SOUTH KILWORTH NEWS March 2011 DIARY Tue Thur Fri Sat Mon
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No. 406 10.00 19.00 19.00 20.30 18.30 - 20.45 19.00 10.00
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MaMites, Village Hall Art Club, Village Hall First Friday, White Hart Quiz Night, White Hart Football, Village Hall / Playing Field Parish Council Meeting, Village Hall MaMites, Village Hall Mobile Library (School 12.00, Leys Crescent 12.30, North Road 12.50) South Kilworth News AGM, Croft Acre, The Belt Art Club, Village Hall Litter Pick, meet at Village Hall First Sunday of Lent, Family Service, St Nicholas Church Football, Village Hall Weekday Holy Communion, St Nicholas Church MaMites, Village Hall W.I. Village Hall Luncheon Club, Village Hall Art Club, Village Hall Quiz Night, White Hart 2nd Sunday of Lent, Holy Communion, St Nicholas Church Football, Village Hall MaMites, Village Hall Mobile Library (School 12.00, Leys Crescent 12.30, North Road 12.50) Art Club, Village Hall Fish Supper, Village Hall Third Sunday of Lent, Avon-Swift Group Holy Communion at Swinford Football, Village Hall MaMites, Village Hall Art Club, Village Hall
ADVANCE NOTICE Friday 29th April Thursday 5th May Friday 13th May Saturday 8th October Saturday 5th November Saturday 11th November Saturday 17th December
Big Eat Polling Day Andrew Garnier MP 10 year Village Hall Celebrations Bonfire Night Safari Supper Children’s Party
Village Hall Village Hall Village Hall Village Hall Village Hall / Playing Field Village Hall
VILLAGE HALL BOOKINGS Contact Michael Murphy on 01788 861877 or 0777 6065385 The South Kilworth News is edited by Ann Saunders Please send copy for the April edition by 23rd March to Ann Saunders Smithy House, Welford Road Tel: 575 338 Email: am.saunders@virgin.net The South Kilworth News is printed by Colin Olle. Advertising enquiries to Colin Olle Croft Acre, The Belt Tel: 575 791 Email: colin.olle@tiscali.co.uk
TEAM CURATE’S LETTER Don’t forget! Pancake Day! Tuesday 8th March! The supermarkets will have reminded you – sales of lemons rocket at this time of year! Properly, it’s Shrove Tuesday. The early Christian church adopted some Pagan festivals to connect with local cultures and religions, but this one is original! It’s the day before Lent begins, when families ate up all the goodies left at the end of winter before beginning the more austere season of Lenten moderation. We are really lucky now to be protected from extremes – central heating, electric light, transport of goods– these things mean that we can eat strawberries in December in rooms as warm and bright as a summer day. We hardly notice Lent these days - and there’s not much chance of our noticing, since Easter Eggs and hot cross buns arrived in the shops on Boxing Day!!! But in the past, people were acutely aware of the changing year. Over winter food stocks ran low, it was dark, and cold. Feasts were spread out, and moderation and sometimes privation filled the gaps. Pancakes on Shrove Tuesday used up the last of the flour and eggs, as winter drew to an end and spring began. New food crops were hardly in the ground, so careful management of supplies was needed. So does all this switching between feasting and fasting have any relevance now outside the archaic structures of the Church? Wasn’t it just there because of the way people had to live, matching their level of technology and transport? Well, yes. But there’s more to it than that. The Church year is organised to reflect human experience, to mix feasting and fasting, celebrating and mourning – just as life does. Lent begins on Ash Wednesday, when the Church enters into a time of reflection and repentance. We do it to make quiet time to look at ourselves and our relationships, to redress the balance of life. It also gives us a chance to experience some self-denial – a good thing in itself, but also it makes the feast days all the more significant and glorious! And we do it so that we can pause to remember God. Often these days we remember to keep the feasts, but forget the reason for the celebration. Christians believe that God is the heart of all life, all our being. Over the changing ages, we’ve got to know God better – some say well enough to do without God at all – and to have a bigger picture of the world and those people and things we share it with. But we still need that time out to keep us on track and growing. Commerce has grabbed the opportunities that our traditions offer – but we can live in the modern world and still save the Easter eggs for Easter day! As you eat your pancakes, remember how lucky we are to be around today – and how generously blessed by God. Best wishes, Revd. Jane Kennedy. PS Mothering Sunday is a day off Lenten fasting– 3rd April! Enjoy! All enquiries regarding Church matters should be directed to:The Revd. Emma Davies, The Vicarage, 5 Church Lane, Gilmorton, Telephone:-01455 556 573 The Revd Jane Kennedy, 17 Cromwell Close, Walcote, Lutterworth, Telephone: 01455 554 065
LENT 2011 SERVICES FOR ASH WEDNESDAY on 9 MARCH: 10.30am said Holy Communion (BCP) with Imposition of Ashes at North Kilworth Church 7.30pm Holy Communion (CW) with Imposition of Ashes at Gilmorton Church ALL WELCOME
LENT GROUPS Groups will follow this year’s 5-week York course for Lent entitled “Rich Inheritance: Jesus’ legacy of love”. This ecumenical discussion course aims to help people to learn more about the Christian faith, to tackle big questions facing humanity and to examine personal beliefs in fellowship with others. Each session is introduced on CD by Dr David Hope (former Archbishop of York) and other leading Christian thinkers, and offers questions for discussion. Sessions last 1-1.5 hours and include tea/coffee. Please come along to a group if you can even if you can only make one or two sessions – all welcome.
This year’s groups are as follows: Walton Baptist Chapel, Tuesdays at 10.15 am starting 8th March. For more information contact Gordon Herbert on 01858 880492. Kimcote/Walton/Gilmorton, Thursdays at 7.30 pm starting 17th March: 17th March at Walton Hall, Chapel Lane, Walton 24th March at The Old Homestead, Lutterworth Road, Gilmorton 31st March at 14 Porlock Drive, Gilmorton 7th April at 14 Turville Road, Gilmorton 14th April – venue to be confirmed For more information contact Emma Davies on 01455 556573. North Kilworth, Church Room, Wednesdays at 10.30 am starting 16th March. For more information contact Emma Davies on 01455 556573. Willoughby Waterleys, Mondays at 7.30 pm starting 14th March. For more information contact Jenny Sharp on 0116 279 9049.
LUNCHEON CLUB
27th January The January lunch was held at Kilworth Springs. On such a bitterly cold day it was a most pleasant event, to sit down in a warm environment and enjoy a roast beef lunch, followed by cherry crumble. It was good to welcome back Rita Pickard and our two guests Mary Pickards’ daughter and David Morris. Our wishes for a speedy recovery went to Evelyn. 17th February We met in the Village Hall and it was good to see the return of Evelyn after recovering from a nasty fall. The main course of Minced Lamb cobbler was very tasty, encouraging second helpings. This was provided by Louise Boffey. To follow Joan had made a lovely trifle, again tempting second helpings. A raffle and tea rounded off another pleasant gathering. The March luncheon is scheduled for the 17th – St Patrick’s Day. David Burd
W.I. REPORT At February's W.I. meeting we had Jane Moody visit us from the Youth Offenders Scheme. Jane is team leader for the mentoring dept. and is responsible for recruitment, training and support. We were surprised to learn that they also have 200 volunteers who bring a wide range of experience to also help these young people to take responsibility for their actions. In some cases the child is as young as 8, but usually they are between 10-18. Help starts as soon as they come into contact with the police, and mentoring starts for an hour a week and can last for up to a year with children being taken for days out, football matches etc. There is also a huge amount of qualified people working along side the mentors. Next meeting is on March 15th 7.30 - we will be learning about straw work and corn dollies. You don’t have to be a member to come along and would be very welcome. Louise Boffey
SOUTH KILWORTH NEWS AGM
The South Kilworth News Annual General Meeting is scheduled for Wednesday 9th March at 7.30pm at Croft Acre, The Belt.
LITTER PICK - Saturday 12th March 10:30am. All hands needed to help clean up the village. Please meet at the Village Hall to collect requisites.
SCHOOL CLOTHING COLLECTION. The school raised a fantastic £515 from the sale of unwanted clothes, sheets, shoes and handbags last month via the recycling company called 'Ragtex' This money will be used to help develop the outside area, namely the Peace Garden. Our next major project is to further develop the banked area of the field so we will be having another collection in the summer. Please save all your unwanted items and we will notify of you the collection date nearer the time. Thank you.
NEWS FROM THE SCHOOL Thank you to everyone who contributed to our Ragtex collection we raised £515 pounds towards developing a pond area. Please look out for our article in the Lutterworth Mail on the 24th written by some of the children. We also thought you might like to read some of the poems Key Stage 1 have been writing linked to their topic of "Things that fly". If I had wings I would taste a chunk of the sun As hot as peppered scorching curry.
If I had wings I'd taste a wedge of the sun As hot as peppered chilli.
If I had wings I would make real ice cream from clouds As cold as snow on a sunny day.
If I had wings I'd play with the tweeting birds That fly as fast as meteors.
If I had wings I would fly past planes And hear them roar.
If I had wings I would play with the bats As dark as the night.
If I had wings I would dream of being at home Asleep.
If I had wings I would zoom through the clouds And test the water!
If I had wings I would touch a meteor Flying through space as fast as a rocket.
If I had wings I would plummet down the clouds As fluffy as a teddy.
If I had wings I would smell the Milky Way As soft and smooth as milk. by Matthew Jacks (Year 2)
If I had wings I would ascend To the crackling sun. If I had wings I would descend To the bottom of the earth. by Zak Taylor (Year 2)
RAISING MONEY FOR CANCER RESEARCH A big thank you to all the people in South Kilworth who bought our handmade items, un-wanted toys and made donations to cancer research. We collected exactly £34.00 which was taken to the cancer charity shop in Market Harborough. Charlotte Reynolds, Becky Bell, Jo Bell, Brodie Reynolds.
SOUTH KILWORTH BIRDS Well it’s finally happened!! After predicting the arrival of a waxwing in the village for a couple of months I had a call from Lucy Eperon to say that she had seen two birds in the trees to the rear of her garden. Well done for finding the first waxwings in South Kilworth this winter. The garden has been alive with the normal bird life over the past 3 weeks. With the milder weather a number of song birds including song thrush, blackbird and robin are starting to mark their territories in readiness for spring. I was also lucky enough to have great views of a barn owl hunting along the hedgerow just past the Belt – always great to see, especially at close quarters. Spring around the corner...... I will include more information on spring birds in the next issue. In advance of that, here are a few spring migrants that tend to be some of the earliest to arrive in Leicestershire. Some of these birds will definitely be in the county before the next issue of the SK news. Sand Martin – one of the earliest migrants to arrive. In fact the earliest ever county record was on the 5th March so worth looking out for. The most likely sites are the reservoir and Kilworth Springs. Chiffchaff – another early visitor (in fact one of the earliest warblers to arrive). A number of these birds even stay with us during the winter. Listen out for their distinctive “chiff chaff, chiff chaff” song in gardens and woodland in the village. Swallow – most people associate swallows with the summer but the recent records suggest that spring arrival dates in the County are getting earlier. There have been March records in every year since 1993, with 6 records prior to March 20th ! Wheatear – another early arrival around mid March. This bird is often overlooked but its distinctive white and black in the tail when flying is very noticeable. They also spend most of their time on the ground, most often on rough stony ground or grass. The reservoir and the golf course are really good locations as well as any open fields (see picture). Chris Hubbard
Male Wheatear
EDITORIAL Good to have had contributions this month from most of the regulars. A double edition has brought us up to date on the gastronomic delights of the Luncheon Club – I know this is a favourite article of a number of people who look forward to the day when they will be able to join, but in the meantime salivate on reading the descriptions of the latest menu. The school clothes collection raised a wonderful amount of money – even without my bin bags. As predicted, I managed to remember one day too late. Will try to do better next time. Looking forward to seeing and hearing more of the birds that Chris Hubbard says will be arriving soon. Although I have noticed that the dawn chorus is already increasing in volume. Contributions – regular or irregular – always welcome. Ann Saunders
PARISH COUNCIL CLERK POSITION VACANCY Suzanne Taylor has resigned as Parish Council Clerk after nearly 9 years, the council has thanked her for work and commitment over the years. If anyone is interested in the position of the Parish Council clerk
please contact her on 01858 571055. It consists of roughly 15hrs per month work and being able to attend the Parish council meetings every first Monday of the month except August at 7pm.
AGAR VENTURE Some of the existing committee members wish to step down from the Agar Venture, so if you are interested in joining the Agar Venture or have any ideas for village improvements, please get in touch with Suzanne Taylor on 571055.
OIL & GAS PRICES IN SOUTH KILWORTH Oil Thanks to everyone who has let me have information about their oil and gas purchases from the last 12 months. The effort means that we can start to see already that there’s a pretty big swing in oil prices…and that Total Butler should probably be avoided at all costs (or it will cost!) It also shows that YOBCO appear to be doing a good job in negotiating a decent deal for its members, but I would really like to hear from anyone who’s used another provider in recent months. In particular, if anybody has used Watsons I’d love to know what their prices are like. I’ve seen their tankers in the village, but maybe they’re just passing through? There was a vast swing in oil prices in December. Total Butler claimed that on several day their prices reached 80p + VAT! It was interesting to note that Chandlers delivered to the village on the 2nd, 6th & 7th December and the rate each day was 48.85p, 50.2p and 58.75p respectively…what a difference a day - or 6 - makes!
The graph is hard to depict in black & white, but for each month the bars run from left to right in the same order as the numbers below, top to bottom, i.e. the bar on the left is Total Butler. Where the same supplier has delivered on more than one occasion in a month, a weighted average is quoted. Gas Gas is a different beast altogether (and it does seem a bit of a beast). I’ve unfortunately not been able to show a full analysis in this month’s SK News, because I am still waiting for some crucial information about people’s contracts – I need to make sure I’m comparing deals on the same basis. At the moment though, it does appear that there’s a 15p per litre swing in price between suppliers and, perhaps more worrying, it appears there’s also a 15p swing in price between households using the same supplier! Needless to say, I’m making sure the facts are straight and I will be collating a full picture and inviting the main suppliers to meet up with us and tell us what they can offer us as a collective buyer. Thanks to the person(s) who’ve offered to help with that negotiation via Andy Mathais - I will be in touch. If you would like to benefit from this gas price negotiation, please can you let me know by Sunday 20th March, giving me the following details:
Current estimated annual (or monthly) use Who your current supplier is When your current contract ends (if appropriate) No personal information will be published in the SK News or to the potential suppliers without your express permission. Thanks again to those who have already contributed to this ‘fuel insight’. Please keep the information coming and remember to let me know as and when you take a delivery of oil or gas. I need the following information to be able to include it: • Supplier name • Pence per litre (PLEASE STATE IF THIS INCLUDES OR EXCLUDES VAT) • Date of delivery • How much you ordered (this doesn’t appear to be a significant factor, but I’d like to keep an eye on it) You can email me at sarah@360degreebusinesssolutions.com or drop a note through the door at Squirrel Bank (opposite Monte Bello) anytime, but if you can get it to me at least 3 days before the next copy date (see front of SK News) then I will be able to include it in that month’s report. Sarah Langeveld
Digital Switchover Volunteers Sought! TV is going digital. The existing analogue TV signal will be switched off and replaced with a new, stronger digital TV signal. It will mean that almost everyone will be able to receive digital TV through an aerial but people will need to retune their set at the appropriate times and some people may need a set top box. There will be a number of roadshow events and advice points around the area to inform people what is going to happen and a help scheme is available for people who may experience difficulties. It is anticipated that around 5% of people may experience difficulties and may not know where to go for the help that is available. Volunteering for the RCC - Volunteers are sought to help people access the information and support. The RCC (Leics & Rutland) will be seeking up to 45 volunteers from across Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland who will be a local contact point and able to help vulnerable people, who have slipped through the net to access the help scheme or seek appropriate advice. Training will be provided and expenses up to £350 will be available for these community volunteers. Their task will be to • Attend a training workshop and a mid project evaluation • Identify additional community supporters in their area • Identify and support those in the target group • Collect data from the community supporters and report back to the project officer The project will be undertaken between March 2011 and September 2011 and most work will be undertaken in your own local area. If you feel that you would like to volunteer please contact Diana Cook for more details and an application form dcook@ruralcc.org.uk 0116 2689706 or see our website http://www.ruralcc.org.uk/latestnews.html
BIG EAT FRIDAY 29TH APRIL A free family fun day at the village hall from 2pm to celebrate the royal wedding. Bring your own picnic / barbeque.
PLANNING APPLICATION Harborough District Council has received an outline planning application for a mixed-use development of up to 1,000 dwellings, including a hotel and marina, open space, and country park. The development also includes a primary school, and a local centre with retail, healthcare and community uses. The application is for land at Airfield Farm, approximately 1km to the north-west of Market Harborough town centre. The applicants are Hallam Land Management and William Davis. The documents are available on the council’s website at www.harborough.gov.uk/planning/airfieldfarm where they can be viewed and comments can be submitted. The planning application reference is 11/00112/OUT. Alternatively, the application is available for inspection at the council offices in Adam and Eve Street, Market Harborough. A decision on the application is expected in early 2012. If you have any queries regarding the proposal, contact the case officer, Nicola Parry on 01858 828282 or n.parry@harborough.gov.uk