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Leicestershire Accountancy Practice Linford Grey Wins Prestigious National Award
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ALHS Anstey Local History Society Article by Jane Cole
Sadly, despite the protests of our local councillors, Charnwood MP Mr Edward Argar and the national press with the Daily Mail taking up the story, Anstey lost its last bank when Nationwide closed its branch in the Nook on March 31st 2021. The following two pictures are of the same site over the years. There are many more photos in the Anstey Millennium Collection showing such businesses as The Cosy Café, Harry Payne’s, The Paint Pot, The Totem Pole etc, etc. Just take a detailed look at the 1984 picture and see how much change has taken place. As we have said before: “Today’s picture is tomorrow’s visual history” – take a picture today! Remember to note the date and if possible, name any people in the picture. Brian Kibble
This photograph was taken by Matthew Kibble on the 24th February 2021.
No.9 Mr Rump c1895
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Leicestershire County Council And Police & Crime Commissioner Elections Thursday 6th May 2021 Your Votes Count! Are you registered to vote? The deadline for voter registration is Monday April 19th 2021 If you’re not yet on the electoral roll, you can do so very easily online in about 5 minutes. Just go to: www.gov.uk/register-to-vote If you need help with this, you can also contact Charnwood Borough Election Office at: electoral.services@charnwood.gov.uk or phone: 01509 634546 or use this link: www.charnwood.gov.uk/pages/register_to_vote Do you want to vote from home? The deadline for postal vote applications is Tuesday April 20th 2021 You can access the application form from: www.gov.uk/electoral commission electoral.services@charnwood.gov.uk or 01509 634546 or use this link: www.charnwood.gov.uk/pages/where_and_how_you_ can_vote postalvote.labour.org.uk Once completed the form has to be sent via post or email (scanned) to: Charnwood Electoral Services, Charnwood Borough Council, Southfield Road, Loughborough, LE11 2TX. Do you want someone else to vote for you? You can apply for a proxy vote up until Tuesday April 27th as above. You can apply for an emergency proxy vote, in case of sudden illness,up until 5pm on May 6th. For more details go to: www.charnwood.gov.uk/pages/lcc_pcc_elections
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Protecting Your Family’s Inheritance Article by Klara Hesling
Our frontline staff follow Government guidelines for visiting you in your home and they are in the vaccination program with first course completed. LevLaw Ltd remains here for you. (previously Kornerstone Legal Services) Most people hope that their estate will pass on to their children and grandchildren eventually. But this will not happen for many, unless careful arrangements have been made to protect their assets from being taken towards the end of their life to pay for care home fees. The solution to help protect your estate is a Will incorporating a Property Protection Trust (PPT). A testamentary PPT can only be executed whilst both partners remain alive. Upon death of the first partner, their Will specifies that their share of the property is placed into trust and names the ultimate beneficiary of this share, normally the children and grandchildren of the deceased. The surviving partner, under the terms of the trust, has the unequivocal right to remain living in the property for the rest of their life. On the death of the second partner the Trust comes to an end and the property passes to the beneficiaries. As the surviving partner does not own the deceased’s share of the property it is fully protected for the beneficiaries, so if the surviving partner requires care, or even remarries, this share of the children’s inheritance is protected. This last point can be particular interest to couples who have come together and have children with different partners. A PPT can help each person in a relationship ensuring that their children inherit their share of the property, while giving their surviving partner the ability to live in the property for the rest of their life. If the surviving partner wants to move to another property, they can still sell the property and the proceeds to be used to purchase a new property, the terms of the Trust remain over the new property.
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*Our prices include VAT. These very special rates are only available if you are over 60 years old. Normal price for standard Will £125, £195 for two. We also provide Funeral Plans. LPA if instructed without a Will it is £105. Registration, court fees not included. LevLaw Ltd was previously Kornerstone Legal Services Ltd. LevLaw Ltd is in association with LevLaw Wealth Protection Ltd.
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Deborah Taylor Borough Councillor for Anstey
T: 0116 2350126 E: cllr.deborah.taylor@charnwood.gov.uk Census Day All households across Charnwood must by law take part in Census 2021. The Census is a government exercise undertaken every 10 years to provide the government with the information it needs on the population in order to make governance decisions. For more detail on Census 2021, see this excellent BBC story on it: www.bbc.co.uk/news/explainers-55935409 Census day was on the 21st March 2021 but households can complete their census forms after that date. You should by now have received your letter with a code explaining how you can complete your form online. If you still haven’t received your letter, please do get in touch with the census contact centre (details are below). You can also request a paper questionnaire if you’d prefer to complete your census that way. Local census support centres will be open while the census is happening and staff will offer help for people not confident online, who don’t have a computer or need help completing on paper. The census is a once-in-a-decade survey that gives us the most accurate estimate of all the people and households in England, Wales and Northern Ireland (Scotland is conducting its own census next year). It has been carried out every decade since 1801, except for 1941. The census asks questions about you, your household and your home. In doing so, it helps to build a detailed snapshot of our society. Information from the census helps the government and local authorities to plan and fund local services, such as education, doctors' surgeries and roads. For more information, and to find out how to get help, visit census.gov.uk or call the contact centre on 0800 141 2021. Covid-19 Memorial There are plans for a lasting memorial in Loughborough to mark the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on local communities. The Hope Bell, proposed by the Loughborough Town Deal Board, would commemorate the lives lost to Covid-19, honour key workers who have helped battle the pandemic, and be a symbol of hope for the future. The Hope Bell installation would cost around £150,000 and the area it would sit in would also need landscaping. Some aspects of the project could be part-funded by the public. Various options are being considered but the Hope Bell might weigh up to a tonne and it is not anticipated that it would be installed until 2022. The Hope Bell is part of the Lanes and Links project within the Town Deal bid. The project aims to revitalise an open space within a deprived neighbourhood to improve community safety and encourage people to visit the area. The Hope Bell would be part of a clock chime installation with four smaller bells, all made by Taylor’s Bell Foundry in the town; amazingly, the last major bell foundry in the country. Queen’s Park is currently earmarked as a possible location. Coincidentally, Queen’s Park is home to the Carillon Tower, the town’s war memorial, which displays 47 of its own Taylor bells. Council Tax The council tax bills for the year 2021/2022 are being distributed. We thought it would be useful to share this graphic of the services you receive from Charnwood Borough Council, paid for from the percentage they obtain from Council tax collection overall, which is around 10% of your total council tax bill. Nationwide Building Society Sadly, by the time this report lands on your doorstep, the Nationwide Building Society branch in Anstey will be closing/closed. David, Paul and Deborah have tried everything they could, during the past three months, to keep this branch open for our residents. We all know that the branch is a much-needed financial service in the village. We just want to thank everyone who supported our campaign and signed our petition. We had over 651 signatures of support for our campaign and we recently formally submitted the petition to the Nationwide HQ. Again, this fell on deaf ears and we were told that any further correspondence received from us would be filed and remain unanswered. A very disappointing response and not what we would have expected from the Nationwide. We will continue to hold Nationwide to account over this detrimental decision for the village and the way it was handled, during a national pandemic. Cllr Snartt has now written to the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and we will continue to support him. The final letter from Nationwide was marked confidential. We did ask if we could share the letter and they have failed to respond. We take this that they do not object to us sharing this letter with our residents.
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Paul Baines
Borough Councillor for Anstey
T: 07977 178869 E: cllr.paul.baines@charnwood.gov.uk
Member Grants Applications for member grants have now closed for this year. We thought you would like to know where we have given our money this year. At the beginning of the pandemic, we gave £1,000 to Charnwood Community Action, to support Anstey residents during the first lockdown. We gave £250 to Bradgate Park Trust for Volunteer Patrols in Bradgate Park and Swithland Wood. This included funding towards hi-vis vests, radios for patrols and equipment for litter picking. We also gave £500 to Go Getta. Go-Getta CIC supports young people to live healthier, happier, safer and more responsible lives. They motivate young people towards positive change through relationships, empowerment, and access to opportunities to learn, grow and have fun. The grant included funding for venue hire for the winter months, staffing costs and equipment. This is for the young people of Anstey. We gave the final £250 to Charnwood Community Action, who have an ongoing need for financial support, and which has been caring for Anstey residents throughout the pandemic, with food parcels and additional help where needed, including befriending, shopping and collecting prescriptions. Further member grants will be available for local groups in Anstey in the next financial year. The amount will be reduced for next year so we will have £500 each to grant to local groups in Anstey. Latimer Street, School Parking A number of residents have discussed with us the dangerous parking that occurs outside the Latimer Primary School at drop off and pick up times. Vehicles are parking on the double yellow lines and on the zig-zag lines outside the school. The school are very proactive in trying to encourage parents and carers not to drive down Latimer Street and to park safely and legally. We have asked for the parking wardens and the camera car to patrol the area and they will be issuing fines. For the safety of children, please consider parking in The Nook car park or the Co-op car park and walking your children to school from there. We want to avoid lots of cars driving into Latimer Street when there are hundreds of children around. We also want to be pro-active and prevent any accidents happening. Please consider children’s safety and park legally and not on double yellow lines or zig zags. We have also asked the local police beat team to patrol the area and they will be offering advice and moving vehicles on. If you have any issues or concerns, we are here to help. Deborah and Paul
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Leicestershire Accountancy Practice Linford Grey Wins Prestigious National Award
The Charnwood Gardener Article by Peter Flood
Article by Sophie Redman-Singh On 3rd March 2021, Leicestershire based accountancy practice, Linford Grey Associates, won the Total Xero award at the UK & EMEA 2021 Xero Awards, one of the most prestigious awards in the accounting and finance industry. The Xero Awards celebrates the excellence and the achievements of service providers operating in the sector. Accountancy practices and app partners across the UK, Ireland and South Africa were honoured at the annual awards ceremony.
The Right Tools For The Job Organised people (that strange and exotic breed that I don’t count myself part of) will have spent the winter months cleaning, sharpening, fixing and replacing their gardening tools in preparation for the new season. If you’re like me, however, March has rolled around before you suddenly realise you’re in need of some new kit. Gardening is peculiar in that you can get by with a very basic selection of tools – a spade, fork and some secateurs will handle most jobs. But this complacency can result in jobs taking far longer than they should. Gardening tools are actually quite diverse, and they’re often designed for very specific tasks. You wouldn’t hammer a screw into the wall, so why would you use the wrong tool in the garden? Here are my top suggestions for additions for your tool shed this spring: A Selection of Secateurs & Loppers There are two common types of secateur: anvil and bypass. Bypass secateurs cut cleanly, like scissors, and are for soft, green growth. Anvils are for woody stems where more power is needed to get through; they will crush soft growth. Loppers are also available as anvil and bypass – the principle is the same, but they’re for thicker stems. A Good Hoe A proper hoe makes weeding a breeze, but it’s all about the technique - many people don’t know the proper way to use one. Watch a YouTube video and you’ll never look back! A Sharp Mattock Removing something big, such as a shrub, can take hours with a spade. A mattock is both a chopper of roots and a lever of stumps – swing it with abandon to clear woody plants (and save your back) A Puncture-Free Wheelbarrow Tyre Why these aren’t standard on all wheelbarrows I’ll never know. Say goodbye to puncture repair kits and get on with the gardening. TIP: Early flowering shrubs like Forsythia make lovely cut flowers. Trim a few branches just before the buds open and pop them in a vase.
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Hosted by Gary Turner, Xero UK & EMEA Managing Director, and comedian Henry Pake in an online ceremony, the awards showcased the achievements of those supporting businesses through one of the toughest years on record. Linford Grey, located in Newtown Linford, was just one of three finalists for the Total Xero award, from thousands of confirmed entries from across the country. Managing Director, Adam Pritchard, commented, “We are extremely proud to have won such an esteemed award. It is fantastic to be recognised for our commitment to new technologies and leveraging these to add value for our clients.” Xero is a cloud accounting platform used by accounting professionals all over the world and Linford Grey has consolidated their status as Gold Certified Xero Partners by exclusively using the Xero platform to service client requirements. Adam continues, “We owe a huge thank you to all our clients who have been stoic in their fight this year, and are grateful that when the world threatened to fall apart, we were uniquely placed to dig deep, use the infrastructures and tech stack we'd built to strengthen our relationships, and move closer to people. “This award separates us from other firms as a thought leader at the frontier of developments in our industry. It is wonderful to have our vision and our effort acknowledged and endorsed by Xero and the wider community.” The judges were particularly impressed with how the practice embraces new technology in ways that ensure clients reap the benefits. Judge Penny Power, Founder of Business is Personal, said Linford Grey showed, “a real commitment to the advancements of digital." Whether it is using Hubdoc to take away the stress of data entry, combining Calendly and Zapier to set agendas for regular 45-min health check-ins or beta-testing Pay With Transferwise to save time paying bills, Linford Grey is always looking for ways to add extra value to the client experience. “The use of webinars to help clients see the art of the possible is a really nice way to reach out and advance skills,” says Power. “They are really leading and influencing their community.” Accountants, bookkeepers and the app industry have played a huge role in guiding their small business clients through the pandemic and supporting the wider economy. Xero research shows 43% of small business owners said that their accountant has been crucial to their pandemic survival, while 58% named them as their most trusted business advisor. Linford Grey is a digital practice with clients across the UK and overseas. The team services all industries and sectors but has particular expertise in the hospitality sector and eCommerce.
Come and visit our fabulous outdoor food court at The Wheatsheaf Inn at Thurcaston, every Friday from 9am until 3pm. There is a huge range of fresh fruit, veg and salad from T G Portas & Daughter who also sell local Thurcaston honey and fresh farm eggs. Hambleton’s Bakery with their sweet and savoury treat stall. Fillet & Fish with their restaurant grade frozen sea food. Brockleby’s pies with their huge selection of savoury and sweet pies, they also have a vegan option available. The Wheatsheaf Inn will also be serving hot drinks and breakfast rolls to take away.
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Deborah Taylor
County Councillor for Bradgate Division T: 0116 2350126 E: deborah.taylor@leics.gov.uk As the vaccination program continues to be rolled out, we are starting to see some of the national restrictions lifted. Please follow the guidance and try not to rush into meeting up with people until it is safe to do so. The virus is still with us and it can still spread easily. The roadmap out of the lockdown, announced by the government can be viewed on our website: www. bradgateconservatives.org.uk/news I continue to work from home and all my meetings remain on the virtual network. I am hoping that some of the main council meetings will start to be held in person soon, but the majority will remain online for some time yet. On 7th March 2021, we hit the sad milestone of the anniversary of the first confirmed case of coronavirus in Leicestershire. A year on from 7th March 2020, there have been over 77,000 cases across Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland (LLR) and sadly just under 2,300 people have lost their lives. Here are some of the local statistics from the past year: • 4,000 people have been treated in hospital for coronavirus and discharged • 348,000 vaccinations completed (latest figures published) • 100 Covid champions recruited – to help share facts in communities • 1,362 licensing checks, 2,582 fixed penalty notices and 24,037 reports of breaches managed by Leicestershire Police. On 3rd March 2021, I managed an afternoon at County Hall. In November last year, we held our ‘Pride in Practice’ conference virtually, due to the pandemic. This conference brings together all the staff that work in social care at County Hall. We usually present awards at the conference to staff in the Children and Families Department, who have been nominated by their colleagues for exceptional work. We were finally able to present those members of staff with their awards in a Covid secure environment on 3rd March at County Hall. It was great to see so many members of the department, present them with their awards and have a socially distanced photo taken with them. School Places Secondary school places were revealed to pupils across the country on 1st March. The schools admissions process in Leicestershire adheres to central government rules and gives parents and carers the right to have an appeal heard by an independent panel. Figures released confirm that almost all young people across the county have secured a place at their first choice of secondary school. There were 7,513 applications received this year, of which: • 88.9% (6679) secured their first choice • 5.2% (380) secured their second choice • 1.3% (95) secured their third choice • 95.4% (7079) secured one of their top three choices • 4.48% (327) did not secure one of their choices and can appeal or take up a place at an alternative school. Virtual Reading Friends Parents and carers are being invited to become virtual Reading Friends. Virtual Reading Friends groups are aimed at tackling loneliness and helping parents and carers meet new people. Parents and carers from around the county are being invited to join virtual Reading Friends groups to meet new people in their local area. Leicestershire County Council has been awarded funding from the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport and The Reading Agency to take part in their new initiative ‘Read, Talk, Share’, which is aimed at tackling loneliness and includes a national rollout of their Reading Friends scheme. Reading Friends virtual groups will start to appear on Facebook over the next few months, providing support for parents, particularly first-time parents, who may feel more isolated without close family support and regular library activities. There is further information on The Reading Agency website: https://readingagency.org.uk/adults/quick-guides/reading-friends/ Dollywood Foundation I was invited onto BBC Radio Leicester in early March to talk about the ‘Imagination Library’. This is a project supported by the Dollywood Foundation, set up by Dolly Parton. The ‘Imagination Library’ sends one book a month to eligible children aged 0-5 years old. If a child is in the
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scheme for the whole period, they will build up a library of 60 books. All our children in care at Leicestershire County Council are supported by our Virtual School who registers them for the scheme. We currently have 116 children who each receive a book through the post every month. This is all free of charge, supported by the Dollywood Foundation. Parents and carers can also put their children forward for the scheme but there is a small charge. The universal offer for any child is at a cost of just £2.08 per book, or £25 per child for 12 books. All the details can be found on this website: https://imaginationlibrary.com/uk/ Have your say this May A new drive is urging people not to miss the chance to have their say in Leicestershire County Council’s election on 6th May. Residents are being encouraged to use their vote to shape the wide range of services delivered by the authority including adult social care, children's social care, public health, transport, education, planning, road maintenance, libraries, waste management and trading standards. Arrangements are being put into place to ensure polling stations are safe places to cast your ballot and you can expect to see many of the measures that you have become used to over recent months. Postal votes are also an option; however, you will need to apply for a postal vote by 20th April. Further information and the postal vote application form is available on our website: www.bradgateconservatives.org.uk Polling stations will be safe places to vote and you are likely to see screens, hand sanitiser, social distancing floor markings and you will also need to wear a face mask. You are advised to bring your own pen or pencil but there will be single use pencils available. Local Authorities will continue to work closely with the government and public health to make sure that the arrangements in place reflect the most up-to-date guidance. Key facts: • There are 55 county councillors in Leicestershire - and all seats are up for election • Around 550,000 people are eligible to vote • People in Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland can also vote in the Police and Crime Commissioner election on 6th May Key dates: 9th April: Election candidates’ names published 19th April: Deadline to register to vote 20th April: Deadline to apply for a postal vote 6th May: Polls open from 7am until 10pm 7th May: Vote count starts at 11.30am. Litter Picking Wombles Leicestershire County Council is supporting local litter picking groups - often called ‘Wombles’ - by pledging to help them access the equipment that they need. Across Leicestershire, there are hundreds of groups who collect litter from Leicestershire streets, parks, verges and other public spaces. It is also a great place to make new friends, spend time with like-minded people and get out for exercise and fresh air. Practical support is being offered through a new fund which will supply these groups with road signs and hi-vis jackets to help keep them safe, and extra-long litter pickers to reach under bushes and hedgerows. You can apply for some funding by emailing Community.Litter@leics.gov.uk or please contact me and I can provide you with further information. There are two Facebook groups that I am aware of. They are the North Leicestershire Litter Wombles: www.facebook.com/ groups/141303347119355 and the South Leicestershire Litter Wombles: www.facebook.com/groups/604107836721038 I know there are many more groups within my division that litter pick all year round, and I am grateful to them for helping to keep our villages clean and tidy.
Bradgate Park There has been lots going on at Bradgate Park over the last few weeks. The new bridge on the exit from the Newtown Linford car park has now been replaced. The old one was very rusty and unsafe, so I am pleased that the new bridge is now in situ with safer railings as well. Whilst the bridge was being replaced, the infrastructure was put in place for the ANPR cameras. The cameras are hoping to be in place and up and running in early April to assist with parking and car park charges. The on-street car parking consultation that was held at the end of last year is moving forward. We are concentrating on the restrictions within the Parish of Newtown Linford in the first instance, before moving into the other areas. Some of the other areas included in the consultation require more time to consider all the comments that have been received, so that we can be assured that all the comments have been taken onboard. I have now signed off the final proposals and they are working their way through the legal system at County Hall. I am hoping to be able to share the results as soon as I can. Bradgate Park Trust has been going through a thorough review during the last few months and the review is now coming to an end. The trust is on a much more stable footing to now move forward with polices and staffing under control. There have been several job vacancies advertised on the website. One of the job vacancies was for a new Director. We received many applications and I was involved in the shortlisting and meeting some of the applicants before they went forward to a formal interview. This has now been completed and the successful applicant has been offered and accepted the position. I am hoping this will be made public very soon. New Traffic Website The highways department receive a great number of enquiries about a variety of issues on the road, many of these are around parking, speeding and pedestrian safety. To help support communities in understanding what solutions are available, a new website has been developed to provide clear and straight forward guidance on the types of options that may be appropriate to address a particular issue as well as the criteria, process involved and potential costs. This new website has been designed to be easy to use and allow residents and communities to make informed decisions on the most appropriate and effective solutions that would benefit their community. The website ‘Leicestershire Highways A Roads to Zebras’ https:// leicestershirehighways.org.uk/ went live on Tuesday 16th March, so is in the early stages and improvements will be made over the coming weeks. The intention is for this website to eventually include other key functions of the department providing a one-stop shop for road, waste and environment information and guidance. If you have any issues or concerns, I’m here to help. Deborah
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Anstey WI
Article by Sheila Timms
Is There A Male Menopause? Article by Gary Trickett
Zoom still features large in the activities of Anstey WI. Several members took part in the county federation’s Annual Council Meeting. The Institute was congratulated on its forthcoming 80th birthday, and we are looking forward to celebrating it when we are able to meet properly. We were also delighted and proud to hear that one of our members, Sylvia Cole, (who came to us courtesy of the closure of Thurcaston and Cropston WI) has won the Edith Buckley Trophy with her poem on ‘Lockdown.’ Here is her poem: Excitement mounts, as days get longer. Lambs are born; buds grow stronger. Sunlight’s weak rays light up our hearts. Then, without warning, Covid strikes! At first, it seemed a trivial thing. Then all our hopes were dashed. Jobs, families, schools, then even lives, All, bit by bit, were smashed No chance to welcome New-borns. No chance to say Goodbye. No cosy meals or friendly walks. Sometimes we had to cry. As days stretched into months, our homes became our cells. Yet from this mire, a new day dawned, Our neighbours played their part. Comforting, shopping, sharing love; Which came straight from the heart. Each little gift, each friendly smile, Has meant so much to those, Who, until then, had lived alone, In silence with their woes. This dreadful virus, come what may, Will never screen from view, These massive acts of kindness, shown, To her, and him, by you!
Gary Trickett explores the tell tale signs of low testosterone in men. Technically, yes. It’s called andropause and it refers to age-related changes in male hormones, specifically testosterone. Both menopause in women and andropause in men refer to a drop off in hormones – in women, oestrogen levels decline as ovaries reduce production; in men, testosterone levels decline. One of the key differences, however, is the speed with which they do this: in women the decline is sudden, occurring over a few years, normally from the age of 45 to 50; in men this decline is much more gradual, with hormones dropping off over several decades rather than years. Also not every man will experience male menopause. For those that do, there’s a good chance you may not recognise the symptoms for what they are; but if you’re feeling tired, irritable, depressed or are experiencing low libido or erectile dysfunction, your testosterone levels could be low. Other symptoms can include a drop in muscle mass, an increase in body fat, and thinning hair. If symptoms are beginning to affect the quality of your life – for example, if reduced sexual function or libido is taking a toll on your relationship or causing depression – a doctor may prescribe a testosterone replacement. Dietary changes and certain nutrients can also help. Zinc is important for testosterone levels and deficiency is fairly common in the modern world as intensive farming strips vital nutrients from the soil – so even if you’re eating well you may still be missing out. Nuts and seeds, pumpkin seeds especially, are great sources of zinc, or you could try a supplement. If you’re experiencing high levels of stress try A.Vogel’s Stress Relief Daytime. It combines Valerian and Hops and can be used for the temporary relief of symptoms associated with stress and mild anxiety. For symptoms of low mood there’s St. John’s Wort or Hypericum, but it isn’t suitable for everyone. Check with your GP first if on prescribed medicines. If you cannot take St John’s Wort you could try Jan de Vries Mood Essence. For further advice on any aspect of men’s health, or even just a chat, visit Gary and his team at Healthy Route, 18 Silver Street, Leicester or call 0116 253 9097.
The March monthly meeting took the form of a ‘show and tell.’ Angela Rossa showed a bead necklace she had made after being given a large collection of tools and materials, and there are now plans to hold a workshop when we can. Jan Darby had crocheted an Easter basket for her baby granddaughter, and Jill Taras displayed her cushion cover made from scraps of fabric in a loose interpretation of the log cabin pattern. Anne Spanswick had pieces of origami, and Marian Driver had arranged flowers in a basket. Heather Savage showed a work in progress, a granny square blanket, and Sheila Timms showed a which had been received with great enthusiasm by her 5-year-old grandson. It was gratifying that the number of members accessing the meeting had increased, but we are still eagerly anticipating physically meeting in what we hope will be the not too distant future.
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Anstey Parish Council Report Article by Liz Hawkes
Tree Planting in Anstey Goscote Nurseries have donated 50 Elm Trees to parish councils in Leicestershire to help bring Elms back into the countryside after they were sadly decimated by Dutch Elm disease in the 1970s & 80s. Anstey Parish Council were very fortunate to receive a tree, which has been planted by our Chairman Glyn McAllister on the Top Green in Anstey.
Have you started a new sport or organised a virtual fitness class?
This tree will be part of the ‘Attenborough Forest’ which aims to plant a million trees globally to reduce the effect of global warming.
Please send us photos of your sporting activities over lockdown, along with details of certificates, medals, sports blogs and Strava awards!
Community Facilities Anstey Parish Council want to hear your views on the proposed extension to the Jubilee Hall. Regular updates on the progress of this project will appear in this magazine. The Project & Grounds Committee have been working with a Steering group including representatives from many different groups including the Scouts to make sure these improvements meet the needs of established groups. We are also keen to know your opinions of these plans. If you did miss the report last month the detailed plans can be seen on Charnwood Borough Councils website using the following link. application number P/20/1976/2 https://pap.charnwood.gov.uk/aniteim. websearch/(S(uay2t02x4twhnveji4x34h45))/Results.aspx The next steps will be to receive completed tenders for the work that will be evaluated and decisions made about how to take the project forward. Funding for the project will be made up from Council reserves, developer contributions from existing housing and a public works loan. As these plans develop further information will be shared when it becomes available. Nationwide Building Society - Anstey Branch On 1st March 2021, Anstey Parish Council held a meeting with Nationwide Building Society about the closure of the Anstey Branch. Nationwide have confirmed that the Anstey branch will still be CLOSING on 31st March 2021. If you need any support or would like to contact Nationwide to discuss this please contact them on: Telephone: 0345 266 0392 Email: Andrew.WestheadOffice@nationwide.co.uk Visit website: https://locations.nationwidebranches.co.uk Calling All Sporting Hero’s Have you or someone you know achieved any sporting goals over the last year? It could be that you ran the London Marathon in Anstey, entered a charity dance off, or climbed Everest up your stairs?
Your Councillors
Your Councillors can be contacted through the council office:
T: 0116 2362646 E: clerk@ansteypc.org Jubilee Hall Stadon Road Anstey Leicester LE7 7AY
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Anstey Parish Council would love to hear about any sporting achievements that you are proud of.
To clerk@ansteypc.org Or message us on www.ansteypc.org.uk or Anstey Parish Council | Facebook By 31st May 2021 You may be up for winning the John Sutherington Sporting Award and a cash prize of £250.00 Footpath J76 Footpath J76 runs from Link Road past Woolden Hill School and across the edge of Link Road Playing Field. The section from the school to the playing field has for many year’s been used by dog walkers. Since the development of the Bloors estate at Fairhaven Farm there is an opportunity to upgrade this footpath to make it a ‘safer route to school’. The parish council are keen to work in partnership with Charnwood Borough Council and Leicestershire County Council to provide a good quality tarmac path. A contractor has been selected and now permission is required by LCC to complete these works. Provided that all permissions are in place, the upgrade of this path should take place later this year at a time to cause the least amount of disruption for Woolden Hill School. Neighbourhood Plan The Neighbourhood Plan Group met on Tuesday 16th March 2021. The committee are starting to work at the strategic vision for the future of Anstey up until 2036. The group are also developing questionnaires that will be used to gather data from Anstey residents. Do look out for further updated about this work in the next edition of this magazine. If you would like to receive more information about this project do contact the parish office or Councillor Grant Cotton by email at cllr.grant.cotton@ ansteypc.org Gary Kirk from Locality will be guiding the Council through this project providing his specialist knowledge on this topic and the changes to the planning system that will impact this project. Parish Meeting The Parish Meeting is hosted by the parish council and is a meeting of the residents. In previous years this meeting has supported local groups with grant funding.
This year things will be very different the meeting will be held virtually on Tuesday 27th April starting at 7pm via zoom and you can access the meeting by using the following link https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89250799340 The Chairman of the Council will run through the annual report and summary of the finances will be shared. It is hoped that representatives from local groups will be able to share details of their work over the past year. This meeting is an opportunity to ask questions of the parish council. Do drop in and say hello. Reporting Concerns At the parish office we receive a lot of concerns on a daily basis about problems that need to be reported. Many of these are not always for the parish council and it may be helpful for residents to have the information below as to who is responsible for what and how these concerns can be reported. The parish council will support you with concerns when it is difficult to get a response but we do encourage you to report these items directly. If items are reported by email confirmation of the problem is logged and you will receive a reference number that can be followed up if the problem is not resolved satisfactorily. We appreciate that it can be helpful to know who these should be reported to the following chart should help with most common problems. Anstey Parish Council
Charnwood Borough Council
Leicestershire County Council
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Contact details Leicestershire County Council customerservices@leics.gov.uk Tel: (0116) 305 0001 Charnwood Borough Council customer.services@charnwood.gov.uk (01509 263 151 You can contact the Parish Council in the following ways. By Post: Parish Office, Jubilee Hall, Stadon Road, Anstey, Leicester LE7 7AY Telephone: (0116) 236 2646 mobile: 07458 305025 Email: clerk@ansteypc.org Parish Council Meetings will be held on the following Tuesday evenings starting at 7.30pm on the 30 March and the 20th April. Meetings are currently virtually via zoom, the link to the meetings is advertised on the agenda which can be found on the council’s website. www.ansteypc.org.uk/council-meetings.html all members of the public are welcome to these meetings.
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David Snartt Borough Councillor for Forest Bradgate T: 01530 244804 E: cllr.david.snartt@charnwood.gov.uk
Nationwide Building Society. I thought I would give an update on Nationwide’s decision to close their Anstey branch. Since my last details, I have had further correspondence with the Society, I have now exhausted all my requests to reverse this decision through their complaints procedure. I have referred this matter to the Financial Ombudsman and the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). This I believe is the last throw of the dice to save this branch from closure. I have found it most difficult to communicate with the Directors, indeed I have always been referred to other people within Nationwide, who I understand have never visited the branch to see the local difficulties this will cause. With the Financial Ombudsman and the FCA, I have raised three issues, why I believe this branch should remain open: Nationwide should keep to their promise to keep branches open until January 2023, this was stated in their December newsletter to members: Difficulty for people to access other local branches, especially the elderly and disabled who rely on public transport: Nationwide’s own data states that there has been just a 7% reduction in transactions over the period 2015 to 2019. Their latest figures included 2020 whilst the Covid-19 pandemic was impacting on people accessing local businesses. In my view, Nationwide have not kept to their promise to members, it will be interesting to see the responses from the two organisations I have now alerted to this damaging decision made by the Society. It does seem empty words when they stated: ‘We passionately believe in communities. That’s why we’ve made a promise to keep a branch in every town or city we currently serve until at least January 2023. We hope this brings some reassurance to our members when the last thing any of us need is more uncertainty’. Planning Application. The officers’ report is now available on the Charnwood Borough Council’s website. The reasons for refusing planning permission to erect up to 36 dwellings on land adjacent to Maplewell Road, Woodhouse Eaves, these include: ‘Whilst the proposal brings the benefit of new homes at a time when these are required, the development strategy set out within the Development Plan does not support large scale development within settlements of this scale, which have relatively limited services and public transport. Whilst it is recognised that the weight to be given to the development strategy at this time is reduced, there are other areas of significant and demonstrable harm which must be considered alongside this. The proposal would cause harm to the character and appearance of the landscape and the setting of Woodhouse Eaves and visual harm from a number of viewpoints’. For the full details about this decision to refuse this application, visit Charnwood Borough Council’s Planning Portal under planning application number P/20/2107/2. I will keep you updated if any appeal is lodged against this decision to refuse planning permission. Covid-19 Pandemic. March 23rd last year marks one year since the start of the first national lockdown. On this day the Prime Minister told everyone to stay at home and since then there have been three national lockdowns, including the one currently in place. As Mayor of Charnwood, chairing the last Full Council meeting, I was able to make the following announcement: I would like to say a heartfelt thank you to everyone involved in the delivery of the Covid-19 vaccination programme in our Borough. From the GP’s and nurses to the many volunteers who came forward to protect many of our residents. Our NHS colleagues have been working around the clock to keep us safe during the pandemic and we owe them a great deal. I have heard from residents who have had a positive experience when visiting their local vaccination centre, and I would like to encourage people who receive an invite for their jab, please take up the offer. The more people who have the vaccination, the more people we will protect and the brighter the light at the end of this very dark tunnel.
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As I write, Charnwood Borough is still above the national average for Covid-19 cases. Therefore, now is not the time to be complacent, it is still important to follow the rules set out by government: Stay at home, unless you have to go out for an essential reason: Remember the hands, face, space guidance at all times: Get the vaccine when it is offered to you. Share Your Lockdown Stories, Online Book of Memories. The one-year anniversary of the first Covid-19 national lockdown in England was on March 23rd and Charnwood Borough Council will be reflecting on what has been an incredibly difficult year for residents, businesses and communities. We have all faced many challenges in the pandemic and, sadly, a number of people in our Borough have paid the ultimate price and lost their lives. There have been many lows, but there have also been moments of inspiration. Communities have pulled together, people have rallied to look after the vulnerable. Sometimes they have been helping friends and family, sometimes complete strangers. The Council have created a space where local people can share their memories, thoughts and feelings about the last year. It is a place you may want to remember a loved one, say thank you to a person or organisation who has helped you or simply reflect on the past year. The Council will publish your contributions on the website at www.charnwood.gov.uk/ online_book_of_memories. You can include words and pictures. Covid-19 Memorial. A plan has been unveiled for a lasting memorial in Loughborough to mark the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on local communities. The Hope Bell would commemorate the lives lost to Covid-19, honour key workers who have helped battle the pandemic and be a symbol of hope for the future. The Hope Bell would be part of a clock chime installation with four smaller bells, all made by Taylor’s Bell Foundry in the town, the last major bell foundry in the country. Queens Park is currently earmarked as a possible location. Various options are being considered but the Hope Bell could weigh up to a tonne and it is not anticipated it would be installed until 2022. New Outwoods Visitor Centre. Charnwood Borough Council is converting the former ranger’s cottage into a visitor centre and café. Plans for the project were approved at a Plans Committee last year, however, the Covid-19 pandemic put the project on hold until this year. It is hoped the centre will be completed by the end of the summer. People can keep up to date with this project by checking out the Council’s social media channels or by visiting www.charnwood.gov.uk/ visitorcentre. I thought this information would be interesting to many local residents who I know regularly visit this ancient woodland. If you need to contact me on any issues please write to 10 Groby Lane, Newtown Linford, Leicester. LE6 0HH e-mail cllr.david.snartt@charnwood. gov.uk or telephone 01530 244804.
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Anstey RFC’s Road Map Return To Rugby From 29th March Article by Chris Apperley All being well, by the time you read this this, your local village rugby club will have re-started training and have some fixtures booked in.
Anstey Nomads
Article by Adam Etheridge
Zayn Hakeem has made history as the first Nomads player to be called up for a full international. Hakeem, who signed in the summer from Leicestershire rivals Barwell, received the call from Antigua and Barbuda for their forthcoming World Cup Qualifiers against Montserrat and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Zayn’s call comes on the back of scoring eight times in 14 matches for the Nomads, while also chipping in with six assists.
At the time of writing (mid March) all looks on cource for the next stage of ‘opening up’ at the end of the month when most aspects of training will be allowed moving onto full con-tact rugby in the not to distance future. The RFU have issued their ‘Return to Rugby Road Map - Community Game’ agreed with the Government with four stages following the national easing of lockdown restrictions when in a few months time something close to normal service will resume.
The pacey frontman has made several international appearances at youth level, including captaining the “Benna Boys” Under 20’s in the 2018 CONCACAF Championships. Antigua and Barbuda face a long road in the CONCACAF qualifying rounds. This initial round will see six teams progress to a second round where they will play each other for a chance to progress to the third round where teams such as Mexico and the United States enter the fray.
Over the winter months our squad have kept busy and in touch with each other via WhatsApp groups keeping up many of the ‘social’ aspects of rugby clubs and players al-beit in a ‘virtual’ way fully socially distanced.
The Benna Boys face further matches against Grenada and El Salvador in June as they look to take a step closer to, what would be, their first World Cup appearance. “Representing Antigua and Barbuda is massive for me” said a delighted Zayn, “I have family over there and having played for them before and knowing the importance of what it means to the whole nation makes me really proud to be a part of the competition.”
During the closed period we have welcomed some new sponsorship in the way of playing shirts and various items of training kit getting us well prepared for the upcoming season. Our thanks go to TNR Haulage and Epsilon Electrical amongst others.
Like his Nomads teammates, Hakeem has not played since the 2-1 win away to Coventry Sphinx in December. “Of course, it will be difficult with the lack of match fitness, and obviously football match fitness is really hard to recreate. However, I’ve been working at a gym so I have the opportunity to use it at my leisure so that’s been a massive help, also I’ve been going out on runs and trying to treat this period of no games as a mini preseason for when we get back to the FA Vase in April, so I feel in good shape.” Of the players based in England that played in the 2018 Championships, Zayn is the only one to be handed a call up to the senior squad. “A few of that team are still eligible to play for the Under 20’s but that tournament was my last opportunity to play at that level so, for me, the next step was pushing for the first team.”
More importantly fitness has been maintained with a series of cross country runs and bike rides two or three times a week co-ordinated as a squad but following all the current lock-down and Covid rules.
We must also mention The Leicestershire Rugby Union who have kept the club supplied with sanitising equipment for when we have been able to get together during the autumn and winter. Finally a mention of ‘landlords’ Anstey Parish Council who have continued supporting us during our 40th season at our Link Road Ground and looking to the future with new sports facilities in the village where Anstey RFC will be a key participant. As soon as we have some fixtures confirmed they will appear both on our website and our Facebook Page. Looking forward to seeing Rugby Union played in Our Village Very Soon. If you would like to get involved contact either our Club Coach and Chairman Shane Frear on 07725 642525 or Captain Graham Waring on 07764 461961
There are six or seven players heading over there from English clubs, the rest of them play in the Championship down to the National League level, so it’s a high calibre of player and I’m the youngest out of the group, so I’m looking forward to see what I can learn and hopefully bring back with me.”
The Club noticeboard is in The Coach & Horses - at the big screen end just round to the left inside the official entrance door from the Nook — But you can’t go in the pub!
Keep an eye on our website and social media for updates on how Zayn and the Benna Boys get on with their campaign.
Visit www.pitchhero.com/clubs/anstey or our Facebook Group Page at www. facebook.com/groups/20694012567 for updated information.
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Thurcaston & Cropston Local History Society Article by Peter Smith For our March meeting we were joined online by Eddie Smallwood who, as a former Leicester policeman and a current guide at Bosworth Battlefield, was well qualified to tell us about crime and punishment in Leicester during the 19th century. Until the formation of the town’s first police force in 1836, law and order had been largely the responsibility of night watchmen. The new force was based at the Guildhall and the police cells there can still be seen. Bilstone Gibbet Post Police officers originally wore top hats and were armed with cutlasses. Subsequently they were issued with the familiar helmets, the shape of which was intended to deflect a blow to the head, though in Eddie’s experience the helmet falls off as soon as you start to pursue a criminal! An inspector’s report in 1863 stated that about 4000 crimes were recorded in the county during that year. The police were aware of 180 known and 277 suspected thieves and there were nearly 1000 pubs and beer houses. A particular problem was a large immigrant population of “navvies” employed to build the canals and railways. Many of them lived in a lawless community around Belgrave Gate and in 1848 several officers were injured while suppressing a mob in that area. Punishments could be severe. At the start of the period, hanging was possible for a wide range of offences and they were great public spectacles, witnessed by up to 40,000 people. The bodies of the most notorious criminals would be displayed on a gibbet post, of which an example survives in the county at Bilstone. The traditional site for hangings in Leicester was at Red Hill. Later they took place outside the prison on Welford Road, where patients at the Infirmary would be wheeled to the windows to watch or you could pay 2/6 for a prime view from an upstairs room at the Turk’s Head. As time went on, many more convicts were transported to the colonies than were executed (including 160,000 to Australia alone). Nevertheless, 11 executions did take place in Leicester during Victoria’s reign. As it became clear that public hangings were not a deterrent to crime, they were moved inside the prison, with burial also taking place within the walls so that the grave could not be visited. Leicester’s most celebrated detective was Francis “Tanky” Smith, whose modus operandi was to adopt various disguises and visit drinking establishments to eavesdrop on potential offenders. He earned a handsome reward for tracing a missing member of the Winstanley family to Koblenz, which he used to build “Top Hat Terrace” on London Road – so called because the façade includes sculpted portraits of Tanky in 16 of his different disguises. As usual, we will not hold a meeting in April. Our subject on 18th May will “Inn Signs and Local History”. There is lots of information on our website below, including ways to contact us if you would be interested in joining the Society. www.thurcastoncropstonhistory.org.uk
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