Glenfield Gazette November 2022

Operation Christmas Child 2022

THERE IS STILL time to fill a shoebox, donate individual items or give a monetary gift towards this year’s shoebox appeal.

Update on the Redevelopment of Glenfield Methodist Church

Operation Christmas Child 2022

There is still time to fill a shoebox, donate individual items or give a monetary gift towards this year’s shoebox appeal.

The deadline date is Sunday, 13th November 2022

YOU WILL HAVE noticed that there is a building site at Glenfield Methodist Church but nonetheless we continue meeting on Sundays and many other groups, such as Playgroup, also meet in the hall which now has new toilets and a new kitchenette.

It has been announced that at least two thirds of the boxes donated will, this year, be sent to Ukraine or the near neighbours of Moldova or Romania.

The deadline date is Sunday, 13th November 2022.

Contact : wally.york@btinternet.com linda.york@btinternet.com Tel: 0116 2314151

It has been announced that at least two thirds of the boxes donated will, this year, be sent to Ukraine or the near neighbours of Moldova or Romania. Email: wally.york@btinternet. com or linda.york@btinternet. com

Tel: 0116 231 4151

Phase 2 of our project is also just about complete, with a beautiful kitchen and lounge created in the centre of the buildings.

or go to the website : www.operationchristmaschild.org.uk

Phase 3 is underway - this new concourse will provide a link between the church and the hall, giving a covered space to meet and greet and perhaps share a cup of coffee. The first bit of steelwork has gone in and should be finished by the end of the year.

or go to the website :www.operationchristmaschild. org.uk

We are really looking forward to the New year when we can fully open our building to the community once again. Watch this space for an invitation to come and have a look around!

Nordic Walkers on a 1,000 mile mission

GLENFIELD RESIDENTS and members of two local Nordic walking groups are on a mission to notch up 1000 miles using their Nordic walking poles.

Carole Reeves, Marilyn Harris and Lucy Gray (pictured, right) took up the challenge from the Ministry of Nordic Walks Community Group in January of this year to Nordic walk 500 miles before the group celebrated its sixth birthday in September.

The three friends achieved their goal by July and were so inspired by their success they are now aiming for 1,000 miles by the end of the year.

As well as Nordic walking with the Ministry of Nordic Walks and the Glenfield U3A Nordic Walking Group, they regularly meet up with each other to Nordic walk around the Glenfield area. They are often stopped and asked why they are using the poles and explain how the poles are incredibly useful in propelling you along, reduce the risk of trips and falls, help with getting up and down hills and make walking

even more enjoyable. Despite a shoulder replacement for one of them earlier in the year which meant a short hiatus from Nordic walking, the three friends are well on the way to accomplish 1,000 miles of Nordic walking by December 31st.

They have even taken their poles on holiday with them and as Marilyn says, “My poles have increased my pace, taken my worries away and allowed me to really enjoy walking again. I really miss them if I don‘t take them on a walk.”

Ministry of Nordic Walks is happy to provide demonstrations to groups/societies wanting to learn more about Nordic walking.

They also do taster sessions and lessons for those wanting to learn the correct technique to gain the benefits from walking with Nordic poles.

No purchase of poles is necessary as they can lend out poles for sessions.

Please email them at ministryofnordicwalks@gmail.com

Penny Fielden

Images of the improvement works taking place at the church

Get Active, Get Healthy

YOU ARE NEVER too young or old to start a more active lifestyle and there are endless opportunities in Glenfield.

Ellis Park has a much-envied kiddies play area and one of the best bowling clubs in Leicestershire. It has exercise equipment and two very expensive multi-use all-weather games areas. If it is team sports you feel are best for you the sports ground provides a home for a cricket team and over 20 football teams of all ages.

There is more exercise equipment at the Millennium Green. Petanque is played at various locations within the village with facilities for hire at the Sports Ground and tennis is available just over the border into Anstey or Kirby Muxloe. If golf is your thing just a very few miles away we have Kirby Muxloe Golf Club.

Fancy off-road cycling? We have two long-distance routes within the village; the Ivanhoe Way and Roman Way both of which add to the extensive network of foot routes available for walking, probably the cheapest and easiest form of exercise. Walking in semi-natural green spaces is known to also be very good for mental health and general well-being and we have lots of sites with full public access where you can enjoy this. In Fishley Belt, Optimus Nature Area, Clanfelde Hills, Brookside Meadow, the Ivanhoe Way, Millennium Green, Brantings Park, Watersmeet Meadow, the Sports Ground, Gynsills Wood & Pond and Gynsills Meadow we have an arc of green space with a total acreage equivalent to Bradgate Park or very nearly.

On top of this, we have a professional Gym and many indoor fitness activities in the five halls available to residents. ActiveBlaby is a new website directory of things to do and I am working to ensure these facilities are included.

It is the case that some officers at Blaby know little of the northern extremities of Blaby District with facilities sometimes overlooked despite the best efforts of your local District Councillors. To this end, I invited the Blaby Chief Executive officer and a Strategic Director to come and go round Glenfield with me to see just what we have by way of facilities they could use to encourage residents to get more active. In a two-hour whistle-stop tour, I showed them the five buildings the Parish Council maintains, their six letting rooms and all our open spaces. The Parish Council have an approved staff complement of nine and by any definition, it is a big operation providing excellent facilities to its residents at very little cost to them, probably in the region of the price of a pint of milk each week per adult.

They were very impressed and more than a little surprised, especially how green everywhere was and our sports facilities.

Councillor Roy Denney

Film raises awareness of the need for foster carers

Adventures in Modern Recording

By Trevor Horn

AS A RENOWNED recordingstudio maven, Trevor Horn has been dubbed ‘the man who invented the ‘80s’.

PO Box 8, Markfield,

LE67 9ZT

0116 287 3122

info@glenfieldgazette.com

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A NEW film highlighting the impact of neglect on children has been launched to help raise awareness of fostering.

In a ground-breaking national collaboration, 56 local authorities across England – including Leicester City Council - have worked together to share ideas and jointly fund the creation of a short film to raise awareness of fostering.

The film is aimed at finding more people who may be interested in becoming foster carers and providing nurturing, positive homes for children and young people across the country who need them.

The new film, simply called ‘Childhood’, highlights the impact of neglect on children, particularly brothers and sisters who may be left at times to try and care for each other. It shows the journey of ‘Sophie’ and ‘Charlie’ who are in a very difficult home situation where their needs are not being met. It then shows them being nurtured and supported through foster care to attend school and be able to enjoy their hobbies and interests - in other words, to have a childhood.

The film will be published on all 56 participating councils‘ social media platforms.

The film is available to watch and share from all participating local authority platforms to help the message spread across the UK using the hashtags #FosterForYourCouncil and #Childhood.

Visit the web page at : https://news.leicester.gov.uk/newsarticles/2022/october/film-raises-awareness-of-the-needfor-foster-carers/ or watch the film on YouTube by visiting: https://youtu.be/gQSUuB-2Zjw

Glenfield Plastering

Contact Nick

07720 479792

nickfitch20@gmail.com

His production work since the glory days of ZTT represents a veritable ‘who’s who’ of intelligent modern pop, including the likes of ABC, Frankie Goes to Hollywood, Paul McCartney, Rod Stewart, Pet Shop Boys, Seal, Simple Minds, Grace Jones and Yesamong many others.

This book is Trevor’s story in his own words, as told through the prism of twenty-three of his most important songs - from the ones that inspired him to the ones that defined him.

This play-by-play memoir transports readers into the heart of the studio to witness the making of some of music’s most memorable moments, from the Buggles’ groundbreaking ‘Video Killed the Radio Star’ to Band Aid’s perennial ‘Do They Know It’s Christmas?’, via hits such as ‘Relax’, ‘Poison Arrow’, ‘Owner of a Lonely Heart’ and ‘Crazy’.

Offering unrivalled access to the dark arts of the producer’s world and the even darker arts of the music business itself, prepare for some adventures in modern recording...

Nick Fitch

Mobile: 07720 479792

Email: nickfitch20@gmail.com

Ken Russell: sharing local history

THE GLENFIELD GAZETTE founder and former editor, the late Ken Russell, was amongst many other things, a keen local historian and a prolific collector of books. Quite a number of these books explore the history of Glenfield, Leicester and Leicestershire.

It was also Ken’s pleasure to share this material, taking the view that social history belongs to everyone, especially those who make it. As he said, “History is made as much by ordinary people as by great men and women”.

I have a number of spare copies of local history books and booklets from Ken’s library, which Gazette readers are most welcome to have. Books are photographed and booklets listed.

One of Ken’s great gifts to the community was the set of Glenfield history books he wrote, and I also have a small number of the last two books available; ‘Glenfield: More Lives & Times Remembered’ and ‘Glenfield: More Lives & Times in Pictures’. If you would like any of these books, do please get in touch at intrevlct@ btinternet.com or through the Gazette social media accounts.

Unbelievably, it is now over a year since Ken died. He remains very much loved, and missed beyond measure.

Santa’s Route

ROUTE 1: Fri 2nd December 2022 start 5.30 pm

Start at Park House - Right on to Park Drive - Left on to Somerset Drive - Left on to Elm Tree Avenue - Left on to Kirby Road - Left on to Birch Lane - Left on to Slate Walk Way - Right on to Birch Lane - Right on to Kirby Road - Forward to Main Street and The SquareReturn to Park House.

ROUTE 2: Wed 7th December 2022 start 5.30 pm

Start at Park House – Right on to Stamford Street – Straight up Dominion Road – Right onto Unity Road – Right onto Glenfield Crescent – Left onto Alliance Road and onto Jubilee Drive – right onto Prince Albert Drive – left onto Tournament Road – Left onto Triumph Road – Right on to Unity Road – right onto Tournament Road – left onto Treaty Road – left onto Liberty Road and back onto Dominion Road - Return to Park House.

ROUTE 3: Friday 9th December 2022 start 5.45 pm

Start at the Shell Garage – Left on to Groby Road – Left on to Overdale Avenue – Continue on to Branting Hill Avenue – Turn right to the road traffic island and right on the A50 – Left on to Gynsill Lane – Right on to Nursery Rise – Return to Park House via Station Road.

ROUTE 4: Wednesday 14th December 2022 start 5.30 pm

Start at Park House – Right on to Stamford Street – Left on to Tournament Road – Dog Leg on to Victor Road – Right on to Clovelly Road – Left on to Glenfield Frith Drive – Left on to Salcombe Drive – Right on to Victor Road – Right on to Sports Road – Left on to Unity Road – Return to Park House.

ROUTE 5: Friday 16th December 2022 start 5.30 pm

Start at Park House – Right on to Stamford Street - Left on to Chestnut Road – Left on to Ledwell Drive – Right on to Dorset Avenue – Right on to Loxley Road – Left on to Glenfield Frith Drive – Left on to Faire Road – Right on to Fairfield Crescent – Right on to Glenfield Frith Drive – Left on to Tysoe Hill – Dog Leg (right then left) on to Victor Road – Left on to Sports Road – Right on to Liberty Road – Return to Park House.

A recent

Researchers at Florida State University College of Medicine found that

of direction. So I packed up my stuff and right.

Nichola Pell Booklets: Leicestershire Yeoman Families, WG Hoskins. Legends of Leicestershire, Further Legends of Leicestershire & Rutland, both Susan E Green. Members of Parliament for Leicester 1832-1983, JD Bennett. Leicestershire Farming photos 1860-1940

By Jonathan Wilshere – Glenfield A Considerable Village; The Religious Gilds of Mediaeval Leicester; The Town Gates & Bridges of Mediaeval Leicester; William Gardiner; Leicestershire Weather Sayings; The Centenary of Spinney Hill Park; A Short History of Leicester Forest East and West.

See Gazette Instagram and Facebook for photos and details.

Former Golf Course Protest covered by BBC and the Mercury

WITH ONLY 4 DAYS‘ NOTICE, the turn out for the recent protest was amazing. A big thank you to all those that were able to make it. I was able to get BBC East Midlands television and the Mercury to cover the story again. Another protest may be staged at some point.

Due to it‘s complexity, the final City consultation that was due in mid November has now been pushed back to around February 2023. The whole ex course is owned by Leicester City Council but around a third of it lies within Blaby District. Blaby have also listed the course for potential development in their Local Plan.

With City and Blaby having imminent consultations, it is crucial that as many residents as possible express their views on the potential loss of the last large green space in Glenfield.

On Facebook: Western Golf Course Area - Action Group or by email: swoop16@hotmail.co.uk. Further details when they‘re available. Drone photo by Brad Bishop, and used with permission. Steve Walters

don’t care

The Glenfield Gardeners’ Association

The Glenfield Gardeners’ Association

AS WINTER DRAWS near, the gardening jobs become fewer and fewer but the ground is still warm and it is a good time to prepare for next year.

For our September meeting, we welcomed John Gibson, a bulb specialist who suggested which bulbs to plant for year round colour, how to propagate them and what was best to plant now. John gave a practical demonstration on how to care for the different range of bulbs and some very useful tips for the trickier ones like gladioli. The presentation was enjoyed by all and gave us some interesting ideas for our own gardens. We hadn’t met since our Garden show in August and it was great to share summer stories and catch up with friends.

• WE MEET FOR our member’s annual meal in November and have a short break over Christmas but we have a good programme of speakers arranged for the New Year. In January, Steve Lovell is joining us to speak about ‘water as a garden feature’. In February, Rod Weston, master composter will introduce the delights of making compost and in March, Howard Drury will speak on ‘container gardening throughout the year’. If you are new to gardening and would like some tips or an experienced gardener who wants to learn something new, then please do come along.

welcome to come

You

We meet at 7.30pm on the

Tuesday of the

St Peter’s Church Hall.

membership is just

for

£2.50,

As winter draws near, the gardening jobs become fewer and fewer but the ground is still warm and it is a good time to prepare for next year. For our September meeting, we welcomed John Gibson, a bulb specialist who suggested which bulbs to plant for year round colour, how to propagate them and what was best to plant now. John gave a practical demonstration on how to care for the different range of bulbs and some very useful tips for the trickier ones like gladioli. The presentation was enjoyed by all and gave us some interesting ideas for our own gardens. We hadn’t met since our Garden show in August and it was great to share summer stories and catch up with friends.

We meet for our member’s annual meal in November and have a short break over Christmas but we have a good programme of speakers arranged for the New Year. In January, Steve Lovell is joining us to speak about ‘water as a garden feature’. In February, Rod Weston, master composter will introduce the delights of making compost and in March, Howard Drury will speak on ‘container gardening throughout the year’. If you are new to gardening and would like some tips or an experienced gardener who wants

I’m at that age where I can only dread one, maybe two, things a month.

My father - and how Victor Road came to be named after him

MY FATHER, Vytas Kvietkauskas was born in Lithuania on Friday 18 December 1925. However his mother was fearful that the Russian army would return so she asked a priest if he would put Easter down as the date of his birth. The priest refused but instead allowed him to have the 3rd of January 1926 as his official birthday. This was done as conscription into the Russian army was done per calendar year and my father would then be one of the oldest recruits rather than the youngest.

As one of seven children he was especially close to his brother Alex. My father won a scholarship from the Lithuanian President as he was the best pupil out of five schools, however, his mother refused to let him take it up as she thought the other six children would also demand a higher education.

Undeterred, at the age of 16 he saw an advert for free training to become an engineer. So he grabbed his birth certificate and set off for Berlin. After two years the Second World War started, the engineering school was damaged and my father was given the option to join Albert Speers war production efforts or….

He was assigned the job of driving new trucks from either Milan or Turin in Italy and take them to Austria. This was done at night with no lights along mountain passes. Some trucks never made it.

A high-ranking German officer took a shine to my father and offered him the role of being his batman. Being a chauffer was easy for my father and as the Italians did not like the Germans, he was however, warmly accepted by the locals as he was Lithuanian. One day the high-ranking German officer told my father the war is almost over. Get rid of your uniform, go to Austria and find yourself a refugee camp. The camp he went to was in Kufstein and it was here his future wife Rosalie discovered him.

After two years they both got permission to go to England. At first they were sent to Manchester and worked in textiles as a knitter. The only other options were farming or mining. They had to stay in textiles for 5 years, however after the first year they were allowed to move to different companies and they also moved to Leicester.

My father bought a house in Green Lane Road and my brother was born. One day my father returned from work and saw my brother’s head sticking through some railings of the gate. He thought he looked like cattle in a pen, so he decided to search for a new home.

He ended up on his moped going up Glenfield Road, which at that time stopped at Western Park and continued to Glenfield by driving along a footpath. He found some builders working near Sports Road and Tournament Road and asked them if he could buy a property there. Certainly they replied just give us a deposit. My father refused and said it had to be done via a solicitor. He also enquired what the road was called. We have not named it yet they replied and asked him what his name. My father replied with his anglised name Victor. That will suit fine they replied and that is the story of how Victor Road got its name.

In 1988 I decided to visit Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. My father decided to go with me. The trip started in Moscow and we took some photos in Red Square. The next day we decided to take some more photos but Red Square was closed as Mikhail Gorbachev was announcing Glasnost and Perestroika.

Upon arrival in Lithuania he met with his brother Alex and four surviving sisters. It was their first reunion in 44 years, although Alex had also been in Austria at the same time as my father. The difference was that Alex had also been given a join or else invitation, by the Red Army.

We sought permission to visit the family graves of his parents and one sister in northern Lithuania and we were given a visa to travel only to the grave site. Of course we abused the restriction and even made it to the Hill of Crosses as well. Next we went to Latvia and while in Riga some youths came up to us and said they had not eaten bananas for many years. My father replied ‘Yes I don’t like them either’ and walked away. After that we arrived in Estonia and finally in Leningrad.

In 1989 Grandmother died and in 1997 Rosalie died. Our father lived alone for 25 more years till at the age of 96 old age finally caught up with him. However, there was still one more highlight for his life when his grandson was born in 2011 and they shared a special bond. On the day of the Queen’s funeral he was admitted into the Leicester Royal Infirmary. He had problems swallowing food and liquids, However, he also caught Covid and this finished him off.

He passed away on John Lennon’s birthday and at his funeral, I sang a John Lennon song in tribute to him.

Glenfield U3A Indoor Bowls

WE ARE A very relaxed and social group who play Indoor Bowls every Friday afternoon in St. Peter’s Church hall from 2 to 4pm and would welcome new members, beginners or experienced.

We have two championship quality mats, one for social and one for purists, you can join whichever group you wish. We use the standard outdoor ‘woods’ so all you need to bring is £3 per week to help with the cost of running the group, this includes tea and biscuits.

Later the family grew as I was born and my mother’s mother joined us from Estonia. My father was very kind and polite. Together with Rosalie they would go ballroom dancing every Saturday. They also purchased a caravan to explore the country with.

Under U3A rules you need to be either retired or semi-retired and you can have 3 ‘taster sessions’, after that we would ask you to enrol in the U3A, annual fee is only £15, and gives you access to over 60 different groups.

If you need more info please contact Peter on 07745 356447, we look forward to meeting you.

My late father, Vytas Kvietkauskas

Edmund Kauskas

Don‘t get scammed!

BE ON THE LOOK OUT for these scams, many of which have been reported on our Facebook page.

FRIEND IN NEED: A ‘friend in need’ scam is targeting Whatsapp users. Criminals are posing as friends or family members in need of help. They will text from what they claim to be a new mobile after their old one was ‘lost/damaged’. They will then go on to ask for money to pay an urgent bill/new phone. Recent scams have even initially asked for funds to be transferred to a friend or family member before being sent on to the scammer to give the appearance of an initial low risk payment.

NEW OMICRON JAB: As the new Omicron Covid vaccine is being rolled out within the next few weeks, the UK becomes the first country to approve the specifically tailored jab, ahead of fears for winter spikes. With the rollout for the latest booster, there are concerns that covid related fraud may increase as a result, with criminals targeting potential victims with vaccine scams, not too dissimilar to the ones seen previously.

ENERGY PRICE CAP: With the severe increase in the energy price cap reported, fraudsters are seizing this opportunity to exploit those looking to change energy provider and/or tariffs. Individuals are being warned to be vigilant to avoid falling victim to new campaigns associated with energy supplies, for examples offers which seem too good to be true or fake rebates.

COST OF LIVING CRISIS: With the cost of living crisis deepening scammers will be using the economic downturn to their own benefit. The warning comes as many are due to receive a first instalment of a cost of living payment, worth £326. Reports have been received by Action Fraud of fraudsters attempting to exploit vulnerable people with the promise of money saving schemes, including, energy and council tax rebates or phishing exercises encouraging individuals to apply or claim a ‘cost of living payment’ via text, followed by an email to gain further information from the

victim. HM government will never contact you directly asking for bank details.

FAKE SANTANDER

EMAIL: Lots of people online have been flagging a fake Santander mobile banking email. The email impersonates Santander’s branding and gives you a sense of urgency regarding your access to banking services, to pressure you into giving away data.

Over the past week, use of the search term ‘Santander email scams’ has increased by more than 5000%, showing the spike in people being targeted with this new scam

BRITISH GAS FAKE EMAIL: Scammers are impersonating British Gas with fake emails tempting recipients to click a link to get a fake energy refund. Although the email looks legitimate, it addresses you by your email address and not your name. This is a potential giveaway that it’s from a fraudster.

PREMIUM RATE NUMBER SCAMS: This scam tries to trick people who are searching online for telephone numbers of government advice services. It works by displaying an advert for the phone number of the relevant government advice line.

But the sting is that you’ll be charged a premium for using this advertised telephone number – in some cases, as much as £20 or £30 a call. You are put through to the right advice line, but you pay a very high and unnecessary connection fee

If you have received a suspicious text message you can forward it from your phone free of charge by sending it to 7726. This enables your provider to identify the origin of the text and take action. If you’ve been a victim of a phishing fraud, then you should report it to Action Fraud by calling 0300 123 2040, or by using their online form. You can contact Glenwatch by email at contact@glenwatch.org.uk and on our website glenwatch.org.uk and our facebook page.

A Few Wise Words

“Let others lead small lives, but not you. Let others argue over small things, but not you. Let others cry over small hurts, but not you. Let others leave their future in someone else’s hands, but not you.”

Jim Rohn

“Smart people learn from everything and everyone, average people from their experiences, stupid people already have all the answers.”

Socrates

grew up so poor we could only listen to Simon or Garfunkel.

Letter

Newly installed 4G/5G phone mast causing TV interference and picture pixelating.

THE NEW 4G / 5G phone mast sited on the corner of Faire Road and Glenfield Frith Drive has been causing problems when watching Freeview TV channels, especially Sky TV news channel 233, Quest channel 12 and Yesterday channel 27, and some BBC channels.

If your TV picture is cutting in and out, or pixelating, (looks like a bunch of random squares), with a message on screen saying, “weak signal, check all coaxial cables, plugs and aerials”, your TV signal is being corrupted by the newly installed phone mast.

I live approx. 200 yards from the mast, it seems that, after a few local enquiries, the interference happens with older aerial installations..

Without realising the timeline when the problems started, just after the mast was installed, the interference became steadily worse and the channels became unwatchable. Checks were made of all coaxial cables and plugs to no avail and rebooting the TV many times did not solve the problem.

Looking into the problem deeper, new aerials now have 4G filters built into the aerial. The cost of fitting new aerials was not on the agenda.

After searching for a solution, there are 4G filters, and just lately, 4G / 5G filters being marketed at a reasonable price of approx. £15.00. You must get a filter that filters 4G and 5G because the new masts are all being upgraded to include the new 5G systems.

These filters are quite small and simply fit in line to your TV aerial input.

Just unplug the aerial lead from the TV, insert the filter with small lead attached into the back of the TV, and put the coaxial cable from the aerial into the filter, Job done.

After fitting the 4G / 5G filter, the picture quality has vastly improved on all channels and no more pixelating.

Just for information, the filter I fitted was a LabgearF5GA and 4GLTE700 interface filter with coax fly lead.

John Phillips, Glenfield

Slatewalk Way detached house

CARLTON ESTATES are offering for sale an executive, detached family home presented to an immaculate standard inside and out.

The property - 3 Slatewalk Way, Glenfield, Leicester, LE3 8HQ - has spacious accommodation briefly comprising (Ground floor): entrance hallway, living room, study, dining kitchen, dining room, utility, ground floor w/c; (First floor): landing, four double bedrooms, (en suite to the master) and a family bathroom. Outside, there is a landscaped rear garden, with large garden room, driveway parking and a double garage. Offers over £550,000 are invited.

For more information or to arrange a viewing, contact Carlton Estates on 0116 284 9636 or email: sales@carltonestates.co.uk

sorry.

had no idea this was your Sharona.

Anstey and Glenfield Cricket Club 2022 Season Review

By Phil Vose Vice Chairman

ANSTEY AND GLENFIELD

Cricket Club enjoyed an excellent 2022 season with the highlight being the 2nd team’s promotion to Division 5 of the Leicestershire and Rutland Cricket League.

The 1st team also performed extremely well finishing 3rd in Division 4 and were very unlucky not to be promoted too.

The 1st team had a super year in Division 4 West of the Leicestershire and Rutland Cricket League. They ended the season by winning half of their 22 matches and collecting 374 points along the way. The 1st team were well led by Sunny Singh.

The key to the 1st team’s excellent season was some brilliant bowling performances. Nilesh Patel took a fantastic 49 wickets during the season with the highlights being his 5 wicket hauls against Shepshed 2 and Narborough & Littlethorpe. Nilesh was well supported by Naveen Ponduri, Charlie Wilkes and Joe Harris who all took over 20 wickets for the first team in 2022. Naveen won the award for top bowling during the match against Long Whatton where he took 6 wickets for the loss of just 23 runs.

The batsmen were led by captain, Sunny Singh who scored a magnificent 553 runs in 2022 with Viral Patel and Stu Wiles also scoring over 300 runs during the year. Viral scored a superb 107 in the match against Leicester Ivanhoe 3. Half centuries during the season were also scored by Sunny Singh, Viral Patel, Stu Wiles, Naveen Ponduri, Shehan Perera, Ashish Patel and Ishan Fernando. Worth a mention too is the fine fielding from the 1st team captain where Sunny caught a great 29 catches during the season.

As it stands the 1st team will be playing next season’s cricket in Division 4 West.

The 2nd team enjoyed a fabulous season too finishing 2nd in Division 6 West and gaining promotion to Division 5. They ended the season with 425 points and won 15 of their 20 matches. They were led brilliantly by 2nd team captain, Ranjeeva Fernando. The leading batsmen for the 2nd XI was Nuwan Dharshana (highest average 42.57), who scored a marvellous 147 in the victory against Ratby 2. Fifties were also scored by Hanuman Kundakarla, Pasindu Wannipura, James Ogle and Ranjeeva Fernando.

There were some dazzling performances from Dileepa Rodrigo and Kumara Sanira with the ball and they ended up the joint leading 2nd team bowlers with 35 wickets –this included 5 wicket hauls against Burbage & Stoke Golding 2 (twice) and Barwell 2. Nuwan Dharshana also had a great season taking 31 wickets with Ranjeeva Fernando also taking 25 wickets. Overall, it was a tremendous team effort by everyone concerned and the 2nd XI will be looking for another good season in 2023.

The friendly Sunday team played a few matches during the season, and they will be hoping to play a greater amount of matches next year. The club also took part in the T20 Bowl where they performed admirably but lost in the first round to Cropston and reached the 2nd round of the Challenge Cup beating Leicester Cricketers but then losing to Blaby.

The club will host their AGM and presentation evening on Sunday 13th November at the Gynsill Lane

Sports Ground Pavilion. A new committee will be elected with the players receiving trophies for some of their tremendous efforts during the 2022 season.

The end of season groundwork has taken place which should mean that next season’s pitches are in decent shape. The club are also looking at improving the square and enhancing the equipment during the off season. Winter Nets will commence in January taking place at the City Cricket Academy at Freemans Common. Everyone at the club is looking forward to a successful 2023 season.

Anstey and Glenfield are actively looking for any new players to join the club for the 2023 season, so if you are interested in being involved then please email our secretary Amanda Wilkes at amandaandcharlie@btinternet. com. Please also visit our website at http://ansteyandglenfield.playcricket.com for regular updates, results and statistics.

POLICE News: Comings & Goings

THIS MONTH sees changes in beat officers for Glenfield, Leicester Forest East and Kirby Muxloe.

We say goodbye to PC 4706 Jodie Neal who has spent over 7 years on the beat we also say goodbye to PCSO 6641 Calum Loades who has spent over 4 years on the beat.

Both Jodie and Calum are staying local to the area covering different areas within Blaby District.

From the 7th November, PC 4790 Matt Haywood and PCSO 6073 Simon Stevenson will be joining the Glenfield beat team.

A Planet for the President (2004)

by Alistair Beaton

THIS IS a story written almost two decades ago.

Before Fake News, or Alternative Facts, or even social media.

It told the story of a not-too-distant future, which really was not too distant.

It is the near future and things are not going well for the President of the United States.

He wants Americans to be adored by everyone but half the planet seems to be in a permanent state of insurrection against US power. What’s more, there’s a growing environmental crisis that even he can’t ignore. It’s one thing when there are floods in Bangladesh, quite another when almost 2,000 Americans die in flooding in Texas. His advisers warn him he could be remembered as the President who wrecked the planet.

The President is persuaded of one simple fact: there are too many people in the world. Only radical action can deal with the problem. His advisors come up with a solution more ruthless than anything ever contemplated before. Appalled, the president refuses to go along with their plan. But it isn’t long before he is committed to thinking the unthinkable ...

Guardian Angels

I WOULD LIKE to send my very grateful thanks to the three ladies who helped me when I collapsed at the Glenfield island bus stop whilst waiting for the 29. They practically carried me onto the ‘bus, (many thanks also to the driver for letting me on.) and made sure I arrived home safe and sound.

You were truly three excellent Samaritans. Thank You.

Name and Address Supplied

Anstey & Glenfield’s victorious 2nd Team

Free

Small Ads

• Excellent condition UGG BOOTS tan colour, size 4. Price: £30:00.

• SCHOOL BLAZERS - sizes 28/30/34 English Martyrs. Excellent condition all three. Price: £10:00 each. Tel 07548 750206 (Glenfield)

• Royal Doulton CRYSTAL GLASSES. Set of 6 in satin lined box. Never used. Ideal gift. Please refer to internet for current retail prices. Photos available. £45.00

• Small glass topped WROUGHT IRON PLANT/LAMP TABLES. Approx 70cm height. Nice quality. 3 available. Photos available. £10 each

• VINTAGE RADIO. Spirit of St. Louis. Photos available. Offers. Tel: 07485 449980 (Glenfield)

• NEXT BOOKCASE/DISPLAY

UNIT(as new). Oak effect. Dimensions: 173cm high by 90cm wide by 30cm deep. Price: £150:00 ono.

Tel: 07766 676469 (Glenfield)

• Excellent condition FULLY LINED TAUPE COLOURED CURTAINS. Width of each curtain 92” inches. Drop 84” inches. Bought from Dunelms, they have tie backs and matching cushion covers. They have pleated fittings for a rail. Price: £50:00. Tel: 07548 750206 (Glenfield)

• CAR TRAILER – Halfords 535 (5x3.5ft) new £600. Price £200 o.n.o.

• PETROL MOWER – McCulloch M40-110. New £260. Price: £100 o.n.o.

• Wrought Iron - SECURITY GATE (front/back door) 2mx1m + locking Pole. Price: £50 o.v.n.o.

• Wrought Iron GATE - 46”H x 48”W. Price £15 o.n.o.

• Wrought Iron GATE 37”H x 49”W. Price £15 o.n.o.

Tel: 07812 807436 (Glenfield)

• TWO SINGLE BEDS foam mattresses and grey fabric headboards. As new. Bedding included if wanted. Price: £40 each.

Tel: 07927 624000 (Glenfield)

• WANTED: Personal Cassette player. Good working order. Tel: 07485 449980 (Glenfield)

SEND DETAILS by post or email - sorry, we can’t take them over the phone. free service for private individuals, not businesses. Maximum 8 items please. Post to: Gazette Small Ads, PO Box 8, Markfield, Leics. LE67 9ZT or you can email details to: info@glenfieldgazette.com PLEASE ENSURE that you put ‘SMALL ADS’ in the subject line, and INCLUDE YOUR FULL POSTAL ADDRESS publication, just to let buyers know where you are).

Glenfield Park WI NEWS

From Pam Wilson

WHAT AN INTERESTING and informative talk given by Helen Gaunt (a member) about heart disease and her involvement in it.

She qualified as a nurse in 1985 and worked at the General in heart disease. She was then promoted to ward sister but hated it as there was too much administration, so took a demotion to work at Glenfield in the Cardiology department.

After feeling that she had more to offer than taking notes and passing the patient on to the consultant she and a colleague went on courses and eventually set up a nurse-led clinic in heart disease in 2005.

Each patient is allocated 20 to 25 minutes for the consultation. (Wow - can you believe it). It beats the 5 minutes you get with a doctor. Each patient is given an informed diagnosis and then have the choice of whether or not to follow it. We were given a lot of excellent information so have I chosen just a few points.

What Helen emphasised several times is that if you have chest pain for more than 20 minutes YOU MUST CALL 999. Women are more likely to do this than men but are quite often fobbed off and told it‘s just anxiety. Most of the research has been based on men but women often present

differently. Perhaps there‘s a campaign here! However she pointed out that not all chest pain means that you are having a heart attack. It could just be muscle pain or indigestion, Some advice she gave was that if you have heart problems the cholesterol drugs are the most productive drug in cardiology.

Aspirin can be useful again if you have heart problems but do not take it regularly if not as it can damage the stomach lining. She admitted that her pet hate is Dr. Google when patients come in and say, “I‘ve been on the internet and and this is what is wrong with me”. After you have been given the correct diagnosis then by all means go onto the internet to look for advice.

Finally, if you say I don‘t want to bother the NHS her message is that‘s what the NHS is for, to be bothered. A very enlightening talk but very down to earth. Thank you Helen.

Coming up soon ...

• NOVEMBER 3RD: The History of Crime FictionJohn Martin

• NOVEMBER 9TH:

Christmas Dabble Day. Come and learn some new crafts.

• DECEMBER 12TH: Christmas Meal

Site for two dwellings in Glenfield

MOORE & YORK are offering for sale a site with planning consent for the demolition of present dwelling and the erection of two detached dwellings at Ashfield Road in Glenfield.

Offers in excess of £400,000 are invited.

Contact Moore & York on 0116 255 8666 or email: leicester@ mooreandyork.co.uk

More wise words

“You can’t change how people treat you or what they say about you. All you can do is change how you react to it.”

Gandhi

“If you have good thoughts they will shine out of your face like sunbeams and you will always look lovely.”

Roald Dahl

APPLICATIONS

Retrospective application for alterations to approved application reference 19/1265/FUL (Demolition of existing bungalow and erection of 3 detached dwellings). Retrospective works include additional 1no. rooflights to the front elevations of Plot 2 and 3, installation of 4no. external air conditioning units to Plots 1, 2 and 3 and swimming pools installed within Plots 1, 2 and 3 - at 146 Dominion Road, Glenfield, Leicestershire LE3 8JA

Replacement single storey extension to rear and erection of detached timber garage - at 9 Groby Road, Glenfield, Leicestershire LE3 8GN

Increase ridge height and insert rear dormer - at 26 Overdale Avenue, Glenfield, Leicestershire LE3 8GP

Single storey front and side extension - 1 Tredington Road, Glenfield, Leicestershire LE3 8EP

Single storey rear extension which would extend beyond the rear wall of the original dwellinghouse by 5.7m, for which the maximum height would be 3.65m and the height to the eaves would be 2.80m - at 12 Nursery Rise, Glenfield, Leicestershire LE7 7DB

Lest we forget

OUR CENOTAPH, located within the grounds of St Peter’s church, had been vandalised.

Thieves had stolen the lead damp-proofing membrane and as a result the plinth was being water damaged. I am pleased to say that after a number of years jumping through hoops seeking permission to work on such an emotive symbol, it has now been repaired.

I hope many of you will be able to see for yourselves if you join us on armistice day to remember those from the village who gave their lives during conflict.

There will be the short traditional service at the eleventh hour on the eleventh day of the eleventh month (Friday November 11th). It is held outdoors by the Cenotaph with the last post and minutes silence and I will be presenting a wreath on behalf of the residents of Blaby District.

There will also be the customary Church service of remembrance on the following Sunday, with the parades to the church, when further wreathes will be placed around the Cenotaph

With the battles raging in Ukraine it is important to remember the human cost of fighting for freedom and your very existence. We are all feeling the effects through our purses but that is as nothing compared to the price being paid in the Ukraine

Cllr. Roy Denney

Black Anna The Witch

~ A Poem by Paul Tuff

On a dark and spooky Halloween night

When the pumpkins all glow bright

Black cats will sit on broomsticks

As the witches all take flight

Children put on scary masks

To offer a trick or treat

But if they stay out very late

A real witch they‘re likely to meet

Many spells are cast this night

By witches in long pointed hats

Toads are stirred in large cauldrons

Along with hairy spiders and bats

Black Anna will be on the prowl

The scariest witch you‘ll ever see

She loves the little children

As a tasty snack for her tea

She‘ll fly around on her broomstick

Looking for children late at night

If she finds any not in bed She‘ll give them a terrible fright

Any children she finds dirty

Who didn‘t wash before bedtime

She‘ll scrub them in her cauldron

Then peg them out on her clothes line.

DIRECTED BY SPENCER MITCHELL

St Peter’s Church News

ONE OF MY GODSONS was born on 5th November. His parents had a tricky ethical dilemma when he was younger: should they tell him that all the fireworks were to celebrate his birthday?

They didn‘t, and I‘m hoping Ruth and I don‘t have the same quandary – sometime around the time you read this we will be welcoming our third child, and 5th November is as likely as any other birthday at the moment!

Though the name Guy Fawkes seems to have passed some way out of common use since I was a child, of course we all know the celebrations around that date mark the anniversary of the saving of the King and Parliament from a very different use of gunpowder in 1605. While the causes of that plot are very different from today‘s political and religious landscape, I dare to say that the relationship between government and the governed is about as bad as I remember, or remember learning about in my studies of history and politics over the past couple of centuries. Certainly the current level of disillusionment, discontent and disconnection is profound.

I sometimes wonder how Paul felt about the governments he lived under: many of them persecuted him and his colleagues almost as much as they had the Master he served, Jesus. Yet despite constantly living in danger, and disagreeing with the policies and claims of emperors, Paul, and indeed Peter, both wrote letters encouraging Christians to pray for their rulers and to attempt to live godly and quiet lives under them.

Whatever our feelings about the upheaval and instability of government presently, whatever side we are inclined to take or figures to support, just as Guy Fawkes and his co-conspirators should have done as the apostles taught, so should I – and you.

Rector of St Peter’s, Glenfield and All Saints, Newtown Linford. Tel: 0116 287 1604

Come and support Groby’s community choir in concert, featuring singers of all ages from Groby,

from

November 7.00pm

areas of Leicestershire

Sunday

November 3.00pm

Leicester, Glenfield Road, LE3

-

from

Choir

(1.30-3.00pm, 3.40-4.40pm, 7.30-9.00pm at Groby Club)

Groby Library (Saturday mornings

so

Just like the rest of your property have you considered your trees may need

maintenance from time to time.

Surgeon

Tree Surgeon

trees maybe too tall ?

Just like the rest of your property have you considered your trees may need some maintenance from time to time. Are your trees maybe too tall ? blocking light, unsafe or untidy?

Just like the rest of your property have you considered your trees may need some maintenance from time to time. Are your trees maybe too tall ? blocking light, unsafe or untidy? Do your hedges or shrubs need trimming or removing

Just like the rest of your property have you considered your trees may need some maintenance from time to time. Are your trees maybe too tall ? blocking light, unsafe or untidy? Do your hedges or shrubs need trimming or removing Do you need to remove that stubborn stump

light, unsafe or untidy?

Do your hedges or shrubs need trimming or removing

Do

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need to remove that stubborn

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With 30 years of experience working with trees in your area, I would be pleased to offer you free advise and a free quotation.

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now on

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Richard Trethewey

hours with my family. They seem like good people.

Face your Mask

THROUGHOUT

October, A Different Human Design teamed up with Leicester Sports Centre to host a citywide, interactive art installation.

We asked individuals to create a mask with both sides decorated. One side to represent the things we happily show to the world and the other with things we might try to hide.

The point of this exercise was to encourage exploration of the unique identity through creativity. As well as promote thought and discussion around how we judge both ourselves and others.

• Why do we keep parts hidden?

• Do we use masking in healthy or unhealthy ways?

Let‘s face it, masking, or behaving in accordance to your audience, is pretty normal to a certain extent. But feeling like you have to hide who you fundamentally are as a person, your struggles and your feelings, is a cause for depression, anxiety, addiction and suicide. Our mission was to encourage thought and communication around wellbeing and the challenge was accepted by so many of you, all ages, backgrounds and walks of life. A vibrant and moving collection grew from the off, and the overall result depicts a powerful message.

We‘re all hiding things, worrying, trying our best and struggling with internal battles. The masks themselves were all so different, with varied approaches to the task.

But the words and themes cropping up had striking similarities. Things like anxiety, shame over appearance and body shape, fear of not being

Lindzi Mayann

good enough and hiding anger are common.

Everyone who visited us, whether adding a mask or just taking a look, expressed their emotional response to the incredible display.

The whole experience really got us thinking, how could we build on the discussions we‘ve provoked? With popular culture and social media dictating our self-worth, we know it‘s going to take a sustained effort to have a meaningful impact.

FORE-MIDABLE FUNDRAISING!

So we‘re taking the Face Your Mask challenge on tour, in the form of workshops and exhibitions at community spaces.

This allows more people to get involved, and the message of acceptance to become a consistent one throughout communities.

A workshop will provide a supportive and creative environment to explore the differing versions of you with an opportunity to express your feelings and be a part of an incredible artistic and interactive exhibition.

Register your interest by emailing: Lindziadhd@outlook.com

THIS SEPTEMBER Edmonds & Slatter Opticians held their 5th charity golf day in aid of local charity, Menphys.

Menphys is a Leicestershire based charity that has been supporting local families for over 50 years providing a range of services for children and young adults up to the age of 25 who have additional needs and disabilities. The charity helps give them equal opportunities and allows them to live ordinary lives.

The golf day was hosted by Mr Saagar Hirani, partner and Optometrist at Edmonds & Slatter and Mr Vikesh Chauhan, also an Optometrist at the Leicestershire opticians. The day started off with bacon cobs and coffee before the fundraising commenced. The weather looked stormy and unpredictable but luckily for the golfers it remained dry.

Cheque presentation, L-R: Amy Coleburne, charity co-ordinator at Edmonds & Slatter, Tim Cole, director, Edmonds & Slatter, Hazel Pattison, Corporate Business Manager, Edmonds & Slatter, Ian Caldwell, CEO at Menphys.

There were two competitions running during the event for “Longest Drive” and “Closest to the pin” as well as the honour of being awarded 2022 Champion. A raffle for prizes including designer sunglasses, champagne, whiskey, and a signed Leicester Riders basketball was conducted, and fines built up on the golf course were collected. The event, as usual, was thoroughly enjoyed by all the golfers. An amazing total of £1500.00 was raised for Edmonds & Slatter’s chosen charity – Menphys.

Detached family residence for

BENTONS

Estate Agents are offering for sale a substantial and most attractive detached family residence occupying arguably one of the most sought after residential positions on the outskirts of Leicester city.

The property - 29 Fairefield Crescent, Glenfield, Leicester LE3 8EJ - offers spacious accommodation over two floors benefiting from gas central heating and a large garden plot extending to 0.3 acres.

The accommodation comprises entrance porch, entrance hall, breakfast kitchen, family room, dining room, rear hallway, utility room, WC, living room, snug, secondary kitchen and a first floor landing which gives way to four bedrooms, en-suite shower room and a separate family bathroom.

An early inspection is strongly advised as properties in this location are incredibly sought after and an internal inspection is highly recommended to fully appreciate this outstanding family home.

Guide Price: £695,000. For more information, or to arrange a viewing appointment, contact Bentons on 01664 563892 or email:

WORDSEARCH PRIME MINISTERS

IF YOU can find the most recent 16 UK PRIME MINISTERS in the Wordsearch grid above, you could win yourself a meal for two and a bottle of house wine at The Stamford Arms in Groby.

All you have to do to go into the draw is find - and mark a line through - 16 most recent UK Prime Ministers. These can run vertically, horizontally or diagonally (and backwards!).

Send your marked entry forms to: MANIFESTO, Glenfield Gazette, PO Box 8, Markfield, Leics. LE67 9ZT to arrive by SATURDAY 19TH NOVEMBER 2022. Please remember to fill in your name and address. (Some people don’t!)

The sender of the first correct entry drawn out of the hat will win the voucher for a Meal for Two and a Bottle of House Wine at The Stamford Arms, Groby. Good luck!

Here are the 16 PRIME MINISTERS you have to find:

ALEC DOUGLAS HOME

BORIS JOHNSON DAVID CAMERON

ANTHONY EDEN

ELIZABETH TRUSS GORDON BROWN

EDWARD HEATH

HAROLD MACMILLAN

JAMES CALLAGHAN

RISHI SUNAK

JOHN MAJOR

HAROLD WILSON

MARGARET THATCHER

THERESA

TONY BLAIR

WINSTON CHURCHILL

LAST MONTH’S WINNER WAS David Evans of Tysoe Hill, Glenfield. Congratulations! Your prize voucher will be sent to you soon!

The Perfect Gift

Harry had never been in a long-term relationship before. If he’d known way back in October when he first started seeing Chloe that she would still be around in December, he might have planned things better.

From the outset Chloe had shown no signs of either being annoying or being annoyed with him. She laughed at his jokes, she never complained when he played computer games all evening and would even turn up on the frostiest of Sunday mornings to watch him play football. Harry thought it was all going extraordinarily well.

That was until the other day when Chloe dropped a bombshell. Her message said: “Do you mind if we give the cinema a miss tonight? I’m saving up to buy you something special for Christmas”.

Two thoughts struck Harry. Firstly that he had a bonus night off from boyfriend duty. Secondly that if he hoped to still be seeing Chloe on Boxing Day he would also have to buy her a present, and he hadn’t budgeted for that. He did have a bit of savings, but that had been earmarked to buy a particular pair of football boots. This was the first big test of his relationship: choose the boots, which he loved, or Chloe, whom he rather liked.

A Saturday spent Christmas shopping in town was no fun for even the most committed boyfriend. Still, Harry congratulated himself for subtly asking Chloe what she might like for Christmas and was very pleased with her for the hint that she might like a new bag.

Initially he thought that buying a bag couldn’t be difficult, but after almost an hour trawling the department store, his confidence waned. He realised that all he really knew about lady’s bags was that, according to his Gran, you were never supposed to look inside them.

In need of a break, Harry headed to the Sports department. Here it was less crowded, and across the room on a Perspex plinth he saw his dream football boots beckoning; they were truly an object of beauty and he felt a pang of bittersweet ache. Underneath the stand he noticed a sign which read ‘Free bag with every purchase’.

Free bag? Harry’s mouth went dry. Beside the sign was a black fabric drawstring bag, of the

PIANO RECITAL

Friday 11th November 7pm at Markfield Methodist Church.

Hungarian Pianist Renata Konyiksca returns to wow us with another amazing performance.

Our Church has an intimate setting in which the piano is arranged so that as many folks as possible will be able to see Renata play.

Tickets £12 adults, £6 children.

Via our website http://www. markfieldmethodistchurch.org or call 07979 607099

Kirby Muxloe Local Committee for Cancer Research UK

OUR AUTUMN FAIR on Saturday October 1st raised a whopping £1,030!

As well as our stall selling Cancer Research Christmas cards and diaries, there was a Lucky Dip, cakes, raffle, the Bookman, cosmetics, Sarah Hill’s gifts, ceramics etc.

One of our donors made over 80 fruit crumbles for us to sell and another provided all the tea, milk, coffee and biscuits for those wanting a drink, following their browsing/ buying. We are still in awe of the generosity shown by many, many people and it really did seem like things were getting back to normal after the pandemic. Thank you ALL, again, for donating and/or attending the event. Without your financial support, the recent Cancer breakthroughs would not have been possible.

type he used to keep his school swimming kit in. Black, he remembered his Gran saying, goes with everything; could it go with Chloe’s Christmas party outfit? It was a good size, she could easily fit her purse and even her swimming kit in it. It was waterproof, which was also a bonus. He wondered if she would mind that it said ‘I Love Sport’ in red writing on it? Red was a very festive colour, and, he reasoned, she could always turn it inside out if she didn’t like that detail.

Half an hour later, a triumphant Harry boarded the bus home carrying his brand new boots in Chloe’s bag. This Christmas, he thought, was going to be the best Christmas ever.

Film Evenings

Parish Hall, Leicester Forest East

FREE to all residents of L.F.E. and surrounding areas

Always the first Thursday of the month, at the Parish Hall, LFE, LE3 3JE.

Doors open @ 7.00pm, film starts @ 7.30pm.

Entry is FREE, and includes a hot drink and biscuit.

Telephone 0116 239 4983 for details.

• OUR NEXT EVENT has been moved to Saturday 26th November, so that it doesn’t clash with the England Football match!

The Newbold Verdon Christian Community Choir will be providing a medley of songs and Christmas Carols. Held in the Kirby Muxloe Golf Club, the evening will start at 6.30 pm for 7 with a supper of sausage, mash and mushy peas (there will also be a vegetarian option). Tickets @ £20 will be available from the beginning of November from Glen Graham, tel. 0116 238 8018.

Please come and support this very worthwhile charity. See you there?

Working best from where?

ARE YOU more productive working from home, or at the office?

Who knows? A recent study at Microsoft found that while 87% of employees feel they were working as efficiently from home as in the office, 80% of their managers disagreed.

Whatever the truth, many experts believe that workplaces are unlikely to ever return to pre-pandemic numbers.

had wasn’t

Winter

Even if you feel you won’t want to venture into your garden much this winter, creating a winter planter or two will create some encouragement. They will not only look gorgeous from the warm comfort of your house, but will also help to coax you outside from time to time.

Choose a larger container as it’s more likely to protect the roots on the plants due to the greater volume of compost. Avoid any container less than 30cm (12in) diameter if possible.

Any container will insulate the roots a little, but one made from thick wood (such as a wooden trough or window box, or a half-barrel) will be very effective. Good quality, fairly chunky plastic also works quite well. Try to avoid metal as this tends to conduct cold.

Warm undergarments are all the rage for winter planters. A lining of bubble-wrap polythene or even a few layers of old fabric or carpet, sandwiched between the sides of the container and the compost will help to keep both compost and roots warm.

If you live somewhere particularly prone to frosts, or simply want to decrease the risk of winter damage, try to position winter planters out of the windiest areas. Placing them fairly close to a house wall on the south or west side as this will help to provide a little extra warmth. There are an amazing range of plants available

at your local garden centre for adding winter colour and interest to pots and planters. Some of the best are the universal or other winter flowering pansies or even hardier smaller flowered violas.

For some seriously sturdy winter colour, try the winter flowering heathers as these make a good base for the display and you can then add trailing plants such as variegated ivies to help provide extra colour, texture and interesting leaf shapes. All these plants will last for years, not just the winter months.

At this time of year, garden centres may offer very tiny versions of shrubs such as skimmias, Pieris or hollies and many of the dwarf conifers. They will provide good colour and interest in a container for a year or two and can then be planted in your garden to reach their full size.

In warmer areas, you can add bright patches of colour to your display using the ‘winter cherry’ or solanum which has bright yellow and orange fruits. You could also use a few winter flowering cyclamen but these definitely need a very sheltered spot such as a window box on a protected wall.

Don’t forget to add in a few early spring flowering bulbs such as miniature narcissus, crocus and miniature iris. Hide them beneath the roots of your winter bedding plants; you’ll forget they are there until they burst out in spring.

Paddington has trapped a man inside a clock

By Ian Mansfield London Art News

JUST OUTSIDE Paddington Station is a new clock, and trapped inside is a man who has to perpetually keep cleaning the face and drawing new hands on the glass.

It is of course art, and the man is a video performance of a person, created by the Dutch artist, Maarten Baas, who was commissioned to make the latest in his series of Real Time clocks for the office building it hangs from.

The Real Time series are 12-hour films of performances indicating the time that intends to combine theatre, art and film production in a series of new clock designs.

For this clock, Baas filmed an actor dressed in a 19th-century threepiece suit in reference to Paddington Station’s architect, Isambard Kingdom Brunel. Although mostly seen as a dark silhouette against the clock face, the actor comes close enough to the glass that you get to see the details of his clothing. Every so often he’ll put on a top hat, in the style of Brunel, but maybe either not visible or a nod to modern sensibilities, no cigar.

Throughout, he draws minute and hour hands, then a minute later has to clean the clock face and redraw the whole thing, every single minute.

The clock can be found at 50

Eastbourne Terrace next to Paddington Station.