloyds TSB press office on 0207 356 1511.
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Bradgate Lions Club News
We are now into our second month of our new ‘Lionistic’ year, and because of holidays and other commitments we do seem to have made a slow start with our community and fund raising efforts, but having said that, we have attended various village and school fetes and taken a group of 21 special needs pupils from South Gate School to Ashby Statutes, during the last few weeks. We are now ready to hit the ground running with the first of our planned fund raising events, a Comedy and Magic Evening, featuring Joy Henderson, an outstanding local entertainer at Botcheston Village Hall on Saturday October 26th. This will be followed by our ‘Children in Need’ bucket collections in November, and then it’s the ‘Christmas Prize Draw Baskets’ in pubs throughout the area and our Santa Float in Villages in our district. All this will see us through to the New Year and a well earned rest, but we are already planning a ‘Race Evening’ for February 22nd. Again at Botcheston, and possibly an evening of nostalgia, with music from the 50s.60s. And 70s. At a venue yet to be decided. More news of this to follow later! Bradgate Lions are involved in all sorts of other activities such as the collecting and recycling of your old Glasses. Mobile ‘phones, Stamps, and Greeting cards. If you have any of these items available, just give Roger a ring and he will arrange to collect them. One of our main initiatives is supplying ‘Message in a Bottle’ and ‘Message in a Wallet’ to any person or organisation requiring them. These are simple tools, either to be kept at home in your refrigerator, or to be kept on your person in your purse or wallet. The Lions Message in a bottle is a simple idea that encourages people to keep their basic personal details in a common place, such as your ‘fridge, where they can easily found in an emergency. Likewise the Message in a wallet is a similar device designed to help the emergency services in the event of an accident or emergency. It is a credit size card kept in a in a plastic case, in your wallet or purse. Both of these items are FREE. Some Doctors Surgeries, Health Centres and Chemists will have supplies, but they can easily obtained from your local Lions Club members. If you would like any further information about any of the above items. Or about Bradgate Lions Club, please ring Roger on 01530 242912 who would be pleased to help.
Roger Gamble
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I have learned there is little difference in husbands, so you might as well keep the first.
d Search Puzzle
Groby & Field Head Spotlight • NOVEMBER 2013 • Tel: 01530 244069
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http://puzzlemak
Unusual Fruits Wordsearch
N M X A H V D D Y V K T N A H X
X O C J R Z A U M I I O C L I Z
P I L U H N S R O U K H J U N R
J L Z E O Z H S R A E V A R O H
Y Q A C M V G F I R Y Y B A O X
CHERRYMOYA COCONA HORNEDMELON JABUTICABA MARULA MIRACLEFRUIT PITAYA PLATONIA RAMBUTAN SALAK SALMONBERRY SUGARAPPLE
R E O T O D E Z R G H A U M N N
R C A L O L E Y A V N E T A K O
Find the names of the 12 Unusual Fruits 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 uncommon fruits. These can run vertically, horizontally or diagonally (and backwards!). Send your entry to: FIVE A DAY, Groby & Field Head Spotlight, PO Box 8, Markfield, Leics. LE67 9ZT to arrive by Tuesday 3rd 2013. Remember to include your name and address. The E B N O M L A S I December first all-correct entry drawn out of the Editor’s Fruit Bowl will win the Meal K Q T I C D H V B for Two at The Fieldhead Hotel. Good luck!
Y D C N M N L O W F I I D F
M A Z O I B R L R Q C O P O
R T Y M Y A M O T O A N P T
R A M B U T A N H G B P K R
E L P P A R A G U S A D X R
K A L A S M K H L H F Y F G
N Q A B D Q Q H M P R K U R
K V I F V R I U Z F Y A X E
Z D P L H U P M Q Y O V F T
Here are the 12 RARE FRUITS you have to find:
SUGARAPPLE • CHERRYMOYA • PLATONIA COCONA • JABUTICABA • RAMBUTAN MARULA • SALMON BERRY • SALAK HORNED MELON • PITAYA • MIRACLE FRUIT Name: ................................................................................................. Address: ................................................................................................ .................................................................Postcode: .............................
Last Month’s Wordsearch Winner The winner of last issue’s Wordsearch competition was: MARY HUTT of Jacqueline Road, Markfield You win a Main Course for Two plus a Bottle of House Wine at The Fieldhead Hotel. Congratulations!
Newtown Linford Gardening Club News Christine Walkden entertained a packed audience at the October meeting of the gardening club. Our own members, their friends and visitors from gardening clubs around the county heard her talk about the ups and downs of being a gardener. With no props, slides or illustrations of any kind, she brought us into her own world and the things about which she cared. She told us about her childhood and how gardening at home and managing an allotment took up more and more of her time. When she resolved to make horticulture her chosen profession she told us of the challenges she faced in a male -dominated world which found a young girl with a feisty temperament a difficult thing to deal with. We laughed and marvelled as she described the doomed efforts of a make-over specialist to make her telegenic for the small screen; how she discovered an interest in types of soil by digging graves in a Lancashire cemetery; and how, as a lecturer and teacher, she used gardening to turn around the lives of wayward youngsters in South Wales. This was a marvellous way to bring our year to an end. We will finish with our Christmas party in early December and then turn our minds to another year with lots of exciting events planned. 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.
Created by Puzzlemaker at DiscoveryEducation.com
Anne and David Couling Nobody can be exactly like me. Even I have trouble doing it.
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I eat cake because it’s somebody’s birthday somewhere.
08/11/2013 16:40