November 2020 Herald Magazine by Michael Wilkinson

MID-NOVEMBER 2020

Markfield, Field Head, Stanton-under-Bardon, Thornton & Bagworth Local rider flying the flag

More success for Joshua Bailey and Bughill Darcy during lockdown

Luke Jackson Charity BECAUSE OF the Government’s advice to limit gatherings of people from different households and to shield elderly and/or vulnerable people, the Charity trustees have taken the difficult decision to cancel this year’s pay out.

Decorate your house BIG STYLE!

Queen Bee and Markfield Winter Wonderland

JOSHUA BAILEY continues competing on 7 yr old Bughill Darcy, following on from his big success winning the Arena Eventing Championships at the beginning of the year. Since March 2020 they have continued to go from strength to strength qualifying in each discipline for the 2021 Championships. • Winning Pony Club Area qualifiers and BRC, also individual Show jumping . • Winning the Area Arena Eventing for BRC and individual at Vale View. • Winning the Working Hunter, Sports Horse, Best mare and Best rider qualifying for P.S.U.K Championships • Qualifying at Swalcliffe ODE and Combined Training for Trailblazers. Joshua and his team mate Holly Balding (pictured right) qualified for the BRC Hunter Trials with an exciting time difference of less than a second between them to place a very creditable 2nd place. The proudest moment for Joshua to date is qualifying for the Championships to ride at Aintree Equestrian Centre for British Show jumping. He qualified with 3 double clear rounds in very competitive times. Joshua has been fortunate enough to ride at some amazing locations, he remains to put hours of hard work into getting to these championships and should be very proud of himself and what he has achieved in such a short space of time.

CHRISTMAS is coming and it’s definitely something to look forward to after a crazy year! The Queen Bee Youth Project remains closed for the foreseeable due to coronavirus but we still want to continue spreading cheer in our community. After the success of the Queen Bee Sunflower project ‘Markfield in Bloom’ we’d love to see what Christmas decoration creations you can come up with. We are encouraging you to decorate your house BIG STYLE this Christmas. We are spending more time at home and in our village than ever this year so let’s enjoy it and create a Markfield Winter Wonderland. Share your pics on Facebook @queenbeeyouth

Aggregate Industries Invites Applications to its Bardon Hill Community Fund AS PART OF its ongoing commitment to invest in the local community, Aggregate Industries has launched its annual Bardon Hill Community Fund to help initiatives and community groups at this difficult time. Each year, the leading construction materials supplier, which is headquartered at Bardon Hill Quarry, distributes £40,000 to fund worthy local projects such as community centres, voluntary groups, charities and any other community-centric initiatives that improve the lives of the local population. TURN TO PAGE 10 ...>

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The Herald Message from Dr Luke Evans MP PO Box 8, Markfield, Leics. LE67 9ZT Tel: 01530 244069 info@markfieldherald.co.uk www.markfieldherald.co.uk

The Herald is a monthly local magazine delivered free to approximately 4,000 homes and businesses in Markfield, Field Head, Stanton under Bardon, Thornton and Bagworth. Contact Mike Wilkinson with your articles, news items or advertising enquiries. Printed by Norwood Press in Ellistown. The opinions expressed by contributors are not necessarily those of the Herald Production Team. The inclusion of any group or organisation in this publication does not necessarily imply a recommendation of its aims, methods or policies. The Herald 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. The Herald reserves the right to amend, shorten or refuse to publish articles and/or advertisements submitted for publication. All contents © The Herald. None of the articles or adverts contained in this magazine are to be reproduced in any way without first obtaining written consent from The Herald.

WHEN WE first heard about Coronavirus way back at the start of this year we understood very early on, because of the historical precedents of how viruses transmit and survive, that there was likely to be a second wave of cases this Autumn. The prospect of a second wave gave Government time to prepare. Our understanding of the disease has improved massively; we are conducting more tests than any other European nation, we have been able to prepare with PPE; and we now have a greater range of drugs available to us to treat patients whilst we wait for a vaccine to be approved. We have also been able to prepare for the measures that we need to put in place to reduce transmission, and to get amongst other factors, the famous ‘R’ number below 1 once more. Determining the measures that are needed is an invidious job for Government. No one wants to limit the rights and freedoms that we all enjoy. At the same time most of us understand that some must be offered up temporarily to protect the lives of the most vulnerable, including our loved ones. The Government must also be mindful that any measure that they adopt has a very real impact on our economy, jobs and livelihoods. It is undoubtedly true that a strong economy brings with it direct health benefits for society. For all of those reasons the Government have introduced a new system of local COVID alert levels which are designed to be agile enough to change when needed, but proportionate enough to only limit us as much as is absolutely necessary to protect our NHS. At the time of writing Hinckley and Bosworth is at local COVID alert level: Medium – which means the Rule of 6 applies indoors and out but businesses and venues can continue to operate in a COVID-secure manner. It also means that schools, universities and churches can remain open – but pubs and restaurants must close by 10.00pm. Of course, it’s possible that levels can change, so it is important to know how to find what your local level is and what you are required to do if and when it does. There are two very easy ways to find out. You can download the NHS Covid-19 app from your app store – it tells you what alert level we are at and allows you to check in to venues for test and trace purposes. Alternatively visit the Government’s postcode checker at: https://www.gov.uk/find-coronavirus-local-restrictions We can all do our bit to defeat this virus once and for all if we remember to WASH our hands regularly, cover our FACE, and give each other two metres SPACE if possible. Remember HANDS,FACE,SPACE – there is nothing more important. Please do get a test straight away if you are displaying symptoms of the virus. Together we will defeat this virus, together we will look after each other.

Dr Luke Evans MP Member of Parliament for Bosworth House of Commons, London SW1A 0AA web: drlukeevans.org.uk tel: constituency: 01455 635741 parliament: 0207 219 4250 mobile: 07920 619812 twitter: @drlukeevans Instagram: drlukeevans

Don’t forget to send us your news! Email: info@ markfieldherald. co.uk Thank you!

I’ve got some reliable inside information about Apple’s next product: I won’t be able to afford it.

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

KEEP YOUR HOME SAFE THIS WINTER

Darker Nights Police Campaign LIBRARY OPENING HOURS: 16 NOV. 2020

THE AIM of the Darker Nights campaign is to raise awareness about the risks of being burgled during the darker nights, as well as providing tips and advice on how to keep your home safe.

So Monday many1-3pm people are touched by dementia. Tuesday 1-3pm

We also want to encourage people to report suspicious behaviour to the police. This message is a long term message to be considered throughout the PLEASE Friday COME 1-3pm TO OUR FRIENDLY COFFEE MORNING Autumn/Winter period. MARKFIELD LIBRARY at 11am Please take a few minutes to have a look through some of the below advice Saturdayat 10-12.30pm th and links for further information. on soon Wednesday 18 reservations January. (holds) WE HOPE very to resume taking • Protect your home from burglars, keep valuables out of sight and don’t for books that are not stocked at the library but are in leave cash or keys near windows and doors. stock at other libraries. • Burglars will often target items such as cash and jewellery. Please try We will continue not charging for this service, and you can be reassured to limit cash at your property. Ensure all jewellery, even if just of senthe books will be “quarantined” on receipt making them safe for you to timental value is kept out of sight and put somewhere secure and difhandle and read. We know how much this part of the library service has ficult for a criminal to find. been missed. • A house without a light on can look unoccupied, there are simple AUTHOR OF THE MONTH - Why not rediscover a things you can do to make sure your house looks lived in, even when you’re out. classic Agatha Christie for autumn days and nights? • If you have a house alarm, ensure you set it before you go out. Ensure • Agatha Christie’s The Mysterious Affair at all doors and windows are locked. Consider security items such as Styles window alarms. Our This free, valuable and Dementia Friends was her first published novel,interesting written in the middle • Lights on indoors gives the impression someone of the First World War and in print by October 1920. Here Information Session is just about asking everyone to is home. Use timer switches to automatically we first meet Poirot displaced from Belgium by the war, turn on lighting and lamps when you’re away staying near friend Emily. about As with many Christie’s, a and how we might derstand a his bit more dementia or out for the evening. contentious will is involved. • Burglars don’t like external security lights, make life that bit easier and more pleasant for those In all Agatha Christie wrote 66 crime novels and is the make sure you use these during the darker creator of two of thepeople most enduring figures in crime who live with it. nights, for more tips on keeping your home literature – Hercule Poirot and Miss Jane Marple. safe, visit: https://www.leics.police.uk/cp/ crime-prevention/residential-burglary/ • Curtain: Poirots’s Last Case • Burglars will often look for homes that seem Agatha lived from 1890 to 1976. By the time she wrote unoccupied during the darker nights, if you Poirot’s final case (1975) she seemed determined that no see someone acting suspiciously in your street one else should get their hands on her Belgian detective. please report this to us online www.leics. This last mystery is an important moment when she police.uk/report-online or by calling 101. realises she could only keep Poirot by letting him go. Always call 999 in an emergency or if you Miss Jane Marple first appeared in 1930 in The Murder Plug-in Security Timer witness a crime in action. at the Vicarage. A dead body in a Clergyman’s study switches such as this Worried about keeping your home safe during proves that no place is a sanctuary example come on and the darker nights? from murder. off in a random pattern. Don’t be – Leicestershire Police have lots of in• Sleeping Murder (Priced at around £10 formation & advice on our website about how to from Amazon) The final novel featuring Miss Jane Marple where the keep your home secure owner of a seaside villa is plagued by strange feelings https://www.leics.police.uk/cp/crime-prevention/residential-burglary/ about her past. Gwenda turns to Miss Marple to exorcise Did you know you can report crime and incidents using the online portal. her ghosts and between them, they solve a perfect crime Please visit https://www.leics.police.uk/ and click on REPORT. committed many years before. In an emergency dial 999.

Thursday 12.30-3pm

Would you please spend just one hour to understand a little more about dementia? t could help you, family, friends, neighbours - our whole community.

Please do be a Dementia Friend.

I could do great things if I weren’t so busy doing little things.

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Local author launches her first book SANTA AND THE BABY JESUS is a first book from local author Hazel J Wilcox in conjunction with illustrator Carol M Weir. We hope that Santa’s exciting adventure will captivate children’s imaginations and present them with the real meaning behind our Christmas festivities: just how much God loves them. Description: “Santa is going about his usual Christmas Eve activities, but he is in for a big surprise, one that will change his life forever. See how, one by one, a heavenly visitor introduces Santa to the characters of the first Christmas and explains the real and exciting meaning behind it all” Available now on Amazon. Facebook Page: WW Children’s Books Email: wwchildrensbooks@gmail.com

Advertising is fantastic! It can attract new customers and boost your profits! To advertise in the Herald, call Mike Wilkinson on 01530 244069 or email: info@markfieldherald.co.uk

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

Letter

Bradgate Park car parking charges WITH REFERENCE to your article on Bradgate parking charges; do the trustees of Bradgate Park think that we are all idiots and that we do not see through their proposed changes? They are not listening to the public, they are using this as a backhanded way of increasing what are already extortionate charges. Far from deterring people parking on the road side this will only make more people want to park outside of the car parks. We will now have to pay the same amount for 3 hours as we were paying for all day, whilst a £1.50 increase on all day parking is well out of some people’s disposable income. At a time of a pandemic, lockdowns, furloughs and redundancies when we are being urged to get outside into nature these trustees intend to penalise us for doing so. As far as reducing prices after 4pm this is a joke as we are coming into winter when it gets dark around 4pm and who wants to walk through the park in the dark? Bradgate Park was left to the people of Leicester and Leicestershire to enjoy and is now run as a charity with a board of trustees. I am aware that there should be a board of 12 trustees, at present there are only 9 of which 6 are councillors and 3 general public. Although people have applied to join this board the spaces are not being filled; one has to ask ‘do these 6 councillors have ulterior motives of what they want to do with the park?’ Can we expect to see a new housing estate going up? I also hear that the coffee shop is to be closed from Monday to Friday when a lot of older/retired people walk in the park and stop for a coffee; where will it stop?

Julie Grace Markfield

Remembrance Sunday Activities

AFTER MAKING it to the big screen (well the BBC that’s close enough) with our daily dance, Croft Way has continued to stay in touch and has become its own mini community in the village. With the chaos of Covid-19 its been comforting having neighbours looking out for each other. From birthdays to VE day there has been a tune playing from the bottom of our street. Croft Way took part in a two minute silence on our drives for Remembrance Sunday along with other members of the community.

We spotted this beautiful display (above) in Markfield created by local Sam. After going into our second 2020 lockdown and with Christmas coming up we would love to spread the festive cheer. Croft Way are having a CHRISTMAS THEMED STREET DANCE with a Mince pie and hot choc (or wine) on your drive on Christmas eve at 6pm. Let’s hear those bells around the village! Get involved. Tinsel and santa hats required!

Jo & The Dancers of Croft Way

Diary of Two Nobodies By Giles Wood & Mary Killen GILES IS A countryman who relishes solitude. His wife Mary thrives in company and enjoys frequent escapes to London. You may know them from Channel 4’s Gogglebox. After thirty years in a marriage of opposites, Giles and Mary have adapted to a life of domestic misunderstandings within comical misadventures. In The Diary of Two Nobodies, you will have the unique opportunity to discover, first hand, what occurs when a man who sees himself as a cross between Mr Bean and Basil Fawlty shares his life with a woman who identifies closely with the Queen. Featuring illustrations by the artist Giles, himself.

I half intend almost 50% of what I think I mean to say.

CHRISTMAS DAY FOR THE ELDERLY AND ALONE IN ANSTEY AND SURROUNDING VILLAGES FOR THE PAST 15 years there has been a meal for those who would be alone on the day but for obvious reasons we can’t do that this year - we usually cater for 95 people! BUT we want to do something, so we will be providing a goody bag as full as possible with foody treats! Could you spare a yummy treat? Perhaps a chocolate orange, box of chocolates, box or packet of biscuits, matchsticks or Aldi/Lidl equivalent, after eights, packets of crisps, sweets (denturefriendly ones !), anything nonperishable that’s not too heavy basically. ONLY FOOD PLEASE – No toiletries or other goods for this year thanks, that’s as I cannot mix the goody bags with other things as toiletries for example. They won’t be able to go into the bag with food. Usually we will do toiletries etc.as prizes but obviously things are different this year! PLEASE NO…. Cans, bottles, anything too heavy - as everything will need to be able to go into a carrier bag and our volunteers will be trekking around delivering them! If you can help with any of the above – Nationwide in Anstey have once again kindly offered to be a drop off point – so please drop any donations of food, cash or cheque (please make that payable to Christmas Day Alone) to them by 16th December - or contact me as below Thanks for reading

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

Latest Stanton planning application typifies all that is wrong with the planning process Borough Councillor Matthew Lay writes in The Herald I WILL BEGIN again this month with my depressingly regular moan about every Tom Dick and Harry wanting to build on every acre between Leicester and Coalville. Another planning application has come in this time for 80 plus houses at Stanton under Bardon. The development is clearly speculative hoping that the drive by Government to build, build and build literally means that. This application on land at the bottom of Stanton on the Thornton Lane, typifies all that is wrong with the planning process. 80 plus houses coming onto a single track road in a village that has already absorbed lots of new builds in the past 10 years with two of these developments decided by Government Inspectors after the Borough Council turned them down. This is such a bad application on policy grounds that I believe it would never have seen the light of day 20 years ago, but these applications are just coming at us left, right and centre. I am hopeful that the Council’s planning policies are robust enough to stop this one it its tracks but before long we might not have that luxury. It’s again another reason why we need robust neighbourhood plans that plan for growth proportionate to the community it is being proposed for.

Warehousing at Stanton We have another damaging application at Stanton being determined at Hinckley in the coming week (you will read this after the event) for a large warehousing development off the B585. I have written before about this development and the overdevelopment of these huge sheds which are deeply damaging to the nature of the rural setting and economically of little value because they simply displace economic activity and mostly rely on temporary or agency workers, therefore providing few opportunities for quality employment. We absolutely need quality employment opportunities, but that is not yet more warehousing that eats up land as if we have plenty to spare, when we do not. What we have should be preserved wherever possible. • MOVING AWAY from the subject of planning and back onto the problems of Covid 19. There is an old saying ‘shutting the stable door after the horse has bolted.’ It can feel that way sometimes in

the manner that the Government has dealt with this Covid pandemic. It always feels that we are slow to act with the necessary vigour required and then when we are forced to act, we are required to go further and longer than would have been the case. I do however have some sympathy with Government, not just ours but also those across the globe in trying to deal with this pandemic. Being in charge of things can be easy when all goes well but is so much harder when things don’t.

Solutions cause problems It is even harder still when the things that are causing you problems are unknown or they are by nature tough to resolve. In fact many of the things people complain about are by nature difficult to resolve which is why they persist as problems through generations. It is also true that solutions to the problems often cause other problems. As many people can be mad about a solution to a problem as they are pleased with its resolution. I was once told that actually the best solutions often please nobody. I am a great believer in consensus building but this seems to be very old fashioned in a world in which polar opposites seem to prevail and those that seem more interested in division hold sway. In essence it’s a case of ‘I am right therefore you cannot be’ and it is a very simple narrative to hold onto but it is often fundamentally wrong. The answer to problems or issues often lies somewhere between the two opposite points of view, but how often do we try and go and search for that answer?

Powerful algorithms Today we live in a world of social media, with its powerful algorithms that link up like-minded people without you realising it and suppresses those voices of an alternate persuasion. Before long the only

voices you hear are those that reinforce the view you already hold and so the notion of complexity disappears. The voices you get to hear also become ever more narrow and extreme as the algorithms do their job. Before long what was once a lone voice in the wilderness can be the mainstream view without a genuine review of why it was in the wilderness in the first place. Complex issues are presented as anything but, and the narrative goes thus - the answer to the problem is ‘such and such’ and the only reason it hasn’t happened is because of ‘this and that’. So someone comes along and say it’s simple, get rid of ‘this and that’ and all will be well. Of course it never is, because ‘this and that’ was never real the problem in the first place. So convinced do we become that ‘this and that’ was the issue, we close our ears and eyes to alternatives or any exploration of them and follow those who shout loudest in the tones we are most familiar or comfortable with. If that wasn’t bad enough, we also start to belittle those who have alternate views or information sources that do not conform with our now firmly held position. We find that new sayings appear ‘alternate facts’ perhaps being the most demonstrable, so when the evidence does not fit the narrative, someone comes along and distorts the evidence to make the round peg fit in the square hole. It is unsettling but it is surrounding us ever more and we do need to pay attention to it.

Keeping people happy At some point we have to come together again and search for the best way forward for us all rather than always seeking to believe opposites are all bad and the same side is all good. We have to recognise that governing is hard and keeping people happy is harder still. Those who seek to govern should also act re-

sponsibly and not push policies that sow division or claim remedy when it is nothing of the sort. The just recently announced lockdown which is now in force as I write (although I am not sure who is enforcing it) meant that we could not have the annual remembrance parade and gathering on Remembrance Sunday. Informally a few gathered at the war memorial and many took part in the doorstep acts of remembrance. It was a timely reminder of the sacrifices many previous generations have made to get us where we are today. Quite what they would make of things today though is anybody’s guess. The lockdown will have an impact on the transmission of the virus but it will also have an impact on businesses and the livelihoods of many people. When we do come out of this current lockdown it is important that we do not again punish those businesses that are diligent and careful to maintain a safe environment while others who are less careful and actually negligent just carry on. When coming out of the last lockdown and over the summer, I witnessed both extremes and it seems wrong to lump the bad and the good into one group all impacted by a total lockdown. More focus needs to be placed on enforcing basic good standards and only closing those businesses that do not treat the issue with the seriousness it deserves. The same of course could also be said for us all in observing the rules and helping everyone else by doing so. So please stay safe and let us hope by our actions we can move forward together.

Matthew

The new sundial I bought is useless. It doesn’t say whether it’s a.m. or p.m.

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The one benefit of a Covid Christmas? A COVID Christmas (no more than six) could actually help take some financial pressure off you, according to Martin Lewis, the personal finance expert. The Money Saving Expert founder recently pointed out that because of the enormous pressure on people to spend, spend spend at Christmas, the festive period has become one of the ‘biggest causes of debt and misery’ in the UK. This year, though, could be different. Most of us will be visiting fewer people, buying fewer presents and having smaller dinners. So, ‘it might just take the pressure off people.’

Over two million homes with no smoke alarm LATEST government figures for 2018-19 show that nine per cent of households in England – about 2.17 million – do not have a working alarm. And only 26 per cent of people who do own an alarm bother to test it at least once a month. This is despite experts warning that people are around eight times more likely to die in a fire in a home with no working smoke alarm. The Local Government Association, which represents councils and fire authorities in England, points out that fire risk goes up in the winter months, as people use heaters and open fires. They strongly urge people to buy a smoke alarm for themselves, and for any less-able family member or neighbour.

Why don’t we take this relationship to the next level and you lend me some money.

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

County Councillor’s Report from Peter Bedford Email: peter.bedford@leics.gov.uk • Tel: 01455 824733 Web: www.facebook.com/peterbedfordmdt HELLO EVERYONE, WITH THE nights now ‘drawing in’ I hope you are keeping well and not feeling too down about the longer and darker evenings! As usual I thought I would outline a few bits and pieces that I have been working on since my last update:

Residents Meeting IN OCTOBER I was pleased to hold my first “Face to face” meeting with residents since the start of the pandemic. Whilst we have all adapted to the “new” (and I hope temporary) virtual ways of working, nothing beats a proper face-to-face conversation! So I was pleased to be able to hold this meeting with 4 local residents at the Community Centre in Markfield. The Community Centre was assiduous in its approach to social distancing and covid secure measures and I would like to thank volunteers and staff for all they do to keep these important community hubs going. I found this meeting to be constructive covering a range of issues from questions on the Jelson Application through to general queries about how s.106 monies are requested and allocated when a new housing development is approved. Whilst much of this falls within the remit of the Local Planning Authority (HBBC), I did outline the County Council’s involvement in the process as a statutory consultee. I do not profess to know everything about everything (a very brave and bold statement?!), and as such I took away some excellent ‘next steps’ for further information on these issues. I will continue to work closely with residents to

ensure that the correct, and not sensationalist, information is given – particularly on sensitive issues like housing development and financial support community groups.

Development Matters IN OCTOBER I hosted (virtually) a meeting between LCC Highways, Parish Councillors and HBBC Planners on the subject of s.106 monies. In a nutshell s.106 funds are levied on developers for local infrastructure as a result of increased demands on local services. The purpose of this meeting was to ensure that all three stakeholders are as joined up as possible on the needs of the local community when any planning applications come in. I, like many residents, am deeply concerned by the number of applications coming in. I know this concern is shared by local MP Dr Luke Evans who I am working closely with to ensure that our villages are protected from speculative applications. With the Local Planning Authority (HBBC) set to fail the House Delivery Test in November the ‘presumption in favour of sustainable development’ will put massive pressure on our villages to take swathes of additional housing. We all recognise the need for housing to support people getting onto the property ladder; but the current level of applications is simply (in my view) not fair or sustainable.

Free School Meals AROUND £500k has been earmarked by Leicestershire County Council to extend free school meals during the holidays for the remainder of the academic year.

The move is designed to ensure that children and young people don’t go hungry during the Christmas, half-term and Easter breaks – and will benefit the 12,000 pupils across Leicestershire who are eligible for free school meals. This package is in addition to the support already given or underway: • £500k of funding to food banks and community groups (Leicestershire’s share of the £63m DEFRA funding) • £1.5m Communities fun • £750k small businesses fund During the month I continued to work on casework across the area on issues ranging from speeding and parking enforcement to bonfire nuisance, and flooding. If I can be of assistance in any way please do not hesitate to get in touch, Best wishes,

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

Community Fund From page 1

The fund is part of Aggregate Industries broader £400,000 pledge to provide ongoing support to local community initiatives for the benefits of residents around its headquarters over the next decade. Amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, the company is inviting applications for funding not just from voluntary or community groups with a link to Bardon Hill Quarry, but also those that may have a sustainable project that could benefit people in the area. What’s more, the fund is also encouraging applications from projects that bring together a wide range of age groups. Kirsten Hannaford-Hill, Estates Surveyor at Aggregate Industries, comments: “As part of our ongoing commitment to invest in the local community during this difficult time, we’re pleased to launch the next tranche of the Bardon Hill Community Fund. To help improve the lives of local residents, we’re inviting applications from worthy organisations and community groups offering vital and valuable services to the area. Whether it’s supporting vulnerable groups during the pandemic, or enhancing biodiversity – we’d love to hear from you!” Previous beneficiaries of the funding have included Broom Leys Allotment Society, which received £5,500 in funding to promote healthy eating and enhance biodiversity and the local environment. North West Leicestershire District Council has also benefitted from £9,800 for a new picnic and willow play area at Forest Adventures. Meanwhile, the fund has donated £13,800 to Bardon Sports Club to help improve its disabled access and patio seating area. To apply to Aggregate Industries’ Bardon Hill Community Fund, please complete the form that can be found on the homepage at www.aggregate.com

My dogs are excellent guard dogs. As long as the burglars remember to ring the doorbell.

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Poppies in Bagworth

South Charnwood High School ‘encouraging excellence, valuing people’

LAST YEAR, the Bagworth Forward Group (BFG) agreed with the Parish Council that the group would invest in more poppies which could be fixed to lamp posts in Bagworth during the month of November. Sadly, because of the limits on businesses because of the restrictions caused by Covid-19, it has not been possible to buy any this year. As soon as they are once again able to be bought, they will be purchased by BFG in order to create a good display in Bagworth, preventing villagers from forgetting the men and women in the village who were involved in two World Wars, some of whom were injured and some of whom died. Of those who died:

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn. At the going down of the sun and in the morning We will remember them. From ‘For the Fallen’ by Robert Laurence Binyon

Headteacher: Andrew Morris: Deputy Headteachers: Simon Andrews, Abigail Lear Assistant Headteacher: Kathryn Juszkiewicz Business Manager: Angela Preston

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Free training is available. Please see the school website at www.southcharnwood.leics.sch.uk for information about South Charnwood High School.

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One day, I’d like to hit the refresh button and actually feel refreshed.

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

National Trust Leicester Association

Letter

The impact of lockdown on the National Trust Praise where praise is due WHEN THE country went into the first coronavirus lockdown the National Trust had to close all of its properties overnight.

This led to a loss of £200m of income over the spring period, mainly from entry fees, tea room and shop sales and on site membership sales. During this time approximately 95% of all staff from properties, regional offices and head office were placed on the government furlough scheme to save money. A working party was immediately set up to look for ways of saving around £100m per annum over the next few years. Following the working party report published in July, the Trust announced that it was proposing to make 1,200 staff redundancies across the whole organisation and to make significant changes to working practices to achieve the savings. These proposals were then circulated to all NT staff, volunteers and the officers of NT Associations and Centres, for comment. One result of the consultation was that over 700 members of staff offered themselves for voluntary redundancy which means that only 514 compulsory redundancies will be required. In addition to the redundancies approximately £40m will be saved by reducing travel and other general office costs. Also, approximately £120m will be saved by stopping or deferring non essential projects. Locally, from an operational point of view, Calke Abbey will continue to be a pre booked property for the foreseeable future and Stoneywell Cottage will almost certainly not be open seven days a week.

• ON A MORE PLEASANT NOTE,

Belton House near Grantham, will hold its “Magical, after dark, illuminated Christmas trail” again this year, commencing on 27th November. This is a spectacular light show covering a very large area of the garden and grounds. Full details are available on the property web site, www.nationaltrust.org.uk/ belton-house or by telephoning 01476 566116. The National Trust Leicester Association has currently suspended all of its activities. Please check the Association web site at – www.leicesternt.btck.co.uk for updates, including details regarding Stoneywell Cottage and the Association’s bookshop.

Alan Tyler, Publicity Officer NT Leicester Association

‘There, there dear …’ Pie Night is now Wednesday Steak Night is now Thursday

A RECENT poll has found that the over-60s often face patronising, though usually well-meant, comments from the younger generation. One older woman was amused, when going into a shop before Christmas, to be met by a younger assistant who asked, ‘And how are we doing so far today?’ ‘I suspect she had taken one look at me and decided that I was lucky to have even made it alive to lunchtime!’

IN THESE TIMES it is important that we all think about the importance of where we live and what the long-term future of our environment holds. I would like to write and say thank you to people who have and are working hard for the benefit of the people in Markfield and surrounding areas. I would just like to mention three in particular: 1. The Herald – for keeping us informed on all that is happening that is affecting our local Borough, in a clear and easily understood manner. Highlighting what our local borough Councillors are up against and how hard they work for us. 2. Matthew Lay - who has been working hard fighting our corner for many years. It is good to know that we have an honest, kind and straight-talking representative, a proven real asset for us. 3. Dr Luke Evans MP – new to us, but already looking to be another great asset to us. We recently had an issue in which he took the time and trouble to give us an in-depth reply, with advice on the way forward. I know, like Matthew Lay he is a very busy man. I have just read his article in the Herald regarding a new Bill that he is putting forward in parliament. After reading his proposal I think he will be a good and honest MP (which is rare these days) and will do us proud. During these very troubling times I thought it would be nice to have some positivity and hope for the future, and that we have some good, hardworking politicians and truthful reporting.

Faye

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Whoever named the boomerang should get to name more things.

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OUR OCTOBER meeting was our AGM. Our business was conducted quite quickly as there has been less activity and expenditure than in previous years. Three members stood down from the Committee for personal reasons, we thanked them for their work over the years and they still remain with us as members. On the plus side we welcomed one new member onto the Committee and we look forward to her input. Following conclusion of the AGM business our member Lynn Mellor gave us a talk on the theme of Halloween. It appears Halloween was originally a pagan festival but was approved and appropriated by the Church which designated 1 November as All saints day and 2 November as All Souls day (presumably on the basis of ‘if you can’t beat them join them’). We heard about the origins of trick or treat where children originally went about singing soul songs and were rewarded with soul cakes and apple bobbing where managing a bite of the apple meant taking a bite of life and ensured a good year ahead. Lynn ended her talk with a couple of local ghost stories, one about a pair of shoes which refused to leave the house! We always enjoy Lynn’s talks and this was no exception, we look forward to the next one. We still continue to meet up in groups of six while this is still allowed. It means a lot to those who live alone and don’t receive many visitors and as long as members are interested we hope to continue. • OUR SPEAKER IN NOVEMBER will be Gay Evans who gave us the talk about the history of postcards. This time her talk will be ‘The last English nobleman hanged for murder’. This is a local tale with a connection to Staunton Harold. If this is a story that might interest any of you ladies or if you would just like to join us in November please contact Fran Johnson on 01530 243350 and she will be pleased to let you have the zoom link for the meeting; we would love to hear from you.

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If I ever go missing, before calling the police, please check between my bed and the wall.

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

Lord-Lieutenant of Leicestershire award scheme THE LORD-LIEUTENANT of Leicestershire will celebrate the achievements of young people across the city and county this year through a virtual event. Every year, the Lord-Lieutenant’s award scheme recognises the efforts and successes of 13-to-19 year-olds. However, this year’s category finalists will be acknowledged at an online ceremony later this month, due to the impact of covid-19. Michael Kapur OBE, Lord-Lieutenant of Leicestershire, said: “As a result of Covid-19 I had to postpone our special ‘red carpet’ awards evening and dinner originally planned for April. “However, I am pleased to announce we will be holding a virtual event for our finalists on 17, November 2020. “Ahead of the event, I have been sharing some of our finalists’ achievements via my twitter account, to demonstrate how the young people of Leicester and Leicestershire continue to astound me with their creativity, strength of spirit and selflessness. “I hope that the positivity and enthusiasm that shines through in their personal stories brightens your day and inspires more young people to follow their passions and encourages our local communities to continue to nurture and support the incredible young people in their midst. “When you see the high standards of our finalists, you can appreciate how it makes my job of deciding who should receive the overall Young Person of the Year award that much harder, and long may that remain the case.” The category finalists for the 2020 awards are as follows: Young Artist of the Year • David Knight, aged 18, is from Lutterworth. • Isaac Hurst is 13 years old and attends the Wigston Academy. • Thomas Corden is 18 and from Melton Mowbray. • Zaahidah Ifarm is 15 years old from Leicester and attends the City of Leicester College. Young Braveheart of the Year • Gary Concepcion is 18 years old and lives in Leicester. • Isse Abdullahi is 14, lives in Leicester and attends Crown Hills Community College. • James Rimmer is 14 years old and lives in Groby, Leicestershire. • Tyler Hodgkinson is 16 years old and lives in Coalville and attends King Edward VII High School in Coalville. Young Leader of the Year • Hanniya Kamran is 18 and comes from Leicester. • Kiera McCourt is 17 years old, from Kirby Muxloe and attends Groby Brookvale Academy. • Lauren Duguid is 18 and lives in Fleckney. • Madiha Ussen is 15 years old, from Leicester and attends Moat Community College. Young Volunteer of the Year • Eleanor Wilkinson is 18 years old and lives in Syston. • Kristian Brocksopp, 17, lives in Ratcliffe on the Wreake and attends Ratcliffe College. • Molly Adams is 18 and lives in Wigston. • Molly Cooper is 17 years old, lives in Birstall and attends Loughborough College. We would welcome members of the public to view this event on YouTube, if people subscribe to the Leicestershire Lieutenancy channel they will be notified when the event is about to begin.

Done with dating sites. I’m now focusing in pizza delivery guys because at least I know they have a job, a car and pizza.

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Letter

Fond memories of two local events which no longer take place RECENTLY on TV there has been a revival of the delightful programme ‘All Creatures Great and Small’set in Darrowby, Yorkshire. The episode dealing with the Summer Show reminded me of the days when the Markfield Show was held each Autumn in the Institute. Giant beans and marrows, and flawless tomatoes were lovingly displayed along with knitwear, crochet and embroidery. Madame Clara was also on hand to tell fortunes, and competition was high usually. Also, does anyone remember the Gymkhana - another Summer highlight of our social calendar? This was held in Spiby’s Field and here we could see real show jumping. There was also a mystery act advertised called ‘Tishy the Unrideable Horse’. I never saw nor encountered anyone who has emerged in one piece after riding ‘Tishy’. However, Markfield’s competitors were more gracious than in the ‘Vet’ series and peace usually reigned until the next year.

Margaret Pike

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I told myself I should stop drinking, but I’m not about to listen to some drunk who talks to himself.

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

COVID-19 support for the self-employed

First stage of Coalville Shopping Centre revitalisation starts

ON 5‌‌‌ NOVEMBER 2020, the Chancellor announced that the UK Government is increasing the overall level of the next SEISS grant from 55% to 80% of trading profits. This grant will cover a threemonth period from the start of November until the end of January. The UK Government will pay a taxable grant which is based on 80% of three months’ average trading profits, paid out in a single instalment and capped at £7,500. The SEISS Grant Extension will last for six months in total, from 1‌‌‌ November 2020 to 30‌‌‌ April 2021. A further grant will cover February to April, as grants will be paid in two lump sum instalments each covering a three-month period. The government will set out further details, including the level of that grant, in due course. Full details on checking if you’re eligible for the current grant and how to claim will be published on GOV.UK week commencing 23‌‌‌rd November.

Planning Apps

LISTED below are some recent planning applications local to our area:

GYLO, who acquired the Belvoir Shopping Centre in Coalville last year, has announced that following the approval of its planning application earlier this summer, it will now commence the first stage of its revitalisation. The plans envisage a major improvement to the feel and attractiveness of the public space with the introduction of new green spaces, improvements to the shop fronts, better connections to the car parking and the creation of a new town square where people can relax whilst shopping. Work started in October and is expected to be complete by Easter 2021. The operation of the shopping centre will be unaffected while the works take place. Linked to the new approach to the overall regeneration of the shopping centre is the management of the associated car parking. In April this year, ownership of three of the town centre’s car park passed from North West Leicestershire District Council to Gylo. Gylo has now invested in a new system based on automatic number plate recognition. Unlike the previous car parking regime which charged all users on entry, there will be two hours completely free of charge.

Two storey side extension and 1.8m high boundary wall - at 6 Garendon Way, Groby, Leicester LE6 0YR Two storey side extension, single storey rear extension and front porch - at 148 Leicester Road, Groby, Leicester LE6 0DP. Two storey and single storey extension at rear of house, plus alterations - at 160 Leicester Road, Groby, Leicester LE6 0DP. Erection of a 10m high wind turbine (temporary) - at Llanberis Farm, Copt Oak Road, Copt Oak, Markfield, Leics. LE67 9PJ. Residential development of up to 82 dwellings with public open space and access - at land east of 6 Thornton Lane, Stanton under Bardon, Markfield, Leics. LE67 9TU. Single storey rear extension, two storey side/rear extension and single storey front extension - at 258 Main Street, Stanton under Bardon, Markfield, Leics. LE67 9TR.

I only believe 12.5% of the Bible. Which means I’m an eighthiest.

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Parkinson’s Has Not Gone Away THE HINCKLEY Support Group of Parkinson’s UK has not been able to meet for any activities during the lockdown period but readers in the area served by the Herald should be reminded that the group is still available for information, advice, support and donations: “Parkinson’s has not gone away – and neither have we!” In September Group Supporter Rachel Yorke, despite a fear of heights, climbed the summit of the O2 Arena in London. She faced her fears and challenges head on to raise funds for people who have no choice but to face fears and challenges on a daily basis because of Parkinson’s. She raised over £700 for the work of the Hinckley Group, walking along a fabric walkway suspended 2m above the surface of Rachel on the top of the dome. The 380m long walkway climbs the dome to reach 52m above ground level. Rachel described her experience: “Behind the smiles, it was scary, it was frightening, I was pale with worry and fear but I had a powerful tool that helped me to achieve my goal and that was the power of friendship! My friends and I supported one another and stood side by side, checking in and making sure we were all ok.” Many congratulations to Rachel on this achievement and for the donations she received for the Hinckley Group which will provide much needed funds for social events, exercise classes, choir and other activities when it is possible to resume them safely. In the meantime members are being kept in touch with one another through Whatsapp on their phones, exercises and choir on Zoom, a Facebook page, plus telephone and postal contacts. To contact the Hinckley & District Parkinson’s Group give Janet Kavanagh a ring on 07932615233, or Tina Connor on 01455 699937. They can put you in touch with the right people so that as a patient, carer or member of the family, helpful advice or a listening ear can be provided. With one person every hour in the UK being told that they have Parkinson’s, public awareness and knowledge of this brain disease is surprisingly low. Often it is only the tremors that people associate with the disease but there are so many more conditions that impact on lives, with almost every patient experiencing different symptoms. So don’t let Parkinson’s dictate how you live your life, make contact with your local group and see the benefit of support for yourself.

I took my wife’s family out for tea and biscuits. They weren’t too happy about having to give blood though.

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

Anecdotes from the Plough Inn, Bagworth - from Bob Austin Derrick Holmes: When Rosie Watson’s pub, The Plough Inn, was broken into, she was looking for some protection for her property. So when my dad went in for a pint and heard about the break-in, he said to her, “What you want Rosie is our lad’s dog… it’s ever so fierce.” I was only a young lad at the time, and I’d had this dog given to me. When Rosie Watson saw me with the dog she said, “Will you sell me that dog?” “Oh, I don’t know… it’s very fierce.” “That’s just what I want,” Rosie said. “Will you sell it to me?” “How much will you give me?” “How much do you want?” “A pound,” I said. “A pound? I’m not giving you a pound,” she said. So I didn’t let her have it. A few more days passed and Rosie saw me walking with my dog again. She said to me, “I’ll give you a pound for your dog, lad.” So I pocketed the pound and let her have it. The urinals at the Plough were the old pan type, the old dry toilets. In the ladies there was one long board with three holes. There were no partitions between the three toilets, so the ladies could chat happily together whilst spending a penny. In the men’s urinal there was the biggest trough on the floor that I’ve ever seen, it was painted black and you could have sailed the Titanic down it. Derrick also talked about the Buffaloes meeting at The Plough. The official website says this about the Order: The Royal Antediluvian Order

of Buffaloes is a Charitable Organisation which is active, not only in its local community, but, at all levels of Society. It is non-political, nor does it look to religion to inspire participation. It does, however, inspire members to commit to a peaceful and meaningful way of life. It is often described as an extended family, a social organisation or a mutually supportive group of like-minded people; each true in its own way, they do not adequately describe the true picture: that is painted on a much larger canvas. The origins of the Order were in the theatrical fraternity of the 1820s. It was, it seems, born out of the need for social activity. As time went on the Order grew and spread becoming active in philanthropic works. It opened orphanages, readily took its place in the community and accepted its responsibilities towards the needs of its members. All the fascinating history of the Order is freely available to anyone who is interested.

The advent of the National Health Service and cradle to grave care ended the need for the orphanages and the Order underwent a fundamental change to become the organisation it is today. The combination of providing support and care for our members and taking part in the wider life of the community at large has evolved throughout the Order. Derrick says it was a secretive society and vows had to be taken. Even now, he was limited in what he was allowed to tell me. They were not allowed into the meeting without saying the secret password. When Derrick was initiated, another member, Stan Bennett, went through the same process. They were led blindfold into the room and had to promise to keep the vows before the blindfold was removed. These two were the last to be initiated at Bagworth. Leading lights of the ‘Buffs’ were: Teddy Cureton, Harry Bancroft, Arthur Dean, Bert Bennett, Harry Spencer, Walt Murby, Jack Holmes and Arthur

Hollyoak. People had to be 18 before they could be initiated. They wore regalia such as sashes and had banners. Derrick said that he last went to a meeting over 40 years ago. He also says that the upstairs room was used as a changing room for the Bagworth Town football team. They walked from The Plough down through The Crew to the playing field behind the club. The club ran a ‘buster’, possibly organised by Harry Bancroft. People paid a small fee each week and were given a football team. The aim was for their team to score exactly 11 goals. If they scored 12 they were ‘busted’. The funds that were raised were used to buy a cricket pavilion. This was opened by the Bosworth M.P. Sir William Edge in the early 1930s. The field and farm had been bought from the Sperrys. It was not long after this that the cricket pavilion ‘graced the ground’. The upstairs room did not have a bar and beer had to be carried across from the pub. Roland Callaghan had pumps but Rosie Watson had to go down to the cellar to get the beer in her day. There was no froth on Rosie’s beer! Derrick also remembers huge fires banked right up in the winter. Derrick and Blanche had their wedding reception upstairs in the function room. Derrick can also remember his grandmother, Harriet Willett, going to The Plough every Friday and Saturday with Mrs Scarborough, a woman who kept house for Mr Jones. Mrs Scarborough had come from Portsmouth. The two women always had just a half a pint of beer.

A Bit of a Stretch: The Diaries of a Prisoner by Chris Atkins WHERE can a tin of tuna buy you clean clothes? Where is it easier to get ‘spice’ than paracetamol? Where does self-harm barely raise an eyebrow? Welcome to Her Majesty’s Prison Service. Like most people, documentary-maker Chris Atkins didn’t spend much time thinking about prisons. But after becoming embroiled in a dodgy scheme to fund his latest film, he was sent down for five years. His new home would be HMP Wandsworth, one of the largest and most dysfunctional prisons in Europe. With a cast of characters ranging from wily drug dealers to senior officials bent on endless reform, this powerful memoir uncovers the horrifying reality behind the locked gates. Filled with dark humour and shocking stories, A Bit of a Stretch reveals why our creaking prison system is sorely costing us all - and why you should care.

I’ve agreed so much with my wife that my head just starts nodding at the sound of her voice.

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THIS CHRISTMAS • Change your expectations this Christmas. Don’t waste time lamenting what should have been. Instead, try and enjoy whatever is possible this year. • Make a list. Include sending cards, buying presents and organising food for the big day. Having a lists helps keep you in control of your life. • Set a reduced budget this year. With a pandemic raging, this no time to take on Christmas debt. If you can’t pay for it this month, probably best not to buy it. • Exercise each day - it releases happiness-inducing serotonin. That will help you to keep calm and positive over the festive period. • Don’t overindulge. Too much alcohol and rich food won’t improve your life. • Keep calm and keep kind – urge your family members to try and avoid any flare up of family tensions. If you need to cry, cry, but then, keep on keeping on. • Remember those everyday essentials: batteries for new toys, toilet paper, milk, paper towel. Those things you never think about – until they are gone. • Entertain the kids: plan ahead various films, games and whatever it takes to give them a memorable Christmas. • Make the most of Zoom this year with far-flung relatives and friends. • Most of all, include God in your Christmas! This is His Son’s birthday - include Bible readings and carols in your family routine over the festive period.

CATHOLIC CHURCH OF ST WILFRID OF YORK 53 London Road, Coalville, LE67 3JB

DUE TO the Government’s latest Covid-19 restrictions, Sunday Mass in Church for public worship will not be celebrated. However, private worship in Church is permitted and St Wilfrid’s Church will open for private prayer until the celebration of Mass is allowed. The Church will open as follows: • Saturday 14 November – 2 pm to 4 pm • Saturday 21 November – 2 pm to 4 pm • Saturday 28 November – 2 pm to 4 pm for private prayer and Exposition of the Blessed Sacrament. Fr Gabriel will be available for the Sacrament of Reconciliation privately in the Fr Balfe Room. The Food Bank trolley will be in the porch for donations of food and/or toiletries. There is no need to book. Just turn up. Please download the NHS COVID-19 App for easy sign in. Otherwise your details will be recorded for Track and Trace. As before, please wear a face covering and respect the stewards’ instructions. • Fr Gabriel is resuming the celebration of Sunday Mass at 10 am during lockdown via Zoom as well as continuing with weekday Masses. If you would like the code to join, please email susantompkin@yahoo.co.uk. • Fr Gabriel is available if a priest is needed. • Please let the Parish know if you, or anyone you know, needs help of any kind. Please call the presbytery and we will do what we can to help. Keep safe and well. Parish Contact Parish Priest: Fr Gabriel Offor – 01530 832098 www. stwilfspriest@gmail.com Parish Website: www.stwilfscoalville.blogspot.co.uk School Details St Clare’s RC Primary School, Coalville: 01530 837747 www.st-clares.leics.sch.uk De Lisle RC College, Loughborough: 01509 268739 www.delisle.leics.sch.uk Markfield Masses Congregational Church Hall, Main Street, Markfield (next to the Chinese takeaway) when normality returns. Village Contact: Margaret on 01530 243292

Dear Friends, AS I WRITE, another lockdown has just begun- and I suspect many of us have mixed emotions. We sense that this is necessary, but I suspect many of us are also thinking “Oh no- here we go again!”, and “How long will this go on?” A magazine article I read recently said something like “We’re all sick to the back teeth of Covid-19”, and indeed, many of us are weary and demoralised from the demands (and for many, pain and loss) of this unusually demanding year. In the Psalms, the theme of “How long, God?” is a common one. Alongside the “nice” Psalms like Psalm 23, the famous “The Lord’s my Shepherd”, are many that ask God “How long?” then fire both barrels of frustration at God. I imagine some have been “cleaned up” in translation! Yet alongside the anger, the writers have a sense that God has “got this”. There will be light at the end of the tunnel, even if they can’t see it now. I hope that as we ask “How long?!?”, we may not be ashamed to own the difficult feelings we’re facing. But I hope that we may also carry on loving and supporting each other, trusting that there will be light at the end of the tunnel, even if we don’t know where or when yet.

Judith Lincoln Minister, Trinity Methodist Church, Markfield www.markfieldmethodistchurch.org FB Markfield Methodist Church

Supporting you in your home We are leaders in the community helping people to live at home indepenently. Our friendly and supportive staff have been providing assistance to our clients for over 25 years our staff have full references, an enhanced DBS and have completed extensive training. At Bosworth Homecare we build and tailor packages of support to meet our client’s individual needs. Our support plans can be any combination of the many services we offer including, medication, personal care, assistance with domestic tasks and shopping. We also support our clients to hospital appointments, social activities and offer a befriending service.

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Being a woman is exciting because we don’t know what mood we will be in next, or for how long.

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

Herald Small Ads

• Stress Less DOG BED, 25ins Round grey. Nearly new. Price: £7.00. Tel: 01530 244049 (Stanton-under-Bardon)

• Glass top COFFEE TABLE - £10. • BEDSIDE CABINET, light wood - £5. • BEDSIDE CABINET, yellow/white £5. Tel: 01530 245482

• SNOOKER TABLE, 6 ft x 3ft with cues,rest and balls. As new. An ideal Christmas gift. Price: £75.00. Tel: O1530 243200 or 07841 780282 (Markfield)

• UNICORN, large soft toy, new. Unwanted gift. Price: £5.00 • MEERKATS Aleksandr Batman, Yakov, Maiya, Vassily, Alexsandr, Sergei - all boxed with certificates - excellent condition. Price: £5 each. Tel: 07547 901657 (Groby)

• PUZZLE CADDY - Closed size: 80 x 58 x 3cm - holds up to 1000 piece jigsaw. Compact and lightweight with hinged sides to use whilst completing the puzzle and also to secure the jigsaw pieces when not in use. As new. Price: £15.00. • LEGO - Large box full of assorted Lego pieces, all in good condition box measures 28cm x 39cm x 25cm. Price: £30.00. • LEATHER HANDBAGS - selection of black leather handbags, various sizes, all in excellent condition. Various prices. Tel: 01530 242318 (Markfield) New/unopened CRAFT KITS for sale, suitable for Christmas gifts: • 2 x Crochet animal kits in gift case, £10.00 complete set. • 1 x Knitted hat kit, £5.00. • 5 x Felt make your own decorations kits, £10.00 for complete set • 3 x Cross stitch kits, £5.00 for complete set. Tel: 01530 230389 (Bagworth). • TRONEX – 200+ crazy circuits - £65 – unopened gift - £35 • SCIENCE4YOU – Explosive science – unopened gift – £8 • Yamaha PSR175 – KEYBOARD with stand and carry case - £50 • Gear4music – ELECTRONIC DRUMS DD40 – as new £30 • NIKE – Mercurial FOOTBALL BOOTS – dark grey & yellow (ankle cuffs) – still boxed - £25 • Large Cerise & purple bedroom CURTAIN, lined, & QUILT COVER/ pillow case as new £25. I can send whatsapp photos. Tel: 07843 290665 (Markfield) • Double Panel Convector central heating RADIATOR 750 high x 450 wide, 4 yrs old, looks like new, complete with mounting brackets. Price: £10. Tel 0116 2876 715 (Groby) • 12 Assorted JIGSAW PUZZLES, 1,000 pieces each. All complete. £1.00 each for charity. Tel: 0116 287 6790 (Groby). • CANE ARMCHAIRS with deep cushions. Autumn colours. Price: £60 o.n.o. for the pair. • Oatmeal FABRIC CHAIR plus TWO-SEATER SOFA (all recliners) and square FOOTSTOOL. With fire safety label. Price: £40.00 o.n.o. • Black toughened glass TV TABLE to take up to 42” TV. Price: £10.00. • Box of assorted LP RECORDS, mostly musicals and big bands. Offers invited. Tel: 01530 249171. • Electric heated PROPAGATOR. Price: £5.00. Tel: 07527 893144.

• Two full length MIRRORS, good condition. Price: £10 each. Tel: 01530 485614 (Markfield)

Bagworth Community Centre News SADLY, after the publication of last month’s Herald, the Trustees of Bagworth Community Centre were unable to reopen Stay and Play and were forced to postpone the opening until at least the New Year. At the time of writing, it seems likely that there will be more changes on the way, which may well result in steps backwards for the activities in the Centre, rather than moving forward. The Trustees would like to thank Dave Morgan, the Centre Administrator, for the work he has done in helping to run the Centre, especially during 2020 when it has not been straight forward by any stretch of the imagination. Dave has decided to resign from this post, as he has successfully applied for another job. We would like to wish him well in his new role.

• Rectangular frosted Glass TV STAND with 2 shelves. Excellent condition. £15 • Wooden GATELEG TABLE with cupboards 132 cm x 93 cm open. £30 • 3 drawer BEDROOM UNIT. White melamine. 80 cm x 50 cm £20. • Brass UPLIGHTER with twisted stem. £30. • Light wood 6 DRAWER UNIT. Excellent condition. £40. • Light oak NEST OF TABLES. Excellent condition. 60 cm x 36 cm. £40. Tel: 07789 436551 (Groby).

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• SPARE WHEEL complete, Continental tyre, 175/65. From my Ford Fiesta includes jack,wheel brace, boot tidy, wheel locking. Brand new. Price: £50 o.n.o. Tel: 0116 287 7381 (Groby).

She has also made mistakes. One that is now spiralling out of control. Bringing those around her into immense danger. A liar. A cheat. A threat. Neve Connolly is all these things. Could she be a murderer?

By Nicci French A trusted colleague and friend. A mother. A wife. Neve Connolly is all these things.

• SHOWER PUMP - 1.5 twin bar Stuart Turner. Price: £30 for Loros. Tel: 0116 287 3251 (Groby) • Retired line dancer has several WESTERN BOOTS for sale at £5.00 per pair. Size 3-4. Tel: 0116 223 5720 or 07701 307776 (Groby) • BOOKS - Danielle Steel x3, Amanda Prouse x2, Dilly Court x3. Price: 50p each. Tel 07788 886531 (Groby) • Dark wood COFFEE TABLE - excellent condition, not old-fashioned, needs to be seen. Size: 21” x 39”. Price: £50.00 • Ladies black real leather KNEELENGTH BOOTS. Nearly new. Size 4. Price: £45.00 Tel: 01530 484119 (Markfield) • Wanted: PLAYING CARDS - must be unused or as new. Tel: 0116 231 4304 (Groby)

IF YOU HAVE any household items which you’d like to advertise FREE in the Herald, please SEND DETAILS by post or email - sorry, we can’t take them over the phone. Maximum EIGHT items please. Our postal address is: Herald Small Ads, PO Box 8, Markfield, Leics. LE67 9ZT or you can email details to: info@markfieldherald.co.uk PLEASE ENSURE that you put ‘SMALL ADS’ in the subject line, and INCLUDE YOUR FULL POSTAL ADDRESS (not for publication, just to know where you are).

Aladdin is my favourite story about how anything is possible if you find a magical genie that grants wishes.

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Borough Councillor Andy Furlong’s Tel: 01530 231377 Email: andy.furlong@hinckley-bosworth.gov.uk there that being a tosser is socially unacceptable and, regardless of who throws the rubbish, if it comes out of your vehicle, you are responsible. I know that some people might view this as ‘telling’, but the only way to stop persistent offender is to hit them in the pocket. The choice is yours.

MORE THAN two million pieces of litter are dropped in the UK every day. This is the alarming figure provided to me by Keep Britain Tidy, the campaigning charity that works with councillors, businesses, and the public to care for the environment on our doorstep. The local resident who contacted me with a story last month might be forgiven for thinking that the lion’s share of this litter is to be found scattered alongside our Leicestershire roads. The lady, who takes regular lockdown walks on the roads around Cliffe Hill, would prefer to remain anonymous. Nonetheless, I can tell Herald readers that she decided ‘enough is enough’ and hit the road armed with a pair of rubber gloves and a few bin bags. The photographs that she shared with me speak for themselves. COVID-19 is clearly making the problem worse with discarded facemasks and gloves becoming a familiar sight.

Cleaner neighbourhoods SECURING a cleaner neighbourhood is one of Hinckley & Bosworth Borough Council’s primary functions. So, I felt it was worth digging a little deeper to find out what we are spending your council tax payments on and perhaps get a little more for your money. The overall cost of litter to the UK taxpayer is staggering. Local councils across the country spend over £1 billion a year on street cleaning – enough to keep the NHS going for three whole days. It’s not difficult to work out that the money spent on picking up litter would be better spent on something more useful. Let’s not forget that dropping litter

is against the law. Offenders can be fined £150, but enforcement isn’t easy. I’ve asked for a breakdown of fines and penalties issued by the borough council over the last 12 months. At the time of writing, I’m still waiting for the figures. Watch out for an update in a future column.

Don’t be a tosser! OBVIOUSLY, this isn’t just a council problem. It’s a broader social problem. Every piece of litter that we see scattered around our villages has a human source. I’m sure that most Herald readers are responsible citizens when it comes to litter, but it only takes a few lazy people to spoil things for the rest of us. It’s also a widely held view that many of these ‘Tossers’ aren’t local residents. Instead, the litter is being thrown out from vehicles of all shapes and sizes passing through our community.

What can be done? DROPPING litter from any vehicle is an offence. The borough council can fine the registered keeper of a vehicle if someone in the car or van throws rubbish out of it. The reporting process is a straightforward one and can be completed on the council website in just a few minutes. Simply search for ‘HBBC’ and ‘Litter’ using your favourite search engine. We need to get the message out

Climate change emergency BACK IN the summer, the borough declared a climate change emergency to ensure that the council is properly focused on playing its part to address the climate change crisis. Councillors, myself and Cllr Matthew Lay included, pledged to act and work towards becoming a carbon-neutral borough Bosworth by 2030. Matthew asked me to join a new climate change steering group and given my science and engineering background. I was only too willing to help. It’s a cross-party initiative, and I’m pleased to put aside political differences to save the planet for our grandchildren. I’ve been particularly impressed at the energy and dedication shown by my Lib-Dem colleague, Cllr Martin Cartwright from Groby. Sadly, I can report that the Conservatives seem less enthusiastic. We are already hearing comments, which suggest that some amongst their ranks feel that saving the planet will simply cost too much money! Nonetheless, we are pressing on with several work programmes, including establishing an accurate baseline for the borough’s carbon footprint as it stands right now. If we can’t measure our carbon, we can’t manage it, and if we can’t manage our carbon, we stand no chance of reducing it.

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And finally BY DELVING into the complex area of environmental law, waste management and litter, I was reminded that, from a climate change perspective, the best way to cut carbon and reduce waste is to avoid creating rubbish in the first place. My continuing COVID-19 enforced exercise routine, walking around Markfield, Stanton and Thornton, is taking me further and further afield. I’m still making fascinating discoveries. Last weekend, I headed out in the direction of Desford and came across a vending machine in the middle of a farmyard! A few minutes later, I emerged with a litre of fresh milk in a traditional, fully recyclable glass bottle. If you’re over that way check out Leedham Farm on Lindridge Lane. Their vending machine is full of fresh goodies, including cheese and yoghurt. It’s accessible from seven in the morning until seven at night and takes contactless payments only. It’s a great way of supporting local business. Don’t forget to take your recycled milk bottle and why not reduce your personal carbon footprint even further by walking or cycling there.

Andy Furlong

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

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They say winning isn’t everything and I’ve decided to take their word for it.

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

What’s Been Happening at Markfield Community and Sports Centre Covid 19 Closure AS I WRITE this article the Government has announced a new nationwide COVID 19 lock down. As you will know by now, the lock down is from 5th November (ironically bonfire night) until at least the 2nd December. Sadly, this means that all indoor and outdoor activities at the Community Centre will cease until further notice. Unless there is another change in direction of the Government this includes sports, keep fit, exercise and other close contact activities. Like many other premises we have invested a lot of time and money into making the Centre COVID 19 secure and this new situation is heart breaking for us and our customers. Hopefully, with everything crossed, things will improve before Christmas. So, please say safe and help beat the virus by following the new guidelines and restrictions.

Markfield Good Neighbours Scheme AS WITH the first wave of the pandemic Community Centre will remain available for the National Blood Service, any emergencies and also as a virtual hub for the village voluntary COVID 19 Good neighbours scheme. Fortunately the village has a strong Good Neighbours Scheme with an “army” of volunteers willing and ready to help and support those that need it. So, we are ready and prepared to help throughout this latest phase of the pandemic and beyond. If you need any help with shopping, collecting prescription, other problems or just someone to chat to please give us a call on 07885 243033 remember IT’S OKAY TO ASK FOR HELP. Please remember that if you would like to join our band of volunteers or need some help please contact us at markfieldcommunitycentre@hotmail. co.uk or ring us on 07885 243033

ADDER the COVID19 Painted Rock Snake WE HAVE now had a couple of site meetings to plan out the construction of the rock snake COVID19 memorial and were hoping to get it started before winter bad really sets in. However, the new lock down restrictions may mean a delay in ground works etc. but we will get there in the end.

Halloween Event JUDGING by the comments that we have received, the Markfield “Witchy Wandering and Monstrous March” Halloween event on the 31st October proved very successful and much appreciated by those who took part. The event provided an alternative to the traditional door to door trick or treating which isn’t very COVID19 secure and risked the spread of infection. Our event enabled families to go out and enjoy Halloween safely. It was great to see families and children in Halloween fancy dress following a number of trails around the village looking for clues and looking at spooky Halloween displays. Families finally ended up outside the Community Centre where they received a certificate for completing the trail and their

children were given a goody bag of sweets. Book prizes kindly donated by the Library were awarded to children with the best Halloween Fancy dress costumes. One big bonus was that there was no knocking on doors or any reports of anti-social behaviour. Perhaps this way of celebrating Halloween will be the way forward for coming years. A BIG thank you must go to Sarah Beesley for all her hard work in organising the event as well as the volunteers who helped out on the day.

Mayflower Club SADLY, the Mayflower Club will once again have to close until further notice and we will really miss our weekly catch up with members. On 7th October we held our annual Mayflower World “Conkers” Championship however, this year we had to do it differently to ensure social distancing. So, how do you play conkers with a 2 metre length of string? The answer is you can’t. So, we devised a game where you rolled the conkers at target. Not as easy as you think as conkers aren’t round and roll all over the place. It was great fun and Paul eventually ran out as this year’s champion. He was duly presented with the Mary Smart Silver Cup.

Eveyone has an annoying friend. If you don’t have one, it’s probably you.

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Words and pictures from Ron & Dawn Grantham Tel: 01530 242240 • www.markfieldcommunitycentre.com • ON THE 14TH OCTOBER we had a “Who am I quiz?”. This involved members anonymously providing some stories about themselves then members had to guess who it is. It included stories of members past, previous jobs, hobbies, favourite songs, film stars or singers, likes and dislikes and some funny stories from their past. It was all very interesting and a good way for all of us to get to know each other better. • ON 26TH OCTOBER we managed to hold our annual Halloween session. Once again due to COVID it was not our usual format. No apple bobbing, Fancy Dress parade or pumpkin carving. We had to make do with my rendition of the Markfield Ghost story, Halloween jokes and a game involving steering a robotic spider. Despite the restrictions we still managed to have fun. Members still came along in their Halloween costumes with Marylin and Julie judged to be the best. We will keep in touch with all of you and let you know when we can resume.

Save a life, Give Blood ... THE NATIONAL BLOOD SERVICE will be holding a further session on Wednesday 2nd December. Please keep donating your much-needed blood and register your details with the National Blood Service online if you can help, thank you! PLEASE KEEP SAFE AND WELL AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU ALL AGAIN AS SOON AS POSSIBLE

Ron and Dawn Grantham

PARISH COUNCILLOR VACANCIES IN MARKFIELD

Do You Want To Serve Your Local Community And Make A Positive Difference? If so, there are currently two vacancies for Councillors on the Parish Council. This is a voluntary (unpaid) position, and you will be representing the parishioners of Markfield by raising and discussing issues of interest on which the Parish Council is empowered to act or be consulted on. Applicants should note that Councillors are required to attend monthly meetings, usually on the first Tuesday of the month in the evenings and are invited to attend a monthly meeting prior to submitting their application. Anyone wanting more information, or who would like to be considered as a Parish Councillor should contact the parish office for an information/application pack. CONTACT DETAILS: Markfield Parish Council Office, Markfield Community & Sports Centre, Markfield, Leics, LE67 9ST email to: admin@markfieldpc.org.uk • Tel: 07989 169044

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